Thursday's Health Winners & Losers

Shares of SciClone Pharmaceuticals(SCLN) were boosted 12.3% to $3.25 after the company said it's submitted an application to Chinese regulators to market its liver cancer treatment DC Bead.

SciClone anticipates a final decision in within 90 days. The company also expects to begin a clinical trial using DC Bead in combination with the liver cancer treatment doxorubicin in the first half of 2007.

Shares of Bioenvision(BIVN) were up 2.7% to $4.50 after the company said it completed the work needed to finalize a European marketing application. The company is seeking approval to market its drug Evoltra as a treatment for the blood cancer acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients.

The drug is already approved in Europe to treat children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after at least two other drugs have failed to work. The company expects to file its new application early in the first quarter of 2007 and should hear back from regulators within the year.

Threshold Pharmaceuticals (THLD) climbed following Wednesday's after-hours surge, as the company announced positive midphase results for its advanced pancreatic cancer treatment. The company said that its combination of glufosfamide and gemcitabine induced partial responses in 21% of patients tested, and that 36% experienced stable disease from the treatment. Shares were trading up 60 cents, or 18.8%, to $3.80.

BioSante Pharmaceuticals(BPA) soared after the company said it began a late-stage trial on a proposed treatment for low sexual desire, the largest component of female sexual dysfunction. Results from earlier trials on the company's LibiGel transdermal testosterone gel were positive. Shares gained 4.5% to $2.80.