Tuesday's Early Winners & Losers

Nutrition 21 (NXXI) shares were blazing, up 37% in extended trading Monday after the Purchase, N.Y., biotech's high-selenium yeast supplement, Selenomax, was shown to suppress HIV progression in a long-term University of Miami study.

The findings, published in Monday's issue of the American Medical Association's Archives of Internal Medicine journal, revealed that patients who adhered to the daily treatment regimen experienced no change in HIV-1 viral load (the proportion of viral particles present in the bloodstream) and an increase in CD4 cell count (a measure of T-helper white blood cells, which reflects overall immune-system strength).

The results remained significant even accounting for numerous test-subject traits, including whether or not the individuals also were taking antiretroviral therapy. For a time, CVS (CVS) will exclusively carry the product, and wider availability will follow over the next few months. Nutrition 21 shares were up 70 cents to $2.59. CVS was unchanged.

Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX) surged after it announced it will accelerate resubmission of one version of its Indiplon insomnia treatment to the Food and Drug Administration, now expecting to do so by the second quarter. The San Diego-based company was gaining $1.31, or 10.1%, to $14.26.

Mindspeed Technologies (MSPD) was higher after its downside results for the quarter ended Dec. 31 met Wall Street estimates. The Newport Beach, Calif., maker of semiconductor-networking equipment posted a non-GAAP loss of $6.3 million, or 6 cents a share, widened from a year-ago loss of $4.2 million, or 4 cents a share. But analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting these numbers. Revenue sank 9% year over year to $30.2 million, also about in line with the consensus. Shares were adding 15 cents, or 8.1%, to $2.

Baltimore's Novavax (NVAX) rose after the company said that its viruslike particle vaccines protected against two different strains of the pandemic H5N1 influenza -- or the so-called bird flu -- as shown in preclinical live-virus studies conducted with the University of Pittsburgh. The studies have been submitted for peer review, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also conduct studies to verify the data. Shares were up 35 cents, or 8.6%, to $4.44.