Friday's Health Winners & Losers

Updated from 1:25 p.m. EDT

A handful of health stocks, including biotech Alkermes(ALKS Quote), ignited on quarterly results amid an overall flat introduction to the weekend.

Alkermes, which announced quarterly results Thursday after the bell, earned $8.7 million, or 8 cents a diluted share, on revenue of $68.9 million, compared to a loss of $700,000, or 1 cent a share (including $8.3 million in share-based compensation expense), on revenue of $51.5 million in 2006.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected a profit of 4 cents a share on revenue of $62.3 million. The stock gained $1.85, or 12.5%, to $16.63.

Similarly, Tercica(TRCA Quote) said it lost $12.8 million, or 26 cents a share, in the quarter compared to $14.7 million, or 39 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenue was $2.4 million, compared to $166,000 in 2006.

The company raised guidance for Increlex, an insulin-like growth factor-1. It now expects Increlex will bring in $9 million to $10 million, vs. prior estimations of $7 million to $8 million. During the quarter, Tercica announced a team-up with Genentech(DNA Quote) for two growth hormone products. Tercica's stock tacked on 50 cents, or 9.5%, to $5.77 on Friday.

Also on the rise was HealthTronics(HTRN Quote). The health-care services and medical device company earned $179,000, or one cent a share, compared to $1.3 million, or 2 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. Excluding items, the company earned 2 cents a share, compared to 3 cents in the 2006 period on the same basis. HealthTronics shares added 13 cents, or 3.4%, to $3.96.