Monday's Health Winners & Losers

Regulatory bliss and clinical data gave a few biotech stocks a bounce on Monday.

ViroPharma(VPHM) said Monday that the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) granted orphan drug designation to Camvia for cytomegalovirus (human herpesvirus 5) in patients with cell-mediated immunity.

The status is designed to promote development of drugs that could significantly benefit patients suffering from rare, life threatening diseases or serious conditions. And under EMEA guidelines, it gives the company 10 years of market exclusivity if the product is approved for marketing in the E.U. Also it may qualify for a reduction in regulatory fees or an E.U.-funded research grant.

Shares rose 67 cents, or 8.5%, to $8.53. The stock is a component of the Nasdaq biotechnology index, which was recently down 4.5, or 0.5%, to 841.06.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Abbott's(ABT) lower strength Kaletra for pediatric HIV patients. The company said the drug will be available at the lower strength in the U.S. this month. Shares were trading up 99 cents, or 1.8%, to $55.11.

Another winner, Ista Pharmaceuticals(ISTA), announced Monday afternoon that in a phase III trial, Xibrom QD, a new once-daily formulation of its ocular anti-inflammatory treatment for cataract surgery patients, met the primary and secondary efficacy endpoints of absence of ocular inflammation 15 days following surgery and elimination of ocular pain at one day. Shares rose 96 cents, or 17.4%, to $6.47.