Thursday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

Small-cap stocks leapt higher than the broader market Thursday as several health names ratcheted up on positive news.

Leading the way was Seattle-based Dendreon (DNDN Quote), shares of which soared 27% to $8.55 after the Food and Drug Administration detailed what extra information it will require for approval of the biotech's prostate-cancer vaccine, Provenge.

Also surging on regulatory news was Critical Therapeutics (CRTX Quote), another biotech. Shares of the Lexington, Mass., company traded up 21.4% to $3.23 after the FDA approved for commercialization Zyflo CR, extended-release tablets for asthma treatment. Critical will co-promote the drug with Dey, an affiliate of Germany's Merck GKaA. ...