Last checked at 
(Alliance News) - Shares in N4 Pharma PLC on Wednesday were up 60% on news of positive results from its Covid-19 in vitro study.
Shares in N4 were up 32% at 10.50 pence in London in afternoon trading but earlier had hit 14.00p.
N4 is developing Nuvec, its delivery system for cancer treatments and vaccines. Nuvec loaded with coronavirus plasmid has been successfully transferred to human embryonic kidney cells in vitro, which "induced an expression of the spike protein in the cells".
This successful result is the second stage of N4's three stage plan for its Covid-19 proof of concept research project with Evotec International Gmbh, meaning the project will now move it its third sage, being a "pre in vivo study to demonstrate expression of the spike protein in target cells in a murine target."
An in vitro study takes place outside of a living organism, while in vivo stories take place inside.
N4 Chief Executive Nigel Theobald said: "We are delighted to have achieved in vitro transfection of [human embryonic kidney] cells with Nuvec loaded with coronavirus plasmid. We now move straight to the third stage of our Covid-19 project with our pre in vivo study at Evotec.
"The global pandemic continues to dominate all of our lives and we are extremely excited to be moving onto the next stage of our Covid-19 project, the successful outcome of which will determine our next work streams in this area and how we might collaborate with appropriate partners interested in any advantage our Nuvec delivery system may provide. We look forward to providing updates on this project and our other work streams in due course."
By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.