Patent Award Spurs Rise in Nexell Shares

Nexell Therapeutics Inc.’s surging stock moved up another 12% Thursday after the Irvine cancer research company said it received a patent covering in-vitro growth of specialized white blood cells to help the immune system fight bacterial infection and produce platelets to support blood clotting.

The stock, which has gained 700% so far this year, closed at $10 a share, up $1.09, in Nasdaq trading.