Shares of MGI Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:MOGN) rose 26 percent onThursday, up $3.38 to $16.13, probably as a result of the recentupswing in competitor U.S. Bioscience Inc.'s stock, MGIspokeswoman Lori Weiman told BioWorld.

U.S. Bioscience shares (AMEX:UBS) had risen 97 percent sincethe company's Nov. 19 announcement that its Ethyol productwill be reviewed by a Food and Drug Administration advisorycommittee by Jan. 31. Ethyol protects normal tissue from theeffects of chemotherapy. Stock of the West Conshohocken, Pa.,company fell $4.25 to $74 Thursday on profit taking.

MGI-136 will directly compete with Ethyol, said Weiman. MGI-136, which is in Phase III trials, has a superior side-effectprofile, she said.

"When UBS rises, the people who know about us buy our stock,"Weiman said. -- KB

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