Pharma and biotech stocks were prominent and ValiRx (LON:VAL) shares were boosted as it revealed it was to increase the dose of cancer treatment VAL201 to an expected therapeutic level.
It comes after no adverse effects in the Phase I/II trial in advanced prostate cancer.
The drug developer believes the next dose escalation may show anti-tumour activity, which it said would continue a trend seen throughout the clinical trial.
Higher dosages over the past month returned similar results in delaying the progression of advanced or metastatic prostate cancer to those in pre-clinical studies.
Shares added 24.24% to 41p.
Elsewhere, Clinigen Group’s (LON:CLIN) collaboration with Pharming Group to treat sufferers of hereditary angioedema worldwide is now up and running, it emerged.
The global access programme will be run for HAEi, the International Patient Organisation for C1- Inhibitor Deficiencies, and see Pharming's RUCONEST supplied in areas the drug was not previously available.
Simon Estcourt, the managing director of Clinigen’s managed access operation, said: “The ground-breaking program provides RUCONEST to patients in an ethical and compliant way, removing the need and the risk for patients to resort to other less reliable or even illegal sources of the drug."
In tech news, Blur group (LON:BLUR) shares advanced as it attracted 30% more Buyers and Service Providers to its Enterprise Services Platform in the first half of 2015, rising to 65,000 at the end of June from 50,000 at the close of 2014. There was a 20% increase in Enterprise buyers alone, in comparison to 2014.
Philip Letts, blur Group chief executive said: "The platform is attracting more Enterprise level Buyers and Service Providers than before."
Meanwhile, Versarien (LON:VRS) generated £4.98mln from the sale of advanced materials in the 12 to March 31 - a 69% improvement on the previous year, reflecting a solid revenue generating business, albeit one that has yet to shine all the way down to the bottom-line.
Two of the group’s three key businesses stand-up by themselves; with the tungsten carbide business the notable success, earning £1.12mln from £4.6mln of the group’s overall £4.98mln revenue.
The group reported a pre-tax loss of £866,000 for the year, reflecting the continued investment into the innovative copper foam business.
Healthcare marketing specialist Cello (LON:CLL) is confident of meeting full-year expectations after a first half that saw strong top-line growth.
The group has two divisions - Health and Signal - with the former experiencing stronger revenue growth at present, partly because the Signal division was up against tough comparative figures from a year earlier.
Nevertheless, Cello Signal experienced modest growth year-on-year, although, as indicated back in May, profit margins have been lower due to additional head-count in the high-growth US market research business.
Shares in fishing tackle retailer Fishing Republic (LON:FISH) floated higher as it revealed trading had started well in the second half and margins had improved considerably in the first six months.
The group listed on AIM in early June and raised £1.5mln, which is said would be used to expand the business.
"Trading has started well in the second half of the year and the company is looking to expand its operations by making some small acquisitions and is making progress regarding its intention to open a new outlet in the Midlands," it told investors on Tuesday.
In other news, Mwana Africa’s (LON:MWA) Trojan Mine in Zimbabwe produced record amounts of nickel for the second year running.
Run by subsidiary Bindura Nickel (BNC), the mine produced 7,306 tonnes (7,129) in the year to March generating US$78.9mln in revenues (US$65mln) at an average price of US$16,700.
Operating profit for the year was US$15.9mln compared to US$17.3mln in the prior year, with net profits at US$11.2mln, down from US$23.7mln.
Sticking with mining, Ariana Resources (LON:AAU) plans to start drilling soon at the Karakavak and Kepez West prospects at the Red Rabbit project after exploration identified new gold targets, it said.
The results are from soil and rock-chip work and show several further gold-silver mineralised vein systems at Karakavak and soil anomalies along the whole 1,800m strike length of Kepez West.
The numbers underpin the broader resource potential of the wider Red Rabbit project, which has a current JORC resource of 475,000 ounces of gold equivalent.