Herpes and warts treatment developer Henderson Morley says it is in ‘a late stage of negotiations’ about a collaboration deal.

The AIM-quoted company has responded to today’s doubling of its share price by dislosing it is discussing granting a licence for one of its portfolio of products to an unnamed life sciences company, which is also listed on AIM. Chairman Andrew Knight says these negotiations are at an advanced stage.

Henderson Morley, which lost a reduced £797,000 in the year to last April, claims its Ionic Contra Viral Therapy (ICVT) technology has potential applications for various forms of herpes, warts and verrucae. But the shares, which were floated at 4p on 2001, have not thrived, falling below 0.5p at one stage in 2005.

But buying today by canny punters – ahead of the company’s announcement – has lifted the shares from 1.5p to 3.05p, valuing the company at £8.7 million. Others must await the outcome of the talks.