Aduro Biotech hit after clinical trials put on partial hold

The Food and Drug Administration's decision to place Aduro Biotech's clinical trials on hold triggered a short-lived plunge in the company's shares on Monday.

The biotech firm was given the sanction by the FDA after a patient tested positive for listeria during one of its trials.

New patients will continue to receive treatment according to the company, but no new volunteers will be introduced to the listeria-based immunotherapy treatment.

Listeria can lead to deadly food poisoning, and the affected patient was given antibiotics in order to combat the infection.

Aduro said it was working with the FDA to come to a solution to lift the partial hold as soon as possible.

"Aduro is working with the FDA to lift the partial hold so as to resume new patient enrollment in its LADD clinical trials," Aduro said in a statement.

"The company is revising study protocols in accordance with feedback from the agency, including the modification of antibiotic administration following treatment."

Shares in Aduro were down by 5.09% at $11.63 after having fallen by 22% in pre-market trades.