** Shares of Noxopharm Ltd NOX.AX rise as much as 29.3% to A$0.097, hitting their highest level since February 14

** Stock set for best session since mid-July

** Biotech firm says first dose of autoimmune disease drug SOF-SKN found safe and tolerable

** Says, trial, aimed at checking the concentration at which the drug is tolerable, will proceed to next cohort of participants who will receive a higher dose

** Around 683,067 shares change hands, compared with 30-day avg volume of about 280,207 shares

** Session brings YTD gains to 4.3%

(Reporting by Shruti Agarwal in Bengaluru)

((Shruti.Agarwal@thomsonreuters.com))