** Shares of Australia's Argenica Therapeutics AGN.AX surge as much as 34.1% to A$0.295, their highest since November 3

** Biotech firm's lead candidate, a neuroprotective synthetic peptide, ARG-007 did not inhibit the clot dissolving effect of tenecteplase

** The result is one of the key U.S. FDA requirement to lift the clinical hold on Argenica's Investigational New Drug $(IND)$ application for acute ischaemic stroke

** Around 1 mln shares change hands, nearly 7.3x 30-day average

** AGN, YTD down 58.7%

(Reporting by Keshav Singh Chundawat in Bengaluru)

((Keshav.singhchundawat@thomsonreuters.com))