The FTSE Small Cap index closes 0.2 percent lower, while the blue chips shed 0.6 percent, and the mid caps lose 0.7 percent.
Oxford BioMedica falls 6.9 percent as the firm says it is closing a mid-stage clinical trial of its cancer vaccine TroVax in U.S. patients with prostate cancer, dealing a further blow to the troubled product.
Thorntons gains 1.6 percent as the chocolate group says trading is in line with management expectations, with first-quarter total sales down 1 percent to 46.0 million pounds primarily due to planned store closures, although it is cautious on the outlook for its upcoming Christmas peak trading season.
Reuters messaging rm://jon.hopkins.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
Keywords: MARKETS EUROPE STOCKSNEWS