(Reuters) -Hepion Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Monday its treatment met the main goal of improving liver function in patients with a type of fatty liver disease in a mid-stage study trial, sending its shares 45% higher in premarket trading.
The drug, rencofilstat, was also found to be safe in the 61-patient trial, with the 225 mg dose showing the greatest benefit to liver function and multiple biomarkers associated with NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), the company said.
Hepion was conducting trials on three doses, with the 225 mg dose being the highest.
(Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)