March 22 (Reuters) - Drug developer 89Bio Inc <ETNB.O> said on Wednesday its experimental treatment for liver disease NASH met the main goals of a small mid-stage study, sending its shares 30% higher.
The drug, pegozafermin, helped reduce liver scarring known as fibrosis as measured on two different scales in patients with NASH, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, trial data showed.
89Bio said the drug, administered both weekly and every two weeks in the trial, had a safety profile similar to older trials.
In the trial, the drug helped significantly reduce fibrosis or liver scarring without the worsening of NASH, compared to a placebo.
NASH, a form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is characterized by the organ developing fibrosis or scarring, which can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure.