Eiger BioPharma down as co to scrap hepatitis drug study over safety concerns

Eiger Biopharmaceuticals

13/09/2023 11:13

** Shares of Eiger BioPharmaceuticals Inc  EIGR.O  down
34.9% to $0.45 premarket
    ** Late-Tuesday co reported it would end a late-stage study
testing its experimental drug to treat the most severe form of
viral hepatitis 
    ** The drug candidate, peginterferon lambda, was being
tested in patients with chronic hepatitis delta (CHD)
    ** An independent data and safety monitoring board
recommended the discontinuation after observing deterioration in
liver function in four patients during a quarterly safety
review, the company said 
    ** CHD is the most severe form of viral hepatitis and only
occurs in people infected with hepatitis B, and affects nearly
65 mln people worldwide, according to government data 
    ** As of last close, stock down 41.53% so far this year

 (Reporting by Pratik Jain in Bengaluru)
 ((Pratik.Jain@thomsonreuters.com;))