** Shares of biopharma company Protagonist Therapeutics Inc
PTGX.O rise 44.6% to $21.99 before the bell
** PTGX says its experimental drug, JNJ-2113, which it is
developing in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson JNJ.N , met
the main goal in a mid-stage study
** Protagonist is testing JNJ-2113 as a potential treatment
for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, a chronic condition
that causes itchy skin with scaly patches
** Data shows treatment with JNJ-2113 resulted in a higher
proportion of patients with the disease achieving a 75%
improvement in skin lesions measured by the Psoriasis Area and
Severity Index vs placebo - company
** The treatment was well tolerated and no meaningful
difference was observed in the frequency of adverse events
across treatment groups in study, says PTGX
** As of last close, PTGX up nearly 39% so far this year
(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru)
((Bhanvi.Satija@thomsonreuters.com; Outside U.S. +91
9873062788;))