Roivant shares jump 17% as lung disease drug meets trial goals By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Roivant Sciences said Tuesday its experimental drug mosliciguat met the primary endpoints of a mid-stage trial in patients with high blood pressure linked to a type of lung disease. The company's shares rose about 17% following the announcement. The drug developer has been working to expand its late-stage pipeline after receiving U.S. approval last month for Lisraya, a treatment for skin and muscle disease. In the 135-patient study, mosliciguat reduced pressure and resistance in lung blood vessels by 56.3% compared with placebo at 16 weeks. The trial focused on pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease, a condition where lung scarring damages blood vessels and increases strain on the heart. Roivant's Chief Investment Officer Mayukh Sukhatme said mosliciguat's long half-life would lead to greater benefits with longer treatment. He added the company views it as both a standalone and combination treatment if approved. Sukhatme said patients have a short lifespan and mosliciguat offers the possibility of "real relief" and could help them avoid "hospitalizations, exacerbations and deaths." The drug also met secondary endpoints in the trial. Patients taking mosliciguat walked 35.2 meters farther in a six-minute walking test compared with those on placebo after 16 weeks. J.P.Morgan analyst Brian Cheng called the stock a "top pick" and said the data suggests the drug's potential is likely greater than his previous estimate of $1.5 billion in risk-adjusted peak sales for the PH-ILD indication. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.