** Shares of Viking Therapeutics rise about 4% to $53.52 before the bell
** Drug developer presented final results from a mid-stage trial of its experimental liver disease drug, VK2809, at a medical conference
** Detailed data shows patients treated with the drug had a 44% to 57% improvement in fibrosis or scarring of liver tissue vs 34% for placebo
** Trial was testing the drug in patients with a serious fatty liver disease called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH)
** Drug previously achieved its primary goal of reducing liver fat content in the study and helped patients achieve NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis - VKTX
** Data was impressive as it showed fibrosis benefit at the highest dose and MASH resolution across all doses - William Blair analysts
** As of last close, VKTX shares have nearly tripled YTD
(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru)
((Bhanvi.Satija@thomsonreuters.com; Outside U.S. +91 9873062788;))
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