** Shares of drug developer Altimmune ALT.O rise 12.8% to $3.96 premarket
** ALT says U.S. FDA has granted "breakthrough therapy" tag for its experimental drug to treat patients with a type of liver disease
** The drug, pemvidutide, is being tested in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis or MASH — a serious liver disease that develops when fat buildup causes inflammation of the organ
** The breakthrough therapy tag is meant to speed up development and review of drugs to treat serious conditions or those with unmet medical needs
** Co says it plans to initiate a late-stage trial evaluating multiple pemvidutide doses over a 52-week treatment period
** In last 12 months, stock down 2.8%
(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole)
((siddhi.mahatole@thomsonreuters.com))
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