12:26 PM EDT, 03/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- 89bio (ETNB) said Wednesday its investigational liver disease drug pegozafermin has received the Priority Medicines, or PRIME, status from the European Medicines Agency.

The company said the PRIME status was granted based on data from a phase 2b trial of pegozafermin in patients with non-cirrhotic MASH, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, with fibrosis and MASH with compensated cirrhosis.

Patient enrollment is ongoing for the phase 3 trial in MASH patients with fibrosis while the phase 3 trial in MASH patients with compensated cirrhosis is expected to begin in Q2, according to the company.

The EMA grants the PRIME status to support the development of medicines that may offer an advantage over existing treatments or benefit patients without treatment options, 89bio said.

89bio shares rose 3% in recent trading Wednesday.

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