04:29 AM EDT, 03/28/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with the stock move in the headline and the first paragraph.)

Portage Biotech ( PRTG ) shares were up nearly 109% in recent premarket activity Friday after the company reported overnight "encouraging" efficacy data in a murine mesothelioma model with PORT-7 given as a single agent or in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody.

The data showed both single-agent activity and more than 90% inhibition of tumor growth when combined with an anti-PD1 antibody in a murine model of mesothelioma, the company said late Thursday.

"This is the first report of antitumor activity against mesothelioma using a selective A2B receptor inhibitor," Portage said, adding that it's preparing to start a first-in-human trial.