Conatus Pharma Shares Jump After Drug Study Results

Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. shares rallied in the extended session Wednesday after the microcap biotech company said one of its drugs lowered blood pressure in a critical vein servicing the liver in patients with cirrhosis. Conatus shares jumped 35% to $7.74 on heavy volume. The company said its mid-stage clinical trial of the drug emricasan showed it significantly lowered blood pressure in the hepatic portal vein, which connects the gastrointenstinal tract to the liver, in cirrhosis patients who also had severely high blood pressure.