Rhythm Pharma rises on positive mid-stage data for rare disease therapy

Shares of drugmaker Rhythm Pharmaceuticals RYTM.O rise 1.7% to $106.50 premarket

Co says its experimental therapy for a rare disease showed positive results in a mid-stage study

The company was testing the therapy to treat a genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) in 18 patients aged 6-65 years old

A key feature of PWS is a constant sense of hunger that usually begins at about two years of age

Co says the therapy called setmelanotide helped reduce body weight and hyperphagia- feelings of intense and persistent hunger in patients at three months and six months

Co plans to advance setmelanotide into a late-stage trial in PWS, pending successful completion of this trial

Up to last close, stock up 87.2% YTD