AZ picks Regulus' microRNA compound for NASH

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLS) gained $1.70 (11%) to $17.65 in early after-hours trading on Tuesday after the company said partner AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN) selected RG-125 ( AZD4076) as the first compound it intends to take into the clinic under the companies' 2012 deal. AZ intends to start a Phase I trial by YE15 of the GalNAc-conjugated anti-microRNA targeting miR-103/107 to treat non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients who have Type II diabetes or are prediabetic.

AZ will pay Regulus $2.5 million and will assume responsibility for clinical development upon FDA's acceptance of an IND. ...