Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX.US) saw its shares climb as much as 11% in after-hours trading on Monday, paring gains to 5% by the time of reporting. The biotech company announced that its drug for kidney disease met the primary goal in a late-stage trial, providing momentum for its strategic expansion beyond cystic fibrosis treatments. Year-to-date, the company's stock had risen 1.7% as of Monday's market close.

In a statement, Vertex reported that patients treated with povetacicept demonstrated a 52% reduction in urine protein levels from baseline after 36 weeks. The company also indicated that the drug was generally safe and well-tolerated in the study, which involved over 605 patients.

Boston-based Vertex has been actively working to diversify its core business beyond cystic fibrosis therapies. Sales of its gene-editing treatment for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia have been slow, and the company has faced challenges in securing insurance coverage for its newly launched pain medication, Journavx.

Vertex stated it plans to submit an application for povetacicept to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of March and will seek an accelerated approval pathway. The company intends to use a priority review voucher to shorten the review timeline from 10 months to 6 months.

Vertex acquired povetacicept through its purchase of Alpine Immune Sciences Inc. in 2024 for approximately $4.9 billion, marking the largest acquisition in the company's history. The drug works by blocking two inflammatory proteins known as cytokines, which can sometimes trigger the body to attack its own tissues.

The therapy is being tested for IgA nephropathy, a kidney condition affecting around 1.5 million people globally. Many patients progress to end-stage kidney disease, which can be fatal.