By Stephen Nakrosis

Mirum Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Wednesday said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Livmarli oral solution to treat cholestatic pruritus in patients with Alagille syndrome one year of age and older.

Livmarli "is the first and only FDA-approved medication in this rare liver disease which affects 2,000 to 2,500 children in the United States," the company said.

Those suffering from cholestatic pruritus feel a sensation of itching. Alagille syndrome affects the liver and results in a buildup of bile due to too few working bile ducts.

"Malformed or reduced bile ducts cause cholestasis, the accumulation of bile acids in the liver, which leads to inflammation and liver injury, and prevents the liver from working properly," the company said.

At 1:31 p.m. ET, the company's shares were trading 6.46% higher, at $19.96 each. Volume at the time toped 260,000 shares, above the stock's 65-day average volume of 105,902 shares.

Mirum said it will host a conference call to discuss the approval at 4:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.

Write to Stephen Nakrosis at stephen.nakrosis@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

09-29-21 1353ET