By Stephen Nakrosis

Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. are trading lower in Wednesday's after-hours session, following news the company is discontinuing a Phase 2 study of its VX-814 in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

"Based on the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of VX-814 observed to date in a Phase 2 trial in AATD, Vertex has decided to stop dosing in the trial and will discontinue development of VX-814," the company said.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disorder that can cause lung or liver disease.

At 4:51 p.m. EDT, the company's shares were trading 9.2% lower at $246.12 per share. Volume at the time topped 115,000 shares.

The stock finished the day's regular-trading session with a 1.7% loss, closing at $271.46.

Year to date, the stock is up over 23%.

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

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-14-20 1715ET