India, July 29 -- Bausch Health Companies Inc. (BHC), a pharmaceutical company, on Tuesday announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire DURECT Corp. (DRRX), gaining access to its novel therapeutic candidate, larsucosterol.

Shares of DURECT are increasing by around 12% in the pre-market trading.

The acquisition of larsucosterol's clinical development program for alcoholic hepatitis or AH, complements Bausch Health's ongoing RED-C clinical program.

Larsucosterol, a naturally occurring sulfated oxysterol and epigenetic modulator, has shown encouraging results in Phase 2 trials for the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis.

Bausch Health plans to leverage its hepatology expertise to support the continued clinical development an...