DBV Technologies SA said its peanut allergy therapy continued to benefit children over a longer term.

The news helped boost the company's stock price by 17.88% to $13.25 per share in pre-market trading Jan. 9.

Of the 141 children who received Viaskin Peanut, 75.9% had increased their tolerance to peanut protein after three years of treatment, including 51.8% of patients that could tolerate at least 1,000 milligrams of peanut protein. Most children with peanut allergies react to 300 milligrams of peanut protein or less, with some having a reaction to even 1 milligram of the protein.

The French company was reporting results from a phase 3 clinical trial called People, which built on the results of the late-stage Pepites study by following up on patients — aged 4 to 11 years — over a longer period of time. The company's exploratory data analysis also suggested that Viaskin Peanut's effects could persist even after a period without treatment.

DBV's medicine was also found to be safe, with the most common adverse events categorized as mild to moderate skin reactions.

Viaskin Peanut is a patch applied to the back, providing desensitization to the peanut allergen. It holds the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's breakthrough and fast-track designations and is under review by the regulator with expectations that it could reach the market in the second half of 2020.

The therapy would compete with Aimmune Therapeutics Inc.'s AR101, which is also under review in the U.S., with a decision expected later this month.