BUZZ-Veru rises after US FDA backs obesity drug combo plan

** Shares of drug developer Veru VERU.O rise 6.6% to $2.60 premarket

** Co says it has gained support from the U.S. FDA for testing its experimental obesity drug, enobosarm, alongside popular GLP-1 weight-loss medicines

** VERU plans to launch a new mid-stage trial for the drug early next year

** Co says FDA has agreed that extra weight loss on top of a GLP-1 drug, or clear benefits in preserving strength and physical function, could be enough to approve the combination if confirmed in larger studies

** The planned trial will enroll about 200 patients aged 65 and older with obesity who are starting a GLP-1 drug and track changes in body weight over 72 weeks, with earlier checks on muscle, fat and physical function

** Enobosarm is designed to help people lose fat while maintaining muscle

** As of last close, VERU stock down 62.5% YTD

(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan)

((Padmanabhan.Ananthan@thomsonreuters.com))