** Shares of drugmaker Aurinia Pharmaceuticals AUPH.O rise 4% to $9 premarket

** Co says its autoimmune drug, aritinercept, significantly reduced antibody levels in the blood of healthy participants, in an early-stage trial

** Aritinercept cut antibody levels by up to 55% for IgM, 48% for IgA, and 20% for IgG after 28 days, with effects lasting long enough to support once-monthly dosing - AUPH

** The trial tested the drug at doses ranging from 5 mg to 300 mg via subcutaneous injection in 61 healthy subjects

** Aritinercept, which blocks two immune proteins, was safe at all tested doses with no serious side effects or treatment discontinuations - AUPH

** As of last close, stock down 3.8% YTD

(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru)

((Kamal.Choudhury@thomsonreuters.com;))