** U.S.-listed shares of Atai Life Sciences 9VC.DE, ATAI.O rise 25% to $2.71 premarket

** Atai and Oxford-based firm Beckley Psytech say their experimental depression drug, BPL-003, met the main goals in a mid-stage study

** Both 8 mg and 12 mg single doses of the drug significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared to a low-dose control at all time points through eight weeks, cos say

** Firms say the trial data support advancing the 8 mg dose into late-stage trial, pending regulatory discussions

** Last month, Atai announced a $390 mln merger with Beckley Psytech to create a combined psychedelic mental health therapy firm

** As of last close, ATAI up 64.7% YTD

(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru)

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