** Shares of drug developer MetaVia MTVA.O rise 17.9% to $2.17 premarket
** Co says its experimental obesity drug showed a maximum reduction of 6.3% in body weight in a 28-day, 36-patient portion of an early-stage trial
** The drug, DA-1726, on average reduced body weight by 4.3%
** Additionally, MTVA says DA-1726 showed waist circumference reduction of 1.6 inches on average, with a maximum reduction of 3.9 inches by day 33
** "We anticipate that greater weight loss may be seen in longer duration studies" - co
** In November, co changed its name to MetaVia from NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals
** Up to last close, stock had fallen 9.4% YTD
(Reporting by Puyaan Singh)
((Puyaan.Singh@thomsonreuters.com;))