** Shares of weight-loss drug developer of Veru VERU.O rise 46% to 74 cents premarket

** VERU says combination of its experimental drug, enobosarm, and semaglutide resulted in fewer gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea and nausea in mid-stage trial, compared with semaglutide alone

** Combo drug met main goal of mid-stage trial earlier this year

** Patients taking enobosarm 3mg with semaglutide saw 99% loss of fat while preserving lean muscle mass, co says

** VERU has requested meeting with U.S. FDA to discuss next steps for enobosarm, including potential late-stage trial

** As of last close, stock down 21.8% YTD

(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru)

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