** Shares of drugmaker Capricor Therapeutics CAPR.O surge fourfold to $29.72, its highest in over 8 years

** Co says its experimental cell therapy, deramiocel, slowed the progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy or DMD in a late-stage trial

** DMD is a condition that causes skeletal and heart muscle weakness that quickly gets worse with time

** Co says deramiocel slowed DMD progression by 54% vs placebo

** Disease causes muscle weakness and heart problems; affects about 15,000 people in U.S. - CAPR

** Co has exclusive deal with Japan's Nippon Shinyaku to sell deramiocel in U.S. and Japan, if approved

** Including session's move, stock up ~175% YTD

(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru)

((Sahil.Pandey@thomsonreuters.com))