** Shares of drug developer Decoy Therapeutics DCOY.O rise 6.99% to $0.872 premarket
** Co says it has reached agreement with Gates Foundation to develop manufacturing platform for antiviral drugs
** Platform aims to make antivirals widely available in low- and middle-income countries, co says
** Technology called IMP3ACT enables rapid design and production of drugs for viruses such as flu and people with weakened immune systems, co adds
** Co plans to validate platform with experimental nasal spray to prevent coronavirus infections in immunocompromised people
** Lead antiviral candidate expected to be submitted to U.S. regulators within a year, DCOY says
** As of last close, stock down ~97% over past year
(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru)
((Sahil.Pandey@thomsonreuters.com))