** Shares of biopharmaceutical firm Veru VERU.O down 20% at $2.79 post-market as it seeks equity raise
** Miami, Florida-based co focused on treating cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases commences offering of stock and warrants; deal size not disclosed
** Co plans to use net offering proceeds to fund development of enobosarm, with a primary focus on Phase 2b PLATEAU clinical study activities
** VERU's drug, enobosarm, being developed to counter muscle loss in overweight or obese patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide (Wegovy)
** Canaccord Genuity and Oppenheimer are joint bookrunners for offering
** Co has ~14.6 mln shares outstanding for about $50 mln market cap; in Aug, it effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split to regain Nasdaq compliance
** Stock closed down 4.1% at $3.50 on Weds, extending YTD loss to 46%
(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)
((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))