** Shares of drug developer Marinus Pharmaceuticals MRNS.O
fall 74.2% to $1.94 premarket
** MRNS says its experimental drug to treat refractory
status epilepticus (RSE) failed to meet criteria for early
stoppage of a late-stage study
** MRNS says an independent data monitoring committee has
recommended continuing the study following an interim analysis
** RSE is defined as persistent seizures despite appropriate
use of two intravenous medications
** Says co has completed study enrollment at about 100
patients with results expected in summer 2024
** Study results will be used to determine whether to
continue development of the drug, intravenous ganaxolone -MRNS
** "The news comes both as a shock and a disappointment to
us given promising mid-stage study results," Truist Securities
analyst Joon Lee wrote in a note
** Up to last close, stock down ~31% YTD
(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru)
((Mariam.ESunny@thomsonreuters.com;))