** Genetic medicines co Verve Therapeutics' VERV.O shares
fall 33.5% to $8.50 premarket
** Co to pause enrollment of its early-stage study testing
its gene editing therapy called VERVE-101 after a patient
enrolled in the study experienced a severe drug-related adverse
event
** The patient saw a rise in levels of a problem-causing
liver enzyme and abnormally low levels of blood platelets within
the first four days after dosing - VERV
** Co says it is investigating the abnormalities and expects
to work with regulatory authorities on further development of
the therapy
** Adds it will now prioritize development of another gene
editing therapy, VERVE-102, in development for the same
condition
** Plans to start an early-stage trial to test VERVE-102 in
the Q2 of this year
** Up to last close, stock mostly flat YTD
(Reporting by Sneha S K in Bengaluru)
((Sneha.SK@thomsonreuters.com;))