BUZZ-Lexaria up after drug delivery tech shows possible benefits for COVID-19

** U.S.-listed shares of Canadian drug delivery platforms maker rise as much as 52% to a near one-year high of $10.02

** Says a study in rats showed that its technology enhanced the delivery of Colchicine - a drug being studied to reduce overactive immune responses, called cytokine storm, associated with COVID-19 

** Colchicine, mainly used to treat gout, is also occasionally used to treat a kind of heart inflammation in children after administration of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines

** Co says the study in rats also tested absorption of two other antiviral drugs but the findings were not notable; adds it would likely focus on colchicine

** Stock up nearly 34% this year, including session's gains

(Reporting by Amruta Khandekar) ((Amruta.Khandekar@thomsonreuters.com;))