UPDATE 1-Aeterna Zentaris narrows Q3 loss

* Q3 loss $0.19/shr vs $0.26/shr yr ago

* Revenue down 21 pct

* R&D expenses down 30 pct

Nov 11 (Reuters) - Canadian biopharmaceuticals company Aeterna Zentaris Inc (AEZ.TO) (AEZS.O) narrowed its third-quarter loss, helped by lower research and development expenses.

The company said loss was $11.3 million, or 19 cents per share, for the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2009, compared with a loss of $13.9 million, or 26 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue was down about 21 percent to $8.6 million, mainly due to lower royalty revenue, while R&D expenses dropped about 30 percent to $9.7 million.

Analysts were expecting a loss of 21 cents, excluding special items, on revenue of $8 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Shares of the Quebec-based company closed at C$1.13 Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Amit Kumar in Bangalore; Editing by Anil D'Silva)