NEW YORK, March 21, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced that trading of Versartis, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAR), a biopharmaceutical company developing long-acting therapeutic proteins for the treatment of endocrine disorders, commenced on The NASDAQ Stock Market® on March 21, 2014.
"Versartis is an innovative company dedicated to improving the treatment of growth hormone deficiency," said Bruce Aust, Executive Vice President, Corporate Client Group, NASDAQ OMX. "We are pleased to welcome Versartis to the NASDAQ family."
Versartis, Inc. is initially developing VRS-317, a novel, long-acting form of recombinant human growth hormone, for the treatment of pediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD). The company is currently completing a Phase 2a clinical trial of VRS-317 in children with GHD. VRS-317 is a fusion protein consisting of rhGH and a proprietary half-life extension technology known as XTEN, which is in-licensed from Amunix Operating, Inc. Amunix has granted Versartis an exclusive license under its patents and know-how related to the XTEN technology to develop and commercialize up to four licensed products, including VRS-317.
By listing with NASDAQ®, Versartis, Inc. joins some of the world's largest and most revolutionary health care companies. NASDAQ has been the exchange of choice to 100 percent of biotech companies that have listed on the U.S. markets year-to-date in 2014.
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