Relypsa, Sangamo planning $100 million follow-ons

Relypsa Inc. (NASDAQ:RLYP) and Sangamo BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ:SGMO) both proposed to raise up to $100 million in follow-ons on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley; BofA Merrill Lynch; and Cowen are underwriting Relypsa's offering. In 3Q14, the company plans to submit an NDA to FDA for patiromer ( RLY5016), a high-capacity oral potassium binder, to treat hyperkalemia.

JPMorgan is underwriting Sangamo's offering. The company is using its zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) genome-editing technology to develop therapeutics. Earlier this month, Sangamo jumped $3.35 (17%) to $22.96 on additional data from two trials evaluating the company's SB-728-T for HIV. The cell therapy comprises autologous CD4 T cells modified at the CC chemokine receptor 5 ( CCR5) gene with ZFN technology. At least one investor contacted by BioCentury believes Sangamo's platform will continue to drive momentum despite the fact that the gene therapy play does not have obvious upcoming catalysts (see BioCentury, March 17). ...