Aratana Therapeutics is focused on developing novel medicines for companion animals, specifically cats and dogs. The company holds worldwide animal-health rights to three patent-protected compounds—two acquired from RaQualia Pharma Inc. and one from Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. It is advancing those compounds to address osteoarthritis-related pain, inappetence and frailty, and post-surgical pain. Aratana is led by President and CEO Steven St. Peter, M.D. The company intends to use the Series C proceeds to continue expanding its product pipeline. The business is based in Kansas City, KS. Aratana Therapeutics develops innovative, patent‑protected medicines for companion animals, acquiring compounds from human pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The company licenses and develops those compounds and then out‑licenses or partners with major animal health firms for commercialization. It intends to use new capital to expand its product pipeline and to in‑license and develop novel medicines for dogs and cats. Leadership is led by CEO Dr. Linda Rhodes and President & COO David K. Rosen, DVM. Financially, the company has raised capital this year including a $20M Series A and additional financing described below, bringing total capital raised to $31M. Aratana Therapeutics is a newly-formed company based in Kansas City, Kansas focused on developing innovative therapies for the animal health industry. The company’s core activity is the development of new therapeutic products for animals. It closed a $20m Series A financing to support its work. The round was led by MPM Capital and Avalon Ventures with participation from the Kansas Bioscience Authority. As part of the transaction Dr. Steven St. Peter (MPM) and Jay Lichter (Avalon) will join Aratana’s board, which also includes Ron Meeusen. Dr. Linda Rhodes, founder and vice-president of clinical development at AlcheraBio, will join Aratana as CEO in February 2011, and Dr. David Rosen is President and Founder.

Total raised

$47M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Jan 2013