Relypsa is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing non-absorbed polymeric drugs; its lead candidate is patiromer (RLY5016), a high-capacity oral potassium binder for treatment of hyperkalemia. The company is advancing patiromer through late-stage development and commercial planning and uses a proprietary polymer platform to pursue additional product candidates. Relypsa announced an $80 million Series C preferred stock financing to fund late-stage development, submission of a new drug application (NDA), and commercial planning for patiromer. The company plans to initiate Phase 3 pivotal clinical trials of patiromer this year. Earlier clinical work includes data generated to date in nearly 500 patients and an ongoing Phase 2b AMETHYST-DN study that completed enrollment of 306 subjects at approximately 50 sites in May 2012, which includes an 8-week efficacy period followed by a 44-week extension for long-term safety and tolerability. Relypsa is based in Santa Clara, Calif. Relypsa is developing non-absorbed polymeric drugs with a lead compound, RLY5016, a high-capacity oral potassium binder for chronic and acute management of hyperkalemia. RLY5016 is being developed for patients with renal impairment, hypertension, diabetes and heart failure. The company has completed several clinical trials, including the PEARL-HF Phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled study in heart failure patients. A multi-center, open-label titration study is currently underway to inform pivotal study design. Relypsa plans to use recent financing to advance RLY5016 through pivotal clinical studies. Gerrit Klaerner, Ph.D., is President of the company. Relypsa is developing a lead drug candidate to treat hyperkalemia, a dangerous elevation of potassium that can cause arrhythmia and impaired kidney function. The company is in phase-two clinical trials for that candidate and says the additional capital will be used to complete those trials. Relypsa predicts the phase will close by the end of 2009 and already plans to raise new funds in 2010. The company is based in Santa Clara and was spun out from Ilypsa after Ilypsa was acquired by Amgen in July 2007. Many of Relypsa’s current investors previously backed Ilypsa. The article does not report revenue or user metrics.

Total raised

$160M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Aug 2012