AveXis, a US-based gene therapy technology developer backed by pharmaceutical company Roche, set the range for its initial public offering at $19 to $21 yesterday.
The company plans to issue 4.25 million shares, which would put the size of the IPO between and $80.3m and $89.3m. If the IPO underwriters take up the option to buy an additional 637,500 shares that figure would increase to between $92.4m and $102.7m.
AveXis is working on gene therapy treatments for rare and life-threatening neurological genetic diseases. Its lead product candidate, AVXS-101, is in phase 1 clinical trials for spinal muscular atrophy, the leading genetic cause of infant death.
Between $45m and $60m of the IPO proceeds will fund phase 1 and future trials for AVXS-101, and $55m to $70m will support manufacturing activities, including AveXis setting up its own production facility.
PBM Capital invested a total of $7.5m in AveXis in 2014 and 2015, while Roche Venture Fund, Roche’s corporate venturing unit, co-led a $10m series C round Deerfield Management in January 2015.
T. Rowe Price subsequently led a $65m round in September also featuring Roche Venture Fund, Deerfield, Boxer Capital, Venrock, Janus Capital Management, Adage Capital Management, RA Capital Management, QVT Financial, Rock Springs Capital Management, Foresite Capital Management and RTW Investments.
Roche subsidiary Roche Finance holds an 8.4% stake in AveXis that will be diluted to 6.8% in the offering. The company’s largest shareholder is PBM Capital, owner of a 14.7% share that will be reduced to 11.9%.
Other notable shareholders include Deerfield (an 8% stake post-IPO), JDH Investment Management (7.7%), White Rock Capital Partners, NRM VII Holdings (5.4% each), T. Rowe Price and Venrock (4.3% each).
Goldman Sachs and Jefferies are the joint bookrunners for the offering, while BMO Capital Markets and Chardan Capital Markets are also acting as underwriters. AveXis initially filed for a $115m IPO last month.