Rare neurology disease play Auspex raises $35M

Auspex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (La Jolla, Calif.) raised $20 million in a series E round led by new investor Deerfield Management. Existing investors Thomas, McNerney & Partners; CMEA Capital; Panorama Capital; BioMed Ventures; and Costa Verde Capital also participated. Auspex also raised $15 million through a four-year loan from Oxford Finance.

Last month, Auspex filed to raise up to $69 million in an IPO underwritten by Stifel; BMO Capital Markets; Baird; William Blair; and Ladenburg Thalmann. The company said it is in a quiet period and declined to comment on IPO plans (see BioCentury Extra, Dec. 23, 2013). ...