Spark, HTG file for IPOs
Spark Therapeutics Inc. (Philadelphia, Pa.) and HTG Molecular Diagnostics Inc. (Tucson, Ariz.) filed for IPOs on NASDAQ.
Gene therapy play Spark filed to raise up to $86.3 million in an offering underwritten by JPMorgan; Credit Suisse; Cowen; and Sanford C. Bernstein. It expects data in 2H15 from a Phase III trial of lead program SPK-RPE65 ( AAV2-hRPE65v2) to treat inherited retinal dystrophies, including Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA). The adeno-associated viral (AAV) serotype 2 vector encoding the retinal pigment epithelium-specific protein 65kDa (RPE65) gene has Orphan drug designation in the U.S. and EU for LCA, and breakthrough therapy designation to treat nyctalopia, or night blinding, in patients with LCA. Spark expects to submit a BLA to FDA in 2016 for SPK-RPE65. ...