The Amunix-backed biopharmaceutical company could close its initial public offering at almost $145m, and will invest the proceeds in developing its lead drug candidate.

Versartis, a US-based biopharmaceutical company developing a treatment for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) backed by investors including pharmaceutical company Amunix, has raised $126m from its initial public offering.

The company sold 6 million shares priced at $21.00 each, all of which were bought by underwriters Morgan Stanley, Citigroup Global Markets, Cowen and Company and Canaccord Genuity. The underwriters have a 30-day option to buy an additional 900,000 shares, which would increase the proceeds to $144.9m.

Amunix co-founded Versartis in 2008…