MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Versartis, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAR), an endocrine-focused biopharmaceutical company that is developing somavaratan (VRS-317), a novel, long-acting form of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) for growth hormone deficiency (GHD), today announced the initiation of its Phase 2 trial, Versartis International Trial in Adults with Long-Acting Growth Hormone (VITAL), of somavaratan in adults with GHD.

Jay Shepard, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The initiation of our Phase 2 VITAL trial in adult patients is another significant milestone for Versartis as we work to expand the potential market for somavaratan. The adult population of patients with growth hormone deficiency is often overlooked and we believe that our long-acting rhGH product can have a significant impact on the treatment of adult GHD. With once-monthly dosing, we would have the ability to provide patients a less burdensome option than the current standard of care, and would have the impetus to raise awareness of GHD in the adult population and grow the market opportunity.”

The adult Phase 2 VITAL trial is a dose-finding safety study to evaluate a monthly somavaratan dosing regimen in adults with GHD. The study is an open-label, international, multicenter study with somavaratan treatment for five months. This treatment period will include monthly dose titrations until a subject’s mean IGF-I SDS value is within a target range for two consecutive months. Subjects will be stratified into three cohorts based on age, gender and the use of oral estrogens.

About Versartis, Inc.

Versartis, Inc. is an endocrine-focused biopharmaceutical company initially developing somavaratan (VRS-317), a novel, long-acting form of recombinant human growth hormone for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Somavaratan is intended to reduce the burden of daily injection therapy by requiring significantly fewer injections, potentially improving compliance and, therefore, treatment outcomes. The Company completed the Phase 2a stage of a Phase 1b/2a trial evaluating weekly, twice-monthly and monthly dosing regimens of somavaratan in children with GHD in June 2014 and initiated a global Phase 3 registration trial, VELOCITY, in GHD children in January 2015. In addition, the Company initiated a Phase 2/3 trial in Japan for children with GHD in April 2015 and a Phase 2 trial, VITAL, evaluating monthly dosing for adults with GHD in September 2015. Additional information on Versartis clinical trials can be found at www.versartistrials.com. Further information on Versartis can be found at www.versartis.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions or current expectations concerning, among other things, plans and timing of our clinical trials and the potential for eventual regulatory approval of somavaratan. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: our success being heavily dependent on somavaratan; somavaratan being a new chemical entity; the risk that somavaratan may not have favorable results in clinical trials or receive regulatory approval; potential delays in our clinical trials due to regulatory requirements or difficulty identifying qualified investigators or enrolling patients; the risk that somavaratan may cause serious side effects or have properties that delay or prevent regulatory approval or limit its commercial potential; the risk that we may encounter difficulties in manufacturing somavaratan; if somavaratan is approved, risks associated with its market acceptance, including pricing and reimbursement; potential difficulties enforcing our intellectual property rights; our reliance on our license of intellectual property from Amunix Operating, Inc. and our need for additional funds to support our operations. We discuss many of these risks in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2015, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

CONTACT: Corporate & Investors:
         Joshua Brumm
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         The Ruth Group
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         Corporate Communications
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