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Relypsa is a technology company.
Relypsa develops and commercializes non-absorbed polymeric drugs, focusing on cardiovascular and renal diseases. Its primary product, VELTASSA (patiromer), binds potassium to treat hyperkalemia. The company's technical strategy creates therapies acting within the gastrointestinal tract, limiting systemic absorption and side effects.
Gerrit Klaerner founded Relypsa in 2007. The company's origin stemmed from the insight that non-absorbed polymer chemistry offered a novel, safer therapeutic pathway for chronic conditions. Klaerner recognized the unmet need for effective, well-tolerated oral treatments for electrolyte disorders.
Relypsa’s products serve hyperkalemia patients, often those with chronic kidney disease or heart failure on potassium-elevating medications. The company's vision centers on improving patient outcomes with innovative, targeted therapies addressing critical medical needs in cardiorenal medicine, enhancing quality of life.
Relypsa has raised $163.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Relypsa has raised $163.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Relypsa has raised $163.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Relypsa's investors include Lightspeed Venture Partners, OrbiMed, Scott Rocklage, Delphi Ventures, Mediphase Venture Partners, New Leaf Venture Partners, Sibling Capital Ventures, Sprout Group, Deepika R Pakianathan, Vijay Lathi, 5AM Ventures, CMEA Capital.
Relypsa is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops non-absorbed polymeric drugs for cardiovascular and renal diseases, with its lead product VELTASSA (patiromer), a potassium binder treating hyperkalemia—a condition of elevated blood potassium levels common in kidney disease patients.[1][2][3] It serves patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure, and related metabolic disorders, addressing the problem of hyperkalemia that complicates treatments like RAAS inhibitors and increases cardiovascular risks.[1][2][6] The company raised $199M before being acquired and has seen its product gain approval, with commercialization rights held globally (royalty-free) and U.S. IP protection until at least 2030.[1][2]
Relypsa was acquired in 2016 by Galenica (now part of Vifor Pharma), rebranded elements of its operations, and integrated into Vifor Pharma Inc., which continues advancing VELTASSA in nephrology and cardio-renal areas.[3] Growth momentum includes FDA approval of patiromer, ongoing pipeline exploration via its polymer platform, and relevance in the expanding late-stage CKD therapeutics market projected at 11.6% CAGR through 2032.[1][2][6]
Relypsa was founded in 2007 and headquartered in Redwood City, California (some sources note Santa Clara proximity), emerging as a biopharma innovator targeting unmet needs in renal and cardiovascular care.[2][3][4][5] Specific founders are not detailed in available records, but the company quickly advanced its polymer drug discovery platform, leading to the pivotal development of RLY5016 (later patiromer or VELTASSA), a non-absorbed potassium binder.[1][2] Early traction included raising $199M in funding and reaching clinical stages, culminating in a New Drug Application (NDA) submission to the FDA for hyperkalemia treatment.[1][2]
A landmark moment was its 2016 acquisition by Galenica Group (Vifor Pharma's parent), valued highly, after which it operated as a subsidiary—renamed Vifor Pharma Inc. in 2021—accelerating commercialization of VELTASSA while retaining its proprietary technology for pipeline expansion.[1][3]
Relypsa rides the surge in cardio-renal therapeutics, fueled by rising CKD prevalence (affecting ~10-15% globally) and hyperkalemia's role in limiting guideline-directed therapies amid aging populations and diabetes epidemics.[1][2][6] Timing aligns with post-2015 FDA approvals for potassium binders, filling gaps left by older drugs like sodium polystyrene sulfonate, amid a resilient late-stage CKD market at 11.6% CAGR to 2032.[1] Market forces favoring it include demand for safer, oral non-absorbed options in nephrology/cardiology, bolstered by acquisitions enabling global reach via Vifor.[3]
It influences the ecosystem by validating polymer tech for gut-selective drugs, inspiring biopharma pipelines in metabolic diseases and paving ways for combo therapies in heart-kidney axes.[1][6]
Relypsa (via Vifor integration) is poised for pipeline maturation, with VELTASSA expansions into broader CKD/heart failure indications and novel candidates like RLY-6002 targeting obesity-diabetes overlaps.[6] Trends like precision nephrology, GLP-1 synergies, and AI-driven drug design will amplify its polymer platform, potentially driving partnerships or further M&A in a $100B+ cardio-renal market.[1][6] Its influence may evolve from niche innovator to key player in integrated kidney care, sustaining momentum from acquisition-fueled stability—echoing its origins as a hyperkalemia pioneer now scaling globally.[2][3]
Relypsa has raised $163.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Venture Round in September 2012.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2012 | $3.0M Venture Round | Lightspeed Venture Partners, OrbiMed | |
| Aug 1, 2012 | $80.0M Series C | Lightspeed Venture Partners, OrbiMed, Scott Rocklage, Delphi Ventures, Mediphase Venture Partners, New Leaf Venture Partners, Sibling Capital Ventures, Sprout Group | |
| Sep 1, 2010 | $70.0M Series B | OrbiMed | Lightspeed Venture Partners, Scott Rocklage, Deepika R Pakianathan, Mediphase Venture Partners, Vijay Lathi, Sprout Group |
| Mar 11, 2009 | $10.0M Other Equity | 5AM Ventures, CMEA Capital, Delphi Ventures, Mediphase Venture Partners, New Leaf Venture Partners |