KANSAS CITY, Kan. and BOSTON, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aratana Therapeutics, Inc., a development-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the licensing, development and commercialization of innovative prescription medications for pets, announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 5,750,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $6.00 per share.  The shares are expected to begin trading on The NASDAQ Global Market on June 27, 2013 under the ticker symbol "PETX."  All of the common stock is being offered by Aratana Therapeutics.  In addition, Aratana Therapeutics has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 862,500 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial public offering price.

Stifel and Lazard Capital Markets are acting as lead book-running managers for the offering.  William Blair, JMP Securities and Craig-Hallum Capital Group are acting as co-managers.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The offering is being made only by means of a written prospectus forming part of the effective registration statement.  Copies of the prospectus related to the offering may be obtained, when available, from Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, One Montgomery Street, Suite 3700, San Francisco, California 94104, or by calling (415) 364-2720; or from Lazard Capital Markets LLC, Attn: Syndicate Department, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 48th Floor, New York, NY 10020, or by calling (800) 542-0970.

SOURCE Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.