SynCo Bio Partners and Versartis Expand Collaboration as Lead Product Enters into Clinical Trials

AMSTERDAM, July 29, 2010 - SynCo Bio Partners today announced an extension of its successful
collaboration with Versartis, Inc. following the recent initiation of a Phase
1 clinical trial in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with monthly
dosing of VRS-859. This news comes less than 12 months since the parties
entered into a strategic partnership to manufacture Versartis' lead product
VRS-859 (exenatide-XTEN).

Under the extended agreement, SynCo will scale-up a second manufacturing
process on behalf of Versartis, this time in preparation for the GMP
manufacture of VRS-317, a once monthly form of human growth hormone for the
treatment of children and adults with growth hormone deficiency. As with the
VRS-859 program, SynCo will also provide fill and finish services for the
manufacture, testing and release of formulated Drug Product vials. SynCo
completed process development and optimization, scale-up and GMP manufacture
of VRS-859 for Phase 1 clinical studies earlier this year.

"Versartis achieved its first major clinical milestone, a Phase 1 trial
of VRS-859, in just over one year after Series A demonstrating our ability to
efficiently and quickly execute our development plans," said Jeffrey L.
Cleland, Ph.D., Versartis' Chief Executive Officer. "The strength and
commitment of our collaborators, such as SynCo Bio Partners, is a key factor
in this achievement and we look forward to a similarly successful partnership
for our second product, VRS-317."

Pierre Warffemius, SynCo Bio Partners Chief Executive Officer stated,
"SynCo is extremely proud of its success in supporting Versartis to progress
its pipeline. The VRS-859 manufacturing program was completed on time due to
the combined expertise and management of the Versartis-SynCo project team. As
world leaders in advancing biopharmaceuticals from bench to market, we very
much look forward to helping Versartis also meet their corporate objectives
for VRS-317."

About SynCo Bio Partners B.V.

SynCo Bio Partners is a GMP-licensed bulk drug substance and final
product CMO with clinical and commercial production experience with microbial
and mammalian systems. This experience has been acquired by developing new
production processes for a number of international clients and producing a
wide variety of different vaccines, live biotherapeutics and recombinant
proteins in our state-of-the-art, GMP-licensed facilities since inception in
2000.

Focused solely on biopharmaceuticals, SynCo Bio Partners acts as a
strategic, long-term partner delivering product on time to the highest
quality standards. SynCo's team is committed to exceeding customer
expectations by taking a truly collaborative approach to manufacturing. For
more information, please visit www.syncobiopartners.com.

About Versartis

Versartis, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing therapeutics for
the treatment of metabolic diseases and endocrine disorders. The company's
lead product candidates are VRS-859, a once monthly form of the GLP-1 analog,
exenatide and VRS-317, a once monthly form of human growth hormone. Versartis
is pursuing the development of new therapeutic proteins utilizing the Amunix
Inc. novel half-life extension XTEN technology.

Versartis, a joint venture company between Amunix, Inc. and Index
Ventures, owns and develops the novel drug candidates in metabolic diseases
and endocrinology that it has licensed from Amunix. Versartis has established
preclinical proof-of-concept for three product candidates in its pipeline:
exenatide and IL-1ra for diabetes, and hGH for growth hormone deficiency.
Further information on Versartis can be found at www.versartis.com.

Contacts: SynCo Bio Partners B.V., Joanne McCudden PhD ACIM, Director Marketing and Sales, +31-6-5534-8074, J.mccudden at syncobiopartners.com