STAMFORD, Conn. , March 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cara Therapeutics , Inc. (Nasdaq:CARA), a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pain and pruritus by selectively targeting peripheral kappa opioid receptors, today announced the pricing of its underwritten public offering of 4,450,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $18.00 per share. The gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by Cara Therapeutics , are expected to be approximately $80 million . In addition, Cara Therapeutics granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 667,500 additional shares of its common stock on the same terms and conditions. All of the shares in the offering will be sold by Cara Therapeutics . The offering is expected to close on or about April 5, 2017 , subject to customary closing conditions.



The proceeds of the offering are expected to be used to fund the company's clinical and research development activities, including the completion of the Phase 3 program for I.V. CR845 in uremic pruritus, two Phase 3 trials of I.V. CR845 in acute pain and a Phase 2b trial of oral CR845 in osteoarthritis pain, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Piper Jaffray & Co. and Stifel are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Canaccord Genuity Inc. , Needham & Company, LLC , Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC are acting as co-managers.

The offering is being made only by means of a written prospectus forming part of a shelf registration statement previously filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, from Piper Jaffray & Co. , Attention: Prospectus Department, 800 Nicollet Mall , J12S03, Minneapolis, MN 55402, or by telephone at (800) 747-3924, or by email at prospectus@pjc.com, or from Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated , Attention: Syndicate, One Montgomery Street , Suite 3700, San Francisco, CA 94104, or by telephone at (415) 364-2720, or by email at syndprospectus@stifel.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Cara Therapeutics

Cara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pain and pruritus by selectively targeting peripheral kappa opioid receptors. Cara Therapeutics is developing a novel and proprietary class of product candidates that target the body's peripheral nervous system and have demonstrated initial efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe pain without inducing many of the undesirable side effects typically associated with currently available pain therapeutics.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains or may imply "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on Cara Therapeutics' current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of Cara Therapeutics could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. For example, forward-looking statements include statements regarding the satisfaction of customary closing conditions in connection with Cara Therapeutics' public offering. These forward-looking statements are subject to other risks and uncertainties discussed in Cara Therapeutics' filings with the SEC ; including in the "Risk Factors" section of Cara Therapeutics' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 , filed with the SEC on March 10, 2017 and subsequent filings with the SEC . Except as otherwise required by law, Cara Therapeutics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

CORPORATE CONTACT: Derek Chalmers , Ph.D., D.Sc . President & CEO Cara Therapeutics, Inc. 203-406-3700 MEDIA CONTACT: Annie Starr 6 Degrees 973-415-8838 astarr@6degreespr.com INVESTOR CONTACT: Michael Schaffzin Stern Investor Relations, Inc. 212-362-1200 michael@sternir.com

Cara Therapeutics Inc.

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