CANCER diagnostics company Mirxes has applied to Hong Kong’s stock exchange for an initial public offering (IPO), potentially becoming the first company based outside of China and Hong Kong to list under a provision that supports biotech IPOs on the bourse.

Mirxes raised US$50 million ahead of its potential listing, the company said on Wednesday (Jul 26). The Series D funding values the company at around US$600 million post-money, The Business Times (BT) understands.

Mirxes’ application comes amid a push by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) to attract international listings. In the past year, HKEX has opened its first US office in New York and relaxed rules for some pre-commercial companies.