Wall Street got what it wanted from Vera Therapeutics Inc. with atacicept in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and rewarded shares of the Brisbane, Calif.-based firm (NASDAQ:VERA), pushing them to close Jan. 25 at $25.31, up $8.29, or 49%.
Travere Therapeutics Inc.’s narrow phase III miss in the study called Protect with the approved endothelin and angiotensin II receptor antagonist Filspari (sparsentan) in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) had Wall Street speculating about the fate of the compound, which is available for the indication by way of accelerated approval in the U.S., having been given the nod in February.
The paper published June 19 in Nature Genetics that described a genome-wide analysis to narrow down the implicated pathogenic signaling pathways and “prioritize drug targets for IgA nephropathy [IgAN]” no doubt proved of great interest to developers, plenty of which are busy in the space.
Wuhan LL Science & Technology Development Co. Ltd. has synthesized mannan-binding lectin serine protease 2 (MASP2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of lupus nephritis and IgA nephropathy, among others.
Biohaven Ltd. is advancing development of its first-in-class bispecific IgG degrader, BHV-1300, which has potential to treat multiple immune-mediated diseases. The pan-IgG degrader has demonstrated a competitive safety, manufacturable and pharmacodynamic profile, and BHV-1300 dosage regimens are expected to allow co-administration with existing standards of care. An IND submission is planned for the second half of this year.
On a quest to boost its renal diseases pipeline with two late-stage drugs, Novartis AG has announced plans to acquire precision medicines drug developer Chinook Therapeutics Inc., offering up to $3.5 billion. The move drove Chinook’s shares (NASDAQ:KDNY) up by 58.3%, or $13.99, on June 12, closing at $37.98.
Researchers at Jiangsu Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. and Medshine Discovery Inc. have identified azobenzene compounds acting as endothelin-1 receptor (EDNRA; ETA) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of IgA nephropathy.
Saddled with disappointing results from a phase III trial with Filspari (sparsentan) in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), officials of Travere Therapeutics Inc. stressed the differences between that disorder and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) – for which the drug was cleared by the U.S. FDA in February. Two-year IgAN efficacy data are due in the fourth quarter of this year.
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is the most prevalent glomerulonephritis worldwide that does not have a specific treatment. Its pathogenesis is complex and not well understood, but there is increasing evidence that the lectin-driven complement activation may be behind it. Mannose-binding lectin serine protease 2 (MASP-2) has been studied as a therapeutic target in the treatment of IgA nephropathy, as it is one of the main lectin pathway activators.
San Diego-based Travere Therapeutics Inc. gained U.S. FDA accelerated approval for its dual endothelin angiotensin receptor antagonist, Filspari (sparsentan), to reduce proteinuria in adults with primary IgA nephropathy, or Berger’s disease.
