Regulus Therapeutics Inc. CEO Jay Hagan told investors in a January call the company had no interest in “simply out-licensing” rights to lead candidate farabursen, an oligonucleotide targeting autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease set to start phase III testing on a path to a potential accelerated approval. And now, there’s no need to, as Regulus found a buyer for the whole company in a deal with Novartis AG valued at about $1.7 billion.
In an indication that has proved difficult for biopharma to conquer, Regulus Therapeutics Inc. disclosed further positive data from its ongoing phase Ib study testing RGLS-8429 in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and laid out its plans to move straight into a phase III trial later this year, with the potential for an accelerated U.S. approval.
