Ardelyx, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on gastrointestinal and cardio-renal diseases, and Kyowa Hakko Kirin, a Japan-based pharmaceutical company, have signed a license agreement that provides Kyowa Hakko Kirin with exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Ardelyx’s lead investigational product, tenapanor, for treating cardiorenal diseases in Japan.

Tenapanor is an oral, minimally systemic NHE3 inhibitor discovered and developed by Ardelyx that is in Phase III development in the US for treating hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease who are on dialysis.

Under the agreement, Ardelyx will receive a $30-million upfront payment and is eligible to receive additional development and commercialization milestones worth up to $130 million. Ardelyx is also eligible to receive high-teen royalties throughout the term of the agreement. Kyowa Hakko Kirin will have the exclusive rights to develop, market, and commercialize tenapanor for cardiorenal diseases and conditions associated with them, including hyperphosphatemia, in Japan.

Source: Ardelyx