China-based startup SanReno Therapeutics,  a clinical-stage company specializing in the discovery, development, and commercialisation of innovative therapies for kidney diseases, has announced its acquisition by Novartis, a global medicines company.  Following the acquisition's closure, SanReno becomes an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Novartis.

The founding investors of SanReno, including Pivotal bioVenture Partners China, Frazier Life Sciences, Samsara BioCapital, and Versant Ventures, have sold their equity securities in SanReno.

Established in late 2021 as a joint venture between the investor consortium and Chinook Therapeutics (now part of Novartis), SanReno holds exclusive rights in Greater China and Singapore for two late-stage assets targeting Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN): atrasentan and zigakibart.

Atrasentan, an oral endothelin A receptor antagonist (ERA), is presently undergoing Phase 3 development for IgAN. It demonstrated clinically meaningful and highly statistically significant proteinuria reduction at the 36-weeks interim analysis, successfully meeting the primary endpoint of its Phase 3 study.

Zigakibart (BION-1301), a subcutaneously administered monoclonal antibody targeting APRIL (A Proliferation Inducing Ligand), obtained approval from China CDE for entry into the Phase 3 study in October 2023.

Completed within the first two years of SanReno's formation, this acquisition is one of the few transactions where a Chinese biotech company has been acquired by a multinational pharmaceutical company.