Alebund Pharmaceuticals has entered into a collaboration and license agreement granting R1 Therapeutics exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize AP306 outside Greater China. AP306 is a first-in-class pan-phosphate transporter inhibitor in development for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis.
R1 Therapeutics is a newly formed clinical-stage biotechnology company backed by global kidney care providers DaVita and U.S. Renal Care, along with a syndicate of life sciences investors, following a recently completed oversubscribed Series A financing of 77.5 million U.S. dollars. Under the agreement, Alebund is eligible for development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments totaling up to the low triple-digit millions of U.S. dollars, as well as tiered royalties in the low double-digit percentage range on net sales of AP306 in the licensed territory.
Alebund also holds a substantial, non-dilutive equity interest in R1, providing the potential for future dividend-based participation in commercial upside. R1 will fund and lead global clinical development of AP306, including a planned global Phase 2b multi-regional trial in the United States and China expected to start later this year, with Alebund participating as a development partner.
AP306 was originally discovered by Chugai Pharmaceutical and later licensed to Alebund, which has advanced the program through a Phase 2a study in hemodialysis patients. The drug inhibits active phosphorus transport in the gastrointestinal tract by targeting three phosphate transporters (NaPi-IIb, PiT-1, and PiT-2), offering a mechanistically distinct alternative to conventional phosphate binders. Phase 2a results published in Kidney International Reports showed significant reductions in serum phosphate with a favorable safety and tolerability profile, and data have also been presented at the European Renal Association Annual Congress.
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