Chugai Pharmaceutical has signed a definitive stock agreement to purchase Japan-based Renalys Pharma, augmenting its kidney disease portfolio.
Chugai will also secure exclusive rights to develop and market Renalys’ sparsentan in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
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The dual endothelin and angiotensin II receptor antagonist was initially developed by Travere Therapeutics and has secured approval in Europe and the US to treat IgA nephropathy (IgAN).
Renalys is progressing the oral therapy in the Japanese market.
The financial details of the agreement include an upfront cash payment from Chugai to Renalys of Y15bn ($98m), with standard purchase price adjustments.
Chugai has also agreed to potential earn-out payments up to Y16bn ($104m) in cash based on achieving regulatory milestones and sales performance in the designated territories.
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By GlobalDataRenalys recently concluded the collection of primary endpoint data for its Phase III study of sparsentan in Japan, focusing on IgAN, with expectations to release the topline results in the last quarter of 2025.
The company has also established agreements with Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) for registrational studies targeting focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and Alport syndrome, a hereditary condition that affects kidney function.
Renalys Pharma chief development officer Ryutaro Shimazaki stated: “Chugai brings scale, speed and deep know-how in renal disease. Together, we will align development with PMDA expectations, prepare clinicians for adoption, and focus on the practical steps that get sparsentan to patients sooner.”
The acquisition facilitates quicker access to sparsentan for patients in Asia.
In the US, sparsentan, under the brand name Filspari, was fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024 for slowing kidney function decline in primary IgAN adult patients who are at elevated disease progression risk.
The European Union granted standard approval for IgAN in 2025.
In 2024, Travere signed a licensing agreement for sparsentan with Renalys for several Asian nations.
