Otsuka Pharmaceutical Acquires Jnana Therapeutics for $800M to Develop PKU Treatment

1. Acquisition Details:
- Otsuka Pharmaceutical has agreed to acquire Jnana Therapeutics for $800 million upfront, with an additional $325 million in potential milestone payments.
2. Lead Drug Candidate:
- Jnana’s lead drug candidate, JNT-517, is an oral treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare inherited metabolic disorder.
3. Mechanism of Action:
- JNT-517 is an allosteric small molecule inhibitor of SLC6A19, a solute carrier that regulates amino acid reabsorption in the kidney.
4. Clinical Progress:
- JNT-517 has shown positive results in a phase 1b/2 study and is expected to advance into a registrational study in 2025.
5. Platform Technology:
- The acquisition includes Jnana’s RAPID chemoproteomics platform, which is designed to discover medicines for challenging-to-drug targets.
6. Strategic Impact:
- The acquisition will strengthen Otsuka’s research and development capabilities in the Boston area and enhance its global expansion in rare diseases.
7. Future Plans:
- Jnana will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka, with plans to continue developing its pipeline of innovative oral medicines for autoimmune diseases.