Janssen Acquires Anakuria Therapeutics, Nets Early-Phase Polycystic Kidney Disease Candidate

J&J’s subsidiary Janssen has bought Anakuria Therapeutics and its first-in-class polycystic kidney disease candidate, AT-20494.

The small molecule selectively inhibits activity of mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1), the main modulator of cellular metabolism, which is overactive in multiple chronic diseases including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney diseases.

AT-20494 is the first fully selective inhibitor of mTORC1 to be studied in humans, according to Anakuria’s parent company, Navitor Pharmaceuticals.