# Chinook Therapeutics
Chinook Therapeutics, Inc. was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovered and developed precision medicines for severe kidney diseases; it was incubated in Vancouver, British Columbia, listed on Nasdaq in 2020, and acquired by Novartis in August 2023 in a transaction valued at up to USD 3.5 billion.[1](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html) At acquisition the company was described as Seattle, WA-based, with operations in Vancouver.[1](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html) • [2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | Incubated through Versant Ventures' Inception Sciences discovery engine in Vancouver[2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html) |
| Focus | Precision medicines for rare and severe kidney diseases, built on single-cell RNA sequencing and human-derived organoids[2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html) |
| First round | USD 65 million Series A, announced August 22, 2019, led by Versant Ventures[2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html) |
| Lead assets | Atrasentan (oral endothelin A receptor antagonist) and zigakibart/BION-1301 (anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody), both in Phase 3 for IgA nephropathy by 2023[1](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html) |
| Outcome | Acquired by Novartis, completed August 11, 2023: USD 40.00 per share cash (USD 3.2 billion) plus CVRs of up to USD 4.00 per share (up to USD 300 million)[1](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html) |
## Founding and the Versant spinout
Chinook was created inside [Versant Ventures](https://www.edgepedia.org/versant-ventures)' Inception Sciences discovery engine in Vancouver and seeded by Versant and Apple Tree Partners.[2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html) Eric Dobmeier served as president and chief executive officer, and the scientific advisory board was chaired by the academic co-founder, Dr. [Benjamin Humphreys](https://www.edgepedia.org/benjamin-d-humphreys), chief of the division of nephrology at Washington University.[2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html)
Precision medicine for kidney disease meant, in Chinook's practice, using single-cell RNA sequencing, human-derived organoids, and new translational models to identify patient subgroups and drug targets in rare, severe kidney disorders with defined and rapid clinical development pathways.[2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html) The Series A proceeds were designated to advance several programs into clinical trials by 2021.[2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html) Chinook announced a USD 65 million Series A on August 22, 2019, led by founding investor Versant Ventures with participation from fellow founding investor Apple Tree Partners and new investor Samsara BioCapital.[2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html)
## Pipeline and clinical programs
**Atrasentan** was the company's most advanced asset. In December 2019 Chinook paid up to USD 135 million in milestone payments to AbbVie for global exclusive rights to the oral endothelin A receptor antagonist, which was then in the ALIGN Phase 3 trial for [IgA nephropathy](https://www.edgepedia.org/iga-nephropathy).[3](https://geneonline.news/novartis-3-5b-chinook-therapeutics-acqusition/) The molecule came with history: AbbVie had run multiple Phase 3 trials in diabetic kidney disease and chronic kidney disease covering more than 5,000 patients before deciding in 2017 to abandon its nephrology pipeline, after which Chinook took over the program.[4](https://bydrug.pharmcube.com/news/detail/d3f36c9bda7cb67e46986eeb1ec4cedd)
**Zigakibart (BION-1301)** was a subcutaneously administered anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody that entered Phase 3 development for IgA nephropathy in July 2023, shortly before the acquisition.[1](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html)
The third clinical program, **CHK-336**, an oral LDHA inhibitor for primary hyperoxaluria, entered Phase 1 but was paused after a serious adverse event occurred during dose escalation.[4](https://bydrug.pharmcube.com/news/detail/d3f36c9bda7cb67e46986eeb1ec4cedd)
## Clinical evidence: by the numbers
The data that attracted Novartis came from two mid-stage programs in IgA nephropathy.
In the Phase 2 **AFFINITY** trial's IgAN cohort, 20 patients received atrasentan 0.75 mg once daily for 52 weeks. UPCR (urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio, a measure of protein leakage into urine) fell 58.5% from baseline at 24 weeks, and 91% of patients achieved a reduction of more than 40%. There was no fluid retention.[4](https://bydrug.pharmcube.com/news/detail/d3f36c9bda7cb67e46986eeb1ec4cedd)
In zigakibart's Phase 1/2, UPCR fell 67% at 52 weeks. Among 40 patients there was one Grade 1 infection judged treatment-related, with no deaths, no discontinuations, and no anti-drug antibodies detected.[4](https://bydrug.pharmcube.com/news/detail/d3f36c9bda7cb67e46986eeb1ec4cedd)
For comparison, Travere Therapeutics' sparsentan, a dual endothelin-angiotensin receptor antagonist, achieved a 49.8% UPCR reduction within 36 weeks in the Phase 3 PROTECT trial, but the FDA's accelerated approval carried a boxed warning for hepatotoxicity and embryo-fetal toxicity.[4](https://bydrug.pharmcube.com/news/detail/d3f36c9bda7cb67e46986eeb1ec4cedd)
## The Novartis acquisition and outcome
Novartis agreed to acquire Chinook for up to USD 3.5 billion, merging it into a newly formed Novartis subsidiary, and completed the acquisition on August 11, 2023.[1](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html) • [5](https://www.novartis.com.cn/news/nuohuaxuanbushougouchinook-therapeuticsjinyibuqianghuachuangxinyaowuzhanebingtazhanshenzangjibinglingyuguanxian) Chinook stockholders received USD 40.00 per share in cash, USD 3.2 billion in total, plus a contingent value right of up to USD 4.00 per share, worth up to USD 300 million in aggregate, payable on achievement of regulatory milestones.[1](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html) (Novartis's Chinese-language announcement rendered the contingent amount as 3000万美元, USD 30 million; the English release states USD 300 million, which is consistent with USD 4.00 per share.)[1](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html) • [5](https://www.novartis.com.cn/news/nuohuaxuanbushougouchinook-therapeuticsjinyibuqianghuachuangxinyaowuzhanebingtazhanshenzangjibinglingyuguanxian) The acquisition brought Novartis two Phase 3 assets for IgA nephropathy, with atrasentan's pivotal readout expected in the fourth quarter of 2023.[1](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html) Chinook ceased to exist as an independent company.
## References
1. [Novartis completes acquisition of Chinook Therapeutics (GlobeNewswire, August 11, 2023)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/11/2723695/0/en/Novartis-completes-acquisition-of-Chinook-Therapeutics.html)
2. [Chinook Therapeutics Raises $65 Million Series A Financing (PR Newswire, August 22, 2019)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinook-therapeutics-raises-65-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-precision-medicines-for-kidney-diseases-300905498.html)
3. [诺华斥资 35 亿美元收购 Chinook Therapeutics (GeneOnline News)](https://geneonline.news/novartis-3-5b-chinook-therapeutics-acqusition/)
4. [从濒临破产到被诺华35亿美元收购，Chinook是如何逆袭的？ (PharmCube/ByDrug)](https://bydrug.pharmcube.com/news/detail/d3f36c9bda7cb67e46986eeb1ec4cedd)
5. [诺华宣布收购Chinook Therapeutics (Novartis China announcement)](https://www.novartis.com.cn/news/nuohuaxuanbushougouchinook-therapeuticsjinyibuqianghuachuangxinyaowuzhanebingtazhanshenzangjibinglingyuguanxian)
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*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*
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