CSL to Develop Kidney, Liver Disease Treatment With Alentis Therapeutics

By David Winning

SYDNEY--Australia's CSL said on Monday it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Alentis Therapeutics to jointly develop and promote a rare kidney and liver disease treatment.

CSL said the treatment, known as lixudebart, is being evaluated in a Phase 2 trial in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. This is a potentially life-threatening auto-immune disease that can cause kidney damage.

CSL will make an initial payment of $355 million to Alentis, and fully fund the ongoing Phase 2 trial and other studies. CSL said Alentis is eligible to receive up to $1.2 billion more in commercial milestone payments.

"We believe lixudebart has the potential to become an important new therapeutic option to help improve kidney function and prevent progression to end-stage kidney disease," said Bill Mezzanotte, CSL's head of research and development.

CSL said it also intends to investigate lixudebart's potential as a treatment for other ailments. They include focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a chronic kidney disease, and primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver disease for which there is currently no available therapy.

Once commercialized, global profits will be shared 55% to CSL and 45% to Alentis.

Write to David Winning at david.winning@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 04, 2026 17:51 ET (21:51 GMT)