BioMarin and Igan collaborate to develop enzyme for nephropathy

BioMarin has executed a research and option agreement with Igan Biosciences for intellectual property covering IgA proteases for treating IgA nephropathy.

IgA proteases have been shown to cleave IgA complexes, the deposition of which causes IgA nephropathy or Berger’s disease, an orphan kidney disorder with few treatment alternatives.

Andrew Plaut, discoverer of IgA proteases, professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, and chairman of Igan, said: “IgA proteases have the potential to reverse or prevent progression of IgA nephropathy. Current treatments are not very effective, and nothing on the horizon looks very promising. BioMarin has a strong track record of aggressively developing disease modifying therapeutics for rare disorders, and I am very pleased that they have made a commitment to further these important efforts.”

Jean-Jacques Bienaime, CEO of BioMarin, said: “We are pleased to add this program to our growing product development pipeline. The IgA nephropathy indication aligns well with our development and commercial competencies as it is a protein therapeutic for treating a well-defined and relatively large orphan disorder treated by renal specialists. Well validated markers of renal function and injury will help define a straightforward clinical and regulatory path, and this program also leverages our biologics manufacturing and process development infrastructure and expertise.”