In a bid to bolster its rare kidney disease portfolio, Novartis has agreed to acquire Chinook Therapeutics for US$3.2 B upfront. Through the deal, the big pharma gains access to Chinook’s lead clinical stage assets, atrasentan and zigakibart, for the treatment of IgA nephropathy as well as a pipeline of precision medicines for other rare, chronic kidney diseases. The acquired assets complement Novartis’ existing renal portfolio which consists of investigational candidate, iptacopan, for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.