Amgen has agreed to acquire KAI Pharmaceuticals for US$315 M in cash in order to gain worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to the company’s lead product candidate KAI-4169, a novel peptide agonist that is in Phase II development for secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease who are on dialysis. Amgen has also provided a loan to fund Phase III development planning prior to deal closure. KAI-4169, which is a potential successor to Sensipar® (cinacalcet), will complement Amgen’s existing portfolio of drugs used by dialysis patients.