AstraZeneca has licensed global rights to Ardelyx’ NHE3 (sodium–hydrogen antiporter 3) inhibitor programme, including its lead product RDX5791, in a deal potentially worth US$870 M. RDX5791 has been studied in a Phase IIa trial for constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and the two companies also plan to develop the drug in end-stage renal disease and chronic kidney disease. For AstraZeneca, the deal represents the company’s latest attempt to bolster its development pipeline, which is regarded as weak by many industry observers.