Abbott Laboratories and Deltanoid Pharmaceuticals Inc, a privately held company based in Madison, announced the completion of an option and license agreement to develop novel Vitamin D Receptor Activators (VDRAs) for the treatment of renal disease.

The new agreement continues a 20-year partnership between Abbott, Dr. DeLuca (now president and chief executive officer of Deltanoid), and the University of Wisconsin to discover, develop, and commercialize innovative vitamin D therapies for patients with kidney disease. A growing body of research is beginning to establish the fundamental role of vitamin D receptor biology in human health and disease, a release from Abbott said.

The agreement provides Abbott with rights to license, develop and commercialize a new generation of VDRAs. Preclinical studies conducted by Deltanoid suggest that these investigational compounds, developed by Dr. DeLuca, may have an optimal profile to help address the future needs of the growing population of patients with kidney disease.

"The agreement between Deltanoid and Abbott reinforces the value of Deltanoid's active vitamin D therapies in treating disease. Vitamin D Receptor Activation is a primary method of treating secondary hyperparathyroidism associated with chronic kidney failure, " said Dr. DeLuca.

He added, "This collaboration will allow Deltanoid to move these new compounds forward with one of the most experienced and effective partners in the field of renal disease. Abbott's extensive resources and world-class expertise in this field make them an ideal partner for this effort, and we look forward to continuing to work with them."

Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will make an undisclosed upfront payment to Deltanoid. The agreement also includes milestone payments contingent upon meeting specified objectives, as well as royalties on future sales of marketed compounds.

"This agreement reflects Abbott's continuing commitment to cutting-edge science that helps patients with kidney disease," said Eugene Sun, divisional vice president, global pharmaceutical development, Abbott Laboratories. "Abbott pioneered the clinical development and commercialization of therapies targeting vitamin D receptor activation for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney failure, which were discovered by Hector F DeLuca, professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. These therapies have now become the standard of care," he continued.

Healthy kidneys are essential for the conversion of vitamin D into its active form, known as calcitriol. Calcitriol is required for the normal function of many organs and systems throughout the body. As kidney disease progresses, patients lose the ability to produce calcitriol, which leads to many metabolic imbalances and complications, including elevated parathyroid hormone levels (a condition known as secondary hyperparathyroidism), abnormal calcium and phosphorus levels, and bone disease (renal osteodystrophy).

Approximately 300,000 patients have end-stage renal disease and require dialysis (Stage 5 kidney disease). More than 20 million Americans suffer from early to late-stage kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation.