Ardelyx Inc.
Modulating mineral absorption to treat GI disorders
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
Ardelyx Inc. is designing drugs to interact with specific proteins that are found in the intestinal lining and control mineral transport. The company’s most advanced candidate, RDX5791, is meant to block sodium by selectively inhibiting NHE3, a sodium transporter on the surface of the intestinal lining. Preventing sodium absorption may increase the amount of fluid in the lumen of the gut, thus Ardelyx is developing RDX5791 as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.