Major Japanese firm picks up US drug discovery platform company Jnana in apparent bid to strengthen discovery capabilities and build its mid-stage R&D presence in the renal area. 

Relay said in an SEC filing that Roche terminated the deal to develop migoprotafib, though Roche emphasized that it was not due to any emerging clinical safety concerns.

The UK firm's platform has been validated by the partnerships sealed with AstraZeneca and Merck KGaA and the development of an internal five-strong product pipeline, acting CEO Francois Nader told attendees at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.  

Investors have deserted Relay after RLY-2608 failed to produce any clear response in breast cancer patients, but it maintains underlying data represent proof-of-concept for a more targeted and less toxic competitor to Novartis's Piqray.