Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Irving, Texas. Founded in 2002, Reata is investigating experimental oral anti-inflammatory drugs targeting Nrf2, a transcription factor that induces the expression of antioxidant enzymes.

Reata's lead program, bardoxolone methyl, is the first antioxidant inflammation modulator (AIM) to enter clinical trials. In preliminary experiments, this investigational drug was reported to significantly increase estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and improve several other markers of kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).^[1]

Reata is investigating other antioxidant inflammation modulators (AIMs), compounds which are postulated to restore the balance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant signaling molecules within the cell by mimicking the body's own natural regulators of inflammation.^[3][4]

On January 7, 2010, Reata announced that they entered into a licensing agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. The agreement provided Kyowa Hakko Kirin with the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize bardoxolone methyl for CKD and related indications in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, and other select Southeast Asian countries. In return, Reata is eligible to receive up to $272 million in up-front fees and milestone payments, in addition to escalating double-digitroyalties from sales in the licensed territories.^[5][6][7]
On September 23, 2010, Abbott and Reata announced that they entered into a collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize bardoxolone methyl. Under the agreement, Reata granted Abbott exclusive rights to develop and commercialize bardoxolone methyl outside the U.S., excluding Asian markets outlined in the January 7th agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin. In exchange, Reata received upfront and near-term cash payments of $450 million for the licensing rights and a minority equity stake in the company. Additionally, Reata will receive milestone payments upon completion of certain development and approval objectives for bardoxolone in the licensed territories.^[8][9][10]
October 18, 2012, Reata halted its phase 3 trial of bardoxolone secondary to mortality in the treatment arm.