Feb. 1 Quick Takes: FDA approves GSK’s daprodustat

Jesduvroq daprodustat from GSK plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK) became the U.S.’s first oral treatment for anemia caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD), following its FDA approval on Wednesday in the indication. The agency restricted Jesduvroq’s approval to patients who have been receiving dialysis for at least four months, consistent with the recommendation of the agency’s Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee, which voted on the HIF stabilizer last October.

Three-year-old private equity firm Patient Square Capital said it has closed its inaugural fund with $3.9 billion, well above its $3 billion target. The firm has already deployed $3 billion across the healthcare spectrum, with deals including its lead roles in a $145 million round for U.K.-based Apollo Therapeutics and a $270 million series C round for gene therapy play Kriya Therapeutics Inc., as well as its agreement with Gurnet Point Capital to take Radius Health Inc. private. The firm also launched Enavate Sciences last year to invest in mid-stage rounds. Jim Momtazee, who headed healthcare investments at KKR, is Patient Square’s managing partner...