Los Altos Pharmaceuticals

Los Altos Pharmaceuticals was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that pioneered the development of selective ion-trapping therapies for metabolic and renal disorders. The company's proprietary technology platform focused on engineered crystalline ion-exchange materials designed to trap specific ions in the gastrointestinal tract. Its lead product candidate, LAP-001 (later ZS-9), was developed as a highly selective potassium binder for the treatment of hyperkalemia, a condition common in patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure. Following its renaming to ZS Pharma, the company was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2015 for approximately $2.7 billion, leading to the eventual commercialization of the drug as Lokelma.