Rege Nephro Co., Ltd., a Kyoto, Japan-based clinical-stage biotech company, developed a funding plan of total 25 billion yen in new Series B funding and raised 22.5 billion yen with the first payment.
The round, which brought total funding to 44 billion yen, received a mix of strategic investors, including DCI Partners Co., Ltd. as a lead investor, as well as JIC Venture Growth Investments Co., Nippon Venture Capital CO., TOHOKU University Venture Partners Co., Golden Asia Fund Ventures, Mitsui Chemicals, Global Brain Corporation, Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., JAFCO Group Co., Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., ASAHI KASEI CORPORATION, QB Capital, Industrial Technology Investment, Shimadzu, Screen Holdings Co., Chushin Venture Capital Co., SENSHU IKEDA CAPITAL CO., Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, ASAHI KASEI, and i-Lab CVC1.
The company intends to use the funds to advance the clinical trials of RN-014, its treatment in Phase II trials for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), and to prepare for clinical trials in the United States, and complete preclinical trials for its second innovative product, RN-032, aimed at treating Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) through cell therapy.
Rege Nephro Co., is a clinical-stage biotech company utilizing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based technology from the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University. It is developing therapeutics and cell therapy for kidney, liver, and pancreas diseases.
RN-014
Tamibarotene, under development for ADPKD, is a retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonist expected to potently inhibit cyst formation and improve renal function. The Phase II clinical trial began in December 2023. This trial includes a pharmacokinetic (PK) phase and a randomization phase. Various safety measures have been established, including phased patient enrollment, periodic independent safety monitoring, strict criteria for dose reduction and discontinuation of the investigational drug, and criteria for discontinuation of the entire trial. There have been no significant issues at this time.
About RN-032
Cell therapy using NPCs for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) are cells that give rise to nephrons. Rege Nephro has been tried implanting iNPCs (NPCs induced from allogeneic human iPSCs) into the damaged kidneys, and the improvements in renal function have been confirmed in the several mouse experiments.
FinSMEs
07/10/2024