Rege Nephro raises USD 15m Series B to accelerate kidney disease therapy trials
Rege Nephro has successfully developed a funding plan of total approximately 17 million dollar (2.5 billion JPY) in new Series B funding and raised 15 million dollar with the first payment. This significant investment brings the company’s total funding to 30 million dollar.
The funding round attracted a mix of strategic investors, including DCI Partners as a lead investor, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Nippon Venture Capital, TOHOKU University Venture Partners, Golden Asia Fund Ventures, Mitsui Chemicals, Global Brain, Kyoto University Innovation Capital, JAFCO Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, ASAHI KASEI, and QB Capital who recognize the potential of Rege Nephro in delivering new treatments to patients suffering from their diseases.
The newly acquired funds will be strategically used to advance the clinical trials of RN-014, Rege Nephro’s promising treatment in Phase II trials for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), and to prepare for clinical trials in the United States. Additionally, the funding will support the completion of preclinical trials for Rege Nephro’s second innovative product, RN-032, aimed at treating Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) through cell therapy.
About Rege Nephro
Rege Nephro 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.
About 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.