Judo Bio launches with $100M for kidney siRNA therapies

The kidney has long posed challenges for developers of genetic medicine, often being seen as a difficult organ to target due to its efficient mechanisms for expelling substances from the body. However, a new startup named Judo Bio claims to have overcome these issues, unveiling a novel technique for delivering RNA-based therapies directly into kidney cells. The Cambridge, MA-based company has emerged from three years of covert development with $100 million in combined seed and Series A funding, led by Atlas Venture, The Column Group, and Droia Ventures.

Chief Scientific Officer Alfica Sehgal shared that the company's inception stemmed from recognizing a need for more precise kidney treatments. "The kidney is not straightforward. It’s a very complex organ with dozens of specialized cell types," Sehgal stated. To tackle this complexity, Judo Bio drew inspiration from Alnylam’s success with liver-targeted gene-silencing treatments, which use a sugar molecule called GalNAc to direct siRNA drugs to liver cells.

Judo Bio's approach focuses on the megalin receptor in the kidney, known for its ability to absorb various proteins and biomolecules. The company has been working to identify molecules that can facilitate the uptake of siRNA drugs by megalin receptors in the kidney’s proximal tubular epithelial cells, according to Sehgal.

While the specific chemical composition of these megalin-targeting molecules remains undisclosed, Judo Bio presented promising findings at an RNA conference in Montreal. In a mouse study, their technique boosted kidney exposure to siRNA up to 30 times compared to unmodified RNA molecules. A single injection reduced gene expression by 50% to 70%, with effects persisting for four weeks.

This innovative approach comes at a time when the interest in kidney-targeted genetic medicine is growing. Versant Ventures and Novartis recently launched Borealis Biosciences with $150 million to develop RNA therapies for kidney diseases, although they have revealed fewer details about their method. Alnylam has also indicated the kidney as a potential target for expanding its siRNA treatments beyond the liver.

Judo Bio’s CEO, Rajiv Patni, stated that the company's initial focus would be on utilizing siRNA drugs to inhibit the production of solute carrier proteins. These proteins, which line the kidney’s tubules, regulate blood levels of various molecules such as amino acids and glucose. This concept is akin to how diabetes medications known as SGLT2 inhibitors function by blocking specific solute carrier proteins. Jnana Therapeutics, another biotech firm, was acquired by Otsuka Pharmaceutical in a deal valued at a minimum of $800 million, based on their work with small molecule inhibitors targeting other solute carrier proteins.

Judo Bio aims to create genetic therapies that offer longer-lasting suppression of these proteins. Patni, who previously led R&D at Reata Pharmaceuticals before Biogen’s $7.3 billion acquisition of the company, did not disclose which diseases Judo Bio will prioritize but mentioned an interest in both rare metabolic disorders like phenylketonuria and urea cycle disorders, as well as more prevalent conditions such as diabetes, gout, heart failure, and hypertension.

"We’re using kidneys as the access point," Patni remarked. Additionally, the company plans to focus on podocytes, specialized kidney cells, to directly address renal diseases. However, Patni did not specify when Judo Bio expects to have a drug candidate ready for clinical trials or how long their current funding might sustain the company.