Rege Nephro Completes Series B to Boost Kidney Disease Trials

KYOTO, Japan, Oct. 7, 2024 – Rege Nephro Co., Ltd. has successfully devised a funding strategy resulting in 25 billion yen in new Series B funding, with an initial 22.5 billion yen already secured. This significant financing brings the company's total funds to 44 billion yen. The funding round drew a diverse group of strategic investors, led by DCI Partners Co., Ltd., and included JIC Venture Growth Investments Co., Ltd., Nippon Venture Capital CO., Ltd., TOHOKU University Venture Partners Co., Ltd., Golden Asia Fund Ventures Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Global Brain Corporation, Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd., JAFCO Group Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd., ASAHI KASEI CORPORATION, and QB Capital, LLC. These investors recognize the potential of Rege Nephro to bring new treatments to patients suffering from kidney diseases.

The newly acquired capital will be strategically deployed to advance the clinical trials of RN-014, a promising treatment currently in Phase II trials for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). Additionally, the funds will facilitate preparations for clinical trials in the United States. Moreover, the funding will support the completion of preclinical trials for RN-032, an innovative product developed to treat Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) through cell therapy.

DCI Partners Co., Ltd. expressed their enthusiasm as the lead investor, committing to supporting Rege Nephro's growth. Similarly, JIC Venture Growth Investments Co., Ltd. emphasized their strong belief in the advanced drug discovery research based on Professor Osafune’s discoveries, which they believe will offer new therapeutic solutions for intractable renal diseases.

Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd. also voiced their delight, having supported Rege Nephro since its inception, and hoped the funding would accelerate clinical trials to bring new therapeutic drugs to patients swiftly. JAFCO Group Co., Ltd. echoed this sentiment, anticipating that the financing will further accelerate research and development in iPS drug discovery, providing new treatment options for patients with limited treatment options.

Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. reiterated their continued investment, reflecting confidence in Rege Nephro's progress and the impact of Professor Osafune's iPS cell technology on medical practice.

Rege Nephro Co., Ltd. is a clinical-stage biotech company utilizing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based technology from the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University. The company is focused on developing therapeutics and cell therapies for kidney, liver, and pancreas diseases.

The RN-014 treatment, known as Tamibarotene, is under development for ADPKD. It is a retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonist expected to effectively inhibit cyst formation and improve renal function. The Phase II clinical trial, which commenced in December 2023, includes a pharmacokinetic (PK) phase and a randomization phase. Comprehensive safety measures are in place, including phased patient enrollment, periodic independent safety monitoring, stringent criteria for dose reduction and discontinuation of the investigational drug, and criteria for halting the entire trial if necessary. So far, no significant issues have been reported.

The RN-032 treatment involves cell therapy using nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). NPCs are cells that develop into nephrons, the functional units of the kidney. Rege Nephro has experimented with implanting iNPCs (NPCs induced from allogeneic human iPSCs) into damaged kidneys, observing improvements in renal function in several mouse experiments.

Rege Nephro’s continued advancements in iPSC-based technology and the significant financial backing they have received underscore their potential to revolutionize treatments for kidney diseases, offering hope to patients with limited current treatment options.