Walden Biosciences Partners with Renowned Genetic Epidemiologist on suPAR's Role in Chronic Kidney Disease

On May 13, 2024, Walden Biosciences, Inc. (Walden), a private biotechnology firm focused on developing transformative therapies for kidney disease, announced a new research collaboration with the Primula Group. This initiative aims to leverage extensive genetic data from patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly insights derived from nearly 500,000 individuals in the UK Biobank. The research will be spearheaded by Dr. Dipender Gill, an expert in Mendelian randomization methods and applications, based at Imperial College London.

Alex Duncan, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Walden, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting its potential to advance understanding of suPAR (soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor) science. Elevated suPAR levels are known to damage kidney tissues, leading to podocyte dysfunction, kidney disease, and proteinuria. This deterioration often progresses to end-stage kidney disease, necessitating dialysis or kidney transplantation. The study's findings are expected to bolster the clinical development of Walden’s anti-suPAR antibody, WAL0921, which is currently undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials for CKD. Additionally, the research aims to provide deeper insights into the mechanisms by which elevated suPAR levels contribute to CKD.

The study will focus on genetic variants in the human PLAUR gene, which encodes uPAR, thereby influencing circulating suPAR levels and kidney function. It will investigate the effects of these PLAUR variants on the circulating proteome and metabolome, as well as their clinical implications. Furthermore, the genetic variants will serve as proxies to assess the impact of pharmacologically modulating suPAR.

Dr. Gill emphasized the collaborative effort's potential to build on previous data that support suPAR's causal role in kidney disease. He noted that this collaboration could significantly inform and transform the treatment of CKD patients and identify other conditions where targeting suPAR could be beneficial.

Earlier in the year, Walden completed a Phase 1+ clinical study of WAL0921, a first-in-class, humanized monoclonal antibody designed to bind suPAR and inhibit its pro-inflammatory effects on podocytes, which cause kidney dysfunction and disease. This single center, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study involved 40 healthy subjects across five cohorts and evaluated the antibody's safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. The results demonstrated that WAL0921 was safe, well-tolerated, and effectively reduced free suPAR levels in a dose-dependent manner.

Blaine McKee, Ph.D., CEO of Walden, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration, stating that the data obtained would enhance understanding of suPAR's role in kidney disease and support the ongoing Phase 2 trial of WAL0921.

Walden Biosciences specializes in developing breakthrough, disease-modifying medicines to treat kidney diseases. The company employs innovative, multi-disciplinary approaches targeting the kidney to prevent damage, slow disease progression, and restore kidney function. Walden's programs focus on novel therapeutic targets, specifically targeting podocytes and proximal tubular cells, which are critical for kidney function and commonly affected in kidney diseases. The company's lead clinical-stage program, WAL0921, inhibits suPAR, a pro-inflammatory mediator responsible for podocyte dysfunction and kidney disease. Walden's second most advanced program involves a small molecule designed to restore dynamin function, an enzyme crucial for maintaining the cytoskeletal architecture and function of podocytes and proximal tubule cells. All of Walden’s programs promise to deliver disease-modifying therapies that can be combined with standard care to revolutionize kidney disease treatment.