Kyoto iCAP has invested an additional 100 million yen in Regenephro to support its development of innovative kidney disease therapies based on groundbreaking research from Kyoto University.

Target Company Information

Regenephro Inc., headquartered in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto and represented by CEO Shoubum Morinaka, is a venture company established in September 2019, based on the research contributions of Professor Kenji Nagafune from Kyoto University’s Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA). Professor Nagafune is renowned for his groundbreaking discovery of nephron progenitor cells, a type of pre-kidney cell, establishing methods for efficiently generating these cells from iPS cells. Regenephro leverages this pioneering research to advance the development of promising therapeutic candidates for kidney diseases.

The company is currently focused on developing two primary drug candidates. The first is RN-014, aimed at treating Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), a hereditary and refractory kidney disorder. RN-014, validated through a disease model kit invented by Nagafune’s laboratory, is set to commence Phase 2a clinical trials in January 2024. The second candidate, RN-032, is being developed for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and is a cell-based medicine utilizing kidney progenitor cells derived from iPS cells. This candidate is currently undergoing preclinical trials, as CKD incidence rises alongside an aging society, with limited effective treatments available beyond kidney transplantation.

Industry Overview in Japan

Japan's healthcare sector, particularly in the field of regenerative medicine, has seen substantial growth due to an aging population and an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as CKD. Given the complexity of renal pathologies, innovative therapeutic approaches are critically needed, and regenerative medicine