Innovation Kyoto 2016 Investment Limited Partnership" ("KYOTO-iCAP No. 1 Fund"), with Kyoto University Innovation Capital Corporation ("Kyoto-iCAP") (Head office: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Ko Kusumi) as the general partner, has made an additional investment in Rege Nephro Co., Ltd. (Head office: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Akifumi Morinaka).

　Rege Nephro is a venture company established in September 2019 based on the research results of Professor Kenji Osafune of the Division of Mechanisms of Proliferation and Differentiation at the Center for iPS Cell Research (CiRA), Kyoto University. Starting with the world's first discovery of the existence of nephron progenitor cells, a type of embryonic renal progenitor cells, Professor Osafune has succeeded in establishing a technology for highly efficient generation of nephron progenitor cells from iPS cells.

Rege Nephro is using these research results to develop two main drug candidates: RN-014, a drug candidate for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), an inherited intractable kidney disease; and RN-014, a compound that was found to be effective against ADPKD by a disease model kit invented by the Osafune lab., and a Phase 2a clinical trial was initiated in January 2024.

　The other is RN-032, which is being developed for the indication of chronic kidney disease, CKD. RN-032 is a cellular medicine that uses iPS cell-derived renal progenitor cells as its active ingredient, and is currently undergoing non-clinical trials. The number of CKD patients is increasing steadily with the aging of society. However, there are no effective drugs or technologies for the treatment of CKD at this time, except for renal transplantation, and the only treatment available is symptomatic treatment. RN-032 has shown remarkable efficacy in improving kidney damage in animal studies.

　Recognizing the steady progress of Rege Nephro's research and development, including the entry of development items into the clinical stage, Kyoto-iCAP has made an additional investment of 100 million yen in this Series B round. In addition to existing investors, new investors include DCI Partners, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Japan Venture Capital, and Tohoku University Venture Partners. Ltd. and Tohoku University Venture Partners Co.

Overview of Rege Nephro Co., Ltd.
Establishment : September 2019
Business : Development of therapeutic drugs for kidney disease
Head office location : Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Representative Director : Akifumi Morinaka
HP: https://www.regenephro.co.jp/

About Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd. (Kyoto-iCAP)
　As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyoto University, KYOTO-iCAP provides investment and other business support to companies that utilize research results generated by Kyoto University and other national universities. We currently operate the Innovation Kyoto 2016 Investment Limited Partnership ("KYOTO-iCAP No. 1 Fund") (established in January 2016) with a total value of 16 billion yen and the KYOTO-iCAP No. 2 Fund (established in January 2021) with a total value of 18.1 billion yen. The KYOTO-iCAP No. 1 Fund has a maturity of up to 20 years, and the KYOTO-iCAP No. 2 Fund has a maturity of up to 17 years, making it possible to provide long-term support for the practical application of research results from Kyoto University, which has strengths in basic research. In addition, KYOTO-iCAP No. 2 Fund will invest a portion of the funds in ventures originating from national universities other than Kyoto University.

Contact information for inquiries
Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd.
36-1, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8317, Japan
Osami Kono, Senior Officer, Business Development Department
E-mail: info@kyoto-icap.co.jp
TEL: 075-753-7588