2024
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10
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07
JIC Venture Growth Investments has acquired the shares in Rege Nephro Co.,Ltd. (Rege Nephro), through its JIC Venture Growth Fund 2.
Rege Nephro is a start-up company established in September 2019 based on the research results of Professor Kenji Osafune of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University. Professor Osafune has succeeded in establishing a technology for highly efficient production of nephron progenitor cells from iPS cells, starting with the world’s first discovery of the existence of nephron progenitor cells, which are a type of renal progenitor cells during the embryonic period. The iPS cell-derived nephron progenitor cells have been shown to improve renal damage in animal experiments. Rege Nephro is working on the practical application of cell medicine using these cells and aims to obtain regulatory approval for chronic kidney disease as an indication. Professor Osafune has also been working on the creation of disease models for inherited kidney disease from an early stage and succeeded in identifying therapeutic drug candidates from the created disease models. Rege Nephro has been conducting Ph2a study to develop the new therapeutic drug for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
The significance of this investment is (1) to accelerate research and development with the aim of providing a new medical treatment to renal disease patient, (2) to support social implementation and globalization of technology originated from Japanese universities.
With this investment, VGI will support Rege Nephro to develop the new pharmaceuticals globally and accelerate the social implementation of Japanese technology, contributing to Japanese society and economy.
The information contained in this notice is current at the time of publication and subject to change without notice.
