Nephronophthisis (NPH) is a recessive cystic kidney disease responsible for 10% to 20% of pediatric end-stage renal disease cases. NPHP1 (nephrocystin 1) is the most frequently implicated among over 20 known causative genes. However, the pathogenesis of NPH remains unclear, and no effective therapies are available.
Multiple endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in human DNA may be programmed to activate as cancer therapy. A recent study, led by scientists at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, expanded on a previously reported case of kidney cancer cure after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation attributed to the expression of an ERV driven by the hypoxia-inducible factor 2 (HIF2). The question was whether this finding might play out with different ERVs and different types of cancer through HIF.
Protein palmitoylation is a post-translational modification catalyzed by a series of enzymes called zinc finger DHHC (ZDHHC) palmitoyltransferases. Scientists from Guangzhou Medical University and affiliated organizations aimed to assess the function of protein palmitoylation in renal fibrosis, a common pathway leading to end-stage chronic kidney disease.
Shenzhen Zhongge Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has divulged AMP-activated protein kinase α1β1γ1 activators reported to be useful for the treatment of acute kidney injury, alopecia, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, dyslipidemia and obesity.
Maze Therapeutics Inc. has divulged apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of chronic kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic HIV-associated nephropathy, lupus nephritis, pre-eclampsia and sepsis.
Arbor Biotechnologies Inc.’s ABO-101 has been awarded orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations by the FDA for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1).
Newco Linkgevity Ltd. has won backing from the KQ Labs accelerator program at the Francis Crick Institute in London, enabling it to take forward the lead program, an anti-necrotic drug for treating acute kidney injury, and to further develop its AI-driven system for identifying aging-related therapeutic targets. Alongside access to the Crick’s expertise in translational research and in shaping academic science to make it investible, companies joining KQ Labs receive an equity investment.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) may progress to chronic kidney disease, and there is an urgent need for approaches that improve the limited regeneration of the renal tubules after AKI.
Accunea Ltd. is looking to reduce the number of kidneys that are discarded with its bioanalysis technology Renosure, which can detect critical changes in organ function in real-time, both before and after transplantation. The company is looking to raise £1.6 million (US$2 million) to develop the device which could transform the lives of people requiring a kidney transplant.
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