USA – Kenai Therapeutics, a San Diego, Ca-based biotechnology company leveraging induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, raised $82M in Series A funding.
The round was led by Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, Cure Ventures and The Column Group, with participation from Euclidean Capital and Saisei Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to submit an IND for RNDP-001 and complete Phase 1 clinical trials, which will initiate within the year.Co-founded by Dr. Howard Federoff and Dr. Jeffrey Kordower, Kenai Therapeutics is a biotechnology company working to develop approaches to cure neurological disorders. It utilizes allogeneic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, that enable scientists to manufacture many human cell types, in order to advance its off-the-shelf neuron replacement therapeutics. By focusing on an iPSC technology platform, and forging partnerships with global leaders in surgical delivery and clinical development, Kenai is dedicated to advancing a pipeline targeting neurological diseases. RNDP-001 is an iPSC-derived, allogeneic dopamine progenitor cell therapy for the treatment of both idiopathic and inherited forms of Parkinson’s disease, and has displayed survival, innervation, and behavioral rescue in preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease. Kenai Therapeutics previously raised seed funding under the name Ryne Bio.29/02/2024
