Nephrogen

Nephrogen, based in New York, NY, and Beverly, MA, is a pioneering healthcare company in the therapeutics sub-industry, particularly known for its innovative approach to treating kidney diseases. As a participant in the Y-Combinator S20 batch, Nephrogen is at the forefront of utilizing CRISPR-Cas genome editing technologies combined with advanced nucleic acid delivery systems, such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), to develop treatments for diseases like polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD, which affects approximately 600,000 Americans, currently lacks effective treatments or cures. Nephrogen has engineered novel AAV viruses that specifically target the kidney with significantly higher efficiency than existing AAVs. The company has also developed a non-invasive method to deliver gene therapies directly to the kidney. Additionally, Nephrogen’s drug discovery platform incorporates cutting-edge computer vision and high-throughput screening (HTS) to identify new small molecule drugs for various cystic kidney diseases, including nephronophthisis. By focusing on multiple unique gene targets in PKD1, the gene responsible for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), Nephrogen is advancing its mission to provide groundbreaking treatments for those suffering from kidney diseases.