Nephrogen, a biotech startup, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced screening-enhanced delivery system for gene-editing medicines targeting Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). The company is among the 20 finalists selected to present at Startup Battlefield, a segment of TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, scheduled for October 27-29 in San Francisco.
Founded in 2022 by Demetri Maxim, Nephrogen's core innovation addresses the challenge of precisely and efficiently delivering therapeutic agents to diseased kidney cells. Maxim, who is pursuing a graduate degree in computational biology and conducting kidney research at Stanford, was inspired by a 2021 study published in Nature Magazine demonstrating the reversibility of PKD in mice using CRISPR technology.
According to Maxim, after three years of development, Nephrogen's delivery mechanism exhibits an efficiency reportedly 100 times greater than current FDA-approved "vehicles" for transporting medicine to the kidney. The technology leverages AI and advanced screening to ensure targeted delivery, aiming to provide a solution for genetic kidney conditions.
The company's immediate plans include advancing its novel delivery mechanism and a proprietary drug into clinical studies, which Maxim anticipates will commence in 2027. To support these development phases, Nephrogen is actively pursuing a $4 million seed funding round.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects approximately one in seven Americans, with genetic conditions contributing to about 10% of these cases, including PKD. Maxim stated that the company's approach could potentially offer a curative treatment for PKD, addressing the ongoing challenges faced by patients, such as chronic pain and the risk of dialysis dependence.
