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Kidney Focus

Chronic kidney disease is a global epidemic ready for a revolution.

A widespread disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 780 million people globally. A condition of heterogenous origins, CKD is characterized by progressive loss of kidney function often leading to end-stage kidney disease, which significantly reduces quality of life.

Limited therapeutic options

Despite the widespread prevalence of CKD, there is no cure and there are no effective treatments for most forms of CKD. As a result, physicians are left to prescribe off-label therapies, which often lead patients to experience side effects that are more severe than the disease itself.

Because of the lack of disease-modifying treatments in kidney disease, patients typically continue to progress to end-stage kidney disease, leading to dialysis and/or transplantation.

dialysis-machine

End-stage kidney disease significantly impairs quality of life

There are limited treatment options once a person progresses to end-stage kidney disease. Dialysis is a debilitating life-support treatment that replaces kidney function. Those undergoing dialysis spend at least 15 hours per week attached to the dialyzer in clinic. This time commitment significantly impacts all aspects of life of those affected by kidney disease and their families. People on dialysis experience poor quality of life and are unable to eat a regular diet, exercise, work, and spend time socially. In addition to the complications associated with kidney disease itself—edema, anemia, infections – people with kidney disease experience persistent side effects associated with dialysis treatments, such as fatigue, migraines, and muscle cramping, to name a few.

We are applying precision medicine to pioneer the discovery, development and commercialization of disease modifying kidney disease treatments.

Our initial clinical programs are focused on the significant unmet need associated with rare biomarker-driven subsets of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy.

Facts about CKD

750K

People in the U.S. progress to kidney failure each year

3x

People with ESKD visit ER each year, on average

90%

Of people with CKD aged 18-54 are classified as disabled while receiving dialysis treatments

CKD affects 780 million people globally
15HRS

People with end-stage kidney disease spend attached to a dialyzer in clinic each week

70%

Of people progressing to ESKD receive dialysis

30%

Of those transplanted will experience a rejection, creating a cyclical process that leads back to dialysis

35%

5-year survival rate

$120B

Annual U.S. spend by Medicare on CKD

Focal Segmental Glomeruloscleosis (FSGS)

FSGS is a rare disease that attacks the kidney’s glomerulus and podocytes, causing scarring that leads to permanent kidney damage.

Learn more about fsgs

Diabetic Nephropathy (DN)

DN is a progressive, complex and heterogenous disease with numerous overlapping etiologic pathways that often progresses to end-stage kidney disease.

Learn more about DN