KALAMAZOO ? NephRx, a biotechnology company developing products for the treatment of kidney failure and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, has become the fifth investment by the Southwest Michigan First Life Science Fund. No dollar amount was disclosed.
The company is located in the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center in Western Michigan University?s Business Technology and Research Park. The company also recently received $200,000 in funding from the State of Michigan?s Company Formation and Growth Fund to create 4 new positions.
Based upon technology first developed at the University of Chicago, NephRx continues to generate promising results in a series of pre-clinical studies. The company?s first peptide, NX001, is being developed for the treatment of acute renal failure, a currently unmet medical need.
Acute renal failure claims thousands of lives each year and is extremely difficult to diagnose and treat. NephRx will use the funds from the Southwest Michigan First Life Science Fund to complete the pre-clinical studies required to receive FDA-approval for testing in humans.
The company?s second peptide, NX002, is currently in development for the treatment of mucositis, an extremely painful and potentially life-threatening side effect for cancer patients receiving chemo and radiation therapy. The peptide has also shown to be an effective treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn?s Disease and other problems of the gastrointestinal tract.
The Southwest Michigan First Life Science Fund is a $50 million limited partnership venture fund interested in early stage life science opportunities in southwest Michigan that have demonstrably viable technologies and are committed to establishing a presence in the Region.
More information about the Southwest Michigan First Life Science Fund can be found at SouthwestMichiganFirst.Com
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