Sound Bioventures has announced a new investment in NephroDI Therapeutics, a US-based, near-clinical stage pharmaceutical company focusing on concentration disorders of the kidney.

In conjunction with this investment, Bibhash Mukhopadhyay, Managing Partner at Sound Bioventures, will join NephroDI’s Board of Directors.

“At Sound Bioventures, we aim to back innovative companies working to address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges, and we are excited to welcome NephroDI to our portfolio,” says Bibhash Mukhopadhyay, Managing Partner at Sound Bioventures.

Read more: Interview: Casper Breum, Managing Partner, Sound Bioventures

A potential first-in-class treatment for Congenital Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus

This investment will be used by NephroDI, together with a previously announced strategic corporate partnership, to advance its lead asset, NDI-5001, into clinical studies later this year. NDI-5001 is a proprietary small molecule AMPK activator that targets the kidney and is a potential first-in-class treatment for Congenital Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus (NDI), a rare X-linked genetic condition that affects individuals from birth.

NephroDI’s strategic partner will exclusively develop NDI-5001 through completion of certain clinical studies, with the opportunity to expand the collaboration after those studies complete or upon the achievement of certain pre-defined events.

NDI-5001 is also being considered for treatment in patients with drug induced NDI, which afflicts patients taking certain drugs like lithium for neuropsychiatric conditions.

“Children with NDI and their families are in desperate need of new and better therapies that assist in keeping them healthy,” says Rachael Hagan, CEO of NephroDI. “We are excited that Sound Bioventures has joined NephroDI as an investor and member of the Board. The expertise that NephroDI gains via this partnership will help propel NDI-5001 during the initial clinical phase towards proof of concept. This will position the Company to rapidly enter pivotal trials in pediatric patients with this potentially first-in-class NDI therapy.”

Photo of Bibhash Mukhopadhyay: Ola Torkelsson/Sound Bioventures