Stopping the fibrosis causing chronic kidney disease

The need

There are currently no products to prevent or reverse fibrosis, including the fibrosis triggered by diabetes-related high blood glucose. Diabetes-related fibrosis is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease, which is treatable only with dialysis or a kidney transplant. Preventing fibrosis will reduce or remove the need for these expensive treatments.

Fibrosis is also a key factor in diabetes-related heart disease and chronic lung disease.

Diabetes affects more than 400 million adults around the world, and its prevalence is increasing. It is estimated to account for 12 per cent of global health expenditure, or $US612 billion each year.

The research

Compounds that slow fibrosis in the kidneys and heart were discovered by Professor Darren Kelly and his colleagues at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University’s Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute, and St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.

The team went on to identify a lead compound, FT011, which delays kidney disease and heart failure in people with diabetes.

The team has also developed DNA testing protocols to identify patients more likely to suffer from fibrosis and thus to respond to FT011.

Technology development history

The researchers patented their discovery in 2006 and launched pharmaceutical start-up Fibrotech Therapeutics in the same year, with Professor Kelly as CEO. In addition to the researchers, the University of Melbourne, Bio21 and St Vincent’s Hospital each took a stake in the company.

In 2008, Fibrotech received $A7 million investment from three venture capital funds: Melbourne-based Brandon Capital Partners, Australia’s Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) and university fund Uniseed. This funding supported animal studies and Phase I clinical trials for FT011, which were completed successfully in 2014.

Global biopharmaceutical company Shire acquired the technology when it bought Fibrotech in 2014. The acquisition agreement included an upfront payment of $US75 million and milestone payments of $US482.5 million. Shire developed the technology further, but subsequently decided to divest it, enabling it to be brought back to Australia.

This led to the launch in 2018 of Certa Therapeutics, whose stakeholders include the founding stakeholders of Fibrotech. The new company has received $A22 million from the Australian Government’s Biomedical Translation Fund, managed by MRCF, and $A3 million from Uniseed. Some of this funding was used to acquire the intellectual property originally transferred in the Fibrotech sale, in addition to other related technology. As part of the deal, Shire takes an 18 per cent stake in Certa Therapeutics and will receive royalties on global sales when products reach market.

Professor Kelly is the CEO of Certa Therapeutics. Having completed safety trials of FT011, the company is now focusing on developing FT011 and DNA testing for fibrosis susceptibility for later-stage clinical trials.