BRIEF—Mironid raises $44 million for rare kidney disease

British nephrology start-up Mironid has extended its series A financing round, bringing the total amount raised to £35 million ($44 million).

New investor Roche Venture Fund has joined existing investors including Epidarex Capital, Sofinnova Partners and BioGeneration Ventures.

The money will be used to progress Mironid’s lead discovery program in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) through IND-enabling studies and to secure more patents.

The company is pursuing a novel approach, targeting the cellular signal cyclic AMP (cAMP), which is active in all stages of the disease.

Chief executive Neil Wilkie said: “The financing validates our drug development strategy enabling us to transition from discovery to development of powerful new medicines for a chronically debilitating disease with presently limited treatment options.”