[Edaily Reporter SONG YOUNG-DOO ] NIBEC CO., LTD.(138610)has confirmed the potential of this peptide drug candidate to alleviate kidney damage and cardiac fibrosis caused by chronic kidney disease. Animal studies showed improvements in markers related to kidney tissue damage and fibrosis, as well as a reduction in structural damage to the heart.
NIBEC CO., LTD. announced on the 19th that it presented the results of preclinical studies on its new drug candidate “NIPEP-CRM” (NP-401) as a poster at the 21st Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health Conference (CMHC 2026), held in Boston, U.S., from the 15th to the 17th.
This study was conducted using a mouse model of chronic kidney disease. The research team divided a total of 40 mice into a control group, an untreated disease group, an NIPEP-CRM-treated group, and an empagliflozin-treated group. After inducing the disease for four weeks, the researchers administered the drugs for four weeks and analyzed changes in kidney and heart tissue.
In kidney tissue, the tubular damage score and the area of collagen deposition in the NIPEP-CRM treatment group were reduced compared to the untreated disease group. Tubules are structures within the kidney responsible for the reabsorption and secretion of water and electrolytes. The simultaneous reduction in tubular damage and collagen accumulation indicates that kidney tissue damage and fibrosis—the hardening of tissue—were alleviated.
Changes were also observed in gene expression analysis. The expression of “E-cadherin,” a marker related to epithelial cell adhesion that had been reduced in the untreated group, increased. Conversely, the expression of “Snail,” “α-SMA,” and “Collagen 1”—markers associated with fibrosis—decreased. The company explained that these results support the possibility of improved renal epithelial cell condition and tissue recovery.
In cardiac tissue as well, left ventricular wall thickness and myocardial collagen area were reduced compared to the untreated group. The company explained that this demonstrates the potential to alleviate structural damage, such as cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, which accompany chronic kidney disease.
Chronic kidney disease is a condition that requires the management of not only declining kidney function but also cardiovascular complications. Current treatments focus on slowing the rate of kidney function decline and reducing cardiovascular risk.
In this study, NIBEC CO., LTD. included empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor used to treat chronic kidney disease and heart failure, as a comparator. However, the data presented did not include specific figures regarding the difference in efficacy compared to empagliflozin.
The company plans to conduct a linked analysis of tissue changes and gene expression results in the future and verify the reproducibility of the mechanism of action and efficacy.
NIBEC CO., LTD. official stated, “Chronic kidney disease is a condition that requires consideration of both impaired kidney function and cardiovascular complications,” adding, “We will continue follow-up research to ensure that NIPEP-CRM can be developed into a treatment that aids in the recovery of damaged tissue.”
