# A New Therapy for Acute Kidney Injury

> **NIH NIH R43** · THERASOURCE, LLC · 2020 · $139,504

## Abstract

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The primary objective of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of
developing C23 as a novel and effective therapeutic for patients with ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI), a
significant cause of prolonged hospitalization and mortality. Ischemic AKI often complicates hemorrhagic
shock, septic shock, and surgery. Yet, despite it being a frequent, life-shortening, and costly complication,
no FDA-approved drugs are currently available to treat patients with ischemic AKI. We have discovered
that cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) acts as a novel damage-associated molecular pattern
(DAMP) to increase inflammation after ischemic injury. In our preliminary studies, we show that CIRP is
released into the circulation after renal ischemia and reperfusion (RIR) and promotes the development of
AKI. We screened CIRP-derived small peptides and identified C23 to have high affinity for the CIRP
receptor and inhibit CIRP activities. We also show that administration of C23 at the beginning of
reperfusion attenuates renal inflammation and damage. Administration of C23 at the time of reperfusion
after ischemia also increased the seven-day survival of mice subjected to RIR from 37% to 70%. Therefore,
we hypothesize that C23 can be developed as a new and effective drug to improve renal function and
prevent renal damage after ischemic AKI. In this project, we will demonstrate the feasibility of developing
C23 to treat ischemic AKI by determining C23’s optimal dose to improve renal function after RIR and after
sepsis, C23’s therapeutic window to improve survival after RIR and after sepsis, and C23’s pharmacokinetic
and safety profile in healthy animals. Our future steps of drug development (SBIR Phase II and beyond)
include completing preclinical studies, establishing ADME, advanced pharmacokinetics and safety studies
in healthy and diseased animals, and filing an investigational new drug (IND) application with the FDA to
initiate clinical trials. Our ultimate goal is to obtain commercial utilization of C23 as a safe and effective drug
for patients with ischemic AKI caused by renal hypoperfusion.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9933916
- **Project number:** 5R43DK120175-02
- **Recipient organization:** THERASOURCE, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Max Brenner
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $139,504
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-05-22 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9933916

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9933916, A New Therapy for Acute Kidney Injury (5R43DK120175-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9933916. Licensed CC0.

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