Rejuvenate Bio, a San Diego-based biotechnology company, has received a $4 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). This funding will support the completion of IND-enabling activities for the development of RJB-0402, aimed at treating desmoplakin gene variant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (DSP ACM).
Led by CEO Dan Oliver and Chief Scientific Officer Noah Davidsohn, Ph.D., Rejuvenate Bio focuses on developing gene therapies for chronic age-related diseases. The company’s gene therapy pipeline leverages clinically validated gene targets and a delivery approach that ensures well-tolerated, durable expression.
Founded on research from the Wyss Institute at Harvard Medical School, Rejuvenate Bio aims to treat chronic diseases in both humans and animals.
RJB-0402 is a novel investigational gene therapy administered systemically via AAV8, driving liver-specific expression of the FGF21 protein. This therapy targets multiple key pathological drivers of DSP ACM, including cardiac dysfunction, ventricular arrhythmias, adipogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis.
Given the large size of the DSP gene, traditional gene replacement therapy is not viable, necessitating novel approaches like RJB-0402. The efficacy of RJB-0402 in treating DSP ACM could also provide a basis for addressing other forms of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.
