A unique approach to treat chronic kidney disease with the potential to reverse damage

Co-founders of Inosi Therapeutics (L-R) Monash BDI’s A/Prof Tracey Gaspari, Prof Rob Widdop, A/Prof Siew Chai. Absent: Prof Philip Thompson from MIPS.
Co-founders of Inosi Therapeutics (L-R) Monash BDI’s A/Prof Tracey Gaspari, Prof Rob Widdop, A/Prof Siew Chai. Absent: Prof Philip Thompson from MIPS.

Diabetes is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD), driving half of global cases and millions of deaths annually.[1] Yet current treatments only slow progression and can harm the kidneys - leaving transplantation as the only option. Monash University researchers have uncovered a new approach to tackle diabetes-associated kidney fibrosis.

Through their biotech startup, Inosi Therapeutics Pty Ltd, the team identified a promising therapeutic target—Insulin Regulated Aminopeptidase (IRAP)—which plays a key role in kidney fibrosis and inflammation.

Inosi’s novel IRAP inhibitors have shown potential to reverse fibrosis in preclinical models.

The project received a pivotal boost in 2021 receiving just over $700,000 from MTPConnect’s Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA), enabling optimisation of drug candidates for clinical development. This success led to a $1.5 million seed round from IP Group and Monash University, followed by a further $2 million investment from IP Group and BioCurate in June 2025.

Co-founder of Inosi Therapeutics, Associate Professor Tracey Gaspari from Monash University’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI), highlighted the impact of TTRA support in accelerating progress and fostering collaborations to tackle this disease.

“CKD is an incredibly complex and debilitating disease, but we believe that Inosi’s novel drugs have unique mechanism of action that target multiple pathways to reduce organ damage and benefit many Australians in need,” she said.

The team is now preparing for Investigational New Drug (IND) studies, enabling studies in preparation for entering Phase 1 clinical studies in Australia. Researchers hope the novel compounds developed by Inosi Therapeutics – once progressed through the clinic – will ultimately be used to help millions of people living with CKD and other fibrotic conditions.

Read the full story about the commercialisation pathway for Inosi Therapeutics, a company founded on research from Monash BDI researchers Associate Professor Siew Chai, Associate Professor Tracey Gaspari and Professor Rob Widdop, and Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences researcher Professor Philip Thompson, on MTPConnect’s News site here.

[1] Kwok, R, MacIsaac, R, and Ekinci, E. (2023) Change the Future: Saving Lives By Better Detecting Diabetes-related kidney disease. Diabetes Australia, Australia.

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About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University

Committed to making discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally renowned research teams. Spanning seven discovery programs across Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Development and Stem Cells, Infection, Immunity, Metabolism, Diabetes and Obesity, and Neuroscience, Monash BDI is one of the largest biomedical research institutes in Australia. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.