Bayer Pharma has named Rege Nephro, a clinical-stage biotech startup from Japan and NXI Therapeutics, an immunotherapy startup based in Switzerland, as the first companies selected for its new Bayer Co.Lab Connect program: an initiative designed to help life sciences startups expand globally by bridging them into the Boston-Cambridge innovation ecosystem.
Both startups were discovered through focused outreach efforts on the Halo platform, where Bayer used curated criteria to identify high-potential companies aligned with its strategic priorities. By leveraging Halo, Bayer was able to run geographically targeted searches and surface innovators from Japan and Switzerland with strong science and a clear interest in U.S. expansion.
“We were very pleased to discover Rege Nephro through this initiative. Their approach to kidney disease demonstrates both scientific excellence and a strong commitment to addressing unmet medical needs. With support from Halo, we were able to identify and connect with a highly promising partner in a focused and efficient way.”
Kazuyuki Dan, Scientific Finding Manager, Collaborate to Cure Hub Japan
A Look at the Startup: Rege Nephro (Japan)
Led by CEO Akifumi Morinaka, Rege Nephro is advancing therapies for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a life-threatening condition marked by progressive cyst growth in the kidneys. Current treatments offer limited efficacy and are often accompanied by severe side effects. Rege Nephro is using iPSC-derived human disease models to develop safer, more effective therapeutics that could reduce patients’ dependence on dialysis and transform long-term outcomes.
“NXI Therapeutics brings not only strong science, but a clear strategy for international growth. Their work on BET inhibitors addresses a long-standing challenge in immunology with real potential to change the standard of care. Co.Lab Connect is about building bridges between great ideas and global opportunities, and thanks to Halo, we were able to find a partner that truly embodies that spirit.”
Alberto Nobili, Senior Director of Strategy and Portfolio at Bayer Co.Lab
A Look at the Startup: NXI Therapeutics (Switzerland)
Led by Ruben Herrendorff, NXI Therapeutics is developing third-generation, isoform-specific BET inhibitors to treat immune-inflammatory diseases. While BET proteins have long been recognized as promising targets, first- and second-generation inhibitors have faced major challenges due to unselective binding and toxicity. NXI’s approach brings a new level of precision to this drug class, aiming to overcome historical limitations and unlock its full therapeutic potential.
Through Co.Lab Connect, both startups will receive:
- Scientific and strategic mentorship from Bayer’s global R&D and business development teams
- Warm introductions to venture investors and ecosystem partners in the U.S.
- Complimentary access to a workspace for business development at Bayer Co.Lab Cambridge
- A travel grant to pitch at a Bayer-hosted event during BIO International 2025 in Boston
In Switzerland, Bayer is working in partnership with Superlab Suisse, along with support from Curie.Bio, Goodwin, and Danforth Advisors, to ensure Bayer Co.Lab Connect participants receive best-in-class laboratory access, legal guidance, and U.S. market preparation. In Japan, Bayer’s Collaborate to Cure Hub focuses on connecting domestic innovation with global opportunity through structured mentoring and business development.
Importantly, the program does not require relocation, allowing startups to engage internationally while continuing operations in their home countries.
These collaborations underscore the power of targeted startup engagement in advancing breakthrough science. By connecting with Rege Nephro and NXI Therapeutics, Bayer is supporting innovations with the potential to reshape therapeutic landscapes in nephrology and immunology, while building new bridges between global startup ecosystems and the Boston-Cambridge life sciences hub.
At Halo, we’re proud to help forward-thinking organizations like Bayer discover and support emerging technologies from across the world. We look forward to seeing the impact of this work and to continuing to connect innovators with the partners they need to scale.
To stay informed about future opportunities like Bayer Co.Lab Connect, startups and researchers can create a free Halo account here.
