WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., May 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProKidney Corp. (Nasdaq: PROK) (“ProKidney” or the “Company"), a leading late clinical-stage cellular therapeutics company focused on chronic kidney disease (CKD), will host a virtual KOL event on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 8:00 AM ET, featuring Steven G. Coca, DO, MS (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) and Arnold L. Silva, MD, PhD (University of Arizona) who will discuss the unmet medical need and current treatment landscape for patients with moderate to severe CKD caused by diabetes as well as the importance of preserving kidney function in this patient population. To register, click here.

The event will also focus on the final data presented at the European Renal Association (ERA) Congress on May 25, 2024 from the RMCL-002 Phase 2 trial of ProKidney’s lead product candidate, rilparencel (also known as REACT^®), a first-of-its-kind, patented, proprietary autologous cellular therapy.

A live question and answer session will follow the formal presentations.

About Steven G. Coca, DO, MS
Steven G. Coca, DO, MS is a Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Associate Chair for Clinical and Translational Research for the Department of Internal Medicine, and the Director of Clinical Research for the Division of Nephrology. Dr. Coca’s research focuses on the utility of blood and urine biomarkers for risk stratification of patients with acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. He has been a part of several large NIH funded consortia on biomarkers in kidney disease, including TRIBE-AKI, ASSESS-AKI, CKD Biocon, and the KPMP (Kidney Precision Medicine Project). He has over 300 publications, and has received several awards, including the Distinguished Researcher Award from the American Society of Nephrology in 2021. His work on prognostic biomarkers and risk models has led to the development of KidneyIntelX, a new bioprognostic test for patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD, that was recently approved by the FDA and is commercially in use in clinical practice at several large healthcare systems.

About Arnold L. Silva, MD, PhD
Arnold L. Silva, MD, PhD is the director of the Home Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis programs at Boise Kidney & Hypertension Institute. Dr. Silva received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biology from California State University in Fresno, CA. He received his PhD from the University of Arizona in Tucson, studying the physiology of membrane transport and cell volume regulation. He received his MD from the University of Arizona, followed with residency training in internal medicine and nephrology fellowship at the University of Arizona affiliated hospitals. Dr. Silva has been appointed Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona, and has taught in many areas of biology, biochemistry, and physiology for California State University and University of California. Dr. Silva has been very active as an independent investigator in the basic sciences and clinical research throughout his career, and currently acts as a Principal Investigator on projects for Boise Kidney.

About ProKidney
ProKidney, a pioneer in the treatment of CKD through innovations in cellular therapy, was founded in 2015 after a decade of research. ProKidney’s lead product candidate, rilparencel (also known as REACT^®), is a first-of-its-kind, patented, proprietary autologous cellular therapy being evaluated to potentially preserve kidney function in diabetic patients at high risk of kidney failure. Rilparencel has received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation, as well as FDA and EMA guidance, supporting its ongoing Phase 3 clinical program that launched in January 2022. For more information, please visit www.prokidney.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. ProKidney’s actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s expectations with respect to financial results and expected cash runway, future performance, development and commercialization of products, if approved, the potential benefits and impact of the Company’s products, if approved, potential regulatory approvals, the size and potential growth of current or future markets for the Company’s products, if approved, the advancement of the Company’s development programs into and through the clinic and the expected timing for reporting data, the making of regulatory filings or achieving other milestones related to related to the Company’s product candidates, and the advancement and funding of the Company’s developmental programs generally. Most of these factors are outside of the Company’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the inability to maintain the listing of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares on the Nasdaq; the inability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations or identify and realize additional opportunities, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive biotechnology industry; the inability of the Company to raise financing in the future; the inability of the Company to obtain and maintain regulatory clearance or approval for its products, and any related restrictions and limitations of any cleared or approved product; the inability of the Company to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; the inability of Company to compete with other companies currently marketing or engaged in the biologics market and in the area of treatment of kidney diseases; the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company’s products, if approved, and its ability to serve those markets, either alone or in partnership with others; the Company’s estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; the Company’s financial performance; the Company’s intellectual property rights; uncertainties inherent in cell therapy research and development, including the actual time it takes to initiate and complete clinical studies and the timing and content of decisions made by regulatory authorities; the fact that interim results from our clinical programs may not be indicative of future results; the impact of geo-political conflict on the Company’s business; and other risks and uncertainties included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Investor Contacts:

ProKidney
Ethan Holdaway
Ethan.Holdaway@prokidney.com

LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Daniel Ferry
Daniel@lifesciadvisors.com