Rinri Therapeutics

About Rinri Therapeutics

Rinri Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing advanced cell therapies to address sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The company was founded in 2018 by Professor Marcelo Rivolta as a spin-out from the University of Sheffield, based on his decades of research in sensory stem cell biology and auditory neuroscience. The company's name, Rinri, means 'ear' in Quechua, an indigenous language from South America, reflecting Professor Rivolta's Argentinian origins.

Professor Rivolta, who serves as the Chief Scientific Officer, qualified in Medicine and Surgery in Argentina before earning a Ph.D. from the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders in the USA. His laboratory at the University of Sheffield focuses on auditory stem cells and their potential to regenerate the damaged inner ear. The company is led by CEO Dr. Simon Chandler, who has been with Rinri since its inception. His background is in molecular biology and biochemistry, with previous experience in venture capital, where he was involved in early-stage investment and building companies from scientific intellectual property.

Rinri's core business is centered on reversing SNHL by regenerating damaged sensory cells within the inner ear's cochlea. The company's technology uses pluripotent stem cells to generate progenitor cells—early-stage auditory cells—which can then be transplanted to replace dead or damaged auditory neurons and hair cells. This approach targets the root cellular cause of hearing loss, a condition for which there are currently no approved disease-modifying pharmaceutical treatments, only palliative devices like hearing aids and cochlear implants. The business operates on a semi-virtual model, collaborating with partners such as the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and various universities to leverage specialized expertise and infrastructure.

The lead product, Rincell-1, is an allogeneic "off-the-shelf" cell therapy designed to regenerate auditory neurons to treat neural hearing loss, such as Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) and age-related hearing loss. Preclinical studies have shown that Rincell-1 can restore up to 40% of hearing function in disease models. Rinri is preparing for a first-in-human Phase 1/2a clinical trial for Rincell-1, which is anticipated to begin in 2025. This trial will assess the safety and preliminary efficacy of the therapy in adult cochlear implant candidates. The company has also developed a minimally invasive surgical procedure for delivering the therapy to the cochlear nerve. Rinri's pipeline includes Rincell-2, a next-generation hypoimmune version of the therapy that would not require immunosuppression, and early-stage research into replacing auditory hair cells.

Since its founding, Rinri Therapeutics has raised approximately $15.7 million over two funding rounds. The company secured seed funding in 2019 and a Series A round in 2021, with backing from investors including Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, UCB Ventures, Pioneer Group, and the University of Sheffield. The company is currently raising a new £20m Series A financing round to fund Rincell-1 through to clinical proof-of-concept.