IRIC - Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer

Published on September 22, 2026

RejuvenRx, a biotechnology company co-founded by Anne Marinier and Guy Sauvageau, principal investigators at IRIC at the Université de Montréal, has been awarded a $1 million investment by Stem Cell Network (SCN).

On the occasion of Global Biotechnology Week, SCN announced the results of its new Incubation Investment Award program, which aims to support the development in Canada of promising startups in the field of regenerative medicine. The program’s goal is to help innovations navigate the early stages leading to clinical development, manufacturing, and securing larger private investments. The startup RejuvenRx is the very first recipient of this award!

RejuvenRx is developing next-generation oral drugs designed to improve stem cell function impaired by aging or certain diseases. Its main program is based on a new class of “glue”-like molecular degraders, called KMGDs, which target the CoREST complex. This epigenetic regulator plays a central role in the mechanisms of self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells.

RejuvenRx draws in particular on the scientific expertise that led to the discovery of UM171 in the laboratories of Guy Sauvageau and Anne Marinier. Used in cell therapy, UM171 promotes the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells outside the body prior to their administration to patients with blood cancer, thereby helping to improve the effectiveness of transplants. The molecules developed by RejuvenRx build on the same biological mechanism—the targeted degradation of the CoREST complex—but belong to a distinct chemical class and have different pharmacological properties. Their oral bioavailability makes it possible to administer them in tablet form and achieve systemic action within the body. They could thus directly harness this biological mechanism to open up new therapeutic avenues for diseases in which the body’s natural regenerative capabilities are impaired.

This investment will enable RejuvenRx to continue the preclinical studies and pharmaceutical development necessary to demonstrate the potential and safety of its technology, thereby advancing it toward clinical development. It will also help strengthen the company’s business development activities, establish new partnerships, and prepare for the next stages of financing. Ultimately, RejuvenRx aims to offer a new treatment option for people with serious blood cancers or other diseases for which stem cell transplantation is currently one of the few treatment options available.

“First and foremost, it is a great honour for RejuvenRx to be the first recipient of the Stem Cell Network program. This recognition represents a significant validation of the relevance and potential of our approach by leading players in the Canadian life sciences ecosystem. It also gives us tremendous momentum to continue developing our technology, increase our visibility among investors and partners, and secure the financial resources needed to advance our programs toward clinical trials. It is therefore both a recognition of what we have accomplished and a true springboard for the next stage of our development.”  – Anne Marinier

Congratulations to Anne Marinier, Guy Sauvageau, and the entire RejuvenRx team!

For full details on the funding, visit: SCN

Learn more about RejuvenRx: https://www.rejuvenrx.com/