Bayer Lifescience Center joined Versant Ventures to launch BlueRock, a Kyoto spinout that will develop stem cell treatments for cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders.

Regenerative medicine company BlueRock Therapeutics was spun out of Kyoto University yesterday with $225m in series A funding from pharmaceutical producer Bayer and VC firm Versant Ventures.

BlueRock will use the funding to develop induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) treatments for several conditions, with an initial focus on cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders.

The iPSC intellectual property (IP) has been licensed from iPS Academia Japan, which manages the IP on behalf of Kyoto University.

The company has not disclosed where…