Kynexis Introduces Efforts to Advance Precision Therapies for Brain Disorders
Wednesday, November 08, 2023
Kynexis, a biotechnology company focused on precision therapeutics for brain diseases, has launched today, securing €57 million in Series A financing. This funding round was led by Forbion, with participation from Ysios Capital and Sunstone Life Science Ventures. Kynexis is set to advance its lead therapeutic candidate, KYN-5356, a potential first-in-class KAT-II inhibitor designed for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS), toward clinical development.
Kynexis, emphasized the significant unmet medical need for treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia and how having a medication for this condition could revolutionize the treatment of schizophrenia. He explained that Kynexis's unique precision medicine approach, based on modulating the kynurenine pathway and the emerging human genetics in schizophrenia, provides the foundation for the development of KYN-5356.
The KYN-5356 program builds on the groundbreaking scientific discoveries of Professors Robert Schwarcz, Ph.D., at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Carol Tamminga, M.D., at the University of Texas UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Schwarcz's work in the kynurenine pathway in the brain established kynurenine's significant role in cognition and in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Dr. Tamminga, a leading psychiatrist and neuroscientist, is known for her translational research in the field of psychosis, which has provided major insights into the mechanisms underlying schizophrenia and its associated genetics and biomarkers. By integrating human genetics, biomarkers, and deep phenotyping, Kynexis is well-positioned to pursue a novel precision psychiatry-based approach to develop KYN-5356 in CIAS.
KYN-5356, a potent and highly selective KAT-II inhibitor, has been licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC). Under the terms of the agreement, Kynexis holds an exclusive worldwide license from MTPC to develop and commercialize KYN-5356 globally.
The company, co-founded by Forbion and Ysios Capital, has assembled an experienced leadership team with decades of expertise in drug discovery and development for neuropsychiatric indications. Key team members include:
- Kees Been, who joins as Chief Executive Officer of Kynexis with over 25 years of experience in leading and growing CNS-focused companies and raising significant funds from major life science investors to advance companies from early-stage research to late-stage drug development.
- Jens Wendland, M.D., who joins as Chief Medical Officer of Kynexis with over 13 years of experience in neuropsychiatric and rare diseases, and a strong background in leveraging human genetics for neuroscience drug discovery and development.
- Peter Høngaard Andersen, Dr.Med., serving as Executive Chair of Kynexis, brings a proven track record in advancing biotechnology companies and has held various leadership positions across multiple functions at global pharmaceutical companies, including Lundbeck and Novo Nordisk. He has also co-founded several biotechnology companies.
Peter Høngaard Andersen, Operating Partner at Forbion and Executive Chair of Kynexis, expressed the team's excitement about advancing this first-in-class compound from MTPC to develop the first potential precision medicine for CIAS. He emphasized that KYN-5356 is a potent, selective, and brain-penetrant KAT-II inhibitor with a strong scientific rationale to address a significant unmet need for a large population of people with schizophrenia.
Masao Nawano, Ph.D., Vice President and Head of Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division of MTPC, voiced hope that Kynexis will successfully advance KYN-5356 to clinical development. He noted that this licensing deal aligns with MTPC's mission of "Creating hope for all facing illness" by generating unique compounds to address unmet medical needs and provide clinical benefits.
Source: globenewswire.com
