University of Edinburgh biotechnology spinout firm Kynos Therapeutics has been acquired by Freiburg, Germany-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical company Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH, which will develop Kynos’ KMO inflammation inhibitors for the treatment of acute pancreatitis.
Kynos was spun out of the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Regeneration and Repair and the Centre for Cardiovascular Science in 2022 by co-founders Professors Damian Mole and Scott Webster, together with founding investor Epidarex Capital, an early-stage transatlantic venture fund.
The company has been backed by investment from Epidarex Capital, IP Group and Scottish Enterprise and led by CEO Jonathan Savidge since 2022.
Since its foundation, Kynos Therapeutics has progressed development of its lead molecule, KNS366, a highly potent and selective first-in-class inhibitor of the enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), through a Phase I trial.
KNS366 was shown to be safe and well-tolerated and led to a dose-dependent inhibition of the enzyme KMO and modulation of its downstream metabolites.
Dr. Falk Pharma (DFP) will add KNS366 to its R&D pipeline and will further explore the potential of KNS366 in future clinical trials, initially focusing on acute pancreatitis.
This new asset will enhance Dr. Falk Pharma’s expansion into rare digestive and metabolic diseases and conditions.
Mole, who is 1777 Professor of Surgery at the University of Edinburgh and will remain as a consultant to DFP alongside Webster, said: “This is a momentous milestone for us on our scientific and clinical translational journey to develop KMO inhibitors as a new and useful treatment for patients with diseases caused by inflammation.
“We are delighted to have now found a partner with the expertise, capacity and commitment to further develop KMO inhibitors, initially for acute pancreatitis, which is an area of immense unmet need.”
Catherine Martin, Vice-Principal Corporate Services at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This partnership is a fantastic testament to the University’s innovation ecosystem, which has nurtured Kynos and its KMO inhibitors through discovery and development to this new stage of acceleration, which will bring their invention further and faster to patients.”
Susan Bodie, Head of Business Development for the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service, said: “The journey from lab to clinic is long and arduous and, to see these inflammation inhibitors now much further along that path and on a trajectory to improve lives, is what we at Edinburgh Innovations are all about.
“We are delighted for the founders, and for the University, which will see a return of funds managed by Old College Capital, our in-house venture investment team, continuing to support the most exciting ideas and technologies emerging from the University.”
Elizabeth Roper, General Partner at Epidarex and former investor director of Kynos, said: “The acquisition by Dr. Falk Pharma of Kynos is an outstanding achievement by the company and provides a great example of Epidarex’s approach to company creation and development. We would like to congratulate the Kynos team and our fellow investors on the transaction with Dr. Falk Pharma. Targeting KMO represents a potentially transformative approach in acute pancreatitis.”
Kerry Sharp, Director of Entrepreneurship and Investment at Scottish Enterprise, said: “Scotland continues to provide the right environment for life sciences innovation and having supported Kynos Therapeutics’ early stage development, we are excited to see how it continues to flourish as it integrates into the Falk Group.”