KayoThera develops first-in-class oral small molecules that inhibit the retinoid and rexinoid nuclear receptor pathways, which are linked to adverse outcomes in late-stage cancers and cardiometabolic diseases. By blocking the formation of retinoid ligands, KayoThera provides new therapeutic options for managing diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
Funding
$5.2M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
ALFounders
Product
Problem
Late-stage cancers and cardiometabolic diseases are often linked to dysregulation of retinoid and rexinoid nuclear receptor pathways. Currently, there are limited therapeutic options available to directly inhibit these pathways, leading to adverse patient outcomes. Existing retinoid activators can exacerbate cardiometabolic issues and potentially accelerate cancer progression.
Solution
KayoThera is developing first-in-class, orally-available small molecule antagonists that inhibit both retinoid and rexinoid nuclear receptor pathways. Their unique approach blocks the formation of retinoid ligands, effectively modulating these pathways to provide new therapeutic options for managing diabetes, obesity, and cancer. By inhibiting amplified retinoid signaling found in specific tumor types, KayoThera's therapies aim to restore or enhance anti-tumor immune activity, offering a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy. Preclinical studies have demonstrated a differentiated safety profile and promising efficacy in models of cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with late-stage cancers and individuals suffering from cardiometabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as the healthcare providers who treat them.
Features
- Orally-available small molecule inhibitors targeting retinoid and rexinoid nuclear receptors
- Selective inhibition of retinoid ligand formation to modulate downstream signaling
- Demonstrated ability to reverse pancreatic decline and restore insulin production in preclinical models of Type 2 Diabetes
- Unique safety profile with no dose-limiting toxicities observed in preclinical studies across multiple species
- Identification of a dose-responsive biomarker for target engagement to facilitate IND-enabling studies
- Potential to restore or enhance anti-tumor immune activity by inhibiting amplified retinoid signaling in tumor cells