The startup develops a precision medicine targeting cognitive impairment in schizophrenia by utilizing a human biology-based approach and a causal biomarker strategy to validate its mechanism of action. This research enables the identification of responder sub-populations, aiming to restore brain function in affected patients.
Funding
$60.4M 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.
FCFounders
Product
Problem
Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) significantly impacts the lives of over 24 million people worldwide, yet there are currently no approved treatments available. Traditional neuropsychiatric drug development has often relied on animal models, which may not accurately reflect the complexities of human brain biology.
Solution
Kynexis is developing a precision medicine approach to treat CIAS by targeting KAT-II, a key enzyme in the kynurenine pathway, with its lead candidate KYN-5356. This first-in-class small molecule is a potent and highly selective KAT-II inhibitor designed to restore brain function in affected patients. Kynexis utilizes a human biology-based approach, incorporating causal biomarker strategies and human genetics to identify responder sub-populations. By harnessing large-scale data and deep phenotyping, Kynexis aims to transform the treatment paradigm for schizophrenia and improve the lives of those affected by CIAS.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes individuals suffering from cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) and the healthcare professionals who treat them, including psychiatrists and neurologists.
Features
- KYN-5356: A first-in-class, potent, and highly selective small molecule inhibitor of KAT-II
- Biomarker-based patient stratification to identify individuals most likely to respond to treatment
- Human genetics approach to identify responder sub-populations
- Clinical trials utilizing electroencephalography (EEG) activity and cognitive performance assessments to determine target engagement
- Demonstrated statistically significant improvements in EEG activity relevant to cognitive pathways in Phase 1 study
- Observed dose-dependent reduction of kynurenic acid levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Excellent pharmacokinetic (PK) properties in both plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), suggesting appropriate penetration and exposure of KYN-5356 in the central nervous system (CNS)