KAHR Medical

KAHR Medical, an Israeli clinical-stage biotechnology firm founded in 2005, is focused on developing next-generation cancer immunotherapies. The company's scientific foundation is built upon years of research by Dr. Michal Dranitzki Elhalel of Hadassah Medical Center and Professor Mark Tykocinski of Thomas Jefferson University. The company operates on a B2B model, generating revenue through strategic partnerships, licensing deals, and direct sales to pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and healthcare providers primarily in North America and Europe.

KAHR has engineered a proprietary drug platform called Multi-Functional Immuno-Recruitment Proteins (MIRP), previously known as Dual Signaling Proteins (DSP). This technology enables the creation of bi-functional fusion proteins that can simultaneously target two distinct biological signals. These proteins are designed to bridge cancer cells with immune cells, combining checkpoint inhibition with localized immune cell activation. This dual-action approach aims to unmask the cancer cells' camouflage, allowing the innate immune system to recognize them, while also recruiting the adaptive immune system to selectively destroy the tumor cells.

The company's lead product candidate, DSP107, is a first-in-class molecule that targets both CD47 on cancer cells and 4-1BB on T-cells. By binding to CD47, DSP107 blocks the "don't eat me" signal that cancer cells use to evade the immune system. Concurrently, its binding to 4-1BB stimulates T-cell activation, promoting a targeted attack on the tumor by both macrophage and T-cell mediated destruction. DSP107 is being evaluated in multiple Phase 1/2 clinical trials for both solid tumors—including non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer—and hematological malignancies like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). A significant milestone was achieved in August 2020 when the FDA cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for DSP107, allowing clinical trials to commence in the U.S. The company has a clinical collaboration with Roche to evaluate DSP107 in combination with the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab.

Beyond its lead candidate, KAHR's preclinical pipeline includes DSP502, a PVRxPD-L1 targeting fusion protein, and DSP216, which targets HLA-GxCD47. The company has secured significant funding from a global syndicate of investors, including aMoon, BVF Partners, Flerie Invest AB, and Pavilion Capital, to advance its clinical and preclinical programs.

Keywords: cancer immunotherapy, bi-functional fusion proteins, clinical-stage biotech, immuno-oncology, CD47 inhibitor, 4-1BB agonist, solid tumors, hematological malignancies, Multi-Functional Immuno-Recruitment Proteins, DSP107, checkpoint inhibition, adaptive immunity, innate immunity, drug discovery, T-cell engager, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung carcinoma, acute myeloid leukemia, DSP502, targeted therapy