Kynexis

Kynexis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision therapeutics for brain diseases, with a primary focus on Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia (CIAS). The company was founded in 2023 and has headquarters in Naarden, Netherlands, and a US subsidiary in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Kynexis launched with a significant Series A financing of €57 million ($60.4M) in November 2023, led by Forbion, Ysios Capital, and Sunstone Life Science Ventures.

The company's scientific foundation is based on the pioneering research of its scientific co-founders, Dr. Robert Schwarcz of the University of Maryland and Dr. Carol Tamminga of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Schwarcz's work was instrumental in understanding the kynurenine pathway's role in cognition and schizophrenia pathophysiology, while Dr. Tamminga is a leader in translational research into psychosis and its underlying mechanisms. Kynexis’s strategy centers on a precision medicine approach, utilizing human genetics and biomarkers to identify and stratify patient populations most likely to respond to treatment. This approach moves away from traditional reliance on animal models for neuropsychiatric disorders.

The company's lead product candidate is KYN-5356, a potent and highly selective, first-in-class small molecule inhibitor of the Kynurenine Aminotransferase II (KAT-II) enzyme. Kynexis acquired an exclusive worldwide license for KYN-5356 from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC). The drug aims to address CIAS by modulating the kynurenine pathway to regulate kynurenic acid levels in the brain, which are believed to be a key cause of cognitive impairment in people with schizophrenia. In early 2024, Kynexis initiated a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial for KYN-5356, which has since yielded positive topline results, demonstrating safety, tolerability, and significant brain penetration in healthy volunteers. The company is now preparing for a patient study anticipated to begin in 2025.

Keywords: precision therapeutics, brain diseases, schizophrenia, cognitive impairment, CIAS, biotechnology, kynurenine pathway, KAT-II inhibitor, KYN-5356, neuroscience, drug development, clinical-stage, human genetics, biomarkers, neuropsychiatry, venture capital, Forbion, Ysios Capital, Sunstone Life Science Ventures, Robert Schwarcz, Carol Tamminga