University of Edinburgh life sciences spin-out receives major cash injection

Kynos Therapeutics, an immune-metabolic company, has received £9 million in funding to finance its lead KMO inhibitor (KMOi) programme through Phase 1 clinical trials. The company, a spin-out from the University of Edinburgh, focuses on programmes in critical illness post-surgery, in conditions driven by inflammation and in cancers where inflammation is preventing the immune system from fighting back.

Professor Damian Mole, chief executive of Edinburgh-based Kynos Therapeutics, said: “Our goal is to improve health and make a positive impact for patients, by developing our programme in the therapeutic area of inflammation and immunometabolism. We are very excited by the potential of our first-in-class KMO inhibitors and we are ready to enter the clinic with our lead asset.

“Our programmes are based on extensive industry collaborative research with a robust science base supported by multiple high impact publications. There are no approved or marketed medicines for our gateway indication, for which there is a significant unmet need.”

This funding will be used to expand Kynos’ core team and will finance development and studies. The cash injection is made up of £6.5 million in equity financing from Epidarex Capital, IP Group and Scottish Enterprise, plus a £2.5 million Innovate UK grant.

Sam Williams, managing partner of life sciences at IP Group, said: “KMO is rapidly becoming a target of great interest in drug discovery. IP Group is excited to support Kynos as it seeks to become a leading player in the KMO field and develop inhibitors with the potential to transform patients’ lives across multiple indications.”