Biotech Consortium Launches KPI Therapeutics

A consortium of five biopharma firms and private investors have launched KPI Therapeutics, Inc. with the goal of speeding development of promising drug candidates. KPI research partners include MPI Research, Chimera Biotec, Life Chemicals, Medical Marketing Economics (MME), and Kineta, all of which are experienced in translational drug development.
 
KPI’s partners and investors will supply funding and expertise in an effort to make the early clinical drug validation process more efficient and to improve investor outcomes. Initially, KPI will focus on the most advanced projects within Kineta’s drug pipeline, and then intends to identify and advance programs from other industry sources.
 
KPI’s lead candidate, ShK-186, is a novel, immune-sparing therapeutic in Phase I development that has shown preclinical activity in psoriatic arthritis and other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and asthma. KPI’s portfolio also includes compounds for antiviral and non-narcotic pain therapies.
 
“Despite recent advances in scientific knowledge and reports of promising new medicines from early stage discovery, we have not seen a concurrent surge in innovative therapies for patients reaching the market,” said Charles Magness, president and chief executive officer of Kineta and KPI board chairman. “KPI is designed to bring the capabilities of world-class drug development players and investors into a collaborative alignment where all patients, partners, and investors can benefit.”
 
Paul Sylvester, chief financial officer of MPI Research, a global CRO, and KPI board member, added, “We have enjoyed our existing partnership with Kineta and look forward to this new, expanded relationship, particularly because MPI Research is committed to supporting initiatives that build time and cost reductions into the drug development process.”