Kinea Bio
Kinea Bio is a Seattle-based preclinical biotechnology company developing next-generation AAV-mediated gene therapies for rare neuromuscular diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, dysferlinopathies, myotonic dystrophy type 1, and Duchenne cardiomyopathy. The company is funded entirely by NIH SBIR grants and patient-advocacy foundation capital and has no commercial revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kinea Bio does
Kinea Bio is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2020 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that develops next-generation adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapies for rare neuromuscular diseases. The company's therapeutic focus spans Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) via a midi-dystrophin gene replacement program, dysferlinopathies (LGMD2B and Miyoshi Myopathy), congenital muscular dystrophy type 1C (FKRP), Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DMPK), and Duchenne cardiomyopathy in AAV-antibody-positive patients. Its scientific foundation rests on four proprietary technology platforms: SIMPLI-GT, which uses split intein-mediated protein ligation to overcome AAV packaging limits and enable full-length protein delivery; MyoXpress, a library of muscle-specific expression cassettes that allow 3-log tuning of therapeutic protein production while minimizing off-target expression; Myotropic Capsids, engineered AAV vectors with liver-de-targeted tropism that lower safety risk and dose requirements; and BioDrone, a non-viral cell-derived nanovesicle platform that enables repeat dosing for indications such as DM1 where anti-AAV immunity is a barrier.
Kinea Bio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kinea Bio
- Legal name
- Kinea Bio, Inc.
- Website
- https://kineabio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kinea Bio is a Seattle-based preclinical biotechnology company developing next-generation AAV-mediated gene therapies for rare neuromuscular diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, dysferlinopathies, myotonic dystrophy type 1, and Duchenne cardiomyopathy. The company is funded entirely by NIH SBIR grants and patient-advocacy foundation capital and has no commercial revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kinea Bio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gene Therapy for Neuromuscular Diseases
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AAV Vector Gene Therapy Developers (HLAAACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gene Therapy for Rare/Monogenic Diseases (HLAAACAE), Neurology/CNS Gene Therapies (HLAAACAH), Genetic & Genomic Rare Disease Therapeutics (HLAIAIAA)
Keywords
Where Kinea Bio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kinea Bio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Gene Therapy Development and Commercialization: As a preclinical-stage biotechnology company, Kinea Bio is developing AAV-mediated gene replacement therapies for neuromuscular diseases. The company does not yet have commercialized products or revenue. Revenue generation is anticipated through eventual therapeutic product sales following successful clinical development and regulatory approval.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Kinea Bio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kinea Bio is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing AAV-mediated gene replacement therapies for rare neuromuscular diseases including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, dysferlinopathies, Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, and Duchenne cardiomyopathy. The company leverages four proprietary technology platforms (SIMPLI-GT, MyoXpress, Myotropic Capsids, BioDrone) to overcome limitations of current gene therapies such as AAV packaging constraints, liver toxicity, and immunogenicity. The company has no commercialized products and is funded primarily through NIH SBIR grants and patient foundation investments.
Product overview
Kinea Bio is a biotechnology company developing next-generation gene therapies for neuromuscular diseases. The company's product portfolio centers on four proprietary technology platforms: SIMPLI-GT™ (split intein-mediated protein ligation for large protein delivery), MyoXpress™ (muscle-specific expression cassettes), Myotropic Capsids (engineered AAV vectors), and BioDrone™ (cell-derived nanovesicles for repeat dosing). These platforms support a pipeline of therapeutic programs targeting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1C), dysferlinopathies, Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1), and Duchenne cardiomyopathy. The technologies range from viral (AAV-mediated) to non-viral delivery approaches, addressing different patient populations and disease requirements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Midi-dystrophin Gene Replacement Therapy (DMD Program) AAV-mediated gene replacement therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, designed to deliver a larger midi-dystrophin protein to overcome limitations of existing truncated micro-dystrophin therapies. Targeted at males with progressive, degenerative DMD caused by dystrophin gene mutations.
- Dysferlin Gene Replacement Therapy Gene replacement therapy for dysferlin, treating dysferlinopathies including LGMD2B (Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy type 2B), Miyoshi Myopathy, Distal Myopathy with Anterior Tibial Onset, and Asymptomatic hyperCKemia. Targets patients with mutations causing absence of functional dysferlin protein.
- FKRP Gene Therapy (MDC1C Program) Gene therapy for congenital muscular dystrophy type 1C (MDC1C), targeting FKRP-deficient muscular dystrophy (LGMDR9) in pediatric patients with this rare form of congenital muscular dystrophy.
- DMPK Gene Therapy (DM1 Program) Gene therapy approach for Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) targeting expanded CTG-repeat mutations in the DMPK gene that produce toxic mRNA variants binding to MBNL1 protein. Indicated for patients with this rare neuromuscular disease causing progressive muscle weakness and wasting.
- Duchenne Cardiomyopathy Program Non-viral gene therapy approach designed for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients who are ineligible for AAV-based treatments due to high neutralizing antibody titers. Targets cardiac symptoms in late-stage non-ambulatory DMD patients, typically presenting around age 14 with cardiomyopathy affecting nearly all patients by age 18.
- SIMPLI-GT™ (Split Intein Mediated Protein Ligation Gene Therapy) Proprietary split intein-mediated protein ligation platform that overcomes AAV vector packaging limitations by joining protein segments together in vivo to form large functional proteins. Enables delivery of larger or full-length therapeutic proteins for diseases such as DMD and dysferlinopathies.
- BioDrone™ Nanovesicles derived from human cells enabling repeated delivery of genetic cargo without triggering significant immune responses. Designed for indications with gain-of-function mutations such as Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 that require repeat dosing, addressing a key limitation of AAV-based delivery.
- MyoXpress™ Muscle-Specific Expression Cassettes Proprietary library of muscle-specific expression cassettes enabling optimal tuning of therapeutic protein production in skeletal and cardiac muscles over a 3-log range, while minimizing expression in non-muscle tissues. Underpins the company's muscle-targeted delivery approach.
- Myotropic Capsids Engineered adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) formulated for neuromuscular diseases with improved muscle-specific delivery, lower safety risks via liver de-targeting, and reduced treatment cost through lower dose requirements compared to naturally occurring AAV serotypes such as AAV9.
Quantifiable outcome
- SIMPLI-GT produces larger/full-length functional proteins compared to truncated versions in current therapies
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kinea Bio
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kinea Bio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Kinea Bio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Solid BiosciencescoreLicensed capsid technology from Solid Biosciences to advance novel gene therapy for dysferlinopathy. The capsid license complements the Jain Foundation investment for the dysferlinopathy program.
- University of Washington Center for Translational Muscle ResearchmajorPilot grant awarded by the Center for Translational Muscle Research at University of Washington to support Kinea's gene therapy research programs.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kinea Bio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Solid Biosciences: Clinical-stage AAV gene therapy company developing treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and dysferlinopathy; Kinea actually licenses capsid technology from Solid, making it both a partner and direct competitor in dysferlinopathy.
- Lexeo Therapeutics: Clinical-stage AAV-based gene therapy company focused on rare cardiovascular and CNS diseases; comparable stage and modality for AAV gene therapy development targeting underserved rare disease indications.
- Taysha Gene Therapies: Clinical-stage AAV gene therapy company focused on rare CNS and neuromuscular diseases; closely comparable in modality (AAV), stage, and indication strategy toward rare monogenic diseases.
- Tenaya Therapeutics: Clinical-stage gene therapy company with programs in cardiac and neuromuscular rare diseases including DMD-related cardiomyopathy; comparable AAV gene therapy approach targeting similar patient populations.
Broad incumbents
- Sarepta Therapeutics: Commercial-stage leader in DMD with approved therapies including Elevidys (AAV micro-dystrophin gene therapy); Kinea's full-length dystrophin approach is positioned as a next-generation challenger to Sarepta's truncated-protein product.
- Regenxbio: Clinical-stage AAV platform company with multiple partnered and wholly-owned gene therapy programs including neuromuscular indications; an established reference point for AAV-based gene therapy development and capsid engineering.
- uniQure: Clinical-stage AAV gene therapy company with approved and pipeline programs in CNS and other indications; comparable as an AAV-platform developer with neuromuscular and rare disease focus.
- Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio): AAV gene therapy platform acquired by Bayer in 2020 for approximately $4B; Kinea's CEO previously served as AskBio's CMO, making it a direct predecessor in AAV gene therapy for neuromuscular disease and a relevant acquisition-precedent benchmark.
Emerging players
- Dyne Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing oligonucleotide-based therapies for DM1 and DMD; overlapping neuromuscular indications but using non-AAV delivery, so a thematic peer for patient population rather than modality.
- Capricor Therapeutics: Late-stage cell and exosome-based therapy developer with DMD program; operates in the same Duchenne treatment space but with non-AAV modalities, making it a thematic peer for the DMD market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kinea Bio social profiles
Digital presenceKinea Bio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kinea Bio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Kinea Bio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kinea Bio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kinea Bio
What does Kinea Bio do?
Kinea Bio is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing AAV-mediated gene replacement therapies for rare neuromuscular diseases including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, dysferlinopathies, Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, and Duchenne cardiomyopathy. The company leverages four proprietary technology platforms (SIMPLI-GT, MyoXpress, Myotropic Capsids, BioDrone) to overcome limitations of current gene therapies such as AAV packaging constraints, liver toxicity, and immunogenicity. The company has no commercialized products and is funded primarily through NIH SBIR grants and patient foundation investments.
Is Kinea Bio a public or private company?
Kinea Bio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kinea Bio founded?
Kinea Bio was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kinea Bio based?
Kinea Bio is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kinea Bio make money?
One revenue line is on record: gene Therapy Development and Commercialization.
Who are Kinea Bio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Solid Biosciences, Lexeo Therapeutics, Taysha Gene Therapies and Tenaya Therapeutics. Broad incumbents are Sarepta Therapeutics, Regenxbio, uniQure and Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio). Emerging players are Dyne Therapeutics and Capricor Therapeutics.
Does Kinea Bio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kinea Bio.
What industry is Kinea Bio in?
Kinea Bio's product category is Gene Therapy for Neuromuscular Diseases. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAACAA, AAV Vector Gene Therapy Developers, with a secondary code of HLAAACAE, Gene Therapy for Rare/Monogenic Diseases. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.