Kivu Bioscience
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Kivu Bioscience firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kivu Bioscience
- Legal name
- Kivu Bioscience, Inc.
- Website
- https://kivubioscience.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kivu Bioscience industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates (HLAAAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation) (HLAAAIAI), Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)
Keywords
Where Kivu Bioscience is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kivu Bioscience business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- ADC Development and Licensing: Kivu Bioscience is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation ADCs for oncology. The company does not yet have commercialized products and is pre-revenue. Future revenue is expected to come from licensing agreements, co-development partnerships, and potential commercialization of its ADC pipeline candidates.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Kivu Bioscience product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kivu Bioscience is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for difficult-to-treat solid tumors. The company licenses Synaffix's GlycoConnect site-specific conjugation and HydraSpace hydrophilic linker technologies and combines them with proprietary payloads such as SYNtecan E topoisomerase inhibitor to produce homogeneous, plasma-stable ADCs with improved therapeutic index. Lead candidates KIVU-107 (PTK7) and KIVU-305 (CEACAM5) are in Phase 1 clinical development, with additional candidates KIVU-495 and KIVU-202 in earlier-stage development.
Product overview
Kivu Bioscience is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for difficult-to-treat cancers. The company's proprietary ADC platform leverages differentiated linker and payload technologies including Synaffix's GlycoConnect® site-specific conjugation and HydraSpace® linker technologies, along with proprietary clinically validated payloads, to enhance tumor selectivity and efficacy while minimizing off-target toxicity. The pipeline includes four ADC candidates: KIVU-107 (PTK7-targeting, Phase 1), KIVU-305 (CEACAM5-targeting, Phase 1), KIVU-495 (undisclosed target, development candidate), and KIVU-202 (development candidate).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- KIVU-107 A next-generation PTK7-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) built using GlycoConnect site-specific conjugation and HydraSpace linker technologies, designed to deliver potent cytotoxic activity in PTK7-expressing solid tumors with improved safety and tolerability compared to earlier-generation ADCs. Currently in Phase 1 clinical development.
- KIVU-305 A next-generation CEACAM5-targeted ADC composed of a humanized antibody conjugated via site-specific GlycoConnect technology to a HydraSpace-linked SYNtecan E topoisomerase inhibitor payload, incorporating Fc-silencing and an optimized DAR4 configuration for enhanced plasma stability and tumor exposure. Currently in Phase 1 clinical development.
- KIVU-495 An ADC development candidate with an undisclosed target, currently at the development candidate stage for solid tumors.
- KIVU-202 An ADC candidate in development for solid tumors.
Quantifiable outcome
- KIVU-107 demonstrated potent antigen-specific cytotoxicity with rapid internalization in vitro and durable complete tumor regressions after a single dose in mouse xenograft models
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kivu Bioscience
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Kivu Bioscience technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Kivu Bioscience partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Sterling Pharma SolutionscoreManufacturing partnership with Sterling Pharma Solutions to produce cGMP-quality material for Phase 1 clinical trials of KIVU-107. Sterling manufactures cGMP clinical material at its dedicated bioconjugation facility in Deeside, UK, including process familiarisation, analytical development, process optimisation, and scale-up activities.
- SynaffixcoreTechnology licensing partnership for GlycoConnect® and HydraSpace® site-specific conjugation technologies used in Kivu's ADC platform. Synaffix was acquired by Lonza.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kivu Bioscience competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ADC Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing a pipeline of ADCs for hematologic and solid tumors, with FDA-approved Zynlonta. Direct competitor in the ADC oncology space targeting similar solid tumor indications with comparable linker/payload approaches.
- Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage ADC-focused biotech developing next-generation ADCs with proprietary platforms (Dolasynthen, Immunosynthen). Highly comparable as a similarly-sized ADC pure-play pursuing differentiated linker and payload technologies.
- Pyxis Oncology: Clinical-stage oncology biotech developing ADCs and immunotherapies. Comparable as a peer ADC developer with similar stage of pipeline assets and target validation approach for solid tumors.
Emerging players
- Tubulis: Emerging ADC platform company with proprietary conjugation and linker technologies (Tub-tag, P5). Comparable as a technology-driven ADC developer focused on site-specific conjugation and stable linkers, overlapping with Kivu's Synaffix-licensed approach.
- ProfoundBio: Clinical-stage ADC company developing next-generation ADCs for solid tumors. Comparable emerging player with proprietary linker-payload technology targeting similar indications and patient populations as Kivu.
Broad incumbents
- Daiichi Sankyo: Global pharmaceutical company that pioneered Enhertu and Datroway ADCs in partnership with AstraZeneca. Broad incumbent setting the benchmark Kivu aims to outperform on therapeutic index, and a likely potential partner or acquirer.
- AstraZeneca: Global pharma that co-developed Enhertu and Datroway with Daiichi Sankyo and has aggressively acquired ADC companies (Gracell, Fusion Pharmaceuticals). Comparable as a deep-pocketed incumbent shaping the ADC landscape and a likely BD counterparty.
- Pfizer: Global pharma that acquired Seagen for $43B to anchor its ADC franchise. Comparable as a major incumbent in the ADC space and likely partnership or licensing counterparty for clinical-stage assets like Kivu's pipeline.
- AbbVie: Global pharma with multiple ADC programs (including ABBV-319 led by Kivu's Associate Director Anderson Chang) and the ImmunoGen acquisition (Elahere). Comparable incumbent and notable given multiple Kivu executives previously led oncology at AbbVie.
- ImmunoGen (AbbVie): ADC pioneer acquired by AbbVie, with FDA-approved Elahere for ovarian cancer. Comparable as an established ADC platform now integrated into a major pharma, representing the kind of strategic outcome available to successful ADC developers like Kivu.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kivu Bioscience social profiles
Digital presenceKivu Bioscience financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kivu Bioscience leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Kivu Bioscience funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kivu Bioscience 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 Kivu Bioscience
What does Kivu Bioscience do?
Kivu Bioscience is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for difficult-to-treat solid tumors. The company licenses Synaffix's GlycoConnect site-specific conjugation and HydraSpace hydrophilic linker technologies and combines them with proprietary payloads such as SYNtecan E topoisomerase inhibitor to produce homogeneous, plasma-stable ADCs with improved therapeutic index. Lead candidates KIVU-107 (PTK7) and KIVU-305 (CEACAM5) are in Phase 1 clinical development, with additional candidates KIVU-495 and KIVU-202 in earlier-stage development.
Is Kivu Bioscience a public or private company?
Kivu Bioscience is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Kivu Bioscience founded?
Kivu Bioscience was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kivu Bioscience based?
Kivu Bioscience is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kivu Bioscience make money?
One revenue line is on record: ADC Development and Licensing.
Who are Kivu Bioscience's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ADC Therapeutics, Mersana Therapeutics and Pyxis Oncology. Emerging players are Tubulis and ProfoundBio. Broad incumbents are Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, AbbVie and ImmunoGen (AbbVie).
Does Kivu Bioscience have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kivu Bioscience.
What industry is Kivu Bioscience in?
Kivu Bioscience's product category is Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAE, Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates, with a secondary code of HLAAAIAI, Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2834.