Kinaset Therapeutics
Kinaset Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing frevecitinib (KN-002), an inhaled pan-JAK inhibitor delivered via single-capsule dry powder inhaler, targeting severe asthma patients (including non-eosinophilic subtypes) and potentially COPD. Founded 2020, Boston-based, pre-revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kinaset Therapeutics does
Kinaset Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2020 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is focused exclusively on developing inhaled therapeutics for respiratory diseases, with a single lead asset, frevecitinib (KN-002), being advanced for the treatment of severe asthma and, on the basis of early Phase 1 data, with potential expansion into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Frevecitinib is a novel small-molecule inhibitor of all four JAK isoforms (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, TYK2), formulated as a dry powder for delivery via a single-capsule dry powder inhaler. This pan-JAK inhaled approach is designed to deliver therapeutic drug concentrations directly to lung tissue while minimizing systemic exposure, and is positioned to treat both eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic severe asthma — the latter population being roughly half of all severe asthma patients who do not adequately respond to existing parenteral biologic therapies.
The company acquired worldwide rights to KN-002 (originally VR588) through an exclusive in-license from Vectura Group at its Series A launch. Since then, Kinaset has progressed through Phase 1/1b clinical evaluation, demonstrating clinically relevant reductions in fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) without safety or tolerability concerns at doses up to 16 mg, and has obtained FDA clearance of its IND application to initiate Phase 2b dose-ranging studies in patients with asthma inadequately controlled on standard inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist therapy. The senior leadership team — CEO Robert Clarke (ex-CEO Pulmatrix), CBO/COO Roger Heerman (ex-EVP Vectura), CDO Frazer Morgan (ex-VP Vectura), and CMO Christopher O'Brien (ex-Janssen, Teva, AstraZeneca) — combines decades of inhaled therapeutics development and respiratory clinical experience.
Kinaset's business model is pre-commercial: it is a venture-backed R&D organization with no approved products, no product revenue, and no commercial distribution infrastructure. The company has raised approximately $143 million across a $40 million Series A (November 2020) led by 5AM Ventures and Atlas Venture, an early $1.5 million round, and a $103 million oversubscribed Series B (January 2026) led by RA Capital Management and Forge Life Science Partners. Future revenue, if frevecitinib is approved, would be generated through prescription pharmaceutical sales (potentially via distribution partnerships) targeting the severe asthma patient population estimated at approximately 1.5–2 million globally.
Kinaset Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kinaset Therapeutics
- Legal name
- Kinaset Therapeutics, Inc.
- Website
- https://kinasettherapeutics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kinaset Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing frevecitinib (KN-002), an inhaled pan-JAK inhibitor delivered via single-capsule dry powder inhaler, targeting severe asthma patients (including non-eosinophilic subtypes) and potentially COPD. Founded 2020, Boston-based, pre-revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kinaset Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Inhaled Respiratory Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Respiratory & Allergy Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Pulmonology & Allergy Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAF)
Keywords
Where Kinaset Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Kinaset Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Kinaset Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kinaset Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing frevecitinib (KN-002), a novel inhaled pan-JAK inhibitor formulated as a dry powder for delivery via a single-capsule dry powder inhaler. The product candidate is designed to deliver anti-inflammatory therapy directly to the lungs of patients with severe asthma (and potentially COPD), addressing both eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic phenotypes that are inadequately controlled on standard inhaled corticosteroid/LABA therapy.
Product overview
Kinaset Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a single lead product candidate, frevecitinib (KN-002), an inhaled pan-JAK inhibitor. The company is not a multi-product platform but rather focused on advancing this one novel therapeutic through clinical development for severe asthma and potentially COPD. The product is an inhaled dry powder formulation delivered via a single-capsule inhaler, targeting the broad severe asthma population including those with non-eosinophilic disease who lack effective treatment options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Frevecitinib (KN-002) Novel inhaled pan-JAK inhibitor (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, TYK2) formulated as a dry powder for delivery via a single-capsule dry powder inhaler. Designed to deliver therapeutic anti-inflammatory drug concentrations directly to the lungs while minimizing systemic exposure, with the goal of treating severe asthma patients regardless of eosinophilic or non-eosinophilic phenotype and potentially COPD. Currently in clinical development with FDA IND clearance obtained for Phase 2b dose-ranging studies in asthma.
Quantifiable outcome
- Phase 1b: Once- and twice-daily administration of KN-002 achieved clinically relevant reductions in fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels without safety concerns
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kinaset Therapeutics
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kinaset Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Kinaset Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kinaset Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sanofi: Global biopharmaceutical company and co-developer of dupilumab (Dupixent) with Regeneron—the leading severe asthma biologic with broadest label. Broad incumbent with the dominant prescriber and payer footprint Kinaset would need to displace.
- AstraZeneca: Global biopharmaceutical company with a major respiratory franchise including tezepelumab (Tezspire) for severe asthma, Fasenra, and Symbicort. Comparable as the broad incumbent setting the standard of care in severe asthma biologics.
- GSK: Global biopharmaceutical company with a leading severe asthma biologic franchise including mepolizumab (Nucala) and benralizumab (Fasenra), as well as Trelegy for COPD. Broad incumbent competitor in the same therapeutic area.
Emerging players
- Galapagos NV: European biotech with a historical respiratory franchise (filgotinib, a JAK1 inhibitor, was co-developed with Gilead for inflammatory diseases including potential respiratory indications). Comparable as a JAK-pathway developer with respiratory/immunology overlap, though no longer focused on inhaled delivery.
- Pulmatrix: Clinical-stage inhaled therapeutics company developing iSPERSE-based dry powder formulations for respiratory diseases including COPD and asthma. Comparable as a small inhaled-respiratory biotech; notably, Kinaset CEO Robert Clarke was previously CEO of Pulmatrix.
- Avalo Therapeutics: Clinical-stage immunology company focused on inflammatory diseases including respiratory indications. Comparable as a small-cap clinical-stage biotech pursuing anti-inflammatory mechanisms in respiratory/immunology.
Direct peers
- Upstream Bio: Clinical-stage biotech developing verekitug, an anti-TSLP antibody for severe asthma and other inflammatory respiratory diseases. Closely comparable development-stage respiratory company with biologic and now broader mechanism approaches.
- Connect Biopharma: Clinical-stage inflammation and immunology company that has developed rademikibart (anti-IL-4Rα) for severe asthma and atopic dermatitis. Comparable as a development-stage immunology biotech pursuing severe asthma with a novel anti-inflammatory.
- Verona Pharma: Respiratory therapeutics company that developed ensifentrine (Ohtuvayre), the first inhaled PDE3/PDE4 inhibitor approved for COPD maintenance therapy in 2024. Closely comparable as an inhaled small-molecule respiratory therapeutic developer; acquired by Merck in 2025.
- Areteia Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing an oral DP2 antagonist (dexpramipexole) for severe eosinophilic asthma. Directly comparable as a Phase 2/3 respiratory-focused biotech targeting severe asthma with a differentiated mechanism.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kinaset Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceKinaset Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kinaset Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Kinaset Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kinaset Therapeutics 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 Kinaset Therapeutics
What does Kinaset Therapeutics do?
Kinaset Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing frevecitinib (KN-002), a novel inhaled pan-JAK inhibitor formulated as a dry powder for delivery via a single-capsule dry powder inhaler. The product candidate is designed to deliver anti-inflammatory therapy directly to the lungs of patients with severe asthma (and potentially COPD), addressing both eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic phenotypes that are inadequately controlled on standard inhaled corticosteroid/LABA therapy.
Is Kinaset Therapeutics a public or private company?
Kinaset Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Kinaset Therapeutics founded?
Kinaset Therapeutics was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kinaset Therapeutics based?
Kinaset Therapeutics is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Kinaset Therapeutics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sanofi, AstraZeneca and GSK. Emerging players are Galapagos NV, Pulmatrix and Avalo Therapeutics. Direct peers are Upstream Bio, Connect Biopharma, Verona Pharma and Areteia Therapeutics.
Does Kinaset Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kinaset Therapeutics.
What industry is Kinaset Therapeutics in?
Kinaset Therapeutics's product category is Inhaled Respiratory Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAH, Respiratory & Allergy Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIACAF, Pulmonology & Allergy Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.