What Kynos Therapeutics does

Kynos Therapeutics was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded as a spin-out from the University of Edinburgh, developing novel small-molecule therapies that target the kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) enzyme within the tryptophan metabolic pathway to treat acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The company's lead investigational asset, KNS366, is described as a highly potent and selective first-in-class KMO inhibitor that completed Phase I clinical trials, where it was shown to be safe and well-tolerated at multiple doses and produced dose-dependent KMO inhibition with modulation of the downstream metabolite 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK), a marker linked to tissue damage and immune dysregulation during inflammation. The initial therapeutic focus post-acquisition is acute pancreatitis, a condition with approximately 240,000 cases annually in Europe and 300,000 in the United States and no currently approved treatments to prevent organ failure and death in severe cases.

Kynos emerged from stealth in April 2022 with £9 million in total financing, comprising equity funding led by Epidarex Capital with co-investors IP Group and Scottish Enterprise, plus a £2.5M Innovate UK grant. The company operated with a small team (1-10 employees) based in Edinburgh, sourcing its core IP from University of Edinburgh research, and pursued capital-efficient clinical development rather than building a standalone commercial organization. Its pre-acquisition business model was centered on advancing the KNS366 asset through clinical milestones to a value-realization event.

In October 2024, Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH, a family-owned German pharmaceutical company specializing in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders, acquired Kynos Therapeutics and integrated it into the Falk Group. Under Dr. Falk Pharma, KNS366 enters a specialty GI/hepatology commercial infrastructure with ten affiliates across Europe and Australia and manufacturing operations in Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland. Future clinical development is being prioritized for acute pancreatitis and broader rare digestive and metabolic disease indications, with no commercial revenue generated to date.

Name

Kynos Therapeutics

Legal name

Kynos Therapeutics Ltd.

Website

https://kynostx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kynos Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing KNS366, a first-in-class inhibitor of the kynurenine 3-monooxygenase enzyme, to treat acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, initially acute pancreatitis. The company was acquired by Dr. Falk Pharma in October 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceuticals (Inflammatory Disease Therapeutics)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Immunology, Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Therapies (HLAIAIAE)

Keywords

• KMO inhibitors
• Inflammatory disease therapeutics
• Acute pancreatitis treatment
• Tryptophan pathway drugs
• Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Development and Sales: As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Kynos Therapeutics' revenue model centers on developing novel treatments through clinical trials and ultimately commercializing approved drugs. Following acquisition by Dr. Falk Pharma, the pipeline will be integrated into Dr. Falk Pharma's commercial operations targeting gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Kynos Therapeutics develops novel small-molecule inhibitors of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Its lead investigational asset, KNS366, is a first-in-class, highly potent and selective KMO inhibitor that demonstrated safety, tolerability, and dose-dependent target engagement in Phase I clinical trials, with the lead therapeutic focus on acute pancreatitis.

Product overview

Kynos Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for patients suffering from acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The company's primary product is KNS366, a first-in-class KMO (kynurenine 3-monooxygenase) inhibitor that targets the tryptophan metabolic pathway to modulate immune processes and reduce inflammation. The company was acquired by Dr. Falk Pharma in October 2024 and is integrated into the Falk Group's R&D pipeline, with continued development focused initially on acute pancreatitis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KNS366 KNS366 is a highly potent and selective first-in-class small-molecule inhibitor of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), a key enzyme in the tryptophan metabolic pathway. By inhibiting KMO, KNS366 lowers levels of the downstream metabolite 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK), which is linked to tissue damage and immune dysregulation during inflammation. It is being developed for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, with the lead indication being acute pancreatitis. In Phase I clinical trials, KNS366 demonstrated safety and tolerability at multiple doses, along with dose-dependent KMO inhibition and downstream metabolite modulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Safe and well-tolerated at multiple doses in Phase I clinical trial
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Dr. Falk PharmacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2024Dr. Falk Pharma acquired Kynos Therapeutics effective October 29, 2024. Kynos was integrated into the Falk Group to enhance Dr. Falk Pharma's expansion into rare digestive and metabolic diseases. Dr. Falk Pharma is an industry leader in gastrointestinal formulations with strong collaborations with clinical centers and academic key opinion leaders.
• University of EdinburghcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2022Kynos Therapeutics was founded as a spin-out from the University of Edinburgh. The company was established based on research and intellectual property from the university, with the spin-out structured in partnership with lead investor Epidarex Capital.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Evotec SE: Evotec is a German drug-discovery and development platform with multiple inflammation and immunology partnerships; relevant as a comparable European biotech R&D platform supporting inflammation assets like KNS366.

Direct peers

• Calcimedica: Calcimedica is developing CM-4620, a CRAC channel inhibitor, as a treatment for acute pancreatitis — the same lead indication as KNS366. It is the most direct clinical-stage competitor in this niche.
• Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH: Dr. Falk Pharma is the corporate acquirer of Kynos and operates in the same gastroenterology/hepatology therapeutic areas targeted by KNS366. It is both parent and the most directly overlapping commercial-stage peer in GI.

Broad incumbents

• Takeda Pharmaceutical: Takeda has a major gastroenterology franchise (e.g., Entyvio for IBD) and broad rare-disease capabilities, making it a relevant large-cap incumbent competing for the same specialty GI patients targeted by Dr. Falk and Kynos.
• AbbVie: AbbVie is a global leader in autoimmune and inflammatory disease therapeutics (Humira, Skyrizi, Rinvoq) and overlaps with Kynos's inflammation/immunology mechanism of action across multiple specialty indications.
• Johnson & Johnson (Innovative Medicine): J&J's Innovative Medicine division has major immunology and GI franchises (e.g., Stelara, Tremfya) and represents a likely strategic competitor for any approved KMO inhibitor targeting chronic inflammation.

Emerging players

• Kynexis Therapeutics: Kynexis is an early-stage biotech developing therapeutics targeting the kynurenine pathway — the same tryptophan metabolic pathway modulated by Kynos's KMO inhibitor. Closest mechanistic peer outside of pancreatitis.
• Pliant Therapeutics: Pliant is a clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics for fibrosis and inflammatory-driven tissue damage, conceptually adjacent to Kynos's anti-inflammatory mechanism targeting inflammation-driven organ injury.
• Redx Pharma: Redx is a UK-listed clinical-stage biotech developing targeted therapies in fibrosis and immuno-oncology; it shares the same small-molecule, UK-based, specialty-inflammation positioning as Kynos.
• Morphic Holding: Morphic develops oral integrin-based therapeutics for serious chronic diseases including GI inflammation, a closely adjacent emerging platform to Kynos's inflammation-focused KMO program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KynosTxLtd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kynos Therapeutics