Kezar Life Sciences
- Company typePublic
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSouth San Francisco, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Kezar Life Sciences firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kezar Life Sciences
- Legal name
- Kezar Life Sciences, Inc.
- Website
- https://kezarlifesciences.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kezar Life Sciences industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clinical-Stage Biopharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)
Keywords
Where Kezar Life Sciences is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kezar Life Sciences business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Drug Development and Commercialization: Pre-revenue clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing small molecule therapeutics for autoimmunity and cancer. The company had no revenue and was operating at a loss as it advanced its pipeline of drug candidates through clinical development.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Kezar Life Sciences product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kezar Life Sciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that target protein homeostasis pathways. Its lead candidate, zetomipzomib (KZR-616), is a selective immunoproteasome inhibitor being studied for autoimmune diseases including autoimmune hepatitis, lupus nephritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The company also advanced a protein secretion (Sec61 translocon) research program for oncology applications.
Product overview
Kezar Life Sciences was a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing small molecule therapeutics for autoimmunity and cancer. The company's portfolio centered on zetomipzomib (KZR-616), a first-in-class immunoproteasome inhibitor in development for autoimmune hepatitis, lupus nephritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Prior to its acquisition by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Kezar also maintained a SEC61 inhibitor program (KZR-261) which was sold to Enodia Therapeutics. The company operated at a loss with no revenue and was subsequently acquired in 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zetomipzomib (KZR-616) A first-in-class selective immunoproteasome inhibitor small molecule being evaluated as a therapeutic for autoimmune hepatitis, lupus nephritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
- KZR-261 A small molecule inhibitor of the Sec61 translocon being developed for oncology indications in solid tumors.
- Sec61 Translocon Research Program A discovery-stage research program developing small molecule modulators of the Sec61 translocon to disrupt protein secretion in disease-driving cells, targeting oncology and immunology indications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Biochemical remission demonstrated in autoimmune hepatitis patients in Phase 2a PORTOLA trial
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kezar Life Sciences
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kezar Life Sciences technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Kezar Life Sciences partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Aurinia PharmaceuticalscoreAurinia Pharmaceuticals acquired Kezar Life Sciences for $6.955 per share in cash plus one non-transferable contingent value right. The acquisition provided Aurinia access to Kezar's lead product candidate zetomipzomib, a first-in-class immunoproteasome inhibitor in development for autoimmune hepatitis, lupus nephritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The transaction was expected to close in Q2 2026.
- Enodia TherapeuticsminorEnodia Therapeutics, a Paris-based developer of small-molecule therapies for protein degradation, acquired Kezar's Sec61-based discovery and development program for $1 million upfront plus up to $127 million in potential milestone payments and royalties. The acquisition enabled Enodia to leverage nearly a decade of Kezar's Sec61 translocon research to advance its targeted protein degradation platform.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Kezar Life Sciences competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Travere Therapeutics: Travere Therapeutics develops therapeutics for rare diseases including FSGS and other immune-mediated kidney conditions. Comparable in addressing serious autoimmune/immune-mediated renal disease and operating as a focused specialty pharmaceutical company in adjacent autoimmune indications.
- ChemoCentryx: ChemoCentryx developed TAVNEOS (avacopan) for ANCA-associated vasculitis and was acquired by Amgen in 2022. Comparable clinical-stage autoimmune small-molecule company with a similar trajectory from clinical development through acquisition by a larger pharmaceutical company.
Direct peers
- Cabaletta Bio: Cabaletta is a clinical-stage immunology company developing cell therapies (CAR-T) for autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis. Like Kezar, it targets autoimmune indications with significant unmet need and operates in the same South San Francisco biotech ecosystem with similar development-stage economics.
- Aurinia Pharmaceuticals: Aurinia developed and commercialized LUPKYNIS (voclosporin) for lupus nephritis, directly overlapping with Kezar's lead indication. Aurinia is now Kezar's acquirer and will integrate zetomipzomib into its autoimmune franchise, making it the most directly comparable peer in clinical-stage/commercial lupus nephritis drug development.
- Kyverna Therapeutics: Kyverna is a clinical-stage biotech developing CAR-T cell therapies for autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis and other immune-mediated disorders. It directly competes with Kezar's lupus nephritis indication using a different modality (cell therapy vs. small molecule).
- Alpine Immune Sciences: Alpine Immune Sciences developed protein-based immunotherapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including povetacicept for autoimmune conditions. Acquired by Vertex in 2024 — directly comparable clinical-stage autoimmune biotech with similar acquisition-exit trajectory to Kezar.
- Keros Therapeutics: Keros Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics targeting TGF-β superfamily for hematological and autoimmune disorders. Comparable in clinical-stage profile, autoimmune focus, and small-molecule development approach to Kezar.
- AnaptysBio: AnaptysBio is a clinical-stage immunology company developing therapeutics for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including IL-36R and PD-1 agonists. Comparable in clinical-stage profile, autoimmune focus, and small-molecule/biologics development model to Kezar.
Emerging players
- ProKidney: ProKidney is a clinical-stage biotech with limited overlap to Kezar's autoimmune focus but comparable profile as a publicly traded, clinical-stage biotech that underwent restructuring and workforce reductions amid development setbacks.
- Arcturus Therapeutics: Arcturus Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech developing RNA-based therapeutics including for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. While technology (mRNA vs. small molecule) differs, it shares the clinical-stage autoimmune development profile and public-company structure with Kezar.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Kezar Life Sciences social profiles
Digital presenceKezar Life Sciences financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kezar Life Sciences leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kezar Life Sciences funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors15 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kezar Life Sciences 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 Kezar Life Sciences
What does Kezar Life Sciences do?
Kezar Life Sciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that target protein homeostasis pathways. Its lead candidate, zetomipzomib (KZR-616), is a selective immunoproteasome inhibitor being studied for autoimmune diseases including autoimmune hepatitis, lupus nephritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The company also advanced a protein secretion (Sec61 translocon) research program for oncology applications.
Is Kezar Life Sciences a public or private company?
Kezar Life Sciences is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently acquired.
When was Kezar Life Sciences founded?
Kezar Life Sciences was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Kezar Life Sciences based?
Kezar Life Sciences is headquartered in South San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kezar Life Sciences make money?
One revenue line is on record: drug Development and Commercialization.
Who are Kezar Life Sciences's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Travere Therapeutics and ChemoCentryx. Direct peers are Cabaletta Bio, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Kyverna Therapeutics, Alpine Immune Sciences, Keros Therapeutics and AnaptysBio. Emerging players are ProKidney and Arcturus Therapeutics.
Does Kezar Life Sciences have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kezar Life Sciences.
What industry is Kezar Life Sciences in?
Kezar Life Sciences's product category is Clinical-Stage Biopharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAB, Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2836.