Kinarus Therapeutics Holding SWX:KNRS Stock Report

Kinarus Therapeutics’ KIN001 Shows Strong Antiviral Activity Against SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern

Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG announced publication in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences of data showing KIN001’s strong antiviral efficacy against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and variants of concern (VOC). The collaboration between virologists at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Kinarus showed that KIN001 almost completely blocked virus replication in multiple human cell lines for all SARS-CoV-2 strains, including VOC, like the highly infectious delta and omicron variants. KIN001 is a proprietary patented combination of pamapimod, a highly selective investigational small molecule inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and pioglitazone, a marketed drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Several p38 MAPK inhibitors were studied by the pharmaceutical industry and largely abandoned after promising but only transient efficacy was observed. Kinarus discovered through its own research that the combination of pamapimod with pioglitazone (i.e. KIN001) produced synergistic efficacy and increased the durability of pamapimod’s effects. KIN001’s effects are believed to fight SARS-CoV-2 in three complementary ways: anti-viral effects may prevent viral replication; anti-inflammatory effects may reduce the body’s inappropriate inflammatory response (e.g. “cytokine storm”); anti-fibrotic effects may enhance healing of damaged tissues, speeding recovery and reducing the likelihood of “long COVID” symptoms. In contrast to vaccines, antibody, and nucleic acid-based therapies which target viral proteins, KIN001 targets host cell pathways essential for viral replication. This mechanistic difference is less likely to be evaded by future VOCs which result from mutations in SARS-CoV-2 virus. These newly published data join a growing number of publications that support the role of p38 MAPK in the SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle and the virus-blocking effects of p38 MAPK inhibitors. Because pioglitazone enhances the durability and antiviral effects of the p38 MAPK inhibitor pamapimod, KIN001 may be a more effective treatment than other single agents targeting p38 MAPK. Separately, Kinarus has disclosed that it received regulatory authorization to initiate Phase 2 testing of KIN001 to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). In preclinical testing KIN001 reduced pathological blood vessel growth (neovascularization) in the choroid of the eye in animal models of wet AMD. AMD is the most common cause of visual impairment among elderly patients in developed countries. In addition, the company is preparing regulatory submissions to start Phase 2 testing of KIN001 to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). KIN001 reduced inflammation and tissue fibrosis in animal models of lung disease, supporting its clinical development as an IPF treatment.