Biotech Firm Kineta Secures $1.8M Funding to Advance LHF-535 for Acute Viral Disease Treatment

On August 7, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that biotechnology company Kineta announced the completion of a $1.8 million financing round (the specific round was not disclosed). The round was led by Wellcome Trust.

Kineta will use the proceeds from this financing to conduct clinical trials of LHF-535, a drug aimed at treating the acute viral disease Lassa fever.

It is reported that Kineta had previously completed 15 rounds of financing. Among these, the company raised $5.4 million in March 2019 and $7.06 million in September 2018.

Kineta, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Seattle, USA, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. The company primarily develops novel immunotherapies based on oncology, neuroscience, and biodefense to treat autoimmune diseases, viral infections, and chronic pain. Leveraging its expertise in immunology, Kineta’s team develops new therapies and advances drug development to address patients’ medical needs. Furthermore, the company collaborates with numerous medical institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and academic research institutes to accelerate progress in its pharmaceutical-related research.

Kineta’s lead candidate, LHF-535, is a first-in-class antiviral therapeutic. This agent prevents viral entry into host cells and inhibits autonomous viral replication. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that LHF-535 potently suppresses the activity of Lassa virus and other arenaviruses, showing significant efficacy against Lassa fever. Currently, this oral therapeutic is undergoing Phase I clinical trials in humans to evaluate its efficacy and patient tolerability.

Lassa fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the Lassa virus. It is primarily endemic in West African countries such as Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, posing a significant threat to national security and public health in the region. The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have classified the Lassa virus as a Category A bioterrorism agent. According to incomplete statistics, approximately 300,000 people are infected with Lassa fever globally each year, resulting in 5,000 deaths. Nearly all infected pregnant women experience miscarriage, and mortality rates are extremely high among women in their third trimester. Currently, there are no approved drugs or vaccines available for the treatment of Lassa fever.

In 2016, the Wellcome Trust also provided funding to Kineta to advance the research and development of LHF-535 for the treatment of Lassa fever.

Kineta plans to initiate the multiple ascending dose (MAD) portion of the Phase I clinical trial for LHF-535 in the second half of this year to investigate its pharmacokinetic profile and further evaluate its safety. Additionally, Kineta is exploring other viral disease indications for LHF-535.

Shawn Iadonato, CEO of Kineta, stated, “Support from the Wellcome Trust will accelerate the development of LHF-535. We are confident in the Phase I clinical trial of LHF-535 and believe that this drug will soon become available to help patients with Lassa fever overcome the threat of the disease.”

The Wellcome Trust, established in 1936 and headquartered in London, UK, is a venture capital and private equity firm. As a charitable trust, it primarily focuses on the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, managing assets worth £25.9 billion. The Wellcome Trust’s mission is to advance medical and scientific development to improve human health.

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)