France-headquartered biotechnology company Metabrain Research has formed a UK-based startup called Kymo Therapeutics with up to €10m ($11.2m) of funding from venture capital firm Medicxi to extend its kynurenine metabolism research.
The body’s kynurenine pathway leads to the production of a coenzyme known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It is ordinarily well balanced but when inflamed can lead to diseases such as diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, depression and cancer.
Kymo is aiming to develop a drug that will inhibit the kynurenine metabolism to treat type 2 diabetes and inflammatory diseases.
The company will look to advance Metabrain’s research on kynurenine metabolism inhibitors to the clinical proof-of-concept stage, at which point it plans to form strategic partnerships to finish development of, and commercialise specific candidates.
Valerie Autier, CEO of Metabrain and Kymo board member, said: “I am truly pleased about this agreement with Medicxi, a renowned investment firm dedicated to funding science-driven companies. It clearly validates our discovery model for early stage innovation, turning concepts into product development companies.
“We are very excited about the potential of our programs as we believe they open new perspectives in establishing the links between inflammatory mechanisms and metabolic disorders. It carries the promise of impacting on the pathophysiological process thus bringing new therapies for type 2 diabetes and adjacent diseases.”