Advancing a Pipeline of Precision Oncology Therapeutics

Kinases play a crucial role in the carcinogenesis and metastasis of various types of cancer, and kinase inhibition is a proven approach to addressing cancer resistance.

We are focused on developing small-molecule therapies targeting kinases for genetically defined cancers. The company has assembled a team with deep expertise in medicinal chemistry, cancer genetics and translational biology enabling the discovery and development of novel programs to identify and target patients whose tumors express these oncogenic driver mutations.

To help advance these programs, we are working with leading clinical research institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

“We look at cancer as having individual fingerprints or vulnerabilities and design programs that can penetrate those weak spots.”

– Eric Murphy, PhD, CSO & Co-Founder of Kinnate

A Focused Pipeline Portfolio

We have developed a proprietary kinase inhibitor portfolio that includes best-in-class and first-in-class small molecule candidates advancing towards clinical studies.

  • Inhibitor
  • Discovery
  • Preclinical
  • Phase 1
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3
  • Commercial
RAF | Preclinical

Our lead program is a RAF dimer signaling inhibitor targeting Class II and III BRAF mutations with the intention to target a broader patient population with RAF mutations. Unlike currently marketed RAF inhibitors, which are only effective against BRAF Class I (V600) mutations, our program has the potential to expand treatment options for patients with atypical BRAF alterations and become a best-in-class molecule.

We plan to develop our RAF inhibitors for the treatment of patients with cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer and melanoma, specifically in subpopulations of BRAFCI III/RASmut, BRAF fusion and insertions/deletions.

FGFR2/3 | Preclinical

Currently marketed and clinical phase FGFR inhibitors provide benefit, but duration of response is limited by various factors including mutational resistance.

We have identified multiple compounds that have demonstrated efficacy in various cancer cell lines and reduction in tumor growth in animal models. We are targeting these programs to address clinically observed secondary resistance mutations in FGFR2-fusion positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and FGFR3-altered urothelial carcinoma.

CDK12 | Preclinical

We are developing a potentially first-in-class CDK12 inhibitor. In mouse models of breast and ovarian cancer, our lead program regressed tumors and downregulated DNA damage repair (DDR) gene expression. We plan to develop our CDK12 small molecule program for the treatment of ovarian carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in subpopulations that are DDR proficient.

We are also evaluating potential combination therapy with PARP inhibition as well as synthetic lethality with immune checkpoint inhibition.

Novel Mechanisms | Discovery

We are actively engaged in discovery-stage programs investigating multiple undisclosed programs targeting key molecular drivers in cancer.

“Kinnate’s targeted approach will fill a significant unmet need and bring better precision therapies to cancer patients. As an SAB member, I look forward to working closely with the Kinnate team to advance its pipeline of innovative kinase inhibitors.”

– Ezra Cohen, MD, FRCPSC, FASCO, Kinnate SAB Member