Mergers and Acquisitions

Kynos Therapeutics – a Scottish clinical stage biopharma company focusing on developing novel kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) inhibitors – has been acquired by Dr. Falk Pharma.

Dr. Falk Pharma focuses on developing treatments for a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders, and hopes to use Kynos Therapeutics’ KMO inhibitors to help treat acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The primary indication being investigated is for acute pancreatitis, furthering Dr. Falk Pharma’s interest in rare metabolic diseases.

Co-founders Professor Damian Mole and Professor Scott Webster spun Kynos Therapeutics out of the University of Edinburgh, UK, with Jonathan Savidge acting as CEO since 2022. It received founding investment from Epidarex Capital, with further investment coming from IP Group and Scottish Enterprise. Its lead molecule, KNS366, performed well in a phase 1 trial, being found safe and well tolerated.

“Kynos molecules are in excellent hands for the next steps of clinical development. I would like to thank all Kynos’ stakeholders for their support in completing this deal,” commented former CEO Jonathan Savidge.

Elizabeth Roper, general partner at Epidarex and former investor director of Kynos, added: “The acquisition by Dr. Falk Pharma of Kynos is an outstanding achievement by the company and provides a great example of Epidarex’s approach to company creation and development. We would like to congratulate the Kynos team and our fellow investors on the transaction with Dr. Falk Pharma. Targeting KMO represents a potentially transformative approach in acute pancreatitis."