Kimaritec
Kimaritec is a pre-clinical-stage small molecule therapeutics company with lead programs in cancer and a platform technology that could be expanded to targets outside oncology. Kimaritec’s platform develops inhibitors that…
Overview
Kimaritec is a pre-clinical-stage small molecule therapeutics company with lead programs in cancer and a platform technology that could be expanded to targets outside oncology. Kimaritec’s platform develops inhibitors that selectively block SUMOylation on target proteins only and thereby induces Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD). In vitro proof-of-concept has been achieved for two cancer targets. The demo target, EGFR, is SUMOylated for stability in cancer tissue specifically, and selective small molecule inhibition of EGFR SUMOylation, by a series of related compounds, causes TPD (of EGFR) in cancer cell lines. The cells also stop proliferating as a consequence. Kimaritec’s lead commercial program is a first-in-class inhibitor of a undrugged transcription factor required for tumour initiation and growth. A hit molecule has been identified to bind to the TF, prevent SUMOylation and cause arrest of cell proliferation in a number of cancer cell lines. Kimaritec has also developed a database of potential oncology targets that have been validated to different levels. Kimaritec seeks seed investment with the key goal of achieving in vivo POC for both cancer targets by end 2026 and IND candidate status by end 2027. This investment will also allow expansion of the technology into other therapeutic indications such inflammatory diseases, neurological disorders and metabolic syndrome.