Inspired by Nature,
Reimagined by Chemists

Harnessing nature’s preferred targets, developing new differentiated classes of antibacterials

About Us

Developing New Ways to Treat the Most Challenging Infections

Kinvard Bio is developing a differentiated class of lincosamide-inspired small molecule antibacterials, termed the oxepanoprolinamides (OPPs), for the treatment of serious acute and chronic drug-resistant infections.

Our proprietary synthetic chemistry platform has delivered novel antibacterials which are preorganized for optimal binding within the bacterial ribosome. Representatives of the OPP family have been shown to overcome multiple evolutionarily diverse resistance mechanisms while simultaneously extending their spectrum of antibacterial activity into the gram-negative space and beyond any extant lincosamide.

The OPP class of antibacterials offers significant therapeutic potential in multiple clinical indications associated with high unmet patient need, together with IV / oral step-down drug delivery options.

A Kinvard Bio
oxepanoprolinamide (OPP)

CRESOMYCIN

Bacterial infections are a major contributor to the global burden of disease

1 in 8 deaths are linked to bacterial infection¹

A Global Health Crisis

Bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in populations with pre-existing conditions and underlying risk factors, cause millions of hospitalizations annually, leading to significant mortality, morbidity, and strain on healthcare systems worldwide.

Resistance to antibiotics led to at least 1,000,000 deaths each year since 1990

with increasing rates of drug-resistant infections expected to claim more than 39 million lives between now and 2050 without further action².

Kinvard Bio is focusing on challenging drug-resistant infections with increasingly limited treatment options

Kinvard Bio is advancing its lead programs with a focus on developing oral and IV formulations for the treatment of the most challenging acute and chronic drug-resistant infections, including bacterial pneumonia, complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), and nontuberculosis mycobacteria lung disease (NTM-LD).

Kinvard Bio is responding to the increasing patient need for new oral treatment options

Current treatment gaps and increasing rates of resistance are limiting the use of currently available oral antibiotics³, and a scarcity of new oral treatment options in development leaves patients increasingly reliant on hospital-based intravenous therapies³. This increases healthcare costs and worsens patient outcomes.

Kinvard Bio is developing a new, differentiated class of antibiotics, with excellent potential for both intravenous and oral treatment options, to treat the most challenging acute and chronic drug resistant bacterial infections.

Platform

Revitalizing the lincosamides

Kinvard Bio’s oxepanoprolinamide (OPP) platform

Inspired by nature, the novel molecular architecture displayed by the OPPs leads to optimal binding to the bacterial ribosome, a highly validated clinical target, resulting in potent broad spectrum antibacterial activity, both in vitro and in vivo.

OPP Binding Site

Peptidyl Transferase Center

ENGAGING THE BACTERIAL RIBOSOME

The OPPs bind precisely and optimally within the Peptidyl Transferase Center (PTC) of the ribosome, disrupting protein synthesis and rendering bacteria non-viable.

The OPP Class of Antibacterials

RATIONAL DRUG DESIGN

The OPPs’ novel bridged macrobicyclic ring system preorganizes the molecule for optimal binding within the ribosome PTC, resulting in highly efficacious compounds with excellent drug-like properties.

ON-TARGET, ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

OPPs demonstrate up to 300-fold greater binding affinity and potency compared to traditional ribosome-targeting antibiotics like clindamycin, resulting in broad spectrum antibacterial activity.  

Broad-Spectrum in vivo Activity

BROAD-SPECTRUM in vivo ACTIVITY

OPPs demonstrate excellent in vivo efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including difficult-to-treat, multidrug-resistant, and pan-drug-resistant bacteria.

Targeting Ribosome

RESISTANCE AVOIDANCE

The OPP structural framework is preorganized for optimal binding within the bacterial ribosome resulting in the avoidance of pre-existing, evolutionary diverse resistance mechanisms, ensuring promising potential for durable clinical impact.

Intravenous / Oral

IV AND ORAL ADMINISTRATION

With excellent potential for both oral and intravenous drug delivery options, OPPs address the critical need for oral antibiotics to reduce hospitalizations and shorten inpatient care durations. 

PLATFORM AND PIPELINE EXPANSION

With several hundreds of unique compounds synthesized to date, the OPP platform offers significant scalability, and the pipeline is being expanded into new programs and clinical indications.

The OPPs bind precisely and optimally within the Peptidyl Transferase Center (PTC) of the ribosome, disrupting protein synthesis and rendering bacteria non-viable.
The OPPs’ novel bridged macrobicyclic ring system preorganizes the molecule for optimal binding within the ribosome PTC, resulting in highly efficacious compounds with excellent drug-like properties.
OPPs demonstrate up to 300-fold greater binding affinity and potency compared to traditional ribosome-targeting antibiotics like clindamycin, resulting in broad spectrum antibacterial activity.  
OPPs demonstrate excellent in vivo efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including difficult-to-treat, multidrug-resistant, and pan-drug-resistant bacteria.
The OPP structural framework is preorganized for optimal binding within the bacterial ribosome resulting in the avoidance of pre-existing, evolutionary diverse resistance mechanisms, ensuring promising potential for durable clinical impact.
With excellent potential for both oral and intravenous drug delivery options, OPPs address the critical need for oral antibiotics to reduce hospitalizations and shorten inpatient care durations. 
With several hundreds of unique compounds synthesized to date, the OPP platform offers significant scalability, and the pipeline is being expanded into new programs and clinical indications.

Utilizing groundbreaking rational drug design, Kinvard Bio has established a novel drug class, engaging a clinically validated target in a highly differentiated manner. This innovation positions Kinvard Bio at the forefront of addressing the global burden of acute and chronic bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance.

Pipeline

A Pipeline Focused on Patient Need

Tackling challenging acute and chronic bacterial infections

KV-001

Advancing through Lead Optimization towards the Investigational New Drug (IND) stage for Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) and Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSIs), targeting all major CABP/ABSSSI pathogens including those that are resistant to known antibiotics.
KV-002

Gram negative focused program. Lead Optimization (LO) stage, focused on Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (HABP/VABP) and complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI).
KV-003

Discovery stage program exploring potential of OPPs in additional clinical indications associated with high unmet need, including chronic respiratory diseases such as non tuberculosis mycobacteria lung disease (NTM-LD).

CABP & ABSSSI
cUTI
NTM Lung Disease

Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) and Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI)

Global Disease Burden

Patient Need and Market

8th leading cause of death and the most infectious cause of death globally⁴.
Responsible for 3 million deaths annually⁵.
Leading cause of death for children under five.
Leads to >1.5m hospitalizations / year in the US, with annual medical costs >$10bn p.a.⁶.
Almost 9% of US patients hospitalized with CABP recur, and are hospitalized again, within a year⁷.

Global treatment market was $5B in 2023 with a 5.3% CAGR (2023 to 2033)⁵.
Global prevalence increasing due to aging population, COPD, smoking and pollution⁸.
Significant need for a differentiated treatment class / MoA, IV with oral step-down option to avoid/reduce hospitalization and enable earlier hospital discharge.

Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI)

Global Disease Burden

Patient Need and Market

405,000,000 cases, 236,790 deaths, and 520,200 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally⁹.
Each hospitalization for cUTI in US costs ~$21,000¹⁰.
Increasing incidence of multidrug resistance to Gram-negative Enterobacterales (main cause of cUTIs)¹¹.
The WHO has categorized multidrug resistant Enterobacterales as a global critical threat. High cross-resistance among currently available oral treatments limits outpatient treatment options¹².

Global treatment market was $9.2B in 2023, with a 5.76% CAGR (2023 to 2033).
Significant need for a non-carbapenem, non-BL/BLI, IV with oral step-down option to reduce reliance on “last resort” carbopenems, avoid hospitalization or enable earlier discharge.
Hospital costs are reduced by ~$4,000 per patient for each 1-day reduction in length of hospital stay¹⁰.

Chronic Respiratory Infections (NTM Lung Disease)

Global Disease Burden

Patient Need and Market

180,000 people in the US estimated to have lung disease at any given time; rising by 8% annually¹³.
Global prevalence estimated at 7 per 100,000 population and increasing; chronic conditions such as bronchiectasis, COPD, and cystic fibrosis increase risk¹⁴.
Mortality rate for NTM pulmonary disease is between 10-48% in the US; averages 27% globally¹⁵.
Chronic respiratory infections treated in outpatient setting, but recent clinical failures have resulted in lack of oral options.
Recurrence rates as high as 41%, averaging 1.5 years after successful treatment¹⁶.

Global treatment market was $12.4B in 2022 with a 5.4% CAGR (2023 to 2031).
M. abscessus (MAB): 15k US patients, no approved treatments.
M. avium complex (MAC): 50k US patients, 1 approved drug (inhaled Arikayce, sales >$300m/year, poor adherence due to severe side effects).

Team

Management

Leadership with  Scientific Vision and Expertise

Founded by scientists, driven by leaders in drug discovery and development

Kelvin Wu, Ph.D.

Co-founder & Director, Platform Development

Ph.D. Chemistry, Harvard University
B.A. Natural Sciences (Physical), Cambridge University
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore

Ben Tresco, Ph.D.

Co-founder & Director, Product Development

Ph.D. Chemistry, Harvard University
B.S. Chemistry & Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah
Curza Therapeutics, Utah

Lloyd J. Payne, D.Phil.

Chief Executive Officer

Drug discovery executive, Venture Partner, Kineticos Life Sciences AMR Fund (KAMRA I)
>25 years’ industry experience, C-suite, company founder
Advisor to AMR Action Fund and Novo REPAIR Impact Fund

Andrew G. Myers, Ph.D.

Co-founder & SAB

Amory Houghton Professor of Chemistry, Harvard University
Significant contributions to the discovery of new ribosome targeting antibiotics
Founder, Tetraphase (commercialized antibiotic, Xerava), Macrolide

Steve Gelone, Pharm.D.

Chairman

Entrepreneur with >25 years of Pharma / Biotech C-suite and director experience in private and public companies
Involved in raising >$700M equity capital
GSK, Viropharma, Nabriva

Inspired by Nature,Reimagined by Chemists

About Us

Developing New Ways to Treat the Most Challenging Infections

A Kinvard Bio oxepanoprolinamide (OPP)

Bacterial infections are a major contributor to the global burden of disease

A Global Health Crisis

Resistance to antibiotics led to at least 1,000,000 deaths each year since 1990

Kinvard Bio is focusing on challenging drug-resistant infections with increasingly limited treatment options

Kinvard Bio is responding to the increasing patient need for new oral treatment options

Platform

Revitalizing the lincosamides

Kinvard Bio’s oxepanoprolinamide (OPP) platform