Kinarus Therapeutics Provides Strategic Update

Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG / Key word(s): Strategic Company Decision Kinarus Therapeutics Provides Strategic Update 04.11.2022 / 07:00 CET/CEST Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

• Exploring financial and strategic options to fund Phase 2 trials of KIN001 in wet age-related macular degeneration and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• KINFAST phase 2 clinical trial of KIN001 in mild to moderate Covid-19 patients to continue

Basel, Switzerland, 4 November 2022. Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG (SIX: KNRS) (“Kinarus”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to treat viral, respiratory, and ophthalmic diseases, today reiterated its plans to focus on clinical trials in wet age-related macular degeneration and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and to refocus its capital resources and financing efforts to drive these programs.

Following the discontinuation of the Phase 2 KINETIC study of KIN001 in hospitalized Covid-19 patients, Kinarus is exploring various financial and strategic options to initiate mid-stage clinical development of its lead drug candidate, KIN001, in wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).  

KINFAST, a Phase 2 study of KIN001 in ambulatory COVID-19 patients who are not hospitalized, is continuing and funded from existing Kinarus resources and the Programme for Covid-19 medicines of the Swiss Federal Office for Public Health.

Dr Alexander Bausch, CEO of Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG, commented: “Our current resources are committed to conducting the KINFAST study, which is jointly financed by the Swiss government. While the outcome of the KINETIC study in hospitalized Covid-19 patients was disappointing, KINFAST is testing KIN001 in a different population with different endpoints, both of which are better suited to a potential positive outcome. Therefore, we plan to continue KINFAST as planned.