Kanvas Biosciences Unveils New Immuno-oncology Drug Candidate

Kanvas Biosciences, based in Princeton, NJ, has unveiled a new drug candidate, KAN-003, as part of its Immuno-oncology Program. This development aims to enhance treatment outcomes for patients with cancers who have not previously been treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Kanvas leverages its unique platform to map interactions between the host and microbiome, using the data to design live biotherapeutic products (LBPs). These LBPs offer a novel, safe approach for targeting disease processes more effectively.

KAN-003 is intended to be administered in a consistent dose regimen before and during ICI treatments. ICIs are a form of immunotherapy used to treat various cancers, including malignant melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma. ICIs work by preventing checkpoint proteins from binding with their partners, thus enabling T cells to destroy cancer cells. Nevertheless, only 20-40% of patients respond to ICI therapy. For those who do not, a fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) has been an alternative, though it poses challenges such as scalability and potential pathogen transfer, usually offering only a single dose.

Kanvas aims to enhance the efficacy of FMTs with its microbiome-based drug pipeline. KAN-003 is designed to significantly increase the percentage of patients who respond to ICI therapy across all approved cancer types. Both KAN-003 and the company's lead candidate, KAN-001, are undergoing preclinical trials in collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and its Platform for Innovative Microbiome and Translational Research (PRIME-TR). While KAN-003 and KAN-001 differ in donor source and microbial ecosystem, their manufacturing strategies are the same, enabling Kanvas to efficiently scale up production.

Matthew Cheng, co-founder and CEO of Kanvas Biosciences, emphasizes that no single cure for cancer exists, but patients deserve safe, effective options. KAN-003 is intended as an earlier treatment to prompt quicker responses and potentially stabilize or push cancers into remission for ICI-naive patients. Cheng believes that understanding the complex interaction between the gut microbiome and human health can unlock potential therapeutic solutions. FMT treatments have already shown what's possible, and Kanvas aims to build on this with KAN-001 and KAN-003 to revolutionize Immuno-oncology and improve patient lives.

Kanvas is preparing for a pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) filing for KAN-003 in the third quarter of 2025 and is seeking additional partners to support rigorous clinical studies over the coming years.

Kanvas Biosciences specializes in spatial biology, developing the world's first microbiome drug screening, discovery, and manufacturing platform. This platform accelerates the development of the next generation of live biotherapeutics. By spatially mapping the microbiome and profiling host gene expression, Kanvas can manufacture complex consortia containing hundreds of members to restore microbiome health. The company’s technology, initially developed at Cornell University and exclusively licensed, positions it uniquely to create novel therapeutics for patients with microbiome-associated diseases. Kanvas Biosciences is backed by notable investors such as DCVC, Lions Capital LLC, FemHealth Ventures, Germin8, Ki Tua Fund, and Pangaea Ventures. The company is headquartered in Princeton, NJ.