Kineta Extends Exclusivity and ROFO Agreement for VISTA Blocking Antibody KVA12123

Kineta, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology firm specializing in innovative immunotherapies for oncology, has announced that TuHURA Biosciences Inc. is extending its exclusivity and right of first offer agreement for Kineta's VISTA blocking antibody KVA12123. This extension is part of an agreement initially established in July 2024, under which TuHURA has the right to extend their exclusivity period in two 10-day increments. Each extension requires a payment of $150,000 to Kineta.

Kineta's President, Craig W. Philips, reaffirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to exploring strategic alternatives aimed at maximizing shareholder value. He emphasized that the exclusivity agreement with TuHURA has enabled the reopening of the Phase 1 clinical study for KVA12123, which is actively enrolling patients with advanced solid tumor cancers. The company aims to complete patient enrollment for this trial by the end of 2024.

TuHURA's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. James A. Bianco, expressed optimism regarding the clinical trial's progress. He noted the medical community's positive response to KVA12123, highlighting its potential as a novel treatment alternative for various cancers, given the widespread VISTA expression observed in both solid and hematologic tumors.

The collaboration between Kineta and TuHURA was formalized on July 8, 2024, with a $5 million nonrefundable payment from TuHURA to Kineta. This agreement allows any payments made by TuHURA under the terms of the agreement to be credited against the initial upfront payment if a transaction is completed. In August 2024, Kineta announced the reopening of patient enrollment for the VISTA-101 clinical trial, underlining the ongoing partnership with TuHURA.

KVA12123 has shown promising results in preclinical models, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors. It targets immune suppression within the tumor microenvironment through a unique mechanism of action that complements T cell-focused therapies. This makes KVA12123 a potentially effective treatment for various types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, head and neck cancer, and ovarian cancer. VISTA expression is notably high in patients with gynecologic cancers such as ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancer.

Earlier in February 2024, Kineta announced a major corporate restructuring to cut expenses and conserve cash, which included a significant reduction in workforce and a temporary halt to new patient enrollment in the VISTA-101 Phase 1/2 clinical trial. At that time, the company also disclosed its intention to explore strategic alternatives to enhance stockholder value.

Kineta remains focused on advancing its immuno-oncology pipeline, particularly KVA12123, which is currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for advanced solid tumors. The company is also developing a preclinical monoclonal antibody targeting CD27. The ongoing collaboration with TuHURA and the strategic initiatives implemented earlier this year underscore Kineta’s commitment to developing next-generation immunotherapies aimed at transforming patient outcomes in oncology.