Kineta's KVA12123 Abstract to be Presented at SITC 2024

Kineta, Inc., a biotechnology firm concentrating on innovative immunotherapies for oncology, has revealed that its research abstract on the KVA12123 clinical program is set to be presented as a poster at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 40th Annual Meeting. This event will take place from November 6-10, 2024, in Houston, Texas, and will also have a virtual component.

Kineta’s Chief Scientific Officer, Thierry Guillaudeux, Ph.D., announced that the poster presentation will occur on November 8, 2024. Jason Henry, M.D., Associate Director of Drug Development at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Denver, Colorado, will present fresh clinical data from an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial. This trial assesses the efficacy of KVA12123, Kineta’s VISTA-blocking immunotherapy, both as a standalone treatment and in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), in patients with advanced solid tumors.

The presentation, titled "A phase 1/2 clinical trial of antiVISTA – KVA12123 alone and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors," will be authored by several notable researchers from various prestigious institutions. These include Jason T. Henry, MD, Manish R. Patel, MD, Paul L. Swiecicki, MD, Ida Micaily, MD, Benjamin Garmezy, MD, Kalyan Banda, MD, Marya F. Chaney, PhD, Julia Cohen, MD, Vinny Hayreh, MD, Kurt Lustig, BS, Yulia Ovechkina, PhD, Evan Y. Yu, MD, Shawn P. Ladonato, PhD, Thierry Guillaudeux, PhD, and Lee Rosen, MD. The diverse authorship indicates a collaborative effort across several research centers including the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Florida Cancer Specialists, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, and others.

The abstract, identified as number 625, will be available for viewing on November 8 from 9:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Central Time in Exhibit Halls AB at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Subsequent to the conference, the posters will also be accessible on Kineta’s website.

Kineta is committed to developing next-generation immunotherapies aimed at transforming patient outcomes. The company’s strategic focus lies in leveraging its expertise in innate immunity to create potentially groundbreaking immunotherapies that tackle significant challenges in current cancer treatments. Kineta’s pipeline includes KVA12123, a novel VISTA-blocking immunotherapy currently undergoing Phase 1/2 trials in patients with advanced solid tumors, and a preclinical monoclonal antibody targeting CD27.

KVA12123 has shown potent tumor growth inhibition in preclinical models, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors. By combining unique epitope binding with an optimized IgG1 Fc region, KVA12123 offers a novel mechanism of action that addresses immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. This mechanism is both differentiated and complementary to T-cell-focused therapies, potentially rendering KVA12123 effective against various cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, head and neck cancer, and ovarian cancer.

Additionally, in February 2024, Kineta undertook significant corporate restructuring to reduce costs and conserve cash. This included a substantial workforce reduction and the suspension of new patient enrollment in its ongoing VISTA-101 Phase 1/2 clinical trial of KVA12123. At the same time, Kineta announced that it was considering strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.

Kineta’s ongoing efforts and strategic decisions highlight its commitment to advancing cancer immunotherapy and navigating the complex landscape of biotechnology development.