Biotech Showcase™ 2016: KPI Therapeutics chief explains company's virtual business model

KPI Therapeutics president and CEO Dr. Charles Magness explains to Mike Ward, Informa Pharma Insights global director of content, how the two-year-old company is leading an alliance of development partners to develop potential first in class autoimmune and chronic pain treatments. The lead program dalazatide, co-developed by sister company Kineta, is a selective and potent blocker of the voltage-gated Kv1.3 potassium channel—a key channel in the activation of effector-memory T cells—which is slated to enter Phase II trials later this year. The company intends to find partners to commercialize the compound in major indications including lupus, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. KPI also plans to start clinical development of a further two assets initially focusing on atopic dermatitis and dry eye syndrome, respectively, in the next 18 months. Dr. Magness believes the company could commercialize such assets on its own. Also in preclinical development, in collaboration with Kineta, the company has CSP conopeptide, a 13-amino acid peptide conotoxin derived from the venom of a cone snail, which is a potent and highly selective antagonist of alpha9alpha10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), a novel chronic pain target. Dr. Magness believes the clinical status of its programs will help the company get into the IPO zone as it achieves development milestones.