John Kurek

Kinoxis Therapeutics is a private, Australian-based, clinical stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class therapeutics to address the escalating demand for effective treatments for substance use disorders and social dysfunction in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Kinoxis’ development candidates are novel, small molecules that were discovered through a comprehensive medicinal chemistry and screening program at the University of Sydney. Kinoxis is backed by Uniseed, Australia’s longest running venture fund, and a consortium of sophisticated investors, and secured funding from the US National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse for the development of its lead compound to mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms. Kinoxis’ lead candidate (KNX100) is being developed for the mitigation of opioid withdrawal symptoms. KNX100 has a novel, undisclosed mechanism of action and has completed a Phase I clinical study. The company is also exploring other indications for KNX100, as promising preclinical results have been achieved in animal models of cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, and alcohol use disorders, as well as models of agitation and aggression. Kinoxis’ second series of compounds target the oxytocin receptor, through either selective partial agonism or positive allosteric modulation. The brain oxytocin system has been identified as perhaps the most important molecular target for regulating social behaviour and is therefore a major target of interest for treating a wide range of mental disorders. The development of these compounds will be focused on treating conditions that feature social dysfunction as a core symptom, such as neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism spectrum disorder) social anxiety disorder, dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), and schizophrenia.