Press Release

Presentation to focus on antitumor activity of KIN-2787 in preclinical models of human BRAF-alteration driven non-small cell lung cancer

SAN FRANCISCO and SAN DIEGO, Feb. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinnate Biopharma Inc. (Nasdaq: KNTE) (“Kinnate”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule kinase inhibitors for difficult-to-treat, genomically defined cancers, today announced that it has been selected to deliver an oral presentation of preclinical data from its KIN-2787 program at the upcoming virtual IASLC 2022 Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer meeting taking place February 22-26, 2022. The presentation will be delivered by study collaborator and presenting author Tadashi Manabe, M.D., Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

“We continue to make progress in our clinical trial of KIN-2787 and expect initial data in the third quarter of 2022,” said Richard Williams, MBBS, Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer at Kinnate. “Among other indications, KIN-2787 is being developed for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer driven by BRAF Class II or Class III alterations and we are looking forward to sharing preclinical data on its antitumor activity at this upcoming IASLC meeting.”

In this study, KIN-2787 activity was assessed by suppression of downstream MAPK pathway signaling and subsequent cell growth inhibition across BRAF-altered and/or RAS-altered versus wild type panels of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. In contrast to approved therapies, targeting Class I BRAF alterations, KIN-2787 was most active in Class II and Class III BRAF-altered NSCLC cells. KIN-2787 also inhibited cellular proliferation in BRAF alteration-positive human NSCLC cell lines. Additionally, KIN-2787 was active in in vitro cell growth inhibition assays against a parental BRAF Class I-driven NSCLC cell line and retained activity in an experimentally acquired vemurafenib-resistant BRAF p61 splice variant-expressing derived cell line. In vivo, KIN-2787 efficacy was evaluated using a BRAF-alteration driven human NSCLC cell line and patient-derived xenograft models. The ongoing KN-8701 trial (NCT# 04913285) of KIN-2787 is actively enrolling patients across multiple centers in the United States.

“Together, Class II and III alterations represent as many as 65% of all oncogenic BRAF alterations in NSCLC. While there are approved RAF inhibitors being used in combination treatment of BRAF Class I-altered NSCLC, there are currently no RAF-targeted therapies for the treatment of NSCLC patients with tumors driven by BRAF Class II or III alterations, which is likely a contributing factor in the inferior clinical outcomes often seen with these patients,” said Dr. Manabe. “I am pleased to share findings from this study which show that KIN-2787 is a potent and selective pan-RAF inhibitor with demonstrated capabilities in overcoming well-characterized resistance mechanisms.”

“KIN-2787 is a promising next-generation RAF inhibitor with unique properties that has shown potent activity against a variety of oncogenic BRAF-driven lung cancers in preclinical studies. The preclinical data are exciting, and I have great enthusiasm for its continued clinical development as a potential new targeted therapy that could help address the current unmet needs for oncogene-driven lung cancer patients,” added Trever Bivona, M.D., Ph.D., study collaborator and Professor, Hematology and Oncology, at UCSF.

Details of the meeting presentation are as follows:

• Abstract title: Antitumor Activity of KIN-2787, a Next-Generation Pan-RAF Inhibitor, in Preclinical Models of Human BRAF-Alteration Driven Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
• Session: Best Fellows Oral Abstract Session
• Session date and time: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 4:15pm ET
  

Additional information on the virtual IASLC 2022 Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer meeting is available at: https://ttlc2022.iaslc.org.

About Kinnate
Kinnate is focused on the discovery and development of small molecule kinase inhibitors for difficult-to-treat, genomically defined cancers. Kinnate’s mission is to expand the reach of targeted therapeutics by developing products that are designed to address significant unmet need. Kinnate utilizes its deep expertise in structure-based drug discovery, translational research, and patient-driven precision medicine, which it refers to as the Kinnate Discovery Engine, to develop targeted therapies. Based in San Francisco and San Diego, California, the Kinnate team is composed of drug discovery experts supported by a distinguished group of scientific advisors. For more information, please visit www.kinnate.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our expected presentation at a scientific conference; the potential benefits of KIN-2787; the progress of, and expected timing of clinical data from, our ongoing KIN-2787 clinical trial; and statements by our Chief Medical Officer and others. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “goal,” “potential” and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends. Such expectations and projections may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including risks related to recently transitioning to operating as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history; our ability to raise additional capital to finance our operations; our ability to discover, advance through the preclinical and clinical development of, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize our product candidates; the novel approach we are taking to discover and develop drugs; our ability to timely file and obtain approval of investigational new drug applications for our planned clinical trials; the potential for any clinical trial results to differ from our preclinical study results; negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, including ongoing and planned clinical trials and ongoing and planned preclinical studies; competition in our industry; regulatory developments in the United States and other countries; our ability to attract, hire and retain highly skilled executive officers and employees; difficulties in managing our growth; our ability to protect our intellectual property; reliance on third parties to conduct our preclinical studies and any ongoing or planned future clinical trials, and to manufacture our product candidates; general economic and market conditions; and other risks. These and other risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors are further described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as in our subsequent filings we make with the SEC. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements. Investors should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason in the future.

Contacts:

Investors:
Patti Bank
ICR Westwicke
415-513-1284
investors@kinnate.com

Media:
Colin Sanford
203-918-4347
colin@bioscribe.com