OUR SCIENCE
Kayothera is pioneering the development of safe, oral, first-in-class antagonists of the retinoid nuclear receptor pathway. Activation of the retinoid pathway causes acute metabolic dysregulation and a cancer-promoting effect in humans, suggesting that retinoid nuclear receptor inhibitors may reverse the progression of multiple cardiometabolic diseases and aggressive cancers. Yet, blocking the retinoid pathway has posed challenges to drug development for nearly three decades.
Learning from these decades of failure, Kayothera’s unique approach prevents the formation of the retinoid nuclear receptor ligand, analogous to the aromatase inhibitors in the Estrogen Receptor pathway.
PIPELINE
Diabetes
KAYO-1732 inhibits retinoid synthesis in the pancreas, adipose tissue, and vasculature. It shows promise in preventing or reversing type 2 diabetes by restoring pancreatic β cell function and restoring healthy metabolism. It’s being developed as a disease-modifying therapy for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Obesity
KAYO-2000 targets a genetically validated obesity driver in the rexinoid pathway, which regulates thyroid and mitochondrial function. It’s being developed as a next-generation, oral weight-loss therapy that increases thyroid function and energy expenditure to drive healthy weight loss.
Male Contraceptive
KAYO-1609 blocks ALDH1a2 expressed in the testicular Sertoli cells, thus blocking at RA synthesis that is necessary for both spermatogonia differentiation and spermiation.
PUBLICATIONS & REFERENCES
Read More: PMC11318670.
Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of ALDH1A3 as a treatment of β-cell failure. Nature Communications 2023 Read More: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36315-4
Emerging strategies for treating metastasis. Nature Cancer 2021. Read More: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-021-00181-0
Reversing pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Experimental and Molecular Medicine, 2024. Read More: https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-023-01043-8