KeifeRx Expands Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Georgetown University to Include Multiple Disease Indications for Portfolio of Novel Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

KeifeRx is currently advancing programs investigating KFRX03, KFRX04, KFXR05 and KFX06 in neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory, and mast cell-associated diseases

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KeifeRx, an emerging clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of new treatment options for neurodegenerative and immune diseases, announced today entry into an amended exclusive licensing agreement with Georgetown University to advance the development of novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) chemical entities (NCE) for the treatment of multiple disease indications. The amendment provides an extension of the exclusively licensed rights to these four novel chemical entities for the treatment of new disease conditions including inflammatory, mast-cell associated diseases, and oncology, in addition to existing rights in neurodegenerative diseases. KeifeRx is currently conducting optimizing and IND-enabling studies involving four separate formulations of the TKI (renamed KFRX03, KFRX04, KFRX05, and KFRX06) with patent life through 2037.

Early-stage clinical trials conducted at Georgetown University, along with compelling preclinical research conducted at the university led by KeifeRx's co-founder, Charbel Moussa, MBBS, Ph.D., and colleagues, demonstrated the ability of TKIs to penetrate the brain, induce autophagy, and enable the bulk disposal of disease-causing toxic proteins to treat neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the ability to target mast cells and simultaneously modulate peripheral and central immunity, providing therapeutic potential for an array of immune diseases. These properties offer the potential to significantly improve upon current neurodegenerative and immune disease treatments, which are primarily palliative and offer minimal and temporary benefits due to their inability to adequately eliminate toxic proteins and mitigate inflammation.

"Entry into this expanded exclusive licensing agreement with Georgetown is a pivotal milestone for the growth of KeifeRx as we have significantly increased the range of indications we can pursue with our portfolio of new chemical entity TKIs, including the treatment of neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory, and mast cell-related diseases," said Chris Hoyt, Chief Executive Officer of KeifeRx. "We look forward to working with the research team at Georgetown University to spearhead the development of KFRX03, KFRX04, KFRX05, and KFRX06 for the treatment of multiple, underserved disease indications. The IP covering these assets extends through 2037, making the portfolio a high-value drug opportunity given its numerous potential disease indications, including Alzheimer's disease, ALS, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and urticaria."

About KeifeRx
KeifeRx is an emerging clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of novel and optimized, low-dose, orally-delivered tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the treatment of multiple, high-need neurodegenerative and immune diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Lewy Body Dementia. KeifeRx's diverse pipeline of early- and late-stage products leverages mechanisms of action inherent to TKIs which thus far have been underexplored. This includes the ability to penetrate the brain, induce autophagy, and enable the bulk disposal of disease-causing toxic proteins to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Georgetown University owns several issued patents and pending patent applications on the underlying technology related to the use of TKIs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with KeifeRx co-founder Charbel Moussa, MBBS, Ph.D., named as one of three inventors. KeifeRx has an exclusive license to the intellectual property from Georgetown University. For more information on KeifeRx, please visit https://www.keiferx.com.

For more information, please contact: 

Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Daniel Kontoh-Boateng (Investors)
[email protected]
David Irish (Investors)
[email protected]

Jason Rando (Media)
[email protected]

SOURCE KeifeRx, LLC