As part of its efforts to expand partnerships and showcase its innovative pipeline, KinSea will attend BIO-Europe from November 4–6, 2024.

Now preparing for the next financing round to develop new projects.

KinSea Lead Discovery AS, a biopharmaceutical startup headquartered in Tromsø, Norway, is breaking new ground in drug development by utilizing bioactive compounds derived from marine organisms. Emerging from a collaboration with research environments at UiT- The Arctic University of Norway and the University of Bergen, KinSea focuses on developing new pharmaceutical compounds from naturally occurring bioactives found in animals, plants, and microorganisms in Arctic waters.

KinSea’s primary focus is advancing the preclinical development of a novel treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that selectively targets the FLT3 enzyme. This selective inhibition approach is designed to minimize side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy. This innovative work is supported by investments from KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I), a German venture fund specializing in early-phase life sciences, and Berners AS, a prominent Northern Norwegian investment firm.

A Strategic Partnership for a Novel Approach to Drug Development
As a startup platform dedicated to transforming marine bioactive compounds into pharmaceutically viable products, KinSea’s mission is to bridge the gap between academic discovery and industrial application. Our drug discovery pipeline aims to maximize the therapeutic potential of Arctic Ocean natural products, initially focusing on hematologic cancers and other conditions with significant unmet medical needs.

KinSea’s initial project focuses on developing a pan-mutant FLT3 kinase inhibitor to address the limitations of first- and second-generation FLT3 inhibitors in treating AML and other hematologic malignancies. Our first FLT3 inhibitor has successfully passed animal proof-of-concept trials, positioning it as a targeted therapy for blood cancers. Beyond this very promising first asset we have a second and even further assets in our pipeline. The new and proprietary chemistry of our second project is also based on marine bioactives, however addressing another indication area.

Marine Biodiscovery: Exploring the Arctic’s Untapped Potential
Marine biodiscovery, also known as marine bioprospecting, involves the systematic search for bioactive compounds, components, and genes within marine organisms. From bacteria, fungi, and viruses to larger organisms such as marine plants and shellfish, the search spans a wide range of Arctic biodiversity. These unique marine species often thrive in extreme conditions, giving rise to distinct survival mechanisms and bioactive properties that can inspire innovative products and applications across various industries, including medicine, food, and cosmetics.

KinSea collaborates closely with Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), UiT, and UiB to realize the therapeutic potential of these bioactive marine compounds. Our second asset, also based on pioneering marine-derived chemistry, is poised to address additional therapeutic indications, showcasing the versatility of marine-sourced bioactives in healthcare innovation.

Commitment from Key Investors