KUPANDO is a pioneering Berlin-based biopharmaceutical company developing a TLR 4/7 agonist that stimulates innate immunity.

Drug Candidate KUP101

Kupando develops an innovative drug candidate – KUP101, a TLR 4/7 agonist – which targets Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) responsible for the detection of cancer and infection signature molecules, and for the subsequent activation of the innate immune system.

The TLR 4 and TLR7 ligands, which can be produced in a cost-effective fashion, are co-encapsulated in a liposomal formulation providing a multitude of options for administration routes and applications.

A multitude of possibilities

The proprietary drug candidate is ideally suited for the systemic treatment of solid tumors (tissue agnostic), the topical treatment of selected cancers (bladder and skin), the prevention of infectious diseases and as vaccine adjuvant.

KUP101’s advantageous features include a high target specificity in the absence of relevant off-targets, an antigen-sparing effect, and a good safety profile.

Scientific Background

Vertebrae have two immune systems: (1) an innate immune system and (2) an adaptive one. Innate immunity is inborn. On the contrary, adaptive immunity is acquired over time while developing resistance against pathogens.

From an evolutionary point of view, the innate immune system has evolved over millions of years and has proven to be highly efficacious. It reacts within minutes to days, is not limited by specificity and capable to combat a broad spectrum of pathogens. For decades though, the role and the importance of this part of the immune system have been undervalued and it is now the target of Kupando’s approach.

KUP101, our drug candidate, stimulates innate immunity by activating Toll Like Receptors (TLRs) and therefore provides a unique tool to fight cancer and infectious diseases.

Publications

Kupando’s drug development is supported by scientific research, see below a short list of scientific publications. For additional information or publications by our team or our collaborators, please talk to us.

Our aim is to develop better drugs in oncology. Our technology however also has potential in the fight against infectious diseases like malaria, HIV, tuberculosis which are rife in developing countries like Kenya where Swahili is spoken.

This is why we chose the ascending crown crane as our Company Bird. As a messenger of luck and guardian of the health of people and cattle, it is revered in many cultures in the Sahel region south of the Sahara.

The picture of our Company Bird was taken by Johanna Holldack, our CEO, when she was travelling in Kenya and came up with the concept behind Kupando.

Management

Kupando is led by a management team with a wealth of international biotech and pharma experience gained in both Europe and the US in the fields of immunology, infectious diseases and oncology.

With over 100 drug development projects and a huge variety of transactions under its belt, our team brings extensive expertise in business and drug development including in manufacturing, non-clinical and clinical development of vaccines and drugs, as well as regulatory pathways in Europe, the US and Asia.

Scientific Adviser & Inventor

Kupando was formed on the basis of research at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in the laboratories of Prof. Dennis Carson who created our small molecule (TLR4/7 agonist).