Kumquat’s KRAS blocker tempts Bayer

Germany’s Bayer has become the latest big group to tap the private US group Kumquat Biosciences, licensing a KRAS G12D inhibitor that’s about to go into the clinic. The up-front fee wasn’t disclosed, with the companies only giving the $1.3bn biodollar value. The project also wasn't named in the press release, but Bayer told ApexOnco that it's KBQ548; Kumquat already has a KRAS blocker, KQB365, in a phase 1 trial enrolling patients with G12C or G12S mutations. The deal gives Bayer entry into a field led by Revolution Medicines’ zoldonrasib, and is becoming increasingly crowded, with around 25 G12D-targeting assets in the clinic, according to OncologyPipeline. Kumquat will be responsible for a phase 1a study, while Bayer will complete development and commercial activities. Kumquat also has a preclinical pan-KRAS inhibitor, KQB72 – another popular mechanism. This isn’t the first time Kumquat has hooked a big name; last year Takeda licensed KQB168, a small molecule against an undisclosed target that recently started phase 1. And Lilly signed an earlier discovery deal, again with scant details given about the target(s) involved. Kumquat doesn't seem to have raised cash from venture financiers since 2021.

Kumquat’s deals

Source: OncologyPipeline.