KYNOVA THERAPEUTICS
Resolving Atopic Dermatitis from the Inside Out
A next-generation injectable peptide construct targeting the root causes of atopic dermatitis — inflammation, barrier dysfunction, and microbial dysbiosis.
223M
Patients Affected Globally
$28.7B
AD Market by 2030
10.5% CAGR
75%
Unmet Treatment Needs

THE UNMET NEED
223 Million Patients. A Treatment Ecosystem Built on False Safety.
Atopic dermatitis is the #1 skin disease by disability-adjusted life years. It affects 11.1% of children and 6.3% of adults globally. Yet every approved treatment carries a hidden crisis — from steroid withdrawal syndrome to biologic-triggered fungal flares. The system is failing patients.
Topical Corticosteroids (TCS)
Front-Line Therapy — With a Hidden Crisis
  • 79% of adult eczema patients report Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) symptoms
  • 81% report intense emotional fluctuations, depression, or anxiety during TSW
  • 80% experience insomnia and sleep disturbances during withdrawal
  • 75% of patients report treatment expectations unmet
  • 57% develop lymphadenopathy during withdrawal
  • 8% of adults experience TSW symptoms for over 5 years after stopping
Biologics & JAK Inhibitors
Partial Relief. Significant Systemic Risk.
  • 40% real-world ocular surface disease with dupilumab (vs. 3–11% in trials)
  • 8.5% conjunctivitis with lebrikizumab vs. 2.5% placebo
  • 6.3% conjunctivitis with tralokinumab; 5.8% injection site reactions
  • 10–44% develop DAHND — Malassezia fungal flares driven by Th17 rebound after IL-4/IL-13 blockade
  • JAK inhibitors (Rinvoq / Cibinqo) carry a BLACK BOX warning
OUR SOLUTION
The Kynova Peptide Construct
A tri-module injectable peptide addressing inflammation, barrier failure, and neuropathic itch — simultaneously. No existing approved therapy targets all three axes of AD pathology.
Module A — KPV Tripeptide
Inflammation Resolution
  • Lys-Pro-Val: C-terminal fragment of alpha-MSH; binds melanocortin-1R independently
  • NF-κB blockade via importin-alpha3 nuclear translocation inhibition; suppresses MAPK and STAT pathways
  • Drives M2 macrophage polarisation and IL-10-mediated immune tolerance
  • Suppresses IL-31, IL-33, and TSLP (neuro-inflammatory itch triad)
  • No HPA axis suppression, no skin atrophy
Module B — H4 Chimera (hBD-3/hBD-4)
Barrier Restoration + Antimicrobial
  • Novel chimera: hBD-3 antimicrobial backbone fused to hBD-4 C-terminus for dual activity
  • Upregulates claudin-1, claudin-4, occludin, and ZO-1 via AhR/PKC-delta axis
  • Direct bactericidal vs S. aureus (MIC ~1–8 µg/mL); corrects microbiome dysbiosis
  • hBD-4 C-terminus: AhR agonism induces IL-10; suppresses IL-4, IL-13, and Th2 skewing
  • C18 fatty acid lipidation targeting ~165h plasma half-life for weekly SC dosing
Module C — LRP1-Engaging 14-mer
Barrier Synergy, Wound Repair & Itch (Exploratory)
  • LRP1 activation via PrPC-derived P3 region 14-mer: proven axis for tight junction protein upregulation
  • LRP1 → aPKC-zeta → Rac1 signalling increases claudin-1, ZO-1, and occludin expression
  • Accelerates re-epithelialisation; reduces TEWL and allergen skin penetration
  • Gated on SPR binding confirmation and TER recovery in keratinocyte monolayers
Delivery: PLGA microsphere depot (tri-loaded, SC injection) | Half-life extension (exploratory): C18 lipidation (Module B) for albumin-binding; PEGylation and fatty acid conjugation under evaluation for Modules A & C
WHY NOW
Three Converging Forces Create a Narrow Window
01 — The TSW Crisis: A growing patient movement rejecting steroids

  • 79% of adult eczema patients report TSW symptoms;
  • 47% experience suicidal ideation.
  • 86% of long-term TCS users (6+ years) report TSW symptoms, and only 28% of adults fully recover.

A BBC investigation received 240 reader responses within weeks. Social media communities are driving widespread steroid refusal. 9 of 26 patients in one study withdrew from dermatologic care entirely after dismissive clinical responses. MHRA acknowledged TSW in 2021 - yet no NICE treatment guidelines exist.
02 — Dupilumab's Hidden Complication: Malassezia fungal flares (DAHND)
Dupilumab (Dupixent) is the market-leading $40K/yr biologic, yet 10–44% of patients develop Dupilumab-Associated Head and Neck Dermatitis (DAHND), driven by Th2 suppression triggering Th17/Th22 rebound against commensal Malassezia.

Baseline Malassezia-specific IgE predicts DAHND with 94.1% sensitivity (BJD 2022). Filamentous fungi densities increase during dupilumab therapy (Cureus 2025). Patients must manage a $40K/yr biologic plus additional antifungal treatment — validating the need for a therapy that restores immune balance rather than suppressing a single axis.
03 — The AD Market Is accelerating
The global AD treatment market was $13.1B in 2025 and is projected to reach $28.7B by 2035 at 7.75% CAGR. The US alone represents ~$9B.
Of 223 million patients globally, 75% remain inadequately treated.
Existing therapies, TCS, biologics, JAK inhibitors, each carry material safety or efficacy trade-offs. No approved peptide therapeutic targets the full AD pathology triad. The window for a best-in-class, mechanism-differentiated peptide construct is now.
EVIDENCE BASE
Peer-Reviewed Preclinical Foundation Across All Three Modules
Each module in the Kynova construct is grounded in published, peer-reviewed science — with independent validation from multiple research groups across murine AD models, keratinocyte assays, and early clinical observations.
Module A — KPV Tripeptide
  • NC/Nga murine AD model: reduced SCORAD severity, scratching, epidermal thickening, and serum IgE vs vehicle (Mol. Therapy 2017)
  • NF-κB blockade confirmed in HaCaT and RAW264.7 cell lines
  • DNCB-induced AD model: suppressed IL-4, IL-13, IL-31, IL-33, TSLP; reduced CD4+ T cell and mast cell infiltration
  • Pilot clinical case series (n=8 AD): reduced pruritus scores, no significant AEs; safety cohort n=20 volunteers
  • Melanocortin-receptor independent — eliminates pigmentation risk of parent alpha-MSH
Module B — H4 Chimera (hBD-3/hBD-4)
  • hBD-3 backbone: upregulates filaggrin, loricrin, and tight junction proteins in keratinocytes under Th2 conditions (Chieosilapatham et al., J Invest Dermatol 2014)
  • hBD-3 suppresses AD-like inflammation via AhR-dependent autophagy (Peng et al., J Clin Invest 2022)
  • Impaired hBD-3 killing of S. aureus in AD — chimeric construct restores this at MIC ~1–8 µg/mL (Kisich et al., JACI 2008)
  • hBD-4 C-terminus: salt-insensitive microbicidal breadth including MRSA and Candida (Garcia et al., FASEB J 2001)
Module C — LRP1-Engaging 14-mer
  • LRP1 activation by PrPC-motif-derived 14-mer: triggers aPKC-zeta → Rac1 signalling, increasing claudin-1, ZO-1, and occludin in vitro and in vivo (Abudouwanli et al., PMC12112235, 2025)
  • Re-epithelialisation and wound closure accelerated vs hBD-3: visible closure by Day 4 vs Day 6 in murine wound model (Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023)
  • Pruritus reduction: IL-31 and TSLP suppression directly correlated with decreased scratching in AD mice
  • Gated on SPR binding confirmation and TER recovery before advancement
PRODUCT / PLATFORM
KYN-001: Format, Delivery & Half-Life Strategy
Lead Candidate — KYN-001
Modules: Module A (KPV) + Module B (H4 Chimera, C18-lipidated) — lead combination
Indication: Moderate-to-severe Atopic Dermatitis
Route: Subcutaneous auto-injector pen
Module C: Exploratory — gated on SPR binding confirmation and TER recovery data
Status: Pre-Clinical / concept validation stage
The KYN-001 formulation leverages PLGA microsphere depot technology for sustained tri-module release, with C18 lipidation of Module B targeting ~165h plasma half-life (semaglutide precedent), enabling once-weekly subcutaneous dosing.
Platform Pipeline
KYN-001 — Moderate-to-Severe AD
Module A + B combination | Pre-Clinical stage | Lead program
KNV-002 — Severe / Neuropathic Itch
Module A + B + C triple combination | Feasibility stage
KNV-T01 — Topical B-Defensin Gel
Topical formulation of tripeptide | Discovery stage
Next-Generation Constructs
Additional peptide scaffolds targeting AD and related inflammatory dermatoses
MARKET OPPORTUNITY
A $28.7B Market Growing at 10.5% CAGR
223M
Patients Worldwide
GBD 2022
$15.2B
Market Size (2021 Baseline)
$28.7B
Projected by 2030
10.5%
AD Market CAGR
2022–2030
Market Segmentation
$28.7B — TAM
All AD patients globally (moderate-to-severe) by 2030
$8.5B — SAM
EU + US moderate-to-severe patients failing TCS; biologic-eligible
$450M — SOM
Year 5 target: ~1% biologic-eligible EU/US patients post-Phase II
Target Patient Profile
Moderate-to-severe AD adults failing TCS — ~15–20M in EU + US
Biologic-eligible (Dupixent-naive or failed) — ~8M in EU + US
Patients seeking steroid-free alternatives — Growing (TSW surge)
Premium pricing tolerance — Established ($15–40K/yr comps)
Children + adolescents (future expansion) — 43M aged 1–4 worldwide
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Kynova Addresses Gaps Every Competitor Leaves Open
No approved therapy addresses the full AD pathology triad of inflammation, barrier dysfunction, dysbiosis, and neuropathic itch — without significant safety trade-offs. KNV-001 is uniquely positioned to close all four gaps simultaneously.
REGULATORY & DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Pre-Seed Raise: Use of Funds & Development Roadmap
A disciplined, milestone-gated three-phase development plan — structured to de-risk the asset at each stage and create fundable inflection points aligned with investor expectations.
1
Phase 0 — Pre-Seed
Months 1–12
  • In vitro: NF-κB blockade, TER recovery, S. aureus MIC assays
  • Module B C18 lipidation synthesis + half-life profiling
  • PLGA microsphere formulation feasibility study
  • Provisional patent filing — construct architecture + sequences
  • Hire 2x part-time Scientific Advisors (equity + retainer)
2
Phase 1 — Seed
Months 13–24
  • NC/Nga murine AD model efficacy study
  • GLP-toxicology: single + repeat dose
  • CMC process development + GMP scale-up plan
  • EMA Pre-IND scientific advice meeting
  • Full patent portfolio filing
3
Phase 2 — Series A
Months 25–36
  • IND / CTA submission (EMA/FDA)
  • Phase I FIH safety study initiation (n=24–48)
  • Biomarker-driven PD endpoints (IL-4, IL-13, TEWL)
  • Strategic partnership / out-licensing process
  • Phase II design + KOL advisory board
TEAM
Founder-led
Nalini Moeniralam
Founder & CEO | CRO Project Lead | Legal & Compliance
  • Propedeutics in Entrepreneurship — University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam, NL
  • BA (HONS) Buying & Merchandising — University of the Arts London
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Law — University of Law, Moorgate London
28 years living with eczema. Achieved remission through peptide therapy — and replicated results in family members. This is a mission rooted in lived experience.
Founder roles span CEO & Company Strategy, CRO Liaison & Project Management, Legal Compliance & IP Oversight, Regulatory Affairs (EMA/FDA), and Investor Relations & Business Development.
Current Support
Peptide Chemist (Freelance)
Supporting pre-seed in vitro experimental design and peptide characterisation. Engaged on project basis.
Internist-Nephrologist (Medical Advisor)
Clinical and translational guidance on systemic peptide safety, renal clearance, and pharmacokinetics for SC depot formulation.
Phase 1 Hires — Post Pre-Seed
Scientific Advisor 1 — Peptide Chemistry & Formulation
Part-time (0.5 FTE) | Equity 2% + Retainer | 6-month cliff, 2-year vest. Guides Module B half-life strategy and PLGA depot formulation.
Scientific Advisor 2 — Dermatology / Immunology & AD Biology
Part-time (0.5 FTE) | Equity 2% + Retainer | 6-month cliff, 2-year vest. Translational expertise in AD, Th2/Th17 immunology, and barrier biology.
THE RAISE
Pre-Seed Round — Seeking £295K
Funding 12 months of Phase 0: in vitro validation, IP filing, peptide synthesis, and team-building. Every pound deployed is milestone-gated to de-risk the asset and maximise the value of a subsequent Seed round.
Use of Funds — High Estimate
Total Raise Target: £294,800
Milestones This Funding Unlocks
01
In Vitro Validation Complete
NF-κB blockade, TER recovery, and S. aureus MIC assays completed and reported
02
Module B Half-Life Data
C18 lipidation synthesised and plasma half-life profiling data generated
03
Formulation Go/No-Go
PLGA microsphere formulation feasibility data — go/no-go decision for SC depot advancement
04
IP Filed & Team Onboarded
Provisional patent filed; two Scientific Advisors engaged and active