At KeyBioscience, our journey began in October 2011 with a vision of collaboration between Nordic Bioscience and Unigene. This partnership, named NUCo-Development, was established as an equal venture, aiming to revolutionize biomedical solutions under the banner of Nordic Unigene Co-Development.
By September 2012, NUCo-Development was officially formed, marked by joint ownership between Nordic Bioscience and Unigene. Our inaugural project, born from Unigene, was to be developed within this partnership, leveraging Unigene’s intellectual property and Nordic Bioscience’s financial support.
During the same period, KBP-042 (formerly known as UGP302) emerged as our first-generation lead molecule, setting the stage for our pioneering research and development efforts. However, our journey took an unexpected turn in the summer of 2013 when Unigene faced bankruptcy. As a consequence, Nordic Bioscience acquired Unigene’s stake, leading to the transformation of NUCo-Development into KeyBioscience.
Undeterred by the challenges, KeyBioscience swiftly identified KBP-089 and KBP-056 as lead molecules for addressing obesity and osteoarthritis, marking a pivotal moment in our commitment to addressing unmet medical needs. In the spring of 2015, we embarked on our first human study with KBP-042, followed by a similar endeavor with KBP-089 in the summer of 2016.
A significant breakthrough occurred in the summer of 2017 when KeyBioscience forged a strategic partnership with Eli Lilly to develop the first Dual Amylin Calcitonin Receptor Agonist (DACRA) for type 2 diabetes—a once-daily injectable treatment. However, we reevaluated our approach, resulting in the abandonment of once-daily injectable DACRAs in December 2019 in favor of long-acting formulations administered once weekly.
This pivotal decision heralded the identification of KBP-336 as a novel lead candidate, setting the stage for a new era of biomedical advancements. In the fall of 2021, we initiated the first-in-man study with KBP-336, laying the foundation for future clinical trials.
In the spring of 2022, our collaboration with Lilly bore fruit with the announcement of the Lilly-KeyBio QW DACRA clinical asset, reaffirming our commitment to pioneering therapies. Subsequently, in the summer of 2022, we commenced the phase 1B safety and tolerability study of KBP-336 in obese subjects, marking yet another significant milestone.
By the spring of 2023, the live part of the Phase 1B study was successfully completed, underscoring the safety and efficacy of KBP-336. Embodying our spirit of progress, KeyBioscience relocated to new offices in Lugano, Switzerland, in the summer of 2023.
At KeyBioscience, we are defined by pursuit of innovation, fueled by a commitment to transforming healthcare and improving lives.
