Kineta Stock Price, News & Analysis
Company Description
Kineta, Inc. (historically Nasdaq: KA; later OTC Pink: KANT) was a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel immunotherapies in oncology that address cancer immune resistance. According to multiple company disclosures, Kineta’s mission was to develop next-generation immunotherapies that transform patients’ lives by leveraging its expertise in innate immunity and concentrating on potentially differentiated immunotherapies that address major challenges with current cancer therapy.
Kineta operated in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical space, with activities that align with the broader pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing and oncology drug development sector. Its primary focus was on immuno-oncology, particularly targeting mechanisms of cancer immune resistance within the tumor microenvironment.
Core pipeline and scientific focus
Across its public communications, Kineta consistently highlighted an immuno-oncology pipeline that included:
- KVA12123, described as a novel VISTA blocking immunotherapy and anti-VISTA monoclonal antibody, evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (VISTA-101) in patients with advanced solid tumors. The program included a monotherapy arm with KVA12123 alone and a combination arm utilizing KVA12123 together with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab).
- A preclinical monoclonal antibody targeting CD27, referenced by the company as part of its immuno-oncology pipeline.
Company materials state that KVA12123 is a VISTA blocking immunotherapy in development as an infusion dosed every two weeks (and also described in some disclosures as a twice-weekly monoclonal antibody infusion drug) in an ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors. Kineta reported that KVA12123 had demonstrated strong tumor growth inhibition as both a monotherapy and in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors in preclinical models, with no dose limiting toxicities and no evidence of cytokine release syndrome–associated cytokines at any dose level observed in clinical trial participants at the doses examined.
The company further described KVA12123 as providing a novel approach to address immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment, with a mechanism of action that is differentiated and complementary with T cell–focused therapies. Kineta indicated that KVA12123 may be an effective immunotherapy for many types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, head and neck cancer, and ovarian cancer.
VISTA target and tumor microenvironment
In its scientific descriptions, Kineta explained that VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation) is a negative immune checkpoint that suppresses T cell function in a variety of solid tumors. Company communications noted that high VISTA expression in tumors correlates with poor survival in cancer patients and has been associated with a lack of response to other immune checkpoint inhibitors. Blocking VISTA was described as inducing an efficient polyfunctional immune response to address immunosuppression and drive anti-tumor responses.
Kineta positioned KVA12123 as a rationally targeted, anti-VISTA antibody checkpoint inhibitor intended to reverse VISTA immune suppression and remodel the tumor microenvironment to overcome acquired resistance to immunotherapies. Through a combination of unique epitope binding and an optimized IgG1 Fc region, KVA12123 was reported to demonstrate strong monotherapy tumor growth inhibition in preclinical models without evidence of cytokine release syndrome in clinical trial participants.
Clinical development: VISTA-101 Phase 1/2 trial
The company’s disclosures describe the VISTA-101 Phase 1/2 clinical trial as an ongoing study of KVA12123 in patients with advanced solid tumors, both as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. Kineta reported the following characteristics and observations from this program:
- Monotherapy dose escalation cohorts (with doses described in company materials, including multiple dose levels) and combination therapy cohorts with pembrolizumab.
- Initial clinical data presented at scientific meetings, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting and other conferences, with reports of partial response and stable disease in combination cohorts and durable stable disease in monotherapy cohorts among patients with at least one follow-up scan.
- A favorable clinical safety and tolerability profile, with company statements indicating no dose limiting toxicities and no evidence of cytokine release syndrome–associated cytokines at any dose level evaluated to the reported data cutoffs.
- Biomarker observations, including dose-dependent induction of on-target pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and dose-dependent increases in non-classical monocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and NK cells.
Kineta also noted that KVA12123 had cleared multiple monotherapy dose levels and combination cohorts, and that a number of patients remained on treatment at the time of the reported interim analyses.
Strategic and corporate developments
Company communications from 2024 describe a period of significant corporate change. In February 2024, Kineta announced a corporate restructuring intended to substantially reduce expenses and preserve cash, including a workforce reduction and suspension of enrollment of new patients in the ongoing VISTA-101 Phase 1/2 trial, while allowing patients already enrolled to continue participation. The restructuring was described as a response to certain investors indicating that they would not fulfill a funding obligation in a previously disclosed private placement financing. In connection with this restructuring, Kineta stated that it was exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value.
Subsequently, in July 2024, Kineta announced that it had entered into an exclusivity and right of first offer agreement with TuHURA Biosciences, Inc. Under this agreement, TuHURA received an exclusive right to negotiate to acquire Kineta’s worldwide patents, patent rights, patent applications, product and development program assets, technical and business information, and other rights and assets associated with and derived from its development program related to KVA12123. Kineta reported receiving a nonrefundable payment from TuHURA in connection with this agreement.
Later in 2024, Kineta announced that enrollment had resumed in the VISTA-101 trial in collaboration with TuHURA, and that the ongoing Phase 1 study was open for new patient enrollment and following previously enrolled patients. The company continued to state that it was pursuing or exploring strategic alternatives.
Trading status and transition to OTC Markets
On September 19, 2024, Kineta disclosed that it had transitioned from Nasdaq to the OTC Market. The company stated that its stock began trading under the ticker symbol “KANT” on the OTC Pink Open Market platform operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. The transition followed a notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC regarding Kineta’s failure to satisfy certain listing requirements, including a minimum bid price and a minimum stockholders’ equity requirement under specific Nasdaq listing rules.
Kineta indicated that its stock had transitioned to the OTC Markets and that shareholders’ investments remained tradable on that platform. The company also reiterated its focus on the ongoing Phase 1 clinical program and its previously disclosed strategic alternatives.
Merger with TuHURA Biosciences and current status
Subsequent SEC filings document a significant corporate transaction. An 8-K filed on June 24, 2025 reports that on June 23, 2025, Kineta held a Special Meeting of Stockholders at which stockholders voted on proposals related to mergers contemplated by an Agreement and Plan of Merger with TuHURA Biosciences, Inc., Hura Merger Sub I, Inc., and Hura Merger Sub II, LLC. At this meeting, Kineta stockholders approved a proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, as described in the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus referenced in the filing.
A subsequent Form 15 (15-12G) filed on July 2, 2025 provides further detail on Kineta’s status. The filing, submitted by Kineta, LLC as successor by merger to Kineta, Inc., certifies the termination of registration of Kineta’s common stock under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the suspension of reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d). The explanatory note in that Form 15 states that, effective as of June 30, 2025, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended), Merger Sub I merged with and into Kineta, Inc. (the “First Merger”), with Kineta as the surviving corporation, and immediately following the First Merger, the surviving corporation merged with and into Merger Sub II, with Merger Sub II surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of TuHURA Biosciences, Inc. under the name “Kineta, LLC.”
Based on this Form 15, Kineta’s common stock registration under the Exchange Act has been terminated, and Kineta, LLC functions as a wholly owned subsidiary of TuHURA. The Form 15 lists the approximate number of holders of record as of the certification or notice date as one, reflecting this post-merger ownership structure.
Historical context for investors and researchers
For investors and researchers reviewing the historical ticker KA (and later KANT on OTC Pink), the symbol corresponds to Kineta, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company centered on VISTA-targeted immuno-oncology and related programs, prior to its merger into TuHURA Biosciences’ corporate structure and subsequent deregistration. The company’s public record includes clinical data updates from the VISTA-101 trial, descriptions of its immuno-oncology pipeline, disclosures about restructuring and financing challenges, and detailed information on the merger process and resulting status as Kineta, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of TuHURA.