Kairos Discovery

Kairos Discovery is a French biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation therapies to overcome treatment resistance in hard-to-treat cancers. Founded in late 2022 in Lyon, the company builds on more than a decade of academic research to design innovative small-molecules targeting protein kinases. While kinase inhibitors have transformed cancer care, most current treatments only delay disease progression, and resistance eventually emerges. Kairos addresses this critical limitation by developing highly selective and potent molecules with differentiated mechanisms of action, designed to achieve deeper, longer-lasting responses with improved safety.

The company’s lead program targets CK2, a key regulator of tumor survival and resistance, and has already demonstrated strong preclinical efficacy and safety. Supported by two patent families ensuring protection until at least 2045, Kairos combines cutting-edge science with a pharma-partnering model to accelerate innovation and patient access.

Behind Kairos stands a multidisciplinary team bringing together expertise in chemistry, biology, and translational oncology. The founders and scientific team combine strong academic backgrounds with hands-on drug discovery experience, bridging science and entrepreneurship. They are supported by a board of directors with a proven track record in biotech exits, venture capital, and pharmaceutical development, and an experienced scientific advisory board guiding the company’s R&D strategy.

Kairos operates with a business-to-business (B2B) model focused on early pharma partnerships and out-licensing opportunities. Its approach mirrors recent trends in oncology drug development, where pharmaceutical companies actively seek innovative preclinical assets. Typical deal structures in this field include upfront payments, development milestones, and royalties on sales, providing both short-term revenue and long-term value creation for investors.

Our ambition is clear: to translate robust academic discoveries into the next generation of targeted cancer therapies, offering new hope where current treatments fail.