KV-001

KV-001 is a preclinical-stage small molecule antibiotic belonging to the oxepanoprolinamide (OPP) class, developed by Kinvard Bio. Spun out from Harvard University's Myers Lab, the drug is designed to target the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) of the bacterial ribosome, thereby inhibiting protein synthesis. KV-001 is specifically optimized for activity against Gram-negative bacteria and is being developed for the treatment of serious infections, including Hospital-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (HABP), Ventilator-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (VABP), and complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI). The oxepanoprolinamide scaffold is structurally preorganized to enhance binding to the ribosome and overcome common resistance mechanisms found in multidrug-resistant pathogens. The program is currently in lead optimization with support from CARB-X funding.