Lupin has announced the strategic spin-out of two of its oncology drug candidates—LNP7457 (PRMT5) and LNP8701 (SOS1)—into Kaveri Therapeutics, a US-based clinical-stage oncology company. The move aims to accelerate the global clinical development of both targeted cancer therapies.
The programmes have been transferred through Lupin’s wholly owned subsidiary, Lupin Inc. Under the agreement, Lupin Inc. will retain a significant equity stake in Kaveri, provide seed funding, and grant the company exclusive rights to develop and commercialise the two assets.
Kaveri will operate as an independent company led by Chief Executive Officer Kristi Jones, an experienced biopharmaceutical executive, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Pierce, who will oversee the company’s clinical development strategy. The company also plans to raise additional capital to fund the global clinical trials.
Commenting on the announcement, Lupin CEO Vinita Gupta said, “We are proud to have pioneered these oncology assets and look forward to advancing them through Kaveri Therapeutics.”
“The strength of these assets, combined with Kaveri’s seasoned leadership team, positions us to accelerate the development of targeted oncology therapies with the goal of bringing meaningful innovation to patients,” she added.
Both oncology candidates have shown promising early clinical results. Findings from the Phase 1a clinical trial of LNP7457, a PRMT5 inhibitor, were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in 2025. The trial evaluated the investigational therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumours and showed that LNP7457 was generally safe and well tolerated. It also demonstrated a favourable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) profile, with no significant food effect on its pharmacokinetics.
Similarly, results from the Phase 1a trial of LNP8701, an investigational SOS1 (Son of Sevenless 1) inhibitor, were presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting 2026. The study assessed the drug’s safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in patients with metastatic solid tumours. LNP8701, an orally administered therapy designed to inhibit SOS1-mediated RAS activation and disrupt cancer-promoting signalling pathways, was found to be well tolerated, with a favourable safety and pharmacokinetic profile, along with encouraging preliminary anti-tumour activity.
