List of Therapeutic Companies in New Zealand - 3

Amaroq Therapeutics is a New Zealand-based biotechnology company focused on developing a new class of therapeutics that target lncRNA in cancer. Long non-coding RNAs are a relatively recently discovered class of molecules often referred to as “dark matter” of the human genome. These naturally occurring molecules do not code for proteins but fulfill important regulatory functions in the cell that could be exploited as a new therapeutic approach for multiple indications. Amaroq’s research team has discovered lncRNA molecules that are highly expressed in cancer cells, and once removed, cancer cell growth slows. Amaroq Therapeutics is developing innovative therapeutics to target lncRNAs for cancer treatment. Amaroq Therapeutics is funded by the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund, managed by life science venture capital firm Brandon Capital Partners, Otago Innovation Ltd, University of Otago, Cure Kids, and NZ Innovation Booster. The Company has been spun out of research from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Curonz is a clinical stage biotechnology company with a patent portfolio and a focus on developing Neural Regeneration Peptides (NRPs) for various neurological conditions such as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The company aims to transform the Quality of Life of severely neurologically affected children and adults through its drug candidates.

Kimer Med is a New Zealand biotech company, developing a pipeline of novel, broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidates. With success against 21 different viruses so far, we're taking on the global health challenge of viral disease and future pandemic threats. Our vision is to end the immense suffering caused by viral disease. There are currently around 220 viruses that cause disease in humans, and only 12 of them have an approved antiviral treatment available. In other words, 95% of viral diseases lack any approved treatment, resulting in enormous unmet medical needs worldwide. We have built and optimised a proprietary platform for the rapid development of broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidates to address these massive medical needs. Our goal is to bring to market a family of broad-spectrum antivirals to treat multiple diseases, and provide pandemic protection. To date we have achieved efficacy against 21 different viruses, and proved the broad-spectrum capabilities of our platform. We are currently in the lead-optimisation phase and nearing phase 1 clinical trials. In 2024, Kimer Med was recognised as one of the Fierce Biotech's 'Fierce 15 of 2024' - the best and brightest of biotech. We were also the recipients of a Merck Emerging Biotech Grant.