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Kyverna Therapeutics
Kyverna Therapeutics, led by CEO Peter Maag, went public in 2024 to develop CAR T-cell therapies for autoimmune diseases like lupus.
Kyverna Therapeutics
Kyverna Therapeutics was founded in 2018 and operates from Emeryville, California. CEO Peter Maag leads a team focused on adapting CAR T-cell therapy, a technology proven in blood cancers, to B-cell-driven autoimmune diseases. The firm's foundational insight is that deeply depleting pathogenic B cells could reset the immune system in patients with lupus, myasthenia gravis, and other conditions where standard treatments fall short. Kyverna's lead asset, KYV-101, is an autologous CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy. Public record shows the firm is running clinical trials in lupus nephritis and other autoimmune indications. The company targets both rheumatology and neurology, with a pipeline extending to systemic sclerosis and inflammatory myopathies. Kyverna took the company public on Nasdaq in February 2024, raising roughly $319 million in the IPO after aggregating over $450 million across private financing rounds from a syndicate that included Gilead Sciences, Vida Ventures, Westlake Village BioPartners, and Northpond Ventures (per the firm's regulatory filings, 2024). Post-IPO, Kyverna remains a clinical-stage company. Ian Clark, former CEO of Genentech, serves as Chairman. The board includes representatives from its venture backers. In February 2024, Kyverna completed its IPO on Nasdaq under the ticker KYTX, a listing that gave the firm a public currency to advance mid-stage clinical programs while its peer group faced a tight funding market (per the firm's filings, 2024). Kyverna's structural posture combines a venture-backed origin with a full-stack public-company discipline — it owns a proprietary clinical CAR T-cell construct rather than in-licensing a third-party asset, giving it control over manufacturing and development timelines in a field where supply chain and cell-engineering expertise dictate clinical pace.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2018
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Emeryville
Corporate office
Emeryville, CA, United States
Principals
Peter Maag
Chief Executive Officer
Dominic Borie
President of Research and Development
Ian Clark
Chairman of the Board
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What differentiates Kyverna's clinical strategy from other autoimmune-focused biotechs?
Kyverna is applying CAR T-cell therapy, an established oncology modality, directly to B-cell-driven autoimmune diseases. Rather than targeting inflammatory cytokines, the goal is to physically eliminate the B-cell populations that produce pathogenic autoantibodies, potentially offering a one-time treatment with durable, drug-free remission. This mechanistic approach separates the firm from traditional small-molecule or biologic strategies for lupus and related conditions.
Who runs clinical development at Kyverna?
Dominic Borie, MD, PhD, serves as President of Research and Development. He has a background in immunology and has led clinical programs in both autoimmune disease and transplantation. CEO Peter Maag oversees corporate strategy and financing.
Which autoimmune indications does Kyverna target?
The lead clinical programs focus on lupus nephritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The pipeline also includes myasthenia gravis, systemic sclerosis, and inflammatory myopathies. The firm selects indications where B-cell autoantibody production has a well-established role in driving organ damage.
Who are Kyverna's key institutional backers?
Prior to the 2024 IPO, Kyverna raised over $450 million from life-science specialists including Vida Ventures, Westlake Village BioPartners, Northpond Ventures, and Gilead Sciences (per the firm's regulatory filings, 2024). The venture syndicate's continued board representation signals ongoing strategic alignment.
How does Kyverna manufacture its CAR T-cell therapy?
KYV-101 uses an autologous manufacturing process — a patient's own T cells are collected, genetically engineered to target CD19, and reinfused. Kyverna has disclosed the construct uses a fully human anti-CD19 binder paired with a well-characterized 4-1BB costimulatory domain, which is intended to improve persistence and reduce immunogenicity compared to earlier constructs.
Is Kyverna a clinical-stage or commercial company?
Kyverna is clinical-stage. As of its 2024 IPO, no product had reached commercialization or generated revenue. The firm is using IPO proceeds to fund ongoing Phase 1/2 trials and prepare for pivotal studies in lupus nephritis.
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