Kernal Biologics
Kernal is creating mRNA 2.0 therapies that work in specific cells
About Kernal Biologics
Kernal Bio is a biotech company pioneering mRNA 2.0 immunotherapies. We leverage selective mRNA-LNP technology to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases with precision, ensuring targeted cell delivery and minimal off-target effects. Our KR-402 program achieves over 90% delivery efficiency with T-cell-targeted LNPs, enabling direct CAR-T programming within the body and resulting in B-cell depletion within a week.
Kernal Bio is led by a team with experience from MIT, Harvard, Merck, and BMS, boasting three FDA-approved therapies and over 120 patents. Based in Cambridge, MA, we are backed by Hummingbird Ventures, Amgen Ventures, HBM, and even NASA.
With roots at MIT, Harvard and Biopharma, Kernal’s management team has deep expertise in mRNA therapeutics space. CEO Yusuf Erkul, M.D., M.B.A. is a successful drug hunter whose research at Merck enabled an FDA-approved drug for ovarian cancer. President Burak Yilmaz, M.S., previously founded Sentegen, a thriving synthetic biology company which commercializes synthetic DNA, RNA, and diagnostic kits for genetic and infectious diseases. Sr. VP of R&D Manfred Kraus is a leader in immuno-oncology, who was most recently Scientific Sr. Director at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS).
Company details
Funding
Total raised
$31.2M
Last stage
Series A
Investors
Founders
Burak YILMAZ
My name is Burak Yilmaz, MS, co-founder, and lead designer of Kernal Biologics. As a synthetic biologist, I co-invented stealth and onco-selective mRNA platform technology in Kernal. Kernal is my second endeavor. Previously, I founded Sentegen/Sentebiolab which is a synthetic biology company that produces synthetic DNA for research and diagnostic purposes.
LinkedIn
Yusuf Erkul
Co-Founder and CEO of Kernal Bio; co-invented Kernal's proprietary stealth mRNA and oncoselective mRNA technologies; trained as an M.D. with expertise in nucleic acid therapies, innate immunity, and cancer biology.
LinkedInCafer Ozdemir
PhD scientist and Co-Founder at Kernal Bio; presented research on engineering synthetic mRNAs selectively translated in cancer cells at international conferences.
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