Kenai Therapeutics Taps Novartis Veteran to Steer Groundbreaking Neurological Pipeline

SAN DIEGO, CA – February 24, 2026 – Kenai Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company at the forefront of cell therapy for neurological disorders, today announced the appointment of former Novartis executive Blake Arnold, CFA, as its new Chief Business Officer. The move is a significant indicator of the company's strategy to accelerate growth and secure its position in the highly competitive field of regenerative medicine as it advances its lead candidate for Parkinson's disease through clinical trials.

Mr. Arnold will take the helm of Kenai's business development, financing, and strategic partnership initiatives. He joins at a pivotal moment for the San Diego-based biotech, which is developing “off-the-shelf” neuron replacement therapies based on a proprietary, Nobel Prize-winning stem cell technology.

"Blake is an exceptional addition to Kenai's leadership team," said Nick Manusos, Chief Executive Officer of Kenai Therapeutics, in the company's official announcement. "He has a proven track record of successfully executing strategic transactions, and deep expertise in biotechnology and cell and gene therapy. His breadth of experience will be invaluable in guiding how we build and scale Kenai's platform at this pivotal stage."

A Strategic Play in a Competitive Field

The appointment of an executive with Mr. Arnold’s background is a clear strategic maneuver. With nearly two decades of experience spanning M&A at Novartis, portfolio innovation at Novartis Gene Therapies, and venture capital, his expertise is tailor-made for a company looking to transition from a promising upstart to a commercial powerhouse. His most recent role as Vice President of M&A Transactions at Novartis involved leading strategic acquisitions, giving him a unique vantage point on what makes a biotech company an attractive partner or acquisition target.

This experience is critical as Kenai navigates a field populated by well-funded competitors. The race to develop the first effective cell therapy for Parkinson's disease includes major players like BlueRock Therapeutics, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Bayer. Kenai's ability to forge strategic partnerships, secure substantial future financing, and potentially execute its own acquisitions will be crucial for maintaining its momentum.

Mr. Arnold’s deep roots in gene therapy, particularly during his time at Novartis Gene Therapies (formerly AveXis), provide him with intimate knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in developing and commercializing advanced, one-time therapies. This background aligns perfectly with Kenai's mission to deliver potentially curative treatments for complex neurological conditions.

Pioneering Neuron Replacement for Parkinson's

At the heart of Kenai's ambitious strategy is its lead candidate, RNDP-001, currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial for moderate to severe Parkinson's disease. The therapy represents a potential paradigm shift in how the neurodegenerative disorder is treated.

For decades, Parkinson's treatments have focused on managing symptoms, primarily by supplementing the brain's dwindling supply of dopamine with drugs like levodopa. While helpful, these treatments do not stop the underlying disease progression and often come with diminishing returns and significant side effects over time. Kenai aims to change this with a disease-modifying approach.

RNDP-001 is an allogeneic, or “off-the-shelf,” therapy derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These iPSCs are matured into dopamine progenitor cells—the precursors to the very neurons that are lost in Parkinson's disease. The cells are then surgically implanted into the brain, where they are designed to mature, integrate into neural circuits, and restore the brain's ability to produce dopamine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted RNDP-001 Fast Track designation, underscoring the urgent unmet need for new treatments.

The company initiated its Phase 1 REPLACE™ clinical trial in late 2025, with the first patient dosed in December. The open-label study is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of RNDP-001, with initial data expected later this year. A key differentiator for Kenai is its allogeneic approach, which uses donor cells to create a standardized, scalable product that can be cryopreserved and made available to a broad patient population, in contrast to more complex and costly autologous therapies that use a patient's own cells.

Building the Engine with Funding and Manufacturing

An innovative scientific vision requires a robust financial and operational backbone, an area where Kenai has already made significant strides. The company, founded in 2022, has raised a total of $89 million. This includes a landmark $82 million Series A financing round in 2024, co-led by prominent life science investors including Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, Cure Ventures, and The Column Group.

That funding, along with grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), has provided the financial runway to advance RNDP-001 into the clinic. However, one of the most significant hurdles for any cell therapy company is manufacturing—producing living cells at a commercial scale with consistent quality and purity is a monumental challenge.

To address this, Kenai has secured an exclusive manufacturing partnership with FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, Inc. (FCDI), a global leader in iPSC technology. This strategic alliance de-risks a critical component of Kenai's business plan, allowing the company to leverage FCDI's world-class expertise in scalable, high-potency cell production. This partnership provides Kenai with a crucial competitive advantage, freeing its internal team to focus on clinical development and pipeline expansion while ensuring a reliable supply of its therapeutic candidate.

With a strong financial foundation and a secure manufacturing strategy, the addition of a Chief Business Officer of Mr. Arnold's caliber is the next logical step. His primary role will be to leverage these assets to build the company's value and extend its reach, ensuring that Kenai's groundbreaking science has the business infrastructure to support its journey from the clinic to patients in need.