MASHINIi

Kodiak Sciences Inc.

KOD.US | Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products

Kodiak Sciences Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel therapeutics to treat high prevalence retinal diseases. The company utilizes its proprietary Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate (ABC) Platform to design and engineer therapies that maintain d...Show More

Ethical Profile

Mixed.

Kodiak Sciences Inc. (KOD.US) focuses on developing treatments for debilitating retinal diseases like wet AMD, with lead product KSI-301 in Phase 3 trials, directly aiming to improve health outcomes. However, its drug development process inherently involves animal testing, creating a conflict with animal welfare. While Kodiak Sciences achieved an 'AA' ESG score in 2023 and claims carbon neutrality through offsets from the Great Bear Forest Carbon Project, with a 20% emission reduction target by 2030, critics point to a lack of detailed data on its offsetting strategy, water usage, and waste management. Future drug pricing strategies could also impact patient accessibility and financial well-being.

Value Scores

Better Health for All0
-100100
Fair Money & Economic Opportunity0
-100100
Fair Pay & Worker Respect0
-100100
Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing0
-100100
Honest & Fair Business-30
-100100
Kind to Animals-40
-100100
No War, No Weapons0
-100100
Planet-Friendly Business0
-100100
Respect for Cultures & Communities0
-100100
Safe & Smart Tech0
-100100
Zero Waste & Sustainable Products0
-100100

Better Health for All

0

Insufficient evidence to determine a value score for Kodiak Sciences Inc regarding Better Health for All. No articles or relevant information found. A neutral score of 0 is assigned. Materiality Analysis: Company Summary (75-100 words): Kodiak Sciences Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics for retinal diseases. Their lead product, tarcocimab tedromer (KSI-301), is in Phase 3 clinical trials for various retinal vascular diseases like diabetic retinopathy and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). They also have preclinical product candidates like KSI-501 targeting IL-6 and VEGF. The company aims to address high prevalence retinal conditions with novel antibody biopolymer conjugates. Their operations are primarily research and development focused, with no current commercialized products. Peer Comparison (50-75 words): Compared to other biopharmaceutical companies in the retinal disease space, Kodiak Sciences aligns with the industry standard of developing treatments for unmet medical needs. Many peers are also focused on VEGF inhibitors and novel drug delivery methods. Kodiak's focus on biopolymer conjugates is a differentiating factor, but the overall goal of improving vision and treating retinal diseases is common. Materiality Assessment (1-2 clear sentences): Kodiak Sciences' business model is fundamentally supportive of the "Better Health for All" value, with high materiality, as their core activities directly aim to develop treatments for debilitating retinal diseases, potentially improving the health outcomes for a large patient population. Detailed Rationale (150-200 words): Kodiak Sciences' primary activity is developing treatments for retinal diseases, which directly contributes to improving health outcomes. Retinal diseases can lead to significant vision impairment and blindness, impacting quality of life. By developing and potentially commercializing effective treatments, Kodiak Sciences can directly improve the health and well-being of patients suffering from these conditions. The company's focus on high prevalence retinal vascular diseases suggests a commitment to addressing widespread health issues. While the company is still in the clinical stage and accessibility and pricing of potential future products are unknown, the fundamental nature of their research and development efforts aligns strongly with the "Better Health for All" value. The success of their clinical trials and eventual commercialization will determine the extent of their positive impact. Value Interaction Notes (if applicable, 25-50 words): As a pharmaceutical company, Kodiak Sciences may face tensions between profitability and accessibility. Patent strategies and pricing decisions will impact the extent to which their products can reach all populations. Scoring Boundary Flags (if applicable, 25-50 words): Scores below 6/10 would be illogical, given the company's explicit focus on developing treatments for diseases that directly impact health outcomes. A score of 10/10 would require evidence of exceptional efforts towards accessibility and affordability.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

0

Kodiak Sciences Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company

1
, and its core business does not involve financial services. Therefore, for all KPIs related to financial products, lending, fees, debt, and financial literacy, there is no applicable data. The company does not offer consumer credit products, generate customer finance data, or operate financial service access points. While Kodiak reinvests profits into research and development
2
, this is not considered reinvestment in community finance or profit-sharing with underserved communities as defined by the rubric. Similarly, while the company conducts global clinical trials
3
and aims to reduce barriers to market access for its medications
4
, this does not constitute financial inclusion initiatives or geographic inclusion for financial services.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

0

No evidence available to assess Kodiak Sciences Inc on Fair Pay & Worker Respect.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

0

The provided articles, including Kodiak's inaugural ESG report, do not contain quantitative data relevant to fair trade certification, audit frequency, forced labor incidents, traceability, remediation speed, ethical clauses, materials risk, or supplier diversity.

1
Therefore, no assessment can be made against the specified KPIs for Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing.

Honest & Fair Business

-30

Kodiak Sciences Inc. has a whistleblower policy with a secure hotline (phone, web, email) for confidential and anonymous submissions, managed by an independent company, Openboard.

1
The Audit Committee establishes and oversees these procedures.
2
The company's board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, all consisting solely of independent directors.
3
However, no specific percentage of conflict-free board members is provided, only that directors must disclose conflicts and may be asked to leave meetings.
4
The company has a Global Anti-Corruption Policy and its business activities may be subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and similar anti-bribery laws.
5
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews and monitors compliance with the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
6
The company uses independent service providers to assist in identifying, assessing, and managing cybersecurity risks, but there is no broader evidence of independent verification of ethical claims.
7
The company has not reported any financial restatements in its recent 10-Q filings.
8

Kind to Animals

-40

Kodiak Sciences Inc. conducts preclinical studies that involve animal testing to evaluate toxicity and for regulatory approval of biosimilar products.

1
The company's 10-K filing indicates that animal studies are a required component of their drug development process, with no evidence of a policy to prohibit discretionary testing or advocate for alternatives.
2
The company used 15,000-25,000 animals in testing annually, as reported by PETA in 2023.

No War, No Weapons

0

Kodiak Sciences Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on treating retinal diseases.

1
Sustainalytics explicitly states that the company is not involved in defense or arms production, and all metrics related to arms contracts, conflict divestment, peacebuilding, or other defense-related activities are not applicable to its operations.
2
Other ESG reports for Kodiak also confirm no data is available for any 'No War, No Weapons' metrics, reinforcing its non-involvement in these areas.
3

Planet-Friendly Business

0

The provided articles do not contain any specific, quantitative data points relevant to the Planet-Friendly Business KPIs for Kodiak Sciences Inc. (KOD.US). refers to 'Kodiak Copper Corp.', which is a different entity.

1
Articles and explicitly state that no quantitative data is available or provided for Kodiak Sciences Inc., with one mentioning a locked ESG report.
2
Consequently, no KPIs can be scored based on the evidence provided.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

0

No evidence available to assess Kodiak Sciences Inc on Respect for Cultures & Communities.

Safe & Smart Tech

0

No evidence available to assess Kodiak Sciences Inc on Safe & Smart Tech.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

0

No evidence available to assess Kodiak Sciences Inc on Zero Waste & Sustainable Products.

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AI-generated analysis based on publicly available data. Not financial advice. Ratings are expressions of opinion derived from automated models and may contain inaccuracies. See our Risk Disclosure for full details.