TAMPA, Fla. and LONDON — August 4, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), an oncology biotechnology company focused on developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with novel RNA splicing modulator payloads, has released a new CEO Corner segment. In it, President and Chief Executive Officer Abizer Gaslightwala discusses the company’s recent strategic research collaboration with WhiteHawk Therapeutics and the growing importance of scientifically driven collaborations in advancing ADC innovation.
The discussion highlights the evolving ADC landscape, which is moving beyond individual payload technologies towards collaborative strategies that combine complementary mechanisms of action. Gaslightwala explains Akari’s belief that bringing together differentiated scientific approaches has the potential to accelerate innovation, generate significant translational insights, and expand future therapeutic opportunities beyond what a single technology might achieve.
Central to the conversation is the strategic research collaboration with WhiteHawk Therapeutics. This partnership combines Akari’s proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload with WhiteHawk’s differentiated TOP1 inhibitor ADC platform to evaluate a novel dual-payload strategy. Gaslightwala elaborates on why the company views this evaluation of two potentially best-in-class payload technologies together as an innovative scientific approach. It is expected to broaden therapeutic activity and further demonstrate the versatility and broad applicability of Akari’s PH1 platform.
Beyond the specific collaboration, the CEO Corner addresses the pharmaceutical industry’s increasing interest in differentiated payload technologies capable of addressing significant unmet needs in oncology. Gaslightwala discusses how strategic collaborations can offer additional opportunities to expand scientific validation for novel payload platforms and create new pathways for innovation through partnerships with like-minded organizations.
Looking ahead, Gaslightwala outlines Akari’s ongoing commitment to advancing AKTX-101, the company’s lead TROP2-targeting ADC, towards a planned Phase 1 clinical evaluation. Simultaneously, Akari will continue to expand the scientific foundation supporting its proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload platform. He emphasizes that the company’s internal development programs and strategic collaborations are complementary components of a broader strategy to establish PH1 as a differentiated payload platform with the potential to support multiple future therapeutic applications.
The CEO Corner segment is now available for viewing. Akari Therapeutics is an oncology biotechnology company developing next-generation ADCs with its unique PH1 payload, which targets RNA splicing. Utilizing its innovative ADC discovery platform, the company can generate ADC candidates and optimize them for any antigen target. Akari’s lead candidate, AKTX-101, targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells using a proprietary linker to deliver its PH1 payload directly into the tumor with minimal off-target effects. Unlike current ADCs that use microtubule inhibitors and DNA-damaging agents, PH1 is a novel spliceosome modulator designed to disrupt RNA splicing within cancer cells. This modulation has demonstrated in preclinical animal models to induce cancer cell death and activate both innate and adaptive immune systems, driving robust and durable activity. Preclinical studies have shown AKTX-101 to possess significant activity and prolonged survival compared to ADCs with traditional payloads. AKTX-101 also shows potential for synergy with checkpoint inhibitors and has demonstrated prolonged survival as both a single agent and in combination with them. The PH1 payload has also shown activity against cancer cells with key oncogenic drivers such as KRAS, BRAF, ARV7, FGFR3 fusions, and others. The company has initiated IND enabling studies for AKTX-101 with a goal of starting its First-In-Human trial by mid-2027. Akari is also developing AKTX-102, an ADC candidate targeting CEACAM5, a well-validated tumor antigen broadly expressed across multiple solid tumors. AKTX-102 is designed to utilize Akari’s proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload and a novel antibody construct for differentiated tumor cell killing and immune activation.
Source: Akari Therapeutics
