Tampa, Florida and London, United Kingdom — August 13, 2026
Akari Therapeutics, Plc reported progress on its lead antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate AKTX-101, which is advancing through IND-enabling development toward a planned Phase 1 clinical trial in mid-2027. The company also highlighted new preclinical findings supporting its proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload and announced a strategic research collaboration with Whitehawk Therapeutics to investigate the potential of PH1 in dual-payload ADCs. Akari said the latest developments strengthen its strategy of developing next-generation ADCs designed to address difficult-to-treat cancers. The company’s second-quarter update also highlighted approximately $8.6 million in gross financing proceeds, led by long-term strategic investors, providing additional resources to support development activities for AKTX-101 and advancement of its broader ADC payload platform. The company is continuing manufacturing and other development work required to prepare AKTX-101 for first-in-human clinical evaluation.
AKTX-101 Moves Toward Phase 1 Development
Akari Therapeutics is advancing AKTX-101, its lead ADC candidate targeting the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells, through critical IND-enabling activities. The candidate uses a proprietary linker to deliver Akari’s PH1 payload directly to tumor cells. Unlike many established ADCs that use microtubule inhibitors or DNA-damaging agents, PH1 is designed to modulate RNA splicing through the spliceosome, creating a differentiated mechanism for inducing cancer-cell death. Akari has reported preclinical evidence suggesting that PH1-mediated splicing modulation may not only directly affect tumor cells but also stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses. In preclinical studies, AKTX-101 has demonstrated anti-tumor activity and prolonged survival compared with ADCs containing traditional payload technologies. The company is targeting initiation of the first-in-human Phase 1 trial by mid-2027, while continuing development and manufacturing activities needed to support clinical advancement.
ASCO Data Supports PH1 Payload Potential
The company also highlighted preclinical data presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, which demonstrated synergistic anti-tumor activity when Akari’s PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload was combined with an approved KRAS inhibitor in KRAS-mutated pancreatic cancer models. The findings add to the company’s growing preclinical evidence supporting PH1 as a potentially differentiated ADC payload for cancers driven by challenging oncogenic alterations. Akari said the PH1 platform has shown preclinical activity against cancer cells carrying drivers including KRAS, BRAF, ARV7 and FGFR3 fusions. The company is also developing AKTX-102, an ADC candidate targeting CEACAM5, another solid-tumor target designed to utilize the PH1 payload and a novel antibody construct. Together, these programs are intended to expand the potential applications of Akari’s spliceosome-modulating technology across multiple cancer types.
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Whitehawk Collaboration Expands ADC Platform
Akari has entered a strategic research collaboration with Whitehawk Therapeutics to explore the combination of its proprietary PH1 payload with Whitehawk’s topoisomerase I payload platform in dual-payload ADCs. The collaboration is intended to investigate whether complementary payload mechanisms can be combined within ADC approaches to potentially enhance anti-tumor activity. Akari also strengthened its financial position during the second quarter, reporting approximately $5.5 million in gross proceeds from a private placement and approximately $3.1 million from warrant exercises, resulting in approximately $8.6 million of gross financing proceeds and about $8.0 million in net proceeds. Research and development expenses increased to $2.1 million, primarily reflecting expanded manufacturing and IND-enabling activities for AKTX-101, while the company reported a second-quarter net loss of $4.8 million. With clinical preparation progressing, new preclinical evidence supporting PH1 and expanded collaboration opportunities, Akari Therapeutics is positioning AKTX-101 as the lead clinical program for its next-generation ADC platform.
Source: Akari Therapeutics press relese
