Recognized expert in cancer biology, RNA biology and translational therapeutics with 20 years of experience in preclinical oncology drug discovery and developmentTAMPA, Fla. and LONDON, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), an oncology biotechnology company developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with novel immuno-oncology payloads, today announced the appointment of Prafulla Gokhale, Ph.D., Director of the Experimental Therapeutics Core and the Lurie Family Imaging Ce ...

Inducement Plan[ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT), a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), today announced that...][More Releases From This Source]## Explore[Health Care & Hospitals][Medical Pharmaceuticals][Conference Call Announcements][News Releases in Similar Topics]---- -- ADC Therapeutics to Participate in March Investor Conferences [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationLAUSANNE, Switzerland, Feb. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ADC Therapeutics SA (NYS ...

Core Insights - Akari Therapeutics is set to present at the 2026 Biocom Global Partnering & Investor Conference, highlighting its focus on oncology biotechnology and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with novel immuno-oncology payloads [1][2]. Company Overview - Akari Therapeutics specializes in developing next-generation ADCs, particularly focusing on a unique payload, PH1, which targets RNA splicing [3]. - The lead candidate, AKTX-101, targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells and utilizes a proprietary linker to deliver the PH1 payload directly into tumors, minimizing off-target effects [3]. - PH1 is a spliceosome modulator designed to disrupt RNA splicing in cancer cells, showing potential to induce cancer cell death while activating both innate and adaptive immune responses [3]. - Preclinical studies indicate that AKTX-101 has significant activity and prolonged survival compared to traditional ADCs, with potential synergy when combined with checkpoint inhibitors [3]. - The company has initiated IND enabling studies for AKTX-101, aiming to start its First-In-Human trial by late 2026 or early 2027 [3]. - Akari is also developing AKTX-102, targeting CEACAM5, a tumor antigen expressed in various solid tumors, leveraging the PH1 payload for enhanced tumor cell killing and immune activation [3].

Core Insights - Akari Therapeutics is expanding its antibody drug conjugate (ADC) pipeline and intellectual property strategy, as discussed by CEO Abizer Gaslightwala in a recent virtual investor interview [2][4] - The company is advancing its lead ADC program, AKTX-101, towards Investigational New Drug (IND) and Clinical Trial Application (CTA) submissions, aiming for first-in-human studies by late 2026 or early 2027 [4][6] ADC Pipeline Expansion - Akari has introduced AKTX-102, its second ADC candidate targeting CEACAM5-expressing solid tumors, highlighting the scalability of its PH1-powered ADC platform [3][4] - The company’s differentiated approach to CEACAM5 involves a novel antibody construct combined with the PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload [4] Intellectual Property Strategy - The recent patent filing is a significant milestone that supports Akari's long-term value creation and potential partnering opportunities [3][4] - The growing patent estate is strategically important for the company as it seeks to enhance its market position and protect its innovations [4] Lead Program Details - AKTX-101 targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells and utilizes a proprietary linker to deliver the PH1 payload directly into tumors, minimizing off-target effects [6] - Preclinical studies indicate that AKTX-101 has significant activity and prolonged survival compared to traditional ADCs, with potential synergy with checkpoint inhibitors [6]

Core Insights - Akari Therapeutics is expanding its antibody drug conjugate (ADC) pipeline and intellectual property strategy, as discussed by CEO Abizer Gaslightwala in a recent virtual investor interview [2][4] - The company is advancing its lead ADC program, AKTX-101, towards IND and CTA submissions, aiming for first-in-human studies by late 2026 or early 2027 [4][6] ADC Pipeline Expansion - Akari has introduced AKTX-102, its second ADC candidate targeting CEACAM5-expressing solid tumors, highlighting the scalability of its PH1-powered ADC platform [3][4] - The company’s differentiated approach to CEACAM5 involves a novel antibody construct combined with the PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload [4] Intellectual Property Strategy - The recent patent filing underscores the strategic importance of Akari's growing patent estate, which supports long-term value creation and potential partnering opportunities [4] - The company aims to leverage its innovative ADC discovery platform to generate and optimize ADC candidates for various antigen targets [6] Lead Program Details - AKTX-101 targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells, utilizing a proprietary linker to deliver the PH1 payload directly into tumors with minimal off-target effects [6] - Preclinical studies indicate that AKTX-101 has significant activity and prolonged survival compared to traditional ADCs, with potential synergy with checkpoint inhibitors [6]

Core Insights - Akari Therapeutics is expanding its pipeline with a new ADC candidate, AKTX-102, targeting CEACAM5, a significant solid tumor marker in oncology [1][3] - The company has filed a U.S. provisional patent application for AKTX-102, which utilizes a proprietary PH1 spliceosome payload to enhance therapeutic efficacy [1][5] Pipeline and Product Development - AKTX-102 is designed to address CEACAM5, which is expressed in 80-90% of gastrointestinal cancers and has been linked to aggressive cancer subtypes [2][4] - The ADC combines a novel antibody construct with the PH1 payload, aiming to improve tumor cell killing and activate immune responses [3][4] Intellectual Property and Innovation - The new patent filing enhances Akari's intellectual property portfolio, which includes previous filings focused on novel mechanisms and combination strategies [5][6] - Akari's patent estate is expected to support the development of multiple first- and best-in-class ADC candidates across various cancer targets [6] Market Opportunity and Challenges - CEACAM5 has been a challenging target in oncology due to its complex biology, but Akari's approach aims to overcome these hurdles [7][8] - The company’s strategy includes addressing CEACAM5's role as an immunosuppressive checkpoint, which has historically limited therapeutic success [8][9] Clinical Development and Future Plans - Akari is advancing its lead program, AKTX-101, towards IND/CTA submission and first-in-human trials, with a goal to initiate by late 2026 or early 2027 [10][13] - The company is also pursuing partnerships to leverage its unique PH1 payload and ADC approach [13]

Daiichi Sankyo Company FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Daiichi Sankyo Company - **Headquarters**: Tokyo, Japan - **Fiscal Year Ending**: March 31, 2026 - **Revenue Forecast**: Approximately 2.1 trillion JPY, an increase of 11% from the previous fiscal year [3] - **Core Operating Profit Forecast**: 350 billion JPY, reflecting a growth of 12% from the previous fiscal year [3] - **Revenue Distribution**: Approximately 70% generated outside Japan, particularly in the United States [3] Key Products and Technologies - **Main Growth Drivers**: HER2-directed ADC Enhertu and Trop2-directed ADC Dataway [3] - **DXd ADC Technology**: Proprietary technology platform with two launched products, Enhertu and Dataway, approved in multiple indications [4] - **Clinical Development**: Seven different ADC assets in clinical development, with promising outcomes in various cancers [4] - **Breakthrough Therapy Designation**: Five DXd ADCs received BTD from FDA, with Enhertu's DESTINY-Breast05 study being the 14th to receive this designation [4] Market Performance - **Global Net Sales (Q2 FY 2025)**: 160 billion JPY, growing 24% year-over-year [6] - **Enhertu Impact**: Over 200,000 patients treated across 85 countries, with significant market share leadership in various cancer indications [6][5] - **Dataway Sales**: Exceeded 10 billion JPY in Q2, with U.S. revenue growing 113% and Japan's revenue growing 59% compared to the previous quarter [8] Clinical Insights - **Enhertu in HER2-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer**: Reduced risk of disease progression or death by 44% compared to standard treatments, with over 40 months of progression-free survival [7] - **Dataway in HR-positive, HER2-negative Metastatic Breast Cancer**: Early experiences reported positively by oncologists, with expectations for triple-negative breast cancer indication [9][10] Future Growth and Strategy - **New Indications**: Anticipated growth from Enhertu and Dataway in 2026, with multiple pivotal trials expected to read out over the next few years [10][11] - **Investment in R&D**: Continued investment in clinical trials and establishing in-house capabilities for clinical development [19][24] - **Shareholder Returns**: Targeting a dividend on equity of 8% or more, with plans for consecutive annual dividend increases [15] Manufacturing and Development - **Global Manufacturing Sites**: 13 sites globally, with ongoing investments in manufacturing capabilities in Germany, China, and the U.S. [14][29] - **Platform Strategy**: Focus on developing multiple ADC technologies, including modified PBD ADC and STING agonist ADC technologies [12][27] Conclusion - **Commitment to Oncology**: Transition from a cardiovascular company to a global oncology leader, with a strong pipeline and innovative ADC technologies [17][19] - **Sustainable Growth**: Aiming for sustainable growth beyond 2030 through continuous innovation and enhanced shareholder returns [20]

Core Insights - Akari Therapeutics is progressing towards becoming a clinical-stage oncology company in 2026, with significant milestones achieved in 2025 [3][4] - The company is developing a novel payload, PH1, for its antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which has shown promising preclinical efficacy and safety [4][6] - Akari's lead candidate, AKTX-101, targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells and has demonstrated significant activity and prolonged survival in preclinical studies [6] Company Developments - In 2025, Akari established a strategic manufacturing partnership with WuXi Biologics to support clinical readiness [4] - The company plans to initiate its First-in-Human clinical trial for AKTX-101 by late 2026 or early 2027 [6] - Akari is also advancing another ADC candidate, AKTX-102, targeting a novel antigen relevant in gastrointestinal and lung cancers [6] Scientific Innovations - The PH1 payload is designed to disrupt RNA splicing within cancer cells, leading to cancer cell death while activating the immune system [6] - AKTX-101 has the potential for synergy with checkpoint inhibitors, showing prolonged survival both as a single agent and in combination therapies [6] - The PH1 payload has demonstrated activity against cancer cells with key oncogenic drivers such as KRAS, BRAF, and ARV7 [6]

Core Insights - ADC Therapeutics reported preliminary unaudited net product revenue of approximately $22 million for Q4 2025 and $73 million for the full year 2025, showing growth from $69.3 million in 2024 [1][3] - The company ended 2025 with cash and cash equivalents of approximately $261 million, providing a cash runway expected to last at least until 2028 [1][3] - Anticipated near-term catalysts include complete enrollment in the LOTIS-7 trial in the first half of 2026 and topline data from the LOTIS-5 Phase 3 trial in Q2 2026 [1][5] Financial Performance - ZYNLONTA net product revenue for 2025 is expected to be approximately $73 million, an increase from $69.3 million in 2024 [3] - Q4 2025 net product revenue is projected to be around $22 million, compared to $16.4 million in Q4 2024, reflecting variability in customer ordering [3] - The underlying demand for ZYNLONTA in the current 3L/3L+ DLBCL indication remained stable year-over-year [3] Clinical Developments - Updated data from the LOTIS-7 trial showed an 89.8% best overall response rate and a 77.6% complete response rate among 49 efficacy evaluable patients [4] - Enrollment in the LOTIS-7 trial is ongoing, with complete enrollment of approximately 100 patients expected in the first half of 2026 [4] - LOTIS-5 topline results are anticipated in Q2 2026, with full results expected by the end of 2026 [5] Regulatory and Strategic Outlook - Assuming positive results from ongoing trials, the company anticipates potential compendia inclusion for LOTIS-5 and LOTIS-7 in the first half of 2027, followed by regulatory approvals [2][5] - Investigator-initiated trials of ZYNLONTA in indolent lymphomas are ongoing, with promising initial data expected to be published by the end of 2026 [6] - The company has completed IND-enabling activities for a PSMA-targeting ADC and is exploring partnership opportunities [7][8]

Company Overview - Akari Therapeutics is an oncology biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with a unique payload, PH1, which targets RNA splicing [3] - The company's lead candidate, AKTX-101, targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells and utilizes a proprietary linker to deliver the PH1 payload directly into tumors with minimal off-target effects [3] - AKTX-101 has shown significant activity and prolonged survival in preclinical studies compared to traditional ADCs, and it has the potential to be synergistic with checkpoint inhibitors [3] Strategic Priorities - Akari Therapeutics aims to initiate IND enabling studies for AKTX-101, with a goal of starting its First-In-Human trial by late 2026 or early 2027 [3] - The company is also advancing AKTX-102, an ADC targeting a novel antigen relevant in gastrointestinal and lung cancers [3] Upcoming Presentation - Abizer Gaslightwala, President and CEO of Akari Therapeutics, will present at the 2026 Biotech Showcase on January 13, 2026, at 9:30 AM PST [1][2] - The presentation will cover an overview of Akari's ADC platform, strategic priorities, and key milestones for 2026 [1]