TAMPA, Fla. and LONDON, March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), an oncology biotechnology company developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with novel RNA splice modulating payloads, today announced its abstract has been accepted for poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026, being held April 17–22, 2026. Details of the poster presentation are as follows: Title: Rationale for the development of a differentiated Trop2 ADC in so ...

Core Viewpoint - Akari Therapeutics has initiated GMP manufacturing activities for its lead ADC program, AKTX-101, in partnership with WuXi XDC, aiming to support clinical trials and advance cancer treatment options [1][2][4]. Group 1: Partnership and Manufacturing - Akari has selected WuXi XDC, a leading ADC contract development and manufacturing organization, for critical IND-enabling work to support clinical trials [2][4]. - The collaboration aims to leverage WuXi XDC's expertise in ADC development and manufacturing to produce high-quality GMP material for AKTX-101 [4][5]. Group 2: Product Development - AKTX-101 incorporates Akari's novel proprietary payload, PH1, which modulates RNA splicing and offers a differentiated approach to ADC design, potentially enhancing therapeutic impact [3][6]. - The manufacturing milestone is a significant step in advancing Akari's pipeline of differentiated ADC therapies, which aim to improve outcomes for cancer patients [5][6]. Group 3: Future Plans - The company plans to initiate a Phase 1 first-in-human clinical trial for AKTX-101 in approximately 12 months, pending regulatory clearance [4][5]. - Akari's innovative ADC design and payload technology, combined with WuXi's manufacturing capabilities, are expected to lay the groundwork for multiple ADC programs utilizing the PH1 payload [4][6].

Core Insights - Akari Therapeutics has appointed Kameel D. Farag as Interim Chief Financial Officer, bringing over 20 years of experience in biopharma and global finance [1][2][4] - The company is focused on developing novel antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) that utilize a unique spliceosome modulator payload, aiming to disrupt cancer cell survival [2][7] Company Overview - Akari Therapeutics is an oncology biotechnology company specializing in next-generation spliceosome payload ADCs, with a platform capable of generating and optimizing ADC candidates for various targets [7] - The lead asset, AKTX-101, has shown significant preclinical activity and prolonged survival compared to traditional ADCs, with potential synergy with checkpoint inhibitors [7] Leadership Background - Kameel D. Farag previously served as CFO at Aspen Neuroscience, where he tripled the company's headcount and secured over $150 million in financing [4] - Farag has also held senior finance roles at Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Amgen, contributing to substantial revenue growth and operational improvements [4]