TAMPA – October 27, 2026 -- Akari Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AKTX) plans to begin Phase 1 clinical development of its lead antibody drug conjugate, AKTX-101, in mid-2027, with the compound now moving through IND-enabling toxicology and safety studies and large-scale GMP manufacturing.
CEO Abizer Gaslightwala laid out the strategy in a new CEO Corner segment. He argues that payload differentiation will matter more as ADCs move into front-line therapy and patients develop resistance to current payload classes, leaving few follow-on options.
Akari cites clinical data against sequencing ADCs with the same payload class
Gaslightwala pointed to data presented at major medical conferences indicating that sequential ADC treatment using the same payload class does not benefit patients after relapse. Akari says its PH1 payload addresses this gap. PH1 is a spliceosome modulator designed to disrupt RNA splicing in cancer cells, unlike the microtubule inhibitors and DNA-damaging agents used in current ADCs.
Novartis-Myricx and Genentech-DualityBio deals cited as validation
The CEO cited Novartis's agreement to acquire Myricx Bio and Genentech's collaboration with DualityBio as evidence of Big Pharma interest in next-generation payloads. He also reported significant interest in PH1 at partnering and industry conferences in the US and China.
"Our focus now is execution," Gaslightwala said.
AKTX-101 targets Trop2, while AKTX-102 targets CEACAM5
AKTX-101 targets the Trop2 receptor with a proprietary linker. In preclinical studies, Akari says, it prolonged survival relative to ADCs with traditional payloads, both as a single agent and combined with checkpoint inhibitors. A second candidate, AKTX-102, targets CEACAM5.
Akari is also in discussions with potential strategic partners on PH1 and its wider payload platform. Gaslightwala named three possible value paths: AKTX-101 itself, licensing of the payload technology, and dual-payload concepts built on PH1.
The company lists its need for additional capital among the risks to its plans, alongside possible development delays and supply chain interruptions, including from tariffs.