Drug Resistance

WASHINGTON – October 29, 2026 -- LUNGevity Foundation and the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research (RTFCCR) have awarded $620,000 to an early-phase clinical trial at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The trial will test whether pairing two FDA-approved drugs can stop resistance to osimertinib in EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Resistance to EGFR inhibitors affects a sizable share of NSCLC patients

About 15% of NSCLC patients in the US and 35% in East Asia have tumors with an EGFR gene mutation that drives cancer growth. Multiple generations of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) stop growth in these tumors. Over time, however, tumors develop resistance and resume growing. The cause is drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells, which adapt and evolve to evade treatment.

WASHINGTON – October 29, 2026 -- LUNGevity Foundation and patient advocacy group RETpositive have awarded a combined $340,000 to two research projects targeting drug resistance in RET-positive cancers, where tumors eventually outlast the two FDA-approved RET tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

RET fusions drive 1% to 2% of non-small cell lung cancers

RET fusions occur when part of the RET gene joins with another gene. Beyond lung cancer, RET alterations appear in thyroid, colon and breast cancers. Both approved TKIs can be effective, but tumors evolve resistance and resume growth, which the organizations name as the critical priority for patients.

TAMPA – – October 27, 2026 -- Akari Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AKTX) reported that its TROP2-targeted ADC AKTX-101 slowed tumor growth in urothelial cancer models with limited response to Padcev or acquired resistance to Trodelvy. The company is targeting a Phase 1 start in mid-2027.

AKTX-101 inhibits tumor growth where Padcev shows limited response

In the UM-UC-14 advanced urothelial carcinoma model, which represents metastatic urothelial cancer, AKTX-101 achieved statistically significant tumor growth inhibition versus vehicle. Padcev (enfortumab vedotin), approved as first-line therapy in this setting, had limited responsiveness on the tumor in the same model, according to Akari.

Trodelvy-resistant tumors slow again after switch to PH1 payload

Tumors first treated with Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) developed resistance and resumed growth. When they were switched to AKTX-101, growth slowed again.