Akari Therapeutics Appoints Biotech Finance Leader, Kameel D. Farag as Interim Chief Financial Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Akari Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AKTX) announced on November 18, 2025 the appointment of Kameel D. Farag as Interim Chief Financial Officer; he joined Akari last month.

Mr. Farag brings >20 years of biotech finance and operations experience, including $170M+ capital raised across his career, securing $150M+ in financing at Aspen Neuroscience, supporting $1B+ revenue growth at Ionis, and leading international finance roles at Amgen. The company said his experience in corporate finance, M&A, and operational build-outs will support acceleration of Akari’s ADC platform and advancement of its lead asset toward the clinic.

Positive

• Career capital raised >$170M across roles
• Secured >$150M financing while at Aspen
• Supported organizations reaching >$1B revenue at Ionis
• Operational scale: tripled headcount at Aspen

Negative

• Appointment is interim, leaving long-term CFO visibility unclear
• Joined Akari only last month, indicating limited time in role so far

More than 20 years of financial and operational leadership in biopharma, including $170M+ in capital raised, global commercialization experience, and a proven track record scaling companies from preclinical to clinical milestones

TAMPA and LONDON, Nov. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), an oncology biotechnology company developing novel payloads for antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), today announced the appointment of Kameel D. Farag as its Interim Chief Financial Officer who joined Akari last month. Mr. Farag is a proven biotech and global finance executive with a track record spanning over two decades of scaling innovative biotech companies through transformational growth.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kameel to Akari, who has hit the ground running, at a pivotal time in our company’s growth,” said Abizer Gaslightwala, President and Chief Executive Officer of Akari Therapeutics. “His deep experience across corporate finance, M&A, and operational build-outs will be instrumental as we accelerate development of our novel ADC platform and advance our lead asset toward the clinic.”

Mr. Farag added, “Akari is at the forefront of developing a new class of ADCs designed to disrupt cancer cell survival through RNA splicing modulation. I’m excited to join this talented team and apply my experience to help position Akari for its next phase of growth and value creation.”

Mr. Farag joins Akari after having most recently served as Chief Financial Officer and head of business operations at Aspen Neuroscience, where he oversaw tripling the company’s headcount, secured over $150 million in financing, built manufacturing infrastructure, and prepared the company for clinical data and a potential future public offering. Prior to his time at Aspen, Mr. Farag served as SVP Finance at Ionis Pharmaceuticals. As a member of the senior leadership team, he was instrumental in supporting the company's revenue and profitability growth by building out the finance team, systems and processes to support $1B+ in revenue, multiple marketed products, and a growing wholly-owned pipeline. Earlier in his career, Mr. Farag was with Amgen for more than 16 years, where he held positions of increased leadership, including heading finance for international regions where he focused on driving growth in emerging markets while growing profitability in established markets.

Mr. Farag earned his bachelor's degree in Business & Economics at University of California, Santa Barbara.

About Akari Therapeutics

Akari Therapeutics is an oncology biotechnology company developing next-generation spliceosome payload antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). Utilizing its innovative ADC discovery platform, the Company has the ability to generate ADC candidates and optimize them based on the desired application to any target of interest. Unlike current ADCs that use tubulin inhibitors and DNA damaging agents as their payloads, PH1 is a novel payload that is a spliceosome modulator designed to disrupt RNA splicing within cancer cells. This splicing modulation has been shown in preclinical animal models to induce cancer cell death while activating immune cells to drive robust and durable activity. In preclinical studies, AKTX-101 has shown to have significant activity and prolonged survival, relative to ADCs with traditional payloads. Additionally, AKTX-101 has the potential to be synergistic with checkpoint inhibitors and has demonstrated prolonged survival as both a single agent and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, as compared to appropriate controls. The Company is generating validating data on its novel payload PH1 to continue advancing its lead asset, as well as other undisclosed targets with this novel payload.

For more information about the Company, please visit www.akaritx.com and connect on X and LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release includes express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, about the Company that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future performance of the Company. Actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Words such as “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “future,” “opportunity” “will likely result,” “target,” variations of such words, and similar expressions or negatives of these words are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding the ability of the Company to advance its product candidates for the treatment of cancer and any other diseases, and ultimately bring therapies to patients. These statements are based on the Company’s current plans, estimates and projections. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. A number of important factors, including those described in this communication, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect future results and may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include, without limitation: the Company’s need for additional capital; the potential impact of unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, costs, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition and losses on the future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the business; risks related to global as well as local political and economic conditions, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; potential delays or failures related to research and/or development of the Company’s programs or product candidates; risks related to any loss of the Company’s patents or other intellectual property rights; any interruptions of the supply chain for raw materials or manufacturing for the Company’s product candidates, including as a result of potential tariffs; the nature, timing, cost and possible success and therapeutic applications of product candidates being developed by the Company and/or its collaborators or licensees; the extent to which the results from the research and development programs conducted by the Company, and/or its collaborators or licensees may be replicated in other studies and/or lead to advancement of product candidates to clinical trials, therapeutic applications, or regulatory approval; uncertainty of the utilization, market acceptance, and commercial success of the Company’s product candidates; risks related to competition for the Company’s product candidates; and the Company’s ability to successfully develop or commercialize its product candidates. While the foregoing list of factors presented here is considered representative, no list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no, and hereby disclaims any, obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact

JTC Team, LLC
Jenene Thomas
908-824-0775
AKTX@jtcir.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5852f98c-957f-4b32-9046-a609f3d693de

FAQ

Who is Akari Therapeutics' interim CFO as of November 18, 2025 (AKTX)?

Kameel D. Farag was appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer on November 18, 2025 and joined the company last month.

What finance experience does Akari (AKTX) cite for Kameel Farag?

The company notes Farag has >20 years in biotech finance, including raising $170M+ in capital and securing $150M+ at Aspen.

How might AKTX benefit from Kameel Farag’s appointment?

Akari expects to use his experience in corporate finance, M&A, and operational build-outs to accelerate its ADC platform and advance its lead asset toward the clinic.

Does the press release say when Kameel Farag joined Akari (AKTX)?

Yes; the release states Farag joined Akari last month ahead of his November 18, 2025 appointment.

What prior companies are listed on Kameel Farag’s background in the AKTX announcement?

The release cites his recent role as CFO at Aspen Neuroscience, a prior SVP Finance role at Ionis, and 16+ years at Amgen.

Is Kameel Farag a permanent CFO for Akari (AKTX)?

He was appointed as Interim Chief Financial Officer, per the announcement.