Akari Therapeutics Releases CEO Corner Highlighting Strategic WhiteHawk Collaboration and the Expanding Opportunity for Dual-Payload ADC Innovation
Rhea-AI Summary
Akari Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AKTX) released a new CEO Corner in which President and CEO Abizer Gaslightwala discusses the company’s recently announced strategic research collaboration with WhiteHawk Therapeutics and its implications for antibody drug conjugate (ADC) innovation.
The discussion focuses on combining Akari’s proprietary PH1 spliceosome‑modulating payload with WhiteHawk’s differentiated TOP1 inhibitor ADC platform in a dual‑payload strategy intended to evaluate whether complementary mechanisms of action can broaden therapeutic activity and generate translational insights. According to Akari, this collaboration highlights the versatility and potential broad applicability of the PH1 platform. Mr. Gaslightwala also addresses rising industry interest in differentiated payload technologies, the role of scientifically driven partnerships in validating novel platforms, and Akari’s plan to advance AKTX‑101, its lead TROP2‑targeting ADC, toward planned Phase 1 clinical evaluation as part of a broader strategy to build a multi‑application PH1 payload franchise.
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Market reaction after strategic research partnership: AKTX +6.93%
Following this news, AKTX has gained 6.93%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. The stock is currently trading at $7.87.
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Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21 | strategic collaboration | Positive | -12.8% | WhiteHawk collaboration combined PH1 payload with a TOP1 inhibitor ADC platform. |
| Jul 07 | advisory appointment | Positive | +42.0% | Patricia LoRusso joined the Scientific Advisory Board to support AKTX-101 advancement. |
| Jun 29 | financing completion | Negative | -9.7% | Company completed a $5.5 million PIPE and reported approximately $8.3 million in Q2 proceeds. |
| Jun 04 | CEO Corner update | Positive | +5.7% | CEO Corner discussed ADC trends, PH1 technology, and AKTX-101 development plans. |
| May 28 | investor presentation | Positive | +38.5% | Investor segment highlighted AKTX-101, PH1 payload technology, and preclinical KRAS synergy. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent partnership and financing-related announcements were followed by declines, while management and CEO Corner updates were followed by gains.
Key Terms
antibody drug conjugates medical
dual-payload technical
spliceosome-modulating payload medical
TOP1 inhibitor medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Discussion explores how combining complementary payload technologies may unlock new therapeutic opportunities while reinforcing the versatility of Akari's proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload platform
Access the Akari CEO Corner here
TAMPA, Fla. and LONDON, Aug. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), an oncology biotechnology company developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with novel RNA splicing modulator payloads, today released a new CEO Corner segment featuring President and Chief Executive Officer Abizer Gaslightwala discussing the Company's recently announced strategic research collaboration with WhiteHawk Therapeutics and why the Company believes scientifically driven collaborations will play an increasingly important role in advancing the next generation of ADC innovation.
In the segment, Mr. Gaslightwala discusses how the ADC landscape continues to evolve beyond the development of individual payload technologies toward collaborative strategies designed to combine complementary mechanisms of action. He explains why Akari believes bringing together differentiated scientific approaches has the potential to accelerate innovation, generate meaningful translational insights and expand future therapeutic opportunities beyond what may be achieved through a single technology alone.
At the center of the discussion is Akari's recently announced strategic research collaboration with WhiteHawk Therapeutics, which combines Akari's proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload with WhiteHawk's differentiated TOP1 inhibitor ADC platform to evaluate a novel dual-payload strategy. Mr. Gaslightwala explains why the Company believes evaluating two potentially best-in-class payload technologies together represents an innovative scientific approach with the potential to broaden therapeutic activity while further demonstrating the versatility and broad applicability of Akari's PH1 platform.
Beyond the collaboration itself, the CEO Corner explores the growing pharmaceutical industry interest in differentiated payload technologies capable of addressing important unmet needs across oncology. Mr. Gaslightwala discusses how strategic collaborations can provide additional opportunities to expand scientific validation of novel payload platforms while creating new pathways for innovation through partnerships with organizations that share a common vision for advancing ADC science.
Looking ahead, Mr. Gaslightwala outlines Akari's continued focus on advancing AKTX-101, the Company's lead TROP2-targeting ADC, toward planned Phase 1 clinical evaluation while continuing to expand the scientific foundation supporting its proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload platform. He emphasizes that the Company's internal development programs and strategic collaborations represent complementary components of a broader strategy to establish PH1 as a differentiated payload platform with the potential to support multiple future therapeutic applications.
The CEO Corner segment is now available here.
About Akari Therapeutics
Akari Therapeutics is an oncology biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with a unique payload, PH1, which targets RNA splicing. 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 antigen target of interest. Akari’s lead candidate, AKTX-101, targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells with a proprietary linker, enabling it to deliver its novel PH1 payload directly into the tumor with minimal off-target effects. Unlike current ADCs that use microtubule 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 both the innate and adaptive immune systems to drive robust and durable activity. In preclinical studies, AKTX-101 has been 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. The PH1 payload has also been demonstrated to be very active against cancer cells with key oncogenic drivers such as KRAS, BRAF, ARV7, FGFR3 fusions, and others. The Company has initiated IND enabling studies for AKTX-101 with a goal of starting its First-In-Human trial by mid-2027. Akari is also developing AKTX-102, an ADC candidate targeting CEACAM5 (Carcinoembryonic Antigen-related Cell Adhesion Molecule-5), a well-validated tumor antigen broadly expressed across multiple solid tumors. AKTX-102 is designed to leverage Akari’s proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload and a novel antibody construct to enable differentiated tumor cell killing and immune activation.
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 the timing of commencement of a Phase I clinical trial. 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
