Whitehawk Therapeutics Presents Real-World Analysis Confirming PTK7 as a Broadly Expressed, Clinically Relevant Target Across Solid Tumors at AACR-NCI-EORTC

Rhea-AI Summary

Whitehawk Therapeutics (Nasdaq: WHWK) presented a large real-world RNA analysis of PTK7 at AACR‑NCI‑EORTC on Oct 24, 2025. The study evaluated >157,000 tumor samples and found PTK7 expressed in ~70% of solid tumors, ranking PTK7 as the third most highly expressed ADC target after HER2 and HER3. Highest median PTK7 mRNA levels were reported in endometrial (7.4), ovarian (7.2), head and neck (7.1), NSCLC (6.9) and breast (6.7).

Expression was stable across histologic subtypes, disease stage and metastatic status. Whitehawk plans an IND filing for HWK‑007 (a PTK7‑directed ADC with a TOPO1 payload) by year‑end, targeting initial trials in NSCLC, ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Positive

• PTK7 expression in ~70% of solid tumors
• Analysis of >157,000 tumor samples
• Third most highly expressed ADC target after HER2 and HER3
• IND planned by year‑end for HWK‑007 with initial NSCLC/ovarian/endometrial focus

Negative

• No approved PTK7‑directed ADCs currently

Insights

Translational oncology expert

Large-scale RNA profiling supports PTK7 as a widely expressed, stable pan-tumor ADC target.

PTK7 shows high prevalence across solid tumors, reported at ~70% of samples and as the third most abundant marker after HER2 and HER3, which directly strengthens the biological rationale for a PTK7-directed ADC such as HWK-007. The analysis uses >157,000 tumor samples with nearly half metastatic, giving breadth to the claim of widespread expression across histologies including lung, ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Key dependencies and risks include reliance on RNA mRNA expression as a proxy for protein surface availability and the absence of any reported orthogonal protein-level validation in the release; surface protein, internalization rate and tumor‑to‑normal expression remain critical for ADC efficacy and safety. Watch for disclosed protein IHC or flow cytometry confirmation and any companion diagnostic plans within the next 6–12 months; the planned IND submission by 2025 is a proximate milestone to monitor.

Clinical development strategist

Findings materially support clinical development planning and the upcoming IND for HWK-007.

The reported stability of PTK7 expression across disease stage and metastatic samples suggests a broad potential enrollment pool and simplifies patient selection strategy if protein expression mirrors RNA. Whitehawk intends to file an IND by year‑end and to initiate initial clinical evaluation in NSCLC, ovarian and endometrial cancers, aligning the translational signal with a clear regulatory milestone.

Risks include uncertainty whether RNA prevalence translates to actionable protein expression thresholds and whether safety/tolerability of the TOPO1 payload and linker will permit the intended dosing; early clinical readouts and the IND filing in 2025 are the next concrete events to watch over a 3–12 month horizon for evidence that RNA findings convert to a viable, biomarker‑guided clinical program.

PTK7 is the third most highly expressed tumor marker among clinically validated and emerging ADC targets, present in ~70% of tumors

PTK7 expression is stable across histologic subtype, disease stage and metastatic status in high-potential indications, including lung, ovarian and endometrial cancers

Findings support potential of PTK7 as a pan-tumor target, reinforcing Whitehawk's development of PTK7-directed ADC HWK-007

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Oct. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Whitehawk Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: WHWK), an oncology therapeutics company applying advanced technologies to established tumor biology to efficiently deliver improved antibody drug conjugate (ADC) cancer treatments, today presented data from a real-world analysis of Protein Tyrosine Kinase 7 (PTK7) at the 2025 AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. As part of a collaboration between Whitehawk and Tempus AI, the analysis evaluated real-world data from the Tempus AI database and the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium to, for the first time, robustly characterize PTK7 expression.

PTK7 is an oncofetal transmembrane pseudokinase that drives early embryonic development, has restricted expression in adult tissues and frequent overexpression in a wide range of cancers. There are no approved PTK7-directed ADCs.

This large-scale RNA analysis of >157,000 tumor samples, nearly half from metastatic lesions, confirms PTK7 as one of the most broadly and highly expressed targets across solid tumors, reinforcing its potential as a clinically meaningful pan-tumor ADC target, and further support development of HWK-007, Whitehawk's PTK7-directed ADC candidate.

Key findings include:

• PTK7 is expressed in ~70% of solid tumors. 
• PTK7 is the third most highly expressed tumor marker among clinically validated and emerging ADC targets, after HER2 and HER3.
• Highest median PTK7 mRNA expression¹ observed in endometrial (7.4), ovarian (7.2), head and neck (7.1), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (6.9) and breast (6.7) tumors.
• Stable expression across disease stages and metastatic status, underscoring relevance in both early- and late-stage disease.
• Expression levels comparable to or exceeding clinically validated and emerging ADC targets:
  • Lung cancer: Comparable to HER2, HER3, Trop-2 and cMET.
  • Ovarian cancer: Comparable to HER2 and FRα; markedly higher than CDH6, B7-H4 and CLDN6.
  • Endometrial cancer: Comparable to Trop-2; markedly higher than FRα, B7-H4 and HER2.

"These results emphasize the translational potential of PTK7 as a broadly expressed and stable target across solid tumors," said Grace Dy, MD, Chief, Thoracic Oncology, Professor of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. "By demonstrating consistent expression across histologies, disease stages and sample types, this analysis builds on the foundational rationale for developing next-generation ADCs that have the potential to reach a wide range of patients."

Whitehawk is advancing HWK-007, a PTK7-targeting ADC that leverages an advanced ADC technology platform which consists of a highly stable yet cleavable linker that delivers a Topoisomerase I (TOPO1) inhibitor payload. The Company plans to submit an Investigational New Drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for HWK-007 by year-end, with initial clinical evaluation planned in NSCLC, ovarian and endometrial cancers.

"These findings reinforce PTK7's promise as one of the most compelling and underexplored ADC targets in oncology," said Dave Lennon, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Whitehawk Therapeutics. "As the third most abundant tumor marker across all cancer patients – present in approximately 70% of solid tumors – the opportunity for HWK-007 has never been clearer. We believe we are well positioned to develop a differentiated ADC that could have a meaningful impact for the nearly 750,000² patients in the US with PTK7-expressing cancers."

The analysis was conducted as part of a previously announced collaboration between Whitehawk and Tempus AI. The abstract is available as a freely available supplement in the AACR journal Molecular Cancer Therapeuticshere.

About Whitehawk Therapeutics
Whitehawk Therapeutics is an oncology therapeutics company applying advanced technologies to established tumor biology to efficiently deliver improved cancer treatments. Whitehawk's advanced three-asset ADC portfolio is engineered to overcome the limitations of first-generation predecessors to deliver a meaningful impact for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers. These assets are in-licensed from WuXi Biologics under an exclusive development and global commercialization agreement. More information on the Company is available at www.whitehawktx.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding the business of Whitehawk Therapeutics that are not a description of historical facts within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs and expectations and may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: the anticipated timing of the Company's development of its portfolio of ADC assets, including the expected timing to submit an Investigational New Drug application forHWK-007 by year-end; expectations regarding the beneficial characteristics, safety, efficacy, therapeutic effects of HWK-007 and the size of the potential PTK7 targeted market; and the sufficiency of the Company's existing capital resources and the expected timeframe to fund the Company's future operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, uncertainties associated with preclinical and clinical development of the ADC portfolio, including potential delays in the commencement, enrollment and completion of clinical trials; failure to demonstrate the efficacy of the ADC portfolio in preclinical and clinical studies; the risk that unforeseen adverse reactions or side effects may occur in the course of testing of the ADC assets; and risks related to the Company's estimates regarding future expenses, capital requirements and need for additional financing.

Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, including under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Whitehawk's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and elsewhere in Whitehawk's reports and other documents that Whitehawk has filed, or will file, with the SEC from time to time and available at www.sec.gov.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are current only as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable law, Whitehawk undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contact
IR@whitehawktx.com 

1 Among groups with sample sizes ≥4000. 2 2019 SEER Data

 

 

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SOURCE Whitehawk Therapeutics, Inc.

FAQ

What did Whitehawk (WHWK) report about PTK7 expression on October 24, 2025?

Whitehawk reported a real‑world RNA analysis of >157,000 tumor samples showing PTK7 expression in ~70% of solid tumors and stable expression across stages.

How does PTK7 rank versus other ADC targets according to Whitehawk's WHWK data?

PTK7 was identified as the third most highly expressed ADC target across samples, after HER2 and HER3.

What tumor types showed highest median PTK7 mRNA in Whitehawk's WHWK analysis?

Highest median PTK7 mRNA was reported in endometrial (7.4), ovarian (7.2), head and neck (7.1), NSCLC (6.9) and breast (6.7) tumors.

What is HWK‑007 and what is Whitehawk's (WHWK) clinical plan?

HWK‑007 is Whitehawk's PTK7‑targeting ADC with a TOPO1 payload; the company plans an IND submission by year‑end and initial evaluation in NSCLC, ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Did Whitehawk (WHWK) analyze metastatic tumor samples in the PTK7 study?

Yes; the real‑world analysis included nearly half of samples from metastatic lesions.

How large is the potential US patient population Whitehawk (WHWK) cited for PTK7‑expressing cancers?

Whitehawk cited approximately 750,000 patients in the US with PTK7‑expressing cancers.