Akari Therapeutics Expands ADC Pipeline with New Patent Filing

CEO discusses company's strategic focus on novel RNA-splicing payloads for cancer treatment

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Akari Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), announced that CEO Abizer Gaslightwala participated in a Virtual Investor 'What This Means' interview. During the interview, Gaslightwala discussed the company's recent patent filing for its second ADC pipeline candidate, AKTX-102, which targets CEACAM5-expressing solid tumors. The discussion highlighted Akari's scalable PH1-powered ADC platform and its ability to generate multiple differentiated therapeutic programs.

Why it matters

Akari's expanding ADC pipeline and growing patent estate underscore the company's innovative approach to cancer treatment. By leveraging its unique PH1 payload, which targets RNA splicing, Akari aims to develop ADCs that can deliver potent and selective cancer cell killing while activating the immune system for a robust and durable response.

The details

Akari's lead ADC candidate, AKTX-101, targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells and utilizes a proprietary linker to deliver the novel PH1 payload directly into the tumor. Unlike traditional ADCs that use tubulin inhibitors or DNA-damaging agents, PH1 is a spliceosome modulator designed to disrupt RNA splicing within cancer cells, leading to cell death and immune system activation. In preclinical studies, AKTX-101 has shown significant activity and prolonged survival compared to ADCs with traditional payloads. The company has initiated IND-enabling studies for AKTX-101 and is also advancing AKTX-102, a new ADC targeting a novel antigen highly relevant in GI and lung cancers.

  • Akari has initiated IND-enabling studies for AKTX-101 with a goal of starting its First-In-Human trial by late 2026/early 2027.
  • Akari recently announced the patent filing for its second ADC pipeline candidate, AKTX-102.

The players

Akari Therapeutics

An oncology biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with a unique payload, PH1, which targets RNA splicing.

Abizer Gaslightwala

The CEO of Akari Therapeutics who participated in the Virtual Investor 'What This Means' interview.

AKTX-101

Akari's lead ADC candidate that targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells and utilizes a proprietary linker to deliver the novel PH1 payload.

AKTX-102

Akari's second ADC pipeline candidate that targets CEACAM5-expressing solid tumors.

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What they’re saying

“This milestone underscores the scalability of Akari's PH1-powered ADC platform and its ability to generate multiple differentiated therapeutic programs.”

— Abizer Gaslightwala, CEO of Akari Therapeutics (Virtual Investor 'What This Means' interview)

What’s next

Akari has initiated IND-enabling studies for AKTX-101 with a goal of starting its First-In-Human trial by late 2026/early 2027.

The takeaway

Akari's expanding ADC pipeline and growing patent estate demonstrate the company's innovative approach to cancer treatment, leveraging its unique PH1 payload to develop potent and selective ADCs that can activate the immune system for a robust and durable response.