Akari Therapeutics And Whitehawk Therapeutics Partner To Advance Next-Generation ADC Cancer Treatments

Akari Therapeutics Plc, an oncology biotechnology company focused on developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) using novel RNA splicing modulator payloads, has announced a strategic research collaboration with Whitehawk Therapeutics, a clinical-stage oncology company specializing in advanced ADC technologies. The partnership aims to evaluate Akari's proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload technology alongside Whitehawk's topoisomerase I inhibitor (TOP1i) ADC platform through a series of focused preclinical studies. The goal is to determine whether combining these two technologies can improve the effectiveness of future cancer treatments.

Under the agreement, Akari will lead the design, execution, and evaluation of all research activities. The initial phase of the collaboration will include several preclinical workstreams designed to assess the compatibility of the two payload technologies and identify any potential synergistic effects. The data generated from these studies will help both companies make informed decisions about future development and determine whether there is an opportunity to expand the collaboration into broader research and clinical programs.

Abizer Gaslightwala, President and Chief Executive Officer of Akari Therapeutics, said the collaboration represents an important step in demonstrating the broader potential of the company's PH1 payload technology. He explained that the research will examine how PH1 can be combined with existing classes of ADC payloads to drive innovation in cancer treatment. He also noted that Whitehawk's expertise in evaluating advanced ADC technologies makes it a strong research partner, and the planned studies are expected to further validate PH1's unique mechanism while supporting the development of a potentially first-in-class dual-payload ADC platform for treating cancer.

Dave Lennon, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Whitehawk Therapeutics, said the company sees dual-payload strategies as a promising opportunity to expand the therapeutic potential of its ADC platform beyond its current pipeline. According to him, collaborating with Akari will help determine whether combining these two differentiated mechanisms can create more effective cancer therapies and support future development opportunities.

The collaboration is expected to begin immediately, with both companies planning to share interim data updates as the preclinical studies progress. Akari and Whitehawk will jointly review the research findings to evaluate the performance of the combined technologies and decide whether the results justify advancing into broader development discussions.

By bringing together Akari's RNA splicing modulator payload technology and Whitehawk's established ADC platform, the collaboration aims to advance next-generation antibody drug conjugates with enhanced anti-cancer potential. If successful, the research could contribute to the development of innovative dual-payload ADC therapies that offer new treatment options for patients with cancer while strengthening both companies' oncology development pipelines.