Akari Therapeutics Participates in Virtual Investor 'What This Means' Interview Discussing Strategic Partnership with WuXi XDC

Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX) said its CEO Abizer Gaslightwala participated in a Virtual Investor “What This Means” interview to discuss the company’s recently announced strategic partnership with WuXi XDC and what it means for Akari’s ADC platform validation and development pace.

Partnership with WuXi XDC seen as platform validation

Gaslightwala said the strategic partnership with WuXi XDC, a global leader in ADC development and manufacturing, represents an important milestone for Akari and further validates its novel PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload platform.

He said the relationship is intended to go beyond a traditional contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) engagement by supporting Akari’s ability to advance its ADC programs and strengthen execution across development.

Expected timeline impact for lead program

The interview also addressed how the partnership is expected to accelerate the development timeline for Akari’s lead program, AKTX-101, with an anticipated IND filing in late 2026.

Akari said the collaboration is expected to enhance development capabilities, reduce execution risk, and establish a clearer path toward first-in-human clinical studies.

Context from the ADC market

Gaslightwala discussed broader developments in the ADC market, including increasing deal activity and recent large-scale transactions, and said the partnership positions the company within this evolving landscape.

The segment also touched on Akari’s long-term development strategy and potential partnering opportunities as it continues to advance its platform.

Company overview and program focus

Akari Therapeutics is an oncology biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) using a payload called PH1, which targets RNA splicing. The company said its platform is designed to generate ADC candidates and optimize them for desired antigen targets.

AKTX-101

Akari’s lead candidate, AKTX-101, targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells using a proprietary linker intended to deliver the PH1 payload into tumors with minimal off-target effects. The company said PH1 is designed to modulate spliceosome activity to disrupt RNA splicing in cancer cells.

Akari said preclinical animal model results showed cancer cell death alongside activation of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, and that AKTX-101 demonstrated significant activity and prolonged survival relative to ADCs using traditional payloads. The company also said AKTX-101 has potential synergy with checkpoint inhibitors and has shown prolonged survival as a single agent and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.

Akari said it has initiated IND-enabling studies for AKTX-101 with a goal of starting a first-in-human trial by late 2026/early 2027.

AKTX-102

Akari is also developing AKTX-102, an ADC candidate targeting CEACAM5 (Carcinoembryonic Antigen-related Cell Adhesion Molecule-5). The company said CEACAM5 is a well-validated tumor antigen broadly expressed across multiple solid tumors, and that AKTX-102 is designed to leverage the PH1 payload and a novel antibody construct to support differentiated tumor cell killing and immune activation.