Discussion explores how combining complementary payload technologies may unlock new therapeutic opportunities while reinforcing the versatility of Akari&#39;s proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload platform 

AKTX

Akari Therapeutics Releases CEO Corner Highlighting Strategic WhiteHawk Collaboration and the Expanding Opportunity for Dual-Payload ADC Innovation

Akari aligns with WhiteHawk on dual-payload ADCs to advance AKTX pipeline

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>Discussion explores how combining complementary payload technologies may unlock new therapeutic opportunities while reinforcing the versatility of Akari&amp;#39;s proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload platform</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Akari Therapeutics’ CEO Corner outlines a strategic collaboration with WhiteHawk Therapeutics to evaluate a dual-payload ADC approach combining PH1 with WhiteHawk’s TOP1 inhibitor platform. The goal is to broaden therapeutic activity and validate PH1’s versatility beyond AKTX-101, with IND-enabling work continuing to target a mid-2027 first-in-human trial. This partnership could provide near-term catalysts and potential pipeline expansion opportunities.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Akari highlights WhiteHawk collaboration; dual-payload ADC strategy discussed in CEO Corner. Expand PH1 utility.</li><li>Strategic collaboration centers on AKTX-101 lead program; IND timing aimed mid-2027.</li><li>PH1 payload active against KRAS, BRAF, FGFR3 drivers; dual-payload approach aims broader activity.</li><li>Company targets First-In-Human for AKTX-101 by mid-2027; AKTX-102 also in pipeline.</li><li>Collaboration emphasizes PH1 versatility and potential synergies with other payload platforms.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Akari Therapeutics, plc (AKTX)</strong>: Strategic focus on PH1 payload and AKTX-101; collaboration could accelerate development and value.</li><li><strong>WhiteHawk Therapeutics (N/A)</strong>: Private partner; collaboration aims to pair PH1 with TOP1 inhibitor ADC platform to broaden payload strategy.</li><li><strong>AKTX-101 (lead program) (AKTX)</strong>: Lead Trop2-targeting ADC; IND-enabling work progressing toward mid-2027 FIH.</li><li><strong>AKTX-102 (AKTX)</strong>: CEACAM5-targeting ADC in development; potential downstream expansion from PH1 platform.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>Category: Corporate Developments / Industry News. The piece centers on strategic collaboration and pipeline advancement, which are direct drivers of corporate value and potential future partnerships.</p>
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  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>WhiteHawk collaboration may unlock new value drivers for AKTX.</li><li>IND-enabling timing for AKTX-101 targets mid-2027; potential milestones.</li><li>Dual-payload strategy could broaden addressable cancers and partnerships.</li><li>PH1 activity against KRAS/BRAF/FGFR3 drivers may attract collaboration interest.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Date: Aug 4, 2026; press release via Globe Newswire.</li><li>Lead candidate AKTX-101 targets Trop2; IND enabling ongoing.</li><li>Announcement includes WhiteHawk collaboration to evaluate dual-payload strategy.</li><li>Mid-2027: First-In-Human trial targeted for AKTX-101.</li><li>AKTX-102 targets CEACAM5; development ongoing.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>AKTX could rally on collaboration news; monitor AKTX-101 progress toward mid-2027 FIH.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><p align="center"><em>Discussion explores how combining complementary payload technologies may unlock new therapeutic opportunities while reinforcing the versatility of Akari&#39;s proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload platform</em></p>  <p align="center"><em>Access the Akari CEO Corner </em><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=n2DxsJXmBTz51VWCaVWfl5u_tos-RqdsdBDv4pyZK3Qz1j5GO400o8Zr8px0l3jeROPtiTQbVeC32lIanx5n_A==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><em>here</em></a></p>  <p align="justify">TAMPA, Fla. and LONDON, Aug.  04, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AKTX">AKTX</a>), 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&#39;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.</p>  <p align="justify">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.</p>  <p align="justify">At the center of the discussion is Akari&#39;s recently announced strategic research collaboration with WhiteHawk Therapeutics, which combines Akari&#39;s proprietary PH1 spliceosome-modulating payload with WhiteHawk&#39;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&#39;s PH1 platform.</p>  <p align="justify">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.</p>  <p align="justify">Looking ahead, Mr. Gaslightwala outlines Akari&#39;s continued focus on advancing AKTX-101, the Company&#39;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&#39;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.</p>  <p align="justify">The CEO Corner segment is now available <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=n2DxsJXmBTz51VWCaVWfl2HCHSZSPpASUoyC9oJ_WXgNlFk0uzvm7XikbQX_iMq4QiRVu8TVD1tonvt5g_EQDg==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>About Akari Therapeutics </strong></p>  <p align="justify">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.</p>  <p align="justify">For more information about the Company, please visit <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=n5Xq7AEy2KIl8iR6cIi06jmVBKDB5xaGM2v__NbFYlw-z6werMU4MIUaSosGhhzj5FbSVu5GJ1FohMqlze4J6JhrEIW3-te4kxHanzFrcZI=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.akaritx.com</a> and connect on <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=tWXDjQ1J8ISjwHy0Ka9EiZ3VUcwd-jg5VpT77spCO5NRAvAD4o8nI30wYu8MvLWy_kDcFYRJACR5jod23TpCkw==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">X</a> and <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=uE7On-X0UpM5k2sXzlxZWa4f8kMVeFPhIwcFWFEj1D2v898FY9Uqp9AXxM-0lMLiB_5pdptIjCBiVLkrotMRY3pFIDvnMUWPZccxWQs_w3k=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements</strong></p>  <p align="justify">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.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>Investor Relations Contact </strong></p>  <p align="justify">JTC Team, LLC <br></br>Jenene Thomas <br></br>908-824-0775 <br></br><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=cCHNwjieRSD7Zi0dH36bCxQe7SB5XowmE8vGFNktWbipdt18YfQ-nCttncqnE-3eadmxDjCAosh7iEiggbJ0OQ==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u>AKTX@jtcir.com</u></a>   </p> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTgwMjkzMCM3NzU2OTQ3IzIwMjAyNjM="></img> <br></br><img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/YWYwYzA1YzItM2YxYy00MTQwLTkzNGMtNDVlMDAzODljZmIzLTEwMzE4MzUtMjAyNi0wOC0wNC1lbg==/tiny/Akari-Therapeutics-Plc.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img><p><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d978f50-07a9-40a3-be69-45f51ccd94d9"><img src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/8d978f50-07a9-40a3-be69-45f51ccd94d9/small/akari-logo-1-jpg.jpg" border="0" width="150" height="130" alt="Primary Logo"></img></a></p>

Akari Therapeutics’ CEO Corner outlines a strategic collaboration with WhiteHawk Therapeutics to evaluate a dual-payload ADC approach combining PH1 with WhiteHawk’s TOP1 inhibitor platform. The goal is to broaden therapeutic activity and validate PH1’s versatility beyond AKTX-101, with IND-enabling work continuing to target a mid-2027 first-in-human trial. This partnership could provide near-term catalysts and potential pipeline expansion opportunities.

News insight

Akari Therapeutics Releases CEO Corner Highlighting Strategic WhiteHawk Collaboration and the Expanding Opportunity for Dual-Payload ADC Innovation

AI summary

Sentiment rationale

Key facts

Corporate Developments