Kairos Pharma Ltd. (NYSE American: KAPA) announced it has signed a term sheet for a strategic asset acquisition from Celyn Therapeutics Inc., under which it would obtain worldwide rights to CL-273, a pre-IND, wild-type-sparing pan-EGFR inhibitor, and CL-741, a Phase 1-ready, oral type IIb c-MET kinase inhibitor targeting non-small cell lung cancer. The company said the proposed acquisition would expand its oncology pipeline with late-preclinical and Phase 1-ready candidates designed to address EGFR mutations and MET-driven resistance mechanisms in NSCLC, a multi-billion dollar market.
Kairos indicated that dual inhibition of EGFR and MET pathways could overcome compensatory signaling and extend progression-free survival, positioning the assets for potential monotherapy and combination development pending completion of the transaction. This strategic move represents a significant expansion of Kairos Pharma's therapeutic portfolio, which already includes ENV-105, an antibody targeting CD105 that is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for castrate-resistant prostate cancer and Phase 1 trials for non-small cell lung cancer.
The acquisition of these two clinical-stage assets addresses critical unmet medical needs in non-small cell lung cancer treatment. EGFR mutations are common drivers of NSCLC, while MET-driven resistance mechanisms often develop in response to existing therapies, limiting treatment effectiveness over time. By targeting both pathways simultaneously, Kairos aims to develop more durable treatment options that could significantly improve patient outcomes in this challenging disease area.
The company's approach utilizes structural biology to overcome drug resistance and immune suppression in cancer, a methodology that aligns with the scientific rationale behind both acquired assets. CL-273's wild-type-sparing design represents an advancement in EGFR inhibition, potentially reducing side effects associated with traditional EGFR inhibitors while maintaining efficacy against mutant forms. Meanwhile, CL-741's oral administration and Phase 1-ready status could accelerate development timelines once the acquisition is finalized.
For the oncology field, this transaction highlights the continued importance of combination approaches in cancer therapy, particularly for addressing resistance mechanisms that frequently develop during treatment. The potential to extend progression-free survival through dual pathway inhibition represents a meaningful advancement in NSCLC treatment strategies. Industry observers will be watching for completion of the acquisition and subsequent development progress, as successful clinical validation of this approach could influence treatment paradigms across multiple cancer types.
Investors and stakeholders can access additional information about Kairos Pharma through the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/KAPA. The broader biomedical community can follow developments in the biotechnology sector through specialized communications platforms like BioMedWire, which provides comprehensive coverage of the latest advancements in biomedical sciences and life sciences.
