Kairos Pharma Ltd. (NYSE American: KAPA) provided a mid-year 2026 update highlighting plans to expand its oncology pipeline through the proposed acquisition of worldwide rights to CL-741, a Phase 1-ready oral c-MET kinase inhibitor from Celyn Therapeutics targeting EGFR-mutated lung cancer and other cancers. The company said CL-741 would complement its existing portfolio, which includes ENV-105, KROS-201, KROS-102 and ENV-205.
Looking ahead, Kairos expects to initiate a Phase 1 study of CL-741, advance ongoing clinical trials of ENV-105 in prostate cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, present data at scientific meetings and pursue pharmaceutical collaborations. The company also noted it has secured more than $8 million in non-dilutive funding to support development of its preclinical and clinical programs.
Kairos Pharma’s lead candidate, ENV-105, is an antibody that targets CD105—a protein identified as a key driver of resistance and disease relapse in response to standard therapy. ENV-105 aims to reverse drug resistance by targeting CD105 and restore the effectiveness of standard therapies across multiple cancer types. Currently, ENV-105 is in a Phase 2 clinical trial for castrate-resistant prostate cancer and a Phase 1 trial for non-small cell lung cancer aimed at addressing significant unmet medical needs.
The acquisition of CL-741 represents a strategic move to broaden Kairos Pharma’s pipeline into targeted therapies for lung cancer, a major area of unmet medical need. The oral administration of CL-741 could offer convenience over intravenous therapies, potentially improving patient compliance.
For investors, the more than $8 million in non-dilutive funding is significant as it reduces reliance on equity financing, which can dilute shareholder value. This funding supports the progression of preclinical and clinical programs without immediate pressure to raise additional capital.
The company’s focus on overcoming drug resistance and immune suppression in cancer positions it in a competitive but critical area of oncology research. By targeting CD105 with ENV-105, Kairos aims to address resistance mechanisms that limit the effectiveness of standard therapies. The addition of CL-741 further diversifies its approach, targeting the c-MET pathway implicated in various cancers.
Kairos Pharma is based in Los Angeles, California, and is listed on the NYSE American under the ticker KAPA. As of the date of this press release, ENV-105 has not been approved as safe or effective by the United States Food and Drug Administration or any other comparable foreign regulator.
To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/WuBOf.
