Kairos Pharma Ltd. (NYSE American: KAPA) has announced a strategic collaboration with Bayer to evaluate its lead antibody candidate, ENV-105 (carotuximab), in combination with Bayer’s XOFIGO (radium-223 dichloride) for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer involving bone. This partnership aims to address a significant unmet medical need in advanced prostate cancer, where treatment resistance often limits therapeutic options.
ENV-105 is a first-in-class CD105/BMP signaling inhibitor designed to overcome cancer drug resistance. It is currently being evaluated in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials. The company previously reported interim Phase 2 data showing median progression-free survival of more than 13 months in prostate cancer patients. XOFIGO is the only FDA-approved alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical for symptomatic bone metastases in this patient population. The collaboration will evaluate whether ENV-105 can enhance and extend responses to XOFIGO by targeting CD105, a protein associated with treatment resistance following androgen receptor inhibition and radiation therapy.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated ENV-105’s ability to re-sensitize tumors to radiation, and Kairos management believes combining the therapy with XOFIGO could provide a more durable treatment option for patients with advanced prostate cancer. The combination approach could potentially improve outcomes for patients who have limited options after standard therapies fail.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer represents an advanced stage where the disease progresses despite low testosterone levels. Bone metastases are a frequent complication, leading to pain and reduced quality of life. The current standard of care includes radiopharmaceuticals like XOFIGO, but resistance remains a challenge. By targeting CD105, ENV-105 aims to reverse drug resistance and restore the effectiveness of therapies like XOFIGO.
For more details, the full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/emSc4. Kairos Pharma, based in Los Angeles, is focused on oncology therapeutics, using structural biology to overcome drug resistance and immune suppression. The company’s lead candidate, ENV-105, targets CD105, identified as a key driver of resistance and relapse. ENV-105 is in a Phase 2 trial for castrate-resistant prostate cancer and a Phase 1 trial for non-small cell lung cancer. As of the press release date, ENV-105 has not been approved as safe or effective by the FDA or any other regulator.
This collaboration highlights the ongoing efforts to combine novel targeted therapies with existing treatments to improve patient outcomes. The potential impact on the oncology field could be significant if the combination proves effective, offering a new strategy to combat drug resistance in advanced prostate cancer.
