Kairos Pharma Ltd. (NYSE American: KAPA) provided a mid-year 2026 update to shareholders, outlining 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 stated that 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. 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.
This announcement is important because it signals Kairos Pharma’s strategic expansion into targeted therapies for lung cancer, a major area of unmet need. The addition of CL-741, a c-MET inhibitor, could provide a new treatment option for patients with EGFR-mutated lung cancer who develop resistance to existing therapies. The company’s ability to secure over $8 million in non-dilutive funding also reduces shareholder dilution risk and validates the potential of its pipeline. For the industry, the combination of CL-741 with Kairos’ existing immunotherapies like ENV-105 may lead to novel combination regimens that overcome drug resistance—a persistent challenge in oncology.
Investors and patients should monitor the initiation of the Phase 1 study for CL-741 and the progress of ENV-105 trials, as positive data could position Kairos as a key player in the oncology space. The company’s focus on structural biology to address immune suppression and drug resistance differentiates it from competitors. For further details, the full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/WuBOf and the latest news on KAPA can be found in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/KAPA.
