Kairos Pharma Ltd. (NYSE American: KAPA) provided a mid-year 2026 update on Wednesday, 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. CL-741 targets EGFR-mutated lung cancer and other cancers, complementing Kairos’ existing portfolio, which includes ENV-105, KROS-201, KROS-102 and ENV-205.
The company 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. Kairos also noted it has secured more than $8 million in non-dilutive funding to support development of its preclinical and clinical programs.
ENV-105, Kairos’ lead candidate, is an antibody targeting CD105—a protein identified as a key driver of resistance and disease relapse in response to standard therapy. The antibody aims to reverse drug resistance 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, addressing significant unmet medical needs. As of the date of the press release, ENV-105 has not been approved as safe or effective by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other comparable foreign regulator.
The addition of CL-741, a c-MET kinase inhibitor, would broaden Kairos’ approach to tackling drug resistance. c-MET amplification is a known resistance mechanism in EGFR-mutated lung cancer, and an oral inhibitor could offer a convenient treatment option. The proposed acquisition signals Kairos’ strategy to build a diversified pipeline targeting multiple resistance pathways.
For industry observers, the update highlights the growing focus on overcoming drug resistance in oncology. Kairos’ approach—using structural biology to target proteins like CD105 and c-MET—reflects a trend toward precision medicine that addresses the molecular mechanisms of resistance. The company’s ability to secure non-dilutive funding is also notable, as it reduces shareholder dilution while advancing early-stage programs.
The shareholder update comes as Kairos prepares to present data at upcoming scientific meetings and seek partnerships. Successful clinical data could position ENV-105 and CL-741 as important options in combination with standard therapies. Investors and industry leaders will watch for Phase 1 results from CL-741 and the continued enrollment of ENV-105 trials.
For more information, see the full press release at https://ibn.fm/WuBOf and the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/KAPA.
