Kairos Pharma Ltd. (NYSE American: KAPA) 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 treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer involving bone. ENV-105 is a first-in-class CD105/BMP signaling inhibitor designed to overcome cancer drug resistance and is currently in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials. Interim Phase 2 data previously reported by the company showed median progression-free survival exceeding 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 aims to determine 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 management believes combining the therapies could offer a more durable treatment option for patients with advanced prostate cancer. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/emSc4.
Kairos Pharma, based in Los Angeles, California, is focused on oncology therapeutics, utilizing structural biology to overcome drug resistance and immune suppression. Its lead candidate, ENV-105, targets CD105, a key driver of resistance and disease relapse in response to standard therapy. ENV-105 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. 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.
This collaboration underscores the potential of combining targeted therapies to address unmet medical needs in advanced prostate cancer, where treatment options remain limited for patients with bone metastases. The partnership between Kairos and Bayer leverages complementary mechanisms of action, with ENV-105 targeting resistance pathways and XOFIGO delivering radiation directly to bone lesions. If successful, the combination could represent a significant advancement in prolonging survival and improving quality of life for patients with this aggressive form of cancer.
