Kairos Pharma (NASDAQ: KAPA) presented its resistance strategy at the H.C. Wainwright 28th Annual Global Investment Conference on September 14, 2026. The company's CEO, John Yu, outlined its lead antibody, ENV105, targeting CD105 to reverse acquired drug resistance.
Kairos Pharma's share price closed at $1.84, up 4.55% on the day, and was trading at $1.84 in after-hours, down 1.08%. The stock has a 52-week high of $12.95, reflecting an 86% decline over the past year. The company has a market capitalization of $5.95 million and analyst price targets ranging from $14 to $84.
Kairos Pharma has secured funding and grants, including a $3.2 million NIH grant for a companion biomarker study validation in prostate cancer. The company also holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet and has patent protection extended through 2040 for the ENV105 molecule and methods of use.
ENV105 is currently being evaluated in a Phase II prostate cancer trial at three centers: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, City of Hope, and Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. The trial evaluates ENV105 combined with or randomized with apalutamide. Safety lead-in cohort results showed a progression-free survival (PFS) of 15.8 months and a 35% mean PSA decrease.
Additionally, a Phase I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) trial is underway at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, combining ENV105 with TAGRISSO (osimertinib). Interim safety data showed no Grade 3 or 4 toxicities, and patients tolerated the drug well. The target market size for EGFR-dependent NSCLC is approximately 45,000 patients per year.
Kairos Pharma also has an IND-ready activated T-cell therapy for glioblastoma (KROS-201) and an immune suppression program (KROS-101), planned for trial initiation within one year. The company is collaborating with academic institutions such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Stanford, Vanderbilt, and Rutgers.
CEO John Yu emphasized the company's mission to address real challenges in cancer drug resistance and immune suppression. He highlighted the CD105/BMP4 pathway, which becomes elevated during treatment with blockbuster drugs, pushing cancer cells toward a stem cell-like state linked to resistance against various therapies.
Interim lung cancer efficacy data is expected within months, with top-line data anticipated in 2027. The KROS-101 trial initiation is planned within one year.
