On March 20, 2025 Kairos Pharma, Ltd. (NYSE American: KAPA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported a peer-reviewed publication highlighting a potentially significant breakthrough in addressing drug resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (Press release, Kairos Pharma, MAR 20, 2025, View Source [SID1234651334]). Recent findings published in Drug Resistance Updates highlight the critical role of CD105 (endoglin) in mediating resistance to osimertinib, a frontline treatment for EGFR-mutant NSCLC. The study, titled, "CD105 blockade restores osimertinib sensitivity in drug-resistant EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer," demonstrated that CD105 expression is upregulated as a mechanism of therapy resistance, correlating with poor prognosis in patients.
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"We believe our latest findings represent a paradigm shift in overcoming resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies in NSCLC," said Neil Bhowmick, Ph.D., Kairos Pharma Chief Scientific Officer. "Revealing this mechanism-of-action underscores our commitment to advancing precision oncology and bringing innovative therapies to patients in need."
In preclinical models, targeting CD105 with ENV105 (carotuximab), a CD105-neutralizing antibody successfully restored treatment sensitivity to EGFR-targeted therapies. Notably, combining osimertinib with ENV105 reinstated susceptibility to EGFR inhibition through metabolic reprogramming and enhanced chromatin accessibility. These findings confirm the efficacy of this novel combination therapy strategy in overcoming drug resistance in this model of non-small cell lung cancer.
Dr. John Yu, CEO, stated, "These findings in lung cancer corroborate data in prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer, that point to CD105 being a central mechanism of cancer drug resistance. We believe ENV105 can reverse this resistance in cancer models, and our clinical trials are designed to definitively demonstrate its potential impact."
The global NSCLC treatment market is projected to reach $45 billion by 2030, driven by advancements in targeted therapies. However, drug resistance remains a major challenge. The ability of ENV105 to enhance EGFR-targeted therapy effectiveness positions it as a high-value asset in next-generation oncology treatment. Kairos Pharma is currently evaluating this transformative cancer therapy in ongoing clinical trials for EGFR-driven lung cancer patients. The study can be accessed here.