Kairos Pharma, Ltd. (KAPA) announced that it has signed a term sheet to acquire worldwide rights to two clinical‑stage oncology assets from Celyn Therapeutics. The assets, CL‑273, a pre‑IND pan‑EGFR inhibitor, and CL‑741, a Phase‑1‑ready c‑MET inhibitor, are designed to target non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and address resistance mechanisms that limit current therapies.
The acquisition expands Kairos’s pipeline beyond its lead candidate, ENV‑105, by adding two molecules that can be developed alone or in combination to overcome EGFR‑mediated resistance. By pairing a pan‑EGFR inhibitor that spares wild‑type EGFR with a c‑MET inhibitor that targets a common resistance pathway, Kairos positions itself to offer a differentiated therapeutic strategy in a high‑growth market where resistance to first‑line EGFR TKIs is a major clinical challenge.
The NSCLC market is substantial, with estimates of over $20 billion in 2024 and projected to exceed $50 billion by 2034. The EGFR‑mutated lung cancer treatment market was valued at $16.2 billion in 2026, while the c‑MET inhibitor market is expected to surpass $10 billion by 2030. The addition of CL‑273 and CL‑741 therefore opens access to multiple segments of a multi‑billion‑dollar opportunity, enhancing Kairos’s commercial prospects and partnership appeal.
"We anticipate this acquisition will significantly expand our oncology pipeline with late‑preclinical and Phase 1‑ready assets in a multi‑billion‑dollar market with substantial unmet medical needs," said John Yu, M.D., CEO of Kairos Pharma. The statement underscores the company’s intent to accelerate development and leverage its existing clinical infrastructure to bring the assets to market more rapidly.
The term sheet does not disclose financial terms or a definitive purchase price, and the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Celyn Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company backed by OrbiMed and Torrey Pines Investment, has a track record of developing targeted therapies, and the partnership provides Kairos with access to a portfolio of assets that complement its existing pipeline.
By adding CL‑273 and CL‑741, Kairos diversifies its product pipeline, strengthens its position in the NSCLC market, and enhances its attractiveness to potential partners or investors. The move also provides a strategic hedge against the company’s limited cash runway, as the new assets could generate future revenue streams and improve the company’s long‑term financial outlook.
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