AKIR001 study selected as overall featured article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine
The preclinical study underpinning the clinical development of Akiram Therapeutics’ lead candidate AKIR001, published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM), has been selected as best basic investigation and overall featured article for the February issue. An image from the article also appears on the cover.
Cover of the February 2026 issue (Vol. 67, No. 2) of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, featuring Figure 4 from the AKIR001 study. Source: Mortensen ACL et al. Journal of Nuclear Medicine (2026). © SNMMI.
AKIR001 is developed by Akiram Therapeutics, a Swedish biotech company developing targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies for cancer. The candidate targets CD44v6 and is currently under evaluation in a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial.
The article presents the preclinical validation of AKIR001. The data demonstrate selective tumor uptake, favorable dosimetry, and clear antitumor effects in relevant models, strengthening the scientific foundation for the ongoing study in patients with CD44v6-positive tumors.
“We are pleased to see the study recognized both as best basic investigation and as overall featured article in JNM,” says Marika Nestor, CEO of Akiram Therapeutics. “It is a strong recognition of the preclinical work behind AKIR001 and adds further weight as the program advances in clinical development.”
About the Phase 1 clinical trial
The ongoing first-in-human Phase 1 trial is conducted and sponsored by Karolinska University Hospital. The study evaluates safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in patients with tumors that express CD44v6, including anaplastic and iodine-refractory thyroid cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, gynecological squamous cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06639191
Reference
Mortensen ACL et al. Preclinical Validation of [177Lu]Lu-AKIR001, a CD44v6-Targeted Radiotherapeutic Entering First-in-Human Trials. Journal of Nuclear Medicine (2026).
DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.125.270782.
February issue (Vol. 67, No. 2): :
https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/67/2/269
Cover image:
https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/67/2.cover-expansion
For more information, please contact:
Marika Nestor, CEO
Email: marika.nestor@akiramtherapeutics.com
About Akiram Therapeutics
Akiram Therapeutics is a Swedish biotech company focused on the development of targeted radioimmunotherapy for cancer, which is based on a proprietary antibody targeting the cancer marker CD44v6 combined with a radiation component. The therapy has generated strong preclinical results in cancer models in conditions that currently lack effective treatments. With the potential for its drug candidate to be classified as an orphan drug and recognized as first-in-class, the company is dedicated to advancing research in this field, including indications in head and neck cancer, lung cancer, and aggressive thyroid cancer. Headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, Akiram Therapeutics is staffed with experts in radiation science research, cancer precision medicine, and drug development. To learn more, please visit Akiram’s website and follow Akiram on LinkedIn.
Tags:
