The findings, developed in collaboration with Tempus AI, indicate that PTK7 expression levels do not significantly fluctuate after patients undergo standard-of-care treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This stability positions PTK7 as a robust biomarker for ADC delivery, even in patients who have progressed through multiple lines of therapy. Researchers noted that PTK7 demonstrated less treatment-associated variation compared to other targets currently in late-stage development, such as MET and PD-L1.

Furthermore, the analyses suggest that PTK7 expression is independent of patient prognosis, serving instead as a reliable target-engagement tool. According to Dr. Margaret Dugan, Chief Medical Officer at Whitehawk, this consistency provides essential context for the ongoing Phase 1 evaluation of HWK-007. Dr. Aaron E. Lisberg of UCLA, who presented the findings, emphasized that the target’s durability across diverse molecular subgroups—including those with KRAS or ALK alterations—supports further investigation into PTK7-directed therapies for advanced lung adenocarcinoma.