Lantern Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRN) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to redefine oncology drug development. Through its proprietary platform, RADR® (Response Algorithm for Drug Positioning & Rescue), Lantern is advancing a pipeline of precision cancer therapies. The company has gained 11 FDA Designations for its portfolio of drug candidates including: Fast Track, Orphan and Pediatric Rare Disease. The company’s data-driven approach enables rapid identification of promising drug candidates and the design of targeted clinical trials for specific patient subpopulations and cancer types.
Lantern’s vision is to transform cancer treatment by integrating large-scale genomics, AI-based biomarker discovery, and preclinical modeling to accelerate the development of oncology drugs. The company’s pipeline includes three lead small molecule candidates and an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) program across 12 cancer indications, supported by strategic collaborations with global research institutions and clinical partners. The company has three active clinical trials enrolling patients with multiple clinical milestones expected throughout the next twelve months.
The company’s mission is centered on transforming the cost and pace of developing innovative therapies for patients with genetically defined cancers or limited treatment options. Lantern is also advancing brain and CNS cancer drug development through its wholly owned subsidiary, Starlight Therapeutics.
The company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Product Portfolio
Lantern Pharma’s product pipeline consists of three lead candidates—LP-300, LP-184, and LP-284—and a preclinical ADC program. All are guided by insights from the RADR® platform, which has grown to incorporate over 200 billion oncology-specific data points.
LP-300 is in a Phase 2 trial (Harmonic™) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in never smokers. The trial evaluates LP-300 in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed and has shown a clinical benefit rate of 86% and an objective response rate of 43% in its initial cohort. The study is enrolling 90 patients across the U.S., Japan, and Taiwan (NCT05456256).
LP-184 is in a Phase 1a trial for advanced solid tumors and GBM (NCT05933265). The compound has received FDA Fast Track Designations for GBM and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as well as four Rare Pediatric Disease Designations. Upcoming Phase 1b/2 trials are planned for TNBC (monotherapy and with olaparib) and for NSCLC patients with KEAP1/STK11 mutations in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab.
LP-284 is currently in a Phase 1 trial for relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and other solid tumors (NCT06132503). The drug candidate has demonstrated complete tumor suppression in preclinical models of mantle cell lymphoma resistant to Ibrutinib and bortezomib and showed synergistic activity with rituximab in high-grade B-cell lymphoma models.
Lantern’s ADC program is based on cryptophycin conjugates and is undergoing preclinical evaluation, showing sub-nanomolar potency and improved targeting in HER2-expressing models.
The company has also launched Starlight Therapeutics, focused on CNS cancers, where STAR-001 (LP-184 for CNS cancers) is advancing toward a Phase 1b/2 trial in glioblastoma and pediatric brain cancers, including ATRT, supported by Rare Pediatric Disease Designations and preclinical validation from Johns Hopkins.
Market Opportunity
Lantern Pharma is focused on oncology indications with significant unmet medical need and multi-billion-dollar commercial potential.
Leadership Team
Panna Sharma, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director, leads Lantern Pharma with a deep background in oncology-focused biotechnology and artificial intelligence. He is responsible for Lantern’s strategic vision and has driven the growth of its AI-powered drug development platform. Prior to joining Lantern in 2018, he served as President and CEO of Cancer Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: CGIX), where he raised over $100 million and expanded the company from 25 to over 250 employees across multiple continents. Earlier, he founded TSG Partners and played a key role in the IPO of iXL, a digital strategy firm.
David R. Margrave, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, has served in executive roles in life sciences for over two decades. Before joining Lantern, he held leadership positions at BioNumerik Pharmaceuticals, including President and Chief Administrative Officer. He has also been a strategic consultant to multiple biotech firms and served as Senior Legal Advisor at MedCare Investment Corporation. Mr. Margrave holds a dual degree in Economics and Petroleum Engineering from Stanford University and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.
Kishor G. Bhatia, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, has more than 40 years of experience in cancer biology, including leadership at the National Cancer Institute where he served as Director of the AIDS Malignancy Program and held key roles in cancer treatment and diagnosis. He has also worked as an Adjunct Investigator and consultant to biotech firms such as Reprocell and Cancer Genetics. Dr. Bhatia earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Mumbai and completed postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathology in the UK.