Bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (BsADCs) are a new class of therapeutic drugs being developed to fight cancer. They combine the dual targeting ability of bispecific antibodies with the cell-killing power of cytotoxic drugs. BsADCs are designed to deliver cytotoxic drugs directly to cancer cells, while minimizing damage to healthy cells. While they are still in development, several exciting advances have occurred recently.
Last week, a paper published in Nature demonstrated the construction of a novel BsADC targeting HER2 and HER3 with more potent therapeutic efficacy against breast cancer over monospecific ADCs. It potently inhibited the viability of MCF7, JIMT-1, BT474, BxPC-3 and SKOV-3 cancer cells in vitro.
Meanwhile, ProfoundBio’s novel EGFR x cMET bispecific ADC PRO1286 demonstrated broad antitumor activity and promising tolerability in preclinical models. Set to enter clinical trials by this year, the BsADC has the potential to treat multiple tumor types and was built on the clinically validated sesutecan platform.
Also last month, a paper described a novel T cell-redirecting anti-GPRC5D x CD3 bispecific antibody with potent antitumor activity in multiple myeloma (MM) preclinical models. Their results show that the BsADC as a monotherapy and combination therapy with immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) could be a highly potent and effective treatment approach for a wide population of MM patients.
This report aims to explore the events and trends of the biopharmaceutical industry in Q2 (April, May, June). Besides crovalimab and Vyloy, two more novel antibody drugs have been approved this year
These past few weeks, several antibody drug startups have progressed from the pre-seed stage to final funding rounds. In the pre-seed stage, the focus is on early research, often funded by founders, grants, or angel investors. As the company progresses to the seed stage, it seeks additional funding to validate its scientific concept and develop initial prototypes, attracting early-stage venture capital.
In August, the US FDA approved Galderma’s Nemluvio (nemolizumab) for adult patients living with prurigo nodularis (PN). Nemluvio is the first approved monoclonal antibody specifically inhibiting the signaling of IL-31, a neuroimmune cytokine that drives multiple disease mechanisms in (PN). Prurigo nodularis is a chronic skin condition that affects approximately 181,000 patients in the United States
Anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) are immune system proteins that can develop in response to therapeutic drugs, particularly biologics like monoclonal antibodies. These biopharmaceuticals have significantly advanced therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, but their long-term use can elicit immunogenicity due to repeated administration. The host immune system may recognize epitopes in the biologic drug as foreign, triggering the production of ADAs. This can lead to the formation of drug–ADA immune complexes, which accelerate drug clearance and potentially neutralize the drug's efficacy.
