Cadherin 6 (CDH6) is a transmembrane protein with high expression during embryonic kidney development, with very limited expression in adult tissues but overexpressed in several malignancies such as ovarian or renal cancer, and it is tied disease progression and poor prognosis. This pattern of expression makes it an attractive target for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development.
Researchers from Jacobio Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. have reported preclinical data for JAB-X1800, an immunostimulatory antibody-drug conjugate (iADC) targeting CD73. JAB-X1800 was developed using an anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody (MAb) for targeted delivery of a highly potent noncyclic dinucleotide STING agonist payload, JAB-27670.
At the recently concluded AACR meeting, Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co. Ltd. discussed BSA-01, a bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mucin-1 (MUC-1), two tumor-associated antigens that are highly co-expressed in several cancers.
Tubulis GmbH is banking $22.75 million up front and could earn more than $1 billion in development, regulatory and commercial milestones from an alliance with Bristol Myers Squibb Co. focused on the design and development of antibody-drug conjugates for solid tumor applications. It would also receive tiered royalties on the sales of any products that emerge from the pact.
Pyramid Biosciences Inc. has in-licensed Genequantum Healthcare Co. Ltd.’s preclinical trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2)-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), GQ-1010, in a deal worth up to $1 billion in potential milestones. Under the terms, Pyramid gains exclusive rights to develop and commercialize GQ-1010 globally, excluding greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).
Researchers from Astrazeneca plc described the development and preclinical evaluation of AZD-5335, a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) consisting of folate receptor α (FR-α)-targeting antibody conjugated to a proprietary topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (TOP1i), being developed as a potential new therapeutic against ovarian cancer.
Torl Biotherapeutics LLC has raised $158 million in a series B round as it seeks to nudge its anti-Claudin-6 antibody-drug conjugate candidates, TORL-123 and TORL-2307, beyond phase I trials for the treatment of ovarian and gastric cancers, respectively. Claudin-6, or CLDN6, is a molecule that forms tight junctions around cells. It is highly expressed in a range of solid tumor types, so is a popular target for drug development.
