1
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Kim HS, Hariri K, Zhang X, Chen L, Katz BB, Pei H, Louie SG, Zhang Y. Synthesis of site-specific Fab-drug conjugates using ADP-ribosyl cyclases. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4924. [PMID: 38501590 PMCID: PMC10949397 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Targeted delivery of small-molecule drugs via covalent attachments to monoclonal antibodies has proved successful in clinic. For this purpose, full-length antibodies are mainly used as drug-carrying vehicles. Despite their flexible conjugation sites and versatile biological activities, intact immunoglobulins with conjugated drugs, which feature relatively large molecular weights, tend to have restricted tissue distribution and penetration and low fractions of payloads. Linking small-molecule therapeutics to other formats of antibody may lead to conjugates with optimal properties. Here, we designed and synthesized ADP-ribosyl cyclase-enabled fragment antigen-binding (Fab) drug conjugates (ARC-FDCs) by utilizing CD38 catalytic activity. Through rapidly forming a stable covalent bond with a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ )-based drug linker at its active site, CD38 genetically fused with Fab mediates robust site-specific drug conjugations via enzymatic reactions. Generated ARC-FDCs with defined drug-to-Fab ratios display potent and antigen-dependent cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells. This work demonstrates a new strategy for developing site-specific FDCs. It may be applicable to different antibody scaffolds for therapeutic conjugations, leading to novel targeted agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Sun Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kimia Hariri
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Xiao‐Nan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Liang‐Chieh Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Benjamin B. Katz
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of California, IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hua Pei
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Stan G. Louie
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Chemistry, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Research Center for Liver DiseasesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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2
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Zhou L, Lu Y, Liu W, Wang S, Wang L, Zheng P, Zi G, Liu H, Liu W, Wei S. Drug conjugates for the treatment of lung cancer: from drug discovery to clinical practice. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:26. [PMID: 38429828 PMCID: PMC10908151 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00493-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
A drug conjugate consists of a cytotoxic drug bound via a linker to a targeted ligand, allowing the targeted delivery of the drug to one or more tumor sites. This approach simultaneously reduces drug toxicity and increases efficacy, with a powerful combination of efficient killing and precise targeting. Antibody‒drug conjugates (ADCs) are the best-known type of drug conjugate, combining the specificity of antibodies with the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs to reduce adverse reactions by preferentially targeting the payload to the tumor. The structure of ADCs has also provided inspiration for the development of additional drug conjugates. In recent years, drug conjugates such as ADCs, peptide‒drug conjugates (PDCs) and radionuclide drug conjugates (RDCs) have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The scope and application of drug conjugates have been expanding, including combination therapy and precise drug delivery, and a variety of new conjugation technology concepts have emerged. Additionally, new conjugation technology-based drugs have been developed in industry. In addition to chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, drug conjugate therapy has undergone continuous development and made significant progress in treating lung cancer in recent years, offering a promising strategy for the treatment of this disease. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the use of drug conjugates for lung cancer treatment, including structure-based drug design, mechanisms of action, clinical trials, and side effects. Furthermore, challenges, potential approaches and future prospects are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zhou
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunlong Lu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shanglong Wang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengdou Zheng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guisha Zi
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiguo Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wukun Liu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030000, China.
| | - Shuang Wei
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030000, China.
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3
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Sun Z, Jaswal AP, Chu X, Rajkumar H, Cortez AG, Edinger R, Rose M, Josefsson A, Bhise A, Huang Z, Ishima R, Mellors JW, Dimitrov DS, Li W, Nedrow JR. Assessment of Novel Mesothelin-Specific Human Antibody Domain VH-Fc Fusion Proteins-Based PET Agents. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:43586-43595. [PMID: 38027361 PMCID: PMC10666227 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Mesothelin (MSLN) is a tumor-associated antigen found in a variety of cancers and is a target for imaging and therapeutic applications in MSLN-expressing tumors. We have developed high affinity anti-MSLN human VH domain antibodies, providing alternative targeting vectors to conventional IgG antibodies that are associated with long-circulating half-lives and poor penetration of tumors, limiting antitumor activity in clinical trials. Based on two newly identified anti-MSLN VH binders (3C9, 2A10), we generated VH-Fc fusion proteins and modified them for zirconium-89 radiolabeling to create anti-MSLN VH-Fc PET tracers. The focus of this study was to assess the ability of PET-imaging to compare the in vivo performance of anti-MSLN VH-Fc fusion proteins (2A10, 3C9) targeting different epitopes of MSLN vs IgG1 (m912; a clinical benchmark antibody with an overlapped epitope as 2A10) for PET imaging in a mouse model of colorectal cancer (CRC). The anti-MSLN VH-Fc fusion proteins were successfully modified and radiolabeled with zirconium-89. The resulting MSLN-targeted PET-imaging agents demonstrated specific uptake in the MSLN-expressing HCT116 tumors. The in vivo performance of the MSLN-targeted PET-imaging agents utilizing VH-Fc showed more rapid and greater accumulation and deeper penetration within the tumor than the full-length IgG1 m912-based PET-imaging agent. Furthermore, PET imaging allowed us to compare the pharmacokinetics of epitope-specific VH domain-based PET tracers. Overall, these data are encouraging for the incorporation of PET imaging to assess modified VH domain structures to develop novel anti-MSLN VH domain-based therapeutics in MSLN-positive cancers as well as their companion PET imaging agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Sun
- Center
for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department
of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Ambika P. Jaswal
- Department
of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Xiaojie Chu
- Center
for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department
of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Harikrishnan Rajkumar
- Hillman
Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Angel G. Cortez
- Hillman
Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Robert Edinger
- Hillman
Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Max Rose
- Hillman
Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Anders Josefsson
- Hillman
Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
- Department
of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Abhinav Bhise
- Hillman
Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
- Department
of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Ziyu Huang
- Hillman
Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Rieko Ishima
- Department
of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - John W Mellors
- Center
for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department
of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Dimiter S. Dimitrov
- Center
for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department
of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Wei Li
- Center
for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department
of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Jessie R. Nedrow
- Hillman
Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
- Department
of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
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4
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Riccardi F, Dal Bo M, Macor P, Toffoli G. A comprehensive overview on antibody-drug conjugates: from the conceptualization to cancer therapy. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1274088. [PMID: 37790810 PMCID: PMC10544916 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1274088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) represent an innovative class of potent anti-cancer compounds that are widely used in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Unlike conventional chemotherapeutic drug-based therapies, that are mainly associated with modest specificity and therapeutic benefit, the three key components that form an ADC (a monoclonal antibody bound to a cytotoxic drug via a chemical linker moiety) achieve remarkable improvement in terms of targeted killing of cancer cells and, while sparing healthy tissues, a reduction in systemic side effects caused by off-tumor toxicity. Based on their beneficial mechanism of action, 15 ADCs have been approved to date by the market approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and/or other international governmental agencies for use in clinical oncology, and hundreds are undergoing evaluation in the preclinical and clinical phases. Here, our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the key features revolving around ADC therapeutic strategy including their structural and targeting properties, mechanism of action, the role of the tumor microenvironment and review the approved ADCs in clinical oncology, providing discussion regarding their toxicity profile, clinical manifestations and use in novel combination therapies. Finally, we briefly review ADCs in other pathological contexts and provide key information regarding ADC manufacturing and analytical characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Riccardi
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Michele Dal Bo
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Paolo Macor
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Toffoli
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
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5
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Rudin CM, Reck M, Johnson ML, Blackhall F, Hann CL, Yang JCH, Bailis JM, Bebb G, Goldrick A, Umejiego J, Paz-Ares L. Emerging therapies targeting the delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) in small cell lung cancer. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:66. [PMID: 37355629 PMCID: PMC10290806 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01464-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma with a poor prognosis. Initial responses to standard-of-care chemo-immunotherapy are, unfortunately, followed by rapid disease recurrence in most patients. Current treatment options are limited, with no therapies specifically approved as third-line or beyond. Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), a Notch inhibitory ligand, is an attractive therapeutic target because it is overexpressed on the surface of SCLC cells with minimal to no expression on normal cells. Several DLL3-targeted therapies are being developed for the treatment of SCLC and other neuroendocrine carcinomas, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), T-cell engager (TCE) molecules, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapies. First, we discuss the clinical experience with rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T), a DLL3-targeting ADC, the development of which was halted due to a lack of efficacy in phase 3 studies, with a view to understanding the lessons that can be garnered for the rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape in SCLC. We then review preclinical and clinical data for several DLL3-targeting agents that are currently in development, including the TCE molecules-tarlatamab (formerly known as AMG 757), BI 764532, and HPN328-and the CAR T-cell therapy AMG 119. We conclude with a discussion of the future challenges and opportunities for DLL3-targeting therapies, including the utility of DLL3 as a biomarker for patient selection and disease progression, and the potential of rational combinatorial approaches that can enhance efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles M Rudin
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Martin Reck
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Airway Research Center North, German Center for Lung Research, LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Melissa L Johnson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sarah Cannon Cancer Research Institute/Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Fiona Blackhall
- Department of Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Christine L Hann
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - James Chih-Hsin Yang
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Julie M Bailis
- Oncology Research, Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gwyn Bebb
- Oncology TA-US, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Luis Paz-Ares
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, CNIO-H12o Lung Cancer Unit, Universidad Complutense and Ciberonc, Madrid, Spain
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6
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Wang Y, Zhang J, Han B, Tan L, Cai W, Li Y, Su Y, Yu Y, Wang X, Duan X, Wang H, Shi X, Wang J, Yang X, Liu T. Noncanonical amino acids as doubly bio-orthogonal handles for one-pot preparation of protein multiconjugates. Nat Commun 2023; 14:974. [PMID: 36810592 PMCID: PMC9944564 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36658-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic encoding of noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) for site-specific protein modification has been widely applied for many biological and therapeutic applications. To efficiently prepare homogeneous protein multiconjugates, we design two encodable noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs), 4-(6-(3-azidopropyl)-s-tetrazin-3-yl) phenylalanine (pTAF) and 3-(6-(3-azidopropyl)-s-tetrazin-3-yl) phenylalanine (mTAF), containing mutually orthogonal and bioorthogonal azide and tetrazine reaction handles. Recombinant proteins and antibody fragments containing the TAFs can easily be functionalized in one-pot reactions with combinations of commercially available fluorophores, radioisotopes, PEGs, and drugs in a plug-and-play manner to afford protein dual conjugates to assess combinations of tumor diagnosis, image-guided surgery, and targeted therapy in mouse models. Furthermore, we demonstrate that simultaneously incorporating mTAF and a ketone-containing ncAA into one protein via two non-sense codons allows preparation of a site-specific protein triconjugate. Our results demonstrate that TAFs are doubly bio-orthogonal handles for efficient and scalable preparation of homogeneous protein multiconjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Jingming Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, 100034, Beijing, China
| | - Boyang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Linzhi Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Wenkang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Yeyu Su
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Yutong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojiang Duan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, 100034, Beijing, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomeng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, 100034, Beijing, China. .,Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, China.
| | - Tao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Beijing, China.
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7
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Huysamen A, Fadeyi OE, Mayuni G, Dogbey DM, Mungra N, Biteghe FAN, Hardcastle N, Ramamurthy D, Akinrinmade OA, Naran K, Cooper S, Lang D, Richter W, Hunter R, Barth S. Click Chemistry-Generated Auristatin F-Linker-Benzylguanine for a SNAP-Tag-Based Recombinant Antibody-Drug Conjugate Demonstrating Selective Cytotoxicity toward EGFR-Overexpressing Tumor Cells. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:4026-4037. [PMID: 36743041 PMCID: PMC9893251 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c06844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are bifunctional molecules combining the targeting potential of monoclonal antibodies with the cancer-killing ability of cytotoxic drugs. This simple yet intelligently designed system directly addresses the lack of specificity encountered with conventional anti-cancer treatment regimes. However, despite their initial success, the generation of clinically sustainable and effective ADCs has been plagued by poor tumor penetration, undefined chemical linkages, unpredictable pharmacokinetic profiles, and heterogeneous mixtures of products. To this end, we generated a SNAP-tag-based fusion protein targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-a biomarker of aggressive and drug-resistant cancers. Here, we demonstrate the use of a novel click coupling strategy to engineer a benzylguanine (BG)-linker-auristatin F (AuriF) piece that can be covalently tethered to the EGFR-targeting SNAP-tag-based fusion protein in an irreversible 1:1 stoichiometric reaction to form a homogeneous product. Furthermore, using these recombinant ADCs to target EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells, we provide a proof-of-principle for generating biologically active antimitotic therapeutic proteins capable of inducing cell death in a dose-dependent manner, thus alleviating some of the challenges of early ADC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan
M. Huysamen
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, PD Hahn Building, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Olaolu E. Fadeyi
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, PD Hahn Building, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Grace Mayuni
- Medical
Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious
Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Dennis M. Dogbey
- Medical
Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious
Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Neelakshi Mungra
- Medical
Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious
Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- Centre
for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle
Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98101, United States
| | - Fleury A. N. Biteghe
- Department
of Radiation Oncology and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
| | - Natasha Hardcastle
- Medical
Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious
Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Dharanidharan Ramamurthy
- Medical
Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious
Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Olusiji A. Akinrinmade
- Medical
Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious
Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- Department
of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Krupa Naran
- Medical
Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious
Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Susan Cooper
- Division
of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Dirk Lang
- Division
of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | | | - Roger Hunter
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, PD Hahn Building, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Stefan Barth
- Medical
Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious
Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- South
African Research Chair in Cancer Biotechnology, Department of Integrative
Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape
Town 7700, South Africa
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8
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Lou H, Cao X. Antibody variable region engineering for improving cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2022; 42:804-827. [PMID: 35822503 PMCID: PMC9456695 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficacy and specificity of conventional monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs in the clinic require further improvement. Currently, the development and application of novel antibody formats for improving cancer immunotherapy have attracted much attention. Variable region-retaining antibody fragments, such as antigen-binding fragment (Fab), single-chain variable fragment (scFv), bispecific antibody, and bi/trispecific cell engagers, are engineered with humanization, multivalent antibody construction, affinity optimization and antibody masking for targeting tumor cells and killer cells to improve antibody-based therapy potency, efficacy and specificity. In this review, we summarize the application of antibody variable region engineering and discuss the future direction of antibody engineering for improving cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hantao Lou
- Ludwig Institute of Cancer ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordOX3 7DRUK
- Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences Oxford InstituteNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordOX3 7FZUK
| | - Xuetao Cao
- Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences Oxford InstituteNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordOX3 7FZUK
- Department of ImmunologyCentre for Immunotherapy, Institute of Basic Medical SciencesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijing100005P. R. China
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9
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Seifert O, Kontermann RE. GlycoTAIL and FlexiTAIL as Half-Life Extension Modules for Recombinant Antibody Fragments. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27103272. [PMID: 35630749 PMCID: PMC9143431 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many therapeutic proteins are small in size and are rapidly cleared from circulation. Consequently, half-life extension strategies have emerged to improve pharmacokinetic properties, including fusion or binding to long-lasting serum proteins, chemical modifications with hydrophilic polymers such as PEGylation, or, more recently, fusion to PEG mimetic polypeptides. In the present study, two different PEG mimetic approaches, the GlycoTAIL and the FlexiTAIL, were applied to increase the hydrodynamic radius of antibody fragments of different sizes and valencies, including scFv, diabody, and scFv-EHD2 fusion proteins. The GlycoTAIL and FlexiTAIL sequences of varying lengths are composed of aliphatic and hydrophilic residues, with the GlycoTAIL furthermore comprising N-glycosylation sites. All modified proteins could be produced in a mammalian expression system without reducing stability and antigen binding, and all modified proteins exhibited a prolonged half-life and increased drug disposition in mice. The strongest effects were observed for proteins comprising a FlexiTAIL of 248 residues. Thus, the GlycoTAIL and FlexiTAIL sequences represent a flexible and modular system to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Seifert
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany;
- Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology (SRCSB), University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Roland E. Kontermann
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany;
- Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology (SRCSB), University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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10
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Evans R, Thurber GM. Design of high avidity and low affinity antibodies for in situ control of antibody drug conjugate targeting. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7677. [PMID: 35538109 PMCID: PMC9090802 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11648-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) have rapidly expanded in the clinic, with 7 new approvals in 3 years. For solid tumors, high doses of ADCs improve tissue penetration and efficacy. These doses are enabled by lower drug-to-antibody ratios and/or co-administration of unconjugated antibody carrier doses to avoid payload toxicity. While effective for highly expressed targets, these strategies may not maintain efficacy with lower target expression. To address this issue, a carrier dose that adjusts binding in situ according to cellular expression was designed using computational modeling. Previous studies demonstrated that coadministration of unconjugated antibody with the corresponding ADC at an 8:1 ratio improves ADCs efficacy in high HER2 expressing tumors. By designing a High Avidity, Low Affinity (HALA) carrier antibody, ADC binding is partially blocked in high expression cells, improving tissue penetration. In contrast, the HALA antibody cannot compete with the ADC in low expressing cells, allowing ADC binding to the majority of receptors. Thus, the amount of competition from the carrier dose automatically adjusts to expression levels, allowing tailored competition between different patients/metastases. The computational model highlights two dimensionless numbers, the Thiele modulus and a newly defined competition number, to design an optimal HALA antibody carrier dose for any target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reginald Evans
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Greg M Thurber
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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11
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Han Y, Yang Z, Hu H, Zhang H, Chen L, Li K, Kong L, Wang Q, Liu B, Wang M, Lin J, Chen PR. Covalently Engineered Protein Minibinders with Enhanced Neutralization Efficacy against Escaping SARS-CoV-2 Variants. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:5702-5707. [PMID: 35212528 PMCID: PMC8905923 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c11554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The rapid emergence and spread of escaping mutations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has significantly challenged our efforts in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. A broadly neutralizing reagent against these concerning variants is thus highly desirable for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatments of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We herein report a covalent engineering strategy on protein minibinders for potent neutralization of the escaping variants such as B.1.617.2 (Delta), B.1.617.1 (Kappa), and B.1.1.529 (Omicron) through in situ cross-linking with the spike receptor binding domain (RBD). The resulting covalent minibinder (GlueBinder) exhibited enhanced blockage of RBD-human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (huACE2) interaction and more potent neutralization effect against the Delta variant than its noncovalent counterpart as demonstrated on authentic virus. By leveraging the covalent chemistry against escaping mutations, our strategy may be generally applicable for restoring and enhancing the potency of neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and other rapidly evolving viral targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Han
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Key
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education,
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular
Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871,
China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for
Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing
100871, China
| | - Zhenlin Yang
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Key
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education,
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular
Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871,
China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for
Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing
100871, China
| | - Hengrui Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of
Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Key
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education,
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular
Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871,
China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory,
Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Long Chen
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Key
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education,
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular
Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871,
China
| | - Kexin Li
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for
Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing
100871, China
| | - Linghao Kong
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for
Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing
100871, China
| | - Qianran Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of
Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Microorganism Engineering,
Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071,
China
| | - Manli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of
Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Jian Lin
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Key
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education,
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular
Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871,
China
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University
Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Peng R. Chen
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Key
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education,
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular
Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871,
China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for
Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing
100871, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory,
Shenzhen 518055, China
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12
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Hasan MM, Laws M, Jin P, Rahman KM. Factors influencing the choice of monoclonal antibodies for antibody-drug conjugates. Drug Discov Today 2021; 27:354-361. [PMID: 34597756 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) act as carriers for a cytotoxic payload providing the therapy with targeted action against cells expressing a target cell surface antigen. An appropriate choice of mAb is crucial to developing a successful ADC for clinical development. However, problems such as immunogenicity, poor pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles and variable drug-antibody ratios (DARs) plague ADCs. In this review, we detail recent mAb-based innovations and factors that should be considered to overcome these problems to achieve a new generation of more effective ADC therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mahbub Hasan
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Mark Laws
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Peiqin Jin
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Khondaker Miraz Rahman
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK.
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13
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Dean AQ, Luo S, Twomey JD, Zhang B. Targeting cancer with antibody-drug conjugates: Promises and challenges. MAbs 2021; 13:1951427. [PMID: 34291723 PMCID: PMC8300931 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.1951427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a rapidly expanding class of biotherapeutics that utilize antibodies to selectively deliver cytotoxic drugs to the tumor site. As of May 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ten ADCs, namely Adcetris®, Kadcyla®, Besponsa®, Mylotarg®, Polivy®, Padcev®, Enhertu®, Trodelvy®, Blenrep®, and Zynlonta™ as monotherapy or combinational therapy for breast cancer, urothelial cancer, myeloma, acute leukemia, and lymphoma. In addition, over 80 investigational ADCs are currently being evaluated in approximately 150 active clinical trials. Despite the growing interest in ADCs, challenges remain to expand their therapeutic index (with greater efficacy and less toxicity). Recent advances in the manufacturing technology for the antibody, payload, and linker combined with new bioconjugation platforms and state-of-the-art analytical techniques are helping to shape the future development of ADCs. This review highlights the current status of marketed ADCs and those under clinical investigation with a focus on translational strategies to improve product quality, safety, and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Q. Dean
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Shen Luo
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Julianne D. Twomey
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Baolin Zhang
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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