Antibody-Drug Conjugates Continue to Gain Momentum

06/01/2012

Antibody-Drug Conjugates Continue to Gain Momentum

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are continuing to garner greater attention in the treatment of cancers and are being prominently discussed at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) this year. Both Genentech's (and partner Immunogen) T-DM1 -- a souped of version of herceptin -- and Seattle Genetics' Adcetris will be prominently featured for the treatment of breast cancer and lymphoma respectively. Success of these companies is further paving the way for other therapies using the antibody linked to chemotoxin strategy. See Fierce Biotech.

Venture groups, like Celtic Therapeutics, have invested more than $50 M in the development of future ADCs. Says Celtics managing partner, Stephen Evans-Freke, "I don't think there is a mjor pharma or a midsized pharma with interest in cancer that doesn't have a program or isn't scrambling to put one together."

Xconomy's, Luke Timmerman, wrote another good story on ADCs coming of age this week -- and profiled a dozen or more companies actively pursuing programs. This included not only the 3 companies mentioned above but companies like BMS, Sutro Biopharma, Ambrx, CytomX Therapeutics, Allozyne, Igencia, Spirogen, Centrose, Mersana Therapeutics, PolyTherics and more. See Xconomy.

For those with further interest in this area, the 3rd Annual ADC Meeting is being held in San Francisco from October 23-26th. Look here to see a draft agenda, Download ADC Agenda.

Posted by Bruce Lehr June 1st 2012.

Posted at 04:35 PM in Antibody Drug Conjugates, Oncology | Permalink