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Updated: May 29, 2026

Genetic Encoding of a Non-Canonical Amino Acid for the Generation of Antibody-Drug Conjugates Through a Fast Bioorthogonal Reaction
Published on: September 14, 2018
A novel pathway for maytansinoid release from thioether linked antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) under oxidative
Nathan Fishkin1, Erin K Maloney, Ravi V J Chari
1ImmunoGen, Inc., 830 Winter Street, Waltham, MA, USA. nfishkin@immunogen.com
Abstract:
A novel pathway for ex vivo maytansinoid release from thioether linked antibody maytansinoid conjugates (AMCs) upon incubation in human plasma has been identified. A thioether succinimide-linked AMC can undergo chemical oxidation followed by sulfoxide elimination under mild aqueous conditions (pH 5.5-7.5, 37 °C). Oxidized thioether-linked AMCs exhibit high, target-specific cytotoxicity toward cancer cells.
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