A HER2-specific Modified Fc Fragment (Fcab) Induces Antitumor Effects Through Degradation of HER2 and Apoptosis

FS102 is a HER2-specific Fcab (Fc fragment with antigen binding), which binds HER2 with high affinity and recognizes an epitope that does not overlap with those of trastuzumab or pertuzumab. In tumor cells that express high levels of HER2, FS102 caused profound HER2 internalization and degradation leading to tumor cell apoptosis. The antitumor effect of FS102 in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) correlated strongly with the HER2 amplification status of the tumors. Superior activity of FS102 over trastuzumab or the combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab was observed in vitro and in vivo when the gene copy number of HER2 was equal to or exceeded 10 per cell based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Thus, FS102 induced complete and sustained tumor regression in a significant proportion of HER2-high PDX tumor models. We hypothesize that the unique structure and/or epitope of FS102 enables the Fcab to internalize and degrade cell surface HER2 more efficiently than standard of care antibodies. In turn, increased depletion of HER2 commits the cells to apoptosis as a result of oncogene shock. FS102 has the potential of a biomarker-driven therapeutic that derives superior antitumor effects from a unique mechanism-of-action in tumor cells which are oncogenically addicted to the HER2 pathway due to overexpression.