Antibody-Drug Conjugates: The Last Decade.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy.
• The development of ADCs has rapidly progressed, with a notable increase in FDA-approved agents and ongoing clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review FDA-approved and late-stage antibody-drug conjugates.
• To discuss the limitations of current ADCs, including toxicity and resistance mechanisms.
• To explore emerging strategies for enhancing ADC efficacy and therapeutic window.

Main Methods:

• Review of FDA-approved and late-stage antibody-drug conjugates.
• Analysis of toxicity and resistance mechanisms associated with ADCs.
• Discussion of novel strategies and combination therapies involving ADCs.

Main Results:

• Significant progress in ADC development, with 9 FDA-approved ADCs by 2020 and over 80 in clinical studies.
• Identification of key limitations such as toxicity and resistance.
• Emerging strategies aim to overcome these challenges and broaden therapeutic applications.

Conclusions:

• ADCs have evolved into a powerful class of vectorized chemotherapy with expanding clinical use.
• Addressing toxicity and resistance is crucial for maximizing ADC therapeutic potential.
• Future directions include combination therapies and applications beyond oncology to realize the full potential of ADCs.