Preface for special issue: "Emerging strategies, technologies, and approaches for the next generation ADCs"

1. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent an advanced category of biotherapeutic agents, typically consisting of an antibody bound to a biologically-active cytotoxic agent. Since the first ADC, Mylotarg^TM, was approved in 2000, there have been fifteen ADCs sanctioned to date, with thirteen receiving approval from the FDA for the treatment of a variety of cancers, including blood malignancies and solid tumors.

2. In this Special Issue of Xenobiotica focusing on ADCs, our goal is to compile a collection of papers, featuring both original research and review articles authored by specialists in academia and the pharmaceutical industry, to showcase some of the historical insights gained, current progress, and future prospects to enhance comprehension and tackle obstacles in the field of ADC development for cancer therapy.

3. This special issue features articles that evaluate key components of ADC development, including payload design, innovative linker chemistries, and the use of new technologies for site-specific conjugations beyond traditional engineered cysteines. It also spotlights cutting-edge ADC structures like bispecific ADCs, dual-payload ADCs, targeted nanoparticles and antibody oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs).

4. Several other papers discuss bioanalytical and ADME strategies for ADCs as well. In addition, approaches to improve the translation of pharmacokinetics, safety, and therapeutic index (TI) of ADCs are presented.