Recent progress in cadonilimab research for oncology applications

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Drug Development

Background:

• Cadonilimab is China's first bispecific antibody targeting both Programmed Cell Death Protein-1 (PD-1) and Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte-Associated Antigen-4 (CTLA-4).
• It simultaneously blocks PD-1 and CTLA-4 signaling, activating T cells and enhancing antitumor immune responses.
• This dual action promotes effector T-cell infiltration in tumors while minimizing adverse events in normal tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanism of action, structural characteristics, and clinical progress of cadonilimab.
• To evaluate its potential in treating various refractory solid tumors.
• To provide insights for future research and clinical applications in cancer immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing clinical studies (Phase I/II) on cadonilimab.
• Analysis of its efficacy and safety profiles in monotherapy and combination regimens.
• Assessment of its performance in patients with varying PD-L1 expression levels.

Main Results:

• Cadonilimab demonstrates promising antitumor activity and tolerability in advanced cervical cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and gastric cancer.
• It shows notable efficacy even in patients with low or negative PD-L1 expression.
• The antibody exhibits superior selectivity and safety compared to conventional monospecific antibodies.

Conclusions:

• Cadonilimab represents a significant advancement in cancer immunotherapy, showcasing China's innovative drug development capabilities.
• It offers a valuable therapeutic option for refractory solid tumors, with potential for broader application.
• Further head-to-head randomized trials are necessary to establish superiority over current standard treatments.