On November 12, 2018 PharmaMar (MSE:PHM) reported a new Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) MI180021, the result of linking trastuzumab with the marine molecule PM160057 (Press release, PharmaMar, NOV 12, 2018, View Source [SID1234531335]). This will be presented at the World ADC Congress in San Diego, from 12-15 November 2018.
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PharmaMar’s poster has been selected as one of the top five for an oral presentation at the Congress.
This ADC has shown potent and highly selective activity in tumor cells that overexpress HER2, as found in certain breast, gastric and pancreas cancers, among others.
PM160057 belongs to a new family of molecules of marine origin that kill tumor cells by binding to DNA. This family of new chemical structures with novel mechanisms of action offer the opportunity to develop a new generation of ADCs (also called "magic bullets").
This discovery reinforces the strategy of PharmaMar’s unit dedicated to obtaining compounds for the use of active agents in ADCs. This research has already led to the licensing of the first family of active molecules to Seattle Genetics, world leader in ADCs, for which PharmaMar received an initial payment of $5 million.
According to Carmen Cuevas, Director of R&D at PharmaMar, "MI180021 has a high selectivity against cancer cells that overexpress HER2 receptor, providing a new oportunity to treat patients with these types of cancers, such as breast, gastric and pancreatic."
About ADCs
ADCs are innovative, next-generation immunotherapeutic agents. ADCs consist of an antibody that identifies and targets antigens on the surface of certain tumor cells, a molecule with anti-tumor activity, and a connector that binds them together.
Despite more than 30 years of research to develop ADCs, there are currently only four FDA-approved conjugate antibodies (Kadcyla, Adcetris, Besponsa, and Mylotarg), two of which incorporate microtubule inhibitors (auristatins and maytansins) as active charge; and the other two, using a compound that interacts with DNA (calicheamicin).
Agents that interact with DNA are widely used in cancer treatment.
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