In our latest feature, ‘Advancing Therapeutic Solutions with Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs),’ we explore the significant strides made in oncology through ADCs since the first FDA approval in 2000. Highlighting a market now valued in the billions, this article delves into the complex design and development processes of ADCs and examines their potential to expand therapeutic applications beyond cancer.
As promising therapeutic agents for treating oncology indications, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have become prominent in the biopharmaceutical market in recent years. The approval of the first ADC in 2000 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat acute myeloid leukaemia prompted a move in the oncology space toward targeted cancer therapy.1 As of June 2023, 11 ADCs are available on the market, having gained the FDA approval for treating a range of cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and cervical and ovarian cancer.2 With the global ADC market valued at $8.6 billion in 2022, and forecast to reach $23.9 billion by 2032, research into this promising drug method will continue to transform the therapeutic landscape.3 However, the complexity of ADCs means their design, development, and manufacturing are multifaceted, with many challenges that must be overcome to successfully deliver these therapies to the patients who need them.
In this article, Louise Duffy, Chief Technical Officer (CTO), and Campbell Bunce, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at Abzena, explore how innovation in the biopharma sector is driving the development of novel ADCs to treat indications beyond cancer. They also examine the difficulties that drug developers and manufacturers must overcome to ensure ADC development and manufacturing success.
