Korean firms lead the charge in the ADC market
![A researcher at an AbTis laboratory. [DONG-A ST]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/10981848.webp?imageId=10981848&width=960&height=640&format=jpg)
A new trend is sweeping the global oncology market: antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
Pharmaceutical companies developing ADCs are gaining traction, raising interest in the compounds that will follow.
In 2020, global biopharma company Gilead Sciences acquired Immunomedics for $21 billion, primarily to obtain Trodelvy, an ADC developed by Immunomedics. Trodelvy targets metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC), one of the most challenging cancers to treat. Since its release in 2020, the drug has prospered, racking up $1.63 billion in sales by 2023.
What sets ADCs apart in the oncology market is their treatment accuracy and minimal side effects. ADCs are designed so that the antibody delivers highly toxic drug molecules, known as "payloads," directly to specific cancer cells. This targeted approach spares normal cells, leading to enhanced effects with fewer side effects.
As antibodies improve at targeting cancer cells and payloads become more potent, new research indicates that ADCs can also effectively treat difficult cancers, including solid tumors and hematologic cancers. With various combinations of antibodies and drugs, ADCs can be extended to treat a wide range of cancers.
Many Korean pharmaceutical companies are also on track to develop ADCs. Following its 2023 acquisition of AbTis, a company specializing in ADCs, Dong-A ST is focusing on this innovative space. AbTis developed AbClick, a third generation of ADC linker technology that can conjugate drugs to antibodies without modifying the antibodies themselves, ensuring consistent production quality.
AbTis has established collaborations with numerous firms, including Progen and Oncobix, and signed a cooperation contract in ARC development with Cellbion this year.
Furthermore, AT-211 (Claudin 18.2), a pipeline drug under development, is being prepared for clinical trials. If all goes smoothly, these trials are expected to commence early next year.
Regarding AT-211, an associate from AbTis stated, “AT-211 has shown excellent safety and effectiveness in the preclinical trials,” adding, “we hope to showcase AbTis’s technical skills through the clinical trials.”
BY KIM YEONSOO [kim.yeonsoo1@joongang.co.kr]
