AstraZeneca's In-House ADC Pipeline Shows Promise at ESMO

AstraZeneca showcased promising data for its proprietary antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) pipeline at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference in Berlin, reinforcing the company's strategy to develop next-generation ADCs internally. The pharmaceutical giant presented results from a first-in-human study of AZD5335, a folate receptor α (FRα)-targeted ADC, demonstrating significant efficacy in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients.

AZD5335 Shows Encouraging Results in Ovarian Cancer

The phase 1/2a study of AZD5335 involved 189 patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Across the 1.6 mg/kg to 2.4 mg/kg dose range, 56.2% of patients did not experience cancer progression at a median follow-up of 7.8 months. The overall response rates were impressive, with 56%, 56.1%, and 49.2% for the 1.6 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, and 2.4 mg/kg cohorts, respectively.

Matt Hellmann, Vice President of Early Oncology Development at AstraZeneca, stated that the response rate "looks great" and "validates the platform." He emphasized the stability of the linker payload, which is crucial for building a future portfolio of ADCs.

Regarding safety, neutropenia was the most common treatment-related adverse event, with grade 3 or above cases affecting 45.9% of patients in the 2.4 mg/kg dose cohort. Hellmann noted that the safety profile was "very reassuring" across the dose range, particularly highlighting the absence of significant toxicities in the lower dose cohorts.

AstraZeneca's Strategic Focus on In-House ADC Development

AstraZeneca's success with ADCs like Enhertu and Datroway, developed in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, has fueled the company's investment in its internal ADC pipeline. The pharmaceutical firm now boasts seven in-house ADCs targeting various solid tumors and hematological malignancies.

Hellmann emphasized the company's commitment to building a proprietary ADC portfolio, stating, "We've invested over the long haul in building a proprietary ADC portfolio that is aimed towards trying to deliver the thesis that ADCs can displace chemotherapy."

AstraZeneca's approach sets it apart from competitors who have primarily entered the ADC space through mergers, acquisitions, or licensing deals. Hellmann highlighted the advantage of their strategy, saying, "We're one of the very few that have invested in building [a] platform and the surface marker library, so that we can put the right targets with the right warheads in a multiplicity of ways."

As the ADC market becomes increasingly competitive, AstraZeneca remains confident in its ability to maintain a strong position through continued innovation in linker-payload technology and a focus on developing a diverse range of ADC candidates internally.