Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC)

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are one of the fastest-growing anti-cancer drugs. This approach comprises a monoclonal antibody conjugated to the cytotoxic payload via a chemical linker that directed towards a target antigen expressed on the cancer cell surface.  Selection of an appropriate target, a monoclonal antibody, cytotoxic payload, and the manner in which the antibody is linked to the payload are key determinants of the safety and efficacy of ADCs. 
This technology consists of highly specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) attached to extremely cytotoxic agents with the help  linkers. ADCs empowers selective delivery of highly potent drugs to tumor cells while sparing healthy cells, attenuating the main clinical obstacle of traditional chemotherapy, thus providing a broad therapeutic window. ADCs are administered intravenously in order to prevent the mAb from being destroyed by gastric acids and proteolytic enzymes. The mAb component of the ADC enables it to circulate in the bloodstream until it finds and binds to tumor-specific cell surface antigens present on target cancer cells. Linker chemistry is an important determinant of the safety, specificity, potency and activity of ADCs. Linkers are designed to be stable in the blood stream  and labile at the cancer site to allow rapid release of the cytotoxic drug.