Antibody-drug conjugates for targeted delivery

The antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approach is a breakthrough in cancer therapeutics. It is specifically designed for targeted drug delivery by using the humanized monoclonal antibody (corresponding to the antigen present in the cancerous tissue) and cytotoxic agent (payload) via a constructed handle (linker). During the last 2 decades, ADCs have made remarkable progress. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use 11 years ago; nine FDA-approved ADCs are available on the market since then. There are almost 90 late-stage ADCs are active in clinical studies. These ADCs are facing mainly toxicity and antibody aggregation-related limitations. To address these issues, conjugation chemistry and biorthogonal chemistry are emerging rapidly. These contemporary attempts are helping to widen the chemotherapeutic window in a greener and sustainable way beyond oncology.