From CNBC: 2025-06-17 13:39:00

Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are targeted medicines that deliver chemotherapy agents to cancer cells. These drugs have the potential to replace traditional chemotherapy with fewer side effects. Major pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Merck are investing heavily in developing ADCs to revolutionize cancer treatment and potentially generate significant revenue.

ADCs are designed to deliver potent chemotherapy directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. While progress has been made, it may take years before ADCs can replace chemotherapy more broadly. Companies are working on refining treatments to improve efficacy and safety, aiming to establish ADCs as a precision-based approach in cancer care.

Newer ADCs like Enhertu from AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo are leading the space with improved designs targeting specific proteins found in cancer cells. Enhertu, approved for certain cancers, delivers more chemotherapy per dose and can kill nearby cancer cells with lower protein levels. Data presented at ASCO suggests Enhertu could shift how breast cancer is treated and potentially become a first-line option.

Companies like Pfizer, Gilead, and AbbVie are also making strides in developing ADCs. Pfizer’s Adcetris and Padcev, combined with Keytruda, have proven effective in treating certain cancers and generated substantial sales. Gilead’s Trodelvy showed promise in lowering disease progression risk in patients with aggressive breast cancer. Despite setbacks, companies are learning from failures to refine ADCs and improve patient outcomes.

Drugmakers are innovating ADCs with new approaches to target specific cancer-causing proteins and improve treatment effectiveness. Companies like AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Eli Lilly are developing next-generation ADCs with non-chemotherapy payloads, bispecific ADCs, and new linker technologies to enhance efficacy and reduce side effects. The goal is to offer more precise and effective treatments for a wider range of cancers.

Combination therapies involving ADCs and other drugs, like immune checkpoint inhibitors, are seen as key to advancing cancer treatment. Pfizer and BioNTech are exploring combination approaches to enhance the effectiveness of ADCs. Companies like J&J are focusing on prostate cancer and planning to test ADCs in combination with T-cell engagers to further improve treatment outcomes. The future of cancer care may lie in innovative combinations of therapies to provide more effective and targeted treatments.



Read more at CNBC: Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck bet on chemo replacement