One of the 54th ASH Annual Meeting Presentations: SGEN' Antibody-drug Conjugate Hit a Hope for the Treatment of AML

This year as usual on the 54th American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting, there were lot of new findings and explorations were presented and shared. One of them, the Seattle Genetics ($SGEN) gave a brief presentations on SGN-CD33A, which is one of its early-stage next-generation antibody-drug conjugates.

Research targets on antibody-drug conjugates are a growing field even though the fact that the first marketed antibody-drug conjugate, Mylotarg, developed by Pfizer ($PFE) was pulled back in 2010 for lack of efficacy. Now Roche's ($RHHBY) T-DM1 is approaching to hit market, as it is up for priority review with the FDA, with a decision due by late February.

While Seattle Genetics already have about 30 antibody-drug conjugates are in development, and more than half of these use its next-generation technologies. The one they presented on the meeting, SGN-CD33A, though is just in cell lines and mice. But the results shows hope for a treatment for drug-resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a blood cancer with poor outcomes.

SGN-CD33A is made up of an antibody that targets the myeloid differentiation antigen CD33, hooked up to pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer, a highly potent cancer drug.

In AML cells on the bench, at low doses, SGN-CD33A was quickly pulled inside the cells and damaged the DNA, leading to apoptosis. Moreover, it was also effective even in cells resistant to a number of other anti-leukemic agents. In mice models of AML, SGN-CD33A delayed tumor growth and improved survival. Now SGEN is planning a Phase I clinical trial for next year.

Because the much specifically targeted effect, antibody-drug conjugates have potential to increase the efficacy of cancer treatment and reduce its side effects.

 

Article Link: One of the 54th ASH Annual Meeting Presentations: SGEN' Antibody-drug Conjugate Hit a Hope for the Treatment of AML