Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) ABBV-400 and ABBV-706 were the focus of new data presented by AbbVie at this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, targeting high-need areas in solid tumors. The focus was on tackling diseases that have shown limited progress with traditional chemotherapy over the past decades, particularly colorectal cancer and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
ABBV-400 is a next-generation c-Met targeted ADC with a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (Top1i) payload. This payload is designed to effectively target and destroy cancer cells. The Phase I data presented at ASCO involved heavily pretreated patients, most of whom had undergone at least four to five lines of therapy. Typically, these patients have very limited treatment options, with response rates to chemotherapy in the low single digits, around 5%.
However, ABBV-400 showed a promising response rate of 20% to 24% across two dosage levels. More notably, in patients with higher expression of c-Met, the response rate increased to an impressive 38%. This significant improvement suggests that ABBV-400 could offer new hope for patients who have exhausted other treatment options, particularly in colorectal cancer, where survival rates in the metastatic setting remain alarmingly low despite advancements.
Antibody-Drug Conjugates ABBV-706 Shows Promising Results in SCLC Trial
ABBV-706, tested in a first-in-human trial, also showed promising results. The dose-escalation study included 23 patients with SCLC, a type of lung cancer where only 3 out of 100 patients survived more than five years. The patients in this study had an average of three prior lines of therapy. The results were encouraging, with a response rate of approximately 60% and a disease control rate of over 90%. This means that nearly all patients experienced some benefit from the drug, showcasing its potential efficacy in treating SCLC, a cancer type with historically low survival rates and limited treatment options.
Valencia from AbbVie emphasized the company’s focus on solid tumors, particularly those treated primarily with decades-old chemotherapy regimens and having poor survival outcomes. Colorectal cancer and SCLC are prime examples of such conditions, with metastatic colorectal cancer patients typically surviving no more than a year and SCLC patients having very low five-year survival rates.
The data presented at ASCO highlights AbbVie’s commitment to addressing these unmet needs through innovative treatments like ABBV-400 and ABBV-706. By targeting specific mechanisms within cancer cells, these antibody-drug conjugates offer a new approach that goes beyond traditional chemotherapy, potentially improving outcomes for patients with limited options.
Promising Results for AbbVie’s Antibody-Drug Conjugates Highlight Future Cancer Therapy Potential
The promising results from these studies are exciting for both researchers and patients. The higher response rates and disease control rates compared to existing treatments suggest that ABBV-400 and ABBV-706 could play significant roles in future cancer therapies. These antibody-drug conjugates represent a step forward in precision medicine, targeting cancer cells more effectively and potentially reducing the side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy.
AbbVie’s work with antibody-drug conjugates is part of a broader trend in oncology, where targeted therapies are becoming increasingly important. By focusing on specific targets like c-Met and developing drugs that can more precisely attack cancer cells, companies like AbbVie are paving the way for more personalized and effective cancer treatments.
The new data presented at ASCO 2024 underscores the potential of antibody-drug conjugates in transforming the treatment landscape for high-need cancer indications. ABBV-400 and ABBV-706 demonstrate significant promise in improving outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer and small cell lung cancer, respectively. As these antibody-drug conjugates continue to be developed and tested, they could offer new hope to patients who have exhausted other treatment options, ultimately contributing to better survival rates and quality of life for those battling these challenging cancers.
Resource: PharmExec, June 13, 2024
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