An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) new drug candidate under development by Celltrion showed anticancer effects that suppress tumor growth in preclinical studies conducted on several solid tumors, including lung, colorectal, and gastric cancers.
Celltrion said on the 6th that it presented, in poster form, the preclinical study results for two ADC new drug candidates (CT-P70 and CT-P71) at World ADC 2025, which opens on the 5th (local time) in San Diego, United States.
An ADC is a form in which a drug is attached to an antibody that binds to cancer cells, allowing it to attack only cancer cells precisely like a guided missile. World ADC is the world's largest ADC conference, bringing together more than 1,200 experts and industry officials from around the world.
CT-P70 is an ADC therapy targeting solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Once activated in cancer cells, it attacks the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (cMET), which triggers tumor growth.
In particular, in experiments with cancer cells resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), a targeted therapy used for non-small cell lung cancer with mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is highly expressed in several cancer types, CT-P70 reduced cancer cell survival and blocked tumor growth. Similar anticancer effects were confirmed in other solid tumors such as colorectal and gastric cancers.
CT-P71, also unveiled the same day, is an ADC therapy under development targeting the treatment of solid tumors including bladder cancer, and targets Nectin-4, which is frequently observed to be highly expressed in urothelial carcinoma. In preclinical tests, it showed an anticancer effect at a level similar to Padcev (generic name enfortumab vedotin), an ADC therapy from Astellas and Pfizer, and it maintained efficacy even in models resistant to Padcev.
Celltrion expects that the high safety of the drug (payload) conjugated to the antibody will maximize efficacy without side effects even with higher dosing.
Both therapies are currently in phase 1 clinical trials in Korea and the United States, and the company is aiming to develop a "best-in-class" ADC new drug based on these nonclinical results.
A Celltrion official said, "This presentation is an achievement that recognizes the competitiveness of our in-house developed ADC new drugs on the global stage," and added, "We will produce excellent results in the clinical phase as well to strengthen global competitiveness in the antibody new drug field."