Web Page Update SRNE seems to be revamping their web pages and I bet more come out next week. Here is one:
Antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology attaches potent toxins to highly target-specific antibodies aimed at attacking tumor cells, and have become a promising class of cancer therapeutics with the recent FDA approvals of two ADCs: Adcetris® and Kadcyla®. However, ADCs have been limited by first-generation conjugation technologies.
First-generation conjugation technologies are unable to ensure consistent drug-antibody ratios, which results in a heterogeneous mixture of ADCs, potentially negatively affecting safety and efficacy. ADCs with too few drugs attached may have limited therapeutic value, while those with too many drugs may be too toxic in patients.
This variability has been a constraining factor in unlocking the full therapeutic potential of ADCs.
A Wholly-Owned Suite of Next-Generation ADCs
Sorrento is developing next-generation ADCs using proprietary C-lock® and K-lock® conjugation technologies that allow for precise, site-specific conjugation of toxins to the antibody, as well as improved stability and potency of the ADC.
The K-lock technology allows for consistent and exquisite site-specific conjugation of the drug and, as a result, offers the potential for improved safety and efficacy profiles in therapeutics. The C-lock technology structurally stabilizes the ADC, thereby preventing the drug payload from being released prematurely, which leads to toxicity and off-target effects.
Sorrento has a portfolio of toxins that can be linked to the targeting antibody. These toxins are proprietary novel chemical entities and utilize a variety of distinct mechanisms of action to kill the tumor cells.
The current drawback has been that many toxins are highly potent, however, their therapeutic use has been limited by off-target effects because the antibody or linker technology was not effective enough to precisely deliver the toxic payload to the tumor site. Using the improved conjugation chemistry of Sorrento’s ADC technology, the potency of these toxins can be harnessed for potential therapeutic use.
In preclinical models, the potency of a toxin in Sorrento’s portfolio has demonstrated higher potency than DM1, the toxin used in the anti-Her2 ADC Kadcyla.
A Competitive Advantage
By owning all required components for ADC development – antibodies, conjugation chemistry and potent drug payloads – Sorrento can create ADCs free of royalties or milestone fees, representing a distinct and unique advantage in the field for internal ADC development as well as partnerships.
Sorrento’s lead ADC program targets VEGFR2 and is expected to reach the clinic in 2016.