ADC molecules deciphered

The granting of international non-proprietary names is often of little interest, but in the case of ADCs these can provide valuable insight into individual molecules' make-up. For instance, it was only when Kelun/Merck & Co's SKB264/MK-2870 was named sacituzumab tirumotecan in 2023 that it became widely known that this anti-TROP2 ADC used the same antibody as Gilead's Trodelvy. When INNs are proposed this is published by the World Health Organization, and updated on the OncologyPipeline database. The latest, 132nd, iteration of the WHO list reveals, for instance, that Takeda's anti-CCR2 ADC TAK-500 uses the MAb plozalizumab, while Alphamab's JSKN003 the anti-HER2 x HER2 MAb anbenitamab. The Takeda project is notable for being linked to a Sting agonist payload, and this has been named plevistinag. Torl's anti-Claudin6 ADC TORL-1-23, which impressed at ESMO, becomes ixotatug vedotin, confirming its payload to be MMAE – a feature it shares with three newly named ADCs that target Claudin18.2, including LaNova's LM-302, which was dropped by Bristol Myers Squibb. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca's shot at FRα blockade, AZD5335, whose topo1 payload was previously coded AZ14170132, and came from the 2013 Spirogen acquisition, is confirmed as carrying the same payload as the group's underwhelming B7-H4 asset puxitatug samrotecan.

ADCs with recently proposed INNs

Source: WHO & OncologyPipeline.