Antibody-Prodrug Conjugate
Abundant Biopharma is advancing a new generation of targeted cancer therapies through Antibody-Prodrug Conjugation, or APDC. The platform is designed to improve on conventional ADC approaches by introducing an added layer of biological control over when and where the payload becomes active.
Rather than relying solely on antibody targeting, APDC is intended to keep the therapeutic payload in a low-activity or inactive prodrug form until it encounters tumor-specific conditions. This strategy is designed to reduce off-target exposure and improve the therapeutic window for potent oncology agents.
ADC & Mechanism
Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) are a class of targeted cancer therapies designed to deliver potent cytotoxic drugs specifically to cancer cells by linking them to monoclonal antibodies that recognize tumor-associated antigens.
Toxicity Issue of ADCs
Despite their targeted design, Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) can still cause significant toxicity due to factors such as off-target effects, premature payload release, and bystander killing of nearby healthy cells.
APDC Mechanism
Tumor-specific conditions used for prodrug activation include: acidic pH (low pH in endosomes/lysosomes), hypoxia (low oxygen levels in cancer cells), and overexpressed enzymes, such as cathepsins.
APDC Advantages
The Antibody-Prodrug Conjugate (APDC) approach reduces systemic toxicity and off-target effects.