ADC & Drug Science

The science of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs): antibodies, linkers, cytotoxic payloads, conjugation, the drug-to-antibody ratio, and how these targeted therapies attack tumor cells.

Key terms & definitions

23 terms in this pack

ADC

Antibody-drug ___, the targeted modality your company makes (abbr.)

ANTIBODY

The targeting protein at the front of an ADC

ANTIGEN

The cell-surface target an antibody is designed to recognize

AURISTATIN

Tubulin-binding payload class; MMAE is the best-known example

BIOCONJUGATION

The chemistry of attaching a payload to an antibody

BYSTANDER

___ effect: released payload also kills neighboring tumor cells

CALICHEAMICIN

DNA-cleaving ADC payload class used in gemtuzumab

CLEAVABLE

Linker type cut by enzymes inside the tumor cell to release the payload

CONJUGATE

To chemically join the payload to the antibody; the C in ADC

CYTOTOXIN

A cell-killing compound used as an ADC payload

DAR

Drug-to-antibody ratio, a key ADC quality attribute (acronym)

EPITOPE

The specific spot on an antigen the antibody binds

INTERNALIZE

What the cell does to the ADC after the antibody binds its antigen

LINKER

Chemical bridge joining the antibody to its payload

MAYTANSINOID

Payload class such as DM1 that blocks microtubule formation

MONOCLONAL

___ antibody: identical clones all targeting one epitope

NAKED

A ___ antibody carries no payload

NONCLEAVABLE

Stable linker; the antibody is digested to free the active drug

ONCOLOGY

The cancer-focused therapeutic area you support

PAYLOAD

The cytotoxic agent conjugated to the antibody

POTENCY

How much drug is needed for a biological effect

TUBULIN

Cell protein many ADC payloads disrupt to stop division

TUMOR

The target tissue an ADC is designed to attack