Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs)

Unlike conventional chemotherapy treatments, which can damage healthy cells, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are targeted medicines that deliver chemotherapy agents to cancer cells. ADCs deliver the chemotherapy via a linker attached to a monoclonal antibody that binds to a specific target expressed on cancer cells. After binding to the target (cancer protein or receptor), the ADC releases a cytotoxic drug into the cancer cell. Because of this mechanism, ADCs are also referred to as “biologic missiles”. Several ADCs are already successfully used in the treatment metastatic breast cancer. Many others are in clinical trials and waiting for their FDA approval.