RE: Slowly Slowly Catchy Monkey9 Oct 2024 16:31
. . . and for good measure:
“prodrugs, like AVA6000, offer a targeted approach by activating drugs in the tumor microenvironment, they face some unique challenges that make them less attractive for large-scale investment:
Limited Precision Compared to ADCs: Prodrugs are typically activated by enzymes or conditions present in the tumor microenvironment, but this approach is generally less precise than ADCs, which target specific tumor-associated antigens on cancer cells. This lower specificity can reduce the effectiveness of prodrugs and lead to more systemic toxicity, limiting their appeal.
Narrower Applicability: Prodrugs often rely on specific enzymatic profiles in the tumor, which might not be as widely applicable as antigen targeting in ADCs. For example, a prodrug like AVA6000 depends on fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which is expressed in some, but not all, tumors. This limits the types of cancers that prodrugs can effectively treat, reducing their potential market.
Prodrugs are Not New: The concept of prodrugs has been around for decades, and while some prodrugs have seen success, their overall development trajectory has not been as revolutionary as newer platforms like ADCs or immunotherapies. This leads to less excitement and fewer breakthroughs compared to the innovative potential seen in ADCs.”
Goodnight