Immune checkpoint inhibitor of BMS born after 8 years
ABL Bio ABL501, two targets at the same time
Disadvantages of combination therapy Expensive treatment cost and side effects
A promising technology that can complement ABL501 combination therapy [Edaily Kim Yu-rim] The US Food and Drug Administrations approval for Opduallag, a new immuno-oncology drug from Global Big Pharma BMS, has declined. Among domestic anticancer drug development companies, ABL501, which is being developed by ABL Bio, is attracting attention as it targets two targets like Opdualas.
On the 18th, it was reported that an immunotherapy drug targeting the immune checkpoint called LAG-3 was born. It said that permission was granted. It is an immuno-oncology drug that was born eight years after Opdivo was approved in 2014.
Opdualag is a fixed-dose combination therapy of the LAG-3 antibody relatlimab and the PD-1 antibody Opdivo. In the 2/3 phase of the RELATIVITY-047 clinical trial, which was the basis for approval, Opdualag showed an improved median progression-free survival period of 10.1 months compared to Opdivo monotherapy and met the primary endpoint.
In addition, it has been confirmed that toxic side effects have been reduced compared to the combined administration of the CTLA-4 antibody Yervoy and Opdivo, one of the standard treatments, and it is expected to become a major treatment for melanoma in the future.
Among the new drug candidates under development in Korea, ABL501 of ABL Bio simultaneously targets PD-L1 and LAG-3. ABL Bio is famous for biotech, which recently created a large deal with Big Pharma Sanofi.
ABL501, a solid cancer treatment candidate, is to increase the low response rate, which is a disadvantage of existing PD-1 immunotherapy, by adding a LAG-3 antibody that restores the oncolytic function of T cells, and to provide a new treatment option to patients with resistance. In fact, ABL501 has confirmed improved anticancer effects compared to LAG-3 monotherapy, PD-L1 monotherapy, and LAG-3 and PD-L1 combination therapy in preclinical trials, ABL Bio explained.
An ABL Bio official said, “In particular, in the case of a dual antibody such as ABL501, the prospect is brighter as it is considered as a promising technology that can compensate for the high cost of treatment and side effects, which are the disadvantages of combination therapy. A therapeutic agent must be used, but a dual antibody can target two antigens with one therapeutic agent. In addition, the probability of off-target side effects occurring is low by activating T cells only in the tumor microenvironment where cancer cells exist, compared to administering a single antibody in combination.”
ABL501 is currently undergoing phase 1 clinical cohort 3 in Korea. ABL Bio plans to conduct global clinical trials after confirming drug safety and appropriate dosage in domestic clinical trials. In November of last year, ABL501 was selected as a new drug clinical development project in the National New Drug Development Project, and ABL Bio is receiving R&D funding for phase 1 clinical trials from the government.
