Our Expertise in Antibody-Drug Conjugates

For several years, we have been developing Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) and actively working to establish our own proprietary linker technology platform. With a number of our cross-functional scientific teams engaging in ADC conjugation, optimization, PK/PD, toxicology, translational medicine, clinical development and supply chain, our ambition is to develop first-in-class and best-in-class ADCs against hard-to-treat cancers.

What are ADCs?

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) are a class of targeted therapies in which a monoclonal antibody is connected to a biologically active, small molecule cytotoxic drug cargo using a linker [1-2]. Upon docking a targeted tumor antigen at the surface of cancer cells, the ADC is internalized, and the cytotoxic cargo is released through the enzymatic cleavage of the linker. Release of the cytotoxic cargo in cancer cells will induce cell death. An essential component of the ADC is the linker, which should be stable when the antibody is circulating in the vascular system but should be labile when the ADC is internalized into cancer cells. Such features allow for improved safety and efficacy.

1. Hamilton GS.2015 2. Pettinato MC.2021

Our ADC portfolio leveraging a trifecta approach

“ADCs have the potential to deliver potent cytotoxic therapy directly to tumor cells and in a safer way. We’re investing in the optimization and innovation of the 3 key ADC components: the antibody, the linker and the payload in order to generate differentiated ADCs.”

Frederic Levy Chief Scientific Officer

We’re developing fit-for-purpose antibody drug conjugates through a tailored “trifecta” approach: strategic target selection, innovative Multilink™ linker technology and smart payload choices. Our portfolio consists of ADCs with first-in-class and best-in-class potential, including Debio 1562M, a CD37-targeted ADC for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and Debio 0532, an HER3-targeted ADC for the treatment of various solid tumors. Key partnerships also comprise options to in-license bispecific antibodies targeting HER2-HER3 and HER3-EGFR along with other undisclosed targets.