AstraZeneca Unveils In-House ADCs, Rivaling AbbVie and Pfizer’s Cancer Therapies

AstraZeneca's ADC Expansion:
AstraZeneca has shared early data on its in-house ADC technology, which could compete with molecules from AbbVie and Pfizer, marking a significant step in its oncology pipeline.

Partnership with Daiichi Sankyo:
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo have a successful partnership, notably with Enhertu, which brought in $2.5 billion in sales in 2023, almost doubling from the previous year.

Enhertu's Success:
Enhertu has secured multiple approvals and changed the treatment landscape for certain breast cancers, demonstrating the potential of ADCs in targeted therapies.

Diversification of ADC Portfolio:
AstraZeneca is advancing other ADCs, including those for lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lung cancer, such as datopotamab deruxtecan, which could be approved later this year.

Safety Concerns:
The safety of ADCs, particularly Dato-DXd, has been a focus, with concerns over interstitial lung disease (ILD) and fatal adverse events, though recent data showed no new safety signals.

Future of ADCs:
The combination of ADCs with immunotherapies is expected to change the first line of treatment by combining immune system enhancement and directed therapy, according to Carlos Doti, vice president and head of medical affairs for AstraZeneca's U.S. oncology division.