A tumor-targeted Bavencio conjugate with enhanced antitumor efficacy

INDICATION: Melanoma

Coupling a pegylated α-MSH analog to anti-PD-1 antibodies could enhance antitumor immunity. α-MSH is the ligand for MC1R, a receptor upregulated in melanoma cells. Conjugating the α-MSH analog to the Fc domain of Bavencio avelumab enabled the anti-PD-L1 mAb to bind MC1R in vitro with an EC₅₀ of 1.72 nM, and did not compromise binding to PD-L1. In a melanoma mouse model, the antibody conjugate inhibited tumor growth and led to more lymphocytes in the tumors compared with Bavencio alone. ...