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Review
. 2024 Feb 3;16(2):221.
doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020221.

Recent Technological and Intellectual Property Trends in Antibody-Drug Conjugate Research

Youngbo Choi  1   2 , Youbeen Choi  3 , Surin Hong  3
Affiliations
Review

Recent Technological and Intellectual Property Trends in Antibody-Drug Conjugate Research

Youngbo Choi et al. Pharmaceutics. .

Abstract

Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy, an advanced therapeutic technology comprising antibodies, chemical linkers, and cytotoxic payloads, addresses the limitations of traditional chemotherapy. This study explores key elements of ADC therapy, focusing on antibody development, linker design, and cytotoxic payload delivery. The global rise in cancer incidence has driven increased investment in anticancer agents, resulting in significant growth in the ADC therapy market. Over the past two decades, notable progress has been made, with approvals for 14 ADC treatments targeting various cancers by 2022. Diverse ADC therapies for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors have emerged, with numerous candidates currently undergoing clinical trials. Recent years have seen a noteworthy increase in ADC therapy clinical trials, marked by the initiation of numerous new therapies in 2022. Research and development, coupled with patent applications, have intensified, notably from major companies like Pfizer Inc. (New York, NY, USA), AbbVie Pharmaceuticals Inc. (USA), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Tarrytown, NY, USA), and Seagen Inc. (Bothell, WA, USA). While ADC therapy holds great promise in anticancer treatment, challenges persist, including premature payload release and immune-related side effects. Ongoing research and innovation are crucial for advancing ADC therapy. Future developments may include novel conjugation methods, stable linker designs, efficient payload delivery technologies, and integration with nanotechnology, driving the evolution of ADC therapy in anticancer treatment.

Keywords: antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs); innovation; intellectual property (IP) landscape; key players; market; technology trends.

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Conflict of interest statement

The manuscript submitted here has not been published or presented elsewhere, either in part or in its entirety, and is not currently under consideration by any other journal. We have thoroughly reviewed and understood the policies of your journal, and we affirm that this manuscript and the study described within it comply with these policies. Additionally, we declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this submission.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Characteristics and structure of ADC [1]. Copyright 2022 Springer Nature.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Timeline depicting important events in the development and approval of ADC drugs over the past century since the ‘magic bullet’ was proposed by Paul Enrlich in 1910 [1]. Copyright 2022 Springer Nature.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The proportion of ADCs by mechanism of action [67].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Classification of biopharmaceutical patent technology based on core technologies of biological materials.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Patent office-specific counts and proportions of patent applications for biopharmaceutical technologies.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Patent office-specific counts and proportions of patent applications for ADC technologies.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Patent application trends for ADC therapies by patent office.
Figure 8
Figure 8
World’s major patent applicants and number of patent filings in ADC therapy.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Recent research and development activity of key patent applicants in ADC therapy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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