1. Pfizer acquired antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) pioneer Seagen for $43 billion, with other biopharma giants like AstraZeneca, BioNTech, and Bristol-Myers Squibb investing in ADCs as well.
2. AstraZeneca spent $63 million upfront for global rights to a KYM Biosciences ADC, while BioNTech signed a $170 million licensing deal for exclusive access to two ADCs from Duality Biologics.
3. Fifty-seven ADCs entered Phase I clinical trials in 2022, an increase of over 20 from the previous year.
4. Gilead's ADC Trodelvy earned $222 million in Q1 2023, a 52% increase from the previous year.
5. ADCs are gaining popularity due to technological advancements and profit potential.
6. Pfizer's acquisition of Seagen would add four cancer medicines, including three ADCs, to its existing portfolio of 24 approved cancer drugs.
7. ADC technology, which combines targeted therapy with chemotherapy, has been around since 2000, with over 14 ADCs receiving market approval worldwide.
8. Between 2019 and 2022, eight ADCs received FDA approval, boosting industry confidence in the technology.
9. ADCs are considered complex and difficult to replicate, reducing the risk of biosimilars and allowing developers to maintain high prices for consumers.
10. The main drawback of ADCs is that tumors develop resistance over time, and toxicity can be a concern as cytotoxic payloads become more potent.