The commercial development of antibody therapeutics is a global enterprise involving thousands of biopharmaceutical firms and supporting service organizations. To date, their combined efforts have resulted in over 200 marketed antibody therapeutics and a pipeline of nearly 1,400 investigational product candidates that are undergoing evaluation in clinical studies as treatments for a wide variety of diseases. Here, we discuss key events in antibody therapeutics development that occurred during 2024 and forecast key events related to the late-stage clinical pipeline that may occur in 2025. In particular, we report on 21 antibody therapeutics granted a first approval in at least one country or region during 2024, including bispecific antibodies tarlatamab (IMDELLTRA®), zanidatamab (Ziihera®), zenocutuzumab (BIZENGRI®), odronextamab (Ordspono®), ivonescimab (®), and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) sacituzumab tirumotecan (®). We also discuss 30 investigational antibody therapeutics for which marketing applications were undergoing review by at least one regulatory agency, as of our last update on December 9, 2024, including ADCs datopotamab deruxtecan, telisotuzumab vedotin, patritumab deruxtecan, trastuzumab botidotin, becotatug vedotin, and trastuzumab rezetecan. Of 178 antibody therapeutics we include in the late-stage pipeline, we summarize key data for 18 for which marketing applications may be submitted by the end of 2025, such as bi- or multispecific antibodies denecimig, sonelokimab, erfonrilimab, and anbenitamab. Key trends in the development and approval of antibody formats such as bispecifics and ADCs, as well as clinical-phase transition and global approval success rates for these antibody formats, are reported.

The ATF6 pathway of the ER stress response contributes to enhanced viability in glioblastoma

Drug resistance and dose-limiting toxicities are significant barriers for treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Bone marrow microenvironment (BMME) plays a major role in drug resistance in MM. Drug delivery with targeted nanoparticles have been shown to improve specificity and efficacy and reduce toxicity. We aim to improve treatments for MM by (1) using nanoparticle delivery to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity; (2) targeting the tumor-associated endothelium for specific delivery of the cargo to the tumor area, and (3) synchronizing the delivery of chemotherapy (bortezomib; BTZ) and BMME-disrupting agents (ROCK inhibitor) to overcome BMME-induced drug resistance. We find that targeting the BMME with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1)-targeted BTZ and ROCK inhibitor-loaded liposomes is more effective than free drugs, non-targeted liposomes, and single-agent controls and reduces severe BTZ-associated side effects. These results support the use of PSGL-1-targeted multi-drug and even non-targeted liposomal BTZ formulations for the enhancement of patient outcome in MM.

Purpose: Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) are treated with radiotherapy (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ). These treatments may cause prolonged systemic lymphopenia, which itself is associated with poor outcomes. NT-I7 is a long-acting IL7 that expands CD4 and CD8 T-cell numbers in humans and mice. We tested whether NT-I7 prevents systemic lymphopenia and improves survival in mouse models of GBM. Experimental Design: C57BL/6 mice bearing intracranial tumors (GL261 or CT2A) were treated with RT (1.8 Gy/day × 5 days), TMZ (33 mg/kg/day × 5 days), and/or NT-I7 (10 mg/kg on the final day of RT). We followed the mice for survival while serially analyzing levels of circulating T lymphocytes. We assessed regulatory T cells (Treg) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment, cervical lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus, and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the bone marrow. Results: GBM tumor–bearing mice treated with RT+NT-I7 increased T lymphocytes in the lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen, enhanced IFNγ production, and decreased Tregs in the tumor which was associated with a significant increase in survival. NT-I7 also enhanced central memory and effector memory CD8 T cells in lymphoid organs and tumor. Depleting CD8 T cells abrogated the effects of NT-I7. Furthermore, NT-I7 treatment decreased progenitor cells in the bone marrow. Conclusions: In orthotopic glioma-bearing mice, NT-I7 mitigates RT-related lymphopenia, increases cytotoxic CD8 T lymphocytes systemically and in the tumor, and improves survival. A phase I/II trial to evaluate NT-I7 in patients with high-grade gliomas is ongoing (NCT03687957).

Molecules involved in drug resistance can be targeted for better therapeutic efficacies. Research on midkine (MDK) has escalated in the last few decades, which affirms a positive correlation between disease progression and MDK expression in most cancers and indicates its association with multi-drug resistance in cancer. MDK, a secretory cytokine found in blood, can be exploited as a potent biomarker for the non-invasive detection of drug resistance expressed in various cancers and, thereby, can be targeted. We summarize the current information on the involvement of MDK in drug resistance, and transcriptional regulators of its expression and highlight its potential as a cancer therapeutic target.