CEACAM6-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate for Pancreatic Cancer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current protein degraders, such as those targeting BRD2/4, face challenges due to their toxic properties and physical properties that hinder clinical application, particularly in treating pancreatic cancer where effective treatment options are limited.

Innovation Solution

Development of an antibody-drug conjugate represented by formula (I), which includes an antibody specific to CEACAM6, linked with a drug moiety through a cleavable linker, designed to target and degrade specific proteins in cancer cells while minimizing toxicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If protein degraders are used to target BRD2/4, then antitumor activity is improved, but toxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantitumor activityVSAvoidtoxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the protein degrader into two functional parts: an antibody component that provides target specificity and a drug component that provides proteolytic activity. This segmentation allows the antitumor activity to be directed specifically at cancer cells expressing the target antigen, while reducing off-target toxicity effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an antibody as an intermediary carrier that delivers the protein degrader to the target. The antibody acts as a mediator between the circulating drug and the target protein, enabling selective degradation only at the tumor site and preventing systemic toxicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If protein degraders are used to decompose BRD2/4, then antitumor activity is improved, but physical properties hinder clinical application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantitumor activityVSAvoidphysical properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite molecular structure combining an antibody (protein) with a small molecule protein degrader. This composite approach leverages the favorable pharmacokinetic properties of antibodies (long half-life, high specificity) while incorporating the potent but problematic small molecule degrader in a controlled manner.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If CEACAM6 is targeted with antibody-drug conjugates, then cancer treatment effectiveness is improved, but expression in normal cells causes toxicity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecancer treatment effectivenessVSAvoidtoxicity from normal cell expression
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by ensuring that the protein degradation function is activated only at the specific location where the antibody binds to CEACAM6 on cancer cells. The cleavable linker ensures that the degrader is released only after internalization, creating a localized effect that spares normal cells with lower CEACAM6 expression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary action by using the antibody to first bind to and internalize the target complex before activating the proteolytic function. This sequence ensures that the degrader is only activated within the context of the antibody-target complex, preventing premature or off-target activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4548937A1Antibody-drug complex
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 EISAI R&D MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4548937A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4548937A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4548937A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An antibody-drug conjugate represented by formula (I): (where Ab is an antibody, X is a group represented by formula (X-1), formula (X-2) or formula (X-3): (where at the left represents the binding site with NH and at the right represents the binding site with D), D is a group represented by formula (D-1) or formula (D-2): (where represents the binding site with X), and n is in the range of about 1 to about 8).