DLL3-CD3 Bispecific Antibody for SCLC Synapse Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has a poor prognosis due to limited therapeutic options, with existing treatments leading to rapid relapse and chemoresistant disease, and there is a need for new therapies targeting the DLL3 antigen, which is highly expressed in SCLC tumors but not in normal tissues.

Innovation Solution

A bispecific antibody construct is developed that binds to DLL3 on target cells and CD3 on T cells, leveraging T cell engagement to target SCLC, utilizing a first binding domain specific to DLL3 and a second binding domain specific to CD3, engineered to enhance T cell cytotoxicity and improve synapse formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional chemotherapy regimens are used to treat SCLC, then initial response rates are high, but patients quickly relapse with chemoresistant disease and have extremely poor prognosis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic efficacyVSAvoidsurvival time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the therapeutic approach into two distinct binding domains within a single antibody molecule: one domain targets DLL3 on tumor cells while the other targets CD3 on T cells. This segmentation allows the antibody to simultaneously engage both tumor and immune cells, creating a more durable therapeutic effect that overcomes chemotherapy resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bispecific antibody acts as an intermediary molecule that bridges tumor cells (via DLL3 binding) and T cells (via CD3 binding). This intermediary function enables T cell-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells, providing a novel mechanism of action that bypasses conventional chemotherapy resistance pathways

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a bispecific antibody construct is developed to target DLL3 and CD3, then T cell cytotoxicity is enhanced and synapse formation is improved, but the molecular complexity of the antibody increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveT cell cytotoxicityVSAvoidantibody structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two separate antibody functions into a single bispecific antibody molecule. By combining the DLL3-binding domain and CD3-binding domain into one construct, the design simplifies production and pharmacokinetics while maintaining the ability to engage both tumor and immune cells simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bispecific antibody achieves multi-functionality by simultaneously performing tumor targeting (via DLL3 binding), immune cell engagement (via CD3 binding), and facilitating T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This universal design allows a single molecule to execute multiple therapeutic functions that would otherwise require separate agents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4706771A2Antibody constructs for DLL3 and CD3
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 AMGEN RESEARCH (MUNICH) GMBH
  • EP4706771A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4706771A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4706771A2 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

The present invention relates to a bispecific antibody construct comprising a first binding domain which binds to human DLL3 on the surface of a target cell and a second binding domain which binds to human CD3 on the surface of a T cell. Moreover, the invention provides a polynucleotide encoding the antibody construct, a vector comprising said polynucleotide and a host cell transformed or transfected with said polynucleotide or vector. Furthermore, the invention provides a process for the production of the antibody construct of the invention, a medical use of said antibody construct and a kit comprising said antibody construct.