Bispecific Antibodies: What They Are & How They Treat Cancer

Overview

Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) are a type of monoclonal antibody used in immunotherapy, created from parts of two different monoclonal antibodies.
Developed to overcome tumor drug resistance and improve antibody-based treatments.

Laboratory-made antibodies with two binding areas, allowing them to attach to different cells in the body.
Monoclonal antibodies target specific antigens but are limited by antigen identification challenges.
Bispecific antibodies can target two proteins simultaneously, enhancing the immune response against cancer cells.

Designed to mimic natural antibodies but attach to two antigens at once.
Example: A part of the drug attaches to a protein on cancer cells while another part binds to a T cell, helping T cells target cancer cells more effectively.

Blinatumomab (Blincyto): Treats acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Amivantamab (Rybrevant): For certain non-small cell lung cancers.
Teclistamab (Tecvayli): For multiple myeloma.
Mosunetuzumab (Lunsumio): For follicular lymphoma.
Epcoritamab (Epkinly) and Glofitamab (Columvi): For diffuse large B cell lymphoma.
Talquetamab (Talvey) and Elranatamab (Elrexfio): For multiple myeloma.
Tebentafusp (Kimmtrak): For certain uveal melanoma.
Cadonilimab: For cervical cancer.

IgG-based bsAbs: Resemble a Y shape with a tail aiding in various functions but may cause side effects; complex to produce.
Fragment-based bsAbs: Smaller, easier to produce, penetrate tissue easily but have shorter survival in the body.
- Example: Blinatumomab, a bispecific T cell engager (BiTE).

City of Hope is actively researching and innovating bispecific antibody therapies to develop better cancer treatments.

Includes references from American Cancer Society, FDA, National Cancer Institute, and various scientific articles.