“Plot Twist: AbbVie Shakes Up Strategy, Bids Farewell to Two Cutting-Edge Cancer Ventures”
In a surprising turn of events, AbbVie has set the stage for a dramatic shift by removing two early-stage antibody-drug conjugates from its pipeline, a move that hints at the termination of these promising candidates’ development. This unexpected twist was first reported by Endpoints News, sending ripples through the pharmaceutical landscape.
The spotlight fades on ABBV-011 and the Pfizer-partnered ABBV-647, both in the throes of Phase I development aimed at combatting cancer’s elusive targets. Though the exact moment of these pipeline edits remains shrouded in mystery, a digital voyage through the Wayback Machine—the internet’s time-traveling archive—reveals that these assets adorned AbbVie’s webpage as recently as August 19, only to vanish shortly thereafter. Seeking clarity, BioSpace reached out to AbbVie for comment, but the company’s voice remains silent for now.
Peering into the intricate tapestry of ABBV-011, we find an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) set to vanquish SEZ6, a cell surface protagonist deeply entwined with neuroendocrine tumors. This clever investigational ADC bears the weight of the calicheamicin payload, a seasoned warrior already wielded by two FDA-approved ADCs. ABBV-011’s ambitions extended to a solitary dance or a synergistic duet with AbbVie’s own budigalimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in the realm of relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s 2023 Annual Meeting, a stage that shone brightly in June, bore witness to AbbVie’s unveiling of Phase I data for ABBV-011. The revelation was nothing short of captivating, with an overall response rate of 25% and a median duration of 4.2 months. Efficacy radiated from every corner, but fate had other plans.
In the shadows of this narrative lies ABBV-647, also known as cofetuzumab pelidotin, a beacon of hope designed to assail the PTK7 protein. The valiant candidate wielded the Aur0101 payload, a microtubule inhibitor of the auristatin lineage, all while setting its sights on the formidable realm of solid tumors.
Rewind to February 2020, and the saga takes an intriguing turn. A Phase Ib trial of cofetuzumab pelidotin unfolded in the realms of recurrent non-small cell lung cancer, showcasing AbbVie’s pursuit of groundbreaking therapeutics. The backstory reveals that this intrepid warrior was first birthed in the halls of Stemcentrx, emerging in September 2015. An alliance with Pfizer forged its path, culminating in AbbVie’s acquisition of the torchbearer in 2016.
As the dust settles, AbbVie’s pipeline transformation stands as a stark contrast to the industry’s burgeoning love affair with ADC therapeutics in the realm of cancer. Recent days have witnessed alliances and acquisitions that paint a vibrant picture—a multi-target license and option deal inked by ImmunoGen, Eli Lilly’s strategic plunge into Emergence Therapeutics, and Pfizer’s monumental $43 billion acquisition of Seagen, fortifying its cancer arsenal with a treasure trove of treatments.
AbbVie’s strategic move adds yet another layer of intrigue to the ever-evolving saga of cancer therapeutics. The narrative shifts, and the pages of innovation turn anew, leaving the world to await the next chapter in this captivating tale.