Cutting edge technologies
Antibodies and bi-specifics
Antibodies are proteins that bind to specific markers (antigens) on tissue cells with the purpose of destroying the antigen.5 AbbVie’s antibody technologies enable research and development of therapies with highly-targeted potential.
Targeted protein degradation
Protein degradation is a way to route exhausted proteins to the proteasome, the cell’s trash compactor, for disposal. Protein degraders are designed to bind to a protein of interest forcing the two proteins to meet and be sent for disposal.6
Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
ADCs are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) attached to a cytotoxic drug that are designed to target and deliver potent toxins directly to cancer cells.7 ADCs could allow researchers to direct therapies to the intended tumor target.
Cellular therapies
Cellular therapies (e.g., “CAR-T” therapy) attack cancers with immune cells engineered to directly target and kill tumor cells. AbbVie is focused on research and development of the next generation of cellular therapies, for both tumors and hematological malignancies.8
More about oncology research
For US health care professionals interested in learning more about our oncology research, visit our oncology scientific site.
Technology stories
References
[1] Cory S, Huang DCS, Adams JM. The Bcl-2 family: roles in cell survival and oncogenesis. Oncogene. 2003;22:8590-8607.
[2] Cancercare.org. Understanding the Role of Immuno-Oncology in Treating Cancer- Immuno-Oncology. Retrieved from: https://www.cancercare.org/publications/285-understanding_the_role_of_immuno-oncology_in_treating_cancer. Accessed January 2019.
[3] Burger, JA, Ghia P, et al. The microenvironment in mature B-cell malignancies: a target for new treatment strategies. Blood. 2009. 114:3367-3375
[4] Alatrash G, Crain, A, et al. Chapter 7 – Tumor-Associated Antigens. Immune Biologic Allogeneic Hematopoeitic Stem cell Transplantation. 2019(2):107-125.
[5]National Cancer Institute (2018). NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Antibody. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/antibody.
[6] Jarvis, LM. Targeted Protein Degraders Are Redefining How Small Molecules Look and Act. Chemical & Engineering News. https://cen.acs.org/articles/96/i8/targeted-protein-degraders-are-redefining-how-small-molecules-look-and-act.html. Accessed March 2019.
[7] Peters, C. & Brown, S. Antibody–drug conjugates as novel anti-cancer chemotherapeutics. Biosci Rep. 2015. 35:1-20.
[8] Dana Farber Cancer Institute. (2019). CAR T-Cell Therapy. [online] Available at: https://www.dana-farber.org/cellular-therapies-program/car-t-cell-therapy/. Accessed November 2020.