Published: September 2023
With the rising demand for more efficient and homogenous antibody drug conjugates, drug developers are increasingly collaborating with technology providers, for leveraging their advanced ADC technologies for linker and site-specific conjugation We analyzed over 65 ADC linker and ADC conjugation platform providers that have been involved in offering next generation ADC technologies. In this article, discover nine leading ADC technology manufacturers and their respective development pipeline.
With 14 approved antibody drug conjugates, namely ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla®), brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris®), inotuzumab ozogamicin (Besponsa®), gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg®), polatuzumab vedotin-piiq (Polivy®), enfortumab vedotin (Padcev®), sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy®), trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu®), belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep®), mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere®), tisotumab vedotin (Tivdak®), cetuximab sarotalocan (Akalux®), disitamab vedotin (Aidexi) and loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl (Zynlonta®) and more than 400 antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) in clinical / preclinical stages of development, ADCs have become recognized as a potent class of targeted therapeutic agents catering to oncology and hematological diseases markets. The success of such antibody drug conjugate products can be attributed to their ability to effectively identify and eliminate disease associated cells / pathogens, while limiting off target toxicities. In addition to the choice of antibody and cytotoxic payload, the chemistry involved in conjugation / linking of the aforementioned components plays an important role in deciding the efficacy of an antibody drug conjugate. In other words, conjugation chemistry is known to significantly affect the drug antibody ratio (DAR) and pharmacokinetic / pharmacodynamic properties of an ADC. Conventional ADC conjugation technologies used superficial lysine residues (present on the surface of the molecule), or inter-chain cysteine residues to attach the linker to the drug molecule. However, in order to overcome the challenges associated with heterogeneity, the current generations of conjugation technologies deploy site specific conjugation. Further, various technological advancements have led to emergence of more competent ADC conjugation and ADC linker platforms using various ligation, rebridging and remodeling approaches to generate more stable and effective ADCs. Over the years, a number of well-funded start-ups / small companies, offering novel ADC conjugation technologies, more potent warheads and advanced linker technologies, have been established. One such example is Dantari Inc. which emerged from stealth mode in December 2022 to bring to the market its Targeted High-capacity Drug Conjugate (T-HDC) technology.1 In fact, multiple licensing agreements / collaborations have been inked in the past few years between drug developers and technology providers to advance the development of ADCs. The antibody drug conjugate companies are also collaborating with CMOs for ADC manufacturing. As such there are multiple stakeholders in the market and their collaborative efforts will ensure the success of this drug class.
Roots Analysis has conducted an exhaustive study on ADC Technology Market featuring the current market landscape and future opportunity for the ADC technologies providers, over a span of 12 years.
The top nine ADC technologies companies providing ADC linker and ADC conjugation technology are listed below (in alphabetical order):
1. Ambrx
2. Antikor
3. Catalent Biologics
4. Iksuda Therapeutics
5. Heidelberg Pharma
6. Mersana Therapeutics
7. NBE-Therapeutics
8. Seattle Genetics (now known as Seagen)
9. Sutro Biopharma
Interested in exploring all 65+ ADC Technologies Providers?
This article highlights nine leading antibody drug conjugate technology manufacturers in North America and Europe to watch out for in 2023. It presents details related to the key industry players engaged in the development of novel ADC linkers and ADC conjugation technologies. The companies presented in this article have patented ADC conjugation technologies that are available for licensing, along with in-house portfolio / pipeline of ADC drugs. It is essential to note that the selection of top players can differ substantially according to the defined criteria(s).
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Ambrx is a clinical-stage biotechnology company which claims to be engaged in the development of next generation bioconjugation based therapeutics. At present, the company offers various technologies / platforms for the development of advanced antibody drug conjugates and bispecific. The firm employs proprietary technologies for the development of smart cytokines and targeted immune-oncology therapies. It is worth mentioning that these immunoconjugates aid in immune system modulation and hence, can be used for the treatment of various forms of cancers. Further, in order to showcase the capabilities of their conjugation platform, known as protein medicinal chemistry, the company has inked licensing deals with other stakeholders engaged in developing antibody drug conjugates.
ADC Technologies: Synthetic Amino Acids (SAA) Technology with DAR 2
Antibody Drug Conjugate Pipeline
The table below lists antibody drug conjugates that are being developed by the firm, along with information on the target indication and their respective phase of development:
| Drug | Target | Stage of Development |
| ARX788 | Anti-HER2 | Phase II |
| ARX517 | Anti-Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) | Phase I |
| ARX305 | Anti-CD70 | Preclinical |
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
In July 2023, Ambrx announced the acceptance of four abstracts which will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023 in Madrid, Spain. These posters will feature preliminary data from APEX-01, evaluating Ambrx’s proprietary anti-PSMA antibody drug conjugate, ARX517 for the treatment of patients suffering from metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer.
In February 2023, the company presented and hosted analyst and investor day to discuss the potential of their therapeutic candidates in oncological disorders, namely ARX788 in breast cancer and ARX517 in prostate cancer. We expect the firm to participate in more such conferences / webinars, to build its reputation and keep up with the latest advancements happening in the antibody drug conjugates domain. Further information related to the company’s ADC technologies, financial performance, regulatory approvals (if any) and recent developments is available in the full report.
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Antikor is a privately held biotechnology company which specializes in the discovery and development of antibody-based therapeutics. These therapeutics can be used for the treatment of various forms of cancers, including solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The company mainly focuses on the development of fragment antibody drug conjugates (FDCs) using small antibody fragments. FDCs are a type of targeted chemotherapy integrating the specificity of antibodies with potency of chemotherapy drugs. It is worth mentioning that the company leverages its proprietary antibody conjugation platform OptiLink for the development of FDCs, offering a streamlined approach to widen the therapeutic window, providing clinicians with a flexible way of treating solid tumors.
ADC Technologies: OptiLinkTM Technology
Antibody Drug Conjugate Pipeline
The table below lists antibody drug conjugates that are being developed by the firm, along with information on the target indication and their respective phase of development:
| Drug | Target | Stage of Development |
| ANT043 | Anti-HER2 | IND-enabled |
| ANT045 | Anti-HER2 | Pre-clinical |
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
Antikor is a biopharmaceutical company mainly focused on the discovery and development of antibody-based therapeutics. It is worth mentioning that, in April 2022, the firm participated in various conferences, such as Novel Format Conjugates Summit, held in Boston, US, American Association of Cancer Research, held in New Orleans, US, and World ADC London Conference, held in London, UK. Despite the fact that, publicly available information is very limited for the company, we anticipate that the company will participate in more such conferences to present its interim and long-term findings related to antibody drug conjugates. Further information related to the company’s ADC technologies, financial performance, regulatory approvals (if any) and recent developments is available in the full report.
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Catalent Biologics is a pharmaceutical firm that is focused on the development and manufacturing of novel biological entities and therapies, such as cell and gene therapies, biosimilars and sterile injectables. The company is also engaged in the development of ADCs using its SMARTag technology, SMARTag tandem-cleavage linkers and RED-106 platform. The firm states that these antibody conjugation and ADC linker technologies can be used to develop novel ADCs with enhanced safety profile and therapeutic index.
ADC Technologies: SMARTag technology, SMARTag tandem-cleavage linkers and RED-106
Antibody Drug Conjugate Pipeline
The table below lists antibody drug conjugates that are being developed by the firm, along with information on the target indication and their respective phase of development:
| Drug | Target | Stage of Development |
| CAT-02-106 / TRPH-222 | Anti-HER2 | Phase I |
| CAT-01-106 | Anti-HER2 | Pre-clinical |
| CAT-09-106 | Anti-MUC1 | Pre-clinical |
| CAT-12-106 | Anti-CD30 | Pre-clinical |
| XB010 | Anti-5T4 | Pre-clinical |
| Unnamed | Undisclosed | Pre-clinical |
| CAT-03-106 | Anti-CD25 | Discovery |
| CAT-04-106 | Anti-CD37 | Discovery |
| CAT-10-106 | Anti-TROP-2 | Discovery |
| CAT-07-106 | Anti-Glypican-3 | Discovery |
| CAT-13-106 | Anti-Nectin 4 | Discovery |
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
In March 2023, the company virtually participated in the KeyBanc Life Sciences and MedTech Investor Forum Conference and in the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference. Further, in December 2022, the company expanded its biologics development and testing services at North Carolina by establishing a new manufacturing facility. The firm is likely to undertake additional initiatives in order to further consolidate its position as a one-stop-shop for drug development and manufacturing related services. Further information related to the company’s ADC technologies, financial performance, regulatory approvals (if any) and recent developments is available in the full report.
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Iksuda Therapeutics is a biotechnology firm, formerly known as Glythera. The company is engaged in the development of next generation ADCs by leveraging its proprietary technology, PermaLink. This platform involves the use of ultra-potent toxins with highly targeted monoclonal antibodies. The resulting class of conjugates for this technology are designed for the treatment of different tumors, such as lung, ovarian, cervix, pancreatic and colorectal. Further, the firm claims that ADCs produced by its proprietary technology offer better tolerability and tumor response as compared to the conventional maleimide based ADCs.
ADC Technologies: PermaLink®, cysteine-specific, vinyl pyridine-based chemistry
Antibody Drug Conjugate Pipeline
The table below lists antibody drug conjugates that are being developed by the firm, along with information on the target indication and their respective phase of development:
| Drug | Target | Stage of Development |
| IKS03 | Anti-CD19 | Discovery / Pre-clinical |
| IKS014 | Anti-HER2 | Discovery / Pre-clinical |
| IKS012 | Anti-FOLR1 | Discovery / Pre-clinical |
| IKS02 | Undisclosed | Discovery / Pre-clinical |
| IKS04 | Undisclosed | Discovery / Pre-clinical |
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
Iksuda Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company mainly focused on the development of next-generation therapeutics. It is worth mentioning that, in June 2021, the firm partnered with Legochem Biosciences for the research and development of ADC candidates to investigate up to six targets, using LegoChem’s antibody conjugation technology. Moreover, in January 2022, the company further expanded on the agreement with LegoChem Biosciences to obtain exclusive world-wide rights (excluding Greater China and South Korea) to LegoChem’s HER2 targeting ADC candidate, LCB14. Considering the partnerships inked by the company in this domain, we anticipate that the firm is likely to be on a look-out for more collaboration opportunities to offer its antibody conjugation technology for the advancement of ADCs, in the foreseen future. Further information related to the company’s ADC technologies, financial performance, regulatory approvals (if any) and recent developments is available in the full report.
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Heidelberg Pharma is a Germany-based biopharmaceutical firm, which mainly focuses on the development of ADCs in order to treat various oncological disorders. The firm mainly specializes in the research and development of ADCs for cancer patients allowing them to receive a targeted and personalized course of treatment. The company leverages its proprietary ATAC technology to develop antibody targeted amanitin conjugates (ATACs), that utilizes the toxic payload amanitin resulting in high degree of efficacy against a variety of tumor cells. It is worth highlighting that the company utilizes its platform for the development of its own therapeutic ATACs as well as licenses the technology to other ADC drug developers to create a diverse range of ATAC candidates.
ADC Technologies: Antibody targeted amanitin conjugates (ATAC) Technology
Antibody Drug Conjugate Pipeline
The table below lists antibody drug conjugates that are being developed by the firm, along with information on the target indication and their respective phase of development:
| Drug | Target | Stage of Development |
| HDP-101 | Anti-BCMA | Phase I |
| HDP-102 | Anti-CD37 | Pre-clinical |
| HDP-103 | Anti-PSMA | Pre-clinical |
| HDP-104 | Anti-GCC | Discovery / Research |
| HDP-XX | NA | Discovery / Research |
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
In April 2023, the company presented preclinical data from its proprietary ATAC technology at the American Association for Cancer Research Conference, held in Florida, US. The company provided positive evidence of the tolerability and efficacy of its proprietary ATAC technology. In December 2022, the company presented clinical data from two ADCs based on its proprietary ATAC technology at the American Society of Hematology Conference, held in California, US. Further, in December 2022, the company collaborated with Binghamton University to license university’s Immunostimulatory technology platform for the advancement of its immunostimulatory therapeutics. The company is likely to take more such initiatives to offer novel and innovative ADCs with enhanced capabilities. Further information related to the company’s ADC technologies, financial performance, regulatory approvals (if any) and recent developments is available in the full report.
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Mersana Therapeutics is a US-based biopharmaceutical firm which specializes in the development of novel ADC candidates for the treatment of cancer. The company leverages their proprietary, unprecedented ADC conjugation technologies, from discovery stage to the manufacturing of ADCs. The company mentions that these platforms enable the production of ADCs with optimal efficacy, safety and tolerability. Further, it is worth highlighting that the firm has a robust pipeline of next-generation therapeutics to overcome challenges related to efficacy and safety of ADCs, developed using conventional conjugation technologies.
ADC Technologies: Dolasynthen and Immunosynthen technologies
Antibody Drug Conjugate Pipeline
The table below lists antibody drug conjugates that are being developed by the firm, along with information on the target indication and their respective phase of development:
| Drug | Target | Stage of Development |
| UpRi | Anti-NaPi2b | Phase III |
| XMT-1660 | Anti-B7-H4 | Phase I |
| XMT-2056 | Anti-HER2 | Phase I |
| XMT-2068 | NA | Discovery / Pre-clinical |
| XMT-2175 | NA | Discovery / Pre-clinical |
| Multiple Programs | NA | Discovery / Research |
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
In December 2022, Mersana Therapeutics’ antibody drug conjugate, Upifitamab Rilsodotin (UpRi), received orphan drug designation by European Commission for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Further, In February 2022, the company collaborated with Janssen Biotech for the research and development of novel ADCs for three targets based on Mersana Therapeutics’ Dolasynthen platform. In order to expand its ADC portfolio, the company plans to continue seeking collaboration opportunities with other leading players engaged in this domain. Further information related to the company’s ADC technologies, financial performance, regulatory approvals (if any) and recent developments is available in the full report.
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NBE Therapeutics is a privately held biopharmaceutical firm focused on the development of advanced ADCs designed for the treatment of oncological disorders. The company claims to have the required capabilities to design a range of ADCs with its proprietary Transpo-mAb technology (designed for developing therapeutic human antibodies) and SMAC technology (facilitates site-specific conjugation). In addition, the firm has a robust pipeline of ADCs with potential to overcome challenges, such as safety, tolerability and efficacy of the drug.
ADC Technologies: Sortase Mediated Antibody Conjugation (SMAC-TechnologyTM)
Antibody Drug Conjugate Pipeline
The table below lists antibody drug conjugates that are being developed by the firm, along with information on the target indication and their respective phase of development:
| Drug | Target | Stage of Development |
| NBE-002 | Anti-ROR1 | Phase I |
| NBE-001 | Undisclosed | Preclinical |
| Partnered Program I | Undisclosed | Preclinical |
| Partnered Program II | Undisclosed | Preclinical |
| NBE-003 | Undisclosed | Discovery |
| NBE-105 | Undisclosed | Discovery |
| Partnered Program III | Undisclosed | Discovery |
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
NBE-Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical firm primarily focused on the development of the best-in-class oncology treatments, by leveraging its ADC conjugation technology. It is worth mentioning that in October 2016, the firm partnered with SOTIO for the discovery, non-clinical development and manufacturing of novel ADCs directed towards an undisclosed target leveraging NBE’s proprietary antibody discovery and conjugation platforms. In November 2019, the agreement with SOTIO was further expanded to include the discovery, non-clinical development and manufacturing of a second ADC for another undisclosed target. In September 2020, the company partnered with Exelixis for the research and development of multiple ADCs, utilizing NBE’s ADC conjugation platforms. Despite the fact that publicly available information is fairly limited, we anticipate that the company will continue to evolve following a variety of growth strategies, such as entering into strategic collaborations wherein the firm can leverage and integrate the capabilities of their antibody conjugation technology with other platforms / linkers for the advancement of ADCs. Further information related to the company’s ADC technologies, financial performance, regulatory approvals (if any) and recent developments is available in the full report.
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Seagen is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of cancer therapies, for over two decades. The company uses its proprietary antibody linker and conjugation technologies for linking cytotoxic agents with monoclonal antibodies, for the development of more efficacious novel antibodies and targeted cancer therapies. It is worth mentioning that the firm has a strong pipeline of novel ADCs that have the potential to change the foundation of treatment for people with cancer. In addition, majority of the ADC products developed by Seattle Genetics are in phase III clinical trials.
In March 2023, Pfizer announced its plan to acquire Seagen for a proposed sum of $43 billion. The acquisition is likely to be completed by end of 2023.2
ADC Technologies: Proprietary unnamed technology
Antibody Drug Conjugate Pipeline
The table below lists antibody drug conjugates that are being developed by the firm, along with information on the target indication and their respective phase of development:
| Drug | Target | Stage of Development |
| Adcetris | Anti-CD30 | Phase II / III |
| Padcev | Anti-Nectin-4 | Phase II / III |
| Tuksya | Anti-HER2 | Phase II / III |
| Tivdak | Anti-TF | Phase II / III |
| Disitamab Vedotin | Anti-HER2 | Phase II |
| Ladiratuzumab Vedotin | Anti- LIV-1 | Phase II |
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
In April 2023, Seattle Genetics, Astellas and Merck announced the accelerated USFDA approval for combination therapy of PADCEV with Keytruda for the treatment of adult patients suffering from la/mUC, who are not eligible to receive cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. Further, in June 2023, the company presented long-term follow up data from EV-103 trial. The trial is evaluating PADCEV in combination with pembrolizumab as a first-line treatment for the patients suffering from locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who are ineligible to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
The company’s antibody drug conjugate portfolio is anticipated to become a major contributor to the company’s performance in the coming years. Further information related to the company’s ADC technologies, financial performance, regulatory approvals (if any) and recent developments is available in the full report.
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Sutro Biopharma is a clinical stage biopharma company which claims to have expertise in the discovery, development and manufacturing of protein therapeutics. Examples of such therapeutics include antibody conjugates, bispecific antibodies and cytokine derivatives. It is worth highlighting that the aforementioned biologics are being developed using the company’s proprietary cell free expression technology against cancer and autoimmune disorders. Additionally, the company states that it has the world’s only cGMP cell-free manufacturing facility, located in San Carlos, California; the facility is reported to have the required capabilities for the development of targeted medicines.
ADC Technologies: Proprietary unnamed technology
Antibody Drug Conjugate Pipeline
The table below lists antibody drug conjugates that are being developed by the firm, along with information on the target indication and their respective phase of development:
| Drug | Target | Stage of Development |
| STRO-002 (Luvella) | Anti-CD30 | Phase I / Ib |
| STRO-001 | Anti-Nectin-4 | Phase I / Ib |
| CC-99712 | Anti-HER2 | Phase I / Ib |
| M1231 | Anti-MUC1-EGFR | Phase I / Ib |
| STRO-003 | Anti-ROR1 | Discovery / Pre-clinical |
| Undisclosed ADC | Anti-TF | Discovery |
| Undisclosed Immunostimulatory ADC | 3 Undisclosed Targets | Discovery |
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
In April 2023, Sutro Biopharma announced the presentation of expanded preclinical data for STRO-003, a ROR1 targeting ADC at American Association for Cancer Research, held in Orlando, Florida. The findings confirms the potential of exatecan payload and immune-modulation properties of STRO-003. Further, in December 2022, the company announced its collaboration with Vaxcyte for the development and manufacturing of cell-free extract utilizing Sutro’s XpressCF platform. In order to further advance its capabilities related to ADC development, the company is expected to continue to take more such initiatives in the industry. Further information related to the company’s ADC technologies, financial performance, regulatory approvals (if any) and recent developments is available in the full report.
The above presentation features nine promising technology providers selected from a pool of over 65 companies developing ADC technologies. If you're interested, you can download the Sample Report on this topic by Roots Analysis. For personalized assistance in identifying the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at sales@rootsanalysis.com
Ankita_Kashyap is a business research and competitive intelligence professional with over four years of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. As an associate at Roots Analysis, she has authored numerous trending multidisciplinary market research reports, including viral vectors, aseptic manufacturing, continuous manufacturing, bioprinting, ADC technology, membrane filtration, liquid biopsy and more. She has continuously provided her valuable insights into the latest innovations in healthcare. During her professional journey, she has acquired good analytical skills in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, which in turn has contributed to the firm’s intellectual capital. This has allowed our clients to make informed decisions in the dynamic pharmaceutical landscape. She embarked upon her career with us. She started her journey as a business analyst with Roots Analyst and in such a short span of time, she has demonstrated amazing dedication. Till date, she has contributed to over 20 research reports.
Ankita holds a Master’s degree in Pharmacology from Chitkara University. While pursuing her education, she contributed her skills for various review and research literature. The impact of her learnings can be found in her professional blogs, market research reports and social media profiles.
Source 1: https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/dantari-debuts-with-47-million-series-a-to-advance-best-in-class-targeted-medicines-for-solid-tumors/
Source 2: https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-invests-43-billion-battle-cancer
Source 3: https://www.sutrobio.com/sutro-biopharma-presents-preclinical-data-for-its-ror1-targeting-antibody-drug-conjugate-stro-003-at-the-aacr-annual-meeting-2023/
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