In recent years, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a transformative class of targeted cancer therapies, leveraging advances in linker chemistry, payload stability, and optimized pharmacokinetics. The global ADC market is projected to exceed $25 billion by 2030, marking it as one of the most rapidly growing sectors in biopharmaceuticals.
In January 2025, the FDA approved AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s ADC drug Datroway (datopotamab deruxtecan) for treating HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, further validating ADCs as a critical modality for precision oncology.
ADC drug efficacy and safety are highly dependent on linker design, payload stability, pharmacokinetics, and targeted delivery. As a leader in innovative drug delivery, Litchlab provides comprehensive ADC delivery solutions, accelerating the development and commercialization of next-generation ADCs.
Leveraging advanced delivery platforms, Litchlab optimizes ADCs for stability, targeting specificity, and therapeutic index, offering end-to-end solutions from linker design and payload optimization to intelligent nano-delivery and cGMP manufacturing.
The linker is a crucial component of ADCs, influencing drug pharmacokinetics and safety. Litchlab has developed innovative linker technologies for enhanced ADC performance:
Cleavable Linkers: Acid-sensitive, glutathione-sensitive, and enzyme-cleavable linkers ensure precise drug release in the tumor microenvironment.
Non-Cleavable Linkers: Designed for higher plasma stability, reducing systemic toxicity while enhancing ADC durability.
Dual-Triggered Linkers: Incorporating pH, enzymatic, and light-responsive mechanisms for enhanced control over drug release.
Litchlab employs lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and polymeric nanoparticles to improve ADC stability, solubility, and tumor-targeting efficiency:
LNP-Encapsulated ADC Payloads: Optimizing ADC bioavailability and half-life while preventing premature degradation.
Polymer Microsphere Sustained-Release System: Extending ADC circulation time, reducing non-specific uptake, and enhancing targeted accumulation.
Active Targeting Modifications: ADCs are conjugated with tumor-specific antibodies or aptamers, increasing cellular uptake efficiency.
pH-Sensitive Smart Release: Litchlab’s pH-responsive nano-delivery system ensures controlled drug activation in acidic tumor environments, reducing off-target effects.
Multi-Functional ADCs: Supporting dual-target ADCs and multi-payload ADCs to combat resistant tumor cells and improve therapeutic outcomes.
Precise Drug-to-Antibody Ratio (DAR) Control: Ensuring batch-to-batch consistency, critical for clinical and commercial ADC manufacturing.
Homogeneous ADC Engineering: Utilizing protein engineering and chemical modifications to minimize ADC heterogeneity and enhance therapeutic efficacy.
Litchlab offers a fully integrated ADC development ecosystem, covering lead optimization, preclinical development, IND filing, and cGMP production with a focus on:
High-throughput linker screening and optimization
Payload solubility and stability enhancement
ADC biodistribution and pharmacokinetics (PK) optimization
cGMP-scale ADC process development and manufacturing
Regulatory-compliant quality control (QC) systems (FDA/EMA standards)
Litchlab’s ADC technology has been successfully applied to breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and hematologic malignancies, while also supporting ADC combination therapies (e.g., ADC + PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors).
The FDA approval of Datroway underscores the growing clinical impact of ADC therapies, with the field poised for rapid innovation and commercialization. Litchlab remains committed to advancing ADC drug delivery technologies by partnering with global biopharma leaders to drive breakthroughs in next-generation ADCs for precision cancer therapy.
For more information, please feel free to contact us at:
E-Mail:RD1@Litchlab.com
