Glykos' ADC technology uses stabile hydrophilic linkers to improve ADC tolerability, pharmacokinetics, efficacy and therapeutic window. We have developed cytotoxic drug derivatives in three payload classes.
Auristatins are the most widely used payload class in ADCs. They are potent microtubule disrupting agents that preferentially target cancer cells and act synergistically with other cancer drugs including immunotherapeutics. Glykos’ novel auristatin MMAU is a glucuronide modification of the standard auristatin MMAE that is currently being used in the marketed ADCs Brentuximab Vedotin (Adcetris®), Enfortumab Vedotin (Padcev®), and Polatuzumab Vedotin (Polivy®). Glykos’ linker-payload technology widens the therapeutic window of MMAU ADCs compared to MMAE ADCs by improving ADC pharmacokinetics, stability, and efficacy.
PNU-EDA is a modified derivative of the highly potent daunorubicin metabolite PNU-159682, which intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II. Glykos has developed optimized PNU-EDA linker-payloads for conjugation to both cysteines and Fc domain glycans.
Exatecan is a camptothecin-based molecule and inhibits topoisomerase I. It is part of the linker-payload of Enhertu® (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nx). Glykos has developed an optimized hydrophilic linker-exatecan for stable DAR=8 cysteine conjugation of exatecan-ADCs.