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Research and innovative technologies, so ADC attacks cancer

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Science and technology with a single and ambitious goal: to provide effective therapies to all cancer patients who cannot yet count on treatments capable of defeating cancer. This is the strategy of Daiichi Sankyo, an international pharmaceutical group headquartered in Tokyo, engaged in scientific research for over 120 years, which aims to make its contribution also in the oncology field, with the aim of improving life expectancy. of patients with cancer.

Research and development in oncology

With more than 16,000 employees in over 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo invests more than 20% of its turnover – equal to 1.84 billion euros – in oncology research and development, leveraging first-class scientific research and technology. Between 2021 and 2026, a further investment of 11 billion euros is planned to develop therapeutic solutions in particular in the treatment areas of breast, lung, stomach, colorectal cancer, haematological malignancies and other solid cancers.

ADC and DXd technology: a bullet that hits the heart of the tumor

The distinctive feature of the research developed by Daiichi Sankyo is contained in three letters: DXd the highly innovative technology that the pharmaceutical company has patented for its drug-conjugated monoclonal antibodies or ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugates). A highly innovative approach to cancer treatment with enormous potential and the hope of curing often very aggressive cancers. The peculiarity of drug-conjugated monoclonal antibodies (ADC) is the maximum efficiency in the targeted administration of a cytotoxic substance to tumor cells. Daiichi Sankyo’s conjugated monoclonal antibodies combine, thanks to the innovative DXd technology, a monoclonal antibody with a stable linker that allows the release of a new powerful cytotoxic agent (deruxtecan, DXd) inside the target tumor cell, transforming this combination into a real bullet, designed to hit the cancer cell directly to the heart. ADCs represent the distinctive element of Daiichi Sankyo’s oncology pipeline, thanks to its technology, produced by highly innovative scientific research that is able to truly transform science into value for patients and radically change current standards of care in the cancer treatment.

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Precision medicine and target therapy

ADCs represent one of the most innovative examples of what precision medicine and target therapy mean. Advances in genomics have made it possible to implement new technologies that allow the identification of specific molecular targets to target with effective target therapies, just like ADCs. Their function is to target the heart of the cancer cell and destroy it, sparing healthy tissues and without affecting the immune system. “Cancer is an aggressive adversary, but not invincible and we are determined to fight it alongside patients by using all our expertise”, says Mauro Vitali, Oncology Country Head of Daiichi Sankyo Italy. “Conjugated monoclonal antibodies are the result of the synergy between science and technology, with the aim of being able to respond with effective solutions to those cancer patients who have no other treatment options, improving their life expectancy”.

The confirmations of scientific research

From the scientific studies conducted to date, it emerges that Daiichi Sankyo’s ADC-DXd have a robust efficacy combined with a rapid and lasting response to the disease. Just recently, the results of important research on trastuzumab deruxtecan, tested in a large and complete clinical development program currently underway globally with pivotal studies that are evaluating, were presented at the European Congress of Medical Oncology (Esmo 2021). efficacy and safety as monotherapy for the treatment of various cancers with HER2 expression, including breast, gastric and lung cancers. “The strength of these drugs – continues Vitali – is based on the innovative technology that characterizes them and which counts on a powerful cytotoxic action and a targeted action that ‘bombs’ cancer cells, saving healthy tissues and the patient’s immune system” . At Esmo 2021, in particular, the results of the phase 3 Destiny-Breast03 study were considered very promising, showing that the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), compared to current standards of care, was able to triple progression-free survival in patients with HER2 + metastatic breast cancer previously treated with trastuzumab and taxane. Important data, so much so that it was presented first in the Presidential Symposium of the Congress.

An efficacy extended to neighboring cancer cells

What makes Daiichi Sankyo’s ADC technology unique is also the so-called ‘bystander effect’, that is the ability of the cytotoxin, once released inside the target cell, to easily pass the membrane and extend its effect to neighboring cancer cells not directly affected by the antibody. This very peculiar property allows to overcome the intratumoral heterogeneity of malignant cells, common to many pathologies, which progressively increases with the growth of the tumor and today represents a significant barrier to treatment. Thanks to these increasingly precise therapeutic characteristics, the possibility of using ADCs in complete replacement of conventional chemotherapies becomes more concrete.

A team effort

With this ambitious goal in mind, in the company’s research laboratories the activity continues incessantly. Daiichi Sankyo experiences a constant ferment of ideas and insights that lead to the development of increasingly advanced research, which puts the needs of patients at the center of every activity. “Aware that, for people living with cancer, every moment counts, we work with passion to increase these moments, striving to improve and enrich their quality of life”, concludes the Oncology Country Head of Daiichi Sankyo Italia. This pushes the company to work in synergy with scientific societies, patient associations, the medical profession, stakeholders and all those who in some way can make a significant contribution to the search for effective solutions to improve the quality of life of patients. oncology, transforming current standards of care to give them hope for the future.

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