The AACR Annual Meeting 2024 was held in San Diego, CA from April 5-10, and featured the latest advancements in cancer research, with hundreds of poster presentations, lectures, and exhibits. Scientists, healthcare professionals, and industry experts from around the world gathered to share innovations and trends in oncology, including:
Advances in Diagnostics and Therapeutics
New Drugs and Clinical Trials
Computational Technologies
Reagents for Research Quality
Large Molecules and Small Molecules
Biointron Summary Report:
1. Next Generation Antibody Drug Conjugates
Discussions on choosing the right target, linker, conjugation technique, and payload for ADCs.
Pharmacokinetic properties and the role of intratumoral distribution and development of ‘auto-tuning’ ADCs for maximum efficacy.
Daiichi Sankyo’s DS-3939a, a novel TA-MUC1-targeting ADC with a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor DXd, exhibited potent antitumor activity in preclinical models.
ProfoundBio’s novel EGFR x cMET bispecific ADC PRO1286 demonstrated broad antitumor activity and promising tolerability in preclinical models.
2. Computational Tools for Spatial Biology
Forecasting immunotherapy biomarkers with spatial multi-omics, a promising approach to comprehensively analyze cells in tissues.
MOSAIC, the world’s largest spatial multiomics dataset in oncology by Owkin, Erlangan University, CHUV, Gustave Roussy, Charité, and University of Pittsburgh.
Mushroom: A tool for identification of 3D cellular neighborhoods in multi-modal spatial datasets from Washington University researchers.
3. Antibody Reagents
University of Toronto’s A. Edwards described finding the right antibody and chemical inhibitors for cell biology applications.
Recombinant antibody approaches for dependable performance and reproducibility and validation at every step.
Research Resource Identifiers (RRIDs) are a tool to help resolve finding and identifying key resources in published literature for reproducibility.
4. Advances in Diagnostics
Advances in T-cell bispecific antibody targeting of solid tumors, such as DLL3 T cell engagers for SCLC and tumor-targeted co-stimulation via CD28 bispecific antibodies.
Using small molecules and immuno-oncology to expand covalent chemistry for targeting K-Ras (G12D), as well as the discovery of RMC-6236, a tri-complex RAS (ON)multi-selective inhibitor.
5. Novel Immunotherapies
Linvoseltamab, a B-cell maturation antigen-targeted T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody, induces deep and durable responses in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, researched by Tisch Cancer Institute.
Agenus’ BMS-986442 (AGEN1777), a novel TIGIT/CD96 bispecific antibody, demonstrates superior monotherapy and combination activity vs. conventional anti-TIGIT antibodies.
BND-35, a novel anti-ILT3 antibody for remodulation of the tumor microenvironment, was presented by Biond Biologics.
6. Epigenetics in Cancer
Epigenetic modifiers shape immune responses against cancer by regulation of transposable elements to activate anti-tumor immunity.
The mechanisms of chromatin remodeling complexes in cancer (which links the genome with its functional phenotype).
Unknown role of HMGA1 as an epigenetic gatekeeper of Wnt signals during colon tumorigenesis and regeneration was discovered.
Thank you to everyone who visited our booth at AACR 2024 to learn about our services! We had a fantastic time chatting with you and how it can help you achieve antibody development. Our expert team would be happy to answer any follow-up questions. Feel free to email us at info@biointron.com or visit our website at www.biointron.com.
The therapeutic efficacy of antibodies is closely related to their ability to recognize and bind specific epitopes on target antigens. Epitopes, or antigenic determinants, are a group of amino acids or other chemical groups that are part of a molecule to which an antibody attaches itself. Epitope characterization can help reveal the mechanism of antibody binding and apply intellectual property (patent) protection for novel antibodies, in addition to designing antibodies with high specificity and minimal cross-reactivity.
Understanding the differences between antibody specificity and selectivity is essential for designing and interpreting antibody-based assays in research for experimental accuracy and data interpretation. Antibody specificity refers to an antibody's ability to recognize and bind to a particular epitope—a unique part of an antigen that elicits an immune response.
Antibody-based assays are essential tools in biomedical research, providing the means to detect, quantify, and visualize specific proteins or antigens within complex biological samples. These assays' efficacy hinges on the antibodies' precise properties. While affinity, avidity, specificity, and selectivity are fundamental to antibody performance, the ultimate impact of these properties is heavily influenced by the experimental context in which the antibody is employed.
Biologics, particularly antibodies, have become indispensable in biomedical research and therapeutic development. Research-use-only (RUO) biologics play a pivotal role in preclinical studies, providing researchers with the necessary tools to explore antibody functions and therapeutic potential in vivo.