Heidelberg Pharma AG announced plans to present groundbreaking research on its innovative Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) technology platforms at the upcoming American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago from April 25-30, 2025.
The German clinical-stage biotech company will showcase two significant advancements in its ADC pipeline, highlighting novel approaches designed to overcome tumor resistance through multiple mechanisms.
Novel Exatecan-Based ADC Shows Promise for Gastrointestinal Cancers
Dr. Sarah-Jane Neuberth, Associate Director of In Vivo Biology at Heidelberg Pharma, will present preclinical findings on HDP-201, the company's novel Exatecan-based multimeric linker ADC. This technology, called ETAC, is being developed specifically for the treatment of colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal malignancies.
HDP-201 targets guanylyl cyclase C (GCC), a surface protein highly overexpressed in gastrointestinal cancers including gastric and colorectal tumors. The preclinical data demonstrates impressive results, including:
- Complete tumor remission in GCC-expressing CDX models
- Significant inhibition of tumor growth in gastrointestinal PDX models
- High tolerability in cynomolgus monkeys at a single intravenous dose of 60 mg/kg with no severe toxicity
"These findings underscore the potential of HDP-201 as a promising new therapeutic option for GCC-positive gastrointestinal malignancies," noted Heidelberg Pharma in their announcement.
The poster presentation (Abstract #1558) is scheduled for April 28, 2025, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm CST during the Antibody-Based Cancer Therapeutics session.
Computational Modeling Optimizes Novel NAMPT Inhibitors
In a separate presentation, Dr. Pablo Ruedas Batuecas, Scientist Chemistry at Heidelberg Pharma, will demonstrate how computational modeling is being used to optimize NAMPT inhibitors (NAMPTi) as ADC payloads.
This innovative approach addresses a significant limitation in current cancer therapies. Nearly half of FDA-approved ADCs rely on microtubule inhibitors that selectively target dividing cancer cells but fail to eradicate non-dividing tumor stem cells—potentially leading to resistance and tumor relapse.
NAMPT inhibition represents a novel mode of action in ADC technology. As Dr. Batuecas will explain, inhibiting NAMPT—the rate-limiting enzyme in the salvage biosynthetic pathway of NAD+ starting from nicotinamide—induces cell death due to energy shortage in both dividing and non-dividing cell populations.
"ADCs based on in silico designed NAMPTi as payloads show promising in vitro and in vivo results," according to the company's announcement. This approach could significantly enhance targeted drug delivery to different cell lines.
Dr. Batuecas will present these findings (Abstract #1162) during a minisymposium on Antibody-Based Cancer Therapeutic Agents on April 27, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm CST.
Expanding ADC Toolbox for Targeted Cancer Treatment
These presentations highlight Heidelberg Pharma's expanding ADC toolbox, which now includes:
- Amanitin-based ADC technology (ATAC®), the company's proprietary platform utilizing a toxin from the green death cap mushroom
- Exatecan-based multimeric linker ADC technology (ETAC™)
- Computational modeling for optimizing novel payloads like NAMPT inhibitors
"In addition to its proprietary Amanitin-based ADC technology, Heidelberg Pharma has developed a diverse ADC toolbox designed to overcome tumor resistance through multiple mechanisms, enabling targeted treatment across various cancer types," the company stated.
About Antibody Drug Conjugates
ADCs represent a sophisticated approach to cancer treatment, combining the specificity of antibodies with the efficacy of cytotoxic compounds. These therapeutic agents work by attaching powerful anti-cancer drugs to antibodies that specifically target cancer cells.
The antibody portion of an ADC binds to specific proteins (antigens) found predominantly on cancer cells. Once bound, the ADC is internalized by the cell, where the toxic payload is released, killing the cancer cell while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
Heidelberg Pharma's goal is to develop "targeted and highly effective ADCs for the treatment of a variety of malignant hematologic and solid tumors," leveraging their diverse technological approaches to address different types of cancer using various antibodies.
The company, based in Ladenburg, Germany, continues to pioneer novel approaches in the rapidly evolving field of targeted cancer therapeutics.
