Antibody co-administration can improve systemic and local distribution of antibody–drug conjugates to increase in vivo efficacy

Abstract

Several antibody–drug conjugates (ADC) showing strong clinical responses in solid tumors target high expression antigens (HER2, TROP2, Nectin-4, and folate receptor alpha/FRa). Highly expressed tumor antigens often have significant low-level expression in normal tissues, resulting in the potential for target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) and increased clearance. However, ADCs often do not cross-react with normal tissue in animal models used to test efficacy (typically mice), and the impact of ADC binding to normal tissue antigens on tumor response remains unclear. An antibody that cross-reacts with human and murine FRa was generated and tested in an animal model where the antibody/ADC bind both human tumor FRa and mouse FRa in normal tissue. Previous work has demonstrated that a “carrier” dose of unconjugated antibody can improve the tumor penetration of ADCs with high expression target-antigens. A carrier dose was employed to study the impact on cross-reactive ADC clearance, distribution, and efficacy. Co-administration of unconjugated anti-FRa antibody with the ADC-improved efficacy, even in low expression models where co-administration normally lowers efficacy. By reducing target-antigen–mediated clearance in normal tissue, the co-administered antibody increased systemic exposure, improved tumor tissue penetration, reduced target-antigen–mediated uptake in normal tissue, and increased ADC efficacy. However, payload potency and tumor antigen saturation are also critical to efficacy, as shown with reduced efficacy using too high of a carrier dose. The judicious use of higher antibody doses, either through lower DAR or carrier doses, can improve the therapeutic window by increasing efficacy while lowering target-mediated toxicity in normal tissue.