Antibody–drug conjugate

Antibody–drug conjugates or ADCs are a class of bioconjugates and immunoconjugates. ADCs are composed of an antibody linked to a cytotoxic (anticancer) "payload" or drug.

Among treatment options for cancer, chemotherapy is most widely used. Its main limitation is low target specificity. Unlike chemotherapy, ADCs target tumor cells while sparing healthy cells. As of 2019, some 56 pharmaceutical companies were developing ADCs.

ADCs combine the targeting properties of monoclonal antibodies with the cancer-killing capabilities of cytotoxic drugs, designed to discriminate between healthy and diseased tissue.

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