Clinical development of an anti-GPC-1 antibody for the treatment of cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Glypican-1 (GPC-1) is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) overexpressed in multiple cancers. Multiple studies indicate the prominence of this cancer biomarker with significant diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Recent advances in monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based biopharmaceuticals targeting GPC-1 show promise toward managing GPC-1-positive solid tumors clinically.

Areas covered

This review addresses GPC-1 targeting antibodies for cancer therapy, in preclinical and clinical development. Current and emerging development of different anti-GPC-1 antibody formats based on mechanism of action and application are also discussed.

Expert opinion

Clinical development of novel anti-GPC-1 antibody-based formats is still in its early days. Using the patented anti-GPC-1 Miltuximab® as a case study, we have made an attempt to illustrate a pathway for preclinical to clinical translation, which could be useful for newer GPC-1 targeting immunotherapy agents.

KEYWORDS:

• Monoclonal antibody
• solid tumors
• glypican-1
• cancer therapy
• immunotherapy

Article highlights

• Expression and role of GPC-1 in multiple cancers

• An overview of GPC-1 targeting antibodies developed so far and their applications

• Anti-GPC-1 mAb categories based on mechanism of action and cancer indications

• Therapeutic anti-GPC-1 antibodies in preclinical and clinical development

• Clinical development process from a Miltuximab® perspective

Declaration of Interests

B Walsh and D Campbell are employees of GlyTherix Ltd. GlyTherix Ltd is a partner organization in ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technologies (CIBIT) funded by the Australian Government. Saikat Ghosh is a student of CIBIT collaborating with the company on projects of mutual interest. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper is not funded.