OnCo
technologiesTechnologyPhase 2

Masked / conditionally active ADC

An ADC wearing a mask that only comes off inside the tumour, so it ignores the same protein on healthy tissue.

Probody platform (CytomX; praluzatamab ravtansine CD166, CX-2051 EpCAM with TOP1 payload showing responses in colorectal cancer in 2025) and protease-activated designs allow targeting of antigens with significant normal expression (EGFR, EpCAM, CD71). Also 'tumour microenvironment-activated' linkers cleaved by extracellular proteases.

Schematic · not to scale
Antibody · Payload · Binding arm · Peptide mask, cleaved by tumour proteases

How it works

Peptide mask blocks antigen binding until cleaved by tumour-enriched proteases (MMPs, uPA, legumain).

Strengths
  • Unlocks targets previously too toxic
  • Wider therapeutic index
Limitations
  • Incomplete masking; protease heterogeneity
Generation
4th (next-gen)

Latest papers

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Literature trend5 papers in the last 12 monthsHow this is computed
Latest papers · live from Europe PMC
Open in Europe PMC

Query for this technology: (TITLE:"conditionally active antibody-drug conjugate" OR ABSTRACT:"conditionally active antibody-drug conjugate" OR TITLE:"probody" OR ABSTRACT:"probody" OR TITLE:"masked antibody-drug conjugate" OR ABSTRACT:"masked antibody-drug conjugate"). Results are unfiltered search hits about Masked / conditionally active ADC, not a curated reading list.

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