Peptide-drug & small-molecule-drug conjugates
Like an ADC but with a small targeting peptide instead of an antibody, so it penetrates tumours faster and is cheaper to make.
Melflufen (Pepaxto, withdrawn in US), lutetium radioligands (technically peptide-radionuclide conjugates), and clinical-stage PDCs (BT8009 zelenectide pevedotin, Nectin-4 Bicycle toxin conjugate; CBX-12 exatecan-SMDC). Bicycle's zelenectide pevedotin is in phase 2/3 in urothelial cancer.
How it works
Short peptide or bicyclic peptide binds the target; short half-life reduces systemic exposure.
- Rapid penetration, renal clearance
- Cheaper synthesis
- Short half-life limits tumour exposure
- Renal toxicity
A myeloma drug given accelerated approval in 2021 and withdrawn in the US months later when its confirmatory trial suggested it shortened survival.
Rusfertide is the first drug to control polycythaemia vera's excess red cells by restricting iron, sparing patients repeated blood removal.
A tiny peptide instead of an antibody carries the same payload as Padcev to Nectin-4, with far less rash and neuropathy in early data, but its developer stepped back in 2026.
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"peptide-drug conjugate" OR ABSTRACT:"peptide-drug conjugate" OR TITLE:"peptide drug conjugate" OR ABSTRACT:"peptide drug conjugate" OR TITLE:"bicycle toxin conjugate" OR ABSTRACT:"bicycle toxin conjugate"). Results are unfiltered search hits about Peptide-drug & small-molecule-drug conjugates, not a curated reading list.
Pages like this
not linked directly; found by shared links- TechnologyADC payload neutralisers
Shares De novo designed protein binders, Bladder & urothelial cancer, Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC).
- TrialEV-302 / KEYNOTE-A39
Shares Nectin-4, ADC roadmap: from Mylotarg to bispecific and dual-payload ADCs, Bladder & urothelial cancer.
- ProductAK146D1
Shares Nectin-4, ADC roadmap: from Mylotarg to bispecific and dual-payload ADCs, Bladder & urothelial cancer.
- CompanyAktis Oncology
Shares Nectin-4, Bladder & urothelial cancer.
- InstitutionUC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
Shares Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC).
- TrialEV-303 / KEYNOTE-905
Shares Nectin-4, Bladder & urothelial cancer.
- TechnologyImmune-stimulating antibody conjugate (ISAC)
Shares ADC roadmap: from Mylotarg to bispecific and dual-payload ADCs, Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC).
- TechnologyBispecific ADC
Shares Nectin-4, ADC roadmap: from Mylotarg to bispecific and dual-payload ADCs, Bladder & urothelial cancer, Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC).