anti-CLDN4/anti-CD137 bispecific antibody ASP1002

A bispecific antibody directed against both claudin-4 (CLDN4) and CD137 (4-1BB; tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9; TNFRSF9), with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, anti-CLDN4/anti-CD137 bispecific antibody ASP1002 simultaneously targets and binds to CLDN4 expressed on tumor cells and 4-1BB expressed on a variety of leukocyte subsets including activated T lymphocytes. The simultaneous binding to CLDN4 and CD137 allows for conditional stimulation of CD137 signaling within the tumor microenvironment (TME) only upon binding to CLDN4 on tumor cells. CD137 activation results in T-cell stimulation and enhances T-lymphocyte-mediated anti-tumor immune response against CLDN4-expressing tumor cells. CLDN4, a claudin protein family member that regulates tight junction formation, is overexpressed on a variety of tumor cells. 4-1BB, a surface glycoprotein of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is an inducible costimulatory receptor that plays a key role in T-cell proliferation, survival and cytolytic activity.