anti-DLK-1/MMAE antibody-drug conjugate TORL-4-500

An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against human delta-like 1 homolog protein (DLK-1; DLK1) conjugated, via a cleavable linker, to the cytotoxic agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon administration of anti-DLK-1/MMAE ADC TORL-4-500, the anti-DLK-1 antibody moiety targets and binds to DLK-1 expressed on tumor cells. Upon binding, internalization, and linker cleavage, MMAE binds to tubulin and inhibits its polymerization, which results in G2/M phase arrest and induces apoptosis in DLK-1-expressing tumor cells. DLK-1, an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like membrane bound protein overexpressed by certain tumor cell types and on certain cancer stem cells (CSCs), plays a key role in tumor cell proliferation. Its expression is widely expressed during fetal development but in adult healthy tissue it is very restricted.