anti-SEZ6 antibody-drug conjugate ABBV-011

An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a monoclonal antibody directed against seizure protein 6 homolog (SEZ6) linked to the cytotoxic antitumor antibiotic calicheamicin, with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon administration of anti-SEZ6 ADC ABBV-011, the monoclonal antibody moiety targets and binds to SEZ6 expressed on tumor cells. Upon binding and internalization, calicheamicin is released. Calicheamicin binds to the minor groove of DNA, causing double strand DNA breaks and resulting in apoptosis of SEZ6-expressing tumor cells. SEZ6, overexpressed in certain cancers while minimally expressed in normal tissues, plays a role in cell-cell recognition and in neuronal membrane signaling.