Zymeworks Presents New Preclinical Data on Antibody-Drug Conjugate Programs at EORTC-NCI-AACR Conference

Core Insights - Zymeworks Inc. is advancing its investigational new drug applications (IND) for two antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), ZW220 and ZW251, with submissions planned for the first half and second half of 2025 respectively [1][4] Group 1: ZW220 - ZW220 targets NaPi2b-expressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and ovarian cancers, demonstrating significant preclinical activity and a favorable toxicology profile in non-human primate studies [2][5] - The ADC features a novel TOPO1i payload with strong bystander activity, which is beneficial for tumors with low and heterogeneous NaPi2b expression [3] - ZW220 has shown high tolerability in animal studies, with maximum tolerated doses (MTD) of ≥90 mg/kg in non-human primates and ≥200 mg/kg in rats, indicating potential for high dosing in humans [3][5] Group 2: ZW251 - ZW251 is designed for glypican-3 (GPC3)-expressing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has demonstrated strong anti-tumor activity across various HCC models [4][6] - The ADC has a drug-antibody ratio (DAR) of four, balancing tolerability and anti-tumor effectiveness, with significant tolerability observed at doses up to 120 mg/kg in non-human primates [4][6] - ZW251 offers flexibility in treatment strategies, potentially serving as a standalone therapy or in combination with existing standard of care treatments [4] Group 3: Company Overview - Zymeworks is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel biotherapeutics for difficult-to-treat diseases, leveraging its proprietary technology platforms [7] - The company is advancing a robust pipeline of product candidates, including zanidatamab, which is under review for accelerated approval in the U.S. and China [7] - Zymeworks aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients with challenging cancers through its innovative therapeutic approaches [7]