Bispecific ADCs: the next generation of cancer treatments

Beyond Biotech - the podcast from Labiotech

Antibody-drug conjugates have been an area of great interest in the oncology space in recent years, with a record rate of FDA approvals and dealmaking activity. However balancing efficacy and off-site toxicity has remained a challenge.

Some biopharma companies are investing in what they hope will be the next-generation approach to ADCs – bispecific ADCs.

More than a dozen early-stage clinical trials are evaluating whether adding a second targeting functionality can improve the preciseness of ADCs’ tumor-targeting, as well as potentially overcome the challenge of heterogeneity in solid tumor target expression.

Bispecific ADCs have been a hot area for dealmaking over the past year, including BMS’ $8.4 billion purchase of a bispecific ADC candidate in December, a $690 million deal between Biotheus and Hansoh this spring, and the recently announced $325 million deal between Prague-based SOTIO Biotech and Biocytogen.

SOTIO’s most advanced ADC, SOT102, is now in a phase 1/2 clinical study in the U.S. and Europe.

To talk about biotechs in Czechia, and bispecific ADCs, our conversation this week is with Radek Špíšek, CEO of SOTIO.

01:22-03:17: About SOTIO
03:17-06:12: Are there many biotech or biopharma companies in Prague?
06:12-08:16: Are there any challenges or opportunities being in Prague?
08:16-13:21: What are bispecific ADCs and how do they differ from regular ADCs?
13:21-15:37: Are there any challenges using bispecific ADCs?
15:37-17:07: What are the benefits of bispecific ADCs?
17:07-18:40: Do bispecific ADCs address the challenge of balancing efficacy and off-site toxicity?
18:40-19:42: Why are bispecific ADCs such a hot topic?
19:42-21:35: Deals involving bispecific ADCs, and SOTIO’s partnership with Biocytogen
21:35-24:15: What is SOT102?
24:15-26:41: What else is in SOTIO’s pipeline?
26:41-27:47: What is the future for bispecific ADCs?
27:47-29:01: What does this mean for patients?
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1. Bispecific ADCs: the next generation of cancer treatments (00:00:00)

2. About SOTIO (00:01:22)

3. Are there many biotech or biopharma companies in Prague? (00:03:17)

4. Are there any challenges or opportunities being in Prague?
 (00:06:12)

5. What are bispecific ADCs?
 (00:08:16)

6. Are there any challenges using bispecific ADCs?
 (00:13:21)

7. What are the benefits of bispecific ADCs?
 (00:15:37)

8. Do bispecific ADCs address the challenge of balancing efficacy and off-site toxicity?
 (00:17:07)

9. Why are bispecific ADCs such a hot topic?
 (00:18:40)

10. Deals involving bispecific ADCs, and SOTIO’s partnership with Biocytogen
 (00:19:42)

11. What is SOT102?
 (00:21:35)

12. What else is in SOTIO’s pipeline?
 (00:24:15)

13. What is the future for bispecific ADCs? 
 (00:26:41)

14. What does this mean for patients?
 (00:27:47)