Less than 3 decades old, antibody-drug conjugate or ADC-technology is a relatively new. Due to many technological advances, recognition of appropriate target antigens, success in the development on novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and increasing demand for biologics and biotherapeutics the market of targeted therapies, including ADCs, is rapidly increasing.
This week, ReportLinker, an award-winning market research organization published the latest industry data covering ADCs. According to the authors of the report, developed by BCC research, the global market for antibody drug conjugates was valued at $1.3 billion in 2016 and is expected to reach $4.2 billion by 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate or CAGR of 25.5% from 2016 to 2021. [1]
In 2016, the market for ADCs in North American was valued at $588.6 million and should reach $2.0 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 27.2% from 2016 to 2021. In Europe this market was valued $395.0 million in 2016 and is expected to reach $1.2 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 24.1% from 2016 to 2021.
Currently approved ADCs
Advances in targeting antibodies, potent payloads and drug-linker technologies that facilitate improved ADC stability, potency and targeting efficiency have led to the development of two commercially viable ADCs. BCC Research’s goal in conducting this study is to provide an overview of the current and future characteristics of the global market for antibody drug conjugates.
The new report explores present and future strategies within the antibody-drug conjugates market, which includes, by type of payload (cytotoxic agent), by type of monoclonal antibodies and by type of linker. The inception of the market, and its demands and restraints are discussed in this report. Classification, comparisons and usage of ADC products are also presented in this report.
The authors analyzed the structure of the antibody-drug conjugate industry and broke down revenues by region, with sales estimated for the five-year period from 2016 through 2021. Applications of antibody drug conjugates and significant patents and their allotments in each category discussed.
Study background
Advancements in research have changed the way many diseases are treated. ADCs represent an innovative class of drugs that are mainly developed by conjugating already-developed or marketed small molecules and biologics. ADCs have shown great potential in cancer therapy. ADC products are becoming an important part of the biomedical industry and have the potential to replace conventional treatment options.
Research & Development spending, along with increasing competition, patent expires and new technologies are providing a new direction to the market. Advancements, new product launches and changing lifestyles are expected to influence the future growth of the market. This study looks at the majority of the systems affected by these factors.
Acquisition strategies and collaborations by companies are also covered in this report. This study also discusses the strength and weaknesses of each type company in light of the new technologies, growing competition and changing customer needs.
Scope
Antibody drug conjugates are mainly used to treat cancer and are safer and more effective than many other cancer therapies. This report focuses on the global market for antibody drug conjugate products and provides an updated review, including their basic design and application in various areas of the biomedical sciences.
The report covers three main areas of application, breast cancer, lymphoma and other cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia or AML. The scope of this study includes the current market for ADCs. The report also discusses regulatory aspects, current and developing technologies, market projections and market shares. An analysis of clinical trials, innovations and opportunities and the latest trends in ADC market are also discussed in the report.
Also included in the report is an analysis of relevant patents and profiles of companies, including Seattle Genetics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Genentech/Roche that lead the antibody-drug conjugate product market.
Sales data for the global and regional markets were corroborated for the present and forecasted values via statistical analysis, and sales are broken down geographically into North America, Europe, Asia- Pacific and the emerging markets. The application of ADCs in various types of cancer is discussed from both a commercial perspective and that of a research and development (R&D) perspective.
The report only covers antibody-drug conjugates in which an antibody is conjugated with small-molecule cytotoxins (payload) through a linker. Other forms of antibody conjugates such as radioisotopes conjugated with an antibody are beyond the scope of this report.
Information Sources
For this report, the authors surveyed many companies to obtain data for this study. This included manufacturers and end users of antibody-drug conjugate products. Data was also gathered from various industry sources. The authors spoke with officials within the industry, consulted newsletters, company literature, product literature and a host of technical articles, journals, indexes and abstracts. Exhaustive database searches were conducted using key terminology. In addition, data were compiled from current financial, trade and government sources.
Methodology
Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this study. The authors also conducted a comprehensive literature search, which included technical newsletters and journals, including ADC Review | Journal of Antibody-drug Conjugates, and many other sources and conducted interviews experts and key opinion leaders. Projections were based on estimates such as the current number of end users, potential end users, mergers and acquisitions, and market trends.
Highlights
Antibody-drug conjugates, representing the convergence of chemistry with biology, include an antibody linked with a cytotoxic drug called payload. They combine the extraordinary affinity and specificity of antibodies with the anticancer potential of payloads. Continuous efforts to improve the therapeutic potential of biologics and to develop novel efficacious drugs either by modification or derivatization led to the development of ADCs.
Over the last decades, ADCs have revolutionized the field of cancer treatment. Unlike conventional chemotherapeutics, which damage normal cells along with the cancer cells, ADCs target only cancer cells. Through the synergistic combination of monoclonal antibody with the cytotoxic drug, via a stable linker, an extremely efficacious class of anticancer drugs has been emerged. To date, three ADCs have gained entry into the market, of which only two remain. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg®), marketed by Pfizer, became the first FDA approved ADC in 2000.
This drug was approved for the treatment of relapsed acute myeloid leukemia. In 2010, a decade after its approval, gemtuzumab ozogamicin was withdrawn from the market due to serious hepatotoxicity issues.
However, in late January 2017 Pfizer’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg®; previously known as CMA-676) was accepted for filing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) was validated in December 2016.[2]
The Biological License Application (BLA) was based on additional data from a Phase III study that evaluated the potential benefits of adding gemtuzumab ozogamicin to standard induction chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia aged 50–70 years old. The FDA’s decision on the application is expected sometime in September 2017.
Only brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris®; marketed by Seattle Genetics and Takeda Pharmaceutical) and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla®; marketed by Genentech/Roche), are commercially available. Brentuximab vedotin was approved in 2011 for relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma and relapsed anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, and ado-trastuzumab emtansine was approved in 2013 for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-expressing breast cancer.
Technological advancements, the growing number of cancer patients and increasing demand for biologics for the treatment of chronic diseases are the prime factors that are driving the market for ADCs.
North America continues to lead the market for ADCs as it has the advanced technologies needed to develop ADCs. In addition, rising healthcare expenditures and huge government initiatives are also driving the North American market. Improving economic conditions, demand for better healthcare facilities, increasing health awareness, increasing incidence of chronic diseases and growing R&D activities will help the market for ADCs grow in Asia-Pacific.
The ADC industry involves a specialization business model, more specifically a technology licensing model. In specialization models, certain companies discover and license its ADC technology to pharmaceutical companies. The two main ADC technology companies in terms of sheer numbers of licensing deals to date are ImmunoGen and Seattle Genetics. ImmunoGen, with its maytansinoid-based targeted antibody payload (TAP-) technology, produced ado-trastuzumab emtansine with Genentech.
Brentuximab vedotin is developed by Seattle Genetics and includes the company’s ADC linker and cytotoxin expertise coupled with an antibody from Millennium Pharmaceuticals, now part of the Takeda Pharmaceutical.
Innovation in ADCs typically occur through the development of new cytotoxic agents as well as new linkers that are adequately stable and at the same time can be cleaved efficiently to deliver the cytotoxic drug. Thus, key future trends in the market for ADCs include the development of novel payloads, new linker chemistry and the site-specific conjugation technology. All these advancements are expected to lead to the development of more specialized, personalized and targeted ADCs.
The manufacturing of antibody-drug conjugates requires specific manufacturing facilities. In turn, this requires high capital investment and extensive specialized training of operators and both of these requirements indicates the trend towards the contract development and manufacturing of ADCs.
Product pipeline
The product pipeline is a key determinant of any industry’s future growth. And that is also the case with antibody-drug conjugates. The industry’s acceptance of ADC technology is evident from the continual increase in novel ADCs entering clinical trials during the past few years. During 2003-2007, 10 ADCs reached Phase I trials and this number increased to 30 during 2008-2012. About 24 novel ADCs entered Phase I trials during 2012- 2016.
A number of ADCs with promising preliminary data are in the clinical trial pipeline. Mirvetuximab soravtansine, also known as IMGN853, sacituzumab govitecan and vadastuximab talirine are in late stage phase III clinical development. These three ADCs are expected to reach the market during forecast period.
Inotuzumab ozogamicin, an anti-CD22 ADC being developed by Pfizer for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is expected to be approved by FDA at the end of 2017. It received priority review designation from the FDA in February 2017. Through the FDA’s priority review program, Pfizer is expected to receive the FDA’s decision on inotuzumab ozogamicin with breakthrough therapy designation within six months.
In October 2016 rovalpituzumab tesirine, also known as Rova-T, an antibody-drug conjugate being developed by AbbVie/Stemcentrx, was recognized at the 7th Annual World Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) Awards as the “Most Promising Clinical Candidate” for fighting cancer. The novel biomarker-specific ‘smart-bomb’ antibody-drug conjugate targets the delta-like protein 3 or DLL3 protein, expressed in more than 80% of small-cell lung cancers (SCLC) patient tumors, appears to be safe and shows efficacy in treating patients with advanced SCLC. The authors expect this investigational agent to also reach the market during the forecast period.
Market expectation
The market for ADCs was worth approximately $1.3 billion in 2016 with just two approved drugs, and its potential remains very large. Total revenues, representing product sales (collaboration and royalty revenues are not considered), are expected to be $4.2 billion worldwide by 2021 at a CAGR of 25.5% from 2016 through 2021.
These revenues reflect the estimated addition of other ADCs that are directed toward acute lymphocytic leukemia and ovarian cancer. Much of the market growth is expected to come from added indications for both the marketed ADCs. In addition, the expected approval of several other antibody-drug conjugates, such as Pfizer’s gemtuzumab ozogamicin and inotuzumab ozogamicin, during the forecast period will help the market for ADCs to grow significantly.
North America led the antibody drug conjugate market due to the presence of major pharmaceutical companies working on the development of antibody drug conjugate drugs there. Both the North American and European markets benefited from the fast track approval of ADCs. Expanded access to ADCs in Asia-Pacific and the emerging markets drove the market for ADCs in these geographies.
The two most common therapeutic areas for ADCs from 2014 to 2016 were lymphoma and breast cancer, with breast cancer representing 61.3% of ADC revenues in 2016. By 2021, with the approval of two novel ADCs to treat acute myeloid leukemia and ovarian cancer, breast cancer ADCs will represent a market share of 47.1%.
