Adcendo is developing a first‑in‑class antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) that targets the uPARAP receptor, which is overexpressed on mesenchymal cancer cells such as soft‑tissue sarcoma. The ADC links a humanized anti‑uPARAP antibody to a microtubule‑disrupting payload via a cleavable linker, enabling tumor‑specific delivery and reduced systemic toxicity. ADCE‑D01 is in a Phase I/II trial with a companion diagnostic to select uPARAP‑positive patients.
Funding
$135M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
TCFounders
Product
Problem
Patients with mesenchymal malignancies such as soft‑tissue sarcoma have few effective systemic options, and existing chemotherapies often cause off‑target toxicity without sufficient tumor control. The lack of tumor‑specific delivery mechanisms contributes to low response rates and high relapse rates in this high‑unmet‑need population.
Solution
Adcendo is developing a first‑in‑class antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) that exploits the uPARAP (urokinase‑type plasminogen activator receptor‑associated protein) endocytic receptor, which is markedly overexpressed on mesenchymal cancer cells. The ADC couples a humanized anti‑uPARAP monoclonal antibody to a potent cytotoxic payload via a cleavable linker that is stable in circulation but releases the drug after receptor‑mediated internalization. By restricting payload delivery to uPARAP‑positive tumor cells, the platform aims to increase therapeutic index and reduce systemic adverse events. ADCE‑D01 is currently in a Phase I/II “ADCElerate1” trial enrolling patients in the US and Europe, and has received FDA Fast Track designation, reflecting regulatory confidence in its potential to address an unmet clinical need. The program incorporates biomarker‑driven patient selection, real‑time pharmacokinetic monitoring, and a scalable manufacturing process designed for later‑stage development.
Target Audience
The primary customers are oncology clinicians and clinical trial networks specializing in soft‑tissue sarcoma, as well as pharmaceutical partners seeking a differentiated ADC platform for mesenchymal cancers.
Features
- Humanized IgG antibody engineered for high affinity and specificity to the uPARAP receptor, minimizing off‑target binding.
- Site‑specific conjugation chemistry that yields a homogeneous drug‑to‑antibody ratio (DAR) and improves batch‑to‑batch consistency.
- Cleavable peptide linker optimized for rapid release of the cytotoxic payload within the acidic endosomal/lysosomal compartment after internalization.
- Potent microtubule‑disrupting payload (e.g., MMAE) selected for activity against sarcoma cell lines with low multidrug resistance.
- Integrated companion diagnostic assay (IHC/ISH) to quantify uPARAP expression and stratify patients for enrollment.
- GMP‑compliant manufacturing platform enabling scalable production of ADC at clinical‑grade purity and stability.
- Adaptive Phase I/II trial design with pharmacodynamic endpoints (tumor uptake imaging, circulating tumor DNA) to accelerate go/no‑go decisions.
- Secure data pipeline linking trial sites to a cloud‑based analytics hub for real‑time safety and efficacy monitoring.