A Review of the Current FDA-Approved Antibody-Drug Conjugates: Landmark Clinical Trials and Indications

Despite considerable treatment progress, cancer remains among the leading causes of death worldwide. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a rapidly growing class of systemic therapy, show promise by combining the properties of conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Antibody-drug conjugates have been shown to be more efficacious than traditional chemotherapy. To date, there are 13 ADCs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating various hematological and solid organ cancers. There are several new promising ADCs that are being developed and are in clinical trials. This review provides an overview of the current FDA-approved ADCs, the landmark clinical trials that led to their approval, the common toxicities seen in the landmark trials, the challenges associated with ADCs, and the potential future directions.

Automated summary

Despite progress in cancer treatment, it remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the properties of chemotherapy and targeted therapy, showing promise as an effective systemic therapy. Currently, there are 13 FDA-approved ADCs for treating various cancers, with new ones in development and clinical trials. This review provides an overview of FDA-approved ADCs, landmark clinical trials, common toxicities, challenges, and future directions.