Technology

Polymer Drug Conjugates

Advancing beyond traditional antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), OncoNano is pioneering a new approach to cancer treatment with its polymer drug conjugates (PDCs) based on the proprietary ON-BOARD™ technology.

Traditional ADCs have revolutionized oncology drug development but have known limitations. They rely on specific proteins on cancer cell surfaces to target delivery of their therapeutic payload. This approach is limited, however, as cancer cells, generally, must display the right protein targets on their cell surfaces; non-cancerous cells may also display these proteins, resulting in non-specific ADC effects. Additionally, ADCs can sometimes release drugs prematurely in the bloodstream, resulting in further off-tumor effects.

OncoNano PDC graphic

OncoNano’s PDC technology takes a different approach. Instead of searching for specific cell proteins, PDCs respond to a universal characteristic of cancer to release their potent anti-cancer toxins. This simple but powerful difference offers several advantages:

  • Universal Tumor Targeting:
    PDCs activate in the acidic environment common to all tumors, making them effective across multiple cancer types

  • Protected Delivery:
    OncoNano’s innovative micelle design shields the therapeutic payload during circulation, reducing systemic toxicities

  • Precise Release:
    Drugs or toxins are released only when PDCs encounter the acidic conditions unique to tumor sites

  • Broader Application:
    Unlike ADCs, PDCs don't depend on specific cell surface proteins or biomarkers, potentially treating more types of cancer

  • Leverage Knowledge:
    from pegsitacianine illuminating 11 tumor types to support the chemistry and accelerate the manufacturability of the PDCs

OncoNano is advancing its first PDC development candidates toward clinical evaluation, with announcements expected in 2025.