A feature article in the journal Science takes an in-depth look at the history of bispecific antibodies, their promise in cancer treatment, and their possible limitations. More than 60 T-cell–directing bispecific antibodies are currently being studied in clinical trials, according to one estimate.
Recent developmental innovations include adding a second copy of the tumor-antigen binding site to one tip of the antibody to produce a so-called “2 +1” bispecific antibody and designing bispecifics that bind to natural killer cells instead of to T cells or that also bind to a second receptor on T cells. A trial now being planned will give bispecific antibodies to patients following CAR T-cell therapy.
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