Dacetuzumab

Dacetuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that was under development for the treatment of various types of cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It targets the CD40 molecule, which is a costimulatory protein found on the surface of many immune system cells as well as some cancer cells. The drug was developed by Seattle Genetics in collaboration with Genentech.

Mechanism of Action

Dacetuzumab works by binding to the CD40 molecule on B cells and other cells within the immune system. This binding can lead to the activation of antitumor immune responses and may also directly induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in CD40-expressing tumor cells.

Clinical Trials

Dacetuzumab was evaluated in several clinical trials, primarily focusing on its efficacy in treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Early phase trials suggested some potential benefits, but later phase trials were needed to fully assess its effectiveness and safety profile.

Development and Cancellation

Despite initial promise, the development of Dacetuzumab was discontinued. The decision to halt development was based on the assessment of data from clinical trials, which suggested that the outcomes did not meet the necessary benchmarks to continue. The discontinuation was part of a broader trend in the pharmaceutical industry where certain investigational treatments are shelved if their benefit-risk profile is not sufficiently favorable.

See Also

• Monoclonal antibodies
• Immunotherapy
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• CD40 (gene)