Patritumab

Patritumab is an experimental monoclonal antibody designed for the treatment of cancer. It specifically targets and binds to the human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3), which is involved in the proliferation and survival of certain types of cancer cells. Patritumab is being investigated for its potential use in treating various types of solid tumors, including breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and head and neck cancer.

Development and Mechanism

Patritumab was developed by Daiichi Sankyo, a global pharmaceutical company. The drug operates by targeting HER3, a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, which also includes EGFR, HER2, and HER4. These receptors are tyrosine kinases that play critical roles in signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and survival. HER3 is known to be overexpressed in many cancers and is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to existing therapies.

By binding to HER3, patritumab inhibits its interaction with other members of the EGFR family, particularly HER2, thereby blocking the signaling pathways that lead to tumor growth and survival. This mechanism of action makes it a potential therapeutic option in cancers where HER3 plays a significant role.

Clinical Trials

Patritumab has been evaluated in several clinical trials. Early-phase trials have assessed its safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors. The results from these trials have provided the basis for further investigation in more targeted patient populations.

One of the notable Phase II trials involved patritumab in combination with erlotinib in patients with NSCLC. However, the study did not meet its primary endpoint of improved progression-free survival compared to erlotinib alone. Despite this, research continues to explore patritumab's potential in different combinations and settings.

Future Directions

Research is ongoing to better understand the role of HER3 in cancer and to optimize the therapeutic strategies involving patritumab. This includes the development of biomarkers to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from HER3-targeted therapies and the investigation of combination therapies that might overcome resistance mechanisms.

See Also

• Monoclonal antibodies for cancer
• Targeted therapy
• Epidermal growth factor receptor