Antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (Adept)

Abstract

Studies on the Adept approach over the last 6 years have indicated its general feasibility. The therapeutic responses observed so far in the clinic are modest but have been obtained with a prodrug that will be surpassed. Substantial progress has been made in understanding and controlling the distribution of the enzyme which is critical to a major advance in the distribution of a cytotoxic drug. In Adept the distinction between a prodrug and its active component provides a further opportunity to improve selectivity by using a second enzyme system which must be retained within the vascular compartment to inactivate any active drug which is generated within or otherwise enters the vascular compartment (IVIAD).