Mahendra Deonarain, CEO of Antikor Biopharma, discussed the company’s mission to develop next-generation antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, designed to improve treatment outcomes for patients with difficult-to-treat solid tumors.
Originally spun out of Imperial College and now based at the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Antikor has been active in the ADC field for many years. Deonarain explained that while ADCs are now one of the most exciting areas in oncology, the field has gone through several cycles of innovation. Early ADCs demonstrated the potential of linking cancer-targeting antibodies with potent drug payloads, but challenges around tolerability, delivery and efficacy limited their impact.
According to Deonarain, recent advances have helped reignite interest in the sector. Improvements in antibody design, linker technology and payload selection have shown that relatively small changes in ADC structure can lead to meaningful differences in patient outcomes. This has helped position ADCs as a potential alternative to traditional chemotherapy and, in some settings, a possible future standard of care.
Antikor’s strategy focuses on smaller ADC formats. The company believes these formats could improve tumor penetration, particularly in cancers where dense or fibrotic tumor environments make drug delivery difficult. This is especially relevant for challenging indications such as gastric, colorectal and pancreatic cancer, where patients often have limited treatment options and where conventional ADCs may not perform as effectively.
Deonarain said Antikor is working to strike the right balance between improved tumor penetration and sufficient exposure in the body. While smaller formats may enter tumors more effectively, they must also remain in circulation long enough to deliver a sustained therapeutic effect. Demonstrating this balance will be a key part of the company’s clinical development strategy.
The company’s lead candidate, AND-45, is being developed for gastric cancer and is expected to move into clinical development. Antikor plans to file an IND and advance the programme into trials, with the aim of proving that smaller-format ADCs can deliver clinical benefit in patients.
Deonarain also discussed Antikor’s recent acquisition by Hong Kong-listed Essex Bio-Technology, a long-term investor in the company. The acquisition has given Antikor renewed strategic direction and additional resources at a time when the funding environment remains challenging for small biotech companies. Essex Bio-Technology’s ambition to expand into oncology aligns closely with Antikor’s ADC platform and pipeline plans.
Looking ahead, Antikor intends to reveal more of its pipeline, including additional targets and further refinements to its ADC formats. Deonarain said the company’s long-term goal is to make a meaningful difference for patients with hard-to-treat cancers by offering more targeted and effective therapeutic options.
While he acknowledged that competition in oncology remains strong, particularly with emerging approaches such as KRAS inhibitors, Deonarain said Antikor’s focus on tumor penetration and alternative ADC design could help address significant unmet needs in solid tumor treatment.
