Immunocytokines

The present Competitive Intelligence Report about Immunocytokines provides a competitor evaluation in the field of tumor targeted cytokines by means of antibodies, proteins, peptides and other carriers for treatment of cancer as of June 2009.

Although the human cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha are approved marketed for tumor therapy, their use is rather limited due to severe systemic side effects. Targeted delivery of the cytokine may be an approach to reduce systemic side effects by tumor targeting via antibodies or other tumor specific delivery of a cytokine as the payload. Immunocytokines are recombinant fusion proteins with an antibody based tumor targeting moiety and a cytokine. At present, at least eight different immunocytokines are in early clinical development and further three entering clinical testing soon. Clinical experience so far indicates that potential toxicity can be managed and is reversible. Clinical anti-tumor activity was seen in some kind of tumors, but companies are exploring suitable clinical indications for their immunocytokines.

Instead of using antibody for tumor targeting, proteins or peptides also can be used for tumor homing and local delivery of the cytokine. Broad clinical evaluation of several protein/peptide cytokine complexes is ongoing. Targeting of richly vascularized tumors also can be achieved by nanomolecules targeting leaky, newly formed tumor vasculature for delivery of the cytokine effector function. Such principles also can include a second effector function such as cytotoxic agents to further increase anti-tumor activity. Clinical evaluation of such molecules has started.

The preferred cytokines used in immunocytokines and other cytokine complexes are IL-2 and TNF alpha. Other candidate cytokines in evaluation are interleukin-12 and interferon gamme in oncology and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 for rheumatoid arthritis.

The report includes a compilation of current active projects in research and development of immunocytokines in oncology. In addition, the report lists company-specific R&D pipelines of immunocytokines. Competitor projects are listed in a tabular format providing information on:

• Drug Codes,
• Target / Mechanism of Action,
• Class of Compound,
• Company,
• Product Category,
• Indication,
• R&D Stage and
• additional comments with a hyperlink leading to the source of information.