becotatug vedotin + pucotenlimab

Becotatug vedotin + pucotenlimab is an investigational combination therapy being developed by Lepu Biopharma for the treatment of various squamous cell carcinomas. The combination consists of **becotatug vedotin** (MRG003), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and **pucotenlimab** (HX008), a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Becotatug vedotin utilizes a humanized anti-EGFR antibody conjugated to the microtubule-disrupting agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a protease-cleavable valine-citrulline linker. Pucotenlimab acts as an immune checkpoint inhibitor, preventing the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands (PD-L1/PD-L2) to restore T-cell activity. This dual-action approach aims to provide direct tumor cell killing and stimulate a robust anti-tumor immune response, and is currently being evaluated in Phase II trials as a neoadjuvant or first-line treatment for conditions such as hypopharyngeal, head and neck, and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.

Other names

MRG003 + HX008