iodine-131 bivatuzumab

Iodine-131 bivatuzumab is a radioimmunotherapy agent developed by Boehringer Ingelheim for the treatment of squamous cell carcinomas. It consists of the humanized monoclonal antibody bivatuzumab (also known as BIWA 4), which is conjugated to the radioisotope iodine-131. The antibody specifically targets the variant 6 isoform of the CD44 antigen (CD44v6), a cell surface glycoprotein that is significantly overexpressed in various epithelial malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and esophageal cancer. Upon binding to CD44v6-positive tumor cells, the agent delivers localized beta-radiation from the iodine-131 isotope, which induces lethal DNA damage and subsequent cell death. Clinical development of the drug was halted during Phase I trials due to severe and sometimes fatal skin toxicities, specifically toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). This adverse effect was determined to be an on-target toxicity resulting from the expression of CD44v6 in normal human keratinocytes.

Other names

Iodine-131 bivatuzumabIodine131 bivatuzumabIodine 131 bivatuzumabIodine-131 labeled bivatuzumabIodine131 labeled bivatuzumabIodine 131 labeled bivatuzumab131I-anti-CD44v6 mAb