MPD-1

MPD-1 is a **peptide-drug conjugate** that links a peptide substrate cleavable by caspases to doxorubicin, a cytotoxic anthracycline. This design allows selective drug release within tumor cells undergoing apoptosis, enhancing immunogenic cell death and stimulating anti-tumor immune responses. Preclinical research shows that MPD-1 upregulates immunogenic cell death markers and augments both dendritic cell activation and CD8+ T cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. It is being evaluated for use as an adjuvant to immunotherapy, particularly in combination with CD47 antagonists, to treat solid tumors such as microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer. MPD-1 acts via modulation of multiple targets—KRAS, PTEN, and inhibition of topoisomerase II—and has demonstrated substantial tumor growth inhibition and immune memory formation in vivo. The drug was initially developed by Pharosgen and is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for advanced solid tumors[1][3][4][6].

Other names

caspase-cleavable peptide-doxorubicin conjugate