PD-L1 x CD137 bispecific antibody

PD-L1 x CD137 bispecific antibodies represent a class of immunotherapeutic agents designed to simultaneously target programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and CD137 (also known as 4-1BB). This dual targeting strategy aims to enhance anti-tumor immunity by blocking the immunosuppressive PD-1/PD-L1 pathway while providing co-stimulatory signals through CD137 activation. The goal is to achieve conditional CD137 agonism, meaning CD137 is activated primarily in the tumor microenvironment where PD-L1 is highly expressed, thereby minimizing systemic toxicity often associated with non-targeted CD137 agonists. These bispecific antibodies are being developed for various cancers, particularly solid tumors, to overcome limitations of existing immunotherapies and improve patient responses. Examples include FS222, ATG-101, HK-010, and MCLA-145, with several companies like F-star (now Incyte), Antengene, Creative Biolabs, Merus NV, Genmab, and BioNTech involved in their development.

Other names

PD-L1 x 4-1BB bispecific antibodyPD-L-1 x 4-1BB bispecific antibodyPD-L 1 x 4-1BB bispecific antibody