SBIR CONCEPT AWARD FOR A NOVEL DELIVERY APPROACH TO TRANSFORM METASTATIC PANCREATIC CANCER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

This proposal seeks to advance the development of a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) to address the critical need for more effective therapies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a rare and aggressive cancer with limited standard-of-care options. The ADC is based on a previously identified lead antibody that targets a PDAC-enriched antigen and employs a first-in-class mechanism to deliver the drug to invasive and metastatic lesions selectively. The project focuses on three key areas: 1) selecting and conjugating the optimal ADC payload, 2) developing in vitro spheroid and cytotoxicity models, and 3) demonstrating proof of concept in vivo using patient-derived PDAC xenografts (PDX) model. This research will generate essential preclinical data to guide future development. Developing this ADC aims to improve patient outcomes by enhancing therapeutic efficacy, reducing systemic toxicity, and increasing tumor specificity. Clinically, this involves overcoming drug resistance caused by the dense tumor stroma of PDAC and ensuring the ADC effectively targets both invasive and metastatic cancer cells. By addressing these challenges, the therapy aims to extend its use to earlier stages of the disease, prevent recurrence, and potentially be applied to other types of cancer.