The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has been awarded a $585,228 Project Grant under the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395). The grant, awarded on July 5, 2024, will fund research to develop an improved antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform using a novel polymer-based delivery system.
Specifically, UAB has patented a super-hydrophilic polymer, poly 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (PMPC), that can be used to engineer antibodies for prolonged circulation, targeted delivery, and enhanced tumor penetration. The researchers aim to apply this PMPC-polymer engineering to existing ADCs, such as Kadcyla, to increase the drug-to-antibody ratio and improve anti-cancer efficacy while maintaining safety. Additionally, the team will work to develop a new ADC by further optimizing the PMPC polymer structure to overcome therapy-resistant issues. The research is intended to produce highly reliable, clinically relevant, and safe ADC treatments for various cancer types.
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