On February 4, 2022 Aptamer Science reported on the 4th that it signed a contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) contract with China’s Cailaing (Asymchem) for ‘AST-201’, an aptamer drug conjugate (ApDC)-based anticancer treatment (Press release, Aptamer Sciences, FEB 4, 2022, View Source;idx=171 [SID1234641605]).

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According to this contract, Aptamer Science has established a basis for mass production and stable supply of AST-201 clinical trial material.

AST-201 is an ApDC-based targeted treatment that internalizes the anticancer drug ‘gemcitabine’ in the form of a prodrug within the anticancer target aptamer structure. A specific aptamer was applied to the ‘GPC3’ protein, a tumor biomarker.

Accordingly, it is expected to minimize the systemic side effects of gemcitabine and maximize the target-specific anticancer effect. Additionally, it is believed that gemcitabine can be internalized within the aptamer to overcome the tumor’s anticancer drug resistance mechanism.

In addition, it is said to have the property of effectively overcoming the toxic side effects of antibody drug conjugate (ADC) treatments. Aptamers have a relatively short half-life in the blood compared to antibodies, so they have high tumor selectivity and tissue penetration while minimizing systemic exposure to the drug.

An Aptamer Science official said, "The process for clinical trials of ApDC-based anti-cancer treatments is proceeding smoothly," and added, "We will strive to quickly advance to the clinical development stage through collaboration with Kai-Laying."