What came up when we asked the experts: what's next for antibody-drug conjugates?
Our 8 October panel discussion titled “Making a big deal of it: how to succeed in ADC innovation”, featured three experts working at the leading edge of antibody-drug conjugates: Francesca Zammarchi (CSO, Myricx Bio), Silvia Crescioli (independent consultant and Visiting Fellow, King’s College London), and Susanna Price (Senior Patent Director – Oncology, AstraZeneca).
Left to right: Rob Andrews, Francesca Zammarchi, Susanna Price, Silvia Crescioli, and Robert Watson
The session explored themes from innovation and IP strategy to funding and differentiation, with a lightning‑round question at the very end drawing some particularly thought-provoking responses:
“What are the under‑discussed trends in ADCs?”
Here are the five trends the expert panel named – each signalling where the field may be heading next.
1. Bispecific ADCs
Bispecific antibodies are already reshaping the immunotherapy space. Now, their application to ADCs could unlock new functionality: dual targeting of tumour and immune markers, increased tumour selectivity, or improved internalisation.
Early developments are emerging from companies like AstraZeneca, Regeneron, and Zymeworks1. These include “biparatopic” ADCs targeting two epitopes on the same antigen – a strategy that may help tackle resistance or increase payload uptake.
2. Dual Payloads
Dual-payload ADCs aim to combine two mechanisms of action – for example, a DNA-damaging agent plus a microtubule inhibitor – within a single construct. This can deliver synergistic effects or overcome resistance in heterogeneous tumours. The use of two distinct payloads on a single ADC molecule also allows for improved tolerability by reducing, for example, problems associated with early payload release; by tuning the level of each payload so that it is a sub-toxic dose on its own, toxicity is only achieved when both payloads are co-delivered.
Companies such as Sutro, Biocytogen, Callio, and Innovent Biologics are exploring this approach2. These designs are complex to manufacture and validate, but they represent a natural evolution as ADCs move toward precision combination therapy.
3. Targeted Conjugation Techniques
Controlling the how of ADC assembly is just as important as the what. Traditional lysine or cysteine-based conjugation yields heterogeneous drug-to-antibody ratios (DARs). Targeted or site-specific conjugation techniques offer more uniform constructs with better stability, reduced toxicity, and improved regulatory compliance.3 Key platforms driving this shift include those from Biohaven, Ajinomoto, and Synaffix. These tools may become essential as ADCs adopt more complex payloads and enter tighter regulatory environments.
4. Antibody–Oligonucleotide Conjugates
Still early-stage but gaining momentum, antibody–oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs) combine antibodies’ cell-specific delivery with the gene-modulating power of nucleic acids. These aren’t cytotoxic – they aim to deliver siRNA, antisense oligos, or mRNA directly to target cells.4
Avidity Biosciences is leading in this space with its AOC™ platform, already in clinical trials for muscle-targeted siRNA delivery in conditions like myotonic dystrophy. Dyne Therapeutics and PepGen are also advancing conjugates for neuromuscular disease. This area may ultimately expand the ADC concept far beyond oncology – into gene therapy, rare disease, and inflammatory biology.
5. Indication‑Specific ADC Design
As the field matures, ADCs are increasingly being designed with specific diseases – even disease subtypes – in mind. That includes tuning payloads for tumour biology, engineering linkers for particular microenvironments, or exploring non-oncology indications altogether.
Myricx Bio is a notable example, using its NMTi payload platform to target biology specific to certain cancers. Orum Therapeutics is building degraducer-ADCs that exploit targeted protein degradation – with potential use in immunology as well as oncology. Others, like Araris Biotech and HD Biosciences, are investigating ADC-like formats in fibrosis and chronic inflammatory diseases. In short, the one-size-fits-all model is giving way to truly disease-driven design.
Final Thoughts
These five trends give an indication of the direction of travel for the ADC field: more precise, more modular, and more diverse. The focus is shifting from simply delivering cytotoxins to designing finely tuned biological machines – with expanded payloads, smarter targeting, and broader therapeutic reach.
At Mewburn Ellis, we work with innovators at every stage of this evolution – helping protect new payload chemistries, advise on platform IP strategies, and structure exclusivity that supports translation and partnering. As the next wave of ADC innovation unfolds, we’ll be there to help build its legal and strategic foundations.
References
1. Gu et al. 2024, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383524000121
2. Wen et al. 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12054377/
3. Hingorani 2024, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14712598.2024.2305266
4. Li et al. 2025, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928098725002908
