AdCAb transforming the future of cancer treatment with new immunotherapy

Addressing the challenge of aggressive cancers 

Cancers that are difficult to treat, such as pancreatic cancer or triple-negative breast cancer, are resistant to most current therapies, including standard immunotherapies. Research indicates that the failure of these treatments is often due to a protective barrier of suppressive immune cells in the tumour microenvironment that blocks or shuts down anti-tumour immune responses. 

AdCAb brings a major breakthrough in the treatment of aggressive cancers. It uses an innovative approach in which a genetically engineered adenovirus delivers an antibody directly into the tumour microenvironment. This reprograms cells that block the immune response and activates the immune system to fight the tumour effectively. This dual action disarms the tumour's defence mechanisms and mobilises the immune system. The method offers a unique, single-agent treatment that previously required combination therapies. By boosting the immune response of cells directly in the tumour, AdCAb enhances immunotherapy and offers a safer and more targeted alternative to existing treatments.

Research and development – from concept to a new innovative antibody technology 

The AdCAb project has been developed over several years as part of a significant research initiative to identify the reasons why aggressive cancers commonly resist immunotherapy. This investigation led to a groundbreaking discovery: a dual-action therapy that not only targets cancer cells but also reprograms or eliminates suppressor cells, thereby rejuvenating the immune system's ability to fight cancer.  

Market opportunities and possible applications 

AdCAb's unique mechanism holds promise for significantly improving treatment efficacy across various tumour types. AdCAb offers a competitive advantage over existing therapies with its novel approach that directly targets tumour microenvironments while minimising side effects, which often cause efficacy and patient tolerability issues. 

With the oncology therapy market projected to reach USD 500 billion by 2030, AdCAb is well-positioned as a key player, especially in the rapidly expanding markets for pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer. 

Preliminary commercial evaluations suggest that AdCAb could generate substantial revenues, potentially reaching USD 500 million annually when treating just a small fraction of patients that may benefit from this new method. 

Impact and benefits of the new method  

The AdCAb technology is specifically applied to highly immunosuppressive cancers. It offers a critical option for patients with limited other treatment options. It also significantly improves the efficacy of combination therapies with other immunotherapies. By directly affecting immunosuppression, i.e. the weakened response of tumour cells, AdCAb may in the future enable the development of new combination strategies for cancer treatment and even offer curative therapies.

Early proof-of-concept studies in both animal models and patient-derived organoids have demonstrated the efficacy of the AdCAb approach. These studies demonstrate the potential of the therapy to transform cancer treatment outcomes and build the foundation for future advances in cancer treatment.

Future and path to commercialisation

The AdCAb technology has proven its effectiveness in a variety of cancer models, including pancreatic, colorectal, kidney and breast cancer, where it has been more effective than current treatments. The AdCAb project team is moving towards commercialisation of the innovation, focusing on generating additional preclinical data using patient-derived organoid models and testing the AdCAb technology with immunotherapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These steps are crucial to support regulatory discussions and to prepare for the first phase of clinical trials

AdCAb aims to progress to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) animal studies by early 2027, laying the groundwork for first-in-human clinical trials in 2028. AdCAb will explore licensing and partnering opportunities for its new treatment technology, while continuing to prepare for commercialisation and considering different options. The project team will work to ensure that patients with no effective treatment options currently available are able to access the new immunovirotherapy.

In January 2025, the AdCAb project was granted Research to Business commercialisation funding by Business Finland, putting it in a strong position to progress to the next stages of development. Its entry into SPARK programme will provide the additional resources and mentoring needed to achieve market readiness.