Nimotuzumab

Affinity-Optimized Antibody™

 

Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets and binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Nimotuzumab inhibits activation of the protein tyrosine kinase and has a slightly lower binding affinity compared to other common EGFR-targeting agents.

 

Nimotuzumab: Proposed Mechanism of Action 



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Selected Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting EGFR

Product

Type of Antibodya

Affinity (M)b

Ig Subclassc

Clinical Status
(Most Advanced)

Nimotuzumab

Humanized

10-8

IgG1

Phase III*

Erbitux® (cetuximab)

Chimeric

10-10

IgG1

Marketed

Vectibix® (panitumumab)

Fully Human

10-11

IgG2

Marketed


a  Company websites

b  T. Alekshun, C. Garrett. Targeted Therapies in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancers. Cancer Control 12(2): 105-110 (2005)

c  U. Vanhoefer, et al. Phase I Study of the Humanized Antiepidermal Growth Factor Receptor Monoclonal Antibody EMD72000 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors That Express the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor. Journal of Clinical Oncology 22(1): 175-184 (2004)

*  Approved in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Gabon, Guinea Conakry, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Venezuela and Vietnam for either head & neck cancer or glioma or both. Not approved in Canada, the United States, Europe or Japan. 

 

We expect the benefits of nimotuzumab's lower binding affinity to include improved tumor-targeting and tolerability, as supported by clinical observations to date. In clinical trials and commercial sales involving more than 9,000 patients worldwide, nimotuzumab has been observed to have an improved side-effect profile compared to other EGFR-targeting drugs while demonstrating clinical benefit in Phase II trials.

 

Nimotuzumab is being evaluated in clinical studies around the world in multiple indications including non-small cell lung cancer, pediatric and adult glioma, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer and head & neck cancer. Nimotuzumab has been approved for marketing in 23 countries including Brazil, India, China, Argentina and Indonesia.