Pipeline of MUC1-Targeted Immunotherapeutics

This competitive intelligence report about MUC1-Targeted Immunotherapeutics provides an up-to-date competitor evaluation in the field of therapy candidates in research and development targeting mucin 1 (MUC1). This report will be prepared on demand within one working day upon order placement. The report lists active MUC1-targeted R&D programs by R&D phase in a tabular format and describes in brief the profile of anti-MUC1 immunotherapy candidates by drug modality. The report will be provided in pdf format and sent by e-mail to the customer.

As an example of this category of on demand reports, please see our free sample report of “Pipeline of 5T4-Targeted Immunotherapies”.

The highly glycosylated transmembrane protein Mucin1 or MUC1 (also known as CD227, EMA, MCD, MAM6, PEM, PUM, KL-6, CA 27.29/CA 15-3) is overexpressed in various solid or hematological cancers. Abnormal MUC1 expression/glycosylation in cancer leads to the activation of multiple pathways, resulting in tumor migration, invasion and accelerated growth.

MUC1 is a protein expressed on the apical surface of normal epithelial cells 4, facing the external environment in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts and lining ducts of specialized organs including the breast, liver, prostrate, pancreas, lungs, and kidneys etc. MUC1 protects the body from infection by binding to a wide range of pathogens and by regulating inflammatory response to infection.

Upon malignant transformation of the epithelial cells, MUC1 gets significantly over expressed (5- to 100-fold) by the tumorigenic cells. Furthermore, epithelial cancer cells lose their apical-basal polarity, and overexpress MUC1 over the entire cell surface, where MUC1 starts functioning as an oncogene. MUC1 interacts with other oncogenes and their respective signaling pathways, substantially promoting cell growth and inhibiting cell death in cancer cells.

CA 27.29/CA 15-3 are blood tumor markers used in breast cancer patients. Novel therapeutic agents targeting MUC1, including cancer vaccines, cellular therapies, radiopharmaceuticals, monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates, are being explored in clinical studies.

Recently published initial results from the dose-escalation part of a phase I/II first-in-human clinical study of the lead anti-MUC1 antibody-drug conjugate DS-3939 showed encouraging results in the heavily-pretreated patient population. Tumor reduction was observed in 31 of 38 patients who received DS-3939 at dose levels 2–6 and had ≥1 postbaseline tumor assessment (per RECIST 1.1, 10 confirmed partial responses in NSCLC, OC, and BC; 23 stable disease; 5 progressive disease) (Patel, 2025).

This early signal of clinical activity with an manageable safety profile of an anti-MUC1 ADC may encourage further discovery and development of MUC1-targeted immunotherapeutics.