Pipeline of MUC16-Targeted Immunotherapeutics

This competitive intelligence report about MUC16-Targeted Immunotherapeutics provides an up-to-date competitor evaluation in the field of therapy candidates in research and development targeting mucin 16 (MUC16). This report will be prepared on demand within one working day upon order placement. The report lists active MUC16-targeted R&D programs by R&D phase in a tabular format and describes in brief the profile of anti-MUC16 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”.

MUC16 is a type I transmembrane mucin, a membrane-bound mucin, and the largest mucin ever discovered. MUC16 was first recognized as CA125, which is a classic marker for ovarian cancer. Its gene is present on the short arm of human chromosome 19p13.2. MUC16 consists of 22,152 amino acids with a core protein size of about 2–5 × 10⁶ Da, and the predicted molecular mass of glycosylated mucins is estimated to exceed 5 MDa. MUC16 consists of three main domains: an extracellular serine/threonine-rich amino terminal domain, a carboxyl terminal domain, and a tandem repeating domain which is a major part of MUC16’s molecular structure.

The MUC16 cell surface glycoprotein is overexpressed in 80% of epithelial ovarian cancer, in endometrial cancer, and in 65% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, but is hardly expressed in normal pancreatic ducts. The extracellular part of MUC16 could be cleaved as CA125, which is well known as a diagnosis biomarker for ovarian cancer. The effectiveness of therapeutics targeting MUC16 has been hindered by “antigen sink effect.” When MUC16 is cleaved from the tumor cells and released into circulation, ADCs can bind to this shed portion, which is then cleared from the patient rather than reaching the tumor.

MUC16 is clinically validated, including by Genentech’s ADC program that targets the shed portion of MUC16. The limitations of first-generation MUC16 ADCs could be overcome by directly targeting the membrane bound, non-shed portion of MUC16.