Claudin 18.2-Specific Antibodies

Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) is overexpressed in a significant proportion of gastric cancers and esophageal adenocarcinomas. The restricted expression makes it a promising marker and therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma. CLDN18.2-specific antibodies, like Zolbetuximab, have exhibited antitumor activity in preclinical models and global clinical trials have been in process.

Creative Diagnostics has recently developed several CLDN18.2 antibodies. The antibodies were screened from thousands of clones and were validated and characterized by multiple applications with high specificity and affinity.

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by the expression of certain proteins, including MUC17 and CLDN18.2, receptor tyrosine kinases, and growth factors. It is a major global cancer concern, and only HER2-targeted therapies have been approved in first-line clinical therapy.

CLDN18.2 is a member of the claudin family of proteins. The restricted expression of CLDN18.2 in a significant proportion of gastric cancers and esophageal adenocarcinomas makes it a potential target for advanced gastric cancer therapy. However, there`s a high sequence similarity between CLDN18.1 and CLDN18.2. Hence, precise and efficient detection of CLDN18.2 is required for the application of this attractive target.

According to recent research, antibodies bind CLDN18.2 specifically can be used to inhibit tumor growth and kill cancer cells by indirect(complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) and direct (antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects) mechanisms. CLDN18.2-specific antibodies (like Zolbetuximab) and CD3 bispecific molecules developed to target CLDN18.2 have already exhibited antitumor activity in preclinical models.