Overview

NCI Definition [1]:
A bispecific antibody directed against the negative immunoregulatory human cell receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1; PDCD1; CD279) and the human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), with potential immune checkpoint inhibitory, anti-angiogenic and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration of anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody AK112, this agent simultaneously targets and binds to both PD-1 expressed on certain T-cells and VEGF. The binding of AK112 to PD-1 prevents the activation of PD-1 by its ligands, programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and/or 2 (PD-L2). This abrogates T-cell inhibition, activates antigen-specific T-lymphocytes and enhances cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated tumor cell lysis, which may lead to a reduction in tumor growth. The binding of AK112 to VEGF prevents binding of VEGF to its receptor VEGFR, abrogates VEGF/VEGFR-mediated signaling and may lead to the inhibition of vascular endothelial cell proliferation. The inhibition of tumor angiogenesis may further decrease tumor cell proliferation and prevent metastasis. PD-1, a transmembrane protein in the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) expressed on T-cells, functions as an immune checkpoint that negatively regulates T-cell activation and effector function when activated by its ligands PD-L1/ or PD-L2; it plays an important role in tumor evasion from host immunity. VEGF is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and is associated with increased invasiveness and decreased survival.

Ak112 has been investigated in 1 clinical trial, of which 1 is open and 0 are closed. Of the trial investigating ak112, 1 is phase 1 (1 open).

Malignant solid tumor is the most common disease being investigated in ak112 clinical trials [2].

Drug Details

Synonyms [2]:
pd-1/vegf bispecific antibody ak112, ak 112, ak-112, anti-pd-1/anti-vegf bispecific antibody ak112, anti-pd-1/vegf bispecific antibody ak112
Drug Target(s) [2]:
PDCD1, VEGFA
NCIT ID [1]:
C170909

References

1. National Cancer Institute. NCI Thesaurus Version 18.11d. https://ncit.nci.nih.gov/ncitbrowser/. [2018-07-30] [2018-08-02].

2. All assertions and clinical trial landscape data are curated from primary sources. You can read more about the curation process here.