Supplementary Figure S2 shows the chemical stability of FD1 (ZD06519)

Supplementary Figure S3 shows the in vitro cytotoxicity assessment of trastuzumab-ADCs in both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) spheroid assays

Supplementary Figure S1 shows the murine plasma stability of T-DL4 and T-DL13

Abstract Introduction: Eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) mediates recruitment of ribosomes to mRNA and catalyzes the unwinding of mRNA secondary structure, thereby facilitating ribosome scanning and translation initiation. Inhibitors of eIF4A (e.g., silvestrol, zotatifin, and other rocaglates) block translation of select mRNAs that contain a high degree of secondary structure (e.g. mRNAs encoding MYC, KRAS, and CDK4/6, among others), resulting in inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Despite limited efficacy observed for zotatifin in a phase I clinical trial, antibody conjugation of a novel eIF4A payload offers the possibility of enhanced exposure and improved tolerability, which could lead to more robust responses. Furthermore, eIF4A antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) would constitute a novel mechanism with the potential to address payload-specific resistance mechanisms that have been reported following progression on ADCs with camptothecin payloads. Methods: A panel of novel rocaglamide-derived eIF4A inhibitors containing linkable functional groups were synthesized and evaluated for potency, hydrophilicity, and DMPK properties. Select analogs were elaborated into drug-linkers containing a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) side chain to minimize hydrophobicity. Conjugation to endogenous cysteines using maleimide chemistry provided ADCs targeting diverse tumor associated antigens that were evaluated for in vitro potency, in vivo efficacy, and tolerability. Results: ADCs carrying eIF4A inhibitors with a drug-to-antibody ratio of 8 required use of hydrophilic PEG groups to minimize aggregation. In vitro, trastuzumab ADCs showed potent antigen-dependent activity in HER2-expressing cell lines and bystander activity in mixed co-cultures of HER2+ and HER2- cells. Selection of lead drug-linkers was based on robust in vivo anti-tumor activity of HER2 targeted ADCs in NCI-N87 and SKOV-3 CDX models as well as tolerability in non-tumor bearing mice and Sprague Dawley rats. The breadth of efficacy of the lead drug-linkers was evaluated in vivo using Ly6E, PTK7, TROP2, cMET, and EGFR targeted ADCs. Conclusions: Novel eIF4A ADCs constructed using hydrophilic drug linkers demonstrated potent and target-specific in vitro cytotoxicity. Promising in vivo efficacy was observed across multiple tumor associated targets, however the observed toxicity level in both mice and rats suggests a potentially lower than anticipated preclinical therapeutic window. Citation Format: Mark Petersen, Jodi Wong, Samir Das, Vidhi Khanna, Kurt Stahl, Micheal G. Brant, Truman Hirkala-Schaefer, Jesse Leblanc, Victoria K. Harman-McKenna, Manuel Lasalle, Graham A. Garnett, Rehan Higgins, Catalina Suarez, Kaylee J. Wu, Linglan Fu, Germanna Righetto, Devika Sim, Adele Chan, Allysha Bissessur, Ambroise Wu, Araba Sagoe-Wagner, Luying Yang, Andrea Hernandez Rojas, Dunja Urosev, Sam Lawn, Vincent Fung, Stuart D. Barnscher, Raffaele Colombo, Jamie R. Rich. Design and evaluation of mRNA translation inhibitors for use as antibody drug conjugate payloads [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2400.

Supplementary Table S1 shows the in vitro cytotoxicity of free drugs

Synthesis and characterization of free drugs and drug-linkers

Supplementary Table S3 shows the DMPK properties of lead payloads

Supplementary Figure S4 shows the pharmacokinetic analysis of ADCs (total antibody PK) from the tolerability study in rats

HPLC-HIC, LC-MS, HPLC-SEC, residual free drug analysis, and endotoxin levels of ADCs

Abstract Background: Folate Receptor alpha (FRα) is a validated cancer target that is prevalently expressed in multiple cancers with high unmet need, including ovarian cancer and other gynecological cancers, NSCLC, endometrial cancer and TNBC. Due to FRα’s favorable expression profile, multiple antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are being explored in this setting. Here we present the preclinical characterization of a new anti-FRα ADC, ZW191. ZW191 is a bystander active antibody drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of a humanized IgG1 antibody conjugated to a novel camptothecin-based topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (TOPO1i) payload, ZD06519, via a maleimidocaproyl (MC) anchor and a glycyl glycyl phenylalanyl glycyl (GGFG)-aminomethyl (AM) cleavable linker at a drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 8. ZW191 is projected to undergo IND submission in 2024. Materials and Methods: The novel antibody and drug-linker components of ZW191 were generated, characterized, and optimally integrated. The apparent binding affinity and cellular internalization of the ZW191 antibody were determined in FRα-expressing cells. Tumor spheroid cancer cell cultures were utilized to determine ZW191’s degree of tissue penetration and its cytotoxicity. The bystander activity of ZW191 was assessed using antigen positive and negative co-culture experiments. The anti-tumor activity of ZW191 was evaluated in a panel of ovarian cancer, NSCLC, endometrial cancer and TNBC patient-derived xenografts (PDX) spanning a range of FRα expression. ZW191 was evaluated in toxicology and pharmacokinetic (PK) studies performed in non-human primates (NHP). Results: The antibody component of ZW191 features a favorable binding profile with strong binding to FRα, and drives superior tumor spheroid penetration, cellular internalization, and payload delivery compared to FRα targeted antibodies used in multiple other ADCs. ZW191 demonstrates potent activity in FRα expressing cell cultures and effective bystander activity. In a panel of PDX models representing a range of FRα expression, ZW191 demonstrates compelling anti-tumor activity across ovarian and endometrial cancers, NSCLC and TNBC. ZW191 demonstrates an encouraging tolerability profile in NHP, with favorable PK. The promising efficacy, tolerability, and PK support the potential of ZW191 as a novel therapeutic agent that may help address unmet need in patients with high and low FRα expressing cancers. Citation Format: Sam Lawn, Andrea Hernandez Rojas, Raffaele Colombo, Jodi Wong, Kaylee Wu, Vincent Fung, Manuel Lasalle, Mark E. Petersen, Lemlem Degefie, Araba Sagoe-Wagner, Dunja Urosev, Luying Yang, Ambroise Wu, Catrina Kim, Amos Chua, Kurt Stahl, Geoffrey C. Winters, John C. Fann, Jamie Rich, Stuart Barnscher. ZW191 - a FRα-targeting antibody drug conjugate with strong preclinical activity across multiple FRα-expressing indications [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1862.

Abstract In recent years, the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADC) has seen a resurgence, largely driven by the clinical benefit observed in patients treated with ADCs incorporating camptothecin-based topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads. Herein, we present the development of a novel camptothecin ZD06519 (FD1), which has been specifically designed for its application as an ADC payload. A panel of camptothecin analogs with different substituents at the C-7 and C-10 positions of the camptothecin core was prepared and tested in vitro. Selected compounds spanning a range of potency and hydrophilicity were elaborated into drug-linkers, conjugated to trastuzumab, and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. ZD06519 was selected on the basis of its favorable properties as a free molecule and as an antibody conjugate, which include moderate free payload potency (∼1 nmol/L), low hydrophobicity, strong bystander activity, robust plasma stability, and high-monomeric ADC content. When conjugated to different antibodies using a clinically validated MC-GGFG–based linker, ZD06519 demonstrated impressive efficacy in multiple cell line–derived xenograft models and noteworthy tolerability in healthy mice, rats, and non-human primates.

Abstract Background: Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are an effective class of cancer therapeutics which have gained prominence for the treatment of several malignancies. A cytotoxic ADC consists of a linker-payload conjugated to a monoclonal antibody, which targets a distinct tumor-associated antigen (TAA) to enable the delivery of the cytotoxic payload to cancer cells. Presently, there is a need for in vitro models that better recapitulate in vivo tumor tissue complexity to aid in the screening and evaluation of ADCs during preclinical development. Hence, efforts have been made to develop in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models with improved translation to in vivo tumor models compared to traditional two-dimensional (2D) cancer cell line monolayer models. We aimed to generate monoculture cancer cell line spheroids in a high-throughput manner. Subsequently, we sought to evaluate the spheroid penetration capability of structurally distinct ADCs and to assess the 3D cytotoxic activity of a variety of microtubule inhibitor (MTI) and topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (TOPO1i)-bearing ADCs targeting multiple TAAs, comparing to activity in 2D models. Methods: Monoculture cancer cell spheroids were generated by seeding cells from a variety of tumor types, using an automated liquid-handling robot, into microtiter plates treated with ultra-low attachment coating, which allows for scaffold-free self-assembly of cancer cells into a 3D arrangement. Following spheroid formation by incubation for 2-3 days under standard culturing conditions, spheroids were treated with ADCs at a range of concentrations for functional evaluation: the spheroid penetration capability of ADCs of different antibody formats was assessed using high-content confocal imaging of spheroids treated with fluorescently labeled antibodies; the cytotoxic activity of ADCs was characterized using an ATP quantification luminescent reagent, live/dead cell fluorescent stains, and confocal imaging. Results: Monoculture spheroids of varying morphologies were successfully and reproducibly generated with a large panel of >50 cancer cell lines derived from >10 tumor types. Antibodies with different formats demonstrated target-mediated binding and a range of spheroid penetration depths. Additionally, MTI and TOPO1i ADCs evaluated in a panel of cancer cell spheroids demonstrated robust 3D cytotoxicity and differentiated activity when compared to the 2D monolayer assay. In a number of cases, the potency trends across multiple ADCs in 3D cytotoxicity assays were more predictive of in vivo efficacy compared to the 2D assay. Taken together, our high-throughput spheroid assays present important and straightforward in vitro tools to aid in the screening and selection of therapeutic cytotoxic ADC candidates for the treatment of solid tumors. Citation Format: Jodi Wong, Andrea Hernández Rojas, Allysha Bissessur, Lemlem T. Degefie, Araba P. Sagoe-Wagner, Samir Das, Vincent Fung, Kevin Yin, Renee Duan, Sam Lawn, Laurence Madera, Catrina Mi Jung Kim, Alex Wu, Mark E. Petersen, Raffaele Colombo, Jamie R. Rich, Stuart D. Barnscher. Development of three-dimensional cancer cell line spheroid models for the in vitro functional characterization of cytotoxic antibody-drug conjugates [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3127.

Background: NaPi2b is a multi-pass transmembrane sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein encoded by the gene SLC34A2. NaPi2b is involved in normal phosphate homeostasis and its expression is found in the lung, liver, and small intestine. NaPi2b is highly expressed in ovarian carcinomas, lung adenocarcinomas, and colorectal carcinomas. ZW220 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting human NaPi2b, wherein a humanized IgG1 antibody is conjugated to novel camptothecin-based topoisomerase I inhibitor, ZD06519. The drug linker in ZW220 is comprised of a maleimide anchor and a glycyl glycyl phenylalanyl glycine (GGFG)-aminomethyl (AM) cleavable sequence. Materials and Methods: A series of in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to interrogate the mechanism of action and the therapeutic potential of ZW220. The binding, internalization, potency, and bystander effect of ZW220 were evaluated in vitro using endogenous NaPi2b-expressing ovarian and lung cancer cell lines. In vivo, the anti-tumor activity of ZW220 was evaluated in a panel of cell line derived xenograft (CDX) models and ovarian patient derived xenograft (PDX) models featuring a range of NaPi2b expression. The pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of ZW220 was determined in Tg32 mice, a transgenic mouse expressing human neonatal Fc receptor (hFcRn). Results: ZW220 antibody exhibited cross-reactivity to human and cynomolgus monkey NaPi2b, nanomolar binding affinity and rapid internalization in NaPi2b-expressing cell lines in vitro. ZW220 elicited target-specific, sub-nanomolar cytotoxicity in two-dimensional monolayer and three-dimensional tumor spheroid models and demonstrated bystander-mediated cell killing in cancer cell co-culture assays. The treatment of a panel of ovarian PDXs with a single dose of 6 mg/kg of ZW220 resulted in robust tumor growth inhibition. ZW220 demonstrated a favourable PK profile in Tg32 mice, with comparable half-life to its parental unconjugated antibody. These results support the potential of ZW220 as a novel therapeutic agent which may help address unmet medical need in patients with NaPi2b-expressing tumors. Citation Format: Andrea Hernandez Rojas, Jodi Wong, Dunja Urosev, Sam Lawn, Kaylee Wu, Saki Konomura, Manuel Lasalle, Diego A. Alonzo, Luying Yang, Mark Petersen, Lemlem T. Degefie, Araba P. Sagoe-Wagner, Sohyeong Kang, Chi Wing Cheng, Raffaele Colombo, Daya Siddappa, Stuart D. Barnscher, Jamie R. Rich. ZW220, a novel NaPi2b-targeting antibody drug conjugate bearing a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1533.

Synthetic analogs based on the DNA bis-intercalating natural product peptides sandramycin and quinaldopeptin were investigated as antibody drug conjugate (ADC) payloads. Synthesis, biophysical characterization, and in vitro potency of 34 new analogs are described. Conjugation of an initial drug-linker derived from a novel bis-intercalating peptide produced an ADC that was hydrophobic and prone to aggregation. Two strategies were employed to improve ADC physiochemical properties: addition of a solubilizing group in the linker and the use of an enzymatically cleavable hydrophilic mask on the payload itself. All ADCs showed potent in vitro cytotoxicity in high antigen expressing cells; however, masked ADCs were less potent than payload matched unmasked ADCs in lower antigen expressing cell lines. Two pilot in vivo studies were conducted using stochastically conjugated DAR4 anti-FRα ADCs, which showed toxicity even at low doses, and site-specific conjugated (THIOMAB) DAR2 anti-cMet ADCs that were well tolerated and highly efficacious.

Pairing immunostimulatory small molecules with the targeting capability of an antibody has emerged as a novel therapeutic modality with the potential to treat a variety of solid tumors. A series of compounds based on an imidazo-thienopyridine scaffold were synthesized and tested for their ability to agonize the innate immune sensors toll-like receptor 7 and 8 (TLR7/8). Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies revealed that certain simple amino-substituents could enable TLR7 agonism at low nanomolar concentrations. Drug-linkers containing either payload 1 or 20h were conjugated to the HER2-targeting antibody trastuzumab at the interchain disulfide cysteine residues using a cleavable valine-citrulline dipeptide linker and stochastic thiol-maleimide chemistry. In vitro, these immune-stimulating antibody drug-conjugates (ADCs) were found to induce cytokine release in a murine splenocyte assay when co-cultured with the HER2-high NCI-N87 cancer cell line. In vivo, tumor regression was observed with a single dose in an NCI-N87 gastric carcinoma xenograft model in BALB/c nude mice.

Background: Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a cell-surface oncofetal glycoprotein frequently expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with minimal presence in normal adult tissues. ZW251 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting human GPC3, composed of a humanized IgG1 antibody conjugated to a novel camptothecin-based topoisomerase 1 inhibitor, ZD06519, via a maleimide anchor and a glycyl glycyl phenylalanyl glycine (GGFG)-aminomethyl (AM) cleavable linker. Materials and Methods: Extensive functional characterization was performed to assess the mechanism of action and therapeutic potential of the ZW251 ADC. Antibody binding to human and cynomolgus monkey GPC3 was assessed by surface plasmon resonance and flow cytometry. A screen of off-target binding and target specificity was conducted using a membrane proteome array. ZW251 antibody internalization in GPC3-expressing tumor cell lines was assessed by flow cytometry. In vitro ADC cytotoxicity against tumor monolayers and spheroids was assessed in a panel of HCC cell lines. Tumor cell co-culture assays were also performed to assess bystander-mediated cell killing by ZW251. The pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of the ZW251 antibody was assessed in Tg32 mice expressing human FcRn. Anti-tumor activity of ZW251 was investigated in a large panel of cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models representing a range of GPC3 expression. Results: The ZW251 antibody backbone demonstrated nanomolar binding affinity to both human and cynomolgus monkey GPC3, and strong binding to target-expressing cancer cell lines. Rapid internalization of ZW251 antibody was observed in GPC3-expressing HCC cell lines. ZW251 exhibited potent and target-specific cytotoxicity in a panel of HCC cells cultured either in monolayer or as 3D spheroids. ZW251 showed effective bystander-mediated killing of GPC3 negative cancer cells when in co-culture with GPC3 positive cancer cells. The ZW251 antibody demonstrated a favorable PK profile in Tg32 mice. A single administration of ZW251 resulted in robust tumor growth inhibition of a large panel of CDX and PDX models representing a range of GPC3-expression. Overall, these results support the potential of ZW251 as a novel therapeutic agent against GPC3-bearing cancers. Citation Format: Laurence Madera, Andrea Hernández Rojas, Raffaele Colombo, Alex Wu, Chayne L. Piscitelli, Dunja Urosev, Allysha Bissessur, Chi Wing Cheng, Renee Duan, Catrina Kim, Kevin Yin, Vincent Fung, Kaylee Wu, Winnie Cheung, Diego A. Alonzo, Mark E. Petersen, Stuart D. Barnscher, Jamie R. Rich. ZW251, a novel glypican-3-targeting antibody drug conjugate bearing a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2658.

This manuscript describes the development and characterization of a second-generation "helping hand" solubilizing tag. This semipermanent tag aids solubility of peptides during purification and handling steps and is compatible with common native chemical ligation conditions. The utility of this tag is demonstrated by the synthesis of the Shiga toxin B subunit.

The introduction of solid-phase peptide synthesis in the 1960s improved the chemical synthesis of both the A- and B-chains of insulin and insulin analogs. However, the subsequent elaboration of the synthetic peptides to generate active hormones continues to be difficult and complex due in part to the hydrophobicity of the A-chain. Over the past decade, several groups have developed different methods to enhance A-chain solubility. Two of the most popular methods are use of isoacyl dipeptides, and the attachment of an A-chain C-terminal pentalysine tag with a base-labile 4-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid linker. These methods have proven effective but can be limited in scope depending on the peptide sequence of a specific insulin. Herein we describe an auxiliary approach to enhance the solubility of insulin-based peptides by incorporating a tri-lysine tag attached to a cleavable Fmoc-Ddae-OH linker. Incorporation of this linker, or "helping hand", on the N-terminus greatly improved the solubility of chicken insulin A-chain, which is analogous to human insulin, and allowed for coupling of the insulin A- and B-chain via directed disulfide bond formation. After formation of the insulin heterodimer, the linker and tag could be easily removed using a hydrazine buffer (pH 7.5) to obtain an overall 12.6% yield based on A-chain. This strategy offers an efficient method to enhance the solubility of hydrophobic insulin-based peptides as well as other traditionally difficult peptides.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not cure HIV-1 infection due to the persistence of proviruses in long-lived resting T cells. Strategies targeting these latently infected cells will be necessary to eradicate HIV-1 in infected individuals. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation is an effective mechanism to reactivate latent proviruses and allows for recognition and clearance of infected cells by the immune system. Several ingenol compounds, naturally occurring PKC agonists, have been described to have potent latency reversal activity. We sought to optimize this activity by synthesizing a library of novel ingenols via esterification of the C-3 hydroxyl group of the ingenol core, which itself is inactive for latency reversal. Newly synthesized ingenol derivatives were evaluated for latency reversal activity, cellular activation, and cytotoxicity alongside commercially available ingenols (ingenol-3,20-dibenzoate, ingenol 3-hexanoate, and ingenol-3-angelate) in HIV latency cell lines and resting CD4+ T cells from aviremic participants. Among the synthetic ingenols that we produced, we identified several compounds that demonstrate high efficacy and represent promising leads as latency reversal agents for HIV-1 eradication.

To investigate the cellular distribution of tumor‐promoting vs. non‐tumor‐promoting bryostatin analogues, we synthesized fluorescently labeled variants of two bryostatin derivatives that have previously shown either phorbol ester‐like or bryostatin‐like biological activity in U937 leukemia cells. These new fluorescent analogues both displayed high affinity for protein kinase C (PKC) binding and retained the basic properties of the parent unlabeled compounds in U937 assays. The fluorescent compounds showed similar patterns of intracellular distribution in cells, however; this argues against an existing hypothesis that various patterns of intracellular distribution are responsible for differences in biological activity. Upon further characterization, the fluorescent compounds revealed a slow rate of cellular uptake; correspondingly, they showed reduced activity for cellular responses that were only transient upon treatment with phorbol ester or bryostatin 1.