Nimotuzumab

Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a key target in the development of cancer therapeutics. EGFR-targeting drugs have been shown to improve response when used with conventional treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

 

Nimotuzumab: Proposed Mechanism of Action 



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What makes nimotuzumab different from other monoclonal antibodies?

 

Nimotuzumab is being developed to compete as best-in-class against the established class of EGFR-targeting drugs. This drug has displayed efficacy in numerous clinical trials, with anti-cancer activity that rivals the other EGFR-targeting antibody drugs, cetuximab and panitumumab. However, to YM's knowledge, in the more than 9,000 patients treated with nimotuzumab worldwide to date, very few have experienced Grade 4 radiation dermatitis or Grade 3/4 acneform rash, which is a severe and dose-limiting side-effect observed in all of the other antibodies and small molecules targeting the EGF tyrosine kinase signaling pathway. Reports of any severe incidents of the other side effects that are typical of EGFR-targeting molecules have been rare.

 

YM researchers recently determined the underlying mechanism of action that may enable nimotuzumab to discriminate tumor cells from healthy cells, resulting in its unique side-effect profile. Unlike other EGFR-targeting antibody drugs, the attachment of nimotuzumab to EGFR occurs more readily when EGFR density is elevated, which occurs naturally in many cancers or which may be induced by radiation-containing therapies.[4]  In contrast, when EGFR density is low, such as in healthy tissue, the other antibodies will indiscriminately bind to the receptors naturally found in normal cells, resulting in the toxicities observed from this interaction with the healthy tissue. Nimotuzumab binding is transient thus sparing the healthy tissue and avoiding the associated severe toxicities.

 

Browse scientific publications on nimotuzumab.

Clinical trials with nimotuzumab

 

Nimotuzumab is being studied worldwide in clinical trials targeting multiple types of cancer. Nimotuzumab is approved in certain countries for the treatment of head and neck cancers and/or glioma, but is not approved in the United States or Canada.

 

Nimotuzumab is being studied in clinical trials in the following tumor types:

  • Lung Cancer
  • Glioma (Pediatric and Adult)
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Gastric Cancer
  • Cervical Cancer
  • Hepatic Carcinoma
  • Breast Cancer

Availability of nimotuzumab

  • Nimotuzumab is approved in 23 countries including Brazil, India, China, Argentina and Indonesia for either head & neck cancer or glioma or both.
  • Nimotuzumab is available through participation in ongoing clinical trials. Contact YM BioSciences at
    (905) 629-9761 or our     global licensees for more information.
  • Nimotuzumab is available through physician requests in some countries. Contact YM Biosciences for further information at (905) 629-9761.