Competitor Analysis: EpCAM Antagonists

The present Competitive Intelligence Report about EpCAM Antagonists provides a competitor evaluation in the field of investigational antibodies and antibody-based constructs targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) for treatment of cancer as of April 2009.

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM; CD326) is a cell surface protein that is frequently expressed at high level on most solid tumor types, including prostate, breast, colon, gastric, ovarian, pancreatic and lung cancer. Overexpression of EpCAM has been shown to promote the proliferation, migration and invasiveness of breast cancer cells. Moreover, expression of EpCAM is associated with decreased survival in a number of cancer indications, including breast, gall bladder, bile duct, ovarian and ampullary pancreatic cancer. Most of the currently ongoing projects targeting EpCAM are antibodies or antibody-based constructs with an additional payload or effector function to enhance efficacy. Among these constructs are immunotoxins, immunocytokines and T-cell recruitment via CD3 targeting. Recently, the first EpCAM targeting antibody was recommended for approval in the European Union. Further molecules are being evaluated in ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

The report includes a compilation of current active projects in research and development of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) targeting antibodies and antibody-based constructs. In addition, the report lists company-specific R&D pipelines of EpCAM Antagonists. Competitor projects are listed in a tabular format providing information on:

• Drug Codes,
• Target / Mechanism of Action,
• Class of Compound,
• Company,
• Product Category,
• Indication,
• R&D Stage and
• additional comments with a hyperlink leading to the source of information.