Astellas deal shines spotlight on CLDN18.2 programs at ASCO

A new deal between Astellas and Evopoint for a clinical antibody-drug conjugate against CLDN18.2 highlights the continued momentum of a target featured in at least 11 abstracts at this week’s American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago. Nearly all the abstracts were from China-based biotechs, underscoring the country’s status as a major source of antibody innovation.

With the agreement, Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo:4503) expands its foothold in CLDN18.2. In October, the company gained approval of first-in-class mAb Vyloy zolbetuximab to treat HER2-positive gastric and gastric esophageal junction cancer (G/GEJC). It also has ASP2183, a bispecific antibody against the target, in Phase I testing...