Groundbreaking Trial Tests Novel Antibody M1231 Against Advanced Tumors
A groundbreaking clinical trial is underway in Texas, Austin, and Toronto, testing a novel antibody-based medication, M1231, for patients with advanced tumors. This is the first time patients in the USA are being treated with this innovative drug.
M1231, developed over two decades, is a bispecific antibody with two distinct 'grabbing arms'. These arms recognize two features on cancer cells, enabling specific recognition and targeting. The medication is part of a complex novel drug against treatable cancer types, being clinically tested by Merck. It utilizes a human antibody discovered by Professor Stefan Dübel's team at the Technical University of Brunswick and is loaded with a pharmaceutical active ingredient that inhibits tumor growth. After binding to cancer cells, M1231 activates the body's own immune system against the tumor and releases the cancer-fighting active ingredient directly in the tumor. The development of M1231 took over 20 years, involving an 'evolution in a test tube' using antibody-phage display.
The clinical trial (NCT04695847) is investigating the safety of M1231 for patients with metastatic solid tumors, esophageal cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. The study is expected to be completed by July 2023. Professor Michael Hust believes M1231's improved multiple target finding and combat functions may help more cancer patients.
