Is Zolbetuximab-Vyloy a CLDN18.2 targeted drug?

Zolbetuximab (Zolbetuximab), trade name Vyloy, is a targeted monoclonal antibody specifically targeting the Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) protein. It is a new generation of targeted therapy that is currently attracting much attention. Claudin 18.2 is a tight junction protein with limited expression in normal gastric mucosa, but is highly expressed in a variety of malignant tumors, especially gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma and pancreatic cancer. Therefore, therapeutic strategies targeting this target have become a hot topic in cancer research in recent years.

Zotuximab was developed based on this biological property. Its mechanism of action is to specifically bind toClaudin 18.2 protein, activating the antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) of immune effector cells, thereby effectively killing tumor cells expressing Claudin 18.2. In addition, the drug can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells by blocking signaling between tumor cells.

As the first targeted monoclonal antibody specifically targetingClaudin 18.2, Vyloy has demonstrated good efficacy in a series of clinical trials. Especially in key phase III clinical trials such as GLOW and SPOTLIGHT, zotuximab combined with chemotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), making this targeted therapy an important treatment option for patients with Claudin 18.2-positive gastric cancer. This breakthrough brings new hope to patients with advanced gastric cancer, especially for Claudin 18.2-positive people who have lacked effective targeted treatment options in the past.

It is worth noting that the efficacy of zotuximab is highly dependent on the expression level of Claudin 18.2 in the patient's tumor tissue. Therefore, before treatment, doctors usually recommend that patients undergo immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing to evaluate whether the tumor tissue is suitable for this targeted therapy. In addition, zotuximab is mainly administered through intravenous infusion. During use, patients need to be closely monitored for adverse reactions, such as infusion-related reactions, nausea, vomiting, etc., and corresponding supportive treatment should be taken when necessary.

Reference: https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB15118