Is Teritusumab/Telivac a targeted anti-cancer drug?

Teritusumab (Teclistamab-cqyv ) is an innovative targeted anti-cancer drug that belongs to the bispecific T cell engaging antibody (bispecific antibody) category. This type of drug achieves the purpose of targeted therapy by simultaneously identifying tumor cells and immune cells, allowing the immune system to accurately attack cancer cells. Teritusumab targets B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and CD3 on the surface of T cells. It achieves "immune bridging" by connecting the two cells and activates T cells to directly kill malignant plasma cells. This mechanism of action represents an important breakthrough in the field of immunotherapy for hematological tumors.

From a molecular mechanism perspective, the original design intention of teritusumab is to provide new treatment options for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant tumor derived from plasma cells. Traditional chemotherapy and single targeted drugs are often difficult to control the disease in the long term. Teritusumab can identify and eliminate cancerous cells by mobilizing the patient's own immune system, embodying the concept of precision medicine. Therefore, from the perspective of pharmacological properties and mechanism of action, teritusumab is not only a targeted anti-cancer drug, but also has the characteristics of immunotherapy. It is a biological agent with dual effects.

Unlike traditional targeted drugs, the clinical effect of teritusumab does not rely on a single signaling pathway that inhibits cancer cells, but achieves sustained suppression through the reactivation of the immune system. Multiple foreign studies have pointed out that teritusumab can significantly improve the disease control rate of patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma and bring a longer remission period to some patients. Although the efficacy is remarkable, its application still needs to be carried out in medical institutions because the drug may cause cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxic reactions.

At present, teritusumab has been approved for marketing in the United States, the European Union and China, becoming one of the first batch of approved BCMA×CD3 bisAbs. The advent of this drug not only marks the expansion of dual-antibody technology beyond solid tumors, but also opens up a new direction for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

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