Necitumumab’s mechanism of action

Necitumumab is a recombinant human lgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds to the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and blocks the binding of EGFR to its ligands. EGFR expression and activation are associated with malignant progression, induction of angiogenesis, and inhibition of apoptosis. Binding of nexituzumab induces the internalization and degradation of EGFR in vitro. In vitro, binding of nexituzumab also resulted inantibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of EGFR-expressing cells. In in vivo studies using xenograft models of human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, administration of nexituzumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin to implanted mice resulted in increased antitumor activity compared to mice receiving gemcitabine and cisplatin alone.