PD-1 and CTLA-4 are checkpoint inhibitors of the immune response in cancer, making them the target molecules for the development of therapeutic antibodies. US2019161548 patent describes a bispecific antibody capable of specifically binding to PD-1 and CTLA-4 that induced the proliferation and activation of CD8+ cells, as well as the expression of induclble co-stimulator in CD4+ T cells. Clinical trials to evaluate safety, dose-limiting toxicities and maximum tolerated/administered dose are still in the patient recruitment phase, but it will be of great interest to the scientific and medical community to know if the first bispecific anti-PD-1/CLTA-4 antibody, exceeds expectations and exceeds action of the combination of nivolumab and epilimumab in the treatment of cancer.
Keywords: CTLA-4; PD-1; bispecific; cancer; immunotherapy; patent.