Pipeline Progress: Novel Antibodies Deliver Durable Responses Across Diseases

Targeted therapies and immunotherapies continue to redefine standards of care across oncology, offering new hope in historically difficult-to-treat malignancies. In this issue, 4 peer-reviewed articles explore the expanding role of novel antibody-based therapies in reshaping clinical practice.

Nicole McMullen, PharmD, BCOP; Cassandra Perkey, PharmD, BCOP; Manale Maksour, PharmD, BCPS; Bradley Winegar, PharmD; Cherise Steib, PharmD; Robert Carr, PharmD, BCOP; and Melody Chang, MBA, RPh, BCOP, discuss how amivantamab has rapidly gained traction with multiple FDA approvals between 2021 and 2024, expanding its role to a first-line and subsequent treatment option for more common EGFR mutations. Its efficacy has been demonstrated across pivotal trials such as PAPILLON (NCT04538664) and MARIPOSA (NCT04487080).

The therapeutic landscape of urothelial carcinoma has also shifted dramatically with the rise of antibody drug conjugates, most notably enfortumab vedotin-ejfv (EV). Brandon Y. Chang, PharmD, APh, BCPS, BCOP; Tiffany Khou, PharmD; Arnold Contreras, PharmD; Frances L. McQuiston, PharmD; and Patrick J. Shin, PharmD, BCOP, highlight EV’s rapid trajectory in their paper.

In multiple myeloma, targeting B-cell maturation antigen has proved particularly impactful, with 3 agents currently approved by the FDA—teclistamab, elranatamab, and linvoseltamab. Rebekah R. Dyer, PharmD, BCPS, reviews pivotal data demonstrating high overall response rates, durable remissions, and meaningful survival benefits in heavily pretreated populations.

Chronic graft-vs-host disease remains a major barrier to long-term success following allogeneic stem cell transplantation, with high morbidity, impaired quality of life, and limited effective therapies beyond corticosteroids. C. Brooke Adams, PharmD, BCOP, highlights axatilimab, a first-in-class CSF-1R–blocking antibody, in her paper.

Together, these articles underscore the evolving and multifaceted role of oncology pharmacists in navigating complex and rapidly changing treatment landscapes. As the pipeline of therapies continues to expand, proactive, evidence-based pharmacy involvement will remain essential to ensure patients derive the greatest possible benefit from these advances.