Pfizer has introduced TIVDAK® (tisotumab vedotin-tftv) to address the needs of patients battling recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer that has progressed despite prior chemotherapy.
This novel treatment is the first antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) to demonstrate positive overall survival outcomes in this patient population.
TIVDAK comprises Genmab’s human monoclonal antibody targeting tissue factor (TF) and ADC technology, which employs a protease-cleavable linker to bind the microtubule-disrupting agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) to the antibody.
Preclinical studies indicate that tisotumab vedotin-tftv exerts its anticancer effects by binding to TF-expressing cancer cells, triggering internalisation of the ADC-TF complex, and subsequent release of MMAE via proteolytic cleavage.
MMAE disrupts the microtubule network in actively dividing cells, halting the cell cycle and prompting apoptotic cell death. Additionally, in vitro studies suggest that tisotumab vedotin-tftv facilitates antibody-dependant cellular phagocytosis and antibody-dependant cellular cytotoxicity.
The approval of TIVDAK by the FDA signifies a significant advancement for women grappling with recurrent and metastatic cervical cancer. It underscores TIVDAK as a viable treatment option that has demonstrated efficacy in prolonging survival among patients whose disease has progressed following initial therapies.
