Adebrelimab is an investigational cancer treatment. It is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody, a laboratory-produced protein designed to mimic the immune system’s natural antibodies. This antibody targets specific proteins involved in cancer progression, helping the body fight malignant cells. Adebrelimab is administered as an intravenous infusion.
How Adebrelimab Modulates the Immune System
Adebrelimab functions by targeting the Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein, a key component in the body’s immune checkpoint system. Cancer cells often express PD-L1 on their surface, which then binds to the PD-1 receptor found on T-cells, a type of white blood cell crucial for immune responses. This binding acts as an “off” switch, sending an inhibitory signal to T-cells that tells them to ignore the cancer cells, allowing the tumor to evade immune detection and grow.
By binding specifically to PD-L1, adebrelimab blocks its interaction with the PD-1 receptor on T-cells. This blockade removes the inhibitory signal, thereby reactivating the T-cells. Once reactivated, these T-cells can more effectively recognize and destroy cancer cells, restoring the immune system’s natural ability to combat the tumor. This mechanism of action helps to unleash the body’s immune response against cancer, offering a targeted approach that aims to spare healthy cells.
Diseases Adebrelimab Aims to Treat
Adebrelimab is currently under investigation for its potential to treat several cancer types, primarily focusing on those where tumor cells exploit the PD-L1 pathway. It has gained attention as a first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) when combined with chemotherapy. Clinical trial data supports this application, showing improved survival outcomes compared to chemotherapy alone.
Beyond small cell lung cancer, adebrelimab is also being explored for other malignancies. These include non-small cell lung cancer, certain types of uterine cancer, various lymphomas, triple-negative breast cancer, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Common and Serious Side Effects
As with many cancer treatments, adebrelimab can cause side effects, ranging from common and manageable to more serious immune-related events. Common side effects reported in clinical trials include fatigue, nausea, and pain at the injection site. Other frequently observed effects can include decreased appetite, diarrhea, skin reactions like rash or itching, and a mild fever.
More serious adverse events, though less common, require prompt medical attention. These can include severe infusion reactions, which may manifest as difficulty breathing, chest pain, or a severe rash during or after administration. Immune-mediated adverse events are a recognized class of side effects with immunotherapies, and for adebrelimab, these have included conditions such as hypothyroidism and hepatic laboratory abnormalities. Neurological effects like confusion or seizures, cardiovascular issues such as hypertension or arrhythmias, and hematological toxicities (e.g., decreased neutrophil count, decreased white blood cell count, anemia, and decreased platelet count) have also been reported. Patients are advised to communicate any unusual symptoms to their healthcare providers for proper management.
Adebrelimab’s Current Status and Ongoing Research
Adebrelimab is an investigational drug that has made significant progress, particularly in China. It has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China as a first-line treatment for adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in combination with chemotherapy. This approval was based on the CAPSTONE-1 trial, which demonstrated improved overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
Numerous ongoing clinical trials are exploring adebrelimab’s potential in various other cancer settings and combination therapies. These trials investigate its use in different stages of small cell lung cancer, including limited-stage disease, and with treatments like concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Studies also examine its efficacy in other malignancies such as colorectal cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and breast cancer. The results from these ongoing studies will further define adebrelimab’s role and availability in cancer treatment globally.