Anti-Human EGFR (Necitumumab) – Fc Muted™

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, also known as ErbB1 or HER-1) belongs to the receptor tyrosine kinase superfamily and is a transmembrane glycoprotein that activates various signaling pathways fundamental to cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival1, 2.

EGFR plays important roles during embryogenesis, organogenesis, and in the growth, differentiation, maintenance, and repair of adult tissues2, including autophagy3.

EGFR is also a host factor that facilitates viral entry for hepatitis B4, hepatitis C5, and gastroenteritis6 and plays a role in SARS-CoV-2 infection7, 8, 9.

Dysregulation, somatic mutation, and/or altered signaling of EGFR are associated with disease (Parkinson’s2, Alzheimer’s1,2, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis2) and various cancers (lung, glioblastoma, brain, breast, colorectal, ovarian)3.

Additionally, in cancer, aberrant activation of EGFR is associated with increased cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and decreased apoptosis10.

As such, EGFR is the target of multiple cancer therapies, including monoclonal humanized antibodies, such as necitumumab, as well as selective small molecule inhibitors.

Necitumumab inhibits EGFR-dependent tumor cell proliferation and metastasis11 by acting as an EGFR antagonist that binds specifically and with high affinity to human EGFR, thereby blocking ligand binding and neutralizing ligand-induced EGFR phosphorylation and downstream signaling pathways10, 11, 12.

Anti-tumor activity has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo 10, and necitumumab is FDA approved for treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-expressing squamous non-small cell lung cancer11.

In vitro studies have shown that necitumumab induces internationalization and degradation of EGFR, leading to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in EGFR-expressing cells10, 11.

Necitumumab was generated from the Dyax Corp proprietary phage display library by ImClone Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly10.