Summer Special｜Beginner-Friendly Intro Series Vol.2 (Part 1)
What Are Antibodies? The Origin Story of ADCs – A Precision Cancer Weapon
Welcome to Part 1 of our Summer Special Beginner Series Vol.2 on Morningglorysciences.
This time, we’ll explore the technology behind ADCs—Antibody-Drug Conjugates, a hot topic in cancer therapy.
But first, what exactly are antibodies? This article introduces the immune system’s targeting power, the history of antibody drugs, and how ADCs emerged as a revolutionary concept.
What Are Antibodies? The Body’s Internal Security System
Antibodies are proteins created by your immune system to recognize and mark foreign substances like viruses, bacteria, and even cancer cells.
They work like a lock-and-key system—each antibody is tailored to bind to a specific target (antigen).
This natural targeting ability inspired the development of antibody-based drugs.
The Rise of Monoclonal Antibodies
In 1975, Georges Köhler and César Milstein developed monoclonal antibody technology, which allowed for mass production of highly specific antibodies.
This breakthrough opened the door to precision therapies—drugs that target only disease-related cells.
By the 1990s, antibody drugs like rituximab and trastuzumab were introduced for cancer treatment, cementing the value of “smart” therapies.
Why Antibodies Alone Weren’t Enough
Antibodies can bind to cancer cells, but they don’t always destroy them on their own.
This led to the idea of arming antibodies with powerful drugs to create a delivery system that hits cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.
This concept evolved into ADCs: Antibody-Drug Conjugates.
Before ADCs Took Off – Early Challenges
Research into ADCs began in the 1980s, but early versions faced major challenges:
- Drugs were too toxic and harmed normal cells
- Linkers were unstable and leaked drugs prematurely
- Even when the drug reached the target, it wasn’t released efficiently
Still, scientists persisted—improving antibodies, payloads, and linkers—laying the foundation for modern ADCs.
Summary – The Beginning of the ADC Story
- Antibodies are key tools in the immune system’s targeting strategy.
- Antibody drugs evolved to become precision cancer therapies.
- The limitations of antibodies led to the rise of ADCs—a new class of targeted cancer drugs.
🧭 Coming up next: Vol.2 (Part 2)
“What Is an ADC? Structure, Generations, and the Evolution of Technology”
Scheduled to publish tomorrow.
▶ Recommended read: Therapeutics Trend 2025
▶ Beginner-Friendly Intro Series:
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