BioSpace· Heather McKenzie·· 4 hours agoPickScore78
ESMO 2026: Merck’s Kelun-partnered ADC hits the ‘Goldilocks zone,’ VP says
In brief
A Merck vice president said sac-TMT, the ADC developed with Kelun-Biotech, uses an irreversible linker that stays stable in the blood until it reaches the tumor, with release performance in what he called a 'Goldilocks zone.' The article contrasts this with the reversible linkers of Trodelvy and Datroway, noting that premature payload release can cause anemia and neutropenia, while release that is too slow may also affect other TROP2-expressing tissues.
Why it matters
The article contrasts sac-TMT's irreversible linker with the reversible linkers of Trodelvy and Datroway, showing differing release mechanisms for the same TROP2 target.
Source: BioSpace