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How long were the pivotal tox studies for approved ADCs?

From the FDA and EMA reviews of all 14 approved ADCs. Each answer links to the regulator's own sentence.

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Short answer
Median longest pivotal study: 13 weeks (range 10–26).
5–13 weeks11/14
14–26 weeks3/14
041326 wk

Precedent by precedent

14 approved ADCs, with the reviewers' own words.

Adcetris

brentuximab vedotin · CD30
Longest pivotal study
26 weeks
“The haematologic changes observed in the 26-week repeat-dose toxicity study were similar to those of the 11-week study.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 37Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
Rat 4-week IV (weekly x4) with recovery; cynomolgus 9-week (q3w x4) and 24/26-week (q3w x9) IV infusion studies
“With repeat-dose administration of brentuximab vedotin, unconjugated brentuximab, and MMAE in rats and monkeys the principal test article-related effects of brentuximab vedotin and MMAE in both species included changes in the bone marrow and lymphoid tissues;”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 37Source ↗

Besponsa

inotuzumab ozogamicin · CD22
Longest pivotal study
26 weeks
“The Applicant conducted repeat-dose toxicity studies of up to 6 months duration in rats and cynomolgus monkeys to investigate the chronic toxicity of inotuzumab ozogamicin;”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 34Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
GLP 4-week and 26-week once-weekly IV studies in rats and cynomolgus monkeys, with 4-week recovery
“In the 6-month cynomolgus monkey study, inotuzumab ozogamicin was administered IV at doses of 0.5, 1.5, or 5 μg/kg once weekly.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 34Source ↗

Kadcyla

ado-trastuzumab emtansine · HER2
Longest pivotal study
26 weeks
“Therefore, long-term (e.g., 3- and 6-month) repeat-dose toxicology studies with ado-trastuzumab emtansine were conducted in monkeys.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 5Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
GLP cynomolgus IV q3w x4 (12-week) with recovery and chronic q3w x8 with 6-week recovery; single-dose rat and monkey
“The Applicant did a second multidose toxicology study in Cynomolgus monkeys (study 07-0653). The animals received doses of TDM1 of 0 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg once every three weeks for 8 doses.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 153Source ↗

Datroway

datopotamab deruxtecan · Trop-2
Longest pivotal study
13 weeks
“Datopotamab deruxtecan was administered i.v. to cynomolgus monkeys at doses of 10, 30 or 80 mg/kg every three weeks on five occasions in a GLP-compliant 3-month toxicity study with a 2-month recovery period, no deaths or moribundity were noted up to 80 mg/kg.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 49Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
GLP 3-month q3w IV: rat (20, 60, 200 mg/kg) and monkey (10, 30, 80 mg/kg), 2-month recovery; DXd 1-month rat and monkey
“Datopotamab deruxtecan was administered i.v. to cynomolgus monkeys at doses of 10, 30 or 80 mg/kg every three weeks on five occasions in a GLP-compliant 3-month toxicity study with a 2-month recovery period, no deaths or moribundity were noted up to 80 mg/kg.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 49Source ↗

Decnupaz

pivekimab sunirine · CD123
Longest pivotal study
13 weeks
“Groups of monkeys received 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1 mg/kg intravenous doses once every 21 days for 13 weeks.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 56Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
GLP IV cyno single-dose (0.1-0.6 mg/kg, 28-day recovery) and 13-week Q3W (0.01-0.1 mg/kg, 8-week recovery); FGN849 rat studies
“The toxicity of PVEK has been characterized in single- and repeat-dose studies (up to 13 weeks in duration).”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 50Source ↗

Emrelis

telisotuzumab vedotin · c-Met
Longest pivotal study
13 weeks
“The Applicant evaluated the safety of telisotuzumab vedotin in GLP-compliant 4- and 13-week studies in cynomolgus monkeys with the intended IV route of administration.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 34Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
GLP IV cyno 4-week (Q3W x2) and 13-week (Q2W x7), 8-week recovery; non-GLP 2-week rat; MMAE rat/monkey studies
“In the 13-week GLP-compliant repeat-dose toxicology study in monkeys (Report No. R&D/18/0622, Study No. 2100-287), telisotuzumab vedotin was intravenously administered at doses of 0.5, 1.5, and 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks for a total of seven doses, followed by an 8-week recovery period.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 50Source ↗

Enhertu

fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan · HER2
Longest pivotal study
13 weeks
“In cynomolgus monkeys, Cmax and AUC0-21d values increased dose-dependently, and there were no accumulation or sex-related differences in toxicokinetic parameters following administration of 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg DS-8201a IV, once every 3 weeks for 3 months.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 42Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
Q3W IV GLP: rat 6-week; monkey 6-week (two processes) and 3-month; DXd weekly 4-week rat and monkey; naked antibody
“The Applicant conducted GLP-compliant, repeat-dose general toxicology studies to evaluate the toxicity of DS-8201a, MAAA-1181a, or MAAL-9001 in rats and/or monkeys.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 42Source ↗

Padcev

enfortumab vedotin · Nectin-4
Longest pivotal study
13 weeks
“No mortalities were reported in the 13-week study in rats administered enfortumab vedotin at doses up to 5 mg/kg once weekly (at 0.94-fold the exposure in human at the clinical recommended dose).”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 35Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
Weekly IV GLP: rat 4- and 13-week; monkey 4-week (ADC, naked Ab, MMAE); monkey bridging; rat 4-week testicular study
“The Applicant conducted GLP intravenous repeat-dose (weekly) general toxicology studies in rats (4 and 13-week) with enfortumab vedotin, and the unconjugated antibody (AGS-22M6)”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 34Source ↗

Tivdak

tisotumab vedotin · Tissue factor
Longest pivotal study
13 weeks
“A GLP compliant repeat-dose toxicology study with tisotumab vedotin was conducted in monkeys (13-week), and the payload was assessed in rats (4-week) and monkeys (11-week) using the clinical intravenous route of administration.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 34Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
13-week GLP monkey ADC (q3w IV, 6-week recovery); MMAE 4-week rat, 11-week monkey; 13-week monkey naked antibody
“In a 13-week GLP repeat-dose study with a 6-week recovery period tisotumab vedotin was administered i.v. at doses of 1, 3 or 5 mg/kg every three weeks on five occasions to cynomolgus monkeys.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 43Source ↗

Trodelvy

sacituzumab govitecan · Trop-2
Longest pivotal study
13 weeks
“In a 13-week toxicity study, monkeys were given sacituzumab govitecan at doses of 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg once weekly via a 1-hour infusion for 2 weeks of a 3-week cycle for 4 treatment cycles.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 176Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
GLP monkey 2-dose acute study (60, 120 mg/kg) and 13-week monkey study (days 1, 8 q21d x4 cycles, 6-week recovery), IV
“In a 13-week toxicity study, monkeys were given sacituzumab govitecan at doses of 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg once weekly via a 1-hour infusion for 2 weeks of a 3-week cycle for 4 treatment cycles.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 176Source ↗

Zynlonta

loncastuximab tesirine · CD19
Longest pivotal study
13 weeks
“The Applicant conducted GLP 4‐week and 13‐week repeat‐dose general toxicology studies in which cynomolgus monkeys were dosed with the ADC, followed by a 12‐week recovery period.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 50Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
GLP monkey 4-week (0.3, 0.6 mg/kg q3w) and 13-week (0.075-0.3 mg/kg q3w) IV, 12-week recovery; SG3199 4-week rat
“The Applicant conducted GLP 4‐week and 13‐week repeat‐dose general toxicology studies in which cynomolgus monkeys were dosed with the ADC, followed by a 12‐week recovery period.”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 50Source ↗

Mylotarg

gemtuzumab ozogamicin · CD33
Longest pivotal study
12 weeks
“A GLP-compliant general toxicity study in monkeys was also completed in which 12 doses of gemtuzumab ozogamicin were given once weekly by intravenous bolus injection to groups of 3 male and 3 female cynomolgus monkeys at doses of 0 (sterile water), 2.2, 6.6, or 11 mg/m2 /week.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 35Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
6-week (weekly IV) rat and monkey with 4-week recovery; 6-cycle monkey cell-line bridging study; 12-week weekly IV monkey
“Rats were administered 6 weekly doses at 0 (PBS control), 7.2 (hP67.6 antibody control), or CL 555,201 (GO) at doses of 0.6, 2.4, or 7.2 mg/m2 /week and observed for an additional 4 weeks.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 7Source ↗

Elahere

mirvetuximab soravtansine · FRα
Longest pivotal study
10 weeks
“A 10-week GLP compliant repeat-dose toxicity study with mirvetuximab soravtansine was conducted in cynomolgus monkey using the clinical IV route of administration”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 38Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
10-week GLP monkey (2, 4, 8 mg/kg q3w IV, 5-week recovery); single-dose monkey; GLP rabbit ocular 4-week weekly and 12-week q3w
“IMGN853 at doses of 0, 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg/dose was administered intravenously (slow push) to cynomolgus monkeys once every 3 weeks for up to 10 weeks (a total of 4 doses) with a 5- week recovery period (n=6/sex/group).”
✓ VerifiedFDA multi-discipline review, p. 54Source ↗

Polivy

polatuzumab vedotin · CD79b
Longest pivotal study
10 weeks
“Cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurologic assessments were included in the 10-week repeat-dose toxicology study in cynomolgus monkeys, using polatuzumab vedotin or the surrogate ADC (10-0044).”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 26Source ↗
Pivotal GLP studies
Rat 4 weekly IV doses (6-week recovery); monkey Q3W x4 IV ADC and surrogate (9-week recovery); MMAE rat and monkey
“In Cynomolgus monkeys, IV doses of 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg polatuzumab vedotin or 3 and 5 mg/kg of the surrogate ADC were administered Q3W for a total of 4 doses, followed by a 9-week recovery period.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 36Source ↗