October 2026 Issue

In this issue, we examine how tumor heterogeneity and acquired resistance are shaping ADC design, from dual-targeting and conditional activation to site-specific conjugation and tumor-selective release. Explore why matching the payload class to the biology of resistance matters as much as choosing the target, and chart a bioconjugate landscape that is still concentrated on topoisomerase-1 inhibitor payloads but is increasingly working to move beyond them.

“The therapy itself … exerts a selective pressure that can drive the growth of the cell populations it cannot effectively target.” – Zoë Jukes, Toni Wyllie, and Adam Lodge, Iksuda Therapeutics

“If resistance develops to a Topo inhibitor, you change the payload mechanism.” – Valerie Vanhooren, Co-Founder and CEO, Ona Therapeutics