Pidilizumab (formerly CT-011) is a monoclonal antibody being developed by Medivation for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.[1][2] Pidilizumab was originally thought to bind to the PD-1immune checkpoint molecule, however, recent evidence suggests that Delta-like 1 (DLL1) is its primary binding target while binding to PD-1 is secondary and restricted to non-glycosylated and hypoglycosylated forms of this molecule.[3] Pidilizumab causes in the attenuation of apoptotic processes in lymphocytes, primarily effector/memory T cells.
Clinical trials
It had encouraging results by 2011 from phase II clinical trials for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.[4] A phase II open-label study in combination for relapsed follicular lymphoma found good results compared to usual response rates. A phase I/II open label study in pediatric patients with a rare form of brain cancer, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, found improvement in overall survival compared to expected outcome.[citation needed] An add-on trial for multiple myeloma is ongoing.[5]
^Clinical trial number NCT02077959 for "Lenalidomide and Pidilizumab in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma" at ClinicalTrials.gov
