Catalent Highlights Advances in SMARTag® ADC Technology and Introduces New Enhanced Conjugates at 16th World ADC San Diego
TAMPA, Fla.—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Catalent, Inc., a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization, unveiled significant innovations from its SMARTag® antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology platform at the 16th World ADC San Diego conference. The company presented new preclinical data and launched a groundbreaking class of ADCs designed to broaden treatment potential and improve patient outcomes.
During the conference, Catalent showcased preclinical efficacy and tolerability results for CAT-09-833, a SMARTag® ADC targeting MUC1, a tumor-associated antigen highly expressed in ovarian cancers. The data highlight the candidate’s potential as a treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The findings were shared by Dr. Ayodele Ogunkoya, Bioconjugation Group Leader at Catalent, in a session titled “SMARTag® Enhanced Conjugates: Novel Payload to Enhance ADC Efficacy & Payload Delivery.”
In addition, Catalent introduced SMARTag® Enhanced Conjugates, a new class of ADCs that integrates cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic payloads within a single antibody. This innovative design aims to amplify therapeutic efficacy while maintaining safety, providing a new avenue for treating a wider range of cancer types.
There is increasing recognition of the potential role ADCs can play in ovarian cancer,” said Dr. Penelope Drake, Head of R&D Bioconjugates at Catalent. “Our novel antibody targets MUC1 in a unique way, and the preclinical data for CAT-09-833 are promising. We are eager to see this molecule advance in development and explore its potential to benefit cancer patients.”
The SMARTag® Enhanced Conjugates leverage Catalent’s proprietary technology, which enables precise control over the drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR). This tunability allows for optimized tailored to tumor biology. Catalent also presented data from xenograft models showing that incorporating certepetide, a non-cytotoxic internalizing RGD (iRGD) cyclic peptide, enhances ADC efficacy and improves payload distribution within the tumor microenvironment. Certepetide and its analogs were licensed from Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. to strengthen Catalent’s ability to target and penetrate solid tumors more effectively.
Mike Blank, General Manager at Catalent, reflected on the platform’s legacy of innovation:
Since spinning out the SMARTag® technology from the Bertozzi Lab at UC Berkeley in 2008, we’ve continued to expand the platform’s capabilities and refine ADC design. The new SMARTag® Enhanced Conjugates mark the next evolution in ADC innovation—creating a new class of molecules that could expand the range of treatable cancers and ultimately help more patients in need.”
Through its ongoing advancements in the SMARTag® platform, Catalent continues to strengthen its position as a leader in ADC development and manufacturing, offering cutting-edge solutions that bridge scientific innovation with therapeutic potential.
About Catalent’s SMARTag® ADC Platform
The SMARTag® ADC technology platform was developed by Catalent’s team in Emeryville, CA, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. This team originated as Redwood Bioscience, a startup co-founded in 2008 by Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi, and became part of Catalent through acquisition in 2014. At the core of the SMARTag® platform is its proprietary approach to making site-specific conjugates using the aldehyde tag and HIPS (hydrazino-iso-Pictet Spengler) chemistry, which together facilitate flexible design and optimized, stable ADCs. The platform’s tandem-cleavage linker further enhances tumor-specific payload release, minimizing off-target toxicity and expanding the therapeutic index. Together, these modular components support the generation of both single- and multi-payload constructs. The SMARTag® technology is backed by 26 platform patent families, including 54% that provide protection to 2040 and beyond.
About Catalent
Catalent, Inc. is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) championing missions that help people live better and healthier lives. Every product that Catalent helps develop, manufacture and launch reflects its commitment to improve health outcomes around the world through its Patient First approach. Catalent provides unparalleled service to pharma, biotech, and consumer health customers, delivering on their missions to transform lives. Catalent tailors end-to-end solutions to meet customers’ needs in all phases of development and manufacturing. With thousands of scientists and technicians and the latest technology platforms at more than 40 global sites, Catalent supplies billions of doses of life-enhancing and life-saving treatments for patients annually.
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