EpCAM (CD326) / CD40

Class

Bispecific antibody (CD40 agonist redirected by EpCAM tumor binding)

Pathway

CD40 co-stimulatory signaling on antigen-presenting cells, tumor-localized via EpCAM

EpCAM (also called CD326) is a protein found in large amounts on the surface of most cancers that arise from epithelial tissue, such as those of the gut, lung, ovary, and breast. CD40 is a different protein, found on immune cells called antigen-presenting cells, which include dendritic cells and macrophages. When CD40 is switched on, these cells become better at showing tumor fragments to T cells, triggering a stronger immune attack on the cancer. Antibodies that activate CD40 directly throughout the body have been studied in cancer treatment, but broad activation can cause significant side effects because immune cells everywhere, not just near the tumor, become stimulated. A bispecific antibody that binds both EpCAM and CD40 is designed to bring antigen-presenting cells into close contact with tumor cells, concentrating CD40 activation at the tumor site rather than throughout the body. This strategy aims to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses more selectively, broadening the potential therapeutic window for CD40-directed immune activation across EpCAM-expressing solid tumors.