PD-L1 / VEGF

Class

PD-L1 x VEGF bispecific fusion protein antibody (mAb-Trap)

Pathway

immune checkpoint blockade + anti-angiogenesis

PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) is a protein found on tumor cells and other cells within a tumor that binds to PD-1 receptors on T cells, sending a signal that suppresses the immune attack against the cancer. VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is a separate signaling protein that promotes formation of new blood vessels feeding the tumor and also independently blunts immune cell activity. A bispecific fusion protein that blocks both PD-L1 and VEGF is designed to restore T-cell attack against tumor cells while also cutting off the tumor's blood supply and reversing VEGF-driven immune suppression. Combining the two activities in a single molecule allows PD-L1 binding at the tumor site to help concentrate the VEGF-blocking portion locally, potentially improving the balance between the intended tumor effect and exposure elsewhere in the body compared with giving two separate drugs. This dual mechanism is relevant across solid tumors where checkpoint blockade alone has limited effect because the tumor's blood vessels are abnormal and its microenvironment remains immunosuppressive, a pattern seen across many cancer types.