Medicinal Chemistry

World Cancer Day: How antibody–drug conjugates for cancer work

This infographic titled "Antibody-drug conjugates for cancer treatment" explains how ADCs act as "magic bullets" by combining an antibody, a linker, and a cytotoxic drug to target cancer cells. A timeline spans from Paul Ehrlich’s 1910 concept to 2025, noting that 25 ADCs are now approved globally. Diagrams illustrate ADCs binding to cancer cell antigens, entering the cell, and releasing drugs to disrupt DNA or microtubules. Future trends include bispecific ADCs and dual-drug conjugates.
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Today (4 Feb) is World Cancer Day. Analysts estimate that there will be 30.5 million new cancer cases diagnosed yearly by 2050, with a projected 18.6 million annual deaths. However, our ability to use medicines to target more effectively is improving, and antibody–drug conjugates are an increasingly effective tool in combating cancers. This graphic explains what they are, how they work, and how they might improve in the future.

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Six surprising side effects of medicines – in C&EN

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This month’s edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN comes off of the back of my ending up on tetracyclines for a chest infection a month or so ago. This alerted me to their ability to make the skin of people taking them more sensitive to sunlight. It turns out that there are a number of odd and unexpected side effects of medications people take for a variety of conditions, so this graphic rounds up some of the oddest I came across. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.

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A short history of antiviral drugs – in C&EN

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COVID has generated unprecedented levels of interest in antiviral medicines, but they’re just the latest in a long line of antivirals going back almost 70 years. The latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News looks at some of the key drugs, from the first antiviral to be approved to antivirals for HIV and Influenza, as well as briefly summarizing how some of these compounds work. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.

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