Aptamer-Drug Conjugate

Aptamer-Drug Conjugate designates a targeted delivery system combining the selective binding properties of nucleic acid aptamers with cytotoxic drugs, imaging agents, or other therapeutic payloads, enabling tumour-targeted delivery exploiting aptamer specificity for cancer cell surface antigens or other disease-specific molecular targets.

The biopharmaceutical industry explores aptamer-drug conjugates as alternatives to antibody-drug conjugates offering distinct manufacturing, stability, and tumour penetration advantages stemming from the smaller size and synthetic nature of nucleic acid aptamers. Conjugation strategies include direct covalent linkage through functional groups, hybridisation-based assembly with complementary oligonucleotide-drug conjugates, or incorporation into nanoparticle delivery systems. Target selection must balance aptamer binding affinity with internalisation efficiency enabling intracellular drug release. Clinical development remains early compared to antibody-drug conjugates, with candidates demonstrating promise in preclinical models. As aptamer chemistry advances, aptamer-drug conjugates continue developing as a potentially differentiated targeted delivery approach for oncology and other therapeutic areas.