Press Releases

At the 15th World ADC London, WuXi XDC Cayman Inc. (“WuXi XDC”, or the “Company”, stock code: 2268.HK), a leading global CRDMO (Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization) specializing in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other bioconjugates, reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the development of novel ADC therapies through its fully integrated technology platform and end-to-end services.

Dr. Marie Zhu, Chief Technology Officer of WuXi XDC, presented a keynote speech entitled on Expediting Development of Novel ADCs through WuXi XDC’s Innovative Technology Platform and Fully Integrated CMC Services. In her keynote speech, she introduced the rapidly evolving ADC landscape, key market trends, breakthrough conjugation technologies, and how WuXi XDC’s integrated approach is a great acceleration to expediting ADC programs from discovery to commercialization.

Fast-Growing ADC and Bioconjugate Industry
Dr. Zhu opened her presentation by addressing the rapid growth of ADC and bioconjugate therapeutics, noting that the industry has seen an unprecedented expansion in the number of ADC candidates advancing through clinical pipelines. Currently, there are approximately 2,960 ADC and bioconjugate drug candidates worldwide. However, only 1% of these are on the market. Meanwhile, an increasing number of candidates are advancing into preclinical and clinical development, highlighting the industry’s strong momentum and significant potential for continued innovation.

The global ADC market expected to reach $66.2 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31% from 2024 to 2030. The industry’s sustained investment activity highlights the strategic importance of bioconjugate therapeutics. Key trends shaping the field include the diversification of ADC targets, the expansion of payload-linker chemistries to enhance therapeutic precision, and the growing emphasis on ADC/IO combinations.

WuXiDAR4™: Innovative Interchain Conjugation Technology

As ADC development has been through three generations, conjugation technologies have evolved from non-site-specific to site-specific approaches, significantly improving drug stability, efficacy, and safety profiles. Dr. Zhu highlighted the advancements in conjugation strategies over the past decade through the three generation ADCs, particularly focusing on WuXi XDC’s proprietary WuXiDAR4WuXiDAR4^TM interchain conjugation technology.

The WuXiDAR4^TM technology platform is designed to enhance the therapeutic window of ADCs and other bioconjugates while maintaining highly efficient manufacturing processes. It demonstrates broad compatibility with diverse conjugation strategies and human IgG1 antibodies, ensuring greater flexibility and scalability in ADC development. ADCs developed using the WuXiDAR4^TM technology platform have exhibited robust efficacy and favorable safety profiles in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Their in vitro cytotoxicity is comparable to that of traditional DAR4 ADCs, while their in vivo performance – in terms of both efficacy and safety –has shown notable advantages. Unlike conventional conjugation methods, WuXiDAR4^TM eliminates the need for antibody or enzyme modifications, significantly simplifying the production process and providing an innovative, scalable solution for ADC development. To date, seven ADCs leveraging WuXiDAR4^TM technology have entered clinical development globally, underscoring the platform’s vital role in accelerating early-stage research and facilitating the seamless transition of promising ADC therapies into clinical trials.

Expanding the Toolbox: WuXi XDC’s Novel Payload-Linker Technologies

Beyond conjugation strategies, Dr. Zhu introduced WuXi XDC’s expanding portfolio of novel payload-linker technologies, which provide enhanced flexibility for developers seeking the optimization of ADC or XDC performance. By integrating both in-house proprietary innovations and external technology partnerships, WuXi XDC offers clients access to cutting-edge technologies that address key R&D and manufacturing challenges.

The company’s proprietary X-LinC technology serves as a highly stable connector, designed to improve ADC stability and therapeutic window. In addition to its internal platform, WuXi XDC collaborates with external partners to incorporate complementary ADC technologies, including CysLink, a thiol-rebridging connector fully compatible with WuXiDAR4^TM, by leveraging a diverse suite of conjugation strategies, WuXi XDC enables clients to optimize ADC and XDC design while ensuring scalability and quality for clinical and commercial production and manufacturing.

Speed as the Key to Success: Accelerating ADC Development from Discovery to BLA

Dr. Zhu concluded her presentation by detailing how WuXi XDC’s integrated technology platform accelerates ADC programs from early discovery to regulatory approval, mitigating development risks while optimizing efficiency.

In terms of speed-to-clinic, WuXi XDC’s comprehensive ADC discovery services enable the transition from DNA to IND within just 15 months. For late-stage development, BLA filing can be achieved within 24 to 36 months, significantly accelerating time-to-market. Furthermore, the company’s all-in-one manufacturing strategy, which consolidates operations at a single site, further enhances project efficiency by streamlining CMC development, scale-up, and GMP production, substantially reducing costs and operational complexities.

Meanwhile, WuXi XDC’s Enable-Follow-Win business model continues to drive business growth, attracting new partners and expanding its ADCs and XDCs portfolio across various indications. To meet rising global demand, WuXi XDC has implemented a global dual-sourcing strategy across China and Singapore. Key capacity expansions include the DP3 line, which will double the drug production capacity, and the DP5 line, which will increase capacity threefold. The Singapore site, expected to be operational by the end of 2025, will serve as a cornerstone facility for global dual-sourcing, supporting ADC commercial manufacturing.

At World ADC London 2025, WuXi XDC reaffirmed its position as a global leader in ADC discovery, development, and manufacturing. With proprietary conjugation and payload-linker technologies, and an integrated technology platform, WuXi XDC remains dedicated to supporting biopharmaceutical partners in accelerating ADC programs from discovery to commercialization.

As the ADC and bioconjugate market continues to evolve, WuXi XDC remains committed to enabling next-generation therapeutics through its end-to-end solutions, driving efficiency, scalability, and innovation across the industry.