A review of clinical pharmacology considerations in antibody-drug conjugates approved by the US Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2025.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a promising class of anticancer therapies with rapidly expanding development. However, regulatory approval remains complex due to their unique pharmacological properties. We systematically analyzed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s clinical pharmacology considerations across all approved ADCs to identify consistent regulatory patterns and inform future development strategies. We comprehensively reviewed 13 FDA-approved ADCs as of March 2025, examining clinical pharmacology and/or multidisciplinary reviews from Drugs@FDA. Six key parameters from the FDA's Clinical Pharmacology Considerations for Antibody-Drug Conjugates: Guidance for Industry (2024) were evaluated: bioanalytical methods, exposure-response relationships, intrinsic factors, extrinsic factors, QTc prolongation, and immunogenicity. For each parameter, we assessed: 1) submission completeness, 2) FDA's assessment, and 3) whether they led to regulatory actions such as post-marketing requirements/commitments (PMRs/PMCs). All 6 clinical pharmacology considerations were consistently applied throughout ADC approval history, well before the issuance of formal guidance. The FDA maintained particularly rigorous standards across a few critical domains. Exposure-response interpretation considering critical safety issues, intrinsic factor analyses-particularly hepatic impairment and racial variations-and validated immunogenicity assays including the neutralizing antibody emerged as primary scrutiny points. These factors repeatedly triggered similar PMRs/PMCs across multiple ADCs, underscoring their regulatory significance. Core clinical pharmacology parameters consistently shape FDA assessments of ADCs. Proactive alignment with regulatory expectations can streamline development, mitigate potential delays, and reduce post-marketing obligations. Our historical analysis provides strategic insights that may support clinical investigators for optimizing future ADC development.