CLDN18.2 recombinant proteins and antibodies

Claudin 18.2, also called CLDN18.2, is a member of the Claudin family of tight junction proteins and is primarily expressed in the gastric mucosal epithelium. Under normal physiological conditions, CLDN18.2 is sequestered within tight junctions and inaccessible to antibodies. However, during malignant transformation in cancers such as gastric, pancreatic, and esophageal carcinomas, the loss of cell polarity exposes CLDN18.2 on the tumor cell surface, making it an ideal and highly selective target for cancer therapy.

The first and most advanced CLDN18.2-targeted drug is Zolbetuximab (IMAB362), developed by Ganymed Pharmaceuticals and later acquired by Astellas Pharma. Zolbetuximab exerts antitumor activity through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), demonstrating significant efficacy in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. It received regulatory approvals in several countries in 2024. Beyond monoclonal antibodies, multiple modalities targeting CLDN18.2 are under development, including CAR-T cell therapies, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and mRNA-based therapies. Key players in this field include Hengrui Pharma, Innovent Biologics, Legend Biotech, Kelun Pharma, BeiGene, and Chordia Therapeutics. Notably, China has become one of the most active regions in CLDN18.2 drug development, with multiple candidates progressing to phase II and III clinical trials. In summary, CLDN18.2, with its unique tumor specificity and accessibility, has emerged as a breakthrough target in gastric and gastrointestinal cancer therapy, bridging the frontier between targeted immunotherapy and precision oncology.

To assist in the development of CLDN18.2 targeted drugs, DIMA BIOTECH can now provide a full range of products and services for CLDN18.2 targets. Products include ECD recombinant proteins, the full-length membrane protein, reference antibodies, and flow-cytometry-verified anti-CLDN18.2 monoclonal antibodies; services include customized services for antibodies against multiple genus proteins, antibody humanization, and affinity maturation services. In addition, to accelerate the development of CLDN18.2 biotherapy, DIMA BIOTECH has also prepared a CLDN18.2 target single B cell seed library, from which lead antibody molecules can be obtained in as fast as 28 days; at the same time, we have currently screened out multiple CLDN18.2 lead molecules, and customers can get the molecules for functional evaluation and verification the next day.