Anthracycline conjugates having a novel linker and methods for their production

摘要

The present invention relates to novel conjugates, methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for delivering cytotoxic anthracyclines to a selected population of cells desired to be eliminated. The anthracycline conjugates comprise at least one anthracycline molecule linked to a ligand that is reactive with a cell population to be eliminated, the anthracycline having a keto group at the C-13 position, and being attached to the ligand via a linker arm and being bound to that linker arm via an acid-sensitive acylhydrazone bond at the 13-keto position of the anthracycline. The conjugates of the invention are therefore useful in antibody- or ligand-mediated drug delivery systems for the preferential killing of a selected cell population in the treatment of diseases such as cancers and other tumors, non-cytocidal viral or other pathogenic infections, and autoimmune disorders.