Definition

A human, tetravalent, bispecific antibody targeting both the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the human low affinity IgG Fc region receptor IIIA (FCGR3A; CD16A), with potential immunomodulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, anti-EGFR/CD16A bispecific antibody AFM24 simultaneously targets and binds to the CD16A expressed on natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages, and to EGFR on EGFR-expressing tumor cells, thereby selectively cross-linking EGFR-expressing tumor cells with NK cells and macrophages. This may result in NK cell and macrophage activation, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), and eventually tumor cell lysis. EGFR, a receptor tyrosine kinase upregulated or mutated in many tumor cell types, plays a key role in tumor cell proliferation and tumor vascularization. CD16A is specifically expressed on the surface of NK cells and macrophages.