Akalux<sup>Ⓡ</sup> as a Light-Activatable Antibody-Photosensitizer Conjugate for Photoimmunotherapy: Expanding Cancer Treatment through the Alluminox<sup>TM</sup> Platform

216 DrugDeliverySystem 40-3,2025 Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a novel therapeutic strategy that combines targeted delivery of an antibodyphotosensitizerconjugatewithlocalizedlightilluminationtoselectivelykillcancercells.Thefirstapproveddrugfor thistherapyisAkalux (developmentcodeRM-1929/ASP-1929) ,whichtargetsepidermalgrowthfactorreceptor andisusedincombinationwiththeBioBlade lasersystem.ThiscombinationwasapprovedinJapanin2020-the first such approval in the world-for the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer.The treatment, commonly referred to as Alluminox treatment for Head and Neck cancer, has since been adopted in clinical practice, primarily in departments of head and neck surgery and also in oral and maxillofacial surgery.Real-world data have shown favorable outcomes in terms of tumor control, safety, and quality of life preservation.In addition to expanding the application of ASP-1929 to other cancer types, efforts are ongoing to developnovelantibody-photosensitizerconjugatestargetingthetumorimmunemicroenvironment.Theseadvances areexpectedtofurtherbroadentheclinicalutilityandimpactofPITinoncology. EGFR