Adcendo's Novel Sarcoma ADC Takes Center Stage at ENA 2026 Symposium

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – November 10, 2026 – The therapeutic landscape for soft tissue sarcoma has long been characterized by incremental advances and frustrating clinical roadblocks. However, a significant shift may be on the horizon. Adcendo ApS, a clinical-stage biotechnology company operating out of Copenhagen and Boston, is preparing to unveil initial Phase 1 clinical data for its lead antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), ADCE-D01, at the 38th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (ENA 2026) in Barcelona.

Scheduled for November 19, 2026, this late-breaking oral presentation represents a watershed moment not just for Adcendo, but for the broader oncology community. Delivered by Dr. Patrick Schöffski of University Hospitals Leuven and KU Leuven during Plenary Session 3, the presentation will detail emerging results from the ongoing ADCElerate1 trial. Crucially, ADCE-D01 is a first-in-class ADC targeting uPARAP (urokinase plasminogen activator receptor-associated protein), potentially validating a completely novel therapeutic pathway for patients battling advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

For a disease that has historically defied conventional treatment modalities, the introduction of a highly targeted, payload-delivering biologic could fundamentally alter the standard of care. As Adcendo transitions from a promising academic spin-off to a clinical-stage heavyweight, the upcoming data readout will serve as a critical litmus test for both the company's proprietary platform and the expanding frontier of ADC technology in rare mesenchymal cancers.

Unlocking uPARAP: Breaking the Sarcoma Deadlock

To understand the strategic significance of ADCE-D01, one must look at the unique biological target it exploits. uPARAP—also known as Endo180 or MRC2—is an endocytic receptor that plays a specific role in collagen turnover. While its presence is negligible in healthy tissues, it is highly overexpressed across a wide spectrum of mesenchymal cancers, including various subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and glioblastoma.

This dramatic differential expression is the holy grail for ADC developers, providing a clear window for selective drug delivery. Furthermore, uPARAP exhibits rapid internalization driven by constitutive recycling. When ADCE-D01 binds to the receptor, it is quickly engulfed by the cancer cell, allowing for the precise release of its potent payload directly into the tumor's interior.

One of the most profound challenges in treating mesenchymal cancers is the tumor microenvironment itself. Soft tissue sarcomas are often characterized by a dense, collagen-rich stroma that acts as a physical shield, preventing conventional systemic therapies from penetrating the tumor bed. Adcendo's strategic approach addresses this barrier head-on. Because uPARAP is overexpressed not only on the tumor cells but also on cancer-associated fibroblasts within the stroma, ADCE-D01 is uniquely positioned to penetrate this defensive shield.

The biologic architecture of ADCE-D01 reflects a sophisticated, third-generation ADC design. It combines a novel uPARAP-binding antibody (AB-004)—specifically engineered to avoid interference with the receptor's natural collagen ligand—with a clinically validated protease-cleavable linker and a highly potent topoisomerase I inhibitor payload (P1021). Preclinical studies have already demonstrated robust anti-tumor activity and a favorable toxicology profile, setting the stage for the highly anticipated human proof-of-concept data.

Benchmarking the Unmet Need in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The urgency surrounding Adcendo's clinical program is underscored by the grim realities of soft tissue sarcoma. Accounting for approximately 1% of adult cancer cases, STS is not a single disease but a heterogeneous group of over 50 distinct tumor subtypes. The incidence rate has steadily climbed over the past three decades, and the 10-year survival rate remains stubbornly below 50%.

For patients with metastatic or unresectable disease who have failed first-line treatments, the options are severely limited. Systemic chemotherapy remains the palliative standard, but it is fraught with low response rates and heavy toxicities. Doxorubicin and ifosfamide, the traditional backbone therapies, offer single-agent overall response rates of merely 15% to 35%.

Later-line therapies provide only marginal improvements in survival. Pazopanib, an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, demonstrated a median progression-free survival (PFS) of just 4.6 months in a landmark Phase III study. Trabectedin, another approved agent for specific subtypes following anthracycline failure, offers durable disease stability for some but yields objective response rates of only 8% to 10%, accompanied by significant risks of myelosuppression and liver enzyme elevations.

Against this backdrop, the ADCElerate1 trial (NCT06797999) represents a critical beacon of hope. The Phase 1/2, multicenter, open-label study is rigorously evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of ADCE-D01. Having dosed its first patient in June 2025 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the trial is actively recruiting across the United States and Europe.

Recognizing the severe limitations of current standard-of-care treatments, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted ADCE-D01 Fast Track designation in October 2025. This regulatory milestone not only validates the critical unmet medical need but also facilitates a more expedited development and review process, potentially accelerating the drug's path to market.

From Academic Spin-Off to Clinical Heavyweight

The upcoming presentation at ENA 2026 is more than a clinical update; it is a testament to Adcendo's rapid corporate evolution. Founded in 2017 as a spin-off from the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet, the biotech firm has successfully navigated the perilous journey from early-stage discovery to clinical execution, fueled by an impressive accumulation of venture capital.

To date, Adcendo has raised over $318 million from a syndicate of premier global healthcare investors. Following an €82 million Series A, the company secured a massive $135 million Series B in November 2024, led by TCGX. The momentum continued unabated into 2026, with the company closing an oversubscribed $75 million Series C round in April, led by Jeito Capital and joined by new investors including Vida Ventures and Bpifrance.

This formidable financial war chest is managed by an executive team with deep roots in oncology and ADC development. CEO Michael Pehl brings invaluable experience from his tenure as CEO of Immunomedics and President of Hematology & Oncology at Celgene, having successfully navigated multiple oncology products through development and commercialization. The recent appointments of Laura Shawver as Chair of the Board and Carmel M. Lynch as Chief Development Officer further solidify the company's strategic leadership as it scales its clinical operations.

Adcendo's strategic positioning is particularly astute given the broader market dynamics. The global ADC market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to surge from $20.12 billion in 2026 to $71.55 billion by 2031. While early ADC successes were largely confined to epithelial targets like HER2 and TROP2, the industry is now aggressively expanding into solid tumors and rare malignancies.

Adcendo is at the vanguard of this expansion. Beyond ADCE-D01, the company is advancing a robust pipeline that includes ADCE-T02, an ADC targeting Tissue Factor for various solid tumors, and ADCE-B05 for squamous cell cancers. The company has already secured a clinical collaboration with MSD to evaluate ADCE-T02 in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab).

As the industry gathers in Barcelona, all eyes will be on Dr. Schöffski's presentation. If the initial clinical data from the ADCElerate1 trial mirrors the robust preclinical findings, Adcendo will not only validate uPARAP as a viable therapeutic target but also cement its status as a leading architect in the next generation of precision oncology.