Affinity therapy and polymer bound drugs

Some of the principles and advantages of affinity and polymeric drugs are demonstrated by the coupling by various methods of the anti-cancer drug daunomycin to antibodies against cancer cells and to dextran. In all the cases studied the conjugated drugs retain a significant amount of the original drug activity, and were less toxic. At higher concentrations the conjugated drug was more potent due to the lower toxicity. The mechanism of the action of the polymeric drugs are not yet known. We assume that they work through a slow release of the low molecular weight drug.