Midyear 2026 Check in: Abzena’s Campbell Bunce on Trends in Antibody Drug Conjugates

Campbell Bunce, chief scientific officer at Abzena provided an update on his 2026 predictions about the direction of the biologics and bioconjugate market.

Two of his predictions that have held up so far include growth in next-generation biologics and bioconjugates, including more complex fusion proteins, bispecifics, and multispecifics, along with conjugated versions of these molecules carrying new and varied payloads, including multiple payload combinations on bispecific formats.

Second, Bunce outlines the continued growth in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), alongside rising interest in antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs), and a broader trend of onshoring manufacturing to the United States to mitigate supply chain risk and reduce reliance on overseas production, particularly in China.

Bunce reported that there has been a marked increase in excitement and investment around next-generation molecules, reflected in clinical development activity and regulatory approvals. Despite growing interest in newer modalities like AOCs, ADCs continue to see strong momentum, with 2 notable approvals so far this year.

He cited AbbVie's Decnupaz (an anti-CD123 ADC for a dendritic cell neoplasia indication) as 1 recent approval, noting it uses a relatively uncommon payload—a PBD dimer-type toxin. He also referenced a new approval in China for an ADC built on a bispecific antibody format, which he sees as evidence of the field's move toward more structurally complex next-generation molecules. According to Bunce, roughly 23 ADCs have now been approved worldwide in total, underscoring the modality's sustained growth even as newer conjugate classes emerge alongside it.

Abzena is a contract development and manufacturing organization/contract research organization supporting biologics and bioconjugate development from early research through clinical manufacturing.

Click the above video to watch the interview.