Update on therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

Immunotherapy in clinical medicine: historical perspective and current status

In humans, the immune system is a complex organ system involving cells and soluble mediators whose function is, essentially, protection. However, disequilibrium in this intricate system leads to disease in itself. To modulate these responses, immunotherapy is now the primary or adjunct treatment of many diseases. In addition, immunologic tests now diagnose several diseases.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against canine P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1)

Thirteen different monoclonal antibodies against canine P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (cPSGL-1) were obtained by immunization of rats with cells of a canine lymphoma cell line (Ema). O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase treatment of Ema cells showed that all of these antibodies recognized O-glycosylated peptides of canine PSGL-1. Experiments using deletion or point mutants of cPSGL-1 indicated that these antibodies could be categorized into several groups based on their cPSGL-1 recognition characteristics. These anti-cPSGL-1 monoclonal antibodies will be useful for analysis of the canine P-selectin and PSGL-1 system.

Biotechnology-Derived Medicines: What are They? A Pharmacological and a Historical Perspective

Biologicals, that is, medicines obtained from living organisms, are not new. History provides many examples of animal or human extracts being used to prevent or treat human diseases. Physicians have thus been aware for centuries of the therapeutic value of our own molecules. The difficulty laid many times in how to obtain these self or self-like compounds. Biotechnology - a technology by which manipulated living organisms are utilized to generate useful products such as drugs - provided a revolutionary answer. We know how to genetically engineer bacteria, yeast, insect or mammalian cells to synthesize human molecules, the so-called human recombinant therapeutic proteins. Murine and humanized monoclonal antibodies against human antigens are also biotechnological products. The number of biotechnological drugs being marketed, and those in clinical trials or awaiting authorization, is growing exponentially. We are now still on the beginnings of a new era in pharmacotherapy of which it is impossible to see the end. Pharmacologists need to keep pace with these changes and develop new skills. They may even have to challenge old assumptions in order to investigate new molecules. Using an easy and comprehensible approach, this review article revisits ‘bio-concepts’, and underlines the real dimension of the challenge.

Considerations for the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

An increasing number of Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been submitted to US FDA over the past several years. Monoclonal antibodies and related products are under development for a wide range of indications. In addition, the diversity of antibody-related products is increasing including IgG2/IgG4 subclasses and engineered Fc regions to enhance or reduce antibody effector functionality. Recent findings highlight the need to more fully characterize these products and their activity. Advances in product characterization tools, immunogenicity assessments, and other bioanalytical assays can be used to better understand product performance and facilitate development.

MMPs as therapeutic targets--still a viable option?

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) appear to be ideal drug targets--they are disease-associated, extracellular enzymes with a dependence on zinc for activity. This apparently straightforward target, however, is much more complex than initially realized. Although disease associated, the roles for particular enzymes may be healing rather than harmful making broad-spectrum inhibition unwise; targeting the catalytic zinc with specificity is difficult, since other related proteases as well as non-related proteins can be affected by some chelating groups. While the failure of early-generation MMP inhibitors dampened enthusiasm for this type of drug, there has recently been a wealth of studies examining the basic biology of MMPs which will greatly inform new drug trials in this field.