Antibodies

Background |

Antibodies are of crucial importance to the body's immune system. They are proteins, which have the ability to specifically recognise and bind to foreign, and potentially toxic, molecules or pathogens such as bacteria or viruses. Antibodies are produced naturally by a type of white blood cell known as B-cells.

Each antibody is highly specific to its antigen, meaning it is capable of recognising the antigen amongst thousands of others, often similar, molecules. Once the target antigen is recognised, the antibody binds to it tightly and aids its elimination from the body. These properties make antibodies a very attractive proposition as potential therapeutic agents.

Antibody therapeutics act by mimicking and harnessing the body's immune system with the antibody working as the drug molecule. Monoclonal antibodies can be used in three main therapeutic approaches:

Blocking cell activity and/or modulating immune function to prevent certain cell responses – applicable in autoimmune disorders, inflammation, allergic reactions and cancer. Examples of CAT-derived antibodies in this category are HUMIRA^®, ABT-874, CAT-354, GC-1008 and MYO-029. An example in this category of an antibody derived by our colleagues in the United States is MEDI-528.
Activating cell activity and modulating immune functions to stimulate a desired immune response applicable in, for example, certain oncology indications. Examples of MedImmune Cambridge-derived antibodies in this group are HGS-ETR1 and HGS-ETR2.
Delivering molecules/agents to specific cells and tissues. An example of a MedImmune-owned antibody in this group is CAT-8015.