Blood disorders, including anemias, coagulopathies, leukemias, lymphomas, and thrombocytopenias, disrupt the normal functioning of blood components. Antibody therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), have transformed treatment approaches by offering targeted, high-specificity interventions.

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) offer a versatile treatment modality for a variety of immune-mediated disorders. Originally used for antibody replacement therapy, their unexpected anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects have allowed them to extend their use to

Ozempic, a brand name for the drug semaglutide, was originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes by improving blood sugar control. As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, it mimics a hormone that regulates glucose metabolism and appetite. Beyond its success in diabetes treatment, Ozempic has garnered signifi

Image credit: DOI: 10.1038/s41577-021-00542-xThe progress of COVID-19 therapies has seen remarkable strides, particularly in the development and application of antibody-based treatments. Early in the pandemic, the focus was on supportive care, but the rapid advancement in antibody therapies has sign

Here at the AACR Annual Meeting 2024, there are over 7000 abstracts, 300 poster presentations, and 50 symposia all about cancer research. A few topics that are currently trending in the conference include cancer vaccines, AI for diagnostics, novel immunotherapies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) as a new modality.

The development and approval of novel antibody drugs represent a significant segment of pharmaceutical innovation, addressing a wide range of diseases from cancer to autoimmune disorders. Since the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) drug was approved in 1986, there has been explosive growth in this area. By 2021, the US FDA had approved its 100th mAb product, with mAbs now accounting for nearly a fifth of the agency’s new drug approvals each year.

This month heralded the release of groundbreaking news involving the monoclonal antibody tegoprubart, which facilitated the successful transplantation of a genetically edited pig kidney into a 62-year-old man grappling with end-stage kidney disease.

This week, exciting news came out that Eledon Pharmaceuticals’ tegoprubart was successfully used to aid the first-ever transplant of a genetically-edited pig kidney into a 62-year-old man with end-stage kidney disease. Tegoprubart is an investigational anti-CD40L antibody that has a high affinity for CD40 ligand. CD40L signaling plays an important role in adaptive and innate immune cell activation and function, and is therefore a target for non-lymphocyte depleting, immunomodulatory therapeutic intervention.

Agonistic antibodies bind to specific receptors on cells and mimic the action of the natural ligand of that receptor, thereby activating signaling pathways and eliciting cellular responses. Unlike traditional antibodies, which are often used to block or neutralize the activity of their target molecules (acting as antagonists), antibody agonists actively stimulate a biological response. Recently, more studies are delving into the mechanisms and therapeutic potential of these antibody agonists.

Antibody combination therapies involve the use of two or more antibodies together as a treatment strategy to enhance the therapeutic effect against diseases, such as cancer or infectious diseases. This approach aims to target different epitopes or antigens simultaneously, increasing the efficacy of the treatment by overcoming resistance mechanisms, reducing the likelihood of disease escape, and providing a broader range of action.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow, which can cause bone damage, anemia, kidney dysfunction, and weakened immunity. Despite being incurable, advances in antibody therapies have shown significant progress in the management of the disease, highlighting the ongoing efforts in the development of more effective treatments.