Humanized antibodies as potential therapeutic drugs.
BACKGROUND
Antibodies have been used therapeutically to treat a variety of clinical conditions. The introduction of monoclonal antibodies and more recently, engineered humanized antibodies has greatly refined and expanded the therapeutic potential of this modality of treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To reinforce the reader's knowledge of the therapeutic application of antibody in the treatment for different diseases. More specifically, to enhance reader's understanding of basic methods employed in the production and clinical use of humanized antibodies.


METHODS
The MEDLINE database was used to review the humanized antibody related literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Humanized antibodies provide a novel approach for the treatment of a broad range of diseases. Expanded use will depend on improvement in their efficacy (avidity and specificity), demonstration of their safety, and reduction of their immunogenicity.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
S K
SK
Vaswani
R G
RG
Hamilton
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins