Antifungal antibodies: a new approach to the treatment of systemic candidiasis.
Antibody-based therapeutics have come of age, with advances in the genetic engineering of recombinant antibodies allowing application of a growing knowledge of the immunopathology of diseases to the development of novel drugs. For infections such as systemic candidiasis, which still have a mortality of 40 to 50%, antifungal antibodies could provide long-awaited novel therapies for use in combination with antifungal agents. They may also evolve into safe, broad-spectrum agents for prophylaxis in high-risk immunocompromised patients. Mycograb, a human genetically recombinant antibody against heat shock protein 90 (hsp90), has just started trials in patients with systemic candidiasis.
Matthews
R
R
NeuTec Pharma plc & The Infectious Disease Research Group, Manchester University, Central Manchester Healthcare Trust, UK.
Burnie
J
J
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000628:therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C025363:mannoproteins; D000666:Amphotericin B