Raxibacumab for inhalational anthrax: an effective specific therapeutic approach?
BACKGROUND
Inhalational anthrax is a disease with a high lethality potential and current therapeutic interventions with antibiotics to manage the bacteraemia might not always be fully effective. Blocking the activity of the toxins with raxibacumab, a fully-human mAb directed against the protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis, may serve as an adjunct treatment. The existing ones are aimed at preventing post-exposure bacteraemia but might not be always fully protective. Therefore, more specific 'therapies' are needed and the protective antigen of B. anthracis might be targeted effectively with raxibacumab, which is a blocking human mAb. AREAS COVERED IN THIS PAPER: To discuss the results of experimental and human studies evaluating raxibacumab for inhalational anthrax.


RESULTS
Raxibacumab was efficacious prophylactically after exposure and therapeutically before exposure in rabbit and monkey animal models of inhalational anthrax and exhibited good safety and pharmacokinetic profiles in healthy humans.


CONCLUSIONS
Raxibacumab is a promising prophylactic and therapeutic for inhalational anthrax.
Antoniu
Sabina A
SA
University of Medicine and Pharmacy Gr.T.Popa Iasi, Pulmonary Disease University Hospital, Division of Pulmonary Disease, Iasi, Romania. sabina.antonela.antoniu@pneum.umfiasi.ro
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D011817:Rabbits; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C030325:anthrax toxin; C542124:raxibacumab