title: Conference scene: progress with promising human antibodies.
abstract: Antibodies and antibody-based therapeutics have become big business, with annual sales over US$50 billion, accounting for >6% of worldwide pharmaceutical revenues. Ten molecules have blockbuster status (>US$1 billion), with six generating more than US$6 billion in sales. In excess of 300 products based on this rapidly maturing technology are in clinical trials. The generation and manufacture of human antibodies is now routine, although the cost of goods remains an issue. Optimizing combinations of antibodies with other therapeutics (e.g., chemotherapy) is a major short-term goal, while target validation and product differentiation remain significant hurdles if growth is to continue. Some of the notable highlights of the recent 16th International Conference on Human Antibodies and Hybridomas meeting in Cannes, France are described below. The conference was sponsored by the international journal Human Antibodies, in association with the Integrative Medical Sciences Association (IMSA). The Program Chairman was Professor Mark Glassy, IMSA, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.affiliation: Panorama Research Institute, Sunnyvale, CA 94089, USA. jwlarrick@gmail.com
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Larrick
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D010506:Periodicals as Topic
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal