Bispecific antibodies.
Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) combine specificities of two antibodies and simultaneously address different antigens or epitopes. BsAbs with 'two-target' functionality can interfere with multiple surface receptors or ligands associated, for example with cancer, proliferation or inflammatory processes. BsAbs can also place targets into close proximity, either to support protein complex formation on one cell, or to trigger contacts between cells. Examples of 'forced-connection' functionalities are bsAbs that support protein complexation in the clotting cascade, or tumor-targeted immune cell recruiters and/or activators. Following years of research and development (R&D), the first bsAb was approved in 2009. Another bsAb entered the market in December 2014 and several more are in clinical trials. Here, we describe the potentials of bsAbs to become the next wave of antibody-based therapies, focusing on molecules in clinical development.
Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany. Electronic address: roland.kontermann@izi.uni-stuttgart.de.
Roland E
RE
Kontermann
Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Penzberg, Penzberg, Germany. Electronic address: ulrich.brinkmann@roche.com.
Ulrich
U
Brinkmann
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D011994:Recombinant Proteins