What are bispecific monoclonal antibodies and their uses?

Bispecific monoclonal antibodies are engineered proteins that can bind to two different antigens simultaneously, used in cancer and autoimmune disease treatments.

Bispecific monoclonal antibodies (bsAbs) are a type of therapeutic protein, designed to interact with two different biological targets at the same time. They are created by combining parts of two different monoclonal antibodies, which are proteins that can bind to specific antigens. This unique ability to bind two different antigens simultaneously allows bsAbs to perform functions that regular monoclonal antibodies cannot.

One of the main uses of bsAbs is in the treatment of cancer. They can be designed to bind to a specific cancer cell antigen and a specific immune cell antigen at the same time. This brings the immune cells into close proximity with the cancer cells, which can stimulate the immune cells to attack the cancer cells. This approach has been used to develop treatments for various types of cancer, including leukaemia and lymphoma.

BsAbs are also used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In these conditions, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells. BsAbs can be designed to bind to the harmful immune cells and a specific antigen on the body's cells. This can block the immune cells from attacking the body's cells, helping to control the symptoms of the disease.

The development and use of bsAbs is a rapidly growing field in medicine. They offer the potential for highly targeted treatments that can be tailored to the specific needs of each patient. However, like all medical treatments, they also have potential side effects and risks, and their use must be carefully managed by healthcare professionals.