(See also: Monoclonal Antibodies Part 1)
Courtesy of Pharmboy
In Part 1 of Monoclonal Antibody Companies, I highlighted a leader in the field, Seattle Genetics (SGEN). It's technology incorporates monoclonal antibodies (mAb), and also allows for having a drug ‘tagged’ on the mAb, so that when the mAb attaches to a cell, it is ‘ingested’ into the cell, and the drug is released. The antibody-drug combination is called an antibody-drug conjugate (ADCs). ADCs are "empowered" antibodies. They are designed to use the targeting ability of the antibody to precisely deliver the toxic drug where it's needed, increasing its effectiveness and decreasing side effects.
Think of the technology as a bunker buster bomb, that is guided by a laser, hits its target, penetrates, and then destroys all from within. Seattle Genetics has licensed its technology to several companies. Other companies are involved in this kind of research as well.
Antibodies are used by the immune system to clear pathogens from the body. The antibody protein is in the shape of a Y, where the trunk is the effector region (similar in most antibodies) and the ends of the Y are the variable regions (paratope) that bind the pathogen (antigen).
Antibodies are produced by B-cells and used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign material such as bacteria and viruses. There are several types of antibodies made for the defense of the body. (More here)
ImmunoGen, Inc. (IMGN, $12.92) was a pick several years ago…
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