Monoclonal antibody therapy

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have varied therapeutic uses. It is possible to create a mAb that binds specifically to almost any extracellular target, such as cell surface proteins and cytokines. They can be used to render their target ineffective (e.g. by preventing receptor binding),^[1] to induce a specific cell signal (by activating receptors),^[1] to cause the immune system to attack specific cells, or to bring a drug to a specific cell type (such as with radioimmunotherapy which delivers cytotoxic radiation).

Major applications include cancer, autoimmune diseases, asthma, organ transplants, blood clot prevention, and certain infections.