CardioSource WorldNews December 2014 | Page 27

MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES:
CHANGING THE SHAPE OF HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS

A

ntibodies are the body’s natural defense against
US regulatory agencies.3-5 Today, more than 500
pathogens.1 But in the last 30 years, scientists
mAbs are in clinical development in a broad range of
have leveraged their knowledge of immunology,
categories.3,6 And the universe of mAbs continues
to expand.
microbiology, and recombinant DNA technology
to create man-made antibodies to fight numerous
diseases.2 These therapeutic monoclonal antibodies
A New Era in Healthcare
(mAbs) can interrupt disease pathology on a molecular
Powerful new technologies have been a key to
level by blocking receptors
progress in mAb development.
or interfering with cell-toSanofi/Regeneron are utilizing the
Over 500 therapeutic
3
cell transmission. Recent
antibodies are in development unique VelocImmune™* mouse
developments in antibody
technology in which mouse DNA
in a variety of categories
technologies have gone
that codes for immune system
beyond immunology-related
proteins has been genetically3-5
engineered to produce human DNA instead.7 With
therapies to non-immune–modulating treatments.
this technology it is possible to rapidly and efficiently
Rapid Progress
generate fully human therapeutic antibodies that
First introduced in 1986,4 over 30 therapeutic mAbs
may benefit the health of millions of people in ways
have been approved, to date, by European and
unforeseen even a few decades ago.

* VelocImmune technology is a process developed by Regeneron.

Sanofi and Regeneron are leaders in scientific innovation, combining expertise
in biotechnology with global success in delivering healthcare solutions
References: 1. Silverstein AM. A History of Immunology. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier Inc; 2009.
2. Köhler G, Milstein C. Continuous cultures of fused cells secreting antibody of predefined specificity.
Nature. 1975;256:495-497. 3. Foltz IN, Karow M, Wasserman SM. Evolution and emergence of
therapeutic monoclonal antibodies: what cardiologists need to know. Circulation. 2013;127:22222230. 4. Catapano AL, Papadopoulos N. The safety of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies: implications
for cardiovascular disease and targeting the PCSK9 pathway. Atherosclerosis. 2013;228:18-28.
5. Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies approved or in review in the European Union or United States.
The Antibody Society website. http://www.antibodysociety.org/news/approved_mabs.php. Updated
January 28, 2014. Accessed February 24, 2014. 6. Reichert JM. Antibodies to watch in 2014. mAbs.
2013;6:5-14. 7. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: VelocImmune™. http://www.regeneron.com/
velocimmune. Accessed September 3, 2014.
©2014, Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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