Bispecific antibodies and their applications

J Hematol Oncol. 2015 Dec 21:8:130. doi: 10.1186/s13045-015-0227-0.

Abstract

Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) recognize two different epitopes. This dual specificity opens up a wide range of applications, including redirecting T cells to tumor cells, blocking two different signaling pathways simultaneously, dual targeting of different disease mediators, and delivering payloads to targeted sites. The approval of catumaxomab (anti-EpCAM and anti-CD3) and blinatumomab (anti-CD19 and anti-CD3) has become a major milestone in the development of bsAbs. Currently, more than 60 different bsAb formats exist, some of them making their way into the clinical pipeline. This review summarizes diverse formats of bsAbs and their clinical applications and sheds light on strategies to optimize the design of bsAbs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • blinatumomab
  • catumaxomab