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Abstract
The complement system comprises a network of serum proteins that are important in host defence. Activation of complement occurs following antigen-antibody interactions or in response to certain foreign surfaces, and this leads to the formation of a number of complement factors, including C5a. C5a is a protein of 74 amino acids, and is a potent inflammatory mediator and immunomodulator, which is proposed to be a major pathogenic factor in numerous immuno-inflammatory diseases. Many research groups have attempted to develop agents principally to block C5a, or in some cases, to reproduce its activities. Agents blocking C5a should have anti-inflammatory activities, and agents mimicking C5a might possibly be developed as immune adjuvants. This review summarises relevant patent applications for this area that have appeared mostly over the last decade, and scientific publications will be incorporated as background where appropriate. A recent comprehensive scientific review on therapeutic efforts to inhibit the complement system is highly recommended for background reading [1].