Update on Novel Monoclonal Antibodies anD Immunoconjugates for the Treatment of Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Abstract

The year 1997 was pivotal in lymphoma research, as it was the year that the US FDA approved rituximab. Rituximab significantly altered clinical management and outcomes of patients with B-cell malignancies. Despite a high initial response rate, the majority of patients subsequently develop variable degrees of therapeutic resistance to rituximab. Research attempting to understand the mechanisms of rituximab resistance and potential ways to overcome them has given rise to the development of novel targeted immunotherapeutics. This article will update the readers on advances in bioengineering of monoclonal antibodies and immunoconjugates that target CD20, as well as other surface antigens. Some additional novel immunotherapeutics, including small modular immunopharmaceuticals, bispecific monoclonal antibodies, T-cell engaging antibodies and immunoconjugates, will also be discussed.

Keywords:

• CD20
• immunoconjugate
• lymphoma
• monoclonal antibody

Financial & competing interests disclosure

M Czuczman has served on advisory boards and/or has received clinical research support from Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Genmab and Biogen Idec. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

M Czuczman has served on advisory boards and/or has received clinical research support from Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Genmab and Biogen Idec. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.