Monoclonal Antibodies

1. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the behaviour of antibodies produced by the immune system to protect against diseases and foreign substances
2. It attaches itself to an antigen such as Glycoproteins (a foreign substance, usually a disease-causing molecule) and helps the immune system eliminate it from the body.
3. They are specifically designed to target certain antigens.
4. Principle of generation of monoclonal antibodies for use in humans was described using hybridoma.
   1. Hybridoma is a fusion cell made up of B cells (white blood cells that produce antibodies) and myeloma cells (abnormal plasma cells). 
   2. These hybrid cells allowed the researchers to produce a single antibody clone, which came to be known as a monoclonal antibody.
5. m102.4
   1. It is a potent, fully human monoclonal antibody that neutralises Hendra and Nipah viruses, both outside and inside of living organisms. 
   2. The drug is used on a ‘compassionate use’ basis (use of an unauthorised medicine under strict conditions among people under absence of no other alternative).