Pharmaceutical Agents

Question 1

When were MABs discovered and how did it happen

Answer 1

• 1975
• fused mouse myeloma cells with antibody-producing B cells
• created hybrid cells, known as a hybridomas
• produce pure specific antibodies

Question 2

What are monoclonal antibodies (MABs)

Answer 2

• Designed antibodies that specifically target a certain antigen, such as one found on cancer cells
• highly precise & targeted
• used to treat many diseases

Question 3

Before the discovery of MABs, what was there

Answer 3

Only polyclonal antibodies of varying speciality

Question 4

What are the majority of MABs produced by

Answer 4

by Mammalian cell lines, but some produced by bacteria and yeasts

Question 5

What is the first step in the process of creating MABs

Answer 5

• Immunising an animal (mouse/rabbit) with desired antigen
• The animal’s immune system produces a variety of antibodies in response

Question 6

What happens after the first step in creating MABs

Answer 6

scientists isolate B-cells from immunised animal, and fuse them with immortal cancer cells, creating hybridomas

Question 7

how does fusion of cancer cells and B cells occur

Answer 7

using electrofusion or chemical fusion techniques (such as polyethylene glycol)

Question 8

what are antibodies

Answer 8

highly complex molecules, with extremely specific folding crucial to their function

Question 9

what are the 4 types of MAB

Answer 9

murine
chimeric
humanised
fully human

Question 10

murine MABs

Answer 10

• fully derived from mice
• hybridomas created by fusing mouse B cells with cancer cells
• highly effective, but may induce an immune response in humans due to foreign origin
• ‘omab’

Question 11

what do the cancer cells that are fused with hybridomas provide

Answer 11

stable environment for hybridomas to produce desired MABs

Question 12

chimeric MABs

Answer 12

• lower chance of immune response
• 50% human constant region, responsible for immune system activation
• 50% mouse variable region, that recognises specific targets
• ‘ximab’

Question 13

humanised MABs

Answer 13

• ~90% human, with complementary determining regions
• smaller mice portion undergoes genetic modifications, making it more similar to human antibodies
• decreased risk of immune response
• ‘zumab’

Question 14

fully human MABs

Answer 14

• derived only from human sequences
• can be generated using advanced techniques like phage display or transgenic animals
• have lowest risk of immune response
• typically very well tolerated in body
• ‘umab’

Question 15

what various factors does selection of MAB depend on

Answer 15

• therapeutic purpose
• efficacy
• safety considerations

Question 16

other types of MAB (specialised)

Answer 16

• naked
• bispecific
• conjugated antibodies

Question 17

naked antibodies

Answer 17

• unmodified
• exert their therapeutic effect by binding and mediating immune response OR disrupt signalling pathways

Question 18

bispecific MABs

Answer 18

• engineered to have 2 targets
• therapeutic effect comes from bringing together their target (cancer/virus) cells and immune cells

Question 19

conjugated MABs

Answer 19

• processed to be conjugated to another molecule, such as fluorescent dye or drug
• conjugated antibody targets a specific molecule/cell in body/sample
• when conjugated to drug, can deliver targeted therapy to specific cells such as cancer

Question 20

what is a magical bullet

Answer 20

a term used to describe a hypothetical, ideal drug/treatment that specifically targets and eliminates a disease, without harming healthy cells

Question 21

what is the significant role played by MABs in the development of magic bullets

Answer 21

• they can be engineered to recognise & bind to specific molecules or cells
• have potential to deliver targeted therapies to desired site, e.g. cancer cells

Question 22

why is the specificity of MABs so important

Answer 22

• reduces risk of harmful side-effects
• increases effectiveness of treatment