A medication ending with the stem ‘mab’ indicates that it is a monoclonal antibody. This is the internationally recognised nomenclature for the naming of monoclonal antibodies.
Nomenclature has become somewhat confusing though as the BNF includes ‘mabs’ under the heading of cytokine modulators and anti-lymphocyte monoclonal antibodies in several chapters.
Monoclonal antibody production for medical use was first discovered by Milstein and Kohler in 1975, but it was confined mainly to diagnostics until Vilcek and Li approached Centacor (now part of Johnson & Johnson) to help them produce ‘mabs’ against TNFα.
Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is a cytokine (an immunomodulating agent) produced by monocytes and macrophages, two types of white blood cells. It mediates the immune response by increasing the transport of white blood cells to sites of inflammation, and through additional molecular mechanisms which initiate and amplify inflammation. Inhibition of its action by ‘mabs’ reduces the inflammatory response which is especially useful for treating autoimmune diseases.
The ‘mab’ that Vilcek and Li discovered become known as Infliximab (Remicade) and it became an important treatment for severe Crohn’s disease, including the fistulating variety. It has subsequently been used to treat other auto-immune system diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Infliximab became known as ‘Kwik Fiximab’ in medical circles due to it’s clinical success in treating otherwise unresposive patients.
There are two types of TNF receptors: those found embedded in white blood cells that respond to TNF by releasing other cytokines, and soluble TNF receptors which are used to deactivate TNF and blunt the immune response. In addition, TNF receptors are found on the surface of virtually all nucleated cells. Red blood cells, which are not nucleated, do not contain TNF receptors on their surface.
A ‘mab’ neutralises the biological activity of TNFα by binding with high affinity to the soluble (free floating in the blood) and transmembrane (located on the outer membranes of T cells and similar immune cells) forms of TNFα and inhibits or prevents the effective binding of TNFα with its receptors. Infliximab and adalimumab (another TNF antagonist) are in the subclass of “anti-TNF antibodies” (they are in the form of naturally occurring antibodies), and are capable of neutralising all forms (extracellular, transmembrane, and receptor-bound) of TNFα. Etanercept, a third TNF antagonist, is not a ’mab’ and it is in a different subclass (receptor-construct fusion protein), and, because of its modified form, cannot neutralize receptor-bound TNFα. Etanercept is sometimes referred to as a ‘non-biologial’ agent to distinguish it further from the ‘mabs’ Additionally, the anti-TNF antibodies adalimumab and infliximab have the capability of lysing cells involved in the inflammatory process, whereas the receptor fusion protein apparently lacks this capability. Although the clinical significance of these differences have not been absolutely proven, they may account for the differential actions of these drugs in both efficacy and side effects.
Infliximab has high specificity for TNFα, and does not neutralise TNF beta (TNFβ, also called lymphotoxin α), an unrelated cytokine that uses different receptors from TNFα. Biological activities that are attributed to TNFα include: induction of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL) 1 and IL 6, enhancement of leukocyte movement or migration from the blood vessels into the tissues by increasing the permeability of endothelial layer of blood vessels; and increasing the release of adhesion molecules.
A range of newer agents which act against these other cytokines have subsequently been developed.
Tha table below summarises the anti- TNF mabs available in the UK currently. None-mab anti-TNF agents are also included for comparison
| MOLECULE | BRAND | CLASS | DERIVATION | INDICATION | NICEAPPROVED |
| Adalimumab | Humira (Abbott) | Anti-TNFα | Recombinant human ‘mab’
From hamster ovary |
RA
PJIA PA AS CD P |
Yes
No Yes Yes Yes Yes |
| Alemtuzumab | MabCampath (Genzyme) | Anti-lymphocyte | Recombinant human ‘mab’ from hamster ovary | CLL | Yes |
| Certolizumab Pegol | Cimzia (UCB Pharma) | Anti-TNFα | Recombinant human ‘mab’
From E Coli |
RA | Yes |
| Golimumab | Simponi (Schering-Plough) | Anti-TNFα | Recombinant human ‘mab’ from murine cell line | RA
PA AS |
No
No No |
| Infliximab | Remicade (Schering-Plough) | Anti-TNFα | Recombinant human ‘mab’ | RA
CD UC AS PA P |
Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes |
| Ofatumumab | Arzerra (GSK) | Anti-lymphocyte | Recombinant human ‘mab’ from murine cell line | CLL | No |
| Rituximab | MabThera (Roche) | Anti-TNFα | Recombinant human ‘mab’ from hamster ovary | RA
CLL NHL |
Yes
Yes Yes |
| Tocilizumab | RoActemra (Roche) | Anti-IL-6 | Recombinant human ‘mab’ from hamster ovary | RA | Yes |
| Ustekinumab | Stelara (Janssen-Cilag) | Anti-IL-12/23 | Recombinant human ‘mab’ from murine cell line | P | Yes |
| Abatacept | Orencia (Bristol-Myers Squibb) | T-cell modulator | Fused protein formed by recombinantDNAtechnology | RA
PJIA |
Yes
No |
| Anakinra | Kineret (Swedish Orphan) | Anti-IL-1 | Recombinant human ‘mab’
From E Coli |
RA | No |
| Etanercept | Enbrel (Wyeth) | Anti-TNFα
(soluble receptor specific) |
Fused protein formed by recombinantDNAtechnology from hamster ovary | RA
PJIA PA AS P |
Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes |
KEY
RA = Rheumatoid arthritis
PJIA = Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis
PA = Psoriatic arthritis
AS = Ankylosing spondylitis
CD = Crohn’s disease
P = Psoriasis
CLL= Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
NHL= Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
NICEapproval status correct as of May 2011. Please refer to NICEwebsite for latest guidance http://www.nice.org.uk/
Sources:NICE, manufacturers Summaries of Product Characteristics, and BNF vol 61
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