The nomenclature of monoclonal antibodies is a naming scheme for assigning generic, or nonproprietary, names to

monoclonal antibodies A monoclonal antibody (mAb, more rarely called moAb) is an antibody produced from a cell Lineage made by cloning a unique white blood cell. All subsequent antibodies derived this way trace back to a unique parent cell. Monoclonal antibodies ca ...

. An

antibody An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the ...

is a

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...

that is produced in

B cell B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell of the lymphocyte subtype. They function in the humoral immunity component of the adaptive immune system. B cells produce antibody molecules which may be either secreted or ...

s and used by the

immune system The immune system is a network of biological processes that protects an organism from diseases. It detects and responds to a wide variety of pathogens, from viruses to parasitic worms, as well as cancer cells and objects such as wood splinte ...

of humans and other

vertebrate Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () ( chordates with backbones), including all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the phylum Chordata, ...

animals to identify a specific foreign object like a

bacterium Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were among ...

or a

virus A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. Since Dmitri Ivanovsky's 1 ...

. ''Monoclonal'' antibodies are those that were produced in identical cells, often artificially, and so share the same target object. They have a wide range of applications including medical uses. This naming scheme is used for both the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...

's International Nonproprietary Names (INN) and the

United States Adopted Name A United States Adopted Name (USAN) is a unique nonproprietary name assigned to a medication marketed in the United States. Each name is assigned by the USAN Council, which is co-sponsored by the American Medical Association (AMA), the United Stat ...

s (USAN) for pharmaceuticals. In general,

word stem In linguistics, a word stem is a part of a word responsible for its lexical meaning. The term is used with slightly different meanings depending on the morphology of the language in question. In Athabaskan linguistics, for example, a verb stem is ...

s are used to identify classes of drugs, in most cases placed word-finally. All monoclonal antibody names assigned until 2021 end with the stem ''-mab''; newer names have different stems. Unlike most other pharmaceuticals, monoclonal antibody nomenclature uses different preceding word parts (

morpheme A morpheme is the smallest meaningful Constituent (linguistics), constituent of a linguistic expression. The field of linguistics, linguistic study dedicated to morphemes is called morphology (linguistics), morphology. In English, morphemes are ...

s) depending on structure and function. These are officially called ''substems'' and sometimes erroneously ''

infix An infix is an affix inserted inside a word stem (an existing word or the core of a family of words). It contrasts with ''adfix,'' a rare term for an affix attached to the outside of a stem, such as a prefix or suffix. When marking text for int ...

es'', even by the USAN Council itself. The scheme has been revised several times: in 2009, in 2017, in 2021, and in 2022.

Components

Stem

Until 2021, the stem ''-mab'' was used for all monoclonal antibodies as well as for their fragments, as long as at least one

variable domain An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the ...

(the

domain Domain may refer to: Mathematics *Domain of a function, the set of input values for which the (total) function is defined **Domain of definition of a partial function **Natural domain of a partial function **Domain of holomorphy of a function * Do ...

that contains the target binding structure) was included. This is the case for

antigen-binding fragment The fragment antigen-binding region (Fab region) is a region on an antibody that binds to antigens. It is composed of one constant and one variable domain of each of the heavy and the light chain. The variable domain contains the paratope (the ant ...

s and

single-chain variable fragment A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) is not actually a fragment of an antibody, but instead is a fusion protein of the variable regions of the heavy (VH) and light chains (VL) of immunoglobulins, connected with a short linker peptide of ten ...

s, among other artificial proteins. The new scheme, published in November 2021, divides antibodies into four groups: Group 1 uses the stem ''-tug'' for full-length ''unmodified immunoglobulins'', those that might occur as such in the immune system. Group 2 has the stem -''bart'' for full-length ''antibodies artificial'', which contain one or more engineered regions (at least one

point mutation A point mutation is a genetic mutation where a single nucleotide base is changed, inserted or deleted from a DNA or RNA sequence of an organism's genome. Point mutations have a variety of effects on the downstream protein product—consequences ...

). Group 3 uses ''-mig'' for ''multi-immunoglobulins'' of any length, comprising bispecific and multispecific monoclonal antibodies. Finally, group 4 assigns the stem ''-ment'' for monospecific antibody ''fragments'' without an

Fc region The fragment crystallizable region (Fc region) is the tail region of an antibody that interacts with cell surface receptors called Fc receptors and some proteins of the complement system. This property allows antibodies to activate the immune s ...

. Other antibody parts (such as Fc regions) and

antibody mimetic Antibody mimetics are organic compounds that, like antibodies, can specifically bind antigens, but that are not structurally related to antibodies. They are usually artificial peptides or proteins with a molar mass of about 3 to 20 kDa. (Antibo ...

s use different naming schemes.

Substem for source

Chimeric and humanized antibodies with CDRs

For antibodies named until early 2017, the substem preceding the stem denotes the animal from which the antibody was obtained. The first monoclonal antibodies were produced in mice (substem ''-o-'', yielding the ending ''-omab''; usually ''

Mus musculus Mus or MUS may refer to: Abbreviations * MUS, the NATO country code for Mauritius * MUS, the IATA airport code for Minami Torishima Airport * MUS, abbreviation for the Centre for Modern Urban Studies on Campus The Hague, Leiden University, Neth ...

'', the house mouse) or other non-human organisms. Neither INN nor USAN has ever been requested for antibodies from

rat Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include ''Neotoma'' ( pack rats), ''Bandicota'' (bandicoot ...

s (theoretically ''-a-''),

hamster Hamsters are rodents (order Rodentia) belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 19 species classified in seven genera.Fox, Sue. 2006. ''Hamsters''. T.F.H. Publications Inc. They have become established as popular small pets. The b ...

s (''-e-'') and

primate Primates are a diverse order of mammals. They are divided into the strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the haplorhines, which include the tarsiers and the simians (monkeys and apes, the latter including huma ...

s (''-i-''). These non-human antibodies are recognized as foreign by the human immune system and may be rapidly cleared from the body, provoke an

allergic reaction Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, refer a number of conditions caused by the hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include hay fever, food allergies, atopic derma ...

, or both. To avoid this, parts of the antibody can be replaced with human

amino acid sequence Protein primary structure is the linear sequence of amino acids in a peptide or protein. By convention, the primary structure of a protein is reported starting from the amino-terminal (N) end to the carboxyl-terminal (C) end. Protein biosynthes ...

s, or pure human antibodies can be engineered. If the

constant region An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the ...

is replaced with the human form, the antibody is termed '' chimeric'' and the substem used was ''-xi-''. Part of the variable regions may also be substituted, in which case it is called ''

humanized Humanized antibodies are antibodies from non-human species whose protein sequences have been modified to increase their similarity to antibody variants produced naturally in humans. The process of "humanization" is usually applied to monoclonal an ...

'' and ''-zu-'' was used; typically, everything is replaced except the

complementarity-determining region Complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) are part of the variable chains in immunoglobulins (antibodies) and T cell receptors, generated by B-cells and T-cells respectively, where these molecules bind to their specific antigen. A set of CDRs co ...

s (CDRs), the three loops of amino acid sequences at the outside of each variable region that bind to the target structure; although some other residues may have to remain non-human in order to achieve good binding. Partly chimeric and partly humanized antibodies used ''-xizu-''. These three substems did not indicate the foreign species used for production. Thus, the human/mouse chimeric antibody

basiliximab Basiliximab (trade name Simulect) is a chimeric mouse-human monoclonal antibody to the α chain (CD25) of the IL-2 receptor of T cells. It is used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation, especially in kidney transplants. Uses Basiliximab ...

ends in ''-ximab'' just as does the human/

macaque The macaques () constitute a genus (''Macaca'') of gregarious Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. The 23 species of macaques inhabit ranges throughout Asia, North Africa, and (in one instance) Gibraltar. Macaques are principally ...

antibody

gomiliximab Lumiliximab is an IgG1k monoclonal antibody that targets CD23. It acts as an immunomodulator and was awarded orphan drug status and fast track designation by the FDA. It was investigated in Phase II/III clinical trials for the treatment of chro ...

. Purely human antibodies used ''-u-''. Rat/mouse hybrid antibodies can be engineered with binding sites for two different antigens. These drugs, termed '' trifunctional antibodies'', had the substem ''-axo-''. Newer antibody names omit this part of the name.

Substem for target

The substem preceding the source of the antibody refers to the medicine's target. Examples of targets are

tumor A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

organ system An organ system is a biological system consisting of a group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions. Each organ has a specialized role in a plant or animal body, and is made up of distinct tissues. Plants Plants have ...

s like the

circulatory system The blood circulatory system is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the entire body of a human or other vertebrate. It includes the cardiovascular system, or vascular system, tha ...

, or

infectious agent In biology, a pathogen ( el, πάθος, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of") in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ ...

s like

bacteria Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were among ...

es. The term ''target'' does not imply what sort of action the antibody exerts.

Therapeutic A therapy or medical treatment (often abbreviated tx, Tx, or Tx) is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a medical diagnosis. As a rule, each therapy has indications and contraindications. There are many different ...

prophylactic Preventive healthcare, or prophylaxis, consists of measures taken for the purposes of disease prevention.Hugh R. Leavell and E. Gurney Clark as "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical and mental hea ...

and

diagnostic Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines, with variations in the use of logic, analytics, and experience, to determine " cause and effect". In systems engine ...

agents are not distinguished by this nomenclature. In the naming scheme as originally developed, these substems mostly consist of a consonant, a vowel, then another consonant. The final letter may be dropped if the resulting name would be difficult to pronounce otherwise. Examples include ''-ci(r)-'' for the circulatory system, ''-li(m)-'' for the

(''lim'' stands for

lymphocyte A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell (leukocyte) in the immune system of most vertebrates. Lymphocytes include natural killer cells (which function in cell-mediated, cytotoxic innate immunity), T cells (for cell-mediated, cytotoxic ad ...

) and ''-ne(r)-'' for the nervous system. The final letter is usually omitted if the following source substem begins with a consonant (such as ''-zu-'' or ''-xi-''), but not all target substems are used in their shortened form. ''-mul-'', for example, is never reduced to ''-mu-'' because no chimeric or humanized antibodies targeting the

musculoskeletal system The human musculoskeletal system (also known as the human locomotor system, and previously the activity system) is an organ system that gives humans the ability to move using their muscular and skeletal systems. The musculoskeletal system provid ...

ever received an INN. Combination of target and source substems resulted in endings like ''-limumab'' (immune system, human) or ''-ciximab'' (circulatory system, chimeric, consonant ''r'' dropped). New and shorter target substems were adopted in 2009. They mostly consist of a consonant, plus a vowel which is omitted if the source substem begins with a vowel. For example, human antibodies targeting the immune system receive names ending in ''-lumab'' instead of the old ''-limumab''. Some endings like ''-ciximab'' remained unchanged. The old system employed seven different substems for tumor targets, depending on the type of tumor. Because many antibodies are investigated for several tumor types, the new convention only has ''-t(u)-''. With the source substem being discontinued in 2017, the need for dropping the target substem's final vowel disappeared.

Prefix

The prefix carries no special meaning. It should be unique for each medicine and contribute to a well-sounding name. This means that antibodies with the same source and target substems are only distinguished by their prefix. Even antibodies targeting exactly the same structure are differently prefixed, such as the ''ada''limumab and ''go''limumab, both of which are

TNF inhibitor A TNF inhibitor is a pharmaceutical drug that suppresses the physiologic response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which is part of the inflammatory response. TNF is involved in autoimmune and immune-mediated disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ...

s but differ in their chemical structure.

Additional words

A second word following the name of the antibody indicates that another substance is attached, which is done for several reasons. * An antibody can be

PEGylated PEGylation (or pegylation) is the process of both covalent and non-covalent attachment or amalgamation of polyethylene glycol (PEG, in pharmacy called macrogol) polymer chains to molecules and macrostructures, such as a drug, therapeutic protein ...

(attached to molecules of

polyethylene glycol Polyethylene glycol (PEG; ) is a polyether compound derived from petroleum with many applications, from industrial manufacturing to medicine. PEG is also known as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE), depending on its molecular we ...

) to slow down its degradation by enzymes and to decrease its

immunogenicity Immunogenicity is the ability of a foreign substance, such as an antigen, to provoke an immune response in the body of a human or other animal. It may be wanted or unwanted: * Wanted immunogenicity typically relates to vaccines, where the injectio ...

; this is shown by the word ''pegol'' as in ''

alacizumab pegol Alacizumab pegol is an antineoplastic agent. Chemically, it is a pegylated F(ab')2 fragment of a monoclonal antibody A monoclonal antibody (mAb, more rarely called moAb) is an antibody produced from a cell Lineage made by cloning a unique ...

''. * A

cytotoxic agent Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are an immune cell or some types of venom, e.g. from the puff adder (''Bitis arietans'') or brown recluse spider (''Loxosceles reclusa''). Cell physiology Treating cells ...

can be linked to an anti-tumor antibody for drug targeting purposes. The word ''vedotin'', for example, stands for

monomethyl auristatin E Monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) is a synthetic antineoplastic agent. Because of its toxicity, it cannot be used as a drug itself; instead, it is linked to a monoclonal antibody (MAB) which directs it to the cancer cells. In International Nonproprie ...

which is toxic by itself but predominantly affects cancer cells if used in conjugates like

glembatumumab vedotin Glembatumumab vedotin (also known as CDX-011 and CR011-vcMMAE) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets cancer cells expressing transmembrane glycoprotein NMB (GPNMB). In May 2010, the U.S FDA granted Fast Track designation to CDX-011 ...

. * A

chelator Chelation is a type of bonding of ions and molecules to metal ions. It involves the formation or presence of two or more separate coordinate bonds between a polydentate (multiple bonded) ligand and a single central metal atom. These ligands are ...

for binding a

radioisotope A radionuclide (radioactive nuclide, radioisotope or radioactive isotope) is a nuclide that has excess nuclear energy, making it unstable. This excess energy can be used in one of three ways: emitted from the nucleus as gamma radiation; transferr ...

can be attached.

Pendetide Pendetide (GYK-DTPA) is a chelating agent. It consists of pentetic acid (DTPA) linked to the tripeptide glycine (G) – L-tyrosine (Y) – L-lysine (K). Use The following monoclonal antibodies are linked to pendetide to chelate a radionuclide, ind ...

, a derivative of

pentetic acid Pentetic acid or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) is an aminopolycarboxylic acid consisting of a diethylenetriamine backbone with five carboxymethyl groups. The molecule can be viewed as an expanded version of EDTA and is used similarl ...

, is used for example in capromab pendetide to chelate

indium-111 Indium-111 (111In) is a radioactive isotope of indium (In). It decays by electron capture to stable cadmium-111 with a half-life of 2.8 days. Indium-111 chloride (111InCl) solution is produced by proton irradiation of a cadmium target (112Cd(p,2n) ...

. If the drug contains a radioisotope, the name of the isotope precedes the name of the antibody. Consequently, ''indium (¹¹¹In) capromab pendetide'' is the name for the above example including indium-111.

Overview

History

Emil von Behring Emil von Behring (; Emil Adolf von Behring), born Emil Adolf Behring (15 March 1854 – 31 March 1917), was a German physiologist who received the 1901 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the first one awarded in that field, for his discovery ...

and

Kitasato Shibasaburō Baron was a Japanese physician and bacteriologist. He is remembered as the co-discoverer of the infectious agent of bubonic plague in Hong Kong during an outbreak in 1894, almost simultaneously with Alexandre Yersin. Kitasato was nominated ...

discovered in 1890 that

diphtheria Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Corynebacterium diphtheriae''. Most infections are asymptomatic or have a mild clinical course, but in some outbreaks more than 10% of those diagnosed with the disease may die. Signs and s ...

and

tetanus toxin Tetanus toxin (TeNT) is an extremely potent neurotoxin produced by the vegetative cell of ''Clostridium tetani'' in anaerobic conditions, causing tetanus. It has no known function for clostridia in the soil environment where they are normally ...

s were neutralized in the bloodstream of animals by substances they called ''antitoxins'', which were specific for the respective toxin. Behring received the first

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, accord ...

for their find in 1901. A year after the discovery,

Paul Ehrlich Paul Ehrlich (; 14 March 1854 – 20 August 1915) was a Nobel Prize-winning German physician and scientist who worked in the fields of hematology, immunology, and antimicrobial chemotherapy. Among his foremost achievements were finding a cure ...

used the term ''antibodies'' (

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

''Antikörper'') for these antitoxins. The principle of monoclonal antibody production, called

hybridoma technology Hybridoma technology is a method for producing large numbers of identical antibodies (also called monoclonal antibodies). This process starts by injecting a mouse (or other mammal) with an antigen that provokes an immune response. A type of white ...

, was published in 1975 by

Georges Köhler Georges may refer to: Places * Georges River, New South Wales, Australia * Georges Quay (Dublin) *Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania Other uses *Georges (name) * ''Georges'' (novel), a novel by Alexandre Dumas * "Georges" (song), a 19 ...

and

César Milstein César Milstein, CH, FRS (8 October 1927 – 24 March 2002) was an Argentine biochemist in the field of antibody research. Milstein shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984 with Niels Kaj Jerne and Georges J. F. Köhler for d ...

, who were awarded the 1984 Medicine Nobel Prize for their discovery together with

Niels Kaj Jerne Niels Kaj Jerne, FRS (23 December 1911 – 7 October 1994) was a Danish immunologist. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984 with Georges J. F. Köhler and César Milstein "for theories concerning the specificity in dev ...

Muromonab-CD3 Muromonab-CD3 (trade name Orthoclone OKT3, marketed by Janssen-Cilag) is an immunosuppressant drug given to reduce acute rejection in patients with organ transplants. It is a monoclonal antibody targeted at the CD3 receptor, a membrane protein on ...

was the first monoclonal antibody to be approved for clinical use in humans, in 1986. The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the system of International Nonproprietary Names in 1950, with the first INN list being published three years later. The stem ''-mab'' for monoclonal antibodies was proposed around 1990, and the current system with target and source substems was developed between 1991 and 1993. Due to the collaboration between the WHO and the United States Adopted Names Council, antibody USANs have the same structure and are largely identical to INNs. Until 2009, more than 170 monoclonal antibodies received names following this nomenclature. In October 2008, the WHO convoked a working group to revise the nomenclature of monoclonal antibodies, to meet challenges discussed in April the same year. This led to the adoption of the new target substems in November 2009. In spring 2010, the first new antibody names were adopted. In April 2017, at the WHO's 64th Consultation on International Nonproprietary Names for Pharmaceutical Substances, it was decided to drop the source substem and from that meeting onwards, it is no longer used in new antibody names. The revised nomenclature was published in May 2017. The difficulty in capturing the complexity and subtleties of the many methods by which antibody drugs can be produced is one of the reasons that the INN dropped the source substem, as is the need for creating more clearly distinguishable names. The 2021 revision, published in November 2021, replaced the hitherto universal stem ''-mab'' with four distinct stems depending on the basic structure. Also, the target substem ''-li-'' for immunomodulating antibodies was split into substems for

immunosuppressive Immunosuppression is a reduction of the activation or efficacy of the immune system. Some portions of the immune system itself have immunosuppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse reacti ...

(''-pru-'') and

immunostimulatory Immunostimulants, also known as immunostimulators, are substances (drugs and nutrients) that stimulate the immune system by inducing activation or increasing activity of any of its components. One notable example is the granulocyte macrophage colon ...

antibodies (''-sto-'') and those targeting allergens (''-ler-'').

Examples

1980s

* The monoclonal antibody

muromonab-CD3 Muromonab-CD3 (trade name Orthoclone OKT3, marketed by Janssen-Cilag) is an immunosuppressant drug given to reduce acute rejection in patients with organ transplants. It is a monoclonal antibody targeted at the CD3 receptor, a membrane protein on ...

, approved for clinical use in 1986, was named before these conventions took effect, and consequently its name does not follow them. Instead, it is a contraction from "''mur''ine ''mon''oclonal ''a''nti''b''ody targeting ''CD3''".

Convention until 2009

* Adalimumab is a drug targeting

TNF alpha Tumor necrosis factor (TNF, cachexin, or cachectin; formerly known as tumor necrosis factor alpha or TNF-α) is an adipokine and a cytokine. TNF is a member of the TNF superfamily, which consists of various transmembrane proteins with a homolog ...

. Its name can be broken down into ''ada-lim-u-mab''. Therefore, the drug is a human monoclonal antibody targeting the immune system. If adalimumab had been named between 2009 and 2017, it would have been adalumab (''ada-li-u-mab''). After 2017, it would be adalimab (''ada-li-mab''). *

Abciximab Abciximab, a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist manufactured by Janssen Biologics BV and distributed by Eli Lilly under the trade name ReoPro, is a platelet aggregation inhibitor mainly used during and after coronary artery procedures lik ...

is a commonly used medication to prevent

platelet Platelets, also called thrombocytes (from Greek θρόμβος, "clot" and κύτος, "cell"), are a component of blood whose function (along with the coagulation factors) is to react to bleeding from blood vessel injury by clumping, thereby ini ...

s from clumping together. Broken down into ''ab-ci-xi-mab'', its name shows the drug to be a chimeric monoclonal antibody used on the cardiovascular system. This and the following two names would look the same if the 2009 convention were applied. * The name of the

breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a re ...

medication

trastuzumab Trastuzumab, sold under the brand name Herceptin among others, is a monoclonal antibody used to treat breast cancer and stomach cancer. It is specifically used for cancer that is HER2 receptor positive. It may be used by itself or together wit ...

can be analyzed as ''tras-tu-zu-mab''. Therefore, the drug is a humanized monoclonal antibody used against a tumor. * Alacizumab pegol is a PEGylated humanized antibody targeting the circulatory system. * Technetium (^99mTc) pintumomab and technetium (^99mTc) nofetumomab merpentan are radiolabeled antibodies, merpentan being a chelator that links the antibody nofetumomab to the radioisotope

technetium-99m Technetium-99m (99mTc) is a metastable nuclear isomer of technetium-99 (itself an isotope of technetium), symbolized as 99mTc, that is used in tens of millions of medical diagnostic procedures annually, making it the most commonly used medical ra ...

. *

Rozrolimupab Rozrolimupab is a Recombinant antibodies, recombinant antibody mixture, specifically containing 25 Rhesus D, or RhD, human antibodies, and is currently under development by Symphogen for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and ...

is a

polyclonal antibody Polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) are antibodies that are secreted by different B cell lineages within the body (whereas monoclonal antibodies come from a single cell lineage). They are a collection of immunoglobulin molecules that react against a sp ...

. Broken down into ''rozro-lim-u-pab'', its name shows the drug to be a human polyclonal antibody (''-pab'') acting on the immune system.

Convention from 2009 to 2017

Olaratumab Olaratumab, sold under the brand name Lartruvo, is a monoclonal antibody medication developed by Eli Lilly and Company for the treatment of solid tumors. It is directed against the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha. It was removed fr ...

is an antineoplastic. Its name is composed of the components ''olara-t-u-mab''. This shows that the drug is a human monoclonal antibody acting against tumors. * The name of

benralizumab Benralizumab, sold under the brand name Fasenra, is a monoclonal antibody medication which is developed by MedImmune for the treatment of asthma. It is directed against the alpha-chain of the interleukin-5 receptor ( CD125). Two phase III clinica ...

, a drug designed for the treatment of

asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...

, has the components ''benra-li-zu-mab'', marking it as a humanized antibody acting on the immune system.

Convention from 2017 to 2021

Belantamab mafodotin Belantamab mafodotin, sold under the brand name Blenrep, is a medication for the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. The most common adverse reactions include keratopathy (corneal epithelium change on eye exam), decreased vi ...

(''belan-ta-mab'') is also an antineoplastic. It is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent that is chemically related to monomethyl auristatin E.

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{cite book , last1 = Janeway , first1 = CA, Jr. , last2 = Travers , first2 = P. , last3 = Walport , first3 = M. , last4 = Shlomchik , first4 = M. J. , author-link = Charles Janeway , title = Immunobiology , edition = 5th , publisher =

Garland Publishing Garland Science was a publishing group that specialized in developing textbooks in a wide range of life sciences subjects, including cell and molecular biology, immunology, protein chemistry, genetics, and bioinformatics. It was a subsidiary of th ...

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monoclonal Monoclonality refers to the state of a line of cells that have been derived from a single clonal origin. Thus "monoclonal cells" can be said to form a single clone. The term ''monoclonal'' comes from the Ancient Greek ''monos'', meaning "alone" o ...