Ocrelizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against CD20 for inflammatory disorders and B-cell malignancies

Gabor Hutas1

  • 1Semmelweis University, Department of Rheumatology, Polyclinic of the Hospitaller Brothers of St John of God, Budapest, Hungary. gaborhutas@gmail.com

Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs (London, England : 2000)
|October 28, 2008
PubMed

Biogen Idec Inc, Genentech Inc, Roche Holding AG and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co Ltd are developing ocrelizumab, a humanized mAb against CD20, for the potential treatment of inflammatory disorders and B-cell malignancies. Ocrelizumab is undergoing phase III clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus nephritis, and phase II trials for multiple sclerosis and hematological cancer. Previously, ocrelizumab was also being developed for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and neuromyelitis optica; however, development for SLE has been discontinued. No development has been reported for neuromyelitis optica and as of January 2007, this indication had been removed from the company pipeline.

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