The case for measuring anti-drug antibodies in people with multiple sclerosis

The advent of biopharmaceuticals (BPs) has led to significant improvements in the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases, and the number of BPs on the market and of diseases treated reflects their success. However, repetitive parenteral administration and intrinsic immunogenic properties of the drug can elicit an immune response, leading to production of anti-drug antibodies (ADA). This is a major limitation of the use of BPs and has to be taken into consideration in clinical practice and during drug development. With increasing knowledge about the immunogenicity of BPs and regular ADA testing in patients, we ensure optimized long-term treatment for the individual and thus optimal use of health care resources. This field has already been extensively investigated in the treatment of multiple sclerosis with IFN-β, but there is a clear need for consensus from academia, health care providers and the BP industry in managing ADA across all BPs and diseases.