An outlook on bispecific antibodies: Methods of production and therapeutic benefits

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have significantly advanced the treatment of a variety of human diseases, particularly the ability to treat cancer. The therapeutic use of monoclonal antibodies consists in activation of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic i ty (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), or engagement with cell surface receptors (to either activate or inhibit signaling) (Figure 1). Currently, most of the antibodies for therapeutic usage are monospecific, with a defined specificity for a particular molecular part of an antigen, known as an epitope. [1] However, despite being the most widely used form of cancer immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies have not been as successful as expected.