Monoclonal antibody | |
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Type | Whole antibody |
Source | Humanized (from mouse) |
Target | beta-amyloid (Aβ) |
Clinical data | |
ATC code |
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Identifiers | |
CAS Number | |
ChemSpider |
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UNII | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.133.214 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C6466H10018N1734O2026S44 |
Molar mass | 145874.02 g·mol−1 |
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Bapineuzumab (nicknamed "bapi")[1] is a humanized monoclonal antibody that acts on the nervous system and may have potential therapeutic value for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and possibly glaucoma.[2] However, in 2012 it failed to produce significant cognitive improvements in patients in two major trials, despite lowering key biomarkers of AD, amyloid brain plaque and hyperphosphorylated tau protein in CSF.[3][4]
Bapineuzumab has been shown to recognise the extreme N-terminal 5 residues of Aβ peptide in a helical conformation (4HIX.pdb) stabilized by internal hydrogen bonds involving the first three amino acids.[5]
Bapineuzumab is an antibody to the beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques that are believed to underlie Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. In previous clinical trials for vaccination against human beta amyloid, called AN-1792, patients with Alzheimer's disease using active immunization had positive outcomes with removal of plaques, but 6% of subjects developed aseptic meningitis and the trial was stopped.[6]
The vigour of international research on immunotherapy for AD provides significant hope for a strong therapeutic lead for the escalating number of individuals who will develop this otherwise incurable condition.