What are the applications of monoclonal antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies have different potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of asthma, cancer, poisoning, autoimmune diseases, substance abuse, viral infection, and septicemia. Monoclonal antibodies are designed to recognize and bind to specific proteins expressed on the surface of cancer cells. This can block signaling pathways, deliver toxic agents directly to cancer cells, or induce immune response against cancer cells. mAbs can also inhibit inflammatory processes through targeting molecules such as TNF that contribute or interleukins that induce autoimmune response. This is useful as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. mAbs have also recently been used to treat viral infections such as Covid-19. These antibodies are also increasingly being used as targeted therapies that block specific molecular pathways (IL-5) in severe asthma. Monoclonal antibodies can also target a particular sepsis biomarker. These antibodies may be useful in the treatment of sepsis by either directly hindering the growth of a pathogen or by immunomodulation. There are also novel monoclonal antibody therapies being designed which bind to methamphetamine with high affinity. They function by binding to the drug in the bloodstream, circulating it away from the brain and instead sending it to the kidney and liver, which allows the body to excrete the drug.