Genetics

In the realm of monoclonal antibody therapies for multiple sclerosis, such as natalizumab, the term "humanized" signifies an engineering process where the therapeutic antibody is designed to be more similar to human antibodies. This is a critical step in developing these treatments because fully mouse-derived antibodies (murine mAbs) can be recognized as foreign by the human immune system, potentially leading to the production of human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMAs). The development of HAMAs can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment and may also cause adverse reactions. To mitigate these risks, humanized antibodies are constructed to contain predominantly human antibody sequences, which significantly minimizes the likelihood of triggering an unwanted immune response and enhances their safety and suitability for long-term use in individuals with MS.