Cited by 250Immunotoxicology and immune responsesMonoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies ResearchAnimal testing and alternatives

Safety and immunotoxicity assessment of immunomodulatory monoclonal antibodies

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Brennan, Frank R., Morton, Laura Dill, Spindeldreher, Sebastian, Kiessling, Andrea, Allenspach, Roy, Hey, Adam, Müller, Patrick, Frings, Werner +1 more·2010·mAbs

Abstract

Most therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) licensed for human use or in clinical development are indicated for treatment of patients with cancer and inflammatory/autoimmune disease and as such, are designed to directly interact with the immune system. A major hurdle for the development and early clinical investigation of many of these immunomodulatory mAbs is their inherent risk for adverse immune-mediated drug reactions in humans such as infusion reactions, cytokine storms, immunosuppression and autoimmunity. A thorough understanding of the immunopharmacology of a mAb in humans and animals is required to both anticipate the clinical risk of adverse immunotoxicological events and to select a safe starting dose for first-in-human (FIH) clinical studies. This review summarizes the most common adverse immunotoxicological events occurring in humans with immunomodulatory mAbs and outlines non-clinical strategies to define their immunopharmacology and assess their immunotoxic potential, as well as reduce the risk of immunotoxicity through rational mAb design. Tests to assess the relative risk of mAb candidates for cytokine release syndrome, innate immune system (dendritic cell) activation and immunogenicity in humans are also described. The importance of selecting a relevant and sensitive toxicity species for human safety assessment in which the immunopharmacology of the mAb is similar to that expected in humans is highlighted, as is the importance of understanding the limitations of the species selected for human safety assessment and supplementation of in vivo safety assessment with appropriate in vitro human assays. A tiered approach to assess effects on immune status, immune function and risk of infection and cancer, governed by the mechanism of action and structural features of the mAb, is described. Finally, the use of immunopharmacology and immunotoxicity data in determining a minimum anticipated biologic effect Level (MABEL) and in the selection of safe human starting dose is discussed.

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  1. Braud VM, McMichael AJ, Cerundolo V. Differential processing of influenza nucleoprotein in human and mouse cells. Eur J Immunol 1998; 28:625-35.
  2. Bugelski PJ. Cytokine Release Syndrome: Strategy for a Primary Screen. Slide Presentation, FDA Immunotoxicology Symposium, Cytokine Release: What Does It Mean? 2008.
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Authors
Brennan, F. R., Morton, L. D., Spindeldreher, S., Kiessling, A., Allenspach, R., Hey, A., Müller, P., Frings, W., & Sims, J.
Affiliations
Novartis (Switzerland) (CH)
Corresponding author
Brennan, Frank R.
Venue
mAbs
Published
2010-05
Volume
2
Issue
3
Pages
233-255
ISSN
  • 1942-0862 (ISSN-L)
  • 1942-0870
OpenAlex
W2044692977
Cited by
250
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 14
FWCI
1.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • mAbs (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotoxicology and immune responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal testing and alternatives
Keywords
immunotoxicity, immunopharmacology, cytokine release syndrome, dendritic cell activation, immunogenicity, first-in-human dose selection, immune-related adverse events
MeSH terms
Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Autoimmune Diseases, Clinical Trials as Topic, Dendritic Cells, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Humans, Immune System, Neoplasms, Cytokines, Guidelines as Topic, Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

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