INHIBITION OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS WITH ANTIBODIES TO IGE

Numerous clinical studies show that direct interference with the IgE r esponse leads to a decrease or elimination of allergic symptoms. The a im of these studies was to design a therapy aimed at decreasing IgE le vels in order to ameliorate atopic disease. To this end, a murine mono clonal antibody, MAE11, directed against IgE was identified, which had all the properties necessary to interfere with IgE responses, but lac ked the harmful side effects of inducing receptor cross-linking. The a ntibody was selected on the basis of its ability to bind circulating I gE at the same site as the high-affinity receptor, thus blocking the b inding of IgE to mast cells and basophils. To allow for possible chron ic administration and to avoid the problems of antigenicity, MAE11 as humanized. The best of several humanized variants, version 25 (rhumAb- E25) was selected since it possessed binding affinity and biological a ctivity comparable to MAE11. Clinical studies are underway to determin e the safety and efficacy of this treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma.