CHIMERIC CD4 MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY CM-T412 AS A THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TORHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective. To investigate the effects of chimeric CD4 monoclonal antib ody cM-T412 treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Meth ods. Thirty-two RA patients received daily doses of 10, 50, or 100 mg of cM-T412 intravenously for 7 days. Results. There was a sustained de crease in the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes in all patients. Those who received 50 mg and 100 mg of the antibody experienced significant redu ctions in disease activity. Conclusion. Treatment with cM-T412 appears to have a dose-dependent beneficial effect in RA patients. The clinic al effects of cM-T412 are independent of the depressed numbers of circ ulating CD4+ T cells.