Therapeutic intervention with inhibitors of co-stimulatory pathways in autoimmune disease

Many humanized antibodies and fusion proteins targeting T-cell co-stimulato ry molecules are now in late-stage clinical development (phase II, phase II I) or have recently completed phase III clinical trials. Both Amevive, an L FA-3-Ig fusion protein targeting CD2, and Xanelim, a humanized anti-CD11a a ntibody, have shown efficacy in pivotal phase III trials in patients with p laque psoriasis. These new medicines are poised to enter clinical use in 20 02.