Researchers ID Disease Fighting Antibody

Researchers ID Disease Fighting Antibody

Researchers have identified the particular antibody that causes the death of harmful cancer cells and those active in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Details of the study, conducted by UAB and Sankyo Co., Ltd., in Tokyo, appeared in the Aug. 1 issue of Nature Medicine.

"One advantage of the antibody is that it selectively targets certain cells, including cancer and harmful immune cells, and destroys them without damaging surrounding healthy cells," says Robert Kimberly, M.D., professor and chair of Clinical Immunology/Rheumatology at UAB. "If we can harness this antibody, known as TRA-8, we may have a more effective treatment for these diseases." Clinical trials are expected to begin within the next year.

Contact Joy Carter, Media Relations, 205-934-1676 or [email protected].

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