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A bispecific monoclonal antibody (bsMAb, bsAb) is an artificial protein that can simultaneously bind to two different types of antigen. BsMab can be manufactured in several structural formats, and current applications have been explored for cancer immunotherapy and drug delivery.

Structural formats and manufacturing methods

There are many formats of bsMab, but the two main categories are IgG-like and non-IgG-like. The main types of manufacturing methods are quadromas, chemical conjugation, and genetic recombination, and each method results in a unique format.

IgG-like

The "knobs into holes" approach for manufacturing IgG-like bsMabs is shown on the left, while a diagram depicting the DVD-Ig format is on the right. The red dot indicates a possible site for introducing mutations in the heavy chain. Blue and yellow correspond to separate monoclonal antibodies.

This format retains the traditional monoclonal antibody (mAb) structure of two Fab arms and one Fc region, except the two Fab sites bind different antigens. The most common types are called trifunctional antibodies, as they have three unique binding sites on the antibody: the two Fab regions, and the Fc region. Each heavy and light chain pair is from a unique mAb. The Fc region made from the two heavy chains forms the third binding site. These bsMabs are often manufactured with the quadroma, or the hybrid hybridoma, method.

However, the quadroma method relies on random chance to form usable bsMabs, and can be inefficient. Another method for manufacturing IgG-like bsMabs is called "knobs into holes," and relies on introducing a mutation for a large amino acid in the heavy chain from one mAb, and a mutation for a small amino acid in the other mAb's heavy chain. This allows the target heavy chains (and their corresponding light chains) to fit together better, and makes bsMab production more reliable.

Another type of IgG-like bsMab is known as dual variable domain immunoglobulin (DVD-Ig). The "dual variable domain" refers to how these bsMabs have two antigen binding sites on each Fab region. This format bypasses the heavy chain pairing difficulties seen in the quadroma and "knobs into holes" methods, but could interfere with the binding of the interior variable domains.

Non IgG-like or scFv-based

There are other bsMabs that lack an Fc region entirely. These include chemically linked Fabs, consisting of only the Fab regions, and various types of bivalent and trivalent single-chain variable fragments (scFvs). There are also fusion proteins mimicking the variable domains of two antibodies. The furthest developed of these newer formats are the bi-specific T-cell engagers (BiTEs).

Mechanism of action

The binding of a bsMab to its target antigens can lead to a variety of effects. The most widely used application of this approach is in cancer immunotherapy, where bsMAbs are engineered to simultaneously bind a cytotoxic cell and a target like a tumour cell to be destroyed. Catumaxomab, one of the first trifunctional antibodies approved for therapeutic use, binds both CD3 on cytotoxic T cells and EpCAM on many human adenocarcinomas. The Fc region additionally binds to a cell that expresses Fc receptors, like a macrophage, natural killer cell or dendritic cell. Since the Fc region is still intact, this allows for the bsMab to trigger common immune responses when recognized by an Fc receptor, such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity or complement-dependent cytotoxicity.

In work with Ebolavirus vaccines, a study has shown that a DVD-Ig antibody can be used to prevent viral escape from the endosome. Ebolaviruses infect cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Researchers developed DVD-Igs where the outer variable regions bind to the surface glycoproteins of the viral coat and enter the cell with the virus. These outer regions are cleaved in the viral endosome, revealing the inner variable regions that then bind to both the virus and internal receptors in the endosome. Blocking the interaction between the virus and endosomal proteins prevents viral escape from the endosome and further infection.

Advantages over ordinary monoclonal antibodies

Cancer immunotherapy with ordinary monoclonal antibodies does not activate T-lymphocytes because the Fab regions are already used for binding the tumour cells, and this type of cell does not have Fc receptors. Bispecific antibodies also have a higher cytotoxic potential, and bind to antigens that are expressed relatively weakly. The effective dose is around 0.01 mg·m⁻²·d⁻¹ (milligrams per square metre body surface area per day), several orders of magnitude lower than with ordinary antibodies. For non-IgG-like bsMabs, their smaller size allows them to reach antigens usually unavailable to conventional antibodies. In the case of Ebola vaccines, this method allows the antibody to target intracellular targets not usually accessible by traditional monoclonal antibody treatments.

Additionally, targeting more than one molecule can be useful to circumvent the regulation of parallel pathways and avoid resistance to the treatment. Binding or blocking multiple targets in a pathway can be beneficial to stopping disease, as most conditions have complicated multifactorial effects throughout the body.

Problems and Current Disadvantages

IgG-like antibodies can be immunogenic, which means the Fc region could cause detrimental downstream immune responses caused by cells expressing Fc receptors. The smaller non-IgG-like types tend to have a shorter half-life than conventional antibodies, but techniques have been developed to help these antibodies last longer in the blood and avoid breakdown. The therapeutic use of bsMabs as a whole is still largely in development, with many clinical trials currently ongoing that are determining the efficacy and safety of bsMabs for treatment.