Sponsored by Abbott Laboratories, Inc. Therapeutic antibodies have become important components of standard care in some areas of clinical practice, but lag behind in others. What can be learned from prior successes and failures of antibody drug development? Interdisciplinary discussions spanning immunobiology, protein engineering, bioprocess development, pharmacokinetics, and clinical medicine for neurological disease, infectious diseases, immunological diseases, and cancer should help identify crosscutting themes and general approaches.

Upon completion of this meeting, participants should be able to

• summarize and discuss the latest findings of basic B-cell, complement and Fc receptor biology and assess these findings for mechanisms critical to current antibody therapy efficacy as well as possible associated side effects;
• consider the role of manufacturing in commercial therapeutic antibody R&D;
• determine which “real life” medical needs remain to be addressed by the basic, antibody technology and drug discovery scientists;
• summarize the experience of therapeutic antibody use in a variety of clinical disciplines.