Talizumab
Encyclopedia
Talizumab is a humanize
d monoclonal antibody being developed by Tanox
in Houston, Texas. It was designed to target immunoglobulin E
(or IgE
) and IgE-expressing B lymphocytes specifically, without binding to IgE already bound by the IgE receptors on mast cells and basophils. Talizumab is being tested in clinical trials at National Jewish Medical and Research Center
and other medical centers and allergy clinics across the U. S. Talizumab has been shown to be able to prevent allergic reactions to accidental exposure to peanuts, which is contained in many kinds of foods.
. There was a legal dispute whether Tanox had the right to independently develop talizumab under the tripartite partnership formed by Tanox, Novartis
, and Genentech
in 1996. Trials of talizumab for treating extreme peanut sensitivity, which affect children especially, were mired in legal battles.
antibody
. IgE antibody is the receptor
responsible for allergic reactions and severe asthma attacks. An anti-IgE antibody binds IgE and prevents it from initiating an allergic reaction.
). Omalizumab is an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, which was placed in a development program under a tripartite partnership formed by Tanox, Novartis
, and Genentech in 1996. The problem is that Xolair isn't approved for use in food allergies and talizumab can't be released because Xolair's manufacturer sued Tanox for patent infringement. One could obtain a prescription
for Xolair without it being approved for use in allergies, but most health insurance
will not cover it without FDA approval, meaning it could cost on the order of $1000 a month for a patient.
Recently, talizumab has been shelved by its creator Tanox in exchange for some funding compensation from Genentech and Novartis, and the three companies plan to focus on researching Xolair for use against peanut allergies instead of talizumab. Xolair entered Phase II trials
for use against peanut allergies in July 2004.
Humanize
Humanize may refer to:*Humanize a 2001 album by the British jazz/funk band Big Boss Man*Humanized antibody, a type of monoclonal antibody...
d monoclonal antibody being developed by Tanox
Tanox
Tanox was a biopharmaceutical company based in Houston, Texas. The company was founded by two biomedical research scientists, Nancy T. Chang and Tse Wen Chang in March 1986. Nancy was the President and CEO of the company in its 21 year history, while Tse Wen was responsible for creating most of the...
in Houston, Texas. It was designed to target immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin E is a class of antibody that has been found only in mammals. IgE is a monomeric antibody with 4 Ig-like domains...
(or IgE
IGE
IGE was one of the largest services company buying and selling virtual currencies and accounts for MMORPG. During its peak time, it had offices in Los Angeles, China , and headquarters & customer service centre in Hong Kong. IGE was one of the main monopoly in virtual economy services, also known...
) and IgE-expressing B lymphocytes specifically, without binding to IgE already bound by the IgE receptors on mast cells and basophils. Talizumab is being tested in clinical trials at National Jewish Medical and Research Center
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
National Jewish Health is a research institute located in Denver, Colorado specializing in respiratory, immune and allergic research and treatment. It was founded in 1899 to treat tuberculosis, and is today considered one of the world's best medical research and treatment centers...
and other medical centers and allergy clinics across the U. S. Talizumab has been shown to be able to prevent allergic reactions to accidental exposure to peanuts, which is contained in many kinds of foods.
History
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has "fast-tracked" the drug. A drug is given fast-track status if it meets a medical need not currently being met by any medication. Talizumab was developed by a Houston-based company called TanoxTanox
Tanox was a biopharmaceutical company based in Houston, Texas. The company was founded by two biomedical research scientists, Nancy T. Chang and Tse Wen Chang in March 1986. Nancy was the President and CEO of the company in its 21 year history, while Tse Wen was responsible for creating most of the...
. There was a legal dispute whether Tanox had the right to independently develop talizumab under the tripartite partnership formed by Tanox, Novartis
Novartis
Novartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
, and Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...
in 1996. Trials of talizumab for treating extreme peanut sensitivity, which affect children especially, were mired in legal battles.
Mechanism
Talizumab is an anti-IgEIGE
IGE was one of the largest services company buying and selling virtual currencies and accounts for MMORPG. During its peak time, it had offices in Los Angeles, China , and headquarters & customer service centre in Hong Kong. IGE was one of the main monopoly in virtual economy services, also known...
antibody
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
. IgE antibody is the receptor
Receptor (biochemistry)
In biochemistry, a receptor is a molecule found on the surface of a cell, which receives specific chemical signals from neighbouring cells or the wider environment within an organism...
responsible for allergic reactions and severe asthma attacks. An anti-IgE antibody binds IgE and prevents it from initiating an allergic reaction.
Research
In clinical trials, people who were very allergic to peanuts when they consumed an average of half a peanut were able to consume up to 9 peanuts before they started to have symptoms. Therefore the drug wouldn't cure allergies, but it would prevent reactions from accidental exposure. Note that this study was not done on people allergic enough to die from peanut traces.Similar drugs
Another anti-IgE antibody with identical antigen-binding characteristics is already on the market for allergic asthma, under the name Xolair (omalizumabOmalizumab
Omalizumab is a humanized antibody drug approved for patients with moderate-to-severe or severe allergic asthma, which is caused by hypersensitivity reactions to certain harmless environmental substances...
). Omalizumab is an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, which was placed in a development program under a tripartite partnership formed by Tanox, Novartis
Novartis
Novartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
, and Genentech in 1996. The problem is that Xolair isn't approved for use in food allergies and talizumab can't be released because Xolair's manufacturer sued Tanox for patent infringement. One could obtain a prescription
Medical prescription
A prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other medical practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. Prescriptions may include orders to be performed by a patient, caretaker, nurse, pharmacist or other therapist....
for Xolair without it being approved for use in allergies, but most health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
will not cover it without FDA approval, meaning it could cost on the order of $1000 a month for a patient.
Recently, talizumab has been shelved by its creator Tanox in exchange for some funding compensation from Genentech and Novartis, and the three companies plan to focus on researching Xolair for use against peanut allergies instead of talizumab. Xolair entered Phase II trials
Clinical trial
Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
for use against peanut allergies in July 2004.