Antibody Therapy as Alternative to Antibiotics

Abstract

In the 1890s, Behring and Kitasato established the principle of serum therapy, which proved useful in treating infectious diseases. However, by the 1940s, serum therapy was abandoned mainly due to complications associated with the toxicity of heterologous sera and the introduction of more effective antibiotics. Although the availability of antibiotics had a tremendous impact on saving lives from infectious diseases, there was a rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance. As a result, an alternative therapy is being given due consideration. With the advent of antibody production technology, antibody therapy has gained interest as a promising treatment for emerging infectious diseases. Some monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) had already been approved for the treatment of certain infectious diseases. Many mAb candidates are currently in different phases of clinical testing for a variety of infectious pathogens. There is hope that antibody therapy may appear as a promising treatment option against infectious diseases in the near future.

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