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Active ingredient: Alemtuzumab - Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data

Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data

Drug Category

  • Antineoplastic Agents

Dosage Forms

  • Not Available

Brands / Synonyms

Campath; Campath (ILEX Pharmaceuticals LP)

Description

Humanized monoclonal antibody specific to lymphocyte antigens. It is a recombinant DNA-derived humanized monoclonal antibody (Campath-1H) that is directed against the 21-28 kD cell surface glycoprotein,CD52. The Campath-1H antibody is an IgG1 kappa with human variable framework and constant regions, and complementarity-determining regions from a murine (rat) monoclonal antibody (Campath-1G). Campath is produced in mammalian cell (Chinese hamster ovary) suspension culture in a medium containing neomycin.

Indications

For treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Pharmacology

Campath is used to treat leukemia by exploiting antibody mediated lysis of CD52 presenting cells. The CD52 antigen is a cell surface protein found on essentially all B and T lymphocytes, a majority of monocytes, macrophages and most granulocytes. The CD52 antigen is not present on erythrocytes or hematopoetic stem cells. In leukemia there is an excess of B and T cells, so Campath permits selective reduction of lymphocyte populations.

Mechanism of Action

Campath binds to the CD52 antigen present on most B and T lymphocytes. This binding leads to antibody-dependent lysis of leukemic cells.

Absorption

Not Available

Toxicity

Not Available

Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism

Most likely removed by opsonization via the reticuloendothelial system when bound to B or T lymphocytes

Contraindications

Not Available

Drug Interactions

Not Available

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