Testing antibody therapies

In March 2006, six volunteers taking part in a phase I clinical trial of a monoclonal antibody, TGN1412, experienced severe adverse events. As part of the Academy's on-going work into the research and development of new medicines, a small working group was convened to discuss some of the broad questions and issues arising from the TGN1412 trial. The project was completed within three months; an example of the Academy responding rapidly to an issue of national importance.   

Professor Patrick Vallance FMedSci (Chair)
Head, Division of Medicine, University College London

Professor Richard Begent FMedSci
Professor of Clinical Oncology, Royal Free & University College Medical School

Professor Ray Hill FMedSci
Executive Director, Licensing and External Research, Neuroscience Research
Centre, Merck Sharp and Dohme

Dr David Jayne
Division of Renal Medicine, University of Cambridge

Sir Ravinder Maini FMedSci
Emeritus Professor of Rheumatology, Imperial College School of Medicine

Dr Anne O’Garra FMedSci
Head of Immunoregulation, National Institute for Medical Research

Professor Herman Waldmann FRS FMedSci
Head of Department, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford

• Consider the potential role of antibody therapies as treatments;
• Identify potential safety hazards unique to the assessment of antibody therapies;
• Provide a framework for further steps to ensure the safe introduction of new antibody therapies.