Anti-CD40 Ligand Combats Lupus - Idec Pharmaceuticals Corp.'s IDEC-131 - Product Information

Applied Genetics News, April, 1999

Idec Pharmaceuticals Corp.'s (11011 Torreyana Rd., San Diego, CA 92121; Tel: 619/550-8500, Fax: 619/550-8750) IDEC-131 targets the CD40 ligand (a.k.a. gp39 or CD154) transiently expressed on activated T cells. The CD40 ligand molecules modulate T-cell/B- cell cooperation. By inhibiting this interaction, IDEC-131 may reduce excessive antibody production, restoring a more normal immune response in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions.

In animal models, anti-CD40 ligand antibodies have shown potential to treat immunologic diseases and conditions, including systemic lupus, multiple sclerosis, and transplant rejection. "CD40 ligand may play an important role in the protean manifestations of SLE as reflected in reports of elevated and prolonged expression of CD40 ligand on patients' immune system cells," says Mark Totoritis, senior director, clinical therapeutics at IDEC. IDEC licensed worldwide rights to develop anti CD 40 ligand antibodies in 1995 from Dartmouth College, where Randolph Noelle had demonstrated therapeutic potential using murine antibodies. IDEC subsequently engineered and manufactured IDEC-131, which is a humanized form of a murine anti-CD40 ligand. IDEC is collaborating on the development of IDEC-131 with Eisai Co., Ltd. of Japan, which holds rights to commercialize the antibody in Europe and Asia.