Pexelizumab

Pexelizumab is a monoclonal antibody that was developed for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. It was designed to inhibit the complement system, a part of the immune system that enhances the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear microbes and damaged cells from an organism, promote inflammation, and attack the pathogen's cell membrane.

History

Pexelizumab was developed by Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Procter & Gamble. In 2005, the drug was in phase III clinical trials for use during CABG surgery and acute myocardial infarction. However, in 2007, the companies announced that they were discontinuing the development of Pexelizumab after it failed to meet the primary endpoint in a phase III trial.

Mechanism of Action

Pexelizumab works by binding to the C5 protein in the complement system, preventing it from splitting into C5a and C5b. This action inhibits the formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC), which is responsible for cell lysis in the complement system.

Clinical Trials

In clinical trials, Pexelizumab was shown to reduce the risk of death and heart attacks in patients undergoing CABG surgery. However, it did not meet the primary endpoint in a phase III trial for acute myocardial infarction, leading to the discontinuation of its development.

Potential Uses

Despite the discontinuation of its development, Pexelizumab has potential uses in other areas. Its ability to inhibit the complement system could make it useful in treating conditions such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare and life-threatening blood disease, and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a disease that causes abnormal blood clots to form in small blood vessels in the kidneys.

See Also

• Monoclonal antibodies
• Complement system
• Coronary artery bypass graft
• Acute myocardial infarction

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