what are monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are laboratory-produced molecules that mimic the immune systems ability to fight off harmful pathogens. They are designed to target specific antigens, such as those found on cancer cells, and can be used to treat various diseases, including cancer. Monoclonal antibodies can be made from mouse proteins (murine), a combination of mouse and human proteins (chimeric), human proteins (humanized), or entirely from human proteins (fully human). These antibodies can be used as targeted therapy, where they specifically target a protein on a cancer cell, or as immunotherapy, where they help the immune system respond better to cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies can be administered as IV solutions and are more targeted than some other types of treatments, making them successful in treating certain diseases.