Monoclonal antibodies against viruses and bacteria: a survey of patents.

Antibodies have a long, successful and yet bumpy history of effectiveness against viruses and bacteria. Polyclonal antibodies have a century-old history of being effective against some viruses and bacteria; recently, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have also shown success. The humanized mAb Synagis (palivizumab), which is still the only mAb against a viral disease approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been widely used as a prophylactic measure against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in neonates and immune-compromised individuals. Patents and patent applications in anti-infective monoclonal antibodies reflect to certain degree the advancement of the relevant technologies, the room for improvement, and the potential for commercialization. This article reviews representative monoclonal antibody patents and patent applications that reflect the current state of monoclonal antibody development and its future prospects.