Breakthroughs in monoclonal antibody therapies 2024: new horizons in treatment strategies in India

Recent advancements in biotechnology have revolutionized the development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). offering highly targeted therapies with fewer side effects compared to conventional treatments. As of 2024, several mAbs have been approved for import and marketing in India. Notable approvals include enfortumab vedotin for advanced urothelial cancer, nivolumab for metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer, and guselkumab for active psoriatic arthritis. Furthermore, advancements in monoclonal antibody development techniques such as hybridoma technology, genetically engineered monoclonal antibodies, and phage display have resulted in the creation of highly specific antibodies. Enfortumab vedotin, for example, is an antibodydrug conjugate developed using hybridoma technology, while nivolumab is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody engineered thr ough genetic modifications. This review highlights the role of monoclonal antibodies in transforming therapeutic strategies an d examines the key developments in their approval and clinical use in India.