Biologic
RCSB PDB 5I5K
Eculizumab
Soliris
- Mechanism of action
- Complement C5 inhibitor (mAb)
- In plain language
- A lab-made antibody that grabs onto complement protein C5, a key player in the immune system's complement cascade, stopping it from being activated in ways that damage cells or fuel harmful inflammation.
- How it works
- Eculizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to complement protein C5, blocking its enzymatic cleavage into C5a and C5b. This prevents generation of the C5b-9 membrane attack complex, the terminal effector of the complement cascade. In paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, this halts complement-mediated destruction of red blood cells; in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, it inhibits complement-driven clotting damage in small blood vessels.
- Therapeutic applications
- FDA-indicated for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, generalized myasthenia gravis in patients 6 and older who are anti-AChR antibody positive, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in adults who are anti-AQP4 antibody positive.
- Class
- Monoclonal antibody
- Therapeutic area
- Hematology / Neurology
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