Eculizumab
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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
The immune system has a backup defense called the complement cascade, a chain of proteins that normally helps fight infection. In certain diseases, this cascade turns against the body's own cells. Eculizumab steps in at a critical checkpoint, protein C5, and stops it from being activated, which prevents the cascade from finishing its job of damaging cells.
What it’s used for
Used for a rare blood disorder that destroys red blood cells, a rare kidney condition that causes dangerous clotting in small blood vessels, a form of muscle-weakening autoimmune disease, and a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord.
- Mechanism
- Complement C5 inhibitor (mAb)
- Drug class
- Monoclonal antibody
- Therapeutic area
- Hematology / Neurology