HGS has acquired rights to a variety of human antibody technologies. We have integrated these technologies into our research and development program, and continue to collaborate with a number of antibody companies.

Many medical conditions are the result of an excess of a specific protein in the body, and some antibody drugs can inactivate such proteins and bring therapeutic benefits to patients. These drugs are known as antagonistic antibodies. For example, BENLYSTA® (belimumab), which in March 2011 became the first new approved drug for systemic lupus in more than fifty years, is an antagonistic human monoclonal antibody.

In certain medical conditions, it may be desirable to stimulate a specific biological activity. Antibodies that stimulate biological activity are known as agonistic antibodies. Mapatumumab is an excellent example. Binding of mapatumumab to TRAIL receptor 1 triggers programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells. We believe that mapatumumab is the first human agonistic monoclonal antibody to enter clinical trials.