Recombinant polyclonal antibodies: the next generation of antibody therapeutics?

Antibodies have been used as therapeutics in various forms for over a century. Traditional immunoglobulin therapy has the advantage of reflecting the diversity of the natural immune response but has very limited clinical applications. However, over the past ten years more than 30 monoclonal antibodies have been successfully introduced on to the drug market. The monoclonal approach provides the advantage of specificity, but lacks efficacy in the treatment of diseases caused by complex antigens. Recombinant polyclonal antibodies, the third generation of antibody therapeutics, have the ability to tackle complex and highly mutagenic targets, and will undoubtedly offer a promising commercial future.