About Panitumumab

About Panitumumab

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Panitumumab is an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr), a protein that plays an important role in cancer cell signaling. Panitumumab, an IgG2 monoclonal antibody, binds with high affinity to the EGFr. Panitumumab was generated with XenoMouse(R) technology, which creates a fully human monoclonal antibody that contains no murine (mouse) protein. The body's immune system can recognize the mouse protein found in chimeric and humanized antibodies as foreign and launch an immune response in the form of infusion reactions, allergic reactions or anaphylaxis. The goal of developing fully human monoclonal antibodies is to offer effective, high affinity therapies that minimize the potential for this type of immune response.

Panitumumab received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2005 for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have failed standard chemotherapy treatment. It is being evaluated in clinical trials as both a monotherapy and in combination with other agents for the treatment of various types of cancer, including colorectal, lung and head and neck.