B

Bispecific antibodies are synthetic antibodies that are highly specific towards two distinct antigens, whereas natural antibodies bind one antigen. They are produced by fusing the genetic blueprints of two distinct antibodies using recombinant and molecular biology technologies. The resulting gene is then expressed in cell culture. Bispecific antibodies are promising candidates for therapeutic uses and as research tools.

Also known as biologics. A class of therapeutics that contains therapeutic medical products that are produced, developed or engineered from biological systems or their biomolecules. The global market size of biotherapeutics is estimated at over 100 billion US dollars and estimated to double until the end of the present decade. Biotherapeutic research stimulates the life sciences, medicine, pharmaceutical sciences and (bio-)process technology, and facilitated the development of numerous first-in-class therapies, having a huge impact on uncounted patients’ lives.

B cells, or B lymphocytes are crucial constituents of the immune system. In humans they are produced from stem cells in the bone marrow of big hollow bones. They produce antibodies which are either attached to their cellular surface or secreted into their surroundings (tissues or plasma). Various subtypes of B cells are known: from short lived plasmablasts that secrete antibodies in early stages of infection to long lived memory cells that remain after a cured infection and trigger a strong immune response upon reactivation.