Fusion Protein Technologies for Biopharmaceuticals: Applications and Challenges

The state of the art in biopharmaceutical FUSION PROTEINDESIGN

Fusion proteins belong to the most lucrative biotechdrugs--with Enbrel(R) being one of the best-sellingbiologics worldwide. Enbrel(R) represents a milestone of moderntherapies just as Humulin(R), the first therapeutic recombinantprotein for human use, approved by the FDA in 1982 andOrthoclone(R) the first monoclonal antibody reaching the marketin 1986. These first generation molecules were soon followed by aplethora of recombinant copies of natural human proteins, and in1998, the first de novo designed fusion protein was launched.

Fusion Protein Technologies for Biopharmaceuticalsexamines the state of the art in developing fusion proteins forbiopharmaceuticals, shedding light on the immense potentialinherent in fusion protein design and functionality. A widepantheon of international scientists and researchers deliver acomprehensive and complete overview of therapeutic fusion proteins, combining the success stories of marketed drugs with the dynamicpreclinical and clinical research into novel drugs designed for asyet unmet medical needs.

The book covers the major types of fusionproteins--receptor-traps, immunotoxins, Fc-fusions andpeptibodies--while also detailing the approaches fordeveloping, delivering, and improving the stability of fusionproteins. The main body of the book contains three large sectionsthat address issues key to this specialty: strategies for extendingthe plasma half life, the design of toxic proteins, and utilizingfusion proteins for ultra specific targeting. The book concludeswith novel concepts in this field, including examples of highlyrelevant multifunctional antibodies.

Detailing the innovative science, commercial realities, andbrilliant potential of fusion protein therapeutics, FusionProtein Technologies for Biopharmaceuticals is a must forpharmaceutical scientists, biochemists, medicinal chemists, molecular biologists, pharmacologists, and genetic engineersinterested in determining the shape of innovation in the world ofbiopharmaceuticals.