Antibodies for the treatment of bacterial infections: current experience and future prospects

Antibodies can be used for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections in animal models of disease. Current antibody technology allows the generation of high affinity human/humanized antibodies that can be optimized for antibacterial activity and in vivo biodistribution and pharmacokinetics. Such antibodies have exquisite selectivity for their bacterial target antigen and promise efficacy and safety. Why are there no monoclonal antibody products approved for the treatment or prevention of bacterial infections? Can antibodies succeed where antibiotics are failing? Some antibody therapies are currently being evaluated in clinical trials but several have failed despite positive data in animal disease models. This review will discuss the pros and cons of antibody therapeutics targeted at bacterial infections.