efalizumab

Efalizumab is a humanized IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody that targets the CD11a subunit of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) on leukocytes. By binding to CD11a, it inhibits the interaction between LFA-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), thereby blocking leukocyte adhesion, activation, and migration into tissues. This immunosuppressive mechanism was used to treat adults with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis who were candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Efalizumab was developed by Genentech and Merck Serono and marketed under the brand name Raptiva. It was withdrawn from global markets in 2009 due to an increased risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare but serious brain infection[5][7][8].

Brand names

Raptiva

Other names

anti-CD11a monoclonal antibodyanti-CD-11a monoclonal antibodyanti-CD 11a monoclonal antibody