sevirumab

Sevirumab is a human monoclonal IgG1 antibody developed as an antiviral agent targeting cytomegalovirus (CMV). It specifically binds to a conformational epitope on the envelope glycoprotein gH of CMV—a component essential for viral entry into host cells. Sevirumab was originally isolated from spleen cells of a CMV-seropositive individual and has demonstrated the ability to block infection of fibroblasts by both laboratory and clinical strains of CMV in vitro. Clinical development focused on prevention and adjunctive treatment of CMV infections in immunocompromised patients (such as those with AIDS or undergoing stem cell transplantation). Despite initial promise—especially in high-risk transplant populations—clinical trials did not show sufficient efficacy across broader patient groups or for treating established disease such as CMV retinitis in HIV-infected individuals. The drug’s development was ultimately discontinued due to lack of efficacy and evidence suggesting nongenetic viral resistance mechanisms[5][3][8].

Brand names

Protovir

Other names

IMMUNOGLOBULIN G1, ANTI-(CYTOMEGALOVIRUS) (HUMAN MONOCLONAL EV2-7 .GAMMA.1-CHAIN), DISULFIDE WITH HUMAN MONOCLONAL EV2-7 .KAPPA.-CHAIN, DIMER