natalizumab

Natalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody and a humanized monoclonal antibody inhibitor that selectively targets α4 integrin (CD49d). Natalizumab binds to the α4β1 heterodimer and blocks its interaction with vascular cell adhesion molecule 1. Natalizumab also prevents lymphocytes from entering the central nervous system, thereby preventing acute demyelinating relapses, and is used in the study of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. Natalizumab possesses anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity, inhibiting the adhesion, retention, and transendothelial migration of immune cells, and reducing the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the central nervous system or affected sites. Natalizumab is also being studied for autoimmune or inflammation-related diseases such as B-cell lymphoma and non-infectious uveitis.