All monoclonal antibody drug names end in “-mab.” That’s a helpful clue—if you’re taking a test with multiple-choice questions, spotting a drug ending in -mab can often help you rule out the wrong answers.
Here’s why that matters:
Antibodies in your immune system are highly specific. They only bind to one thing—kind of like a lock and key. Monoclonal antibodies work the same way.
Because monoclonal antibodies are so specific, they don’t usually cause “off-target” side effects like dry mouth or constipation (which are common with many other medications). Also, most -mabs don’t cause the classic side effects seen with traditional chemotherapy, like severe nausea or bone marrow suppression.
If you’re looking to research or purchase monoclonal antibody online for your lab or clinical research needs, knowing how they work and their specificity can help you make better choices.
What Do the Letters Before “-mab” Mean?
The letters before “-mab” tell you where the antibody came from—mouse, human, or a mix. This is important because the more human the antibody is, the less likely your body is to see it as a threat and react badly to it.
For example, a common antibody like the Mouse gp64 Monoclonal Antibody is fully mouse-derived, so it would have the -o- in its name.
Here’s what the letters mean:
-o- = all mouse
-xi- = chimeric (part mouse, part human)
-zu- = humanized (mostly human)
-u- = fully human
The more mouse in the drug, the higher the chance of an infusion reaction (your body’s immune system reacting strongly).
Infusion Reactions: What They Are and How We Prevent Them?
Even though monoclonal antibodies don’t have many off-target effects, they can cause infusion reactions—especially the ones made partly from mouse proteins.
These reactions happen because your immune system sees the drug as foreign.
To reduce the risk, we take two main steps:
Pre-medication:
Before giving the -mab, we might give medications like:
- Acetaminophen
- An antihistamine (like diphenhydramine or even famotidine, an H2 blocker)
- A steroid (like prednisone)
Slow infusion:
Start the IV drip slowly and gradually increase the rate if the patient is tolerating it well. The first few doses are the riskiest, so they take longer. Over time, the risk goes down, and the infusion can be faster.
How does this help you with research?
Take these two drugs as examples:
Infliximab (Remicade):
It’s chimeric (-xi-), so it has a higher risk of infusion reactions. It must be given by IV in a clinic or hospital with pre-medication and close monitoring. If a test question says it’s given quickly or at home—that’s wrong.
Adalimumab (Humira):
It’s fully human (-u-), so it has a low risk of reactions. Patients can give it to themselves at home without any special pre-treatment.
| Here’s the twist: both drugs target the same thing—TNF-alpha—and treat similar conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease), but how they’re given is completely different because of their source and risk of immune reaction. |
Understanding Monoclonal Antibody Names (Yes, the Names Tell You a Lot!)
Monoclonal antibodies all end in “-mab”, but there’s even more information packed into their names.
If you learn what the parts of the name mean, it can actually help you figure out what the drug does, where it works, and even how it’s given—especially useful if you’re prepping for an exam.
What Comes Before “-mab”?
Let’s break it down:
1. Target Area (what the drug works on)
The letters just before the source tell you where in the body the drug is supposed to work. Here are the most common ones:
- -c(i)- = circulatory system
- -k(i)- = interleukin (inflammatory signals)
- -l(i)- = immune system
- -t(u)- = tumor (cancer)
These letters help you predict what the drug is used for. For example:
- Abciximab has -ci-, so it works in the circulatory system—not for something like Crohn’s disease.
- Basiliximab has -li-, meaning it targets the immune system—it’s used to prevent organ rejection, not treat colon cancer.
2. Source of the Antibody (where it came from)
The next part of the name tells you how “human” the antibody is, which matters for infusion reactions.
- -o- = all mouse
- -xi- = chimeric (part human, part non-human)
- -zu- = humanized (mostly human)
- -u- = fully human
The more human it is, the less likely your immune system will react to it. So:
- Mouse = higher risk of reaction
- Human = lower risk of reaction
What About the First Part of the Name?
That part doesn’t follow any rules—it’s just made to sound nice or unique. So, ignore that when trying to break down the name.
The Takeaway (tl;dr)
All monoclonal antibodies end in “-mab.” Letters before “-mab” tell you:
- Target (what it acts on)
- Source (how much of it is human or animal)
Monoclonal antibodies are very specific, so they don’t usually cause widespread side effects. However, they can cause infusion reactions, especially if they come from non-human sources.
Please note that the information provided is for research use only and not intended for private individuals or personal use. Authorized institutions and businesses may first conduct their own experiments before applying this information.
