Human IL-5 Monoclonal Antibody

Mepolizumab is a humanized IgG1 k anti-IL5 monoclonal antibody. IL-5 is a key cytokine required for the maturation, activation, proliferation and survival of eosinophils making it an ideal target for therapeutic management of eosinophil levels in respiratory indications. Mechanistically, mepolizumab exerts its therapeutic function as an IL-5 antagonist to reduce eosinophil levels in the blood. IL-5 is 134-amino acid 52 kDa homodimeric protein with a four-helix domain. Mepolizumab specifically binds to the alpha -chain of IL-5, resulting in two IL-5 dimers being cross-linked by two molecules of mepolizumab. The highly specific binding of mepolizumab to IL-15 blocks ligation to IL-5Aa receptor. The biologic is primarily used for the management of moderate to severe asthma.