TGN1412 is an anti-inflammatory drug designed to treat conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, leukaemia and multiple sclerosis. ... TGN1412 is a new type of monoclonal antibody which stimulates certain types of cells in the immune system. The drug was being developed by the German biotech company TeGenero.

What went wrong in TGN1412?

It is likely that activation of CD4+ effector memory T-cells by TGN1412 was responsible for the cytokine storm. Lack of CD28 expression on the CD4+ effector memory T-cells of species used for pre-clinical safety testing of TGN1412 offers an explanation for the failure to predict a 'cytokine storm' in humans.

What is TGN1412 and why is it important?

TGN1412 promotes T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, resistance to apoptosis, and expansion of the T-cell population. In preclinical rodent models with murine homologs, FcγR cross-linking of the epitope on the CD28 molecule led to expansion of Treg cells; with beneficial effects.