immunogenicity

immunogenicity

Immunogenicity is the tendency of a substance to trigger an immune response in the body. That response can include immediate inflammation, the production of antibodies, or activation of immune cells that recognize and attack the foreign material. Everything from vaccines and therapeutic proteins to gene delivery vehicles and implanted materials can have some level of immunogenicity. When a treatment is highly immunogenic, the immune system can neutralize it, degrade it, or cause harmful side effects that limit effectiveness. Pre-existing immunity, such as antibodies from prior infections or exposures, can also block a treatment before it has a chance to work. Managing this issue is a major part of developing safe and reliable biologic and gene-based medicines. Strategies include modifying therapeutic molecules to be less visible to the immune system, screening patients for pre-existing antibodies, using temporary immune suppression, or changing how and where a treatment is delivered. Regulators and doctors pay close attention to immunogenicity because it affects patient safety, how well a therapy works over time, and whether repeat dosing is possible. Understanding and controlling immune responses can mean the difference between a treatment that offers long-lasting benefit and one that fails or causes harm. Ultimately, balancing a useful immune reaction (as in vaccines) versus unwanted reactions is central to modern medicine and drug design.