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Neutralizing Antibodies

Meaning

Neutralizing antibodies are a specific class of antibodies produced by the immune system that possess the capacity to block or ‘neutralize’ the biological effect of a foreign or endogenous substance, such as a virus, toxin, or, critically, a therapeutic protein or hormone. They achieve this action by binding directly to the active site or a critical epitope of the target molecule, sterically preventing it from interacting with its native receptor on the cell surface. In hormonal therapy, their development against an administered peptide or protein can significantly reduce the treatment’s clinical efficacy and necessitate a change in therapeutic strategy.