Technological advancement in the development of monoclonal antibody therapies: Present, past, and future

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been a key player in the field of biopharmaceuticals for an extended period of time, especially in terms of approval and sales, and this dominance is expected to persist. In terms of a single product, mAb-based drugs are the most lucrative class of drugs, making them four of the top ten best-selling medications in terms of both revenue and market shares in 2022. It is estimated that by 2028, mAbs will be worth USD 420–460 billion. The therapeutic potential of mAbs has been recognized through hybridoma technology that was developed in the mid-1970s. Multiple approaches can currently be employed to generate chimeric, humanized, and fully human mAbs. These mAbs represent the cutting edge of biomedical research and offer excellent treatment options for a variety of disorders, such as severe asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, infectious diseases, and some types of cancers. Therefore, in this review article, insights regarding one of the fastest-growing biopharmaceutical categories, that is, therapeutic mAb products, and technological advancements in the production of mAbs by different in vitro technologies were discussed. In addition, the study provides a comprehensive overview of the authorized mAbs now available in the market, together with their specific targets, forms, and allowed applications.