Transgene Biotek Limited

Multiple myeloma (also known as myeloma or plasma cell myeloma) is a progressive hematologic (blood) disease. It is a cancer of the plasma cell, an important part of the immune system that produces immunoglobulins (antibodies) to help fight infection and disease. Multiple myeloma is characterized by excessive numbers of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow and overproduction of intact monoclonal immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgD, or IgE) or Bence-Jones protein (free monoclonal κ and λ light chains). Hypercalcemia, anemia, renal damage, increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, and impaired production of normal immunoglobulin are common clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma. It is often also characterized by diffuse osteoporosis, usually in the pelvis, spine, ribs, and skull.

Cells destined to become immune cells, like all blood cells, arise in the bone marrow from stem cells. Some stem cells develop into the small white blood cells called lymphocytes. The two major classes of lymphocytes are B cells (B lymphocytes) and T cells (T lymphocytes).

Plasma cells develop from B cells when foreign substances (antigens), such as bacteria, enter the body. In response to invasion by foreign substances, groups of plasma cells produce proteins called immunoglobulins (Ig), also known as antibodies that help fight disease and infection. Each plasma cell develops in response to a particular foreign substance within the body, and it produces immunoglobulins specific to that substance. Thus, there are many different immunoglobulins produced in the body.

It is normal for plasma cells to develop from B cells in lymph nodes as an immune response to disease or infection. Transformation of a normal B cell into a malignant plasma cell involves a multi-step process that includes multiple genetic abnormalities. Finally, the resulting plasma cells become malignant, meaning they continue to divide unchecked, generating more malignant plasma cells. These myeloma cells travel through the bloodstream and collect in the bone marrow, where they cause permanent damage to healthy tissue. As tumors grow, they invade the hard outer part of the bone, the solid tissue. In most cases, the myeloma cells spread into the cavities of all the large bones of the body, forming multiple small lesions. This is why the disease is known as "multiple" myeloma.

Drug development at Transgene against Multiple Myeloma using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) approach