Cytokines are cell-signaling proteins that orchestrate immune responses. While they play a pivotal role in regulating immune function, their clinical application as standalone therapeutics has been marred by significant limitations. Traditional cytokine therapies can trigger widespread immune activation, leading to off-target toxicities and limiting their efficacy. This inherent lack of specificity has underscored the need for innovative approaches that harness cytokine potential without unleashing indiscriminate immune responses.
One of the most promising aspects of cytokine-antibody fusion proteins is their potential to mitigate the widespread toxicity associated with traditional cytokine therapies. By delivering cytokine signals exclusively to target immune cells, the risk of systemic immune activation and consequent off-target damage is greatly minimized. This paradigm shift has profound implications for patient safety, enabling higher doses of cytokines to be used for enhanced therapeutic efficacy without compromising well-being.
