Atacicept

• CAS Number: 845264-92-8

Atacicept is an experimental drug that is being developed for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Atacicept is a recombinant fusion protein, and binds the inflammation -inducing cytokine BAFF and APRIL regulate the maturation and survival of B lymphocytes.

Structure

Atacicept ( other name: TACI -Ig) consists of the extracellular portion of the TACI receptor ( TACI as an abbreviation of Transmembrane Activator and CAML - interactor ), which was coupled to the Fc fragment of human immunoglobulin G. Atacicept has a molar mass of approximately 71 kDa.

Mechanism of action

The TACI receptor is located on the B- lymphocytes (in short: B- cells). Certain cytokines, namely BAFF (B cell activating factor ) and APRIL (A Proliferation - Inducing Ligand ) bind to the receptors TACI and promote maturation, development and survival of B lymphocytes. Atacicept binds BAFF and APRIL, so that they can no longer act on the B- lymphocytes. B-lymphocytes are involved in, inter alia, by the formation of auto-antibodies on the development of specific autoimmune diseases.

Atacicept is not approved, but is currently being investigated in studies for various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis .. The developments for multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis have been closed as increased disease activity was observed in a phase II study.