ANTI-CCR2 ANTIBODY DEPLETES MONOCYTES TO TREAT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

摘要

The present application provides a new possibility of treatment for multiplesclerosisand/or rheumatoid arthritis. The application relates to a monoclonal antibodywhichspecifically binds to the human chemokine receptor CCR2 and depletes humanCCR2-expressing monocytes, for use for depletion of CCR2-expressing monocytes inperipheral blood in the treatment of a human subject suffering from multiplesclerosisand/or rheumatoid arthritis; and the use of such an antibody for themanufacture of amedicament for the treatment of a human subject suffering from multiplesclerosisand/or rheumatoid arthritis. Whereas anti-CD14 antibodies target macrophagesingeneral, the anti-CCR2-antibody of the present application specifically bindsanddepletes the subset of inflammatory monocytes. CCR2 is also known under thenamehuman monocyte chemoattractant protein-I receptor gene.