Rheumatology
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To characterize the in vitro binding and effector function properties of CD20-directed small modular immunopharmaceutical (SMIP) 2LM20-4, and to compare its in vivo B-cell depletion activity with the mutated 2LM20-4 P331S [no in vitro complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)] and rituximab in cynomolgus monkeys. ⋯ SMIP 2LM20-4, which binds to a fraction of CD20 molecules as compared with rituximab, has more potent in vitro CDC, and more potent and sustained B-cell depletion activity in cynomolgus monkeys. Our work has considerable clinical relevance since it provides novel insights related to the emerging B-cell depletion therapies in autoimmune diseases.