monoclonal antibody

American  

noun

Biotechnology.

1. antibody produced by a laboratory-grown cell clone, either of a hybridoma or a virus-transformed lymphocyte, that is more abundant and uniform than natural antibody and is able to bind specifically to a single site on almost any chosen antigen or reveal previously unknown antigen sites: used as an analytic tool in scientific research and medical diagnosis and potentially important in the treatment of certain diseases. MAb

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monoclonal antibody British  

/ ˌmɒnəʊˈkləʊnəl /

noun

1. an antibody, produced by a single clone of cells grown in culture, that is both pure and specific and is capable of proliferating indefinitely to produce unlimited quantities of identical antibodies: used in diagnosis, therapy, and biotechnology

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Etymology

Origin of monoclonal antibody

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

monoclonal antibody

The trial of two potential treatments for Bundibugyo began in the DRC on July 2, and is evaluating the effectiveness of the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir, alone and in combination.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

“Potrivutig, a monoclonal antibody against BK polyomavirus, addresses genuine unmet need in kidney transplant recipients where no approved targeted therapies exist,” they add.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

The drug, Pemgarda, is a monoclonal antibody infusion that can be taken as a preventive measure, before people contract the virus.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 6, 2024

It’s a monoclonal antibody called Pemgarda, which is administered intravenously and can be given once every three months.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2024

All five CAR-T therapies developed by the Zang team used the same novel targeting protein: a monoclonal antibody that binds to B7-H3, a cancer-cell antigen widely expressed on most solid tumors and their blood vessels.

From Science Daily ● May 8, 2024