Curr Opin Invest Dr
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Alemtuzumab, a lymphocyte-depleting humanized monoclonal antibody, is being developed by Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc and ILEX Oncology for the potential treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) [274580]. The utility of the compound for treating bone marrow (BM) stem cell transplantation-associated graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) [372946] and for ex vivo purging of BM to remove malignant T-cells [244056] is also being investigated. Additional potential therapeutic areas for which clinical trials are planned or ongoing include vasculitis, multiple sclerosis [288762] and organ transplantation [338304]. ⋯ By the end of 1999, Millennium acquired LeukoSite with commitment to pursue development of the compound through the joint venture Millennium & ILEX Partners LP [351523], [370237]. In August 1999, Schering AG and its US affiliate Berlex Laboratories obtained exclusive worldwide marketing rights for alemtuzumab, excluding Japan and East Asia. In the US, Berlex, Millennium and ILEX will divide profits from alemtuzumab sales equally [337702], [338837].