313. DERM DRUGS: Monoclonal antibodies

This is the last installment in our series of DERM DRUGS. Monoclonal antibodies are becoming an important tool in veterinary dermatology — but what are they, and how do they actually work?

In this episode, we break down monoclonal antibody therapy in practical terms. We explain how these targeted treatments are designed to recognize and block specific molecules in the immune system, helping reduce itch in allergic dogs without broadly suppressing immunity.

We discuss commonly used products like Cytopoint which targets IL-31, a key cytokine involved in pruritus. We also introduce the announcement of an upcoming (not yet released) product called Befrena, another monoclonal antibody therapy, and what we know about this therapy today.

00:00 – Intro
02:07 – What is a Monoclonal Antibody
03:18 – Cytopoint Basics
05:35 – Potential Side-Effects
06:33 – Befrena Basics
08:44 – Overview
09:22 – Outro