| abstract |
Novel bifunctional reagents useful in providing extended in vivo lifetimes of physiologically active agents are provided. The reagents comprise conjugates of a first binding member specific for a target in a mammalian host, such as a toxin, drug of abuse, microbe, autoreactive immune cell, infected or tumourous cell, antigen presenting cell, or the like, joined to a second binding member specific for a long-lived blood component, including cells, such as an erythrocyte, platelet or endothelial cell, and plasma proteins. These conjugates find use by extending the lifetime and availability of the target binding member for coupling the target and the blood component and thereby reducing the concentration free target, modulating the volume of distribution of the target, targeting the target to sites of enhanced immune response, facilitating target clearance from the bloodstream, or extending the stimulation of an immunogen. |