abstract
- Editorial The clinical use of monoclonal antibodies is transforming human health. Nevertheless, monoclonal antibodies are expensive and their use can be cost-prohibitive, particularly for the long-term treatment of chronic diseases. One alternative approach is vaccination using new, highly immunogenic vaccine technologies that can overcome the immunological mechanisms that normally suppress antibody responses to self. While this class of vaccines raises the specter of autoimmunity, there is increasing evidence that vaccines targeting self-antigens involved in chronic diseases can be safe and effective.