Immunostimulatory monoclonal antibodies became newsworthy when the drug ipilimumab proved effective against metastatic melanoma and was approved for patients by the Food and Drug Administration. They have gone on to develop an engineered anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody (ChiLob7-4), which has now completed phase I trials. It appears that these reagents work primarily by binding to CD40 on antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells, but probably also B cells, and activating them to a level that allows the generation of effective tumour-specific T cells. Often this is achieved without the need for T-cell help, allowing responses in the absence of the rare helper epitopes. Dr White, also part of the Southampton…