Immunology Today, vol. 6, No. 7, 1985 in this cellular interaction. M o r e o v e r , Ia + thyrocytes c a n present peptide antigens (synthetic analogues of the influenza virus h e m a g g l u t i n i n ) to influenzaspecific histocompatible T-cell clones. M . Schlesier ( H a n n o v e r ) investigated T-cell clones f r o m synovial fluid of patients with r h e u m a t o i d arthritis a n d detected T l y m p h o c y t e s recognizing autologous cell surface antigens. A n
199 inducer/helper T-cell line, specific for purified h u m a n a n d fish acetycholine receptor a n d restricted to H L A - D R 3 h a s b e e n generated f r o m a patient with m y a s t h e n i a gravis ( R . Hohlfeld, Dusseldoff). F. C e l a d a (Genova) h a s cloned T cells from rejected kidney allografts a n d f o u n d cytotoxic T cells specific for class I M H C gene products o f the d o n o r haplotype. r[']
Monoclonal antibodies in laboratory tests In a recent survey the total immunoassay market in France, Italy, U K and FRG was estimated as $273.4 million in 1983 and forecast to grow at an average rate of 5.88% per year to reach $363.9 million by 1988. The monoclonal antibody reagent market is projected to increase from $10.51 million in 1983 to $96.95 in 1988. The conversion rate to monoclonal antibody based systems by 1988 will be highest at 40% in U K and lowest at 26.5% in FRG due to the more conservative attitudes of German manufacturers. Nevertheless the German monoclonal market, at $34.2 million, will be the largest in Western Europe. Conversion rates in Italy of 30.2% and in France of 26.6% are forecast. These rates compare with an average conversion of 3.8% in 1983 and 5.8% in 1984. Rapid assays will be the fastest growing sector of the monoclonals market (from 10.9% to 15.8%) as a result of the increasing interest in home diagnostics and the forecast widening of the range of tests available. Nonisotopic assays will at the same time grow from 17.4% in 1983 to 24.0%, similar to radioimmunoassays, by 1988. Immunohaematology reagents, largely because of the large production of monoclonal ABO grouping reagents for the British Blood Transfusion Services in U K by Celltech were 41.2 % of all monoclonal reagents in 1983 but will fall to 29.5% by 1988 as other sectors catch up. The conversion rate to monoclonal antibody based isotopic assays is currently only 2.8%, forecast to increase to 18% by 1988. Almost all available monoclonal RIA tests use sandwich assay techniques employing two monoclonals directed at separate epitopes. In competitive binding assays, which constitute the bulk of the RIA market, there is much less advantage in changing from current polyclonal test systems, and this will slow down the rate of change. O n the other hand in the non-isotoplc assay sector, which is expanding at an average 13.5% per year, opportunities for the use of monoclonal antibodies are much greater. The 1984 changeover is already 8.7 % and by 1988 46.4% of all non-isotopic assays will employ monoclonals. Again, solid-phase immunometric assays are currently the most attractive for monoclonal use, and the most notable area where no impact is yet seen is that of therapeutic drug monitoring.
In the immunohaematology sector ABO and rhesus typing - form around 75% of all tests. These are, however, comparatively low cost assays, and the much smaller volume of histocompatibility testing as well as B and T cell snbsetting have an effect on total figures out of proportion to their numbers because of their high cost. 39% of all red-cell testing in U K is now Inade using monoclonal antibody based reagents, increasing to 65.5 % by 1985. In France this will increase to 46 % by that time but in Germany and Italy the conversion rate will be somewhat slower because of the large number of suppliers and varying speeds of progress among them. By 1988 the monoclonal reagent market in immunohaematology is projected to be worth $30.65 million. The rapid assay sector, covering qualitative immunoassay tests giving visual results, shows a 1984 conversion of 12.5% - almost entirely pregnancy testing kits. By 1988 this is forecast to increase to 58 % - $16.4 million out of a total of $28.2 million. Italy, which is Europe's largest rapid test market, will have the highest conversion to monoclonal reagent tests at 70.5%, with France at only 47%. Much of the increase will come from growth in the home test market - both pregnancy and ovulation tests for the 1982-1988 period. All other immune reaction based tests in-
Markey biomedical fellowships Applications are now being accepted for fellowships awarded by The Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust for the academic year beginning on or after 1 July 1986. The fellowships will go to 16 postdoctoral students and consist of annual stipend support of $25,000 or $30,000, a $15,000 research grant prior to faculty appointment, and $200,000 for research over five facnky years. The trust awarded 16 fellowships for the 1985 academic year. The deadline for receiving nominations is 30 September 1985, and selections will be made no later than 15 February 1986. Address correspondence and requests for applications to: The Markey Charitable Trust, Suite 4300, South-east Financial Centre, Miami, Florida 33131, USA.
The proceedings of this workshop will be published in Behring Institute Mitteilungen later this year.
Frank Emmrich is at the Max-Planck-Institutfur Immunbiologie, D-7800 Freiburg, FRG; and St(an Meuer is in theI. Med. Klinik and Poliklinik der Universitat, D-6500 Mainz, FRG.
duding histology, cytology and nephelometric assays are grouped in this dassification. Because the bulk value is in nephelometric antisera and radial immunodlffusion tests for quantitating immunoglobulins and other serum components, the 1984 conversion level to monoclonal reagents was only 3.5%. It is not anticipated that classical immunoglobulin testing will change very rapidly and the projection is for 11% conversion by 1988. With the market for monoclonal antibody based reagents expanding very rapidly, there is potential, says the survey, for isoenzyme, isoprotein and peptide hormone tests; a full line of H L A reagents- perhaps from human/ h u m a n hybridomas; diagnostics for infectious and sexually transmitted diseases; tumonr marker tests and autoimmune disease testing. The most popular immunoassays have been double antibody immunometric assays of various types. Hybritech is taking action in the USA to defend its T A N D E M patents, and the outcome of the first trial case will undoubtedly affect possibilities for the use of double monoclonal antibody systems in the near future. The survey notes that several interesting signal amplification systems, based on enzymatic and fluorescence reactions, are in development and concludes that there will certainly be further developments to come. Monoclonal Antibodies in the European Clinical Laboratory Field is published by Frost and Sullivan Ltd, 104-112 Marylebone Lane, London W 1 M 5FU, and costs $1,950.
Memorial fund to promote immunology in developing countries The May issue oflmmunology Today included an item (p. 145) on the setting up of a fund to promote immunology in less developed countries. The Education Secretary of the British Society for Immunology has asked u~' to emphasise that although the fnnd'~ creation began after the death of Professo: Robert White, the memorial fund will grate fully accept contributions in the name o anyone whom the donor wishes to commemo rate in this way.
199 inducer/helper T-cell line, specific for purified h u m a n a n d fish acetycholine receptor a n d restricted to H L A - D R 3 h a s b e e n generated f r o m a patient with m y a s t h e n i a gravis ( R . Hohlfeld, Dusseldoff). F. C e l a d a (Genova) h a s cloned T cells from rejected kidney allografts a n d f o u n d cytotoxic T cells specific for class I M H C gene products o f the d o n o r haplotype. r[']
Monoclonal antibodies in laboratory tests In a recent survey the total immunoassay market in France, Italy, U K and FRG was estimated as $273.4 million in 1983 and forecast to grow at an average rate of 5.88% per year to reach $363.9 million by 1988. The monoclonal antibody reagent market is projected to increase from $10.51 million in 1983 to $96.95 in 1988. The conversion rate to monoclonal antibody based systems by 1988 will be highest at 40% in U K and lowest at 26.5% in FRG due to the more conservative attitudes of German manufacturers. Nevertheless the German monoclonal market, at $34.2 million, will be the largest in Western Europe. Conversion rates in Italy of 30.2% and in France of 26.6% are forecast. These rates compare with an average conversion of 3.8% in 1983 and 5.8% in 1984. Rapid assays will be the fastest growing sector of the monoclonals market (from 10.9% to 15.8%) as a result of the increasing interest in home diagnostics and the forecast widening of the range of tests available. Nonisotopic assays will at the same time grow from 17.4% in 1983 to 24.0%, similar to radioimmunoassays, by 1988. Immunohaematology reagents, largely because of the large production of monoclonal ABO grouping reagents for the British Blood Transfusion Services in U K by Celltech were 41.2 % of all monoclonal reagents in 1983 but will fall to 29.5% by 1988 as other sectors catch up. The conversion rate to monoclonal antibody based isotopic assays is currently only 2.8%, forecast to increase to 18% by 1988. Almost all available monoclonal RIA tests use sandwich assay techniques employing two monoclonals directed at separate epitopes. In competitive binding assays, which constitute the bulk of the RIA market, there is much less advantage in changing from current polyclonal test systems, and this will slow down the rate of change. O n the other hand in the non-isotoplc assay sector, which is expanding at an average 13.5% per year, opportunities for the use of monoclonal antibodies are much greater. The 1984 changeover is already 8.7 % and by 1988 46.4% of all non-isotopic assays will employ monoclonals. Again, solid-phase immunometric assays are currently the most attractive for monoclonal use, and the most notable area where no impact is yet seen is that of therapeutic drug monitoring.
In the immunohaematology sector ABO and rhesus typing - form around 75% of all tests. These are, however, comparatively low cost assays, and the much smaller volume of histocompatibility testing as well as B and T cell snbsetting have an effect on total figures out of proportion to their numbers because of their high cost. 39% of all red-cell testing in U K is now Inade using monoclonal antibody based reagents, increasing to 65.5 % by 1985. In France this will increase to 46 % by that time but in Germany and Italy the conversion rate will be somewhat slower because of the large number of suppliers and varying speeds of progress among them. By 1988 the monoclonal reagent market in immunohaematology is projected to be worth $30.65 million. The rapid assay sector, covering qualitative immunoassay tests giving visual results, shows a 1984 conversion of 12.5% - almost entirely pregnancy testing kits. By 1988 this is forecast to increase to 58 % - $16.4 million out of a total of $28.2 million. Italy, which is Europe's largest rapid test market, will have the highest conversion to monoclonal reagent tests at 70.5%, with France at only 47%. Much of the increase will come from growth in the home test market - both pregnancy and ovulation tests for the 1982-1988 period. All other immune reaction based tests in-
Markey biomedical fellowships Applications are now being accepted for fellowships awarded by The Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust for the academic year beginning on or after 1 July 1986. The fellowships will go to 16 postdoctoral students and consist of annual stipend support of $25,000 or $30,000, a $15,000 research grant prior to faculty appointment, and $200,000 for research over five facnky years. The trust awarded 16 fellowships for the 1985 academic year. The deadline for receiving nominations is 30 September 1985, and selections will be made no later than 15 February 1986. Address correspondence and requests for applications to: The Markey Charitable Trust, Suite 4300, South-east Financial Centre, Miami, Florida 33131, USA.
The proceedings of this workshop will be published in Behring Institute Mitteilungen later this year.
Frank Emmrich is at the Max-Planck-Institutfur Immunbiologie, D-7800 Freiburg, FRG; and St(an Meuer is in theI. Med. Klinik and Poliklinik der Universitat, D-6500 Mainz, FRG.
duding histology, cytology and nephelometric assays are grouped in this dassification. Because the bulk value is in nephelometric antisera and radial immunodlffusion tests for quantitating immunoglobulins and other serum components, the 1984 conversion level to monoclonal reagents was only 3.5%. It is not anticipated that classical immunoglobulin testing will change very rapidly and the projection is for 11% conversion by 1988. With the market for monoclonal antibody based reagents expanding very rapidly, there is potential, says the survey, for isoenzyme, isoprotein and peptide hormone tests; a full line of H L A reagents- perhaps from human/ h u m a n hybridomas; diagnostics for infectious and sexually transmitted diseases; tumonr marker tests and autoimmune disease testing. The most popular immunoassays have been double antibody immunometric assays of various types. Hybritech is taking action in the USA to defend its T A N D E M patents, and the outcome of the first trial case will undoubtedly affect possibilities for the use of double monoclonal antibody systems in the near future. The survey notes that several interesting signal amplification systems, based on enzymatic and fluorescence reactions, are in development and concludes that there will certainly be further developments to come. Monoclonal Antibodies in the European Clinical Laboratory Field is published by Frost and Sullivan Ltd, 104-112 Marylebone Lane, London W 1 M 5FU, and costs $1,950.
Memorial fund to promote immunology in developing countries The May issue oflmmunology Today included an item (p. 145) on the setting up of a fund to promote immunology in less developed countries. The Education Secretary of the British Society for Immunology has asked u~' to emphasise that although the fnnd'~ creation began after the death of Professo: Robert White, the memorial fund will grate fully accept contributions in the name o anyone whom the donor wishes to commemo rate in this way.
