Hybridoma / Monoclonal Antibody Technology

Technique for producing a single, defined antibody clone at scale by fusing an antibody-producing B cell with an immortal myeloma cell, yielding a "hybridoma" that indefinitely secretes one antibody of known specificity. Köhler & Milstein, "Continuous cultures of fused cells secreting antibody of predefined specificity" (Nature 256, 495-497, 1975-08-01, OpenAlex W2030522563, 17,229 citations). Köhler and Milstein shared the 1984 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (with Niels Jerne). Builds on, and is a distinct advance over, 19th-century polyclonal serum therapy (von Behring & Kitasato, 1890/1901 Nobel) -- this technique isolates one clone rather than harvesting a natural mixed antibody pool. Directly founded the monoclonal antibody drug class (Humira, Keytruda, Herceptin, Rituxan, Opdivo), now the single largest class of biologic drugs by global sales.