The suffix tells you the source, the syllable before it the target
Expansion
All monoclonal antibodies end in -mab, and the syllables before it are informative.
Source, the syllable immediately before -mab
- -o-mab: fully mouse (murine). Most immunogenic
- -xi-mab: chimeric, part mouse. Rituximab, infliximab
- -zu-mab: humanised. Trastuzumab, bevacizumab
- -u-mab: fully human. Adalimumab, denosumab
Target, the syllable before that
- -tu-: tumour. Trastuzumab, rituximab
- -ci-: circulatory system. Bevacizumab
- -li-: immune system. Adalimumab, natalizumab
- -ne-: nervous system
“Rituximab: mab, chimeric, tumour.” Reading backwards decodes the name.
Other biologic suffixes: -cept for receptor fusion proteins (etanercept, abatacept), -nib for small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (imatinib, erlotinib), and -tinib specifically for kinase inhibitors.
Clinical relevance of the source: murine and chimeric antibodies more often provoke anti-drug antibodies, causing infusion reactions and loss of response over time, which is why concomitant immunosuppression is sometimes used with infliximab.
Class effects to know: anti-TNF agents reactivate tuberculosis and hepatitis B, so both are screened for before starting.