ICH5635 is a research-grade, unconjugated recombinant analog of the anti-PD-L1 antibody lesabelimab, built as a human IgG1-kappa reproduction of the originator's binding specificity against human PD-L1 (CD274). It is a non-therapeutic biosimilar intended strictly for research use only, not for human or veterinary use, and it is not the clinical drug. The molecule is useful for laboratory work where a well-characterized, consistent anti-PD-L1 reagent is needed: as a positive or reference control in checkpoint-blockade assays, for benchmarking novel anti-PD-L1 candidates, for studying PD-L1/PD-1 and PD-L1/B7-1 interactions, for ligand-blocking and neutralization experiments, and for supporting ADCC or antibody-drug-conjugate development workflows. Because it is supplied unconjugated, it can be labeled or formatted by the end user. It is manufactured to low-endotoxin specifications (research grade below 1 EU/mg; ultra-low grade below 0.5 EU/mg) and offered in bulk milligram-to-gram quantities suitable for in-vitro assays, cell-based systems, and preclinical model standards, giving researchers lot consistency at a scale useful for larger studies.
PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1), encoded by CD274 and also called B7-H1, is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein of the B7 immunoglobulin superfamily. It is expressed on many cell types including antigen-presenting cells, epithelial and endothelial cells, and is frequently upregulated on tumor cells, often driven by interferon-gamma in the tumor microenvironment. PD-L1 engages the inhibitory receptor PD-1 (PDCD1) on activated T cells, delivering a co-inhibitory signal that dampens T-cell receptor signaling, cytokine production, and proliferation. It also binds B7-1 (CD80). Through these interactions PD-L1 contributes to peripheral tolerance and immune homeostasis, but tumors exploit the PD-L1/PD-1 axis to evade cytotoxic T-cell responses. Antibodies that block PD-L1 can relieve this suppression and restore antitumor immunity, which is why the axis is a central target in cancer immunotherapy research.