This product is an unconjugated, non-therapeutic recombinant analog of the anti-PD-1 antibody penpulimab, supplied for research use only. It is built around the human PD-1 (PDCD1) target and reproduces the antigen-binding specificity of the originator drug, allowing researchers to study PD-1 engagement, ligand blockade, and checkpoint biology without using clinical material. The molecule is formatted as a human IgG1 carrying L234A/L235A/G237A substitutions, an effector-attenuated ("silenced") Fc that minimises FcgammaR-mediated ADCC/ADCP and complement engagement, so activity in assays reflects PD-1 blockade rather than Fc effector function. It is useful as a positive control and reference reagent in binding, competition, and neutralisation assays, in receptor-occupancy and epitope work, in ADC or bispecific development pipelines, and in in-vitro and preclinical model systems. Manufactured as a low-endotoxin, RUO-grade protein and available in bulk milligram-to-gram quantities to support screening, assay standardisation, and process development. This is not the clinical drug and is not intended for human or veterinary use.
PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1; gene PDCD1, UniProt Q15116) is a type I transmembrane co-inhibitory receptor of the CD28/immunoglobulin superfamily, expressed on activated T cells, B cells, NK cells, and some myeloid populations. Its cytoplasmic tail contains an ITIM and an ITSM that, upon ligation, recruit the phosphatase SHP-2 to dephosphorylate proximal TCR and CD28 signalling components, dampening T-cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine production. PD-1 has two ligands, PD-L1 (CD274) and PD-L2 (PDCD1LG2), commonly upregulated in the tumour microenvironment and in chronic infection. Sustained PD-1/PD-L1 signalling drives T-cell exhaustion and peripheral tolerance. Antibodies that block the PD-1/PD-L1 axis relieve this inhibition, restoring effector T-cell function, which underpins the interest in PD-1 as an immune-checkpoint target for cancer immunotherapy research.