The manipulation of IMMUNITY by immunological (see IMMUNOLOGY) means to reduce harmful reactions or to boost beneficial responses. For example, severe ALLERGY to wasp or bee stings may be treated by a course of injections with allergen purified from insect venom. Treatment with Monoclonal Antibody Drugs represents currently used immunotherapy.

Strategies are also being evaluated for treating cancer and multiple sclerosis by boosting the patient's own immunity to the clones of cells which are producing the disease. One approach is immunisation with cells manipulated to increase a T-lymphocyte attack on antigens. Another method is to manipulate the cytokine network into encouraging an immune attack on, or self-destruction (‘apoptosis’) of, malignant cells.