etanercept

E1T1A1N1E1R1C3E1P3T1
US/ɪˈtæn.ɚˌsɛpt/

noun

A protein drug that binds to and blocks the action of tumor necrosis factor and is administered by injection to treat various inflammatory diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis). It is a dimeric protein consisting of the ligand-binding portion of a human receptor for tumor necrosis factor linked to the basal, heavy chain, portion of IgG which determines the immune response to bound antigen. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology using hamster ovary cells and is marketed under the trademark Enbrel.

Similar
Enbrel
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Meanings

nounetanercept (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemedicineA protein drug that binds to and blocks the action of tumor necrosis factor and is administered by injection to treat various inflammatory diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis). It is a dimeric protein consisting of the ligand-binding portion of a human receptor for tumor necrosis factor linked to the basal, heavy chain, portion of IgG which determines the immune response to bound antigen. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology using hamster ovary cells and is marketed under the trademark Enbrel.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna genetically engineered anti-TNF compound (trade name Enbrel) consisting of receptors that bind TNF; it is injected twice a week in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Similar
Enbrel
Broader
anti-TNF compound

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From eta- (of unknown origin) + -nercept (“TNF receptor ligand”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

etanercept. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/etanercept

MLA

“etanercept.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/etanercept. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “etanercept,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/etanercept.

Source: etanercept on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.