While exploring new ways to reduce the off-target effects of therapeutic antibodies, a team of scientists at the City of Hope serendipitously discovered a unique binding site inside the Fab region of the antibody.  A small peptide, intended to mask the antigen-binding region, instead was found nestling itself into this site.  In doing so, it did not interfere with the antibody's natural antigen binding. Residing in the 'middle place' of the antibody's Fab region, the term  “meditope” was born – derived from the Latin "medius" for middle and Greek "topos" for place.