The difference between active immunotherapy and passive immunotherapy hinges on how it influences the patient’s immune system. An active immunotherapy agent is one that produces a lasting, durable response by way of inducing immunological memory. This most closely resembles a normal immune response. However, just as immune system function varies in a healthy population, the level of response to an active immunotherapy agent depends on individual factors. On the other hand, a passive immunotherapy agent is one that produces an immediate action due to the administration of immune-cell factors, like cytokines or antibodies. The results of a passive immunotherapy are tied temporally to administration of the agent, therefore continued dosing may be required for a prolonged response. This is because immune system memory is not engaged. For more information on immunotherapy check out our expanded section
here.