The invention relates to recombinant monovalent antibodies which are heterodimers of a first protein chain comprising the variable domain of the heavy chain of an antibody of interest and the CH2 and CH3 domains of an IgG immunoglobulin and a second protein chain comprising the variable domain of the light chain of said immunoglobulin of interest and the CH2 and CH3 domains of said IgG immunoglobulin. These antibodies can be used in particular as therapeutic agents in all cases where monovalent binding to a ligand such a cellular receptor is required.