CA2619245A1 - Chimeric antibodies with new world primate regions - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. The antigen-binding portion comprises at least two complementarity determining regions (CDR) and at least three framework regions, wherein at least one CDR is a New World primate CDR.

Description

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CHIMERIC ANTIBODIES WITH NEW WORLD PRIMATE REGIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention t'clates to a chirneric ant.i.body or anti.gen-binding portion thereof, wherein the ant,igen binding portion compriscs at least two eomplementarity d.eterminirlg region (CUR) sequences and at least threc framework rcg.ions, whcrein at least one CDR is a New World primatc Goft, and to the use of the antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof in treating diseases or disorders.

BACKGROUND OF THIc INVENTION

AnLiboclies (immunoglobulii,s) play an important role in the immunc system of a mammal.
They are produced by plasma cells which have developed from precursor B cells.
Antilxuiies consist of two identica3 light polypeptide chains and two icientical heavy polypeplide chains which are joined by tlisul3'ide britlges. The light chains are referrcd to as either kappa or lambda light chv.ins and the heavy cllains as gamina, mu, delta, alpha or epsilon. Each chain consists of a constant a d variable region. The variable region gives the antibody its 5pecificity. Within each variable rcgion ai-e regions of hypelvari ability or Comple;iTlentatiLy determining regions (CDRs) which are flankcd by morc conserved regions refeiTed to as framework regions. Within eaclt variable region are three CDRs and four framcwork regions.

Antibodies are bifunctional t-0oleculcs, the N-tct'minal variable segments from the heavy and light chains associate together in a specific manner to generate a three-dimensional structure with affinity for a particular epitopc on tha surface of an antigen.
The constant rcgion. segments are responsible for prolcmged serum half-life and the effector fnnctiuns of the a.ntibody and relat.e to ccmplement bindirig, stimulation of phagocytosis, antibcxiy-del:tendent. cellular cytotoxicity and triggeritig of grantilocyte granule release.

The development of hybridotna technology has facilitated the production of monoclonal antibodies of a particular speeificity. Typically, such hybridomas are murinc hybridomas.
Hutnan/mouse chimaric antiboclics have been created in which antibody variable region sequences from the mouse genoinc are combincd with antibody constant i-egion sequences fram the human genome. 'I'he chitneriG anlibodies exhibit the binding characteristics of the parental mouse antibody, and the cffector functions associated with the human constant rcgion_ The antibadics a.re produccd by expression in a host ceIl, inoluding for example Chinese Hamster Ovai=y (Ct1=O), N5U myeioma cells, COS cells and SP2 cells.

2 Stich chimeric antibodies have been used in humail theieipy, however antibodies to these eliimeric antiboc3ics have been produced by the hui-nan recipient. Such anti-chitnaric antibodies are detrimental to continued therapy with chimeric antibodies.

It has heen suggested that human monoclonal antibodies are expected to be an improvement over mouse rnonoclonal antibodies for in vivo human therapy. From work done with antibodies from Old World primates (rhesus monkeys and chimpanzees) it has been postulated that these non-ht.nnan primate antibodies will be tolerated in humans because they are stiiIcturally similar to human antibodics (l;tu=lich PH eL
al., I-luman and primatr nionoclonal antibodies for in. vivc) therapy. Clin Cbem. 34:9 pg 1681-1688 (1988)).
Furthertnore, because human antibodies are non-irr:tnttnogenic in Pdhcsus xnonkeys (Ehrich PH el al., Rhesus tnonkey responses to multiple injections of human monoclonal antibodies. Hybridoma 1987; 6:151-60), it is likely that the converse is also applicable and primate antibodies will be non-irxtmunogenic in lzumans. These monoclonal antibodies are secreted by hybridomas constructed by htsing lymphcx:ytes to a human x mouse heteromycloma.

EP 0 605 442 discloses chitneric antibodies which bind hunlan antig ens. These antibodies ccsmpriso the whole variable region from an Old World molikey and the constant region of a human or chirnpancee antibody. Ona; of the advantages suggested in this reference for these constructs is the ability to raise antibodies in Old World monkeys to human antigcns which aTe less immunogenic in humans coznpetrecl with antibodies raised in a mouse host.
Ncw World primates (infranrder- Platyrrhini) comprise at teast 53 spccies commonly divided into two families, the Cullith.ricidcze and Ccbidae. The CalliXFtriciclae consist of marmosets and tamarins. The Cehictae inc;ludes the sguirrel tnonkey, titi monkey, spider monkey, woolly monkey, oapuchin, uakaris, sakis, ni ght or owl n3onkey and the howler monkey.

I'.volutieniuily distanl primates, such as Ncw World prirnates, aA=e not only sufticiently ditferent from htanans to allow antibodies against human antigens to be generated, but are sufficienlfy similar to humans tohave antibodies similar to human antibodies so that the host does not generate an anti-antibody imrnune response when such primate-clcrived antibodies are intt'oduced into a human.

Previous stuclics have charactcrised the expri ssed immuno-globulin heavy chain i~cpertoire of the Callithrix jac.chus marinoset (von Budingen H-C et al., Characterization of the expressed immunoglobulin IGHV repertoire in the New World marmoset Callithrix

3 jacchus. Immunogenetics 2001; 53:557-5G3)_ Six IGHV sul.}groups were identified which showed, a high degree c7C= sCClUeilce sinlilat'ity to lhoir human ICl iV
counterparts. '1'he framework regions wm tl7orc coilserved when compared to the com[iletnentarity detennining re&ns (CDRs). The degree nf similarity betwcen C. jacchus and human IGHV sequences.was less tllait between non-human Old World primates ancl humanq.
1)amain antibodies Domain antibodies (dAb) are functit>nat binding units which can he created using antibody frEtincworks and correspond to the variable regions of aither the heavy (VH) or light (VL) chaiiis of antibodies. Domain antibodies have ainolecular weight of approximat.cly 13 kDa, or les5 than one lenth the size of a full antilwdy.

lmmune>gluFiulin light chains are referred tc) as either kappa or lambda light ehains and the heavy chains as gainma, mu, delta, alpha or epsilon. The variable region gives the antibody its specificit.y. Witi,in each variable region are regions of hyperva.riabilily, otherwise lciiown as coi.nplementarity deterrnining regions (CDRs) which are flanked by more oonscived regions referred to as framework regions. Within each light and heavy chain variable region are thi-ee CDRs and four framework regions_ In coutrast to conventional antibcxlies, domain antxbodies are well expressed in baotciYal, yeast and srtammalian systems. Their small size allows for higher rnolar cluarttities per gram of product, thus providing a sigiiiYicatlt increase in potency. In addition, domain antitrodies can be used as a building block to create therapeulie products such as multiple targeting domain antibodies in which a constnict containing two or inore variable dornains bind to two or morc therapeutic target%, tir domain antibodies targeted for pulmonary or oral ac3miniscration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have found that New World primat.es provide a rich source of binding domains for antibodies against a rangc of antigens including ktuman antigens.
Further, due to the similarity of the sequenoes between liunian and New World primates it is likely that these New World primate sequences will have relatively low immunogenicity in humans.

In a lirst aspcct thc present invention provides a chirncric antibody or an antigen-binding ptfrtion themof, wherein the antigen-binding portion comprises at least two

4 cornplernentrjrit.y deterriiining regions ((.t7R) and at least three fritinework rcgions, wherein at least one CDR is a Ncw World primate CDR.

In another nspect the present irtvctition providcs ainethod of prodttcing a cliiineric antibody or an antigcn-binding portion thereof, the method comprising deleting a CDR
from << human aniibocly variable region comprising at least two CD.Rs and at least thru;
framework i-cgions and replacing it with ti New World primate C.C.1R predicted to he of low iminunogcnicity to produce a chiineric variatxle regiori, ln a related a5pcct ttie metliod further coinpri5es the step of reccrvering the chimcric variable region.

In yet another aspect the present invention provides a chimeric antibody or an a.ntigen-binding portion thereof produced according to the mcthod of thc present inventiOn.

In a furthcr aspect, the inventioi] provitles a pharmziccuticatl composition comprising an etTecti vc amount of the antibody or antigen-binding portian thereof according to the pre:;ent inventiori, together witli a phat-rnaceutically acceptable excipient or diluent.

Jn a still t'urther aspect, the inve.ntion provides for the use uf an antibcxly or antigen-binding portion t.hei-eUf of the present invention in a diagnostic application for detecting an antigen associated with a particular disease or disorder.

In another rtspcct, the present invention provides a method for treating a disease or disoi-der characterised by human TNF-a activity in a htiman subjcct, comprising auiministering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of a chimeric antibody as described herein, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof in which the antibody or antigen-bindi=ng lwrtion t.hereof binds 'i'NF-cx.

BRIEF DESGRIPTlON OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 de.monstrates the binding of AB138 to rat MOCY present in rat spinal cord lysate (lane 2) and not to CHOICI SV lysate (lane 3). Lane 1 contains molecular weight markers, S

1+'igurc 2 demonstrates the lack of non-specific binding of an attti-TNFa mcmot;IontiI
antibody ttt the stInle sam.plo of rat MOO presenl in rat spinal cord lysate (lanr: 2) ancl C.ti(}K1,1W lysate (lane 3). Lane I contains molecular weiglit markers_ Figure 3 shows the acceptor dc>niain antibody ttmino acid and nu.c)eotide seclucncc (both strand5), The restriction digest sites for Kpn I tuld Sar1 DI, which excises a rCt;ion includin g the CDR2, is indicated in the figurc. CDR2 residues are indicated in unclcrlinc.
Figut'e 4 is a sequence alignment of thc domain tlntibod.y acceptor sequence witll a panel of New World primate derived imtnunoglobulila sequences perfttrmeci using AlignX
(Vector NT), Invilrogen, Australia). The C;DE22 is highlighted in bold text.

iL1ETA1LFD a'ESCI~t1PT1C1N OF THE 1NVENTION

In a first aspect the l.tresent invention providcs a chitneric t-ntabody or an c;ntigen-bislclitlg Iwrlion thereof, wherein the antigen-bintling portion cotrtprises at least two complementarity detennining regions (CDR) and at least tiu-ee framework regions, wherein at least one CDR is a tYew World primate CDR.

It is preferred that the antigcrl binding portion comprises three CDRs and four fi~unework regions. It is also preferred that the ant.igetl-b,inding Portion comprises at least one, .Znd prefcrably two human CDRs.

Itt some embodiments of the present invention, the chimeric ttnlibody or ant,iigen-binding pottion thereof c:omprises one New World primate CDR. In other cmbod.iments, the chimeric antiborly or antlgen-binding portion thereoF compiYses two New World primate C131'Zs. In other embodiments CDR2 of the antibody or antigen-binding portion is a New World priinatc CD.R.

Tn other cmbodinlents of the present invctltion the at least one New World primate CDR is not from a sequence that hinc3s a target atltigen.

(n other embodiments of the prescnt invention the framework regions are human sequences. Framework regions that are httman sequences incltacEe sequences derived from hurnan framework regions, or synthetie sequences based on human framework regions.

It is within the scope of the present invention, that the sec}ttcnce of the antigen binding portion may bc futrther subject to affinity maturation in order t.o .unprove its antigen binding charac:teristics such as antigen binding or potency.

G
An increase in binciatlg is clcmonstratcd hy a[lccrease in KD (lcf~E:,,,,) for the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof. An increa,5c in potency is tlemonstrtitcd in biological assays. For example, assays that can be used to nlea.sure the potency of the antibody or rintigen-hincling portion thereof include the TNFa-induccd L929 cytotoxi.city noutralisation S assay, EI-12-incluced human PHA-activated peripheral blood mcanuntIclear cell (PBMC) proliferation assay, and RANKL mediated osteociast diffcrentiation of rnouse splenocytes (St.ern, 4'roc. Natl. Acad. ,5ci. USA 87:5808 - 0812 (1990); Kong, Y-Y, et at, Nature 397:315 - 323 (1990); Matthews, N. and M.L. Neale in Ly1nplaokines ccrid fhite.rJi>J'orts, a Practical Apprnach, 1987,1VI.J. Clemens, A.Cl. Morris and A.J.H. Gearing, eds., aR L
Press, p. 22.1) In a further prufcrred embodiment at 1ea.st cyne framework region is modified to incrcase binding iind/or to reduce predicted immunogcnicit.y in hutnans.

In another embodimeni at least one t''.UR scquence is rnodifacd to inc:rease binding or potency and or to reduce nredicted immunogenicity in hunaans. It is preferred that where at least one C:DIt scquence which is modified it is not the New World primatc CDR.
Where two ormorc New World primatc CDRs are present then it is preferred that at least one Ncw World priniate CDR is not modified.

ln uthcr embodiments of thc present invention at least one framework region is niodiCicd, in addition to at least one CDR sequcncc, to increasc binding and or to reduce predicted immunogenioity in humans. It is prc.fcrred that thc at the le<<st one CDR
secluence which is modified it is not a New World primate !C:DP, seclu4nce.

In a preferrcd embodimcnt the antigen-bincling pot-tion is a ciomain arttibody.
In a further embodirncnt of the piesent invention, the domain antibody tnay be Inultimorised, as for example, hct.ero- or.homodimer5 (c.g., VH/VH, VL,/VI, or VH/VL), Iietero- or homotrimers (e.g., Vlr/VtilVH, VL/VIJVT,, VnlVx)Vi, or VH/VI/V,,), hetero- or homotetramers (e.g., V11/VHN11/VI1, Vi1VtIVt/Vr., VHfVif/VB,V1., VH/VII/V1.1VL
or VH/VJVJVI), or higher order hetero- or homomultimc;rs. lvaultimerisation cdn increase the strength of antigen binding, wherein the strength of binding i:; related to the sum of the rinding affinities, or part thereof, of the multiple binding sites.

Thus, the invention provides a domain antibody wherein the domain antibody is linked to at least one further domain antibody. Each domain antibody may bind to the same or rlifferent antigens.

The domain antibody multimurs may furthe.r comprise one or mni-e domain antibodies wltich are linked and wherein eacb domain antibody hinds to a differcnt anligen, tnuiti-spccific ligands including so-called "dual-specific ligands". For exaratple, the dual specific ligands may compriso a pair of Vlt domains or a pair af VL domains. Such dual-specific ligands aTe dcscribed in WO 2004/003019 (t'CT/GT32003/002804) itt the name of Domantis Ltd incorporated by referencc herein in its entirei.y.

Preferably, t.he i4ntibody or atlt.igen-binding portion furlhcr coinprises a human o.r non-hu.ma.n priinate constant region sequctice. Examples of non-human primates inciude, but ai-e not linlited lo, chimpanzees, uranguattings and baboons.

The present invcntion also pi-ovidcs a method of producing a cliimeric antibody or an zitlt,igen-bindittg pcxlion thereof, the method camprising deleting a CDR from a httman antibody variahle rcgion comprising at least lwo CDIZs atYd at least tluee frarnework regions and .rep lacing it with a New World primate CDR pa-edicted to be of low iXnmunogeJlicity lo produce a chimeric variable region.

Jn a related aspect the method furlhor compriscs the step of reeovcring the chitnerie variablc iegion.

It is preferred that the selected New World primate CDR is CDR2. It is prcferred that the CDR2 sequence is selectedfrctm KVSNRAS, RVSNRAS, KVST.RGP, AASN'IZAS, TSSNLQA, DASSLQP and YASFLQG. Pnrticularly preferrcd sequences are KVSNRAS, AASNRAS, TSSNLQA and KVSTRCiP rlue to their predicted lower iinmunogenicity.
In further embodiments the method further comprises motlifyi ng thc sequence of the ch.imeric variable rogion to increase binding and/or to decrcase immunogenicity in humans.
It is pmfcired that the New World pritnate CDR sequence is not modified. Where two or more New World pritnate CDR sequences are present then it is ptt;ferred that at least one New World primate CDR is not modified_ in other embodiments of lhc present invention at least one framework region is mc7dified in addition to at least one CDR sequence, to incrcase binding and or to reduce predicted immunogenicity in humans. It is prefetred that the at the least one CDR
sequence which is n1c-dified it is not a New World primate Cl7R scquence.Thc present invention also provides a chimeric antibody or an antigen-hinding portion thereof produced by the rnethod nf the present invention.

The tcrm "antibody" fts usecl herein, is intended to refer to immunoglobuiin txzolectllcs cotnptYsecl of four polypcptide chains, two heavy (H) chains and two light (i,) clinins inter-connected by disulfide bonds. Each heavy chain is comprised of a heavy chain variable region (1=1CVR or Vtt) ttttd a heavy chain ccrostant region. 'i'he heavy chain constant region $ compiises tltrce domaitls, CH1, CH2 and CH3. Each light chain is crniiprised of a liglZt.
Ghain variable rcgion (LCVR or VL) and a light chain ccanstant negican. '1'he light chain constant region is coinprised of one domain, CL. The VH and Vt, regions cttn be futther suhdivided into regions of hypt;rvariability, tCrmed complementarity determining regiotts (C):7R), interspersed with, reg.ions that. are morc conscrved, termed frarnework regions (FR).
Each VH and Vi,iwcomposed ofth.t'ee CDRs and four FRs, arrangcd from aminu-terminus to carboxy-terminus in the following order: FR.1, (;DR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, FR4.
The term "antigcn-binding portion" of an antibody, a.5 used herein refet:s to one or moro components or derivatives of ati initnur,oglobulin that exhibit the ability to hind to an antigen_ It has, 1:ieen sltown that tllc antigcn-binding function of an antilx~dy can he perfonned by fragments of a full lengt.h antibody. Examples of binding fragrnents encompassed within the tean "antigen-binding portion" of l3 ri antibudy include (i) a Fab fragment, a monovalent frag,in.ent consisting af t.hc VL, VH, CLand CHI
clomains; (ii) a F(ab')2 fragment, a hivalent frag.m~,ent. compiYsitig two Fab fragments linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region; (iii) a Fd fragment consisting of the VH and CH1 c3omains; (iv) a Fv fragment consisting of the Vi, and Vft domains of a single artn of ttri aritibcxiy; (v) a dAb fragmcnt (Ward et a1, 1989, Nature 341:S44-546) wliich consists of a single V,., domain, or a VL domain (van don Beuken T et al, 2011, J. M.ol.l3iol, 310, 591); and (A) an isolated counpletnentarity detertnining region (CDR). Fuithetm--ore, although the two domains of t.he F'v feagzxtent, VL and VH, arc coded by separate genes, they can be joined, using recornbinant methods, by a synthetic linker that enables them to be made as a single protein chain in which the VL and Vi.l rcgions pair to form monovalent molecules (known as single chain Fv (scl7v); (see eg Bird el ul., 1988, Science 242:423-426 and ilust.on ct a.l., 19$8 Prctc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883). Such single chain Fvs are also intended to he encompassed within the term "antigen-binding perrtion . of an anti body, Other forlns of single chain Fvs and related molectilcs sttch as diabc)dies or triabodies are also encoinpassed. Diabodies arc bivalent antibodies in which VH and VL doniains arc exptvssed on a. single polypt;ptidc chain, but using a linker that is too sliort to allow for pairiizg between the two doinains on the same uhain, thereby forcing the domains to pair with complementary domains of anothcr chain and creating two antigen binding sites (see e.g., J.lolligei-, P., Gat al., 1993, Proc. Nat]. I1cad. Sci. USA, 90:(444.6448; Poljak, R.J., et rx6., l 994, Stiucture, 2:1121-1123).

As used herein the term claimeric" means that the antibody or antigcn-binding portion includes seyueiices 'from. two diffet-ent species.

Tn one emboditnent, the doniain antibody comprises a ht.tman frttmework regions and at lett,st uneNow World primate (.,DRs, mot-e pi-eferably marmoset CDRs.

Prefc;rably, the New World primate is selected from ihe group consisting of martnoGets, tamariris, squiirel mcrnkey, titi monkey, spider monkey, woolly nlotll.ey, capuchiti, uakaris, sakis, night or owl monkey and the howler monkey. More preferably, the New World primate is a marmcaset.

Methods Of produeing chimeric antibodies accordirtg to the invention will be familiar to I(,1 persons skilled in the art, see for example, US Fatent Nk7. 4,816,567, US
Patent No.

5,585,089 and US 20030039649 which are incorporated herein by ruferettce in their ontirety. Such methods require the use of standard recombinant techniques.

It is piefe.cred that the antibody or antigc:n-bincling portion tlicreof according to the present invent.ion ha.s predicted low immunobcnicity in a human Itost.

By "low imrrtunctgenicity" it is mettnt thal the antibody does not raise an antibody response in at. least the mttjority of individuals recciving the antibody of sufficient inal;nitude to reduce the effectivencss of cotttin.ued administration of the antibody for a sufficient time to achieve therapeutic cfficacy.

't'he level of immunogenicity in hu.tnans roay pcedicted using the MHC class II bindi-ng prectiction program FrQp'ed. (http_//www.imtech.res.in/raghava/propred) using a 1 !0 threshold value atialysis of alI alieles. Otherprograms which may lx used iticlude:

Rankpep (httl)://hicy.dfci.harvard.edu/Too1s/rankpep.html) .FPiha.se (Algonomics prcaprit;tary suftware: algonomics.com) Low imm.unogenicity molecules will contain na or low ntimbers of peptides predicted to bind to M.llC class 11 alleles that are highly expressed in the target popttlation (Flower DR.
Doyt.chinoya fA. (2004) immunoinfortnatics and the prediclion of irnrnunogcnicity, Drug Discov Today, 9(2): 82-90).

Reduecd .it7xniunogenicity molecules will contain nn or a reduced numbers of peptides predictcd to bind to MHC class 11 alleles that are highly expressed in l.hc target popillation, relativc to t.he starting donor mnlecule_ I {}

Funct.ional ttrialysis of MHC class tI bitlding can be perforined by generating overlapping pCptides correspnn[ling to the protein of interest and testing these for their ability to evoke T cc11 activation (T cel l proliferation assay) or displace a reporter peptide, a ljinwn MI.IC
class !}-bindtng ptptide (Hammer J cr r.td., 1994, J. l;'xp. Med., 1$0:2353).

,ri The pre4ent iDveniion is further basecl on at method fer ampiitioation of New World pYYiTlate irritTtutloglobulin genes, for cxample by polynterase chain reactiott (PCR) from nncleic acid exlracted from New World primate lymphocytes using primers specific for heavy and light chain variable region gene families. The amplifxed variable region is then cloned into an expression vector containing a human or primate canstatlt region gene for the production of New World primate chitxieric rccoinhinaint at)tibotly.
Standard recombinant DNA methodologies are ta sed to obtain antibody heavy and light chain genes, incorpnrate these genes into recombitiant expression vectors and ititroduce the vectors into host cells, szich as those described in Sambrook, hritsch and Maniatis (eds), Molecular Cloning: a.fatxiratory m:.3nual, second edition, Cold Spring t-Iarbor, N.Y
(1989).

Suitable c:xpression vectors will be familiar to those skil.led in the art.
The New World pi-imatc lymphocytes producing the immunogiohulins.,xre typically immrtalised by fusioYi with a tnyeloma cell line to generate a hybricloma.

Preferred mammalian host cells for expressing the recon-ihinant antiboclies of the invention inclucle Chinese l-lamster Ovary (C'.FCO), NS() mycloi-na cells, COS cells and SP2 cel Is.

In addition to nnammalian expression systems, the pi=esent invention also c:ont.einplatcs the u5C ofnon-nlamtY-alian expression systems such a5 thcrsL which arc plant or prokaryotic (l.i;tcteriktl) derived. Such expression systems would be familiar to peracans skilled in the art.

The repertoire of VIt, VL and constant region domains can he a tiaturally occurring repertoire of irntnunoglobulin seclttence:; or a synthetic repertoire. A
naturally occtu=i-ing repertoire is one prepared, for exatnpJe, from immunoglolaulin expressing cells harvested from one or more primatGs. Such repertoirCs can be i3a7ve ie. prepared from newborn immunoglobulin expressing cells, or rearranged ie. prcpat=ed from, for oxample, adult primate B cells. If desired, clones icleirtified from a natural repcltoire, or any repe;rtoire that hind the target flntigen are then subject to mutag,c.'nesis and further scrcening in order to produce and select variattts with improved binding characteristics.

Synthetic repertoires of iinmunoglobulin variable domains are prepared by artificially inta'oducing diversity into a cloned variable doniain. Such affinity maturation techniques will bo f-amiliar to persons skilled in the art (Irving R.A. et al. (2001) Ribosome display and affinity maturation: from antibodies to tiingle 'V-doniains and steps towaixl.s cancer t.hcrttpoutics, Journtil of Immunc>lugical Methoda, 248: 31-45).

The variable region, or a CDR thGreof, of a New World primate antiheidy geme txt.ay be cloned by providing nucleic acid eg. eDNA, providing a primer ct>mplement.a.ty to tlte cDN.A seclucncc cttcodinl; a 5' lcaclcr scqucncc of an antibody gene, contacting that cl]'NA
and the pritiuer to forni a hybricl complcx and amplifying the cDNA tc} pt-oduce nucleic acid enccxiing the variable region (or CDR region) ot thc NCw Worltl primate antihody gene.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art of the present invention, the non-New World primate variable reg,icro sequence may be used as an acceptor for grafting Ncw World pritstatc sc;quences, in pitrtiuull1r, CDR sequences using standard recombinant techniques. For example, US F'atcnt No. 5,585,089 describes methods for creating low iznmunogenicity chiinci.Yc ant.iboclics that retain the high affinity of the non-human parent antibody antl contain one or niorc CDRs fzoin a donor iinmunoelol-sulfn and a framework regican from a huinan itnmunoglobulin. Unit.od States publication no.

describes a humanisation znethod for creating low imntunogcnioity c;himetic antibodies containing CDR sequences from a non-human ant.ibody arid fratriework sequences of human antibodies tiased on using ca,notticai CDR stt.licturc types of the non-human antibody in comparison to germline canonical CDR structure types of human :tntihodies as the liasis for selecting the appropriate hunian framework sequences for a humanised antibody. Accurdingly, these principles can be applied to the g.rafting of one or more New World primate CDRs into a non-New World primate acceptor variable rcgion.

The CDR sequences may be obtained from the genomic. DNA isolated from an atitibody, or from seqttelzces prescirt in a clatabasc e.g. Thc Natiunttl Centre for liiotecluiology lnformation protein and nucleotidc databases, The Kabat Database of Sequences of Proteins of Invmutaological Interest. The CDR scqtience may be a genoniic t]NA
or a cUNA.

Methods for gra:tt,ing a rcplaccmcnt CDR(s) into an acceptor variable sequence will bc faniiliar to persons skilled in tlic art of the present invention.
'I'ypically, the CDRs will be grafted into acceptor variablc rcgion scquenccs for each Df a vari.able liglrt chain and a variable laea.vy cliain or a singlc chain in the case of a dnmain antibody.
The preferred met.hod of the presetit invcntion involvcs r~,~placemenl of either CDR1 or, mom prcforably, CDR2 in a variable rcgion scqucnec via primcr directed mutagenesis. The mcthod consists of annealing a synthetic oligonuclcoticlc cncoding S de!:ired mutation to a target region whcre it serves as a primer for initiation of DNA synthesis in vitro, extending thc oligonuelecytidc by a DNA poly.tnerase to gemerate a double-stranded 13NA that carries the desii'ed mutcition, and ligating and clcaning the sequcnce intcr an appropriate expression vcctni- (Sambrook, Joseph; and 13avid W. Ru.yseil (2001). Molecular (,'lnning:
A
LrrUoraxvey Manual, 3rd cd., Cold Spriiig lZarhor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Labol'atnry Pi'ess)..

Sti ll Furiltcr, an antibody or anti;en-bi3lding portion thereof may be part of a larger immunoadhesic,n molccule, formed bycovalent or noncovalent asscx:iation of the antibody or antibody lu-rtiUn with oiie or niore other proteins or Jx;ptides. Examples of such immtknoadhesiun tnolecule5 include use of the strepttividin core region to make a tctranieric scFv tnolecule (ISipriyancav, S. M., et al. (1995) Human A.ntlbvdies and Hyhridamas 6:93-101) and use of a cystciile resitluC, a marker pcptide and zc C-terminal polyhistitlizic tag to make bivalent and biotinylrcted sc.Fv molecules (Kipriyanov, S. M., et al_ (1994).lvlol. linrrsunol. 31:1047-1058). Antibody poi-tiuns, such a.s Fab and F(ah')2 1S fragmcnts, can he prepared from wlhole antibodics tzsing conventional techniques, such as papain or pepSin dil;cstlon, respectively, oF whole antihocl7es..Moreover, antibodies, anlibocly poirtion a and immunuadhesion malecttlcs can tar obta,[:aed using standard recombinant DNA t.ccbniques, as described hcrcin as is known to the skilled arti ,an.

Thc canstant region sequence (Fe portion) is preferably obtained from a human (ir non-2() human primate imtiiunnl;lobulin sequence. The primate sequence may be a New Vtforld primate or iin Old World primate sequence. Stxitahle Old World primates .include chimpanzec, or other horn.inid ape eg. goriTla or orang utan, which because of their close pltylogenctic prctximity to huinans; sharc a high degree of homology with the human cvnsiant region sequence. Sequences which enc;odc for human or primate constant regions 25 are rtvailatile from databases including e.g. 't'he National Centrc for Biotechnology Information proteirt and nucleotide databa5es, The Kabat Database of Seclucrtces of Frott;itis, of Immunological Intei-est.

The antibody or antigcn-binding portion according to the invcttt,ion is capable of binding to a humaii or non-humati antigen.

30 Preferably, thc ant.igen tc) which the chimcric antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof binds, is peptide, protein, carbohycirate, glycoprotein, lipid or glycolipid in nature, selected frotn a tumour-associated antigen including earcinQembryonic antigen, EpCAM, L.ewis-Y, l..ewis-Y/I.a, P.MSA, CD20, C.O:10, CD33, C1738, CD52, CD154, EGF-R, I-fer-2, TR.A11., and VEGF receptors, an Antigen involved in an iinnxune or inllammatory cliscase or disorder including C:I73, {;'.I74, CD25, C:D40, C.D49d, M1iC. ciass 1, Ml-tC.
class 11, C;M-CSF, intcrrcron-y, IL-1, IL-12, IL-13, IL-23, TNF-a, and IgE, an antigen cxpresscd on a host ccll inclitding glycolarot.ein (.l.b!!lla., P-glycoprotcin, ptirincrgic recePtors and adhesion r-eceptt7rs inulu+]inl; CD11a, CD11b, C.DI lc, CD18, CD56, CD5$, CD62 or CD144, an antigcn comprising a cytokine, cheniolaine, gowth factor or otiter soluble physiological modulator or a receptor thereof includin; ealaxin, I)',6, I'LrB, TGF-P, C3a, C5a, VF.+GF, NGF and thcir receptors, an antigen involved in central ncrvous systein diseases or disorders includinc (3-amyloid anti prions, an antigen of non-hurnztn origin such as microbial, nanobi al or v.i ral a.ntigens or toxins iuclucling respiratory syncitial viiu5 protein F, anthrrtx toxin; rattle snakc vcnom and digoxin; wherein thc chimcric atttibor3y acts as an agc>nist or antagonist or is active to either deplete (kill or eliminate) undesired cells (eg_ ariti-CD4) by acting witli complement, or killcr cclls (cg. NK cells) or is activc as a cytotoxic agenl or to c:ause Fc-reoeptor binding by a phal;tx:yte or neutr3lices biological activity of its target.

More prcfcrably, t.he antigcn is TNPa, prcfcrably huinart TNFm Altcrnatively the chimeiic antibody or antigcn-binding portion tliereof may bincl a non-htaman atatigen. k'referrably the non-human antigen is selected from the group consisting of respirat.ory syncytia,l virus F protein, cytomegalov.ix-us, snatce venonis and digoxin_ '1'he term "binds to" as used herein, is intended to refer tcr the bindina of tin antigen by an immunoglnbulin virriable region of an antibody with a dissociation constant (Kn) oF 1 Nl or low~,~r as rncasLtrcc3 by surface plasmon resonance an:.rlysis using, for example a BlAcorcT"f surface plasmon resonance systcrn iund BIAcoreTM kinetic cvaluation software (cg. vcrsion 2.1). The affinity or dissociation constant (KU) for a spccific binding intcraction is prcfcrably about 500 nM to about 50 pM, more prcfcrably about 500 nM or lower, more prcfcrably about 300 nM or lorvcr and proferably at lcast about 300 nM lc) about 50 pM, about 200 nM to about 50 pM, and morc preferably at least about 100 nM to ahout 50 pM, about 75 nM to about 50 plvi, hbout 10 nM tc, about 50 pM.

The antibodics of tho prest,}nt invention an; adv:rntageoug in human therapy because the likelihood of induction uf a human anti-antibody response will be reduced.

Rccotnbinatlt antibodies prod.uced according to the invent.iot) that hind a target at-t.igen can bc idontificd and iso3ated by screening a ccambinatorial ixr.muncyglobulin library (eg a phage display library) to isolate library niemher5 that exhibit the desired bintling specificity and functional behavinur. It. wil.l be understood that all approaGhes where antigen-binding port,ions or derivaLivcs of antihUdies are uscd, cg Fabs, scFv and V doinains or drnnain antibodies, lie withiit the scope of the prc;scnt itivention. 'I'he ph~igc display technique hits been descrihed extensively in the art and cxatnples of methods aind cotnpou.nds for generating and screctting such libraries and affitti.ity maturing the products of them can be found in, for example, Barbats et al. (1991) PNAS 88:7978-7982; Clarlcson et a1. (1991) Nalure 352:624:628; Dower et al. PCT. 91/17271, U.S. Patcnt No. 5,427,908, U.S. Patent Nu. 5,580,717 and EP 527,839; Fuchs et al. (1991) BioPi'echnology 9:1370-1372;
Garrad ct al. (1991) B i o/Technology 9:1373:1377; Garrard et al. PCT WO 92/09690;
Gratn et al _ (1992) PNAS 89:3576-3580; Crriffiths et al. (1993) FMBU J 12:725:734;
Griitiths et al.
U.S. Patent No. 5,885,793 and EP 589,877; I=lawkins et al. (1992) J Mol Biol 226:859-896;
I lay et al, (1992) FInm Antihod Hybr.ydanias 3:81-95; (-Ioc>genboom et al.
(1991) Nuo Acid Res 19:4133-4137; I.luse et Ltil. (1989) Sciencc 246:1275-1281; Knappik et al.
(7000) J Mol Bitfl 296:57-86; Knappik et al, PCT WO 97/Uti3'70; 'L,adner cL al. U.S. Patent N.
5,223,409, No. 5,403,484, No. 5,571,698, No. 5,837,500 and EP 436,597;
McCafferty et ai. (1990) Natzire 34S:552-554; McCafferty et al. E'CT. WO 92101047, U.S.
Patent No.
5,969,108 and EP 589,877; Salfeld et a1. Pc;71' WO 97/29131, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/126,603; a.nd Winter ct al. PCT WO 92/20791 and EP 368,684;

Recombinant libraries expressing the antibodies of thc invention can be expressed on the surface of micrcwrganisms eg. yeast or bactcria (see PCT pu.blicaticros W099/36569 and 98/49286).

The Selected I..ymphocyte Antibody Mctltod or SLAM as it is referrccl to in the state of the art, is another means of generating high affinity mntibadies rapidly. Unlikc phage displrry apprcaaches all antibodies are fully divalent. In order to generato 1'dew World primate antihodics, New World primates arc imtntanlsed with a human antigen eg. a TNFa polypeptidc. Following imrnunisation cells are removed and 5elcctivcly proliferated in individu<<1 micro wells. Supematants arc removed from wells and testcd for both binding and function. Gcite sequences can be recovered for subsequent manipulations eg.
humanisaLion, Fab fragment, scFv or domt3in antibody generation. Thus another example is the derivation of the ligand of thc invcntion by SLAM and its derivatives (BabcoolC, J.S.
et al 1996, Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci, USA 93; 7843-7848, US Patent 5,627,052 attd PCT

publication W092/02651). Aclaptations of SLAIvZ, sucla as the use of alternatives to testing sulaernat.ants sucli tis panning, also lie within the scope of this invention.

In otte expression system lhe recombinant pept.ide/protein library is displayed on rat;tosonies (for= examples see Roberts, RW and Szostak, .1. W.1 997.
5 Proc.l'JatJ.Acad..Se:i.USA. 94:12297 ,- 123202 and P('.'C Publication No.
W098/31700).
Thus another example irivolvcs the generation and iri vitro transcription of a DNA library (eg of antibodies and deriVatives) preferably prepared from immunised cells, but not so iimited), tr=etnslat.ion of the library such that the protein and ' immunised"
rriRNAs stay on the ribosum, affitiity selection (eg by binding to RSP), mRNA
isolation,lLVcrsc 10 transltttion and subsequent amplifictttion (cg by polymcrase cllain reaction or related technology). Additional rOunds of sclcction and amplifTcation can be coupled as necessary to affrnity niaturatie>n lhrough introduction of somatic mutation in this system or by other methods of affinity maturation as k-iown in the state of the art.

Another examplC secs thc application of emulsian comparlmentxlisation technology to the 15 generation of the antibodics of th,e invention_ In emulsion cornptu-tmentalisation, in viiro and oplicttl sortiiig mcthods a.re comhiried with e:o-compartmentalisation of trttnslat.cd protein and its ntnclcotitle coding sequence in aqueous phase within an oil droplet in an tmulsioty (sec PCT put-tlicat.ions na's W099026711 and W00040712). The main clelnents for thc gencration and selection of antibudieti are essentialiy similar to the in vitr n method of ribosotnc display.

The antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof according to the invention can be der.ivati5ed rn= linked tu another functional molecule. For examp,le, the antibody or antigen-binding portion can be functionally Iitiked by clae.rnical coupling, genetic fusion, ntmcovalent a.ssocihtion or ot,hcrwise, to one or Tnor=e other molecular entities, such as another antibody, a detectable agcnt, a cytotoxic agent, a pharmaceutical sgent, antl/or a protein orpcptidc that can mediate a5sociation of the antibody or antigon-binding portion thereof with anothcr tnolecule (stich as a strePtavidin cnre region or a,polyhistidinc tag).
Useful cletec;tablc agents with wtllch an antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof may be derivalised include fluot'csccnt compounds. Exect)pJary fluorescent detectable agents include fiuorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhociamine, S-dimethylamine-l-napthalene:;ulfonyl chlcrridc, phycoeiythrin and the like. An antihody may also be derivatitaed with detectable cn2ymcs such as alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase, glucose caxidase and the liko. When an antibody is derivatized with a deteetable enzyme, it is detected by adding additional teagents that the enzyme uses to produce a detectuble reaction product. An antibody ni0y also be dcrivltised with biotin, and clctcetud t.llrough indirect measurement of avidin or streptavidin bitltling.

The pre5enl inverttion also extends to *PEGylatcd antibodies or antibody-binding po.ition which provide increased half-life and resistance to degradation witltotit a loss in activity (eg- binding affinity) relative to non-I'EGy]ated antibody polypeptides.

'1'he antibotiy or aittibody-binding portion as described herein can be coupled, using methods knowti in the art, to polymer molecules (preferably PEG) usefixl for achieving the increased half-life a.nci degi-iidation resistance properties. Polymer moieties which can be utiliscd in the invention can be synthetic or naturally oceuiYting and include, but are not liniited to, straight or branchcd chain lxolyalkylcnc, polyalkenylene or polyoxyalkylene polyrnes:s,, or a branched or unbranched polysacchaiYde such as a homo-or heterolxolysacchaiide. Preferred examplcs of syntlietic polymers which can be used in the invention includc straiglit or britnche[l chain poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), po}y(propylene glycol), or poly(vinyl alcohol) and derivatives or substituted foriils t.heteof. Particularly preferred substituted polymei-s for linkage to antibodies as described her.ein include substitttted PEG, including methoxy(polyethylene glyeol). Nat.tirally occu--ring lx)iymer moicties which can be used in t3dditiotZ to or in place of PEG include lactose, amylose, dextratt, or glycogen, as well tts dcrivatives thereof which would. be recognised by persons skilled in the art.

Derivatized forms of polymcr inolecules include, for example, derivatives which have additional moieties or reactive groups pi-esent thcrein to Ivi-mit interaction with amino acid residues of the antibody polypeptides describcd herein. Such derivatives includc N-hydreaxylsuccinimidc (Ni1S) active estcrs, succinimidyl propionate polymcrs, and sulfhydryl-sclcctive reactive agenls such as lnaleimide, vinyl sulfonc; and thiol.
Particularly piefcrred derivatized polymers incl.ude, but are not litnit.cd to PEG polymers having the formulae: PI/CJ-O-CHzCHzCH2-COz-NHS; F'EG-O-CH2-Nl 1S; PECt-O-CH2CH2-C02-N.11,S; PhG-S-CHZCHZ-CO-N.E.IS; PEG-O2CNH-CH(R)-CO2-NF15; PHG-NHC:O-CHZCH2-CC7-NHS; and PEG-O-Cf12-C(72-NEIS; where R is (C,H2)n)NHCO2(rnl.''EG)= P1;G polymers ean be linear molec:ules, or can be branched whet-ein multiplc PEG moieties are present in a single polymer.

The reactive group (e.g., MAL, NHS, SPA, VS, or'l'hiol) may be attached directly to the PF3Ci polymer or may be attached to PEG via a linker molecule.

The size of polynlel's useful in the invention can be in the rangc of between 500I1a to 60 kt]a, for exatnple, between 1000 Da and 60 kDa, 10 kDa and 60 kDa, 20 kUa and 60 kDa, 30 kDa and 60 kDa, 40 kDa and 60 kDa, ancl up to between 50 kDa and 60 kDa.
The pOlymers uscd in the invention, particularly PFCr, can be straight chain polymers or may possess a branched conformation.

The polymer (PEG) mOleeulcs uscful in the invention can be attuched to an antibody or antigen-binding portion thercof usitig method5 which arc well known in the art. The first step in the attachment of PEG or other polymer moieties to an antibociy polypeptide , fnononier oi-multimcr of the invention is the substit.ution of the hydroxyl cnd-groups of the P.F..C'r polymer by clectrophile-containing functional groups. Particularly, PRCir polymers are attached to cither cysteine or lysine residues present in the antibody Polypeptide monomers or multimers. The cystci:nc and lysine residues can be naturally occurring, or can bc engineered into the antibody polypeptide molectile. For example, cysteinc residues can be recomhinuntly englneercd at the c:-terminus of an antibody polypeptidc, or residues at specific solvent accessible locations in an antibody polypeptide can be substituted with cysteine or lysine.

The anti body may be linkcd to one or more molccttlcs which can increase its half-life irt vivo. "['hese molecules arc linked to the antibody at a site on the antibody other than the antigen binding site, so that they do not inlerfcre/sterically hinder tht 9ntigen-binding site.
Typically, such tnolccules are pelypeptides which occur naturally in vivo and which resist degradation or rcnloval by endogenaus mechanisnas, tt wi I I be obvious to one ski l led in lhe a,t that fragmcnts or derivatives of such naturally occumng molecules may be used, and that some may not he polypeptides. Molecules which increase half life may be selecled from the folI owing:

(a) proteins frorn the Cxtracellular mrttiix, eg. collagen, iaminin, intel,*rin and fibronecti n;
(b) proteins found in blood, eg. fibrin a-2 rnacroglobu3in, serum albumin, fibrinogen A, fibrinogcn B, serum amyloid protein A, hcptaglobin, protein, ubiquitin, uteroglobulin, 8-2 microglobulin, plasminogen, lysoLymc, cystatin C, alpha-l-antitrypsin and pancreatic kypsin inhibitor;
(c) imtnune serum proteitls, cg. 1g.F., IgC7, igM;
(d) transport proteins, cg. rctinol binding protein, a-1 microg.lobulin;
(e) defensins, eg. bcta-dcfensin .l,lVeutrophil defcnsins 1, 2 and 3;
(f) proteins found at the blood bt'ain barrier or in neural tissues, eg-melanocortin rcccpt.or, myelin, ascorbatc tt=ansporter;

is (g) transferrin rt;cept.o.t speci fic ligand-Deurol,harmaccutical agent ftision prnteins (see 1,JS5977307); brain capillary endothclial cell receptor, transferrin, transferrin rec;tptor, it3sulin, insulin- Jike growth factor 7(IGP 1) receptor, inSuli21-like growth fnetor 2(IGF 2) receptor, insulin receptor;
(h) proteins localised to the kidney, eg- polycystin, type IV collagen, organic anion transportcr K1, 1-leymatul's antigen;
(i) proteins localise(I to the liver, eg, alcohol clchydrogenase, G250;
(j) blood coagulation fktctcrr X;
(k) rx-1 antitrypsin;
1() (1) HNF 1cx;
(m) proteins Icx:aliscd to the lung, eg. secretory component (hinds IgA);
(n) proteins lcx;i~discd to the Heart,cg. IISF 27;
(o) proteins localised to the skin, eg, ker-atin;
(p) hone apecific proteins, such as 1?pne morphogenic proteins (BMPs) eg. SMP-=22, -4, -5, -6, -7 (also rcfcrred to as ostcogeDic protein (OP-1) v.nd -S (OF-2);
(q) tumour specific pn7teins, eg, human trophoblast antigen, herceptin receptor, oestroge.n receptor, cathepsinr; cb cathep5in 13 (found in liver and spleen);
(r) disease-specific protcins, eg, antigens cxpressed only on activated T-cclls;
including LAG-3 (lymPhocyte activation gene); osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL) see Nature 402, 304-309, 1999; O.]C40 (a tncmber of the TNFa receptor fanlily, expressed on activated T cells and the only costimulatory T cell molccalo known to be specifically up-rcgulated in human '[' cell leukaemia virris type-I (H"fLV-I)-producing cells - see J_ Irnmunol. 2000 Jul 1;I6561):263-70; melalloprotea=ses (associated with aithritis/eancers), including CC.'r6512 .Drosophila, human paraplegin, human FtsH, huanan AFG3L2, murine flsH;
angiog,enie:
gi-owth factors, including acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-j), basic fibroblast growth factor (P"G.F-2), Vascular endotheliat growth factcar/vascular perrneability factor (VEGP/VPF+), transfortning growth factor-cx ('f'GF-oc), tumor necrosis factor-alpha ('INFa), angiogenin, interlcukin-3 (tL-3), intcrleukin-g (TL-8), platelet derived endothelial growth factor (l?.D- SCGF), placental growth factor (PIGF), tnidkine platelet-derived growth factor-f3li (PDGF), fractttlkine;
(s) stress proteins (heat shock proteins);
(t) pr=oteins involved in Fc transport; and (u) vitamins eg B12, 13iotin.

fn another aspect, the invetltion provides a pharmaceutical composition Comprisinl; an effectivc amount of the chi.meric antibody or antigen-binding portion thcreof according to the present invention, together with a pltarniaceutically acceptable excipient or diluent.

A"phtirniacetltically acceptable excipient or cliluent" itlcludes any and ti11 solvents, dispersion media, coatings, aniibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and ahsolption dcluying agents, and the like that are physioiogioally Gotnpatiblc.
Exa.r.npics t>f pltarmacuuticalty acLeptable carriers include one oi-morc: of wat.et, salinc, phosplizte buffei-ed saline, dextrcrse, glycerol, et.hanol, anc3 the like as well as combinaticro% thereof.
In many cases it will be pre.ferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyatcohols such. as rnannitol, sorhitol, or sodiiirn chloridc in t1le composition.
Phtarmaceutically acceptable substances stich as wetting or tninor 3triounts of a.uxiliary substances such as wetting or e.tnulsi fyi rtg a;ents, preservatives or, btiffers.

7'he term "eftect'ive amount" refers to }ln '=ltnollnt of Atl antibody i)r antigen binding lxmt;tion thereof (including phayTmaceutical compo5iti.ons cxoinprising the antihody or antigc) bincling porticm tfiercof) sutficicnt to trcaat a specified disettse or disurde.r or une or tnore ot it.s symptoms and/or to prevent the caccurrc;nce of the disease or disorder.

Tktc torm "diagnostically efFective amount" or "wnounts effcetive for diagnosis" and cognates thereof, refers to an aniount cif a antibody or untigen binding pcNrtian thereof (including ph4trrnaceutical compositicn,s con-,prisi.ng the antibody or antigen binding portion ihereof) sufficient to c{iagnose a spccified cliscase or disorder and/or oiye or inore oF
its Tllallifestatlons, where diagnosis includes identilication of the existence of the diseaso or disordcr anc!/or tlotec:tiott of the extcnt or severity of thc; disease or disorder. Often, diagnosis wi11 lv Carried out with refGrence to a baseline or background detection level observed for individualS without the disease or disorder. Levels oFdet.ection above background or bascline levels (elevated levels of detection) are, indicative of the presence ancl, in some cases, thc severity Crf the condition.

When used with respect to inethods of treatment and the use of the antibody or antigen biliding portaon thereof (including pharrnaceutical comlaositions comprising the antibody or antigen binding poil,ion thereof), an individual "in need thereofi' may be an individual who has been clial, iosed with or pY'eviou.sly treated for the disease or disordcr to be t.ecttted.
With respect to methods of diagnosis, an individual "in need thereof"may be an individual who is suspectcd to havc a disease or disorder, is at risk for a disease or disorder, or has previously been diagnosed with the disease or disorder (e.g., dia.ginosis can includee tnottitoring of the sevcYf ty (e.g., progre.ssion/regression) of the disease or disorder over tijxxt and/or in conjunction with ther;.ipy).

It is preferred that the ehimeric antibody or antigen-binding pc}rtian thereof blocks or stimulates rcecptors functions or tx;utraiizcs activc soluble products, such as one or more of tFze interleulcins, TNFa or C5a. M.oi'a preferat)ly, the a.ctive soluble product is human 'I'N Fa.

The composition may he in a vc,riety of forms, including liquid, scmi-solicl or solid dosage forms, such as liquid solutions (eg injectablc tind irt}ttsible solutions), dispcrsicans or 5 suspensi071s, tablets, pilts, poWdci=S, lipqsonics or suppositories.
Preferably, the composition is in the fonT- of an injectable solution for immunAzation. 'f'hc aclniinistration inay be intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneail, intrainuscular, transdennal, intrathecal, and intra,artcrial. Preferably the dosage fortn is in the range of }rom about 0.001 mg to about 10 m_g/1Ãg body weight administered daily, weekly, bi- oi- tri-weekly or nicinthly, 10 moc'c preferably about 0.05 to about 5 mg/kg body weight weckly.

The compusi tioti niay also be formulated as ct sterile powder for the prepiratinn of steriie .ir5jectablc solutions.

In oertain einbodiments, the active compound may be prepared with a carricr that will protect the cotnpound against rapid retea.5e, such as a controlled release formtrla.tion, 15 including implants, traaisclermal patches, and tnicroencapsulated delivery systems.
t;ompiitibie polymers may be u.sed such w; ettiylcne vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyblycolic acid, collagen, polyortrioosters or pulylactic acid.

'I'fte composition may a.lso be form.ulatcd for oral administration. In this embodiment, the antibody may bo enclosed in a hard or soft shell gelatin capsule, compressed into tablets, or 20 incorpot:ated directly intn the subject's diet.

The ccrmposition may also be formulated for rectal administt'ation.

The antibody may be administered in artier to bind to and identify selected cells iyd vitr and in vivo, to bind to and destroy selected, cells in vivv, or in orclcr Lo pettctrate into and destroy selected cells ira vivo. Alternatively, the antibody may be used as an immunotoxin to deliver a cytotoxic agent eg_ a toxin oi- cliemotherapeutic agent to a pat'ticular cell type such as a tumotir cell. Production of immunotoxins would be fatnilirrr to persons skilled in the art.

Cytotoxic agents cotinmonly used to generate immunotoxins include radioactive isotopes such as 1 ".[n or90 Y, sclCnium, libonucleaScs, binditlg tlomain - deleted truncated micrcfhial toxins such as Pseudomon<<s exotoxin or I}iphlheria toxin, tubulin inhibitors suci7 as calicheamicin (ocagamicin), maytansinoids (incluc.tatlg DM-1), auristatins, and taxoids, r,.ibosozne inactivating proteins such a.s ricin, ebulin I, saporin and gclonin, and prodrugs such as nlelphalati.

In the preferred ecnborlinient, thc composition is administered to a hturiart.

The present itivent.iotl also pro'videts for the use of the chirneric antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof in a diagnostio applie;ation for detecting an antigen associated with a particular disease or disordcr.

More particularly, the invention provides for the use of the chimeric antibody or ant,igen-bincling portion thereof in a inethocl for diagnosing a suhject having an antigcn associatcd w'rtli a particutar disease or disorder, comprising adaninistc;ring to said subject a If) diagnostically effective amount of a pharmaGeut.ical composition according to the third aspect. Preferably the stlbjcct is ai human.

For example, the chirxieric antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, prcforably labelled, can he used to clet.ect the prescnce of an antigen, or elevated levels of an antigen (e.g. TNFcx) in a hiological. sa.tnplc, such as scrum or plasma using a eorivent=ion .15 imtnunoassay, tiucii aLs an enzylue linkcd itnrnUnosorbenL assay (EU'a'A), a radioirnmunoar,sa.y (RIA) or tissue itumunohistcx;hemistry.

Preferably, the atitigen to which the chimeric antibody or .antigen-binding portiUn ther-eof binds, is pcptrdc, protein, carhohyd.rate, glycoprotein, lipid or glycolipid in nature, sclectecl from a tuniour-associatcd antigen includinl; ca-cinoenibryCrniC atltigcn, EpCAM, Lewis-Y, 20 I,ewis-Y/b, PMSA, CD20, CD30, CD33, CD38, CD52, CD154, EGF-R, Her-2, TRAIL
and VEGP i-eceptors, an antigcn involved in an immune or inflanunatory disease or disorder including CD3, CD4, CC17.5, [;D40, CD49d, MHC class I, MHC class t!, GM-CSF, interferon--y, I.la-1, IL-12, IL-13., IL-23, TNV-a, and IgF, an antigcn expressed on a host cell including glycoprcitein llh/l Ila, P-glyeoprotein, purinergic receptors and adhesion 25 receptors including CDIla, CD11b, CI)1Ic, CD1.8, CD56, CD58, CD62orCD144, an antigen comprising a cytokine, cheutokitic, growth factor or other soluble physiological modulator or a receptor thc;reof includ9ng eotaxin, IL-6, IL-8, TCF-J3, C3a, C5a, VfiC;F, NGF and their receptors, an antigcn involved in central nervous system diseases or disorders including j3-amyloid and prions, an antigen of non-human origin such as 30 rnicrc,bial, nanobial or viral antigens or toxins inclueling respiratory syncitial virus protein P. anthrax toxin, rattle snake venom ancl digoxin; wherein the chimeric atttibody acts as an agonist or antagonist or is active to eitlter deplete (kill or climii7tttc) undesired cells (cg.
;tnti-C134) liy acting with ccmplenicnt, or kiliercells (eg. N'K cells) ot=is active as a cyt.ot.oxic a.gent or to cause Fe-receptor bindin~ by a pla3gocytc or neutralizes biological ttctivity of its target.

'I'he anti-hunian TNFa chimeric antibody or antigen binding poifiiott thereof accordtitig to the inventioti mtty also he used in cul] cultur=e applications wherc it is dcsired to inliibit TNFsY activit.y.

The present invetrt.ion also provides a mcthod for treating zt disease or disordcr cliaracterised by human TNFa activity in a human subject, comprising adrxtinistcring to the subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical cotttposilion according to the present itivcntion in which the clvirrteric antihody or atrtigen-hinding portion thcreof bincls TNlcrx.

The term "diseasc or disorder chat'actcrised by hunlan TNlya ttctivity" as used herein is intended to includc diseases or disordcrs in which the presence ofTNFu in a subject suffeting frona the discttse or disorder has been showtt to be or is suspected of being eithcr responsible for the pathophysiology of tho disease or disorcler or a factor that contributes to the worsening of the discase or disorder. Accordingly, a disease or disorclcr in which TNFa activity is detriincntal is a disease or disorder in which inhibition of TNFa activity is cxpceted to ttl leviate syniptoms and/or progression of the disease or disorder. Such diseases or ditiorders may be evidenced, for example, by an increase in the cortcentration of TNFa in abiolagicttl fluid af a Subject staffcring frcrni the discase or disorder (e.g., an inc.reasc in the ooncentratiotl of TNFa in serum, plasma, synovitt] fluid etc of the subject), which can be clctected, for example, using a chimeric antibody of the invention spccific frn=
7'Nl~a_ A disease or disor.'clcr charttcteri.sed by human TN.Pa ttctivity is intended to include diseases or disorders arid othcr disease or disorder in which the presence of TNFa in a subject sufFering froni the disease or disorder has been shown to be, or is suspected of being, either resgcrosibie for the pathophysiology of the disease or disorder or a factor which, contributes to a worsening of the disease or disorder. 'Preferably, the disease or disorder characterised by human TNra activity is selected from the group consisting of scpsis, including septic shock, enclotoxic shock, grain negative sepsis and toxic shock syndrome;
autoimtnune -disease, including rheumatoid arthritis, rheutxtfltoid spondylitis, ostcoarthritis, psoriasis and gouty arkli-ritis, allergy, multiple sclerosis, autoin'utuine diabetes, autoimmune uvoitis ttnd nephrotic syndrome; infectious discase, including fevc;r and rnyalgias due to infcction and cachcxia sccondary to infection; graft vctstas host disease; turnour growth or metastasis;
pulmotlary disease including adillt respiratory distress syndt-ome, shock lung, chronic ptllmClnai'y inflammatory disease, pttlnionary sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and silicosis;
inflammatory bowel diseaso inclttclittg Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; cardiac disease; inflammatnry bonc disc3sc, bepatitis, cc,agulation disturblinccs, bunts, repertu;;ion injury, keloid formation and scar t.issue formation.

Supplementary aetivt: compot7nds can alsn he incorporated into thc conlposition, '1'he antibody or antibody-binding fragment may he co-formulatcd with ancl/or administered simultanetausly, scpai-ately or sequentially with one or more addit.ional therapeutic agents eg. antibodics that bind to other targGts such as cytokines o.t' cel i surface molecules or alt.crnativcly one or mc3t-e chemical agents thZt= inhihit hunian '1'NF(x prpducstion or activity.
In another aspect, the invont.ion provides a kit compt-ising a therapeutically effective amount of a chimeric antibocly or antigen-binding portion of thc invention, or a phan-naceutical composition comprising a therapeutically cffcctivc amount of a chirneric antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, togetht r with packaging aitid instructions for use. In t;atain c.tnbodint.exits, the instructions fttr usc inclttde insttvct.ions for how tt) effectivaly -idmitiister a tt-eraPeutic amount of the chimcrie antibody or antigen-binding portion of the invcntion.

Throughottt this specification the word "comprisc", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", wilI he understood to imply the irlclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or grotrp of eletnents, integers or stcps, but not the exclusion of any other element, intcgcr or step, or group of elemcnts, integers or steps.

All publicittiuns incntioncd in this specification are herein incorporatccl by reference. Any discussion of documents, acts, ti}aterials, d.evices, arlicles or the; likc whiclt has been included in the prescnt specification is solely for the purpose of providing a co,ntext for the present invcntion. IL is not to be taken as an aclmission that any or all of these mattert; form part of the prior art base or wet=e common general knowlec3gc in the field lelevant to the present invcntion as it cxisted in Australia or elsewhere before thc priority dat.e of each claim of this application.

In c.-rder lhat the naturc of the present invention may be more clearly undcrstood, preferred forms thereof will now be described with reference to the follawing non-limiting examples.

'74 i'+'.Xr1MPLI';1 Fusion ora marmoset variable region to a huatiati constant region Materials aiici niethixL;

C;ene Synthe.si.c aratl Cloning The VH c.hain (Accession Numl:jer: t1AM54057, SEQ LD NO: t) of the MOG
specit;tc tnarmo5et defived antil?ody wa,; expressc;cl with 3 human constant region (hutnan Igt.Y I.
heavy chain Citl, hinge, C112 &. CH;i domains (such as 'NGBI accession numl7er P01$57) (SEQ ID NCa: 2)). This was achieved by back translatiun of the amirro acid sequence into a DNA sequence which was optimized for tnatnmalian cell expression using GeneUptimizer tc:chnology and synt.tiesized de rtavv by aSsentbly of synthetic oligonucleotidCs (CleneArt, Germany). During DNA sequence optimisat,ion the specific restriction enzyme sites Asc I
atld 2kh 1.111 were included to allow for future manipulation of the VH
regiotl. Foilowing gene synthesis the whole sequence inclucfing a Kozak secluc,~nce was eluned into the multiple cloning 5ite of the pEE6.4 GS accessoiy vector (Lonca. I.3iologics).
Thc V,, chain (Acces:aicm Nutnber: AAM54058, SEQ ID NO: 3) of the MOO specific marmoset derived antibody was expressed with a hunxau kappa iiglit chain constxnt region (such as NC[3[
accession nuinbcr AAA58989) (SEQ ID NO: 4). DNA encoding the light chAin (VL-Kappa) amino acid seclueace wa4 prepared as described above for tlic hcavy chain. During /
DNA sequence optimii..ation and synthesis the specific restriction enzytne sites Bsi Wi Rsr 11 were included to allow fttture manipulation of the VL region. Following genc synthesis the whole setluence inGluding a Kozak sequcnce wa.s cloned into the multiple cloning site of the pEE12.4 GS exprc;5sion vector (Lonza Biologics). For stable expression thc two singlc gene vectors (pEiF.6.4-VH-IgGt and pFir12.4-VT,,Kappa) werc combined into a double genc vec:tor. This wati done by digesting out ol'the pEE6.4 backbonc the heavy chain expression cassette (hCM V-MIE promotcr, Kozak sequence, ma.rmoset VH, human constant region and SV40 polyA sitc) using No! I andRrr.niH 1_ The resuitant fral;ment was subotoned using Not I and Bcarnkl I sites into the pE'F..12,4-Vr, Xappa vector downstream oF
the light cilain expression cassette (hCMV-MIE pminoter, Kozak scquence, marmosct Vtõ
humitn Kappa constaiit re&ion and 5V40 polyA site) creating a vector expressing both the hoavy and light chains of AB 138 (SEQ II] NOs: 5 aud 6).

Ti-u.rz.sfecX don For each t.ransfectiun 175ft1 of Lipofectaminc 200() was acided to 5trzi, of Optirnetn I inedia (Invitrogen Cat Nos. 11668-027 and 31985-062) in a well of a 6 weli plate. In a secoiul well 70 I of the expre:ssioit vector (70 g) was added to 5 rrtL of Optimem I
media.
Following a$ niinutc room ternperature incubation, the contents of the two wt 1ls were 5 mixed together ancl lcft for a futther 20 rnitiute inGuhation. Following thir; seconcl incubation the whole transfeGtion mixttirc was added to a T175 tissue culture flask containing the CHOKISV cel15. Cells were inctihatet{ for 72 to 90 hours tiricl sttpornatants harvested. Supt;m3t.ants were centriftrgcd at 4,000 x g for 5 tltinutes to pcllct ccll debris, a.ncl were filter sterilised through 0.22 p.m caiti-idge filter.

10 Antibucly Purif'icczti.nra The supernatant was passed over a HiTrap Protein A colcnnn (Amersh:rm Biosciences, Cat.
No: 17-(1402-01) thrce times at a flow tate of 1 mUmin. The column was then washed with 20 niM strdium phosphate for 40 s2tins at I m=Umin. The antibody was cluted with 0.) M citric acid pH 3.5 with fractions collected and immediately neuti-alisecl with 1M Tris-15 Ilt;'.l pl-T 9Ø Antibody samples were then desa.ltecl on a PD-I O column (Amcrsham 13iosciences, Cat No: 17-0851-01). Analysis of the anribocly by SUS-PAGE and size-exclu5ion TULC confirmed the coYY=cct molecular wcight, presence of assembled antilxady and the concentration of antiboil=y.

Westenr. Blot analysis 20 The ability of AB l38 to retain binding to the antigeD of M26, rat MOG
(myelin-Uligodendrocyte glycoprotcin), was investigated by Westem Blot. 130 mg of rat spinal cord (IMVS, Australia) was hnmogenizcd in 1.8 ml CelLytic M Cell l.ysis lZeagent (S1GMA, C2978) and iiicubated for 30 minutes at 4 C. Further homogenization was pei:t'crnned by drawing the lysate through a 27g112 net;dlc scveral times followed by 25 ceaitrifugation at 4"C and 13000g for 30 minutes. The pellet and supernatant was cliluted into SDS-PAGE sample buffer (125 mM Tris-HCI pH 6.8, 5~1a SDS, 0.25~'io bromophenol blue, 25'~'o glycerol). Along with this 200 p.l CHOKISV cells at I X 106 viable cells per nil were ,spun down at.1300t) x g at 4 C for I tninute and resuspettded in 200 gl CelLytic M
Cell Lysis Reagent (SIGMA). Following centrifugation at 4 C and 13000 x g for minutes the superziat9nt wa.s mixed with the apprcpri:rtr; amouiit of Sl7S-PAGE sample buffer. All samples, along with a sarnple of xnolecular weight markers, were run on a 4-20%1 Novex pre-cast gel (]nvitrcrgen, Australia) for 2 hours at 120V. Proteins were thcn transferi-ed to PVDF (13ioRad, Australia) using a western blot apparatus in 1 X Tris-Glycine l3uffer with 20e~'o methanol (BioRad, Cat 161t-0771) at 4 C- at 250 mA
for2 hours. '1'he me.mbrano was then b.locketl by inculiat.iott with 5 c;"a skim milk powder in PBS
for 1 h at rnoni tetnpcz'ature, 'I'he rnctnbrane was then washed with t X PBS
three tinles followed by an overnight incubation at 4"C: with AB 138 in PBS at lU uglmI...
After washing, the membrane wa5 incubated with Goat Anti-human I'gCr (I.i.+L) HRP
cnnjttgate (Sigma, Australia) dilutcd 1:5000 in I XPBS for t hour at ronm temperaturc.
Fol#owing washing, bocmd a3itibody was detected using the FCL Wcstcrn $lntting AnalySis Systenl, (Amerstiam Biosciences Cat: RPN21 09). A parallel eApcritncnt waL,;
pexforxticd in which A13138 was replaced witlt an isolype-matchcd irrelevant specilicity negative contrnl antibody (anti-TNNnc tnonoclontil antibody) in order to identify any non-specific binding events.

Results After suocessfu) protein cxpressic>n and purification, westcrn blot analysis was performed on AB138 to Lleternnine if it rctitined binding affinity to rat MOG. AB138 bound a protein with approxitnitte size of 25 kDa present in the rtit sPinal co.rd cleared lysatc, a protein not Prese.nt in clearcd CI-IOKISV lysttte (higtirc 1). The negative control anti.body did not .h.i.nd to protein present in either Iysate jndicating t.hc interaction betwcen AE313H
and the protein of size 25 kDa was not due to artifact or non-spe,uific binding events associated with the huma.n constant regicm (Figure 2). This protein matches the expccted size of rat MfJG
minus the signal setluence (24.9 1cD~k).'1'his result indicates that AB138 retttincd affinity for rat MC)C, present in rat sPinal cord lysate and demnnsti-ates that a marmoset human fusion antibody can retLtin antigen bir,ding al~ility.

It can bc tippreciated by somecme skilled in the act that rat MOG could bo produced using recombinant DNA teclinology and the ability of AT3138 to bind rat MQG
determined it) binding assays such as ELISA or 13iacore analysis.

CDR2 Substitution of a domain antibody Standarcl reeornbinant DNA technoJogy can he used to procluce a locally engincered dor.uain antibody by substitution of the CDR2 of an acceptor anti-TNra domain antibody (13asr,tn et al. WO 20()4/081026; SFQ Ip NC-: 7; Figure 3) with a CDR2 from a donor Naw World primatc immunoglobulin.

Applying thc rules of Kabat (Sequences o!'T'roteins of Itnmunological Intcrest" k:. Kabat et al_, U.S. Dcpartment of Health and Human Services, 1983) the CDR2 is idc;ntified on the acceptor anti-TNF-a dnmain antibody (SASFLQS). The domain antibody acceptor scquence is then aligned against a panel of lVew World primate immunogloUulin secluences. These sequences are derived fi-om the Ma's tiight. tronkey (Aottis nancymaac) (SFQ fD NOs:, 8 - 113) and from the common marmosct (Cal.lithrix,jacchus) (S.FQ lD NOs:
la - 24 ) (Figurc 4). '1'ht CDR2 sequences of the New World primate ilrununoglnbulins ttia.t differ from that of thc acceptor C:DCt2 5equcncc can lse identified as SASTLQT, ,DASSr.QP, GASTRAT, KVSNRAS, KVSNRA.S, KVSTRGP, AASNRAS,'I :SSNLQA, KASTLQS, AAS'I'L,QS, YASSLQS, YASFLQG) (Table 1). I3LAST analysis (http://www.aichi.nlrrt.uih.govlBLAST/) oYt each of these donor New World primatc CI7R2 I0 sequcnces is Perfcartncd to remove sequences that are exact matches for human itruntx.noglnbulin sequences. Setlucnces unique tca New World primates wure KVSNRAS, RVSNRAS, KVSTR[,7P, AASNRAS, TSSNLQA, DASSLQP, YASFLQG (Table 1)_ SL:Q CDR2 Contp:~rison 19X~AST analysis il.? NO sequence t4 acceptor against I.Iomo sapien sequencc sequences ~iEL(iFS) (SASELQS) !1 KVSNRAS pifferent No ex,~ct matchcti 9 KASI'i.QS Differer~t Matches huutnti AAS'1'LQS Diffcrent Matches hurn:in 11 AASNRAS Diffcrcnt No exact rnatches 12 ''SSNT.Qi1 l~ifferant Na cxfict matches 13 YASSC,QS ED=
Matchas humtui 14 YASF~L(~C~ Dificrent No exact rnatehes RVSNRAS 1)ifferent No Cuct matches 16 KAS"CT.QS Different Matches hum an 17 t;AS'J'khT Diftereot Matchcs human 1$ KVSTRGP Difforcnt No exact matches 19 SASTLQT Different Mntcltes human CTA.r.,TRAT 1)ifferent Matches }lpman 21 DASSLQP Diflerent No exact matchcs 2'2 GASTRAT Diffcrent Matrhes human 23 GASTRAT f)ifferent Matches human 24 CiAS'MAT Dil'fcrent Matchcs hun~n Table 1: New World primate CDR2 sequences and their suitability as dcmor sequcnces.
15 The acceptor CDR2 and the potential donor CDR2s dre exatnined for their predicted imtnunogenicity in hulnans by the MHC class l[ binding prediction progrum Propred (http:/Iwww.imtech:res.in/ra h~ uv,,~/nroprc(l) using a 1% threshold valtie analysis of all allclcs. From this analysis the acceptor CDR2, SASSLQS, forms part of the peptide, LIYSAS[:LQ, which is predicted to bind Ml1.C class II encoded by 1 I alleles 20 (DRBl,_0306, DRB1_0:307, t7RB1_0308, DR131_0311, DRB1_,0401, DIrB1_0426, t]RB1_I)806, DRIi 1_0813, nRB 1_i 501, DRt31,._1502, DRB 1_ 1,506). 'f'he donor CDR2 5equcnce, KVSI'JRAS, .forms part of a seqiu;nce, LIYKVSNRAS, which is pi'cclicted to hind MHC; class 11 encoded by 9 alleleS (DRb1_(.)309, DRB l_O4f.)2, DRi3l 0802, URFi 1_0804, DRB 1..9806, URBI 0813, I?RF31_1301, DRE l_1327, DRt3 t_1328), Ttic donor CDR2 scquenee, AASNRAS, forms part ot a sequencc, LYYAASNR.A, which is predictcd to bind Mt-.iC class ll encoded by 6 alleles (D]ti3l_0402, I7RF31_0404, D3tt31_0409, I7RB1_0423, DRB1_0813, D,RB1_1506).'!'he donorCDR2 seqttance, TSSNLQA, forms pait of a sequencc, LIYTSSNLQA, which is predictid to bind Mt-IC
class 1[ encoded by 10 alleles (llR131_0401, DRB 1_0402, URB1_0404, DItB.1,_0410, .DRB]_0423,'llR131_0426, DRB1_()813, DR131_1501., DR131_1502, DRB1_1506). The donor C:DR2 sequence, KVSTRGP, forms purt of a sequence 'Lt.IYKVSTR, which is predicted to i.iind MXIC cla:,s II encoded by 8 alleleS (UR131 03()9, DR131,0802, D'R131 0804, DR$1 ()80fi, DR131_0813, X7RB 1_1.301,17R131_1127, DRB 1_1328).1-Icnce, the acccptur CDR2 can be rc platced with a donor C:i.7R2 nf lowcr predicted irnmunogcnicity, including KVSNRAS, AASNRAS, TSSNI.,QA and KVS t'RGP.

Using recombinant DNA t.ec}anolc>gy, the acceptor C::OR2 is replaced with the donor CDR2 sequences, generating the locally enginctred domain antibadies (SEQ ID No: 25 -31).
Examples of recombinunt DNA technology include k)tosc ciescribod by Winter et aI. (t,1S
5,225,539), and include, but is not iiniitod to, techniques such as site-ci,irected mutagenesis and oligo annealing. Protein exprewsion of the d4main antibodies is then perfnnncd in =F.
_coli BL21(DE3) pLys (Novagen, Germany) using.a su.it.a.ble vector for expression such as pET21d(+) (Novagen, Germasiy), or by ot.her such matjiods known in the art such as thnse describc by 13asran et ctl. (WO 2004/091026). Nollowing liacteriml ccll lysis the domain antibodies are purified using Pi-otein L(Piercc:, 13SA) chro.tn3tol;raphy.

Following purification the enbineered clomain antiboclies arc analysed for retention of TNFa binding ability by incthods known in the art, such as the L929 ucutral isatiun assay or the'f'NFrz receptor I hindin.g assay.

To improvc the binding affinity of thc engineered dottiain axltitwdies, affinity maturation could be pcrforrnccl by amino i1cid silbstitutiotl of the frunieWork residUes SUTL'OUnding and stttbilising CT?R2 or by othcr methods known in the 3r't.('Wintcr et al. (US
5,225,539);
Griffiths et cal (US 5,885,793); ltajpal, A_ et cil. (2005) Agencral method for greatly improving the ai"tinity of antibadies by using comb.inatoria.l Iibraries, Proc Nail Acad Sci U
S A., 102(24) 8466-71; irving R.A. et ccl. (2001)12ibosome display and affinity maturation:
from antibodies to single V-doniairxs and steps towards catlcCr thei~apeulics, Jaurnal of Immunological Methods, 248: 31-45).

ft wi{I be appreciated by I,ersons skillcd in tht: art lhat nume.t'ous variations and/or mc>dificatioits may be made to the inveiitian as showii in the specifio r;mbndim,ezits withoul departing from the spirit or scope of the invcntivn as broadly cleseribeci.
't'he present embodiments arc, thc;refare, to be considered in all respects as illttstrative and npt restrictive, DEMANDE OU BREVET VOLUMINEUX

LA PRESENTE PARTIE DE CETTE DEMANDE OU CE BREVET COMPREND
PLUS D'UN TOME.

NOTE : Pour les tomes additionels, veuillez contacter le Bureau canadien des brevets JUMBO APPLICATIONS/PATENTS

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Claims (30)

CLAIMS:-

1. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof, wherein the antigen-binding portion comprises at least two complementarity determining regions (CDR) and at least three framework regions, wherein at least one CDR is a New World primate CDR.

2. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to claim 1 wherein the antigen binding portion comprises three CDRs and four framework regions.

3. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the antigen-binding portion comprises at least one CDR which is human CDR.

4. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the antigen-binding portion comprises two CDRs which are a human CDRs.

5. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein CDR2 is a New World primate CDR2.

6. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to claim 5 wherein the CDR2 sequence is selected from the group consisting of KVSNRAS, RVSNRAS, KVSTRGP, AASNR.LAMBDA.S, TSSNLQA, DASSLQP and YASFLQG.

7. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to claim 6 wherein the CDR2 sequence is selected from the group consisting of KVSNRAS, A.LAMBDA.SNRAS, TSSNLQA and KVSTRGP.

8. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the framework regions are human sequences.

9. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein at least one framework region is modified to increase binding.

10. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein at least one framework region is modified to reduce predicted immunogenicity in humans.

11. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein at least one CDR sequence is modified to increase binding, provided that the at least one New World primate CDR sequence is not modified.

12. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein at least one CDR sequence is modified to reduce predicted immunogenicity in humans, provided that the at least one New World primate CDR sequence is not modified.

13. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the at least one CDR sequence which is modified is not the New World primate CDR.

4. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the antigen-binding portion is a domain antibody.

15. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the antibody or antigen-binding portion further comprises a human or non-human primate constant region sequence.

16. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the New World primate is selected from the group consisting of marmosets, tamarins, squirrel monkey, uakaris, sakis, titi monkey, spider monkey, woolly monkey, capuchin, night or owl monkey and the howler monkey.

17. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to claim 16 wherein the New World primate is a marmoset.

18. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the antibody binds an antigen that is peptide, protein, carbohydrate, glycoprotein, lipid or glycolipid in nature, selected from a tumour-associated antigen including carcinoembryonic antigen, EpC.LAMBDA.M, Lewis-Y, Lewis-Y/b, PMS.LAMBDA., CD20, CD30, CD33, CD38, CD52, CD154, EGF-R, Her-2, TRAIL and VEGF receptors, an antigen involved in an immune or inflammatory disease or disorder including CD3, CD4, CD25, CD40, CD49d, MHC class I, MHC class II, GM-CSF, interferon-.gamma., IL-1, IL-12, IL-13, IL-23, TNF-.alpha., and IgE, an antigen expressed on a host cell including glycoprotein IIb/II~a, P-glycoprotein, purinergic receptors and adhesion receptors including CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD18, CD56, CD58, CD62 or CD14, an antigen comprising a cytokine, chemokine, growth factor or other soluble physiological modulator or a receptor thereof including eotaxin, IL-6, IL-8, TGF-.beta., C3a, C5a, VEGF, NGF and their receptors, an antigen involved in central nervous system diseases or disorders including .beta.-amyloid and prions, an antigen of non-human origin such as microbial, nanobial or viral antigens or toxins including respiratory syncitial virus protein F, anthrax toxin, rattle snake venom and digoxin.

19. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof according to claim 18, wherein the antibody binds to TNF.alpha..

20. A method of producing a chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof, the method comprising deleting a CDR from a human antibody variable region comprising at least two CDRs and at least three framework regions and replacing it with a New World primate CDR predicted to be of low immunogenicity to produce a chimeric variable region.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the method further comprises the step of recovering the chimeric variable region.

22. The method according to claim 20 or claim 21 wherein the New World primate CDR is CDR2.

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22 further comprising the step of modifying the sequence of the chimeric variable region to increase binding, provided that the New World primate CDR sequence is not modified.

24. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 23 further comprising the step of modifying the sequence of the chimeric variable region to decrease immunogenicity in humans, provided that the at least one New World primate CDR sequence is not modified.

25. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 24 wherein the New World primate is selected from the group consisting of marmosets, tamarins, squirrel monkey, titi monkey, spider monkey, woolly monkey, capuchin, uakaris, sakis, night or owl monkey and the howler monkey.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the New World primate is a marmoset.

27. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 26 wherein the antibody binds to an antigen that is peptide, protein, carbohydrate, glycoprotein, lipid or glycolipid in nature, selected from a tumour-associated antigen including carcinoembryonic antigen, EpCAM, Lewis-Y, Lewis-Y/b, PMSA, CD20, CD30, CD33, CD38, CD52, CD154, EGF-R, Her-2, TRAIL and VEGF receptors, an antigen involved in an immune or inflammatory disease or disorder including CD3, CD4, CD25, CD40, CD49d, MHC class I, MHC class II, GM-CSF, interferon-.gamma., IL-1, IL-12, IL-13, IL-23, TNF-.alpha., and IgE, an antigen expressed on a host cell including glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, P-glycoprotein, purinergic receptors and adhesion receptors including CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD18, CD56, CD58, CD62 or CD144, an antigen comprising a cytokine, chemokine, growth factor or other soluble physiological modulator or a receptor thereof including cotaxin, IL-6, IL-8, TGF-.beta., C3a, C5a, VEGF, NGF and their receptors, an antigen involved in central nervous system diseases or disorders including .beta.-amyloid and prions, an antigen of non-human origin such as microbial, nanobial or viral antigens or toxins including respiratory syncitial virus protein F, anthrax toxin, rattle snake venom and digoxin.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the antibody binds to TNF.alpha..

29. A chimeric antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof produced by the method according to any one of claims 20 to 28.

30. A kit comprising a chimeric antibody or antigen-binding portion according to any one of claims 1 to 19, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, packaging and instructions for use.