EP1175446A1 - Humane antikörper, welche il-12 binden und verfahren zu deren herstellung - Google Patents

Humane antikörper, welche il-12 binden und verfahren zu deren herstellung

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Publication number
EP1175446A1
EP1175446A1 EP00918396A EP00918396A EP1175446A1 EP 1175446 A1 EP1175446 A1 EP 1175446A1 EP 00918396 A EP00918396 A EP 00918396A EP 00918396 A EP00918396 A EP 00918396A EP 1175446 A1 EP1175446 A1 EP 1175446A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antigen
antibody
amino acid
binding portion
activity
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00918396A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Sarkis Barret Kalindjian
Ildiko Maria Buck
Ian Duncan Linney
Paul Trevor Wright
Iain Mair Mcdonald
Katherine Isobel Mary Steel
Robert Antony David Hull
Sonia Patricia Roberts
John David Gaffen
Jeremy Gilbert Vinter
Martin Keith Walker
James Whyte Black
Gillian Fairfull Watt
Elaine Anne Harper
Nigel Paul Shankley
Matthew John Tozer
David John Dunstone
Michael John Pether
Elliot James Lilley
David Andrew Sykes
Caroline Minli Rachel Low
Eric Peter Griffin
Laurence Wright
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Abbott GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Knoll GmbH
Abbott GmbH and Co KG
Genetics Institute LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=22425740&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP1175446(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Knoll GmbH, Abbott GmbH and Co KG, Genetics Institute LLC filed Critical Knoll GmbH
Priority to DK09175437.4T priority Critical patent/DK2168984T3/da
Priority to EP09175437A priority patent/EP2168984B1/de
Priority to EP10180107A priority patent/EP2301970A1/de
Priority to EP10180283A priority patent/EP2319870A3/de
Publication of EP1175446A1 publication Critical patent/EP1175446A1/de
Priority to CY2013007C priority patent/CY2013007I1/el
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • C07K16/24—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against cytokines, lymphokines or interferons
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Definitions

  • IL-12 Human interleukin 12
  • IL-12 plays a critical role in the pathology associated with several diseases involving immune and inflammatory responses.
  • a review of IL-12, its biological activities, and its role in disease can be found in Gately et al. (X 99 ) Ann. Rev. Immunol 16: 495-521.
  • IL-12 is a heterodimeric protein comprising a 35 kDa subunit (p35) and a 40 kDa subunit (p40) which are both linked together by a disulfide bridge (referred to as the "p70 subunit").
  • the heterodimeric protein is produced primarily by antigen- presenting cells such as monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. These cell types also secrete an excess of the p40 subunit relative to p70 subunit.
  • the p40 and p35 subunits are genetically unrelated and neither has been reported to possess biological activity, although the p40 homodimer may function as an IL-12 antagonist.
  • IL-12 plays a central role in regulating the balance between antigen specific T helper type (Thl) and type 2 (Th2) lymphocytes.
  • Thl and Th2 cells govern the initiation and progression of autoimmune disorders, and IL-12 is critical in the regulation of Thj -lymphocyte differentiation and maturation.
  • Cytokines released by the Thl cells are inflammatory and include interferon ⁇ (IFN ⁇ ), IL-2 and lymphotoxin (LT).
  • Th2 cells secrete IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 to facilitate humoral immunity, allergic reactions, and immunosuppression.
  • IL-12 may play a major role in the pathology associated with many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Crohn's disease.
  • RA rheumatoid arthritis
  • MS multiple sclerosis
  • Crohn's disease Human patients with MS have demonstrated an increase in IL-12 expression as documented by p40 mRNA levels in acute MS plaques. (Windhagen et al, (1995) J. Exp. Med. 182: 1985-1996).
  • IL-12 p70 Elevated levels of IL-12 p70 have been detected in the synovia of RA patients compared with healthy controls (Morita et al (1998) Arthritis and Rheumatism. 41 : 306- 314). Cytokine messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression profile in the RA synovia identified predominantly Thl cytokines. (Bucht et al, (1996) Clin. Exp. Immunol. 103: 347-367). IL-12 also appears to play a critical role in the pathology associated with Crohn's disease (CD). Increased expression of INF ⁇ and IL-12 has been observed in the intestinal mucosa of patients with this disease (Fais et al. (1994) J. Interferon Res.
  • CD Crohn's disease
  • the cytokine secretion profile of T cells from the lamina intestinal of CD patients is characteristic of a predominantly Thl response, including greatly elevated IFN ⁇ levels (Fuss, et al, (1996) J. Immunol. 157:1261-1270). Moreover, colon tissue sections from CD patients show an abundance of IL-12 expressing macrophages and IFN ⁇ expressing T cells (Parronchi et al (1997) Am. J. Path. 150:823-832).
  • IL-12 Due to the role of human IL-12 in a variety of human disorders, therapeutic strategies have been designed to inhibit or counteract IL-12 activity.
  • antibodies that bind to, and neutralize, IL-12 have been sought as a means to inhibit IL- 12 activity.
  • Some of the earliest antibodies were murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), secreted by hybridomas prepared from lymphocytes of mice immunized with IL-12 (see e.g., World Patent Application Publication No. WO 97/15327 by Strober et al; Neurafh et al. (1995) J. Exp. Med. 182: 1281-1290; Duchmann et a (1996) J Immunol. 26:934- 938).
  • mAbs murine monoclonal antibodies
  • murine IL-12 antibodies are limited for their use in vivo due to problems associated with administration of mouse antibodies to humans, such as short serum half life, an inability to trigger certain human effector functions and elicitation of an unwanted immune response against the mouse antibody in a human (the "human anti- mouse antibody” (HAMA) reaction).
  • HAMA human anti- mouse antibody
  • chimeric antibodies in which the variable regions of the antibody chains are murine-derived and the constant regions of the antibody chains are human-derived, have been prepared (Junghans, et al. (1990) Cancer Res. 50:1495- 1502; Brown et al. (1991 ) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. 88:2663-2667; Kettleborough et al (1991) Protein Engineering. 4:773-783).
  • HACA human anti-chimeric antibody
  • a preferred IL-12 inhibitory agent to murine antibodies or derivatives thereof would be an entirely human anti-IL-12 antibody, since such an agent should not elicit the HAMA reaction, even if used for prolonged periods.
  • such antibodies have not been described in the art and, therefore are still needed.
  • the present invention provides human antibodies that bind human IL-12.
  • the invention also relates to the treatment or prevention of acute or chronic diseases or conditions whose pathology involves IL-12, using the human anti-IL-12 antibodies of the invention.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen- binding portion thereof, that binds to human IL-12.
  • the invention provides a selectively mutated human IL-12 antibody, comprising: a human antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, selectively mutated at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue such that it binds to human IL-12.
  • the invention provides a selectively mutated human IL-12 antibody, comprising: a human antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, selectively mutated at a preferred selective mutagenesis position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue such that it binds to human IL-12.
  • the selectively mutated human IL-12 antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof is selectively mutated at more than one preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation positions with an activity enhancing amino acid residue. In another preferred embodiment, the selectively mutated human IL-12 antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof is selectively mutated at no more than three preferred selective mutagenesis positions, contact or hypermutation positions. In another preferred embodiment, the selectively mutated human IL-12 antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof is selectively mutated at no more than two preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation positions.
  • the selectively mutated human IL-12 antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof is selectively mutated such that a target specificity affinity level is attained, the target level being improved over that attainable when selecting for an antibody against the same antigen using phage display technology.
  • the selectively mutated human IL-12 antibody further retains at least one desirable property or characteristic, e.g., preservation of non-cross reactivity with other proteins or human tissues, preservation of epitope recognition, production of an antibody with a close to a germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, that binds to human IL-12 and dissociates from human IL-12 with a Karate constant of 0J s _ 1 or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance, or which inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PLIA assay) with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 6 M or less.
  • PKIA assay phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • the isolated human antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof dissociates from human IL-12 with a K 0 ff rate constant of 1 x 10" 2 s" 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 7 M or less. More preferably, the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, dissociates from human IL-12 with a K off rate constant of 1 x 10" 3 s _ 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 8 M or less.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen- binding portion thereof dissociates from human IL-12 with a K 0ff rate constant of 1 x 10" 4 s" 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 9 M or less. More preferably, the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, dissociates from human IL-12 with a K 0 rate constant of 1 x 10"* 5 s _ 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 10 M or less.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof dissociates from human IL-12 with a K 0 ff rate constant of 1 x 10 ⁇ 5 s" 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 " 1 M or less.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 ⁇ 6 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: l; and c) has a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; and has a light chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5; and has a light chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.
  • the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof has a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7; and has a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 5 ⁇ of 1 x 10 "9 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 1 ; and has a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; and has a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14.
  • the isolated human antibody has a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15; and has a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 9 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17; and c) has a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19; and a light chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21; and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has the heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, and a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.
  • the isolated human antibody comprises a heavy chain constant region selected from the group consisting of IgGl , IgG2, IgG3. IgG4, IgM, IgA and IgE constant regions or any allelic variation thereof as discussed in Kabat et al. (Kabat, E.A., et al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242), included herein by reference.
  • the antibody heavy chain constant region is IgGl .
  • the isolated human antibody is a Fab fragment, or a F(ab') 2 fragment or a single chain Fv fragment.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 9 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 404-SEQ ID NO: 469; and c) has a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 534-SEQ ID NO: 579.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOJ35-SEQ ID NO: 403; and a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 506-SEQ ID NO: 533.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 288-SEQ ID NO: 334; and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 470-SEQ ID NO: 505.
  • the isolated human antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising a the heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, and a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.
  • the isolated human antibody comprises a heavy chain constant region, or an Fab fragment or a F(ab') 2 fragment or a single chain Fv fragment as described above.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 -9 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25; and c) has a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27; and a light chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29; and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30.
  • the isolated human antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31, and a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32.
  • the isolated human antibody comprises a heavy chain constant region, or an Fab fragment, or a F(ab') 2 fragment or a single chain Fv fragment as described above.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 -6 M or less; b) comprises a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of
  • SEQ ID NO: 1 a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, or a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a contact position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k off rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 , a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5; and c) comprises a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, or a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a contact position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k off rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 9 M or less; b) comprises a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9, a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 1 and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • mutants thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a contact position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k off rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9, a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 1 , and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; and c) comprises a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of
  • SEQ ID NO: 10 a light chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12
  • a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • mutants thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k off rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 ⁇ 9 M or less; b) comprises a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17, a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21, or a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k off rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17, a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19, and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 ; and c) comprises a light
  • the invention also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, of the invention.
  • a preferred isolated nucleic acid encodes the heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody heavy chain variable region.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes the CDRJ of the antibody heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes the CDRl of the antibody heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes an antibody heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes the light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody light chain variable region.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes the CDR2 of the antibody light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes the CDRl of the antibody light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes an antibody light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 ⁇ 9 M or less; b) comprises a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of
  • SEQ ID NO: 25 a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27 and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k off rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25, a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27, and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29; and c) comprises a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, a light chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • a preferred isolated nucleic acid encodes the heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody heavy chain variable region.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes the CDRJ of the antibody heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes the CDRl of the antibody heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes an antibody heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes the light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26. The isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody light chain variable region. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes the CDR2 of the antibody light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes the CDRl of the antibody light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes an antibody light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) that binds to human IL-12 and dissociates from human IL-12 with a k 0ff rate constant of 0J s " 'or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance, or which inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PHA assay) with an IC50 of 1 x 10 " M or less.
  • PHA assay phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • b) has a heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a member of the V H 3 germline family, wherein the heavy chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • c) has a light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a member of the Y ⁇ X germline family, wherein the light chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact position or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) that binds to human IL-12 and dissociates from human IL-12 with a k 0ff rate constant of 0J s " 'or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance, or which inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PHA assay) with an IC50 of 1 x 10 " M or less.
  • PHA assay phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • b) has a heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 595-667, wherein the heavy chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact position or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • c) has a light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 669-675, wherein the light chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) that binds to human IL-12 and dissociates from human IL-12 with a k 0ff rate constant of 0J s " 'or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance, or which inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PHA assay) with an IC50 of 1 x 10 " M or less.
  • PHA assay phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • b) has a heavy chain variable region comprising the COS-3 germline amino acid sequence, wherein the heavy chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • c) has a light chain variable region comprising the DPL8 germline amino acid sequence, wherein the light chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hyper
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) that binds to human IL-12 and dissociates from human IL-12 with a k 0ff rate constant of 0J s " 'or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance, or which inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PHA assay) with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 "6 M or less.
  • PHA assay phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • b) has a heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a member of the V H 3 germline family, wherein the heavy chain variable region comprises a CDR2 that is structurally similar to CDR2s from other V H 3 germline family members, and a CDRl that is structurally similar to CDRl s from other V H 3 germline family members, and wherein the heavy chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue; c) has a light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a member of the Y ⁇ X germline family, wherein the light chain variable region comprises a CDRJ that is structurally similar to CDRJs from other V ⁇ l germline family members, and a CDRl that is structurally similar to CDRl s from other V ⁇ l germline family members, and wherein the light chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino
  • the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof has a mutation in the heavy chain CDR3. In another preferred embodiment, the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, has a mutation in the light chain CDR3. In another embodiment, the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, has a mutation in the heavy chain CDRJ. In another preferred embodiment, the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, has a mutation in the light chain CDRJ. In another preferred embodiment, the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, has a mutation in the heavy chain CDRl . In another preferred embodiment, the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, has a mutation in the light chain CDRl .
  • the invention provides recombinant expression vectors carrying the antibody-encoding nucleic acids of the invention, and host cells into which such vectors have been introduced, are also encompassed by the invention, as are methods of making the antibodies of the invention by culturing the host cells of the invention.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or antigen- binding portion thereof, that neutralizes the activity of human IL-12, and at least one additional primate IL-12 selected from the group consisting of baboon IL-12, marmoset IL-12, chimpanzee IL-12, cynomolgus IL-12 and rhesus IL-12, but which does not neutralize the activity of the mouse IL-12.
  • the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody or an antigen binding portion thereof, of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • the invention provides a composition comprising the antibody or an antigen binding portion thereof, and an additional agent, for example, a therapeutic agent.
  • the invention provides a method for inhibiting human IL-12 activity comprising contacting human IL-12 with the antibody of the invention, e.g. , J695, such that human IL-12 activity is inhibited.
  • the invention provides a method for inhibiting human IL-12 activity in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which IL-12 activity is detrimental, comprising administering to the human subject the antibody of the invention, e.g., J695, such that human IL-12 activity in the human subject is inhibited.
  • the disorder can be, for example. Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis.
  • the invention features a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or an antigen binding portion thereof, to attain a predetermined target activity, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody a antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position selected from group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L50, L91 , L92, L93, L94.
  • steps d) or f) evaluating the activity of the combination antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof to determined if the combination antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof have the predetermined target activity or a partial target activity. g) if steps d) or f) do not result in an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof having the predetermined target activity, or result an antibody with only a partial activity, additional amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of H35, H50, H53, H54, H95, H96, H97, H98, L30A and L96 are mutated to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a second panel of mutated antibodies or antigen-binding portions thereof; h) evaluating the activity of the second panel of mutated antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof, to determined if mutation of a single amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of H35, H50, H53, H54, H95, H96, H97, H98, L30A and L96 results an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, having the
  • H52B and L31 A are mutated to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a third panel of mutated antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof; 1) evaluating the activity of the third panel of mutated antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof, to determine if a mutation of a single amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of H33B.
  • H52B and L31A resulted in an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, having the predetermined target activity or a partial activity; m) combining in a stepwise fashion in the parent antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, individual mutation of step k) shown to have an improved activity, to form combination antibodies, or antigen binding portions, thereof; n) evaluating the activity of the combination antibodies or antigen-binding portions thereof, to determine if the combination antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof have the predetermined target activity to thereby produce an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof with a predetermined target activity.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; e) repeating steps b) through d) for at least one other contact or hypermutation position; f) combining, in the parent antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, individual mutations shown to have improved activity, to form combination
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity is not further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, and expressing said panel in a non-phage display system; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; e) repeating steps
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98. HlOl , L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96.
  • the hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L53 and L93.
  • residues for selective mutagenesis are selected from the preferred selective mutagenesis positions from the group consisting of H30, H31. H31B, H32. H33, H52, H56. H58, L30, L31 , L32, L50. L91 , L92, L93. L94.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof ; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof and expressing said panel in an appropriate expression system; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof thereby identifying an activity enhancing amino acid residue; e) evaluating the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof for at least
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31 , L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30. H31 , H31B, H32, H52. H56, H58, L30. L31. L32, L53 and L93 and the other characteristic is selected from 1 ) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • residues for selective mutagenesis are selected from the preferred selective mutagenesis positions from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H52, FI56, H58.
  • L30, L31, L32, L50, L91, L92, L93, L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, and expressing said panel in a non-phage display system; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A. H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97. H98, HlOl, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues. 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B. H32, H52, H56. H58. L30, L31. L32, L53 and L93 and the other characteristic is selected from 1 ) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • residues for selective mutagenesis are selected from the preferred selective mutagenesis positions from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33. H52, H56, H58. L30, L31 , L32, L50, L91, L92, L93, L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1 ) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting a contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, and expressing said panel in a non-phage display system; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof thereby identifying an activity enhancing amino acid residue; e) evaluating the panel of mutated antibodies
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30. H31, H31B, H32. H33. H35. H50, H52, H52A. H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96. H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55. L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L53 and L93 and the other characteristic is selected from 1 ) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • residues for selective mutagenesis are selected from the preferred selective mutagenesis positions from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31 , L32, L50, L91 , L92, L93, L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected preferred selective mutagenesis position contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, and expressing said panel in a non-phage display system; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof;
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A. H53, H54, H56, H58. H95, H96, H97, H98, Hl Ol .
  • L50, L52, L53, L55, L91 , L92, L93, L94 and L96 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31 , L32, L53 and L93 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • residues for selective mutagenesis are selected from the preferred selective mutagenesis positions from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L50, L91, L92, L93, L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues. 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30.
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30. H31 , H31 B, H32. H33, H35. H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56. H58, H95, H96. H97. H98, Hl Ol . L30. L31 , L32. L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91 , L92.
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • L93, L94 and L96 c) individually mutating said selected position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, thereby identifying an activity enhancing amino acid residue; e) repeating steps b) through d) for at least one other CDR position which is neither the position selected under b) nor a position at H30, H31.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region
  • CDR for mutation other than H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53,
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1 ) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, FI35.
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • L91 , L92, L93, L94 f) combining, in the parent antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, at least two individual activity enhancing amino acid residues shown to have improved activity, to form combination antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof; and g) evaluating the activity and other property or characteristic of the combination antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof with two activity enhancing amino acid residues, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; until an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, with an improved activity, relative to the parent antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, is obtained.
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30.
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • the invention provides a method to improve the affinity of an antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mulation other than H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96; c) individually mutating said selected position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof and expression in a non-phage
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation at a position other than H30.
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1 ) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, without affecting other characteristics, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H35.
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30.
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence
  • Figures 1 A- IB show the heavy chain variable region amino acid sequence alignments of a series of human antibodies that bind human IL-12 compared to germline sequences Cos-3/JH3 and Dpi 18 Lvl042. Kabat numbering is used to identify amino acid positions. For the Joe 9 wild type, the full sequence is shown. For the other antibodies, only those amino acids positions that differ from Joe 9 wild type are shown.
  • Figures 1C-1D show the light chain variable region amino acid sequence alignments of a series of human antibodies that bind human IL-12. Kabat numbering is used to identify amino acid positions. For the Joe 9 wild type, the full sequence is shown. For the other antibodies, only those amino acids positions that differ from Joe 9 wild type are shown.
  • Figures 2A-2E show the CDR positions in the heavy chain of the Y61 antibody that were mutated by site-directed mutagenesis and the respective amino acid substitutions at each position.
  • the graphs at the right of the figures show the off-rates for the substituted antibodies (black bars) as compared to unmutated Y61 (open bar).
  • Figures 2F-2H show the CDR positions in the light chain of the Y61 antibody that were mutated by site-directed mutagenesis and the respective amino acid substitutions at each position.
  • the graphs at the right of the figures show the off-rates for the substituted antibodies (black bars) as compared to unmutated Y61 (open bar).
  • Figure 3 demonstrates the in vivo efficacy of the human anti-IL-12 antibody J695, on plasma neopterin levels in cynomolgus monkeys.
  • Figure 4 shows a graph of mean arthritic score versus days after immunization of mice with collagen, demonstrating that treatment with C 17.15 significantly decreases arthritis-related symptoms as compared to treatment with rat IgG.
  • activity enhancing amino acid residue includes an amino acid residue which improves the activity of the antibody. It should be understood that the activity enhancing amino acid residue may replace an amino acid residue at a contact, hypermutation or preferred selective mutagenesis position and, further, more than one activity enhancing amino acid residue can be present within one or more CDRs.
  • An activity enchancing amino acid residue include, an amino acid residue that improves the binding specificity/affinity of an antibody, for example anti-human IL-12 antibody binding to human IL-12.
  • the activity enhancing amino acid residue is also intended to include an amino acid residue that improves the neutralization potency of an antibody, for example, the human IL-12 antibody which inhibits human IL-12.
  • antibody includes an immunoglobulin molecule comprised of four polypeptide chains, two heavy (H) chains and two light (L) chains inter-connected by disulfide bonds.
  • Each heavy chain is comprised of a heavy chain variable region (abbreviated herein as HCVR or VH) and a heavy chain constant region.
  • the heavy chain constant region is comprised of three domains, CHI , CH2 and CH3.
  • Each light chain is comprised of a light chain variable region (abbreviated herein as LC VR or VL) and a light chain constant region.
  • the light chain constant region is comprised of one domain, CL.
  • VH and VL regions can be further subdivided into regions of hypervariability, termed complementarity determining regions (CDRs), interspersed with regions that are more conserved, termed framework regions (FR).
  • CDRs complementarity determining regions
  • FR framework regions
  • Each VH and VL is composed of three CDRs and four FRs. arranged from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus in the following order: FRl . CDRl , FRJ, CDRJ, FR3, CDR3, FR4.
  • antigen-binding portion of an antibody (or “antibody portion”) includes fragments of an antibody that retain the ability to specifically bind to an antigen (e.g., hIL-12).
  • binding fragments encompassed within the term "antigen-binding portion" of an antibody include (i) a Fab fragment, a monovalent fragment consisting of the VL, VH, CL and CHI domains; (ii) a F(ab') 2 fragment, a bivalent fragment comprising two Fab fragments linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region; (iii) a Fd fragment consisting of the VH and CHI domains; (iv) a Fv fragment consisting of the VL and VH domains of a single arm of an antibody, (v) a dAb fragment (Ward et al, (1989) Nature 341 :544-546 ), which consists of a VH domain; and (vi) an isolated complementarity determining region (CDR).
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • the two domains of the Fv fragment, VL and VH are coded for by separate genes, they can be joined, using recombinant methods, by a synthetic linker that enables them to be made as a single protein chain in which the VL and VH regions pair to form monovalent molecules (known as single chain Fv (scF ⁇ ): see e.g. , Bird et al. (1988) Science 242:423-426; and Huston et al. (1988) Proc. Nail Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883) .
  • Such single chain antibodies are also intended to be encompassed within the term "antigen-binding portion" of an antibody.
  • Other forms of single chain antibodies, such as diabodies are also encompassed.
  • Diabodies are bivalent, bispecific antibodies in which VH and VL domains are expressed on a single polypeptide chain, but using a linker that is too short to allow for pairing between the two domains on the same chain, thereby forcing the domains to pair with complementary domains of another chain and creating two antigen binding sites (see e.g., Holliger, P., et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:6444-6448: Poljak, R.J., et al. (1994) Structure 2:1 121-1 123).
  • an antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof may be part of a larger immunoadhesion molecules, formed by covalent or non-covalent association of the antibody or antibody portion with one or more other proteins or peptides.
  • immunoadhesion molecules include use of the streptavidin core region to make a tetrameric scFv molecule (Kipriyanov, S.M., et al. (1995) Human Antibodies and Hybridomas 6:93-101) and use of a cysteine residue, a marker peptide and a C-terminal polyhistidine tag to make bivalent and biotinylated scFv molecules (Kipriyanov, S.M., et al.
  • Antibody portions such as Fab and F(ab') 2 fragments, can be prepared from whole antibodies using conventional techniques, such as papain or pepsin digestion, respectively, of whole antibodies. Moreover, antibodies, antibody portions and immunoadhesion molecules can be obtained using standard recombinant DNA techniques, as described herein. Preferred antigen binding portions are complete domains or pairs of complete domains.
  • the term "backmutation" refers to a process in which some or all of the somatically mutated amino acids of a human antibody are replaced with the corresponding germline residues from a homologous germline antibody sequence.
  • the heavy and light chain sequences of the human antibody of the invention are aligned separately with the germline sequences in the VBASE database to identify the sequences with the highest homology. Differences in the human antibody of the invention are returned to the germline sequence by mutating defined nucleotide positions encoding such different amino acid.
  • the role of each amino acid thus identified as candidate for backmutation should be investigated for a direct or indirect role in antigen binding and any amino acid found after mutation to affect any desirable characteristic of the human antibody should not be included in the final human antibody; as an example, activity enhancing amino acids identified by the selective mutagenesis approach will not be subject to backmutation.
  • Backmuation may occur at any stage of antibody optimization; preferably, backmutation occurs directly before or after the selective mutagenesis approach. More preferably, backmutation occurs directly before the selective mutagenesis approach.
  • human interleukin 12 (abbreviated herein as hIL-12, or IL-12), as used herein, includes a human cytokine that is secreted primarily by macrophages and dendritic cells.
  • the term includes a heterodimeric protein comprising a 35 kD subunit (p35) and a 40 kD subunit (p40) which are both linked together with a disulfide bridge.
  • the heterodimeric protein is referred to as a "p70 subunit”.
  • the structure of human IL- 12 is described further in, for example, Kobayashi, et al. (1989) J. Exp Med. 170:827- 845; Seder, et al. (1993) Proc. Natl.
  • human IL-12 is intended to include recombinant human IL-12 (rh IL-12), which can be prepared by standard recombinant expression methods.
  • rh IL-12 recombinant human IL-12
  • hypervariable than other amino acid residues in the heavy and light chain variable regions of an antibody, or an antigen binding portion thereof (Kabat et al. (1971) Ann. NY Acad, Sci. 190:382-391 and , Kabat, E.A., et al. (1991 ) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91- 3242).
  • the hypervariable region ranges from amino acid positions 31 to 35 for CDRl , amino acid positions 50 to 65 for CDR2. and amino acid positions 95 to 102 for CDR3.
  • the hypervariable region ranges from amino acid positions 24 to 34 for CDRl , amino acid positions 50 to 56 for CDR2, and amino acid positions 89 to 97 for CDR3.
  • the Y61 anti-IL-12 antibody can be mutated from serine (S) to glutamic acid (E) at position 31 of the heavy chain CDRl (H31 S - E), or glycine (G) can be mutated to tyrosine (Y) at position 94 of the light chain CDR3 (L94G ⁇ Y).
  • human antibody includes antibodies having variable and constant regions corresponding to human germline immunoglobulin sequences as described by Kabat et al. (See Kabat, et al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91- 3242).
  • the human antibodies of the invention may include amino acid residues not encoded by human germline immunoglobulin sequences (e.g., mutations introduced by random or site-specific mutagenesis in vitro or by somatic mutation in vivo), for example in the CDRs and in particular CDR3.
  • the mutations preferably are introduced using the "selective mutagenesis approach" described herein.
  • the human antibody can have at least one position replaced with an amino acid residue, e.g., an activity enhancing amino acid residue which is not encoded by the human germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the human antibody can have up to twenty positions replaced with amino acid residues which are not part of the human germline immunoglobulin sequence. In other embodiments, up to ten, up to five, up to three or up to two positions are replaced. In a preferred embodiment, these replacements are within the CDR regions as described in detail below.
  • the term "human antibody”, as used herein, is not intended to include antibodies in which CDR sequences derived from the germline of another mammalian species, such as a mouse, have been grafted onto human framework sequences.
  • recombinant human antibody includes human antibodies that are prepared, expressed, created or isolated by recombinant means, such as antibodies expressed using a recombinant expression vector transfected into a host cell (described further in Section II, below), antibodies isolated from a recombinant, combinatorial human antibody library (described further in Section III, below), antibodies isolated from an animal (e.g., a mouse) that is transgenic for human immunoglobulin genes (see e.g., Taylor, L.D., et al. (1992) Nucl. Acids Res. 20:6287-6295) or antibodies prepared, expressed, created or isolated by any other means that involves splicing of human immunoglobulin gene sequences to other DNA sequences.
  • recombinant means such as antibodies expressed using a recombinant expression vector transfected into a host cell (described further in Section II, below), antibodies isolated from a recombinant, combinatorial human antibody library (described further in Section III, below), antibodies isolated
  • Such recombinant human antibodies have variable and constant regions derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences (See Kabat, E.A., et al (1991 ) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242).
  • such recombinant human antibodies are subjected to in vitro mutagenesis (or, when an animal transgenic for human Ig sequences is used, in vivo somatic mutagenesis) and thus the amino acid sequences of the VH and VL regions of the recombinant antibodies are sequences that, while derived from and related to human germline VH and VL sequences, may not naturally exist within the human antibody germline repertoire in vivo.
  • such recombinant antibodies are the result of selective mutagenesis approach or backmutation or both.
  • an “isolated antibody” includes an antibody that is substantially free of other antibodies having different antigenic specificities (e.g., an isolated antibody that specifically binds hIL-12 is substantially free of antibodies that specifically bind antigens other than hIL-12).
  • An isolated antibody that specifically binds hIL-12 may bind IL-12 molecules from other species (discussed in further detail below).
  • an isolated antibody may be substantially free of other cellular material and/or chemicals.
  • a “neutralizing antibody” (or an “antibody that neutralized hIL-12 activity”) includes an antibody whose binding to hIL-12 results in inhibition of the biological activity of hIL-12.
  • This inhibition of the biological activity of L- 12 can be assessed by measuring one or more indicators of hIL-12 biological activity, such as inhibition of human phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in a phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PHA). or inhibition of receptor binding in a human IL-12 receptor binding assay (see Example 3-Interferon-gamma Induction Assay).
  • PHA phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • RPA phytohemagglutininin blast proliferation assay
  • receptor binding in a human IL-12 receptor binding assay see Example 3-Interferon-gamma Induction Assay.
  • activity includes activities such as the binding specificity/affinity of an antibody for an antigen, for example, an anti-hIL-12 antibody that binds to an IL-12 antigen and/or the neutralizing potency of an antibody, for example, an anti-hIL-12 antibody whose binding to hIL-12 inhibits the biological activity of hIL-12, e.g. inhibition of PHA blast proliferation or inhibition of receptor binding in a human IL-12 receptor binding assay (see Example 3).
  • surface plasmon resonance includes an optical phenomenon that allows for the analysis of real-time biospecific interactions by detection of alterations in protein concentrations within a biosensor matrix, for example using the BIAcore system (Pharmacia Biosensor AB, Uppsala, Sweden and Piscataway, NJ).
  • BIAcore Pharmaacia Biosensor AB, Uppsala, Sweden and Piscataway, NJ.
  • K 0 ff is intended to refer to the off rate constant for dissociation of an antibody from the antibody/antigen complex.
  • K j is intended to refer to the dissociation constant of a particular antibody-antigen interaction.
  • nucleic acid molecule includes DNA molecules and RNA molecules.
  • a nucleic acid molecule may be single-stranded or double-stranded, but preferably is double-stranded DNA.
  • isolated nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid molecule in which the nucleotide sequences encoding the antibody or antibody portion are free of other nucleotide sequences encoding antibodies or antibody portions that bind antigens other than hIL-12, which other sequences may naturally flank the nucleic acid in human genomic DNA.
  • an isolated nucleic acid of the invention encoding a VH region of an anti-IL-12 antibody contains no other sequences encoding other VH regions that bind antigens other than IL-12.
  • isolated nucleic acid molecule is also intended to include sequences encoding bivalent, bispecific antibodies, such as diabodies in which VH and VL regions contain no other sequences other than the sequences of the diabody.
  • vector includes a nucleic acid molecule capable of transporting another nucleic acid to which it has been linked.
  • plasmid refers to a circular double stranded DNA loop into which additional DNA segments may be ligated.
  • vectors are capable of autonomous replication in a host cell into which they are introduced (e.g., bacterial vectors having a bacterial origin of replication and episomal mammalian vectors).
  • Other vectors e.g., non-episomal mammalian vectors
  • certain vectors are capable of directing the expression of genes to which they are operatively linked. Such vectors are referred to herein as
  • recombinant expression vectors (or simply, “expression vectors”).
  • expression vectors of utility in recombinant DNA techniques are often in the form of plasmids.
  • plasmid and vector may be used interchangeably as the plasmid is the most commonly used form of vector.
  • the invention is intended to include such other forms of expression vectors, such as viral vectors (e.g., replication defective retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses), which serve equivalent functions.
  • recombinant host cell includes a cell into which a recombinant expression vector has been introduced. It should be understood that such terms are intended to refer not only to the particular subject cell but to the progeny of such a cell. Because certain modifications may occur in succeeding generations due to either mutation or environmental influences, such progeny may not, in fact, be identical to the parent cell, but are still included within the scope of the term “host cell” as used herein.
  • modifying is intended to refer to changing one or more amino acids in the antibodies or antigen-binding portions thereof.
  • the change can be produced by adding, substituting or deleting an amino acid at one or more positions.
  • the change can be produced using known techniques, such as PCR mutagenesis.
  • contact position includes an amino acid position of in the CDRl , CDRJ or CDR3 of the heavy chain variable region or the light chain variable region of an antibody which is occupied by an amino acid that contacts antigen in one of the twenty-six known antibody-antigen structures. If a CDR amino acid in any of the 26 known solved structures of antibody-antigen complexes contacts the antigen, then that amino acid can be considered to occupy a contact position.
  • Contact positions have a higher probability of being occupied by an amino acid which contact antigen than non- contact positions.
  • a contact position is a CDR position which contains an amino acid that contacts antigen in greater than 3 of the 26 structures (> 11.5 %).
  • a contact position is a CDR position which contains an amino acid that contacts antigen in greater than 8 of the 25 structures (>32%).
  • hypermutation position includes an amino acid residue that occupies position in the CDRl, CDR2 or CDR3 region of the heavy chain variable region or the light chain variable region of an antibody that is considered to have a high frequency or probability for somatic hypermutation during in vivo affinity maturation of the antibody.
  • High frequency or probability for somatic hypermutation includes frequencies or probabilities of a 5 to about 40% chance that the residue will undergo somatic hypermutation during in vivo affinity maturation of the antibody. It should be understood that all ranges within this stated range are also intended to be part of this invention, e.g., 5 to about 30%, e.g., 5 to about 15%, e.g., 15 to about 30%.
  • preferred selective mutagenesis position includes an amino acid residue that occupies a position in the CDRl, CDRJ or CDR3 region of the heavy chain variable region or the light chain variable region which can be considered to be both a contact and a hypermutation position.
  • selective mutagenesis approach includes a method of improving the activity of an antibody by selecting and individually mutating CDR amino acids at at least one preferred selective mutagenesis position, hypermutation. and/or contact position.
  • a "selectively mutated" human antibody is an antibody which contains a mutation at a position selected using a selective mutagenesis approach.
  • the selective mutagenesis approach is intended to provide a method of preferentially mutating selected individual amino acid residues in the CDRl , CDRJ or CDR3 of the heavy chain variable region (hereinafter HI, H2, and H3, respectively), or the CDRl .
  • CDR2 or CDR3 of the light chain variable region hereinafter referred to as LI , L2, and L3, respectively
  • Amino acid residues may be selected from preferred selective mutagenesis positions, contact positions., or hypermutation positions. Individual amino acids are selected based on their position in the light or heavy chain variable region. It should be understood that a hypermutation position can also be a contact position.
  • the selective mutagenesis approach is a "targeted approach".
  • the language "targeted approach” is intended to include a method of preferentially mutating selected individual amino acid residues in the CDRl, CDR2 or CDR3 of the heavy chain variable region or the CDRl, CDR2 or CDR3 of the light chain variable region of an antibody in a targeted manner, e.g., a "Group-wise targeted approach” or "CDR-wise targeted approach”.
  • individual amino acid residues in particular groups are targeted for selective mutations including groups I (including L3 and H3), II (including H2 and LI) and III (including L2 and HI), the groups being listed in order of preference for targeting.
  • CDR- wise targeted approach individual amino acid residues in particular CDRs are targeted for selective mutations with the order of preference for targeting as follows: H3, L3, H2, LI, HI and L2.
  • the selected amino acid residue is mutated, e.g., to at least two other amino acid residues, and the effect of the mutation on the activity of the antibody is determined. Activity is measured as a change in the binding specificity /affinity of the antibody, and/or neutralization potency of the antibody.
  • the selective mutagenesis approach can be used for the optimization of any antibody derived from any source including phage display, transgenic animals with human IgG germline genes, human antibodies isolated from human B-cells.
  • the selective mutagenesis approach is used on antibodies which can not be optimized further using phage display technology.
  • antibodies from any source including phage display, transgenic animals with human IgG germline genes, human antibodies isolated from human B-cells can be subject to backmutation prior to or after the selective mutagenesis approach.
  • the term "activity enhancing amino acid residue" includes an amino acid residue which improves the activity of the antibody. It should be understood that the activity enhancing amino acid residue may replace an amino acid residue at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact position, or a hypermutation position and, further, more than one activity enhancing amino acid residue can be present within one or more CDRs.
  • An activity enchancing amino acid residue include, an amino acid residue that improves the binding specificity/affinity of an antibody, for example anti-human IL-12 antibody binding to human IL-12.
  • the activity enhancing amino acid residue is also intended to include an amino acid residue that improves the neutralization potency of an antibody, for example, the human IL-12 antibody which inhibits human IL-12.
  • This invention provides isolated human antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, that bind to human IL-12.
  • the human antibodies of the invention are recombinant, neutralizing human anti-hIL-12 antibodies.
  • Antibodies of the invention that bind to human IL-12 can be selected, for example, by screening one or more human VL and Vj_[ cDNA libraries with hIL-12, such as by phage display techniques as described in Example 1. Screening of human VL and Vjr cDNA libraries initially identified a series of anti-IL-12 antibodies of which one antibody, referred to herein as "Joe 9" (or "Joe 9 wild type"), was selected for further development.
  • Joe 9 is a relatively low affinity human IL-12 antibody (e.g., a K 0 f f of about 0.1 sec - 1 ), yet is useful for specifically binding and detecting hIL-12.
  • the affinity of the Joe 9 antibody was improved by conducting mutagenesis of the heavy and light chain CDRs , producing a panel of light and heavy chain variable regions that were "mixed and matched" and further mutated, leading to numerous additional anti-hIL-12 antibodies with increased affinity for hIL-12 (see Example 1. Table 2 (see Appendix A) and the sequence alignments of Figures 1A-D).
  • the human anti-hIL-12 antibody referred to herein as Y61 demonstrated a significant improvement in binding affinity (e.g...
  • the Y61 anti-hIL-12 antibody was selected for further affinity maturation by individually mutating specific amino acids residues within the heavy and light chain CDRs .
  • Amino acids residues of Y61 were selected for site-specific mutation (selective mutagenesis approach) based on the amino acid residue occupying a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact and/or a hypermutation position.
  • Figures 2A-2H A summary of the substitutions at selected positions in the heavy and light chain CDRs is shown in Figures 2A-2H.
  • a preferred recombinant neutralizing antibody of the invention referred to herein as J695, resulted from a Gly to Tyr substitution at position 50 of the light chain CDRJ of Y61 , and a Gly to Tyr substitution at position 94 of the light chain CDR3 of Y61.
  • Amino acid sequence alignments of the heavy and light chain variable regions of a panel of anti-IL-12 antibodies of the invention, on the lineage from Joe 9 wild type to J695, are shown in Figures 1 A- ID. These sequence alignments allowed for the identification of consensus sequences for preferred heavy and light chain variable regions of antibodies of the invention that bind hIL-12, as well as consensus sequences for the CDR3. CDR2, and CDRl , on the lineage from Joe 9 to J695.
  • Antibodies produced from affinity maturation of Joe 9 wild type were functionally characterized by surface plasmon resonance analysis to determine the K d and K off rate.
  • a series of antibodies were produced having a K 0 ff rate within the range of about 0.1 s _ 1 to about 1 x 10 "5 s _ 1 , and more preferably a K 0 ff of about 1 x 10 -4 s _ 1 to 1 x 10 -5 s" 1 or less.
  • Antibodies were also characterized in vitro for their ability to inhibit phytohemagglutinin (PHA) blast proliferation, as described in Example 3.
  • PHA phytohemagglutinin
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, that binds to human IL-12 and dissociates from human IL-12 with a K of f rate constant of 0.1 s _ I or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance, or which inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PHA assay) with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 ⁇ 6 M or less.
  • PHA assay phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • the isolated human IL-12 antibody, or an antigen- binding portion thereof dissociates from human IL-12 with a K 0 ff rate constant of 1 x 10 -2 s " 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 -7 M or less.
  • the isolated human IL-12 antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof dissociates from human IL-12 with a K of f rate constant of 1 x 10 -3 s _ 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 8 M or less.
  • the isolated human IL-12 antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof dissociates from human IL-12 with a K 0 f rate constant of 1 x 10" 4 s _ 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 9 M or less.
  • the isolated human IL-12 antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof dissociates from human IL-12 with a K 0 ff rate constant of 1 x 10 -5 s" 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 - 10 M or less.
  • the isolated human IL-12 antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof dissociates from human IL-12 with a K of f rate constant of 1 x 10" 5 s _ 1 or less, or inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10- 1 1 M or less.
  • the dissociation rate constant (K 0 ff ) of an IL-12 antibody can be determined by surface plasmon resonance (see Example 5).
  • surface plasmon resonance analysis measures real-time binding interactions between ligand (recombinant human IL-12 immobilized on a biosensor matrix) and analyte (antibodies in solution) by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using the BIAcore system (Pharmacia Biosensor, Piscataway, NJ).
  • SPR surface plasmon resonance
  • Surface plasmon analysis can also be performed by immobilizing the analyte (antibodies on a biosensor matrix) and presenting the ligand (recombinant IL-12 in solution).
  • Neutralization activity of IL-12 antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, can be assessed using one or more of several suitable in vitro assays (see Example 3).
  • the invention encompasses human antibodies having light and heavy chain CDRs of Joe 9, as well as other antibodies having CDRs that have been modified to improve the binding specificity/affinity of the antibody.
  • a series of modifications to the light and heavy chain CDRs results in affinity maturation of human anti-hIL-12 antibodies.
  • the heavy and light chain variable region amino acid sequence alignments of a series of human antibodies ranging from Joe 9 wild type to J695 that bind human IL-12 is shown in Figures 1A-1D.
  • Consensus sequence motifs for the CDRs of antibodies can be determined from the sequence alignment (as summarized in the table above).
  • a consensus motif for the VH CDR3 of the lineage from Joe 9 to J695 comprises the amino acid sequence: (H/S)-G-S-(H/Y)-D- (N/T/Y) (SEQ ID NO: 1 ), which encompasses amino acids from position 95 to 102 of the consensus HCVR shown in SEQ ID NO: 7.
  • a consensus motif for the VL CDR3 comprises the amino acid sequence: Q-(S/T)-Y-(D/E)-(S/R/K)-(S,'G/Y)-(L/F/T/S)- (R7S/T/W/H)-(G/P)-(S/T/A/L)-(R/S/M/T/L-V/I/T/M/L) (SEQ ID NO: 2), which encompasses amino acids from position 89 to 97 of the consensus LCVR shown in SEQ ID NO: 8.
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 ⁇ 6 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: l ; and c) has a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID
  • the antibody further comprises a VH CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence: F-I-R-Y-D-G-S-N-K-Y-Y-A-D-S-V-K-G (SEQ ID NO: 3) (which encompasses amino acids from position 50 to 65 of the consensus HCVR comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 7) and further comprises a VL CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence: (G/Y)-N-(D/S)-(Q/N)-R-P-S (SEQ ID NO: 4) (which encompasses amino acids from position 50 to 56 of the consensus LCVR comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 8).
  • VH CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence: F-I-R-Y-D-G-S-N-K-Y-Y-A-D-S-V-K-G (SEQ ID NO: 3) (which encompasses amino acids from position 50 to 65 of the consensus HCVR comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO
  • the antibody further comprises a VH CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence: F-T-F-S-(S/E)-Y-G-M-H (SEQ ID NO: 5) (which encompasses amino acids from position 27 to 35 of the consensus HCVR comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 7) and further comprises a VL CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence: (S/T)-G-(G/S)-(R/S)-S-N-I-(G/V)-(S/A)-(N/G/Y)-(T/D)-V-(K/H) (SEQ ID NO: 6) (which encompasses amino acids from position 24 to 34 of the consensus LCVR comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 8).
  • the antibody of the invention comprises a HCVR comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 and a LCVR comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.
  • Additional consensus motifs can be determined based on the mutational analysis performed on Y61 that led to the J695 antibody (summarized in Figures 2A-2H). As demonstrated by the graphs shown in Figures 2A-2H, certain residues of the heavy and light chain CDRs of Y61 were amenable to substitution without significantly impairing the hIL-12 binding properties of the antibody. For example, individual substitutions at position 30 in CDR HI with twelve different amino acid residues did not significantly reduce the K of f rate of the antibody, indicating that is position is amenable to substitution with a variety of different amino acid residues. Thus, based on the mutational analysis (i.e., positions within Y61 that were amenable to substitution by other amino acid residues) consensus motifs were determined.
  • consensus motifs for the heavy and light chain CDR3s are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10, respectively, consensus motifs for the heavy and light chain CDR2s are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 1 and 12, respectively, and consensus motifs for the heavy and light chain CDRls are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 13 and 14. respectively.
  • Consensus motifs for the VH and VL regions are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 16, respectively.
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 9 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9; and c) has a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • the antibody further comprises a VH CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 1 and further comprises a VL
  • the antibody further comprises a VH CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 and further comprises a VL
  • the antibody of the invention comprises a HCVR comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 and a LCVR comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16.
  • a preferred antibody of the invention was produced by affinity maturation of Joe 9 wild type by PCR mutagenesis of the CDR3 (as described in Example 1 ).
  • Y61 had an improved specificity /binding affinity determined by surface plasmon resonance and by in vitro neutralization assays.
  • the heavy and light chain CDR3s of Y61 are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18, respectively, the heavy and light chain CDRJs of Y61 are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20, respectively, and the heavy and light chain CDRls of Y61 are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22, respectively.
  • the VH of Y61 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23 and the VL of Y61 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 (these sequences are also shown in Figures 1A-1D, aligned with Joe9).
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 ⁇ 9 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17; and c) has a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen- binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen- binding portion thereof comprising a the heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, and a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.
  • the full length antibody comprises a heavy chain constant region, such as IgGl , IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM, IgA and IgE constant regions, and any allotypic variant therein as described in Kabat (, Kabat, E.A., et al (1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242).
  • the antibody heavy chain constant region is an IgGl heavy chain constant region.
  • the antibody portion can be an Fab fragment, an F(ab' 2 ) fragment or a single chain Fv fragment.
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10" 9 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 404-SEQ ID NO: 469; and c) has a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 534-SEQ ID NO: 579.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOJ35-SEQ ID NO: 403; and a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 506-SEQ ID NO: 533.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen- binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 288-SEQ ID NO: 334; and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 470-SEQ ID NO: 505.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen- binding portion thereof comprising a the heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, and a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.
  • the full length antibody comprising a heavy chain constant region such as IgGl, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM, IgA and IgE constant regions and any allotypic variant therein as described in Kabat (, Kabat, E.A., et al. (1991 ) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest. Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242).
  • the antibody heavy chain constant region is an IgGl heavy chain constant region.
  • the antibody portion can be a Fab fragment, an F(ab' 2 ) fragment or a single chain Fv fragment.
  • a particularly preferred recombinant, neutralizing antibody of the invention
  • J695 was produced by site-directed mutagenesis of contact and hypermutation amino acids residues of antibody Y61 (see Example 2 and section III below). J695 differs from Y61 by a Gly to Tyr substitution in Y61 at position 50 of the light chain CDRJ and by a Gly to Tyr substitution at position 94 of the light chain CDR3 .
  • the heavy and light chain CDR3s of J695 are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 25 and 26, respectively, the heavy and light chain CDR2s of J695 are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 28, respectively, and the heavy and light chain CDRls of J695 are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 29 and 30, respectively.
  • the VH of J695 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 and the VL of J695 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32 (these sequences are also shown in Figures 1A-1D, aligned with Joe9).
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 -9 M or less; b) has a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 x 10 -9 M or less;
  • the isolated human antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof, has a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27, and a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen- binding portion thereof has a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30.
  • the isolated human antibody, or an antigen- binding portion thereof has a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31, and a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32.
  • the full length antibody comprises a heavy chain constant region, such as IgGl , IgG2. IgG3. IgG4, IgM. IgA and IgE constant regions and any allotypic variant therein as described in Kabat (, Kabat, E.A., et al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242).
  • the antibody heavy chain constant region is an IgGl heavy chain constant region.
  • the antibody portion can be an Fab fragment, an F(ab ⁇ ) fragment or a single chain Fv fragment. -
  • Additional mutations in the preferred consensus sequences for CDR3, CDRJ, and CDRl of antibodies on the lineage from Joe 9 to J695, or from the lineage Y61 to J695, can be made to provide additional anti-IL-12 antibodies of the invention.
  • Such methods of modification can be performed using standard molecular biology techniques, such as by PCR mutagenesis, targeting individual contact or hypermutation amino acid residues in the light chain and/or heavy chain CDRs-, followed by kinetic and functional analysis of the modified antibodies as described herein (e.g., neutralization assays described in Example 3. and by BIAcore analysis, as described in Example 5).
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 ⁇ 6 M or less; b) comprises a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of
  • SEQ ID NO: 1 a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, or a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k off rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5; and c) comprises a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a light chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, or a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position or
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 -9 M or less; b) comprises a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9, a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 1 and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13, or a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k of rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9.
  • a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 1. and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; and c) comprises a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14, or a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k off rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14.
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 -9 M or less; b) comprises a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of
  • SEQ ID NO: 17 a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21, or a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k 0 ff rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17, a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19, and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 ; and c) comprises a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of
  • SEQ ID NO: 18 a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22, or a mutant thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k 0 ff rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18, a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22.
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which a) inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro PHA assay with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 "9 M or less; b) comprises a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25. a heavy chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27 and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • mutants thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k 0 ff rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25, a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27, and a heavy chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29; and c) comprises a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of
  • SEQ ID NO: 26 a light chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28, and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • mutants thereof having one or more amino acid substitutions at a preferred selective mutagenesis position or a hypermutation position, wherein said mutant has a k 0 ff rate no more than 10-fold higher than the antibody comprising a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, a light chain CDRJ comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28. and a light chain CDRl comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30.
  • the invention provides isolated human antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, that neutralize the activity of human IL-12, and at least one additional primate IL-12 selected from the group consisting of baboon IL-12, marmoset IL-12, chimpanzee IL-12. cynomolgus IL-12 and rhesus IL-12, but which do not neutralize the activity of the mouse IL-12.
  • Recombinant human antibodies of the invention can be isolated by screening of a recombinant combinatorial antibody library, preferably a scFv phage display library, prepared using human VL and VH cDNAs prepared from mRNA derived from human lymphocytes. Methodologies for preparing and screening such libraries are known in the art. In addition to commercially available kits for generating phage display libraries (e.g. , the Pharmacia Recombinant Phage Antibody System, catalog no. 27-9400-01 ; and the Stratagene Swr ZJRTM phage display kit. catalog no.
  • examples of methods and reagents particularly amenable for use in generating and screening antibody display libraries can be found in, for example. Kang et al PCT Publication No. WO 92/18619; Winter et al. PCT Publication No. WO 92/20791 ; Breitling et al. PCT Publication No. WO 93/01288; McCafferty et al. PCT Publication No. WO 92/01047; Garrard et al. PCT Publication No. WO 92/09690; Fuchs et al. (1991) Bio/Technology 9: 1370-1372; Hay et al.
  • the antibody libraries used in this method are preferably scFv libraries prepared from human VL and VH cD ⁇ As.
  • the scFv antibody libraries are preferably screened using recombinant human IL-12 as the antigen to select human heavy and light chain sequences having a binding activity toward IL-12.
  • screening assays were performed in the presence of excess free p40 subunit.
  • Subunit preferences can be determined, for example by, micro-Friguet titration, as described in Example 1.
  • VL and VH segments of the preferred VL/VH pair(s) can be randomly mutated, preferably within the CDR3 region of VH and/or VL, in a process analogous to the in vivo somatic mutation process responsible for affinity maturation of antibodies during a natural immune response.
  • This in vitro affinity maturation can be accomplished by amplifying VH and VL regions using PCR primers complimentary to the VH CDR3 or VL CDR3.
  • VH and VL segments into which random mutations have been introduced into the VH and/or VL CDR3 regions.
  • These randomly mutated VH and VL segments can be reselected and rescreened for binding to hIL-12 and sequences that exhibit high affinity and a low off rate for IL-12 binding can be selected.
  • Table 2 shows antibodies that displayed altered binding specificity /affinity produced as a result of in vitro affinity maturation.
  • nucleic acid encoding the selected antibody can be recovered from the phage particle(s) (e.g., from the phage genome) and subcloned into other expression vectors by standard recombinant DNA techniques. If desired, the nucleic acid can be further manipulated to create other antibody forms of the invention (e.g., linked to nucleic acid encoding additional immunoglobulin domains, such as additional constant regions).
  • Example 1 To express a recombinant human antibody isolated by screening of a combinatorial library, the DNA encoding the antibody is cloned into a recombinant expression vector and introduced into a mammalian host cells, as described in further detail in Section IV below. Methods for selecting human IL-12 binding antibodies by phage display technology, and affinity maturation of selected antibodies by random or site-directed mutagenesis of CDR regions are described in further detail in Example 1. As described in Example 1 , screening of human VL and VH cDNA libraries identified a series of anti-IL-12 antibodies, of which the Joe 9 antibody was selected for further development. A comparison of the heavy chain variable region of Joe 9 with the heavy chain germline sequences selected from the VBASE database, revealed that Joe 9 was similar to the COS-3 germline sequence. COS-3 belongs to the V H 3 family of germline sequences.
  • the V H 3 family is part of the human VH germline repertoire which is grouped into seven families, V H 1-V 7, based on nucleotide sequence homology (Tomlinson et al. (1992) J. Moi Biol, 227, 776-798 and Cook et al. (1995) Immunology Today, 16, 237-242).
  • the V H 3 family contains the highest number of members and makes the largest contribution to the germline repertoire.
  • the amino acid sequence identity within the entire V H 3 family is high (See e.g. , Tomlinson et al. (1992) J. Moi Biol, 227, 776-798 and Cook et al. (1995) Immunology Today, 16, 237-242).
  • the range of amino acid sequence identity between any two germline VH sequences of the V H 3 family varies from 69-98 residues out of approximately 100 VH residues, (i.e. , 69-98% amino acid sequence homology between any two germline VH sequences). For most pairs of germline sequences there is at least 80 or more identical amino acid residues, ⁇ i.e., at least 80% amino acid sequence homology).
  • the high degree of amino acid sequence homology between the V H 3 family members results in certain amino acid residues being present at key sites in the CDR and framework regions of the VH chain. These amino acid residues confer structural features upon the CDRs.
  • CDR conformations can be grouped into families of canonical CDR structures based on the key amino acid residues that occupy certain positions in the CDR and framework regions. Consequently, there are similar local CDR conformations in different antibodies that have canonical structures with identical key amino acid residues (Chothia et al. (1987) J. Moi Biol, 196, 901-917 and Chothia et al (1989) Nature. 342, 877-883). Within the V H 3 family there is a conservation of amino acid residue identity at the key sites for the CDRl and CDR2 canonical structures (Chothia et al. (1992) J. Moi Biol, 227, 799-817).
  • COS-3 germline VH gene is a member of the V ⁇ 3 family and is a variant of the 3-30 (DP-49) germline VH allele.
  • COS-3 differs from Joe9 VH amino acid sequences at only 5 positions.
  • the high degree of amino acid sequence homology between Joe9 VH and COS-3, and between Joe9 VH and the other V H 3 family members also confers a high degree of CDR structural homology (Chothia et al. (1992) J. Moi Biol, 221, 799-817; Chothia et al. (1987) J. Moi Biol , 196, 901-917 and Chothia et al. (X9%9) Nature, 342, 877-883).
  • V ⁇ 3 family members could also be used to generate antibodies that bind to human IL-12. This can be performed, for example, by selecting an appropriate VL by chain-shuffling techniques (Winter et al. (1994) Annual Rev. Immunol, 12, 433-55), or by the grafting of CDRs from a rodent or other human antibody including CDRs from antibodies of this invention onto a V H 3 family framework.
  • the human V lambda germline repertoire is grouped into 10 families based on nucleotide sequence homology (Williams et al. (1996) J. Moi. Biol, 264, 220-232).
  • Joe 9 was similar to the DPL8 lambda germline.
  • the Joe9 VL differs from DPL8 sequence at only four framework positions, and is highly homologous to the framework sequences of the other Y ⁇ X family members.
  • other Y ⁇ X family members may also be used to generate antibodies that bind to human IL-12. This can be performed, for example, by selecting an appropriate VH by chain-shuffling techniques (Winter et al. Supra, or by the grafting of CDRs from a rodent or other human antibody including CDRs from antibodies of this invention onto a Y ⁇ X family framework.
  • the methods of the invention are intended to include recombinant antibodies that bind to hIL-12, comprising a heavy chain variable region derived from a member of the V H 3 family of germline sequences, and a light chain variable region derived from a member of the V ⁇ l family of germline sequences.
  • a heavy chain variable region derived from a member of the V H 3 family of germline sequences comprising a heavy chain variable region derived from a member of the V H 3 family of germline sequences, and a light chain variable region derived from a member of the V ⁇ l family of germline sequences.
  • any member of the V H 3 family heavy chain sequence can be combined with any member of the V ⁇ l family light chain sequence.
  • DNA sequence polymorphisms that lead to changes in the amino acid sequences of the germline may exist within a population (e.g.. the human population). Such genetic polymorphism in the germline sequences may exist among individuals within a population due to natural allelic variation.
  • Such natural allelic variations can typically result in 1 -5 % variance in the nucleotide sequence of the a gene. Any and all such nucleotide variations and resulting amino acid polymorphisms in germline sequences that are the result of natural allelic variation are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) that binds to human IL-12 and dissociates from human IL-12 with a k 0ff rate constant of 0J s " 'or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance, or which inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PHA assay) with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 " M or less.
  • PHA assay phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • b) has a heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a member of the V H 3 germline family, wherein the heavy chain variable region has a mutation at a contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • c) has a light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a member of the Y ⁇ X germline family, wherein the light chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding has mutation in the heavy chain CDR3. In another preferred embodiment, the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding has mutation in the light chain CDR3.
  • the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding has mutation in the heavy chain CDR2.
  • the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding has mutation in the light chain CDRJ.
  • the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding has mutation in the heavy chain CDRl . In another preferred embodiment, the isolated human antibody, or antigen binding has mutation in the light chain CDRl .
  • the invention features isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) has a heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 595-667, wherein the heavy chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • b) has a light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 669-675, wherein the light chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • the invention features isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) that binds to human IL-12 and dissociates from human IL-12 with a k 0ff rate constant of 0J s " 'or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance, or which inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PHA assay) with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 "6 M or less.
  • PHA assay phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • b) has a heavy chain variable region comprising the COS-3 germline amino acid sequence, wherein the heavy chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • c) has a light chain variable region comprising the DPL8 germline amino acid sequence, wherein the light chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue.
  • the invention features an isolated human antibody, or an antigen-binding portion thereof, which has the following characteristics: a) that binds to human IL-12 and dissociates from human IL-12 with a k 0ff rate constant of 0J s " 'or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance, or which inhibits phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation in an in vitro phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay (PHA assay) with an IC 50 of 1 x 10 "6 M or less.
  • PHA assay phytohemagglutinin blast proliferation assay
  • b) has a heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a member of the V H 3 germline family, wherein the heavy chain variable region comprises a CDR2 that is structurally similar to CDR2s from other V H 3 germline family members, and a CDRl that is structurally similar to CDRls from other V H 3 germline family members, and wherein the heavy chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino acid residue; c) has a light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a member of the Y ⁇ X germline family, wherein the light chain variable region comprises a CDR2 that is structurally similar to CDR2s from other Y ⁇ X germline family members, and a CDRl that is structurally similar to CDRls from other Y ⁇ X germline family members, and wherein the light chain variable region has a mutation at a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position with an activity enhancing amino
  • Recombinant human antibodies of the invention have variable and constant regions which are homologous to human germline immunoglobulin sequences selected from the VBASE database. Mutations to the recombinant human antibodies (e.g., by random mutagenesis or PCR mutagenesis) result in amino acids that are not encoded by human germline immunoglobulin sequences. Also, libraries of recombinant antibodies which were derived from human donors will contain antibody sequences that differ from their corresponding germline sequences due to the normal process of somatic mutation that occurs during B-cell development.
  • the "germline" sequences obtained by PCR amplification encode amino acid differences in the framework regions from the true germline configuration (i.e., differences in the amplified sequence as compared to the true germline sequence), it may be desirable to change these amino acid differences back to the true germline sequences (i.e., "backmutation" of framework residues to the germline configuration).
  • the present invention can optionally include a backmutation step.
  • amino acid sequences of heavy and light chain encoded by the germline are first compared to the mutated immunoglobulin heavy and light chain framework amino acid sequences to identify amino acid residues in the mutated immunoglobulin framework sequence that differ from the closest germline sequences. Then, the appropriate nucleotides of the mutated immunoglobulin sequence are mutated back to correspond to the germline sequence, using the genetic code to determine which nucleotide changes should be made.
  • Mutagenesis of the mutated immunoglobulin framework sequence is carried out by standard methods, such as PCR-mediated mutagenesis (in which the mutated nucleotides are incorporated into the PCR primers such that the PCR product contains the mutations) or site-directed mutagenesis.
  • PCR-mediated mutagenesis in which the mutated nucleotides are incorporated into the PCR primers such that the PCR product contains the mutations
  • site-directed mutagenesis site-directed mutagenesis.
  • the role of each amino acid identified as candidate for backmutation should be investigated for a direct or indirect role in antigen binding and any amino acid found after mutation to affect any desirable characteristic of the human antibody should not be included in the final human antibody; as an example, activity enhancing amino acids identified by the selective mutagenesis approach will not be subject to backmutation.
  • Assays to determine the characteristics of the antibody resulting from mutagenesis can include ELISA, competitive ELISA, in vitro and in vivo neutralization assays and/or (see e.g. Example 3) immunohistochemistry with tissue sections from various sources (including human, primate and/or other species).
  • Backmutation may occur at any stage of antibody optimization; preferably, backmutation occurs directly before or after the selective mutagenesis approach. More preferably, backmutation occurs directly before the selective mutagenesis approach.
  • selection of antibodies with improved affinities can be carried out using phage display methods, as described in section II above. This can be accomplished by randomly mutating combinations of CDR residues and generating large libraries containing antibodies of different sequences.
  • the antibody-antigen reaction must tend to equilibrium to allow, over time, preferential binding of higher affinity antibodies to the antigen. Selection conditions that would allow equilibrium to be established could not be determined (presumably due to additional non-specific interactions between the antigen and phage particle) when phage display methods were used to improve the affinity of selected anti- IL-12 antibodies, upon attaining a certain level of affinity achieved (i.e., that of antibody Y61). Accordingly, antibodies with even higher affinities could not be selected by phage display methods.
  • phage display methods are limiting in their ability to select antibodies with a highly improved binding specificity/affinity. Accordingly, a method termed Selective Mutagenesis Approach which does not require phage display affinity maturation of antibodies, was established to overcome this limitation and is provided by the invention. Although this Selective Mutagenesis Approach was developed to overcome limitations using the phage display system, it should be noted that this method can also be used with the phage display system. Moreover, the selective mutagenesis approach can be used to improve the activity of any antibody.
  • the method of the invention allows one to improve the activity of the antibody by mutating only certain selected residues within the heavy and/or light chain CDRs. Furthermore, the method of the invention allows improvement in activity of the antibody without affecting other desirable properties of the antibody.
  • Immature B-cells may produce initially low affinity antibodies that recognize a number of self or non-self antigens. Moreover, antibodies may undergo in the course of affinity maturation sequence variations that may cause self-reactivity. Hypermutation of such low affinity antibodies may serve to abolish self-reactivity ("negative selection") and increase affinity for the foreign antigen. Therefore, the analysis of primary and structural data of a large number of antibodies does not provide a method of predicting either (1) the role of somatic hyper-mutation sites in the affinity maturation process versus the process of decreasing affinity towards unwanted antigens, or (2) how a given amino acid contributes to the properties of a specific antigen-antibody pair.
  • Pini et al. describe randomizing multiple residues in antibody CDR sequences in a large phage display library to rapidly increase antibody affinity (Pini et al. (1998) J. Biol Chem. 273: 21769-21776).
  • the high affinity antibodies discussed by Pini et al. had mutations in a total of eight positions, and a reductionary analysis of which changes are absolutely required to improve affinity of the antibody becomes impractical because of the large number of possible combinations to be tested for the smallest number of amino acids required.
  • Desirable properties or characteristics of an antibody are art-recognized and include for example, preservation of non-cross reactivity, e.g., with other proteins or human tissues and preservation of antibody sequences that are close to human germline immunoglobulin sequences improvement of neutralization potency.
  • Other desirable properties or characteristics include ability to preserve species cross reactivity, ability to preserve epitope specificity and ability to preserve high expression levels of protein in mammalian cells. The desirable properties or characteristics can be observed or measured using art-recognized techniques including but not limited to ELISA, competitive ELISA, in vitro and in vivo neutralization assays (see e.g. Example 3), immunohistochemistry with tissue sections from different sources including human, primate or other sources as the need may be. and studies to expression in mammalian cells using transient expression or stable expression.
  • the method of Pini et al may introduce more changes than the minimal number actually required to improve affinity and may lead to the antibodies triggering anti-human-antibody (HAMA) formation in human subjects.
  • HAMA anti-human-antibody
  • the phage display as demonstrated here, or other related method including ribosome display may not work appropriately upon reaching certain affinities between antibody and antigen and the conditions required to reach equilibrium may not be established in a reasonable time frame because of additional interactions including interactions with other phage or ribosome components and the antigen.
  • the ordinarily skilled artisan may glean interesting scientific information on the origin of antibody diversity from the teachings of the references discussed above.
  • the present invention provides a method for increasing antibody affinity of a specific antigen-antibody pair while preserving other relevant features or desirable characteristics of the antibody. This is especially important when considering the desirability of imparting a multitude of different characteristics on a specific antibody including antigen binding.
  • a selective mutagenesis approach can be the best strategy for preserving these desirable properties while improving the activity of the antibody.
  • the aim was to increase affinity for hIL-12, and to improve the neutralization potency of the antibody while preserving desired properties. Desired properties of Y61 included (1) preservation of non-cross reactivity with other proteins or human tissues, (2) preservation of fine epitope specificity, i.e.
  • the method of the invention provides a selective mutagenesis approach as a strategy for preserving the desirable properties or characteristics of the antibody while improving the affinity and/or neutralization potency.
  • selective mutagenesis approach is as defined above and includes a method of individually mutating selected amino acid residues.
  • the amino acid residues to be mutated may first be selected from preferred selective mutagenesis positions, then from contact positions, and then from hypermutation positions.
  • the individual selected position can be mutated to at least two other amino acid residue and the effect of the mutation both on the desired properties of the antibody, and improvement in antibody activity is determined.
  • the Selective Mutagenesis approach comprises the steps of: selecting candidate positions in the order 1) preferred selective mutagenesis positions; 2) contact positions; 3) hypermutation positions and ranking the positions based on the location of the position within the heavy and light chain variable regions of an antibody (CDR3 preferred over CDR2 preferred over CDRl); individually mutating candidate preferred selective mutagenesis positions, hypermutation and/or contact positions in the order of ranking, to all possible other amino acid residues and analyzing the effect of the individual mutations on the activity of the antibody in order to determine activity enhancing amino acid residues; if necessary, making stepwise combinations of the individual activity enhancing amino acid residues and analyzing the effect of the various combinations on the activity of the antibodies; selecting mutant antibodies with activity enhancing amino acid residues and ranking the mutant antibodies based on the location and identity of the amino acid substitutions with regard to their immunogenic potential.
  • mutant antibodies that comprise an amino acid sequence which nearly identical to a variable region sequence that is described in a germline database, or has an amino acid sequence that is comparable to other human antibodies.
  • Lower ranking is given to mutant antibodies containing an amino acid substitution that is rarely encountered in either germline sequences or the sequences of other human antibodies.
  • the lowest ranking is given to mutant antibodies with an amino acid substitution that has not been encountered in a germline sequence or the sequence of another human antibody.
  • mutant antibodies comprising at least one activity enhancing amino acid residue located in CDR3 is preferred over CDR2 which is preferred over CDRl .
  • the CDRs of the heavy chain variable regions are preferred over those of the light chain variable region.
  • the mutant antibodies can also be studied for improvement in activity, e.g.
  • the improvement in activity of the mutant antibody can be determined for example, by neutralization assays, or binding specificity/affinity by surface plasmon resonance analysis (see Example 3).
  • the improvement in activity can be at least 2-20 fold higher than the parental antibody.
  • the improvement in activity can be at least "xj " to "x2" fold higher than the parental antibody wherein "x] " and "xX are integers between and including 2 to 20, including ranges within the state range, e.g. 2-15, e.g. 5-10.
  • the mutant antibodies with the activity enhancing amino acid residue also can be studied to determine whether at least one other desirable property has been retained after mutation.
  • anti-hIL-12 antibodies testing for, (1 ) preservation of non- cross reactivity with other proteins or human tissues, (2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing a p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 (p40/p35) heterodimer, thereby preventing binding interference from free soluble p40; and (3) generation of antibodies with heavy and light chain amino acid sequences that were as close as possible to their respective germline immunoglobulin sequences, and determining which would be least likely to elicit a human immune response based on the number of differences from the germline sequence.
  • the same observations can be made on an antibody having more than one activity enhancing amino acid residues, e.g. at least two or at least three activity enhancing amino acid residues, to determine whether retention of the desirable property or characteristic has occurred.
  • the selective mutagenesis approach therefore, identified the minimal number of changes that contributed to the final activity, thereby reducing the immunogenic potential of the final antibody and preserving other desired properties of the antibody.
  • Isolated DNA encoding the VH and VL produced by the selected mutagenesis approach can be converted into full length antibody chain genes, to Fab fragment genes as to a scFV gene, as described in section IV.
  • expression vectors encoding the heavy and light chain can be transfected into variety host cells as described in detail in section IV.
  • Preferred host cells include either prokaryotic host cells, for example, E coli, or eukaryotic host cells, for example, yeast cells, e.g., S. cerevisae. Most preferred eukaryotic host cells are mammalian host cells, described in detail in section IV.
  • the selective mutagenesis approach provides a method of producing antibodies with improved activities without prior affinity maturation of the antibody by other means.
  • the selective mutagenesis approach provides a method of producing antibodies with improved affinities which have been subject to back mutations.
  • the selective mutagenesis approach also provides a method of improving the activity of affinity matured antibodies.
  • the skilled artisan will recognize that the selective mutagenesis approach can be used in standard antibody manipulation techniques known in the art. Examples include, but are not limited to. CDR grafted antibodies, chimeric antibodies, scFV fragments, Fab fragments of a full length antibodies and human antibodies from other sources, e.g., transgenic mice.
  • Rapid large scale mutational analysis of antibodies include in vitro transcription and translation using ribosome display technology (see e.g., Hanes et al, (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94: 4937-4942; Dall Acqua et o/.,(1998) Curr. Opin. Struc. Biol. 8: 443-450; He et al, (1997) Nucleic Acid Res. 25: 5132-5134), and U.S. Patent Nos. 5,643,768 and 5,658,754 issued to Kawasaki.
  • the selective mutagenesis approach also provides a method of producing antibodies with improved activities that can be selected using ribosomal display techniques.
  • antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof are further modified by altering individual positions in the CDRs of the HCVR and/or LCVR.
  • these modifications can be made in phage-displayed antibodies, the method is advantageous in that it can be performed with antibodies that are expressed in other types of host systems, such as bacterial, yeast or mammalian cell expression systems.
  • the individual positions within the CDRs selected for modification are based on the positions being a contact and/or hypermutation position.
  • Preferred contact positions and hypermutation positions as defined herein are shown in Table 3 (see Appendix A) and their modification in accordance with the method of the invention is described in detail in Example 2.
  • Preferred contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33. H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56. H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, Hl Ol, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53. L55, L91 , L92, L93, L94 and L96.
  • Preferred hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30.
  • More preferred amino acid residues are both contact and hypermutation positions and are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L50, L91, L92, L93, L94.
  • Particularly preferred contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94.
  • Preferred activity enhancing amino acid residues replace amino acid residues located at positions selected from the group consisting of of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52.
  • More preferred activity enhancing amino acid residues replace amino acid residues located at positions H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H52, H56, H58. L30, L31, L32, L50, L91 , L92, L93, L94.
  • Particularly, preferred activity enhancing amino acid residues replace amino acid residues located at positions selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94.
  • the method of the invention involves selecting a particular preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact and/or hypermutation position within a CDR of the heavy or light chain of a parent antibody of interest, or antigen binding portion thereof, randomly mutagenizing that individual position (e.g., by genetic means using a mutagenic oligonucleotide to generate a "mini-library" of modified antibodies), or mutating a position to specific desired amino acids, to identify activity enhancing amino acid residues expressing, and purifying the modified antibodies (e.g., in a non-phage display host system), measuring the activity of the modified antibodies for antigen (e.g., by measuring k 0ff rates by BIAcore analysis), repeating these steps for other CDR positions, as necessary, and combining individual mutations shown to have improved activity and testing whether the combination(s) generate an antibody with even greater activity (e.g.. affinity or neutralizing potency) than the parent antibody, or antigen- binding portion thereof.
  • randomly mutagenizing that individual position e.g
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting in order a 1 ) preferred selective mutagenesis position, 2) contact position, or 3) hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; e) optionally, repeating steps a) through d) for at least one other preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position; f) combining, in the
  • Preferred contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96.
  • Preferred hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H52. H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L53 and L93. More preferred preferred selective mutagenesis positions are selected from the group consisting of H30. H31. H31 B.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, thereby identifying an activity enhancing amino acid residue; e) optionally, repeating
  • Preferred contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97. H98, HlOl, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96.
  • Preferred hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31 , L32, L53 and L93.
  • More preferred preferred selective mutagenesis positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33. H52. H56. H58. L30, L31 , L32. L50, L91 , L92, L93 and L94. Particularly preferred contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, thereby identifying an activity enhancing amino acid residue; e) optionally, repeating steps a) through d) for at least one other preferred selective mut genesis position, contact or hypermutation position; f) combining, in the parent antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, three individual activity enhancing amino acid residues shown to
  • the activity enhancing amino acid residue replaces amino acid residues located at positions selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B,
  • mutated clones can be sequenced to identify which amino acid residues have been introduced into the selected position in each clone.
  • a small number of clones e.g., about 24
  • larger numbers of clones e.g., greater than 60
  • contact and/or hypermutation positions within the CDR3 regions of the heavy and/or light chains are first selected for mutagenesis.
  • it may be preferably to first select contact and/or hypermutation positions within CDRl or CDRJ of the heavy and/or light chain.
  • preferred selective mutagenesis positions within the CDR3 regions of the heavy and/or light chains are first selected for mutagenesis.
  • the optimization of a selected antibody by the selective mutagenesis approach is done sequentially as follows: preferred selective mutagenesis positions selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32. H33, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32. L50, L91, L92, L93, L94 are mutated first to at least 2 other amino acids each (preferably 5-14 other amino acids) and the resulting antibodies are characterized for increased affinity, neutralization potency (and possibly also for at least one other retained characteristic or property discussed elsewhere).
  • additional amino acid residues will be selected for selective mutagenesis from the group consisting of H35, H50, H53, H54, H95, H96, H97, H98, L30A and L96 are mutated to at least 2 other amino acids each (preferably 5-14 other amino acids) and the resulting antibodies are characterized for increased affinity, neutralization potency (and possibly also for at least one other retained characteristic or property discussed elsewhere).
  • a mutation of a single amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of H35, H50, H53, H54, H95. H96, H97, H98. L30A and L96 does not increase the activity (including affinity and/or neutralization potency) at all or not sufficiently and if even the combination of multiple activity enhancing amino acids replacing amino acids in those positions does not result in an combination antibody which meets the targeted activity (including affinity and/or target neutralization potency), additional amino acid residues will be selected for selective mutagenesis from the group consisting of H33B, H52B, L31A and are mutated to at least 2 other amino acids each (preferably 5-14 other amino acids) and the resulting antibodies are characterized for increased affinity, neutralization potency (and possibly also for at least one other retained characteristic or property discussed elsewhere).
  • the sequential selective mutagenesis approach may end at any of the steps outline above as soon as an antibody with the desired activity (including affinity and neutralization potency) has been identified. If mutagenesis of the preselected positions has identified activity enhancing amino acids residues but the combination antibody still do not meet the targets set for activity (including affinity and neutralization potency) and/or if the identified activity enhancing amino acids also affect other desired characteristics and are therefore not acceptable, the remaining CDR residues may be subjected to mutagenesis (see section IV).
  • the method of the invention can be used to improve activity of an antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, to reach a predetermined target activity (e.g. a predetermined affinity and/or neutralization potency, and/or a desired property or characteristic).
  • the invention provides a method of improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, to attain a predetermined target activity, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody a antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position selected from group consisting of H30. H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L50, L91, L92, L93, L94.
  • steps d) or f) evaluating the activity of the combination antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof to determined if the combination antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof have the predetermined target activity or a partial target activity. g) if steps d) or f) do not result in an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof having the predetermined target activity, or result an antibody with only a partial activity, additional amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of H35, H50, H53, H54, H95, H96, H97, H98, L30A and L96 are mutated to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a second panel of mutated antibodies or antigen-binding portions thereof; h) evaluating the activity of the second panel of mutated antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof, to determined if mutation of a single amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of H35, H50, H53, H54, H95.
  • H96, H97, H98, L30A and L96 results an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, having the predetermined target activity or a partial activity; i) combining in stepwise fashion in the parent antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, individual mutations of step g) shown to have an improved activity, to form combination antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof; j) evaluating the activity of the combination antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof, to determined if the combination antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof have the predetermined target activity or a partial target activity; k) if steps h) or j) do not result in an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof having the predetermined target activity, or result in an antibody with only a partial activity, additional amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of H33B. H52B and L31 A are mutated to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a third panel of mutated antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof;
  • mutagenesis methods including PCR assembly, Kunkel (dut-ung-) and thiophosphate (Amersham Sculptor kit) oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis.
  • a wide variety of host expression systems can be used to express the mutated antibodies, including bacterial, yeast, baculoviral and mammalian expression systems (as well as phage display expression systems).
  • An example of a suitable bacterial expression vector is pUCl 19(Sfi).
  • Other antibody expression systems are known in the art and/or are described below in section IV.
  • the modified antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, produced by the method of the invention can be identified without the reliance on phage display methods for selection. Accordingly, the method of the invention is particularly advantageous for improving the activity of a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in the phage-display system.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the affinity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, and expressing said panel in a non-phage display system; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; e) optional
  • Preferred contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96.
  • Preferred hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L53 and L93.
  • More preferred preferred selective mutagenesis positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L50, L91, L92, L93 and L94.
  • Particularly preferred contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof ; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof and expressing said panel in an appropriate expression system; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, thereby identifying an activity enhancing amino acid residue; e) evaluating the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30.
  • L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30. H31 , H31B, H32. H52, H56, H58, L30. L31 , L32. L53 and L93 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the residues for selective mutagenesis are selected from the preferred selective mutagenesis positions from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H52, H56, H58. L30, L31, L32, L50. L91. L92, L93. L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen- binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B. H32, H52, H56. H58, L30. L31, L32, L53 and L93 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the residues for selective mutagenesis are selected from the preferred selective mutagenesis positions from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H52. H56. H58, L30, L31, L32, L50, L91, L92, L93, L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, and expressing said panel in a non-phage display system; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof thereby identifying an activity enhancing
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31 , H31B, H32, H33, H35. H50, H52, H52A. H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30.
  • L31 , L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L53 and L93 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e.
  • the residues for selective mutagenesis are selected from the preferred selective mutagenesis positions from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33. H52. H56. H58, L30, L31 , L32, L50, L91 , L92, L93, L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1 ) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting a preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation, thereby identifying a selected contact or hypermutation position; c) individually mutating said selected preferred selective mutagenesis positions, contact or hypermutation position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, and expressing said panel in a non-phage display system; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof thereby identifying an activity enhancing
  • steps a) through e) for at least one other preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation position g) combining, in the parent antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, at least two individual activity enhancing amino acid residues shown to have improved activity and at least on retained other characteristic, to form combination antibodies, or antigen- binding portions thereof; and h) evaluating the activity of the combination antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; until an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, with an improved activity and at least one retained property or characteristic, relative to the parent antibody, or antigen- binding portion thereof, is obtained.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35.
  • H50, H52, H52A. H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31 , L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91 , L92, L93, L94 and L96 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non- crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the hypermutation positions are selected from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L53 and L93 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the residues for selective mutagenesis are selected from the preferred selective mutagenesis positions from the group consisting of H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33.
  • H52, H56, H58, L30, L31, L32, L50, L91, L92, L93, L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the contact positions are selected from the group consisting of L50 and L94 and the other characteristic is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • CDR residues in a given antibody-antigen pair identified by any means to be required as activity enhancing amino acid residues and/or required directly or indirectly for binding to the antigen and/or for retaining other desirable properties or characteristics of the antibody.
  • Such CDR residues are referred to as "preferred selective mutagenesis positions”. It should be noted that in specific circumstances that preferred selective mutagenesis residues can be identified also by other means including co-crystallization of antibody and antigen and molecular modeling.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region
  • CDR CDR for mutation other than H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58. H95. H96, FI97. H98, HlOl , L30, L31 , L32. L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91. L92.
  • L93, L94 and L96 c) individually mutating said selected position e.g., to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a mutated antibody or a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof; d) evaluating the activity of the mutated antibody or the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof thereby identifying an activity enhancing amino acid residue; e) evaluating the mutated antibody or the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen- binding portions thereof, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, for changes in at least one other property or characteristic until an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, with an improved activity, relative to the parent antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, is obtained.
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence If mutagenesis of a single residue is not sufficient other residues can be included; therefore, in another embodiment, the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30, H31, H3 IB, H32, H33, H35. H50, H52, H52A,
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • L93, L94 and L96 f) combining, in the parent antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, at least two individual activity enhancing amino acid residues shown to have improved activity, to form combination antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof; and g) evaluating the activity of the combination antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof with two activity enhancing amino acid residues, relative to the parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof until an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, with an improved activity, relative to the parent antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, is obtained.
  • the antibody in question can not further be optimized by mutagenesis and phage display (or related ribosome display) methods the remaining CDR residues may be modified as described below. It should be understood that the antibody could already be modified in any one or more preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact or hypermutation positions according to the embodiments discussed above but may require further improvements.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a recombinant parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting a selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30, H31 , H3 IB, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31, L32, L34, L50.
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen- binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region
  • CDR CDR for mutation other than H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl , L30, L31 , L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92.
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1 ) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, without affecting other characteristics, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30, H31, H3 IB, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A,
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to germline immunoglobulin sequence
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30, H31 , H31 B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97, H98, HlOl, L30, L31 , L32, L34, L50, L52, L53, L55, L91, L92, L93, L94 and L96; c) individually mutating said selected position to at least two other amino acid residues to thereby create a panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof; d) evaluating the activity of the panel of mutated antibodies, or antigen-bind
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • Mutagenesis of the preferred selective mutagenesis position, contact and hypermutation residues may not have increased the affinity of the antibody sufficiently, and mutagenesis and the phage display method (or related ribosome display method) may no longer be useful and at least one other characteristic or property of the antibody should be retained.
  • the invention provides a method to improve the affinity of an antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region
  • CDR CDR for mutation other than H30, H31, H31B, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58, H95, H96, H97. H98. Hl Ol , L30, L31, L32. L34, L50, L52. L53,
  • the other characteristic or property is selected from 1) preservation of non-crossreactivity with other proteins or human tissues, 2) preservation of epitope recognition, i.e. recognizing p40 epitope preferably in the context of the p70 p40/p35 heterodimer preventing binding interference from free, soluble p40 and/or 3) to produce an antibody with a close to gennline immunoglobulin sequence
  • the invention provides a method for improving the activity of an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, comprising: a) providing a parent antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof that was obtained by selection in a phage-display system but whose activity cannot be further improved by mutagenesis in said phage-display system; b) selecting an amino acid residue within a complementarity determining region (CDR) for mutation other than H30, H31, H3 IB, H32, H33, H35, H50, H52, H52A, H53, H54, H56, H58.
  • CDR complementarity determining region
  • An antibody, or antibody portion, of the invention can be prepared by recombinant expression of immunoglobulin light and heavy chain genes in a host cell.
  • a host cell is transfected with one or more recombinant expression vectors carrying DNA fragments encoding the immunoglobulin light and heavy chains of the antibody such that the light and heavy chains are expressed in the host cell and, preferably, secreted into the medium in which the host cells are cultured, from which medium the antibodies can be recovered.
  • Standard recombinant DNA methodologies are used to obtain antibody heavy and light chain genes, incorporate these genes into recombinant expression vectors and introduce the vectors into host cells, such as those described in Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis (eds),
  • mutagenesis of these sequences is carried out by standard methods, such as PCR site directed mutagenesis (PCR-mediated mutagenesis in which the mutated nucleotides are incorporated into the PCR primers such that the PCR product contains the mutations) or other site-directed mutagenesis methods.
  • a VL- or VH-encoding DNA fragment is operatively linked to another DNA fragment encoding another protein, such as an antibody constant region or a flexible linker.
  • the term "operatively linked”, as used in this context, is intended to mean that the two DNA fragments are joined such that the amino acid sequences encoded by the two DNA fragments remain in-frame.
  • the isolated DNA encoding the VH region can be converted to a full-length heavy chain gene by operatively linking the VH-encoding DNA to another DNA molecule encoding heavy chain constant regions (CHI , CH2 and CH3).
  • CHI heavy chain constant regions
  • the sequences of human heavy chain constant region genes are known in the art (see e.g., Kabat, E.A., et al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242) and DNA fragments encompassing these regions can be obtained by standard PCR amplification.
  • the heavy chain constant region can be an IgGl, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, IgE, IgM or IgD constant region and any allotypic variant therein as described in Kabat (, Kabat, E.A., et al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242), but most preferably is an IgGl or IgG4 constant region.
  • the VH-encoding DNA can be operatively linked to another DNA molecule encoding only the heavy chain CHI constant region.
  • the isolated DNA encoding the VL region can be converted to a full-length light chain gene (as well as a Fab light chain gene) by operatively linking the VL-encoding DNA to another DNA molecule encoding the light chain constant region, CL.
  • the sequences of human light chain constant region genes are known in the art (see e.g.. Kabat, E.A., et al. (1991 ) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth
  • the light chain constant region can be a kappa or lambda constant region, but most preferably is a lambda constant region.
  • the VH- and VL-encoding DNA fragments are operatively linked to another fragment encoding a flexible linker, e.g., encoding the amino acid sequence (Gly 4 -Ser)3.
  • a flexible linker e.g., encoding the amino acid sequence (Gly 4 -Ser)3.
  • J o express the antibodies, or antibody portions of the invention, DNAs encoding partial or full-length light and heavy chains, obtained as described above, are inserted into expression vectors such that the genes are operatively linked to transcriptional and translational control sequences.
  • operatively linked is intended to mean that an antibody gene is ligated into a vector such that transcriptional and translational control sequences within the vector serve their intended function of regulating the transcription and translation of the antibody gene.
  • the expression vector and expression control sequences are chosen to be compatible with the expression host cell used.
  • the antibody light chain gene and the antibody heavy chain gene can be inserted into separate vector or, more typically, both genes are inserted into the same expression vector.
  • the antibody genes are inserted into the expression vector by standard methods (e.g., ligation of complementary restriction sites on the antibody gene fragment and vector, or blunt end ligation if no restriction sites are present).
  • the expression vector Prior to insertion of the J695 or J695-related light or heavy chain sequences, the expression vector may already carry antibody constant region sequences.
  • one approach to converting the J695 or J695-related VH and VL sequences to full-length antibody genes is to insert them into expression vectors already encoding heavy chain constant and light chain constant regions, respectively, such that the VH segment is operatively linked to the CH segment(s) within the vector and the VL segment is operatively linked to the CL segment within the vector.
  • the recombinant expression vector can encode a signal peptide that facilitates secretion of the antibody chain from a host cell.
  • the antibody chain gene can be cloned into the vector such that the signal peptide is linked in-frame to the amino terminus of the antibody chain gene.
  • the signal peptide can be an immunoglobulin signal peptide or a heterologous signal peptide (i.e., a signal peptide from a non-immunoglobulin protein).
  • the recombinant expression vectors of the invention carry regulatory sequences that control the expression of the antibody chain genes in a host cell.
  • regulatory sequence is intended to include promoters, enhancers and other expression control elements (e.g., polyadenylation signals) that control the transcription or translation of the antibody chain genes.
  • promoters e.g., promoters, enhancers and other expression control elements (e.g., polyadenylation signals) that control the transcription or translation of the antibody chain genes.
  • promoters e.g., promoters, enhancers and other expression control elements that control the transcription or translation of the antibody chain genes.
  • promoters e.g., polyadenylation signals
  • Preferred regulatory sequences for mammalian host cell expression include viral elements that direct high levels of protein expression in mammalian cells, such as promoters and/or enhancers derived from cytomegalovirus (CMV) (such as the CMV promoter/enhancer), Simian Virus 40 (SV40) (such as the SV40 promoter/enhancer), adenovirus, (e.g., the adenovirus major late promoter (AdMLP)) and polyoma.
  • CMV cytomegalovirus
  • SV40 Simian Virus 40
  • AdMLP adenovirus major late promoter
  • the recombinant expression vectors of the invention may carry additional sequences, such as sequences that regulate replication of the vector in host cells (e.g., origins of replication) and selectable marker genes.
  • the selectable marker gene facilitates selection of host cells into which the vector has been introduced (see e.g., U.S. Patents Nos. 4,399,216, 4,634,665 and 5,179,017. all by Axel et al).
  • the selectable marker gene confers resistance to drugs, such as G418. hygromycin or methotrexate, on a host cell into which the vector has been introduced.
  • Preferred selectable marker genes include the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene (for use in dhfr " host cells with methotrexate selection/amplification) and the neo gene (for G418 selection).
  • DHFR dihydrofolate reductase
  • the expression vector(s) encoding the heavy and light chains is transfected into a host cell by standard techniques.
  • the various forms of the term "transfection" are intended to encompass a wide variety of techniques commonly used for the introduction of exogenous DNA into a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell, e.g., electroporation. calcium-phosphate precipitation, DEAE- dextran transfection and the like.
  • eukaryotic cells eukaryotic cells
  • expression of antibodies in eukaryotic cells, and most preferably mammalian host cells is the most preferred because such eukaryotic cells, and in particular mammalian cells, are more likely than prokaryotic cells to assemble and secrete a properly folded and immunologically active antibody.
  • Preferred mammalian host cells for expressing the recombinant antibodies of the invention include Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO cells) (including dhfr- CHO cells, described in Urlaub and Chasin, (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
  • DHFR selectable marker e.g., as described in R.J. Kaufman and P.A. Sharp (1982) Moi Biol. L59:601-621
  • NSO myeloma cells e.g., as described in R.J. Kaufman and P.A. Sharp (1982) Moi Biol. L59:601-621
  • NSO myeloma cells e.g., as described in R.J. Kaufman and P.A. Sharp (1982) Moi Biol. L59:601-621
  • NSO myeloma cells e.g., as described in R.J. Kaufman and P.A. Sharp (1982) Moi Biol. L59:601-621
  • NSO myeloma cells e.g., as described in R.J. Kaufman and P.A. Sharp (1982) Moi Biol. L59:601-621
  • NSO myeloma cells e.g., as described in R.J. Kaufman and P.A. Sharp (1982
  • Host cells can also be used to produce portions of intact antibodies, such as Fab fragments or scFv molecules. It will be understood that variations on the above procedure are within the scope of the present invention. For example, it may be desirable to transfect a host cell with DNA encoding either the light chain or the heavy chain (but not both) of an antibody of this invention. Recombinant DNA technology may also be used to remove some or all of the DNA encoding either or both of the light and heavy chains that is not necessary for binding to hIL-12 The molecules expressed from such truncated DNA molecules are also encompassed by the antibodies of the invention.
  • bifunctional antibodies may be produced in which one heavy and one light chain are an antibody of the invention and the other heavy and light chain are specific for an antigen other than hIL-12 by crosslinking an antibody of the invention to a second antibody by standard chemical crosslinking methods.
  • a recombinant expression vector encoding both the antibody heavy chain and the antibody light chain is introduced into dhfr- CHO cells by calcium phosphate-mediated transfection.
  • the antibody heavy and light chain genes are each operatively linked to enhancer/promoter regulatory elements (e.g.. derived from SV40, CMV, adenovirus and the like, such as a CMV enhancer/AdMLP promoter regulatory element or an SV40 enhancer/AdMLP promoter regulatory element) to drive high levels of transcription of the genes.
  • the recombinant expression vector also carries a DHFR gene, which allows for selection of CHO cells that have been transfected with the vector using methotrexate selection/amplification.
  • the selected transformant host cells are culture to allow for expression of the antibody heavy and light chains and intact antibody is recovered from the culture medium. Standard molecular biology techniques are used to prepare the recombinant expression vector, transfect the host cells, select for transformants, culture the host cells and recover the antibody from the culture medium.
  • Antibodies or antigen- binding portions thereof of the invention can be expressed in an animal (e.g., a mouse) that is transgenic for human immunoglobulin genes (see e.g., Taylor, L.D. et al. (1992) Nucl. Acids Res. 20: 6287-6295). Plant cells can also be modified to create transgenic plants that express the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, of the invention.
  • nucleic acid, vector and host cell compositions that can be used for recombinant expression of the antibodies and antibody portions of the invention.
  • the invention features isolated nucleic acids that encode CDRs of J695, or the full heavy and/or light chain variable region of J695.
  • the invention features an isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody heavy chain variable region that encodes the J695 heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25.
  • the nucleic acid encoding the antibody heavy chain variable region further encodes a J695 heavy chain CDR2 which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27.
  • the nucleic acid encoding the antibody heavy chain variable region further encodes a J695 heavy chain CDRl which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes an antibody heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 (the full VH region of J695).
  • the invention features an isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody light chain variable region that encodes the J695 light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26.
  • the nucleic acid encoding the antibody light chain variable region further encodes a J695 light chain CDRJ which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28.
  • the nucleic acid encoding the antibody light chain variable region further encodes a J695 light chain CDRl which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30.
  • the isolated nucleic acid encodes an antibody light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32 (the full VL region of J695).
  • the invention also provides recombinant expression vectors encoding both an antibody heavy chain and an antibody light chain.
  • the invention provides a recombinant expression vector encoding: a) an antibody heavy chain having a variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 ; and b) an antibody light chain having a variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32.
  • the invention also provides host cells into which one or more of the recombinant expression vectors of the invention have been introduced.
  • the host cell is a mammalian host cell, more preferably the host cell is a CHO cell, an NSO cell or a COS cell.
  • the invention provides a method of synthesizing a recombinant human antibody of the invention by culturing a host cell of the invention in a suitable culture medium until a recombinant human antibody of the invention is synthesized.
  • the method can further comprise isolating the recombinant human antibody from the culture medium.
  • the antibodies and antibody-portions of the invention can be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions suitable for administration to a subject.
  • the pharmaceutical composition comprises an antibody or antibody portion of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like that are physiologically compatible.
  • pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include one or more of water, saline, phosphate buffered saline, dextrose, glycerol, ethanol and the like, as well as combinations thereof.
  • isotonic agents for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as mannitol. sorbitol, or sodium chloride in the composition.
  • Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may further comprise minor amounts of auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, preservatives or buffers, which enhance the shelf life or effectiveness of the antibody or antibody portion.
  • the antibodies and antibody-portions of the invention can be incorporated into a pharmaceutical composition suitable for parenteral administration.
  • the antibody or antibody-portions will be prepared as an injectable solution containing 0J- 250 mg/ml antibody.
  • the injectable solution can be composed of either a liquid or lyophilized dosage form in a flint or amber vial, ampule or pre-filled syringe.
  • the buffer can be L-histidine (1-50 mM), optimally 5-1 OmM, at pH 5.0 to 7.0 (optimally pH 6.0).
  • Other suitable buffers include but are not limited to, sodium succinate, sodium citrate, sodium phosphate or potassium phosphate.
  • Sodium chloride can be used to modify the toxicity of the solution at a concentration of 0-300 mM (optimally 150 mM for a liquid dosage form).
  • Cryoprotectants can be included for a lyophilized dosage form, principally 0-10% sucrose (optimally 0.5-1.0%).
  • Other suitable cryoprotectants include tre ⁇ halose and lactose.
  • Bulking agents can be included for a lyophilized dosage form, principally 1-10% mannitol (optimally 2-4%).
  • Stabilizers can be used in both liquid and lyophilized dosage forms, principally 1-50 mM L-Methionine (optimally 5-10 mM).
  • Other suitable bulking agents include glycine, arginine, can be included as 0-0.05% polysorbate-80 (optimally 0.005-0.01 %).
  • Additional surfactants include but are not limited to polysorbate 20 and BRIJ surfactants.
  • the pharmaceutical composition includes the antibody at a dosage of about O.Olmg/kg - 10 mg/kg. More preferred dosages of the antibody include 1 mg/kg administered every other week, or 0J mg/kg administered weekly.
  • compositions of this invention may be in a variety of forms. These include, for example, liquid, semi-solid and solid dosage forms, such as liquid solutions (e.g., injectable and infusible solutions), dispersions or suspensions, tablets, pills, powders, liposomes and suppositories.
  • liquid solutions e.g., injectable and infusible solutions
  • dispersions or suspensions tablets, pills, powders, liposomes and suppositories.
  • the preferred form depends on the intended mode of administration and therapeutic application. Typical preferred compositions are in the form of injectable or infusible solutions, such as compositions similar to those used for passive immunization of humans with other antibodies.
  • the preferred mode of administration is parenteral (e.g., intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular).
  • the antibody is administered by intravenous infusion or injection.
  • the antibody is administered by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection.
  • compositions typically must be sterile and stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage.
  • the composition can be formulated as a solution, microemulsion, dispersion, liposome. or other ordered structure suitable to high drug concentration.
  • Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the active compound (i.e., antibody or antibody portion) in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization.
  • dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle that contains a basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above.
  • the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and spray-drying that yields a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.
  • the proper fluidity of a solution can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants.
  • Prolonged absorption of injectable compositions can be brought about by including in the composition an agent that delays absorption, for example, monostearate salts and gelatin.
  • the antibodies and antibody-portions of the present invention can be administered by a variety of methods known in the art, although for many therapeutic applications, the preferred route/mode of administration is subcutaneous injection, intravenous injection or infusion. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the route and/or mode of administration will vary depending upon the desired results.
  • the active compound may be prepared with a carrier that will protect the compound against rapid release, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants, transdermal patches, and microencapsulated delivery systems.
  • a carrier such as a controlled release formulation, including implants, transdermal patches, and microencapsulated delivery systems.
  • Biodegradable, biocompatible polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid.
  • an antibody or antibody portion of the invention may be orally administered, for example, with an inert diluent or an assimilable edible carrier.
  • the compound (and other ingredients, if desired) may also be enclosed in a hard or soft shell gelatin capsule, compressed into tablets, or incorporated directly into the subject's diet.
  • the compounds may be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like.
  • To administer a compound of the invention by other than parenteral administration it may be necessary to coat the compound with, or co-administer the compound with, a material to prevent its inactivation.
  • an antibody or antibody portion of the invention is coformulated with and/or coadministered with one or more additional therapeutic agents that are useful for treating disorders in which IL-12 activity is detrimental.
  • an anti-hIL-12 antibody or antibody portion of the invention may be coformulated and/or coadministered with one or more additional antibodies that bind other targets (e.g., antibodies that bind other cytokines or that bind cell surface molecules).
  • one or more antibodies of the invention may be used in combination with two or more of the foregoing therapeutic agents.
  • Such combination therapies may advantageously utilize lower dosages of the administered therapeutic agents, thus avoiding possible toxicities or complications associated with the various monotherapies.
  • a lower dosage of antibody may be desirable than when the antibody alone is administered to a subject (e.g., a synergistic therapeutic effect may be achieved through the use of combination therapy which, in turn, permits use of a lower dose of the antibody to achieve the desired therapuetic effect).
  • Interleukin 12 plays a critical role in the pathology associated with a variety of diseases involving immune and inflammatory elements. These diseases include, but are not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis. juvenile chronic arthritis, Lyme arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, thyroiditis, asthma, allergic diseases, psoriasis, dermatitis scleroderma, atopic dermatitis, graft versus host disease, organ transplant rejection, acute or chronic immune disease associated with organ transplantation, sarcoidosis, atherosclerosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, Kawasaki's disease, Grave's disease, nephrotic syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis, Henoch-Schoenlein purpurea, microscopic
  • Coombs positive haemolytic anaemia acquired pernicious anaemia, juvenile pernicious anaemia, myalgic encephalitis/Royal Free Disease, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, giant cell arteritis, primary sclerosing hepatitis, cryptogenic autoimmune hepatitis. Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease Syndrome.
  • Hepatitis C common varied immunodeficiency (common variable hypogammaglobulinaemia), dilated cardiomyopathy, female infertility, ovarian failure, premature ovarian failure, fibrotic lung disease, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, post-inflammatory interstitial lung disease, interstitial pneumonitis, connective tissue disease associated interstitial lung disease, mixed connective tissue disease associated lung disease, systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis associated interstitial lung disease, systemic lupus erythematosus associated lung disease, dermatomyositis/polymyositis associated lung disease, Sj ⁇ gren's disease associated lung disease, ankylosing spondylitis associated lung disease, vasculitic diffuse lung disease, haemosiderosis associated lung disease, drug-induced interstitial lung disease, radiation fibrosis, bronchiolitis obliterans, chronic
  • idiopathic leucopenia autoimmune neutropenia, renal disease NOS, glomerulonephritides, microscopic vasulitis of the kidneys, lyme disease, discoid lupus erythematosus, male infertility idiopathic or NOS, sperm autoimmunity, multiple sclerosis (all subtypes), insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, sympathetic ophthalmia, pulmonary hypertension secondary to connective tissue disease, Goodpasture's syndrome, pulmonary manifestation of polyarteritis nodosa, acute rheumatic fever, rheumatoid spondylitis, Still's disease, systemic sclerosis, Takayasu's disease/arteritis, autoimmune thrombocytopenia, idiopathic thrombocytopenia, autoimmune thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism, goitrous autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's disease), atrophic autoimmune hypothyroidism
  • the antibodies of the invention or antigen-binding portions thereof are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and psoriasis, as described in more detail in section VII.
  • a human antibody, or antibody portion, of the invention also can be administered with one or more additional therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
  • Antibodies of the invention, or antigen binding portions thereof can be used alone or in combination to treat such diseases.
  • the antibodies of the invention or antigen binding portion thereof can be used alone or in combination with an additional agent, e.g., a therapeutic agent, said additional agent being selected by the skilled artisan for its intended purpose.
  • the additional agent can be a therapeutic agent art-recognized as being useful to treat the disease or condition being treated by the antibody of the present invention.
  • the additional agent also can be an agent which imparts a beneficial attribute to the therapeutic composition e.g., an agent which effects the viscosity of the composition.
  • the combinations which are to be included within this invention are those combinations useful for their intended purpose.
  • the agents set forth below are illustrative for purposes and not intended to be limited .
  • the combinations which are part of this invention can be the antibodies of the present invention and at least one additional agent selected from the lists below.
  • the combination can also include more than one additional agent, e.g., two or three additional agents if the combination is such that the formed composition can perform its intended function.
  • Preferred combinations are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(s) also referred to as NSAIDS which include drugs like ibuprofen.
  • Other preferred combinations are corticosteroids including prednisolone; the well known side-effects of steroid use can be reduced or even eliminated by tapering the steroid dose required when treating patients in combination with the anti-IL-12 antibodies of this invention.
  • Non-limiting examples of therapeutic agents for rheumatoid arthritis with which an antibody, or antibody - I l l - portion, of the invention can be combined include the following: cytokine suppressive anti-inflammatory drug(s) (CSAIDs); antibodies to or antagonists of other human cytokines or growth factors, for example, TNF, LT, IL-1 , IL-2, IL-6. IL-7. IL-8, IL-15, IL-16, IL-18, EMAP-II, GM-CSF, FGF, and PDGF.
  • Antibodies of the invention, or antigen binding portions thereof can be combined with antibodies to cell surface molecules such as CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, CD28, CD30, CD40.
  • Preferred combinations of therapeutic agents may interfere at different points in the autoimmune and subsequent inflammatory cascade; preferred examples include TNF antagonists like chimeric, humanized or human TNF antibodies, D2E7, (U.S. application serial number 08/599,226 filed February 9, 1996), cA2 (RemicadeTM).
  • CDP 571 anti- TNF antibody fragments (e.g., CDP870), and soluble p55 or p75 TNF receptors, derivatives thereof, (p75TNFRlgG (EnbrelTM) or p55TNFRlgG (Lenercept), soluble IL- 13 receptor (sIL-13), and also TNF ⁇ converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors; similarly IL-1 inhibitors (e.g., Interleukin-1 -converting enzyme inhibitors, such as Vx740. orlL- lRA etc.) may be effective for the same reason.
  • Other preferred combinations include Interleukin 1 1 , anti-P7s and p-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL).
  • Yet another preferred combination are other key players of the autoimmune response which may act parallel to, dependent on or in concert with IL-12 function; especially preferred are IL- 18 antagonists including IL-18 antibodies or soluble IL-18 receptors, or IL-18 binding proteins. It has been shown that IL-12 and IL-18 have overlapping but distinct functions and a combination of antagonists to both may be most effective. Yet another preferred combination are non-depleting anti-CD4 inhibitors. Yet other preferred combinations include antagonists of the co-stimulatory pathway CD80 (B7J) or CD86 (B7.2) including antibodies, soluble receptors or antagonistic ligands.
  • the antibodies of the invention, or antigen binding portions thereof, may also be combined with agents, such as methotrexate, 6-MP, azathioprine sulphasalazine, mesalazine, olsalazine chloroquinine/hydroxychloroquine, pencillamine, aurothiomalate (intramuscular and oral), azathioprine, cochicine, corticosteroids (oral, inhaled and local injection), beta-2 adrenoreceptor agonists (salbutamol, terbutaline, salmeteral), xanthines (theophylline, aminophylline), cromoglycate, nedocromil, ketotifen, ipratropium and oxitropium, cyclosporin, FK506, rapamycin, mycophenolate mofetil.
  • agents such as methotrexate, 6-MP, azathioprine sulphasalazine, mesalazin
  • NSAIDs for example, ibuprofen, corticosteroids such as prednisolone. phosphodiesterase inhibitors, adensosine agonists, antithrombotic agents, complement inhibitors, adrenergic agents, agents which interfere with signalling by proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF ⁇ or IL-1 (e.g. IRAK. NIK. IKK . p38 or MAP kinase inhibitors). IL-l ⁇ converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., Vx740).
  • TNF ⁇ converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors TNF ⁇ converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors
  • T-cell signalling inhibitors such as kinase inhibitors, metalloproteinase inhibitors, sulfasalazine. azathioprine, 6- mercaptopurines, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, soluble cytokine receptors and derivatives thereof (e.g.
  • Preferred combinations include methotrexate or leflunomide and in moderate or severe rheumatoid arthritis cases, cyclosporine.
  • Non-limiting examples of therapeutic agents for inflammatory bowel disease with which an antibody, or antibody portion, of the invention can be combined include the following: budenoside; epidermal growth factor; corticosteroids; cyclosporin, sulfasalazine; aminosalicylates; 6-mercaptopurine; azathioprine; metronidazole; lipoxygenase inhibitors; mesalamine; olsalazine; balsalazide; antioxidants; thromboxane inhibitors; IL-1 receptor antagonists; anti-IL-l ⁇ monoclonal antibodies; anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies; growth factors; elastase inhibitors; pyridinyl-imidazole compounds; antibodies to or antagonists of other human cytokines or growth factors, for example, TNF, LT.
  • Antibodies of the invention, or antigen binding portions thereof can be combined with antibodies to cell surface molecules such as CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, CD28, CD30, CD40, CD45, CD69, CD90 or their ligands.
  • the antibodies of the invention, or antigen binding portions thereof may also be combined with agents, such as methotrexate, cyclosporin, FK506, rapamycin, mycophenolate mofetil, leflunomide, NSAIDs, for example, ibuprofen.
  • corticosteroids such as prednisolone, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, adenosine agonists, antithrombotic agents, complement inhibitors, adrenergic agents, agents which interfere with signalling by proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF ⁇ or IL-1 (e.g. IRAK, NIK, IKK, p38 or MAP kinase inhibitors), IL-l ⁇ converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., Vx740).
  • proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF ⁇ or IL-1 (e.g. IRAK, NIK, IKK, p38 or MAP kinase inhibitors), IL-l ⁇ converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., Vx740).
  • TNF ⁇ converting enzyme inhibitors T-cell signalling inhibitors such as kinase inhibitors, metalloproteinase inhibitors, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, 6- mercaptopurines, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, soluble cytokine receptors and derivatives thereof (e.g. soluble p55 or p75 TNF receptors, sIL-lRI, sIL-lRII, sIL- 6R, soluble IL-13 receptor (sIL-13)) and antiinflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-4, IL-10, IL-1 1, IL-13 and TGF ⁇ ).
  • IL-4, IL-10, IL-1 1, IL-13 and TGF ⁇ antiinflammatory cytokines
  • TNF antagonists for example, anti-TNF antibodies, D2E7 (U.S. application serial number 08/599,226, filed February 9, 1996), cA2 (RemicadeTM), CDP 571 , anti-TNF antibody fragments (e.g.. CDP870), TNFR-Ig constructs(p75TNFRIgG (EnbrelTM' and p55TNFRIgG (Lenercept)) .
  • anti-P7s p-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL), soluble IL- 13 receptor (sIL-13), and PDE4 inhibitors.
  • Antibodies of the invention or antigen binding portions thereof can be combined with corticosteroids, for example, budenoside and dexamethasone. Antibodies of the invention or antigen binding portions thereof, may also be combined with agents such as sulfasalazine, 5-aminosalicylic acid and olsalazine, and agents which interfere with synthesis or action of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, for example, IL-l ⁇ converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., Vx740) and IL-lra. Antibodies of the invention or antigen binding portion thereof may also be used with T cell signaling inhibitors, for example, tyrosine kinase inhibitors 6- mercaptopurines. Antibodies of the invention or antigen binding portions thereof, can be combined with IL-1 1.
  • Non-limiting examples of therapeutic agents for multiple sclerosis with which an antibody, or antibody portion, of the invention can be combined include the following: corticosteroids; prednisolone; methylprednisolone; azathioprine; cyclophosphamide; cyclosporine; methotrexate; 4-aminopyridine; tizanidine; interferon- ⁇ la (Avonex; Biogen); interferon- ⁇ lb (Betaseron; Chiron/Berlex); Copolymer 1 (Cop-1 ; Copaxone; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.); hyperbaric oxygen; intravenous immunoglobulin; clabribine; antibodies to or antagonists of other human cytokines or growth factors, for example, TNF, LT, IL-1 , IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-15, IL-16, IL-18, EMAP-II, GM- CSF, FGF, and PDGF.
  • Antibodies of the invention, or antigen binding portions thereof can be combined with antibodies to cell surface molecules such as CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8. CD25, CD28, CD30, CD40, CD45, CD69, CD80, CD86, CD90 or their ligands.
  • the antibodies of the invention, or antigen binding portions thereof may also be combined with agents, such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, FK506, rapamycin, mycophenolate mofetil. leflunomide.
  • NSAIDs for example, ibuprofen, corticosteroids such as prednisolone, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, adensosine agonists, antithrombotic agents, complement inhibitors, adrenergic agents, agents which interfere with signalling by proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF ⁇ or IL-1 (e.g. IRAK, NIK. IKK, p38 or MAP kinase inhibitors), IL-l ⁇ converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., Vx740), anti-P7s, p- selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL).
  • cytokines such as TNF ⁇ or IL-1
  • IL-1 e.g. IRAK, NIK. IKK, p38 or MAP kinase inhibitors
  • IL-l ⁇ converting enzyme inhibitors e.g., Vx740
  • anti-P7s p- selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL).
  • TACE inhibitors T-cell signalling inhibitors such as kinase inhibitors, metalloproteinase inhibitors, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, 6- mercaptopurines, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, soluble cytokine receptors and derivatives thereof (e.g. soluble p55 or p75 TNF receptors, sIL-lRI, sIL-lRII, sIL- 6R, soluble IL-13 receptor (sIL-13)) and antiinflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and TGF ⁇ ).
  • soluble cytokine receptors and derivatives thereof e.g. soluble p55 or p75 TNF receptors, sIL-lRI, sIL-lRII, sIL- 6R, soluble IL-13 receptor (sIL-13)
  • antiinflammatory cytokines e.g. IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and TGF
  • interferon- ⁇ for example, IFN ⁇ la and IFN ⁇ lb
  • copaxone corticosteroids
  • IL-1 inhibitors for example, TNF inhibitors, and antibodies to CD40 ligand and CD80.
  • compositions of the invention may include a "therapeutically effective amount” or a “prophylactically effective amount” of an antibody or antibody portion of the invention.
  • a “therapeutically effective amount” refers to an amount effective, at dosages and for periods of time necessary, to achieve the desired therapeutic result.
  • a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody or antibody portion may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of the individual, and the ability of the antibody or antibody portion to elicit a desired response in the individual.
  • a therapeutically effective amount is also one in which any toxic or detrimental effects of the antibody or antibody portion are outweighed by the therapeutically beneficial effects.
  • a “prophylactically effective amount” refers to an amount effective, at dosages and for periods of time necessary, to achieve the desired prophylactic result.
  • the prophylactically effective amount will be less than the therapeutically effective amount.
  • Dosage regimens may be adjusted to provide the optimum desired response (e.g., a therapeutic or prophylactic response). For example, a single bolus may be administered, several divided doses may be administered over time or the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased as indicated by the exigencies of the therapeutic situation. It is especially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage.
  • Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the mammalian subjects to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier.
  • the specification for the dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directly dependent on (a) the unique characteristics of the active compound and the particular therapeutic or prophylactic effect to be achieved, and (b) the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for the treatment of sensitivity in individuals.
  • An exemplary, non-limiting range for a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an antibody or antibody portion of the invention is 0.01 -20 mg/kg, more preferably 1-10 mg/kg.even more preferablu OJ-1 mg/kg.
  • dosage values may vary with the type and severity of the condition to be alleviated. It is to be further understood that for any particular subject, specific dosage regimens should be adjusted over time according to the individual need and the professional judgment of the person administering or supervising the administration of the compositions, and that dosage ranges set forth herein are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope or practice of the claimed composition.
  • the anti-hIL-12 antibodies, or portions thereof, of the invention can be used to detect hIL-12 (e.g., in a biological sample, such as serum or plasma), using a conventional immunoassay, such as an enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), an radioimmunoassay (RIA) or tissue immunohistochemistry.
  • a conventional immunoassay such as an enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), an radioimmunoassay (RIA) or tissue immunohistochemistry.
  • ELISA enzyme linked immunosorbent assays
  • RIA radioimmunoassay
  • tissue immunohistochemistry tissue immunohistochemistry.
  • the invention provides a method for detecting hIL-12 in a biological sample comprising contacting a biological sample with an antibody, or antibody portion, of the invention and detecting either the antibody (or antibody portion) bound to hIL-12 or unbound antibody (or antibody portion), to thereby detect hIL-12 in the biological sample.
  • the antibody is directly or indirectly labeled with a detectable substance to facilitate detection of the bound or unbound antibody.
  • detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials. luminescent materials and radioactive materials.
  • suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, ⁇ -galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase;
  • suitable prosthetic group complexes include streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin;
  • suitable fluorescent materials include umbelliferone.
  • fluorescein fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride or phycoerythrin; an example of a luminescent material includes luminol; and examples of suitable radioactive material include 125 I, I 31 1, 35 S or 3 H.
  • hIL-12 can be assayed in biological fluids by a competition immunoassay utilizing rhIL-12 standards labeled with a detectable substance and an unlabeled anti-hIL-12 antibody.
  • the biological sample, the labeled rhIL-12 standards and the anti-hIL-12 antibody are combined and the amount of labeled rhIL-12 standard bound to the unlabeled antibody is determined.
  • the amount of hIL-12 in the biological sample is inversely proportional to the amount of labeled rhIL-12 standard bound to the anti-hIL-12 antibody.
  • the Y61 and J695 antibodies of the invention can also be used to detect IL-12 from species other than humans, in particular IL-12 from primates.
  • Y61 can be used to detect IL-12 in the cynomolgus monkey and the rhesus monkey.
  • J695 can be used to detect IL-12 in the cynomolgus monkey, rhesus monkey, and baboon.
  • neither antibody cross reacts with mouse or rat IL-12 (see Example 3, subsection F).
  • the antibodies and antibody portions of the invention are capable of neutralizing hIL-12 activity in vitro (see Example 3) and in vivo (see Example 4).
  • the antibodies and antibody portions of the invention can be used to inhibit IL-12 activity, e.g., in a cell culture containing hIL-12, in human subjects or in other mammalian subjects having IL-12 with which an antibody of the invention cross-reacts (e.g. primates such as baboon, cynomolgus and rhesus).
  • the invention provides an isolated human antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, that neutralizes the activity of human IL-12, and at least one additional primate IL-12 selected from the group consisting of baboon IL-12, marmoset IL-12.
  • the IL-12 is human IL-12.
  • an antibody or antibody portion of the invention can be added to the culture medium to inhibit hIL-12 activity in the culture.
  • the invention provides a method for inhibiting IL-12 activity in a subject suffering from a disorder in which IL-12 activity is detrimental.
  • IL-12 has been implicated in the pathophysiology of a wide variety of disorders (Windhagen et «/., (1995) J. Exp. Med.
  • the invention provides methods for inhibiting IL-12 activity in a subject suffering from such a disorder, which method comprises administering to the subject an antibody or antibody portion of the invention such that IL-12 activity in the subject is inhibited.
  • the IL-12 is human IL-12 and the subject is a human subject.
  • the subject can be a mammal expressing a IL-12 with which an antibody of the invention cross-reacts.
  • the subject can be a mammal into which has been introduced hIL-12 (e.g., by administration of hIL-12 or by expression of an hIL-12 transgene).
  • An antibody of the invention can be administered to a human subject for therapeutic purposes (discussed further below).
  • an antibody of the invention can be administered to a non-human mammal expressing a IL-12 with which the antibody cross-reacts for veterinary purposes or as an animal model of human disease. Regarding the latter, such animal models may be useful for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of antibodies of the invention (e.g., testing of dosages and time courses of administration).
  • a disorder in which IL-12 activity is detrimental is intended to include diseases and other disorders in which the presence of IL-12 in a subject suffering from the disorder has been shown to be or is suspected of being either responsible for the pathophysiology of the disorder or a factor that contributes to a worsening of the disorder.
  • a disorder in which IL-12 activity is detrimental is a disorder in which inhibition of IL-12 activity is expected to alleviate the symptoms and/or progression of the disorder.
  • Such disorders may be evidenced, for example, by an increase in the concentration of IL-12 in a biological fluid of a subject suffering from the disorder (e.g., an increase in the concentration of IL-12 in serum, plasma, synovial fluid, etc. of the subject), which can be detected, for example, using an anti-IL-12 antibody as described above.
  • disorders in which IL-12 activity is detrimental can be used in therapy to treat the diseases or disorders described herein.
  • the antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof can be used for the manufacture of a medicine for treating the diseases or disorders described herein. The use of the antibodies and antibody portions of the invention in the treatment of a few non-limiting specific disorders is discussed further below:
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis Interleukin-12 has been implicated in playing a role in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Inducible IL-12p40 message has been detected in synovia from rheumatoid arthritis patients and IL-12 has been shown to be present in the synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (see e.g., Morita et al. , (1998) Arthritis and Rheumatism 4X_: 306-314). IL-12 positive cells have been found to be present in the sublining layer of the rheumatoid arthritis synovium.
  • the human antibodies, and antibody portions of the invention can be used to treat, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme arthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis, osteoarthritis and gouty arthritis.
  • the antibody, or antibody portion is administered systemically, although for certain disorders, local administration of the antibody or antibody portion may be beneficial.
  • An antibody, or antibody portion, of the invention also can be administered with one or more additional therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
  • Anti-IL-12 antibodies have been shown to suppress disease in mouse models of colitis, e.g., TNBS induced colitis IL-2 knockout mice, and recently in IL-10 knockout mice. Accordingly, the antibodies, and antibody portions, of the invention, can be used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.
  • Interleukin-12 has been implicated as a key mediator of multiple sclerosis. Expression of the inducible IL-12 p40 message or IL-12 itself can be demonstrated in lesions of patients with multiple sclerosis (Windhagen et al, (1995) J. Exp. Med. X82: 1985-1996, Drulovic et al, (1997) J. Neurol Sci. X41: 145-150). Chronic progressive patients with multiple sclerosis have elevated circulating levels of IL-12. Investigations with T-cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs) from patients with multiple sclerosis revealed a self-perpetuating series of immune interactions as the basis of progressive multiple sclerosis leading to a Thl -type immune response.
  • APCs antigen presenting cells
  • the antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof of the invention may serve to alleviate symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis in humans.
  • IDDM insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • IDDM insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • IL-12 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • anti-IL-12 antibodies were protective in an adoptive transfer model of IDDM.
  • Early onset IDDM patients often experience a so-called "honeymoon period" during which some residual islet cell function is maintained. These residual islet cells produce insulin and regulate blood glucose levels better than administered insulin. Treatment of these early onset patients with an anti-IL-12 antibody may prevent further destruction of islet cells, thereby maintaining an endogenous source of insulin.
  • Interleukin-12 has been implicated as a key mediator in psoriasis.
  • Psoriasis involves acute and chronic skin lesions that are associated with a THl-type cytokine expression profile. (Hamid et al. (1996) J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 1 :225-231 ;
  • Antibodies to hIL-12 were isolated by screening three separate scFv phage display libraries prepared using human NL and VH cD ⁇ As from mR ⁇ A derived from human tonsils (referred to as scFv 1), tonsil and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) (referred to as scFv 2), and bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (referred to as BMDL). Construction of the library and methods for selection are described in Vaughan et al. (1996) Nature Biotech. 14: 309-314.
  • the libraries were screened using the antigens, human IL-12 p70 subunit, human IL-12 p40 subunit, chimaeric IL-12 (mouse p40/human p35), mouse IL-12, biotinylated human IL-12 and biotinylated chimaeric IL-12.
  • IL-12 specific antibodies were selected by coating the antigen onto immunotubes using standard procedures (Marks et al.,
  • the scFv library 2 was screened using either IL-12, or biotinylated-IL-12, and generated a significant number of IL-12 specific binders. Five different clonotypes were selected, determined by BstNl enzymatic digestion patterns, and confirmed by DNA sequencing. The main clonotypes were VHDP58/VLDPL1 1 , VHDP77/VLDPK31, VHDP47/VL and VHDP77/VLDPK31 , all of which recognized the p40 subunit of IL-12.
  • IL-12 antibodies which preferentially bind to the p70 heterodimer or the p35 subunit of IL-12, rather than the p40 subunit
  • the combined scFv 1 + 2 library, and the BMDL library were used.
  • phage libraries were preincubated and selected in the presence of free p40. Sequencing of isolated clones revealed 9 different antibody lineages. Subunit preferences were further analyzed by 'micro-Friguet' titration. The supernatant containing scFv was titrated on biotin-captured IL-12 in an ELISA and the EDso determined.
  • the concentration of scFv producing 50% ED was preincubated with increasing concentrations of free p70 or p40 (inhibitors).
  • a decrease in the ELISA signal on biotin-IL-12 coated plates was measured and plotted against the concentration of free p70 or p40. This provided the IC o for each clone with respect to p70 and p40. If the titrations for both subunits overlaps, then the scFv binds to both p40 and p70. Any variation from this gives the degree of preference of p70 over p40 .
  • Table 1 shows the V H 3 family of germline sequences, of which COS-3 is a member, as well as members of N> . 1 family of germline sequences. Therefore, Joe 9 was selected for affinity maturation.
  • the amino acids sequences of VH and VL of the Joe9 wild type (Joe9 wt) antibody are shown in Figure 1A-1D.
  • CDR3 complementarity determining region 3
  • H3 heavy chain CDR3
  • L3 light chain CDR3
  • spike an average of three base substitutions in each CDR3
  • PCR mutagenesis of the heavy chain CDR3 was performed using the degenerate heavy chain oligonucleotide containing a random mixture of all four nucleotides, 5'TGTCCCTTGGCCCCA(G)(T)(A)(G)(T)(C)(A)(T)(A)(G)(C)(T)(C)(C)(A)(C)(T) GGTCGTACAGTAATA 3' (SEQ ID NO: 580), and oligonucleotide pUC Reverse Tag GAC ACC TCG ATC AGC GGA TAA CAA TTTCAC ACA GG (SEQ ID NO: 581) to generate a repertoire of heavy chain CDR3 mutants.
  • the parent light chain was amplified using Joe 9 reverse oligonucleotide (5 GG GGC CAA GGG ACA3' (SEQ ID NO:582) and the fdteteseq 24+21 oligonucleotide (5'-ATT CGT CCT ATA CCG TTC TAC TTT GTC GTC TTT CCA GAC GTT AGT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 583).
  • Heavy chain CDR3 mutants were selected using 1 nM biotinylated IL-12, and washed for 1 h at room temperature in PBS containing free IL-12 or p40 at a concentration of 7 nM. Clones were analyzed by phage ELISA and those that bound to IL-12 were tested in BIAcore kinetic binding studies using a low density IL-12 chip (see procedure for BIAcore analysis in Example 5).
  • BIAcore analysis measures real-time binding interactions between ligand (recombinant human IL-12 immobilized on a biosensor matrix) and analyte (antibodies in solution) by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using the BIAcore system (Pharmacia Biosensor, Piscataway, NJ).
  • SPR surface plasmon resonance
  • the system utilizes the optical properties of SPR to detect alterations in protein concentrations within a dextran biosensor matrix. Proteins are covalently bound to the dextran matrix at known concentrations.
  • Antibodies are injected through the dextran matrix and specific binding between injected antibodies and immobilized ligand results in an increased matrix protein concentration and resultant change in the SPR signal.
  • Light chain CDR3 mutants were selected using 1 nM biotin-IL-12 and washed with PBS containing 7 nM free p40. Clones were screened in phage ELISA and those that bound to IL-12 were tested in BIAcore binding analysis using low density IL-12 chips. Clones that displayed an off rate which was better than the parent Joe 9 clone were tested in neutralization assays which measured either, inhibition of IL-12 receptor binding, or inhibition of PHA blast cell proliferation. A summary of the dissociation rates and/or IC 50 values from neutralization assays of light chain CDR3 mutant clones, 78-34 through 79-1, is presented in Table 2 (see Appendix A).
  • clones 78-34 and 78-35 displayed an improved k 0ff rate compared to the parent Joe 9. Both of these clones were selected for combination analysis with heavy chain mutants.
  • Mutant light and heavy chain clones that exhibited the best binding characteristics were used for combination and assembly of scFvs. Mutant clones with improved potency characteristics were combined by PCR overlap extension and pull- through of the mutated VH and VL segments as described above. Clones 101-14 through 26-1, shown in Table 2 (see Appendix A), were produced from the combination of heavy chain mutants (70-2, 70-13 and 70-1) with light chain mutants (78-34, 78-35 and 79-1). The k 0ff rates and/or IC 50 values from neutralization assays for these clones are presented in Table 2.
  • BIAcore binding analysis identified clone 101-1 1 , produced from the combination of the heavy chain CDR3 mutant clone 70-1 with the light chain CDR3 mutant clone 78-34, as having an off rate of 0.0045 s - ⁇ .
  • This k 0ff rate was a significant improvement compared to the k 0ff rates for either the heavy chain CDR3 mutant clone 70-1 (0.0134 s -l), or for the light chain CDR3 mutant clone 78-34 (0.0164 ) alone.
  • clone 101-1 1 showed a significant improvement in neutralization assays. Accordingly, clone 101-1 1 was selected for affinity maturation as described below.
  • L3.2 QSYXXXXXXSMV (SEQ ID NO: 592)
  • L3.3 QSYDRGXXXXX (SEQ ID NO: 593)
  • Randomized mutagenesis of all three light chain CDRs (referred to as L3J, L3J, and L3J) of clone 103-14 was performed.
  • the heavy chain CDR3 (referred to as H3) of clone 103-14 was not mutated.
  • Four randomized libraries based on clone 103-14 (H3 and L3J , L3J & L3J) were constructed and subjected to a large variety of selection conditions that involved using limiting antigen concentration and the presence or absence of excess free antigen (p40 and p70).
  • the outputs from selections (clones 73-Bl through 99-Gl 1) were screened primarily by BIAcore, and on occasion with RBA and are shown in Table 2 (see Appendix A).
  • Y61 was selected for conversion to a whole IgGl .
  • Whole Y61-IgGl has an IC 50 value of approximately 130 pM determined by the PHA assay. The IC 50 value was not affected by a 50 fold molar excess of free p40, demonstrating that free p40 did not cross-react with Y61 anti-IL-12 antibody to thereby decrease the antibody binding to the heterodimer.
  • the full length sequences of Y61 heavy chain variable region and light chain variable region are shown below.
  • telomere display methods typically use phage display methods. This is accomplished by randomly mutating combinations of CDR residues to generate large libraries containing single-chain antibodies of different sequences.
  • antibodies with improved affinities are selected based on their ability to reach an equilibrium in an antibody-antigen reaction.
  • Y61 scFV was expressed on phage surface and incubated with IL-12, selection conditions could not be found that would allow the system to reach normal antibody-antigen equilibrium.
  • the scFV-phage remained bound to IL-12, presumably due to a non-specific interaction, since purified Y61 scFv exhibits normal dissociation kinetics.
  • the Y61 antibody was already optimized in the CDR3 regions using the procedure described in Example 1 , therefore it was difficult to further improve the area which lies at the center of the antibody binding site using phage-display selection methods. Greater improvements in activity were obtained by mutation of potential contact positions outside the CDR3 regions by either removing a detrimental antigen-antibody contact or. engineering a new contact.
  • Y61 scFv gene was cloned into the pUCl 19(Sfi) plasmid vector for mutagenesis. Oligonucleotides were designed and synthesized with randomized codons to mutate each selected position. Following PCR mutagenesis, a small number of clones (-24) were sequenced and expressed in a host cell, for example, in a bacterial, yeast or mammalian host cell. The expressed antibody was purified and the k 0ff measured using the BIAcore system. Clones with improved off-rates, as compared to Y61, were then tested in neutralization assays. This procedure was repeated for other CDR positions. Individual mutations shown to have improved neutralization activity were combined to generate an antibody with even greater neutralization potency.
  • FIG. 1A-1D A summary of the heavy and light chain variable region sequence alignments showing the lineage development of clones that were on the path from Joe9 to J695 is shown in Figures 1A-1D.
  • the CDRs and residue numbering are according to Kabat.
  • the antibodies were used in several assays that measure the ability of an antibody to inhibit IL-12 activity.
  • PBMC Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
  • PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells
  • RPMI complete medium RPMI 1640 medium, 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 ⁇ g/ml streptomycin
  • FBS fetal bovine serum
  • PHA-P Difco, Detroit, MI
  • cell cultures were split 1 : 1 by volume in RPMI complete medium, plus 0.2% (v/v) PHA-P and 50 U/ml recombinant human IL-2.
  • Recombinant human IL-2 was produced by transfection of an expression vector carrying the human IL-2 cDNA into COS cells (see Kaufman et al, (1991) Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 4484-4490), and purified as described in PCT/US96/01382. Cell cultures were then incubated for an additional one to three days. PHA blast cells were harvested, washed twice with RPMI complete medium and frozen in 95% FBS, 5% DMSO at 10x10° cells/ml.
  • PHA blast cells to be used for the IL-12 receptor binding assay were collected after one day culture in the presence of IL-2, whereas PHA blast cells to be used for the PHA blast proliferation assay (see section C) and the interferon-gamma induction assay (see section D) were collected after three day culture in the presence of IL-2.
  • anti-IL-12 antibodies to inhibit binding of radiolabelled IL-12 to IL-12 receptors on PHA blasts were analyzed as follows. Various concentrations of anti-IL-12 antibody were preincubated for 1 hour at 37°C with 50-100 pM 12 T-hIL-12 (iodinated hIL-12 was prepared using the Bolton-Hunter labeling method to a specific activity of 20-40mCi/mg from NEN-Dupont) in binding buffer (RPMI 1640, 5% FBS, 25 mM Hepes pH 7.4). PHA blast cells isolated as described above, were washed once and resuspended in binding buffer to a cell density of 2x10 7 cells/ml.
  • PHA blasts (lxlO 6 cells) were added to the antibody " I-hIL-12 mixture and incubated for two hours at room temperature.
  • Cell bound radioactivity was separated from free 12 J-hIL-12 by centrifugation of the assay mixture for 30 seconds at room temperature, aspiration of the liquid and a wash with OJml binding buffer, followed by centrifugation at 4°C for 4 min at 10,000 x g.
  • the cell pellet was examined for cell bound radioactivity using a gamma counter. Total binding was determined in the absence of antibody and non-specific binding was determined by inclusion of 25 nM unlabeled IL-12 in the assay. Incubations were carried out in duplicate.
  • Anti-IL-12 antibodies were evaluated for their ability to inhibit PHA blast proliferation (which proliferation is stimulated by IL-12). Serial dilutions of anti-IL-12 antibody were preincubated for 1 hour at 37°C, 5% C0 2 with 230 pg/ml hIL-12 in 100 ml RPMI complete medium in a microtiter plate (U-bottom, 96-well, Costar,
  • PHA blast cells isolated as described above were washed once and resuspended in RPMI complete medium to a cell density of 3x10 ⁇ cells/ml. PHA blasts (100 ml, 3x10 4 cells) were added to the antibody/hIL-12 mixture, incubated for 3 days at 37°C, 5% C0 2 and labeled for 4-6 hours with 0.5 mCi/well (3H)-Thymidine (Amersham, Arlington Heights, IL). The culture contents were harvested onto glass fiber filters by means of a cell harvester (Tomtec, Orange, CT) and ( ⁇ )-Thymidine incorporation into cellular DNA was measured by liquid scintillation counting. All samples were assayed in duplicate.
  • the human anti-IL-12 antibody, J695 inhibited PHA blast proliferation with an IC 50 value of approximately 1.0 x 10 " ⁇ M in the presence of p70:p40 at a ratio of 1 :0. In the presence of a p70:p40 ratio of 1 :50, this antibody inhibited PHA blast proliferation
  • anti-IL-12 antibodies to inhibit the production of IFN ⁇ by PHA blasts (which production is stimulated by IL-12) was analyzed as follows. Various concentrations of anti-IL-12 antibody were preincubated for 1 hour at 37°C, 5% CO ⁇ with 200-400 pg/ml hIL-12 in 100 ml RPMI complete medium in a microtiter plate
  • PHA blasts 100 ⁇ l of lxl 0 6 cells were added to the antibody/hIL-12 mixture and incubated for 18 hours at 37°C and 5% C0 2 . After incubation, 150 ⁇ l of cell free supernatant was withdrawn from each well and the level of human IFN ⁇ produced was measured by ELISA (Endogen Interferon gamma ELISA, Endogen, Cambridge, MA).
  • Y61 inhibited human IFN ⁇ production with an IC 50 value of approximately 1.6xlO "10 M, while the human anti-IL-12 antibody. J695, inhibited human IFN ⁇ production with an IC 50 value of approximately 1.6xlO "10 M, while the human anti-IL-12 antibody. J695, inhibited human IFN ⁇ production with an IC 50 value of approximately 1.6xlO "10 M, while the human anti-IL-12 antibody. J695, inhibited human IFN ⁇ production with an IC 50 value of approximately 1.6xlO "10 M, while the human anti-IL-12 antibody. J695, inhibited human IFN ⁇ production with an IC 50 value of approximately 1.6xlO "10 M, while the human anti-IL-12 antibody. J695, inhibited human IFN ⁇ production with an IC 50 value of approximately 1.6xlO "10 M, while the human anti-IL-12 antibody. J695, inhibited human IFN ⁇ production with an IC 50 value of approximately 1.6xlO "10 M, while the human anti
  • non-human IL-12 was produced as follows.
  • PBMC were separated from fresh heparinized blood by density gradient centrifugation as described above using lymphoprep (Nycomed, Oslo, Norway) for cynomolgus monkey, baboon, and dog, PBMC, Accu-paque (Accurate Chemical & Sci. Corp., Westbury, NY) for dog PBMC or Lympholyte-rat (Accurate Chemical & Sci. Corp., Westbury, NY) for rat PBMC.
  • the PBMC were then induced to produce IL-12 as described (D'Andrea et al, (1992; J.Exp. Med 176, 1387-1398 , Villinger et al, (1995; J. Immunol. 155, 3946- 3954, Buettner et al, (1998) Cytokine 10, 241-248).
  • the washed PBMC were resuspended at 1x ⁇ 6 cells/ml in RPMI complete medium, supplemented with 0.0075% (wt/vol) of SAC (Pansorbin; Calbiochem-Behring Co., La Jolla, CA) or 1-5 mg/ml ConA (Sigma Chemical Co.. St. Louis. MO) plus 0.0075% SAC and incubated for 18 hours at 37°C in a 5% C0 2 atmosphere. Cell-free and SAC-free medium was collected by centrifugation and filtering through 0J mm filters.
  • IL-12 from the rhesus monkey was obtained as recombinant rhesus IL-12 from Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
  • the murine T cell clone 2D6 proliferates in response to murine IL-2, IL-4, IL-7 and IL-12 (Maruo et al, (1997) J. Leukocyte Biol 61, 346-352). A significant proliferation was also detected in response to rat PBMC supematants containing rat IL- 12. The cells do not respond to dog, cynomolgus, baboon or human IL-12.
  • Murine 2D6 cells were propagated in RPMI complete medium supplemented with 50 mM beta- mercaptoethanol ( ⁇ ME) and 30 ng/ml murine IL-12. One day prior to the assay, the murine IL-12 was washed out and the cells were incubated overnight in RPMI complete medium plus ⁇ ME.
  • 2D6 cells 100 ⁇ l, lxlO 4 cells were added to the antibody/hIL-12 mixture, incubated for 3 days at 37°C, 5% C0 2 and labeled for 4-6 hours with 0.5 mCi/well (3H)- Thymidine. The culture contents were harvested and counted by liquid scintillation counting. All samples were assayed in duplicate.
  • PBMC's isolated from several non-human species The presence of non-human IL-12 activity in the rat, dog, cynomolgus and baboon PBMC supematants was confirmed using several bioassays described above, such as the murine 2D6 cell proliferation assay, the human PHA blast proliferation assay and the interferon-gamma induction assay by blocking the non-human PBMC induced responses with rabbit and/or sheep polyclonal antibodies to murine and/or human IL-12.
  • bioassays described above such as the murine 2D6 cell proliferation assay, the human PHA blast proliferation assay and the interferon-gamma induction assay by blocking the non-human PBMC induced responses with rabbit and/or sheep polyclonal antibodies to murine and/or human IL-12.
  • Y61 and J695 are each able to recognize IL-12 from monkeys (e.g, cynomolgus and rhesus IL-12 for Y61 , and cynomolgus, rhesus and baboon for J695) and that J695 is approximately 35 fold less active on dog IL-12; neither Y61 nor J695 cross reacts with mouse or rat IL-12.
  • J695 The specificity of J695 was tested in a competition ELISA in which a panel of human cytokines was tested for their ability to interfere with the binding of soluble J695 to immobilized human IL-12.
  • the panel of human cytokines included IL-l ⁇ and IL-l ⁇ (Genzyme. Boston, MA), IL-2 (Endogen), IL-4, IL- 10, IL- 17. IFN-gamma, and TGF- ⁇ 1 (R&D, Minneapolis, MN) IL-8 (Calbiochem), PDGF.
  • IGF-I IGF-I
  • IGF-II Boehringer Mannheim Corp., Indianapolis, IN
  • TNF ⁇ and lymphotoxin TNF ⁇ and lymphotoxin
  • IL-6 soluble IL-6 receptor
  • IL-1 1, IL-12 p70
  • IL-12 p40 M-CSF
  • LIF LIF
  • EBI-3 an IL-12 p40 related protein that is induced by Epstein-Barr virus infection in B lymphocytes (Devergne et
  • IL-12 heterodimer in which the p35 subunit is replaced by a novel pi 9 molecule.
  • PI 9 was identified using 3D homology searching for IL-6/IL-12 family members, and is synthesized by activated dendritic cells.
  • PI 9 binds to p40 to form a pl9/p40 dimer, which has IL-12 -like activity, but is not as potent as the p35/p40 heterodimer in IFN ⁇ induction.
  • Antibodies which recognize p40 alone, but preferably in the context of a p70 molecule are expected to also neutralize both the p35/p40 molecules and the pl9/p40 molecules.
  • EXAMPLE 4 In vivo Activity of Anti-hIL-12 Antibodies
  • Group 1 received an intravenous (IV) administration of 10 mg/kg human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, Miles, Eckhart, IN, purified using protein A Sepharose).
  • Group 2 received an intravenous administration of 1 mg/kg C8.6J (neutralizing mouse anti- human IL-12 monoclonal antibody).
  • Group 3 received an intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg C8.6J.
  • Group 4 received an intravenous administration of 1 mg/kg Y61 (human anti-human IL-12 antibody, purified from CHO cell conditioned medium).
  • Group 5 received an intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg Y61.
  • IL-12 human IL-12 (1 ⁇ g/kg). Blood samples were taken at the following time points: baseline, 8, 24, 48, 96 and 216 hours, and analyzed for complete blood cell counts with differentials and serum chemistry. Serum human IL-12, C8.6.2 antibody, Y61 antibody, monkey IFN-gamma, monkey IL-10, monkey IL-6 and plasma neopterin levels were also measured.
  • mice treated with IL-12 plus IVIG control antibody showed many of the expected hematological changes, including decreases in WBC, platelets, lymphocyte count and monocyte count. These decreases were not seen or were less pronounced in the animals treated with either the C8.6J or Y61 antibody at 1 or 10 mg/kg (Groups 2-5). Serum or plasma samples were analyzed by ELISA specific for monkey IFN- gamma and monkey IL-10 (Biosource International, Camarillo, CA). monkey IL-6 (Endogen) and plasma neopterin (ICN Pharmaceuticals. Orangeburg. NY). IFN-gamma, IL-10 or IL-6 were not detected in any of the IL-12 treated animals including the control animals treated with IL-12 plus IVIG.
  • IVIG intravenous immunoglobulin
  • One hour following the administration of J695 or IVIG all animals received a single SC dose of 1 ⁇ g/kg rhIL-12 in the dorsal skin.
  • Blood samples were collected via the femoral vein up to 28 days after J695 administration. Serum was acquired from each blood sample and assayed for IL-12, J695, IFN- ⁇ . and anti-J695 antibodies by ELISA. Neopterin was assayed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography.
  • Treatment with .1695 also prevented or reduced the changes in hematology normally associated with rhIL-12 administration (leukopenia and thrombocytopenia).
  • lymphocyte counts were reduced by approximately 50% when compared to baseline values in the control IV and SC IVIG treated groups.
  • Administration of J695 either SC or IV at all three dose levels prevented this reduction, resulting in lymphocyte counts at 24 hours approximately the same as baseline values.
  • platelet counts in the groups treated with IV and SC IVIG were reduced by approximately 25% when compared to baseline values.
  • An example dose schedule targeted to maintain serum levels above the 90% effect level would be 1 mg/kg IV and SC given approximately every other week, or 0.3 mg/kg given approximately every week, assuming slight accumulation during repeated dosing.
  • This study demonstrates that antibody can be given safely to monkeys at such dosages. In independent toxicity studies, it was further found that up to 100 mg/kg of the antibody can be given safely to monkeys.
  • J695 was also effective in preventing IFN- ⁇ production in mice treated with a chimeric IL-12. a molecule which combines the murine p35 subunit with the human IL- 12 p40 subunit. In contrast to human IL-12 which is biologically inactive in mice, this chimeric IL-12 retains biological function in mice, including induction of IFN- ⁇ .
  • the human p40 subunit allows the molecule to be bound and neutralized by J695.
  • Chimeric IL-12 at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg i.p. was administered to female C3H/HeJ mice (10/experimental group) in five daily doses on days 0, 1 , 2. 3, and 4.
  • J695 was given on days 0, 2 and 4 at doses of 0.05, 0.01 , 0.002, 0.0004, 0.00008, and 0.000016 mg/kg i.p., 30' prior to the IL-12 injections.
  • the control hulgGl ⁇ was given IP. at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg on days 0, 2, and 4.
  • the mice were bled on day 5, and serum IFN- ⁇ levels were determined by ELISA.
  • Collectively, these results demonstrate that J695 is a potent inhibitor of 11-12 activity in vivo.
  • goat anti-human IgG is covalently linked via free amine groups to the dextran matrix by first activating carboxyl groups on the matrix with 100 mM N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and 400 mM N-Ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). Next, goat anti-human IgG is injected across the activated matrix.
  • NHS N-hydroxysuccinimide
  • EDC N-Ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride
  • a binding assay was conducted as follows. Aliquots of J695 (25 ⁇ g/ml; 25 ⁇ l aliquots) were injected through the goat anti-human IgG polyclonal antibody coupled dextran matrix at a flow rate of 5 ⁇ l/min. Before injection of the protein and immediately afterward, HBS buffer alone flowed through each flow cell.
  • Table 7 Binding of CHO or COS derived J695 to rhIL-12.
  • Table 8 Apparent kinetic rate and affinity constants of J695 for rhIL-12.
  • Table 9 Epitope mapping of J695 using BIAcore technology.
  • BIAcore plasmon resonance technology was used to measure the binding of soluble rhIL-12 to solid phase captured J695.
  • a goat anti-human IgG antibody was immobilized on the biosensor chips, then a fixed amount of J695 was injected and captured on the surface. Varying concentrations of rhIL-12 were applied, and the binding of IL-12 at different concentrations to J695 was measured as a function of time.
  • C17.15 a rat anti-murine IL-12 monoclonal antibody with murine IL-12
  • the IC 50 (M) of C 17.15 for recombinant murine IL-12 in this assay was found to be 1.4 x 10 " ", as compared to the IC 50 value of 5.8x10 " '- observed for J695 for recombinant human IL-12 under the same conditions (see Table 1 1).
  • Table 1 1 Comparison of the properties of anti-human IL-12 monoclonal antibody J695 and the rat anti-mouse IL-12 monoclonal antibody C 17.15
  • C 17.15 The ability of C 17.15 to inhibit the binding of murine IL-12 to cellular receptors was also measured. Serial dilutions of C 17.15 were pre-incubated for 1 hr at 37 °C with 100 pM [ 125 I]-murine IL-12 in binding buffer. The 2D6 cells (2x10 6 ) were added to the antibody/[ 12 J]-murine IL-12 mixture and incubated for 2 hours at room temperature. Cell-bound radioactivity was separated from free [ ⁇ IJ-IL-12, and the remaining cell- bound radioactivity was determined.
  • a goat anti-rat IgG antibody was immobilized on the biosensor chips, followed by an injection of a fixed amount of the C 17.15 antibody, resulting in capture of C 17.15 on the surface of the chip.
  • Varying concentrations of recombinant murine IL-12 were applied to the C 17.15 surface, and the binding of murine IL-12 to the immobilized C 17.15 was measured as a function of time. Apparent dissociation and association rate constants were calculated, assuming a zero order dissociation and first order association kinetics as well as a simple one to one molecular interaction between the immobilized C 17.15 and murine IL-12.
  • C 17.15 was used as a homologous antibody to J695 in murine models of inflammation and autoimmune disease to study the effects of IL-12 blockade on the initiation or progression of disease in these model animals (see Example 8).
  • EXAMPLE 8 Treatment of Autoimmune or Inflammation-Based Diseases in Mice by ⁇ -Murine IL-12 Antibody Administration
  • IL-12 levels have been demonstrated.
  • elevated levels of IL-12 p70 have been detected in the synovia of RA patients compared with healthy controls (Morita et al (1998) Arthritis and Rheumatism. 41 : 306-314). Therefore, the ability of C17.15, a rat anti-mouse IL-12 antibody, to suppress collagen-induced arthritis in mice was assessed.
  • Male DBA/1 mice (10/group) were immunized with type II collagen on Day 0 and treated with C 17.15, or control rat IgG. at 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally on alternate days from Day -1 (1 day prior to collagen immunization) to Day 12.
  • the animals were monitored clinically for the development of arthritis in the paws until Day 90.
  • the arthritis was graded as: 0- normal; 1- arthritis localized to one joint; 2- more than one joint involved but not whole paw; 3- whole paw involved; 4- deformity of paw; 5- ankylosis of involved joints.
  • the results, as shown in Figure 4. indicate that an arthritic score was measurable in the C 17.15 -treated mice only after day 50 post-treatment, and that the peak mean arthritic score obtained with the C17J5-treated mice was at least 5-fold lower than that measured in the IgG-treated mice. This demonstrated that the rat anti-mouse IL-12 antibody C 17.15 prevented the development of collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
  • IL-12 has also been demonstrated to play a role in the development/pathology of colitis.
  • anti-IL-12 antibodies have been shown to suppress disease in mouse models of colitis, e.g., TNBS induced colitis IL-2 knockout mice (Simpson et al. (1998) J. Exp. Med. 187(8): 1225-34).
  • anti-IL-2 antibodies have been demonstrated to suppress colitis formation in IL-10 knock-out mice .
  • the ability of the rat anti-mouse IL-12 antibody, C 17.15, to suppress TNBS colitis in mice was assessed in two studies (Davidson et al. (1998) J. Immunol. 161(6): 3143-9).
  • IL-12 plays a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS).
  • MS multiple sclerosis
  • the inducible IL-12 p40 message has been shown to be expressed in acute plaques of MS patients but not in inflammatory brain infarct lesions (Windhagen, A. et al. (1995) J. Exp. Med. 182: 1985-1996).
  • T cells from MS patients (but not control T cells) stimulate IL-12 production from antigen-presenting cells through unregulated CD40L expression (Balashov, K.E. et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 599- 603).
  • MS patients have enhanced IFN- ⁇ secretion that can be blocked with ⁇ -IL-12 antibodies in vitro (Balashov, K.E. et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 599- 603). Elevated levels of serum IL-12 are detected in MS patients, but not in other neurological diseases (Nicoletti, F. et al. (1996) J. Neuroimmunol. 70: 87-90). Increased IL-12 production has been shown to correlate with disease activity in MS patients (Cormabella, M. et al. (1998) J. Clin. Invest. 102: 671-678).
  • ⁇ -IL-12 antibody was found to be able to inhibit the onset of acute EAE, to suppress the disease after onset, and to decrease the severity of relapses in mice immunized with the autoantigen, myelin basic protein (Banerjee, S. et al. (1998) Arthritis Rheum. (1998) 41 : S33).
  • the beneficial effects of ⁇ -IL-12 antibody treatment in the mice persisted for over two months after stopping treatment. It has also been demonstrated that anti-IL-12 antibodies suppress the disease in mice that are recipients of encephalitogenic T cells by adoptive transfer (Leonard, J.P. et al. (1995) J. Exp. Med. 181: 281-386).
  • EXAMPLE 9 Clinical Pharmacology of J695
  • J695 Shortly after the second administration of J695 (5 mg/kg IV), the subject's skin was totally cleared of psoriatic lesions, in the absence of any local treatment. Erythematous plaques covered with white scales reappeared concomitant with the expected clearance of J695 after the second administration of antibody.
  • a recombinant expression vector encoding both the antibody heavy chain and the antibody light chain is introduced into dhfr- CHO cells (Urlaub, G. and Chasin, L.A. (1980) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 77:4216-4220) by calcium phosphate-mediated transfection.
  • the antibody heavy and light chain genes are each operatively linked to enhancer/promoter regulatory elements (e.g., derived from SV40, CMV, adenovirus and the like, such as a CMV enhancer/AdMLP promoter regulatory element or an SV40 enhancer/AdMLP promoter regulatory element) to drive high levels of transcription of the genes.
  • enhancer/promoter regulatory elements e.g., derived from SV40, CMV, adenovirus and the like, such as a CMV enhancer/AdMLP promoter regulatory element or an SV40 enhancer/AdMLP promoter regulatory element
  • the recombinant expression vector also carries a DHFR gene, which allows for selection of CHO cells that have been transfected with the vector using methotrexate selection/amplification.
  • One hundred and fifty micrograms of an expression vector encoding the peptide sequences of the human antibody J695 were dissolved in 2.1 ml water in a 50 ml conical tube. Three hundred ⁇ L of 2.5 M CaCL were added and this DNA mixture was added dropwise to 3 ml of 2 x HEPES buffered saline in a 50 ml conical tube. After vortexing for 5 sec and incubating at room temperature for 20 min, 1 mL was distributed evenly over each plate (still in F12 medium), and the plates were incubated at 37 °C for 4 h. Liquid was removed by aspiration and 2 ml of 10%o DMSO in F12 were added to each plate.
  • the DMSO shock continued for 1 min, after which the DMSO was diluted by the addition of 5 ml PBS to each plate. Plates were washed twice in PBS, followed by the addition of 10 ml of alpha MEM. supplemented with H/T and 5% FBS (selective for cells expressing DHFR) and overnight incubation at 37 °C. Cells were seeded into 96-well plates at a density of 100 cells per well, and plates were incubated at 37 °C, 5% CO 2 for two weeks, with one change of medium per week.
  • culture supematants were diluted 1 :50 and tested using an ELISA specific for human IgG gamma chain.
  • the clones yielding the highest ELISA signal were transferred from the 96-well plates to 12-well plates in 1.5 ml/well of Alpha MEM + 5% dialyzed serum.
  • another ELISA specific for human IgG gamma chain was performed, and the 12 clones with the greatest activity were split into the alpha MEM + 5% dialyzed serum and 20 nM MTX.
  • Cell line 031898 218 grew in the presence of 20 nM MTX without any apparent cell death or reduction in growth rate, produced 1.8 ⁇ g/ml hlgG in a three-day assay.
  • the line, designated ALP903 was adapted to growth in suspension under serum- free conditions, where it produced 7.5 pg J695/cell/24h.
  • ALP903 cells after initial selection in alpha MEM/5% FBS/20 nM MTX medium, were passed again in 20 nM MTX.
  • the cells were cultured under 100 nM MTX selection, followed by passaging in 500 nM MTX twice in the next 30 days. At that time the culture was producing 32 ⁇ g J695/mL/24 h.
  • the culture was subcloned by limiting dilution.
  • Subclone 218-22 produced 16.5 ⁇ g/mL in a 96-well plate in 2 days and 50.3 ⁇ g/mL of J695 in a 12-well dish in 2 days.
  • Clone 218-22 was cultured in alpha MEM/5%) dialyzed FBS/500 nM MTX for 38 days, followed by adaptation to serum- free spinner culture, as above.
  • the first cell line used to produce J695 resulted in lower yields of the antibody from culture than a second cell line, ALP 905.
  • ALP 903 The first cell line used to produce J695
  • both batches of antibodies were assessed for IL-12 affinity, for the ability to block IL-12 binding to cellular receptors, for the ability to inhibit IFN- ⁇ induction by IL-12, and for the ability to inhibit IL-12-mediated PHA blast proliferation.
  • the affinities of J695 batches ALP 903 and ALP 905 for IL-12 were determined by measuring the kinetic rate constants of binding to IL-12 by surface plasmon resonance studies (BIAcore analyses).
  • the off-rate constant (k d ) and the on-rate constant (k a ) of antibody batches ALP903 and ALP905 for binding to rhIL-12 were determined in three experiments (as described in Example 3).
  • the affinity, K d of binding to IL-12 was calculated by dividing the off-rate constant by the on-rate constant. K d was calculated for each separate experiment and then averaged.
  • J695 derived from both ALP 903 and ALP 905 was assessed (see Example 3).
  • Each sample of J695 was tested at a starting concentration of 1 x 10 "8 with 10-fold serial dilutions.
  • the antibody was preincubated for 1 hour at 37 °C with 50 pM [ 125 I]-human IL-12 in binding buffer.
  • PHA blast cells were added to the antibody/[ 125 I]- human IL-12 mixture and incubated for 2 h at room temperature. Cell bound radioactivity was separated from free [ J] -IL-12 by centrifugation and washing steps, and % inhibition was calculated.
  • the IC o values for J695 were determined from the inhibition curves using 4-parameter curve fitting and were confirmed by two independent experiments. Incubations were carried out in duplicate. The results for the two batches of J695 were very similar (see Table 13).
  • J695 from both ALP 903 and ALP 905 cells The ability of J695 from both ALP 903 and ALP 905 cells to inhibit rhIL-12- induced IFN- ⁇ production by human PHA-activated lymphoblasts in vitro was assessed. Serial dilutions of J695 were preincubated with 200 pg/mL rhIL-12 for 1 h at 37 °C. PHA lymphoblast cells were added and incubated for 18 hours at 37 °C. After incubation, cell free supernatant was withdrawn and the level of human IFN- ⁇ determined by ELISA. The IC 5 o values from the inhibition curves were plotted against the antibody concentration using 4-parameter curve fitting. The results demonstrate that the ability of the two batches to inhibit IFN- ⁇ production is very similar.
  • the in vitro PHA blast cell proliferation assay was used to measure the neutralization capacity of ALP 903 and ALP 905 J695 for rhIL-12.
  • Serial dilutions of J695 of each type were preincubated with 230 pg/mL human IL-12 for 1 h at 37 °C.
  • PHA blast cells were added and incubated for 3 days at 37 °C.
  • the cells were then labeled for 6 hours with 1 ⁇ Ci/well [ H]-thymidine.
  • the cultures were harvested and [ 3 H] -thymidine incorporation measured.
  • Non-specific proliferation (background) was measured in the absence of rhIL-12.
  • the IC 50 values for ALP 903 and ALP 905 J695 were found to be very similar and are set forth in Table 13.
  • the activity of the J695 antibodies in neutralizing rhIL-12 activity, in blocking IL-12 binding to cell surface receptors, and in binding to rhIL-12 did not significantly differ from batch ALP 903 to batch ALP 905, and thus the antibodies produced from these two different cell types were equivalent.

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