EP1976881A2 - Chimeric and humanised anti-human il-13 antibodies - Google Patents

Chimeric and humanised anti-human il-13 antibodies

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Publication number
EP1976881A2
EP1976881A2 EP07703766A EP07703766A EP1976881A2 EP 1976881 A2 EP1976881 A2 EP 1976881A2 EP 07703766 A EP07703766 A EP 07703766A EP 07703766 A EP07703766 A EP 07703766A EP 1976881 A2 EP1976881 A2 EP 1976881A2
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Prior art keywords
antibody
seq
asthma
human
cell
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Claire Ashman
Martin John Cassidy
Jane Elizabeth Clarkson
Jonathan Henry Ellis
Trevor Anthony Kenneth Wattam
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Glaxo Group Ltd
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Glaxo Group Ltd
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Application filed by Glaxo Group Ltd filed Critical Glaxo Group Ltd
Publication of EP1976881A2 publication Critical patent/EP1976881A2/en
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    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
    • C07K16/24—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against cytokines, lymphokines or interferons
    • C07K16/244—Interleukins [IL]
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    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
    • C07K16/24—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against cytokines, lymphokines or interferons
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K39/395—Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immune serum, e.g. antilymphocytic serum
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
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    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
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    • A61P11/00—Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
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    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P11/00—Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
    • A61P11/02—Nasal agents, e.g. decongestants
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P11/00—Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
    • A61P11/06—Antiasthmatics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
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    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P33/00—Antiparasitic agents
    • A61P33/02—Antiprotozoals, e.g. for leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, toxoplasmosis
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P33/00—Antiparasitic agents
    • A61P33/10—Anthelmintics
    • A61P33/12—Schistosomicides
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    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • A61P35/02—Antineoplastic agents specific for leukemia
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
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    • A61P37/08—Antiallergic agents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
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    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/11—DNA or RNA fragments; Modified forms thereof; Non-coding nucleic acids having a biological activity
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    • C12N5/00—Undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, e.g. cell lines; Tissues; Cultivation or maintenance thereof; Culture media therefor
    • C12N5/10—Cells modified by introduction of foreign genetic material
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
    • C07K2317/24—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin containing regions, domains or residues from different species, e.g. chimeric, humanized or veneered
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/30—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by aspects of specificity or valency
    • C07K2317/34—Identification of a linear epitope shorter than 20 amino acid residues or of a conformational epitope defined by amino acid residues
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/50—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments
    • C07K2317/56—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments variable (Fv) region, i.e. VH and/or VL
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/50—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments
    • C07K2317/56—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments variable (Fv) region, i.e. VH and/or VL
    • C07K2317/565—Complementarity determining region [CDR]
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/70—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by effect upon binding to a cell or to an antigen
    • C07K2317/73—Inducing cell death, e.g. apoptosis, necrosis or inhibition of cell proliferation
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    • C07K2317/70—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by effect upon binding to a cell or to an antigen
    • C07K2317/76—Antagonist effect on antigen, e.g. neutralization or inhibition of binding
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/90—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by (pharmaco)kinetic aspects or by stability of the immunoglobulin
    • C07K2317/92—Affinity (KD), association rate (Ka), dissociation rate (Kd) or EC50 value
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A50/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
    • Y02A50/30—Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to immunoglobulins that specifically bind lnterleukin 13 (IL-13) and in particular human IL-13 (hlL-13).
  • IL-13 lnterleukin 13
  • hlL-13 human IL-13
  • One embodiment of the invention relates to antibodies that specifically bind hlL-13.
  • the present invention also concerns methods of treating diseases or disorders with said immunoglobulins, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said immunoglobulins and methods of manufacture. Other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the description below.
  • Interleukin-13 (IL-13)
  • IL-13 is a 12kDa secreted cytokine originally described as a T cell-derived cytokine that inhibits inflammatory cytokine production. Structural studies indicate that it has a four-helical bundle arrangement held by two disulphide bonds. Although IL-13 has four potential glycosylation sites, analysis of native IL-13 from rat lung has indicated that it is produced as an unglycosylated molecule. Expression of human IL-13 from NSO and COS-7 cells confirms this observation (Eisenmesser et al, J. MoI. Biol. 2001 310(1 ):231-241 ; Moy et al, J. MoI. Biol 2001 310(1 ):219-230; Cannon-Carlson et al, Protein Expression and Purification 1998 12(2):239-248).
  • IL-13 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by a variety of cell types including activated Th2 cells, mast cells, basophils, dendritic cells, keratinocytes and NKT cells. It can also be produced by ThO, Th1 , CD8 and na ⁇ ve CD45RA + T cells. IL-13 has immunoregulatory activities that partially overlap with those of IL4, this redundancy may be explained by shared components in the receptors for IL4 and (L-13. IL-13 signals through the type Il IL4 receptor which is a heterodimer composed of the IL4R ⁇ and the IL-13R ⁇ 1 chains.
  • hlL-13R human receptor
  • IL-13R ⁇ 2 is believed to act as a decoy receptor modulating IL-13 activity.
  • IL-13 can also signal through the IL13R ⁇ 2 chain (Fichter- Feigl 2006 Nature Medicine 12:99-106) to induce TGFbetal , and as such may contribute towards the fibrosis associated with asthma pathology.
  • Functional receptors for IL-13 are expressed on a wide range of cells including the airway epithelium, smooth muscle, mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, B cells, fibroblasts, monocytes and macrophages. T cells do not have functional receptors for I L- 13 (Hilton et al, PNAS 1996 93(1 ):497-501 ; Caput et al, J. Biol. Chem. 1996 271 (28): 16921 -16926; Hershey GK, J.AIIergy Clin. Immunol. 2003 111 (4):677-690).
  • Both IL-13 and IL-4 act to modify immune and inflammatory responses by promoting allergy associated inflammation and suppressing inflammation due to bacteria, viruses and intracellular pathogens.
  • the principal biological effects of IL-13 include; induction of B cell proliferation and regulation of isotype switching to IgE; induction of MHC Il and CD23 expression on B cells and monocytes; up-regulation of VCAM-1 on endothelial cells; regulation of chemokine production; activation of mast cell, eosinophil and neutrophil function as well as inhibition of pro-inflammatory gene expression in monocyte and macrophage populations.
  • IL-13 does not have any proliferative effects on T cells.
  • IL-13 does not appear to be important in the initial differentiation of CD4 T cells into Th2-type cells, but rather appears to be important in the effector phase of allergic inflammation (McKenzie et al, PNAS 1993 90(8):3735-3739; Wynn TA, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 2003 21 :425-456).
  • Asthma is a chronic lung disease, caused by inflammation of the lower airways and is characterised by recurrent breathing problems.
  • Airways of patients are sensitive and swollen or inflamed to some degree all the time, even when there are no symptoms. Inflammation results in narrowing of the airways and reduces the flow of air in and out of the lungs, making breathing difficult and leading to wheezing, chest tightness and coughing.
  • Asthma is triggered by super-sensitivity towards allergens (e.g. dust mites, pollens, moulds), irritants (e.g. smoke, fumes, strong odours), respiratory infections, exercise and dry weather. The triggers irritate the airways and the lining of the airways swell to become even more inflamed, mucus then clogs up the airways and the muscles around the airways tighten up until breathing becomes difficult and stressful and asthma symptoms appear.
  • allergens e.g. dust mites, pollens, moulds
  • IL-13 is believed to be the major effector cytokine driving a variety of cellular responses in the lung, including airway hyperreactivity, eosinophilia, goblet cell metaplasia and mucus hyper-secretion.
  • IL-13 Clinical Evidence for the role of IL-13 in asthma
  • the gene encoding IL-13 is located on chromosome 5q31. This region also contains genes encoding IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and GM-CSF, and has been linked with asthma. Genetic variants of IL-13 that are associated with asthma and atopy have been found both in the promoter and coding regions (Vercelli D, Curr. Opin. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 2002 2(5):389-393). Functional study data are available for the coding variant, Q130 IL-13 (referred to herein as "Q130 IL-13").
  • SNP single nucleotide polymorphism
  • Elevated IL-13 levels have been measured in both atopic and non-atopic asthmatics.
  • average serum IL-13 levels of 50 pg/ml were measured in asthmatic patients compared to 8 pg/ml in normal control patients (Lee et al, J. Asthma 2001 38(8):665-671 ).
  • Increased IL-13 levels have also been measured in plasma, bronchio-alveolar lavage fluid, lung biopsy samples and sputum (Berry et al, J Allergy Clin. Immunol 2004 114(5):1106-1109; Kroegel et al, Eur Respir. J. 1996 9(5):899- 904; Huang et al, J. Immunol. 1995 155(5):2688-2694; Humbert et al, J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 1997 99(5):657-665).
  • IL-13R ⁇ 2 high affinity IL-13 receptor
  • anti-IL-13 polyclonal antibodies have been used to neutralize mouse IL-13 bioactivity in these models.
  • Blockade of IL-13 at the time of allergen challenge completely inhibited OVA-induced airway hyper-reponsiveness, eosinophilia and goblet cell metaplasia.
  • administration of antibody to IL-4 after sensitisation and during the allergen challenge phase only partially reduced the asthma phenotype.
  • IL-13 is believed to be principally engaged in various effector outcomes, including airway hyper-responsiveness, mucus overproduction and cellular inflammation (Wills-Karp et al, Science 1998 282:2258-2261 ; Grunig et al, Science 1998 282:2261-2263; Taube et al, J. Immunol. 2002 169:6482-6489; Blease at al, J. Immunol 2001 166(8):5219-5224).
  • lung IL-13 levels have been raised by over- expression in a transgenic mouse or by instillation of IL-13 protein into the trachea of wild-type mice.
  • asthma-like characteristics were induced: nonspecific airway hyper-responsiveness to cholinergic stimulation, pulmonary eosinophilia, epithelial cell hyperplasia, mucus cell metaplasis, sub-epithelial fibrosis, airways obstruction and Charcot-Leyden-like crystals.
  • IL-13 was found to be a potent stimulator of matrix metalloproteinases and cathepsin proteases in the lung, resulting in emphysematous changes and mucus metaplasia.
  • IL-13 may be an important effector molecule both in asthma and COPD disease phenotypes (Zhu et al, J. Clin. Invest. 1999 103(6):779-788; Zheng et al, J. Clin. Invest. 2000 106(9):1081-1093).
  • COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • COPD chronic bronchitis
  • Symptoms are similar to asthma and COPD can be treated with the same drugs.
  • COPD is characterised by a chronic, progressive and largely irreversible airflow obstruction. The contribution of the individual to the course of the disease is unknown, but smoking cigarettes is thought to cause 90% of the cases.
  • Symptoms include coughing, chronic bronchitis, breathlessness and respiratory infections. Ultimately the disease will lead to severe disability and death.
  • Chronic bronchitis is diagnosed in patients with a history of cough or sputum production on most days for at least 3 months over 2 years without any other explanation.
  • Emphysema of the lung is characterised by an abnormal permanent enlargement of the air spaces and destruction of alveolar walls.
  • IL-13 may play a role in the development of COPD.
  • Human smokers who develop COPD have many inflammatory cell types (neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils) in the lung parenchyma.
  • IL-13 is a proinflammatory Th2 cytokine therefore to model the progression of emphysema; Zheng et al targeted IL-13 over-expression to the airway epithelium in IL-13 transgenic mice.
  • These animals developed airway and lung parenchymal inflammation and emphysema. They also developed mucus metaplasia reminiscent of chronic bronchitis (J. Clin. Invest. 2000 106(9):1081-1093).
  • the IL-13 promoter polymorphism (-1055 C to T) that is associated with allergic asthma has also been reported to have an increased frequency in COPD patients compared to healthy controls. This implies a functional role for the IL-13 promoter polymorphism in the enhanced risk to develop COPD (Kraan et al, Genes and Immunity 2002 3:436-439).
  • an increased number of IL-13 and IL-4 positive cells were observed in smokers with chronic bronchitis compared to asymptomatic smokers (Miotto et al, Eur. Resp. J. 2003 22:602-608).
  • a recent study to assess the level of IL-13 expression in the lungs of severe emphysema patients did not find an association between IL-13 levels and disease (Boutten et al, Thorax 2004 59:850-854).
  • Allergic disease including atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis
  • IL-13 has also been implicated in atopic disorders such as atopic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.
  • Allergic rhinitis is the most common atopic disease in the United States and is estimated to affect up to 25% of adults and more than 40% of children.
  • Excessive production of Th2 cytokines, particularly IL-4 and IL-5 is thought to be fundamental in the pathogenesis of allergic disease.
  • IL-13 shares several characteristics and effector functions with IL-4 and this, combined with the functional overlap in IL-4 and IL-13 receptor usage, intracellular signaling components, and genetic organization provides compelling (albeit indirect) evidence for a role of IL-13 in promoting or maintaining human immediate hypersensitivity in vivo. This has been corroborated by Li et al (Li et al. J Immunol 1998; 161 :7007) who demonstrated that atopic subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis exhibited significantly stronger IL-13 responses in response to Ag-dependent but not polyclonal activation.
  • Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic, relapsing, highly pruritic inflammatory skin disease.
  • the lesional skin of atopic dermatitis patients is histologically characterized by an inflammatory T-cell infiltrate, which during acute phases is associated with a predominance of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 expression (Simon et al, J Allergy Clin Immunol 2004;114:887; Hamid et al.
  • IL-13 is a useful marker for identifying newborns at high risk for subsequent development of allergic diseases, esp. atopic dermatitis (Ohshima et al. PediatrRes 2002; 51 :195).
  • IL-13 R ⁇ 1 (a cell surface protein that together with IL-4Rq forms a functional receptor for IL-13) has been shown to be over-expressed on the suprabasal keratinocytes in the skin of atopic dermatitis patients, and IL-13 was able to upregulate IL-13 R ⁇ 1 mRNA in vitro (Wongpiyabovom et al., J Dermatol Science 2003;33:31 ).
  • IL-13 targeted interventions including an IL-13 monoclonal antibody, may provide an effective approach for treatment of human allergic disease.
  • Esophageal eosinophilia is associated with allergic responses, and repeated challenging of mice with aeroallergens established a link between allergic airway inflammation and esophagal eosinophilia.
  • Th2 cells are thought to induce eosinophil- associated inflammation through the secretion of an array of cytokines including IL-4 and IL-13 that activate inflammatory and effector pathways both directly and indirectly.
  • IL-13 appears to be particularly important because it is produced in high quantities by Th2-cells and regulates multiple features of allergic disease (e.g. IgE production, mucus over-production, eosinophil recruitment and survival, and airway hyperreactivity. Eosinophils can generate functionally active IL-13 after exposure to GM-CSF and/or IL-5 under in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo conditions in eosinophilic inflammatory responses. (Schmid-Grendelmeier J Immunology, 2002, 169: 1021— 1027).
  • IL-13 delivered to the lung of wild-type, STAT-6, eotaxin-1 or IL-5 deficient mice by intratracheal administration established that pulmonary inflammation, triggered by IL-13, is associated with the development of esophagal eosinophilia (Mishra et al. Gastroenterol 2003; 125: 1419). Taken together, these data provide evidence for a role of IL-13 in esophagal eosinophilia.
  • Type 1 T cell-mediated host defenses are believed to mediate optimal tumor rejection in vivo, and deviation to a Th2-type response may contribute to blocking tumor rejection and/or promotion of tumor recurrence (Kobayashi M et al. J. Immunol. 1998; 160:5869).
  • Several animal studies using transplantable tumor cell lines support this notion by demonstrating that Stat6, IL-4, and IL-13 (produced in part by NKT cells) were capable of inhibiting tumor rejection (Terabe et al. Nat. Immunol. 2000/1 :515; Kacha et al. J. Immunol.
  • IL-13 inhibitors may also be able to block tumor cell growth more directly.
  • B-CLL B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
  • Hodgkin's disease IL-13 either blocks apoptosis or promotes tumor cell proliferation (Chaouchi et al. Blood 1996; 87:1022; Kapp et al. J. Exp Med. 1999; 189:1939).
  • B-CLL is a clinically heterogeneous disease originating from B lymphocytes that involves apoptotic defect in the leukemic cells.
  • IL-13 is not thought to act as a direct growth factor but protects tumor cells from in vitro spontaneous apoptosis (Chaouchi et al. Blood 1996; 87:1022; Lai et al. J. Immunol.1999; 162:78) and may contribute to B-CLL by preventing neoplastic cell death.
  • Hodgkin's disease is a type of lymphoma that primarily affects young adults and accounts for about 7,500 cases a year in the United States.
  • the cancer is characterized by the presence of large multi-nucleated Hodgkin/Reed-Stemberg cells (H/RS).
  • H/RS Hodgkin/Reed-Stemberg cells
  • the malignant cell population arises from B cells.
  • Several Hodgkin's disease-derived cell lines, as well as lymph node tissue taken from Hodgkin's lymphoma patients overexpress IL-13 and/or IL-13 receptors. (Kapp et al. J. Exp Med. 1999:189:1939, Billard et al. Eur Cytokine Netw 1997;8:19; Skinnider et al.
  • IL-13Ra2 decoy receptor delivery of soluble IL-13Ra2 decoy receptor to NOD/SCID mice with an implanted Hodgkin's disease-derived ceil line delayed tumor onset and growth, and enhanced survival, demonstrating that IL- 13 neutralization can suppress Hodgkin's lymphoma growth in vitro and in vivo (Trieu et al. Cancer Research 2004;64:3271 ).
  • IL-13 stimulates the proliferation of H/RS cells in an autocrine fashion (Kapp et al. J. Exp Med. 1999; 189:1939; Ohshima et al. Histopathology 2001 ; 38:368).
  • Neutralization of IL-13 may therefore represent an attractive and effective treatment for Hodgkin's disease and other B cell-associated cancers by inhibiting tumor cell growth while at the same time enhancing anti-tumor defenses.
  • IBD inflammatory bowel disease
  • ulcerative colitis Crohn's disease
  • Crohn's disease Crohn's disease
  • indeterminate colitis Its main manifestation is chronic intestinal inflammation due to an exaggerated immune response with an imbalance in the activation of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes in the intestinal mucosa. This has been demonstrated in animal models of Crohn's disease (Bamias et al. Gastroenterol 2005; 128:657) and ulcerative colitis (Heller et al, Immunity 2002; 17:629).
  • an IL-13 mAb may provide an approach to stop or slow the progression of IBDs.
  • Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterized by hyper-proliferation of keratinocytes and an immunologic cellular infiltrate, including activated T cells, producing various cytokines that can influence the phenotype of epidermal keratinocytes.
  • CDw60 is a carbohydrate-bearing molecule that is upregulated on the surface of psoriatic basal and suprabasal keratinocytes of psoriatic skin.
  • IL-4 and IL- 13 secreted from T cells derived from psoriatic lesions have been shown to strongly up-regulate the expression of CDw ⁇ O on keratinocytes, (Skov et al., Am J Pathol 1997;15:675), whereas interferon-gamma blocked IL-4/IL-13 mediated induction of CDw60 on cultured keratinocytes (Huang et al., J Invest Dermatol 2001 ;116:305).
  • CDw60 expression on psoriatic epidermal keratinocytes is thought to be induced at least in part by IL-13 secreted by activated T cells within the lesion.
  • IL-13 R ⁇ 1 and IL-4R ⁇ cell surface proteins that together form a receptor complex for IL-13, are differently expressed in skin biopsies from patients with and without psoriasis (Cancino-Diaz et al., J Invest Dermatol 2002; 119:1114; Wongpiyabovorn et al., J Dermatol Science 2003;33:31), and in vitro experiments demonstrated that IL-13 (but not IL-4) could upregulate the expression of IL-13R ⁇ 1 (Wongpiyabovorn et al., J Dermatol Science 2003,33:31 ). Since IL-13 has an effect on a variety of cell types, these studies suggest that the IL-13 receptor may play a part in the early inflammatory process of psoriasis.
  • Psoriatic arthritis is characterized by synovitis which is mediated by both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
  • the role of IL-13 in various forms of arthritis has been receiving increased interest. Spadaro et al have observed significantly higher levels of IL-13 in synovial fluid of patients with psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis than in patients with osteoarthritis.
  • synovial fluid levels of IL-13 were significantly higher than those in serum in patients with psoriatic arthritis, and the IL-13 synovial fluid/serum ratio was markedly higher in the psoriatic arthritis group than in the rheumatoid arthritis group, suggesting a possible role for the locally produced IL-13 in synovial tissues of patients with psoriatic arthritis (Spadaro et al., Ann Rheum Dis 2002; 61 :174).
  • Acute graft-versus-host disease is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality following stem cell transplantation and is directly related to the degree of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) incompatibility between donor and recipient.
  • HLA human leukocyte antigen
  • Jordan et al first identified IL-13 as a typical Th2 cytokine that is abundantly produced during unrelated, unmatched MLRs (mixed lymphocyte reaction; an in vitro assay for fine- tuning donor selection after initial HLA typing) (Jordan et al. J Immunol Methods; 2002;260:1 ). The same group subsequently showed that IL-13 production by donor T-cells is predictive of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) following unrelated donor stem cell transplantation (Jordan et al.
  • aGVHD acute graft-versus-host-disease
  • Diabetic nephropathy is one of the major causes of end stage renal disease in the Western world. Although the incidence of nephropathy owing to type 1 diabetes is declining, diabetes mellitus type 2 is now the most common single cause of renal insufficiency in the USA, Japan and Europe. Furthermore, this group of patients has a very poor prognosis on maintenance dialysis owing to extremely high mortality caused by cardiovascular events. It is now increasingly clear that hemodynamic, metabolic and structural changes are interwoven, and various enzymes, transcription factors and growth factors have been identified that play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
  • TGF- ⁇ is important in the development of renal hypertrophy and accumulation of extracellular matrix components, and is considered the pivotal cytokine in mediating collagen formation in the kidney (Cooper. Diabetologia 2001 ; 44:1957; Wolf. Eur J CHn Invest 2004; 34 (12): 785).
  • TGF-1 bioactivity is increased and administration of TGF- ⁇ 1 antibodies to diabetic mouse led to improvement in renal function and reduced extracellular matrix accumulation.
  • IL-13 was recently shown in a transgenic mouse model of lung fibrosis to mediate its effects at least in part by regulating the production and activation of TGF- ⁇ i and collagen deposition (Lee et al. J. Exp. Med.
  • Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition of inappropriate and harmful scarring of the lungs, leading to disability and often death.
  • the term encompasses a variety of different conditions with distinct etiologies, pathologies and responses to treatment.
  • the cause of the fibrosis is identified.
  • Causes include: (1 ) inhaled profibrotic material such as asbestos or silicon, or hard metal dust (2) inhaled organic material to which the patient has an idiosyncratic immunological response leading to fibrosis (e.g. farmer's lung) (3) drugs, such as nitrofurantoin, amiodarone and methotrexate (4) in association with a systemic inflammatory disease, such as Systemic Sclerosis or Rheumatoid Arthritis.
  • a systemic inflammatory disease such as Systemic Sclerosis or Rheumatoid Arthritis.
  • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis This is a relative rare condition (prevalence 20/100 000).
  • the diagnosis is based on the absence of an identified cause combined with certain radiological and pathological features, particularly honeycombing on the CT or lung biopsy.
  • the disease is usually seen in older patients (>50) and often follows a relentless course of progressive lung impairment leading to death, with the median survival quoted as 2-5 years.
  • the patients have the most unpleasant experience of breathlessness progressing over months or years. This initially restricts physical activity, but in the terminal phase - which may last several months - the patient is breathless even at rest and is furthermore oxygen dependent. At present there is no satisfactory treatment for this disease.
  • corticosteroids and immunosuppressives such as azathioprine.
  • corticosteroids may be ineffective in many of patients and their side effects may make the situation worse.
  • treatments under investigation including Interferon gamma, which has shown a trend to improved survival in a recent large study, and perfenidone.
  • IL-13 and cytokines associated with the Th2 phenotype are involved in the process of fibrosis in tissue repair (Wynn TA, Nat. Rev. Immunol. 20044:583-594; Jakubzick et al, Am. J. Pathol. 2004 164(6): 1989-2001 ; Jakubzick et al, Immunol. Res. 2004 30(3):339-349; Jakubzick et al, J. Clin. Pathol. 2004 57:477- 486).
  • IL-13 and IL-4 have been implicated in a variety of fibrotic conditions.
  • Hepatic fibrosis induced by Schistosoma appears to be IL-13 dependent and there is limited evidence that IL-13 is involved in the pathogenesis of scleroderma (Hasegawa et al, J. Rheumatol. 1997 24:328-332; Riccieri et al, Clin. Rheumatol. 2003 22:102-106)
  • IL-13 promotes a fibrogenic phenotype.
  • Animal studies have shown elevated levels of IL-13 expression in artificially induced models of fibrosis, and that fibrosis can be reduced by elimination of IL-13.
  • IL-13 promotes a profibrotic phenotype. At a cellular level, there are several mechanisms by which IL-13 may promote fibrosis. The signal pathways and importance of these various mechanisms are not well defined.
  • IL-13 acts on the fibroblast both to promote the production of collagen, and to inhibit its breakdown, thus favouring a fibrotic phenotype.
  • Skin fibroblasts possess IL-13 receptors ( the type Il IL-4 receptor) and exposure of cultured skin fibroblasts to IL-13 leads to upregulation of collagen generation (Oriente et al, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2000 292:988-994).
  • IL-4 also has a similar, but more transitory effect.
  • a human lung fibroblast cell line (ICIG7) expresses the type Il IL-4 receptor (Jinnin et al, J. Biol. Chem 2004 279:41783-41791 ).
  • GM-CSF GM-CSF
  • G-CSF G-CSF
  • VCAM betai integrin Doucet et al, Int. Immunol. 1998 10(10):1421-1433).
  • IL-13 inhibits IL-1a-induced matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 protein production by skin fibroblasts which would tend to reduce breakdown of EC matrix (Oriente et al, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2000 292:988-994).
  • IL-13 acts synergistically with TGF- ⁇ on human fibroblasts obtained by biopsy of asthma airways to promote expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1 ). Breakdown of extracellular matrix is effected by matrix metalloproteinases, which are inhibited by TIMP-1. This action of IL-13 would thus tend to reduce matrix degradation (Zhou et al, Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 2005 288:C435-C442)
  • IL-13 Over-expression of IL-13 in transgenic mice leads to subepithelial fibrosis, epithelial cell hypertrophy, goblet cell hyperplasia, crystal deposition (acidic mammalian chitinase), airway hyper-responsiveness, interstitial fibrosis, type 2 cell hypertrophy and surfactant accumulation (Zhu et al, J. Clin. Invest. 1999 103(6):779-788).
  • mice Different strains of mice have different susceptibilities to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
  • C57B1/6J mice which are susceptible, exhibit rapid up regulation of IL-13, IL-13R ⁇ and IL-4 (as well as TGF ⁇ , TNFR ⁇ and ILI Rs) in response to bleomycin.
  • BALB/c mice which are not susceptible, do not show upregulation of IL- 13.
  • Eosinophil recruitment is lower in IL-4 and IL-13 knockouts compared with BALB/c, but since IL-4 -/- were not protected against fibrosis this cannot explain the difference in fibrosis.
  • IL-4 -/- were not protected against fibrosis this cannot explain the difference in fibrosis.
  • the same number of fibroblasts were isolated from lungs of the different animals post FITC, but in the IL-13 -/- mice the production of collagen I is reduced. This indicates the loss of IL-13 is not simply preventing the inflammatory response, but rather is having a more specific anti-fibrotic role.
  • lnterleukin 4 may be expected to exert a similar effect as IL-13 as both act via the same receptor.
  • IL-4 is significantly upregulated in the lungs of mice with bleomycin induced lung fibrosis (Gharaee-Kermani et al, Cytokine 2001 15:138-147).
  • IL-4 knockouts and wild type Izbicki et al (Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell MoI. Physiol 2002 283(5):L1110-L1116) did not find evidence that IL-4 was involved in lung fibrosis. Fibrosis was not reduced in IL-4 knockouts, and IL-4 over-expressing mice had increased levels of fibrosis.
  • BAL cytokine levels of IL-13 are significantly elevated in patients with a variety of forms of pulmonary fibrosis, though with considerable variability. Expression of IL-13 is significantly upregulated in alveolar macrophages obtained from patients with lung fibrosis.
  • Th2 cytokines in general and IL-13 in particular promote a profibrotic phenotype.
  • chemically-induced fibrosis can be reduced by elimination of IL-13 (either in gene knock-out or by anti-IL-13 antibodies).
  • Some evidence indicates that IL-13 is more important at promoting pulmonary fibrosis than IL-4.
  • Clinical evidence for the role of IL-13 in pulmonary fibrosis suggests that IL-13 and its receptors are unregulated in the lungs of patients with IPF.
  • IL-13 based therapies for the treatment of a variety of fibrotic conditions, including schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis, and various forms of pulmponary fibrosis (e.g. IPF [discussed elsewhere], scleroderma).
  • amino acid sequence for hlL-13 is set forth as SEQ.I.D.NO: 9. (This is the mature protein sequence, that is, no signal sequence is present).
  • a polynucleotide encoding hlL-13 is set forth in SEQ.I.D.NO:10. (This is the DNA sequence for the mature protein sequence, that is, no signal sequence is present).
  • the present invention provides an antibody that binds hlL-13 and inhibits the binding of hlL-13 with both chains of hlL-13R i.e. IL-13R ⁇ 1 and IL-13R ⁇ 2.
  • the present invention therefore provides an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13 and neutralises the activity of hlL-13.
  • the present invention provides an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13 and comprises a CDRH3 which is a variant of the sequence set forth in SEQ.I.D.NO:3 or a variant in which one or two amino acid residues within said CDRH3 of said variant differs from the amino acid residue in the corresponding position in SEQ.I.D.NO:3. In one embodiment of the present invention these differences in amino acid residues are conservative substitutions.
  • neutralises as used throughout the present specification in relation to antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof of the invention means that the biological activity of IL-13 is reduced in the presence of the antibodies and antigen binding fragments of the present invention in comparison to the activity of IL-13 in the absence of such antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof.
  • Levels of neutralisation can be measured in several ways, for example by use of the assays as set out in the examples below, for example in a TF- 1 cell proliferation assay which may be carried out for example as described in Example 3.3-3.5.
  • the neutralisation of IL-13 in this assay is measured by assessing the decreased TF-1 cell proliferation in the presence of neutralising antibody.
  • an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is capable of neutralisation then this is indicative of inhibition of the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • Antibodies which are considered to have neutralising activity against human IL-13 would have an ND50 of less than 100micrograms/ml, or less than 80micrograms/ml in the TF-1 cell proliferation assay as set out in Example 3.3, 3.4 or 3.5.
  • antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof which have equivalent neutralising activity to the antibodies exemplified herein, for example antibodies which retain the neutralising activity of H2L1 in the TF-1 cell proliferation assay as set out in Example 3.3, 3.4 or 3.5.
  • the term “modulates” means inhibition of the binding of IL-13 to its receptor, and/or blocking of the interaction between IL-13 and its receptor thereby decoupling the hlL-13/hlL-13R signalling pathway. This can be inhibition and/or blocking of either or both of IL-13R ⁇ 1 and IL-13R ⁇ 2.
  • the hlL-13 receptor as used herein means one or both of these receptors. Inhibition of binding of IL-13 to its receptor can be measured in several ways, for example by use of the assays as set out in the examples below, for example an ELISA method such as that described in Example 6.5 and 6.6.
  • the antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof of the present invention may be therapeutic antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof i.e.suitable for use in therapy.
  • an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13, and comprises a CDRH3 comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ.I.D.NO:3.
  • the antibody or antigen binding fragment of the present invention neutralises human IL-13.
  • the antibody or antigen binding fragment of the present invention modulates the binding of human IL-13 to its receptor.
  • an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13 and modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R.
  • antibodies of the invention at least inhibit the interaction between hlL-13 and hll_-13R but may also block the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R thereby decoupling the hlL-13/hlL-13R signalling pathway.
  • the present invention provides an antibody or antigen binding fragment wherein the CDRH3 comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
  • the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof of the present invention further comprises one or more of the following sequences CDRH2: SEQ.I.D.NO:2, CDRH1 : SEQ.I.D.NO:1 , CDRL1 : SEQ.I.D.NO.4, CDRL2: SEQ.I.D.NO:5 and CDRL3: SEQ.I.D.NO:6.
  • the present invention further comprises these CDR sequences in the context of a human framework, for example as a humanised antibody or fragment thereof.
  • an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13, and comprises the following CDRs:
  • CDRL1 SEQ.I.D.NO: 4
  • CDRL2 SEQ.I.D.NO: 5
  • CDRL3 SEQ.I.D.NO: 6
  • one or more of the CDRs of the antibody or antigen binding fragment may comprise variants of the CDRs set out in the sequences listed above.
  • Each variant CDR will comprise one or two amino acid residues which differ from the amino acid residue in the corresponding position in the sequence listed above.
  • Such substitutions in amino acid residues may be conservative substitutions, for example substituting one hydrophobic amino acid for an alternative hydrophobic amino acid, for example substituting Leucine with Valine, or Isoleucine.
  • an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprising a VH domain comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ.I.D.NO:7 and a VL domain comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ.I.D.NO:8.
  • an isolated VH domain of an antibody comprising the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. I. D. NO: 7, 11 , 12, 13 and 14.
  • the isolated VH domain of an antibody consists of or consists essentially of an isolated VH domain of an antibody selected from the group consisting of SEQ.I.D.NO: 7, 11 , 12, 13 and 14.
  • an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprising a VH domain selected from the group consisting of; SEQ.I.D.NO:7, 11 ,12,13 and 14.
  • an antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 and at least inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 18 and a light chain selected from the group consisting of; SEQ.I.D.NO:22, 23 and 24.
  • an antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 and at least inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ. I. D. NO: 19 and a light chain selected from the group consisting of; SEQ.I.D.NO:22, 23 and 24.
  • an antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 and at least inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:20 and a light chain selected from the group consisting of; SEQ.I.D.NO:22, 23 and 24.
  • an antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 and at least inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:21 and a light chain selected from the group consisting of; SEQ.I.D.NO:22, 23 and 24.
  • an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which inhibits the binding of the antibody comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 18 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22 to hlL-13.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of: SEQ.I.D.NO:11 and a VL domain selected from the group consisting of: SEQ.I.D.NO:15, 16 and 17.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of: SEQ.I.D.NO:12 and a VL domain selected from the group consisting of: SEQ.I.D.NO:15, 16 and 17.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of: SEQ.I.D.NO:13 and a VL domain selected from the group consisting of: SEQ.I.D.NO:15, 16 and 17.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of: SEQ.I.D.NO:14 and a VL domain selected from the group consisting of: SEQ.I.D.NO:15, 16 and 17.
  • an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which binds to the peptides set out in SEQ ID NO:90, 99, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 , 112 and 114 but does not bind the peptides set out in SEQ ID NO: 100, 101 , 104 and 113, wherein binding is defined as having an equivalent binding activity to the antibodies exemplified herein, for example antibodies which retain similar binding activity to 3G4 binding to human IL-13 peptides in the ELISA assay as set out in Example 6.4.
  • a method of treating a human patient afflicted with a disease or disorder responsive to modulation of the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R comprises the step of administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof as described herein.
  • the invention provides a method of selecting an anti-IL13 antibody suitable for use in therapy, which method comprises i) providing an antibody which specifically binds to IL-13R ⁇ 1 , ii) determining whether the antibody binds specifically to IL-13R ⁇ 2, and selecting an antibody which binds in step ii) for further development.
  • the antibodies of the present invention may be intact antibodies or fragments thereof; human, chimaeric or humanised antibodies; and mono or bispecific.
  • Intact antibodies include heteromultimeric glycoproteins comprising at least two heavy and two light chains. Aside from IgM, intact antibodies are usually heterotetrameric glycoproteins of approximately 150Kda, composed of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy (H) chains. Typically, each light chain is linked to a heavy chain by one covalent disulfide bond while the number of disulfide linkages between the heavy chains of different immunoglobulin isotypes varies. Each heavy and light chain also has intrachain disulfide bridges. Each heavy chain has at one end a variable domain (VH) followed by a number of constant regions.
  • VH variable domain
  • Each light chain has a variable domain (VL) and a constant region at its other end; the constant region of the light chain is aligned with the first constant region of the heavy chain and the light chain variable domain is aligned with the variable domain of the heavy chain.
  • VL variable domain
  • the light chains of antibodies from most vertebrate species can be assigned to one of two types called Kappa and Lambda based on the amino acid sequence of the constant region.
  • human antibodies can be assigned to five different classes, IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM.
  • IgG and IgA can be further subdivided into subclasses, IgGI , lgG2, lgG3 and lgG4; and IgAI and lgA2.
  • Species variants exist with mouse and rat having at least lgG2a, lgG2b.
  • the variable domain of the antibody confers binding specificity upon the antibody with certain regions displaying particular variability called complementarity determining regions (CDRs).
  • CDRs complementarity determining regions
  • the more conserved portions of the variable region are called Framework regions (FR).
  • the variable domains of intact heavy and light chains each comprise four FR connected by three CDRs. The CDRs in each chain are held together in close proximity by the FR regions and with the CDRs from the other chain contribute to the formation of the antigen binding site of antibodies.
  • the constant regions are not directly involved in the binding of the antibody to the antigen but exhibit various effector functions such as participation in antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), phagocytosis via binding to Fc ⁇ receptor, half-life/clearance rate via neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and complement dependent cytotoxicity via the C1q component of the complement cascade.
  • ADCC antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
  • FcRn neonatal Fc receptor
  • complement dependent cytotoxicity via the C1q component of the complement cascade.
  • an intact antibody that specifically binds hlL- 13, which antibody modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R, for example the antibody inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • the intact antibody may comprise a constant region of any isotype or subclass thereof described supra.
  • the antibody is of the IgG isotype, particularly
  • the antibody may be rat, mouse, rabbit, primate or human.
  • the antibody is primate (such as cynomolgus, Old World monkey or Great Ape, see e.g. WO99/55369, WO93/02108) or human.
  • an isolated intact antibody comprising a CDRH3 of SEQ. I. D. NO: 3.
  • an intact antibody comprising a variable region comprising CDRs of SEQ. I. D. NO: 1 , 2,3,4,5 and 6.
  • an isolated murine intact antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprising a VH domain comprising the sequence of SEQ.I.D.NO: 7 and a VL domain of the sequence of SEQ.I.D.NO: 8.
  • Human antibodies may be produced by a number of methods known to those of skill in the art. Human antibodies can be made by the hybridoma method using human myeloma or mouse-human heteromyeloma cells lines see Kozbor J.Immunol 133, 3001 , (1984) and Brodeu ⁇ Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques and Applications, pp51-63 (Marcel Dekker Inc, 1987). Alternative methods include the use of phage libraries or transgenic mice both of which utilize human V region repertories (see Winter G, (1994), Annu.Rev.lmmunol 12,433-455, Green LL (1999), J. Immunol. methods 231 , 11-23).
  • mice Several strains of transgenic mice are now available wherein their mouse immunoglobulin loci has been replaced with human immunoglobulin gene segments (see Tomizuka K, (2000) PNAS 97,722-727; Fishwild D. M (1996) Nature Biotechnol. 14,845-851 , Mendez MJ, 1997, Nature Genetics, 15,146-156). Upon antigen challenge such mice are capable of producing a repertoire of human antibodies from which antibodies of interest can be selected.
  • TrimeraTM system (see Eren R et al, (1998) Immunology 93:154-161 ) where human lymphocytes are transplanted into irradiated mice, the Selected Lymphocyte Antibody System (SLAM, see Babcook et a/, PNAS (1996) 93:7843-7848) where human (or other species) lymphocytes are effectively put through a massive pooled in vitro antibody generation procedure followed by deconvulated, limiting dilution and selection procedure and the Xenomouse IITM (Abgenix Inc).
  • SAM Selected Lymphocyte Antibody System
  • SLAM Selected Lymphocyte Antibody System
  • Xenomouse IITM Abgenix Inc
  • An alternative approach is available from Morphotek Inc using the MorphodomaTM technology.
  • Phage display technology can be used to produce human antibodies (and fragments thereof), see McCafferty; Nature, 348, 552-553 (1990) and Griffiths AD et al (1994) EMBO 13:3245-3260.
  • antibody V domain genes are cloned in frame into either a major or minor coat of protein gene of a filamentous bacteriophage such as M13 or fd and displayed (usually with the aid of a helper phage) as functional antibody fragments on the surface of the phage particle. Selections based on the functional properties of the antibody result in selection of the gene encoding the antibody exhibiting those properties.
  • the phage display technique can be used to select antigen specific antibodies from libraries made from human B cells taken from individuals afflicted with a disease or disorder described above or alternatively from unimmunized human donors (see Marks; J. MoI. Bio. 222,581-597, 1991). Where an intact human antibody is desired comprising a Fc domain it is necessary to redone the phage displayed derived fragment into a mammalian expression vectors comprising the desired constant regions and establishing stable expressing cell lines.
  • affinity maturation may be used to improve binding affinity wherein the affinity of the primary human antibody is improved by sequentially replacing the H and L chain V regions with naturally occurring variants and selecting on the basis of improved binding affinities.
  • Variants of this technique such as "epitope imprinting" are now also available see WO 93/06213. See also Waterhouse; Nucl.Acids Res 21 , 2265-2266 (1993).
  • an isolated human intact antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13 and modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R, for example where it inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • an isolated human intact antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprising a CDRH3 of SEQ. I. D. NO: 3 which specifically binds hlL-13 and modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R, for example where it inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • an isolated human intact antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprising a variable region comprising CDRs of SEQ. I. D. NO: 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 as defined supra.
  • non-human antibodies in the treatment of human diseases or disorders carries with it the potential for the now well established problems of immunogenicity, that is the immune system of the patient may recognise the non- human intact antibody as non-self and mount a neutralising response. This is particularly evident upon multiple administration of the non-human antibody to a human patient.
  • Various techniques have been developed over the years to overcome these problems and generally involve reducing the composition of non- human amino acid sequences in the intact antibody whilst retaining the relative ease in obtaining non-human antibodies from an immunised animal e.g. mouse, rat or rabbit. Broadly two approaches have been used to achieve this. The first are chimaeric antibodies, which generally comprise a non-human (e.g.
  • Chimaeric antibodies are typically produced using recombinant DNA methods.
  • DNA encoding the antibodies e.g. cDNA
  • oligonucleotide probes that are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding the H and L chains of the antibody of the invention, e.g. DNA encoding SEQ. I. D. NO 1 ,2,3,4,5 and 6 described supra).
  • Hybridoma cells serve as a typical source of such DNA. Once isolated, the DNA is placed into expression vectors which are then transfected into host cells such as E.Coli, COS cells, CHO cells or myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce immunoglobulin protein to obtain synthesis of the antibody.
  • the DNA may be modified by substituting the coding sequence for human L and H chains for the corresponding non-human (e.g. murine) H and L constant regions see e.g. Morrison; PNAS 81 , 6851 (1984).
  • the second approach involves the generation of humanised antibodies wherein the non-human content of the antibody is reduced by humanizing the variable regions.
  • Two techniques for humanisation have gained popularity.
  • the first is humanisation by CDR grafting.
  • CDRs build loops close to the antibody's N-terminus where they form a surface mounted in a scaffold provided by the framework regions.
  • Antigen- binding specificity of the antibody is mainly defined by the topography and by the chemical characteristics of its CDR surface. These features are in turn determined by the conformation of the individual CDRs, by the relative disposition of the CDRs, and by the nature and disposition of the side chains of the residues comprising the CDRs.
  • a large decrease in immunogenicity can be achieved by grafting only the CDRs of a non-human (e.g.
  • human V regions showing the greatest sequence homology to the non-human donor antibody are chosen from a database in order to provide the human framework (FR).
  • the selection of human FRs can be made either from human consensus or individual human antibodies. Where necessary key residues from the donor antibody are substituted into the human acceptor framework to preserve CDR conformations.
  • Computer modelling of the antibody maybe used to help identify such structurally important residues, see WO99/48523.
  • humanisation maybe achieved by a process of "veneering".
  • a statistical analysis of unique human and murine immunoglobulin heavy and light chain variable regions revealed that the precise patterns of exposed residues are different in human and murine antibodies, and most individual surface positions have a strong preference for a small number of different residues (see Padlan E.A.
  • a chimaeric antibody comprising a non-human (e.g. rodent) variable domain fused to a human constant region (which maybe of a IgG isotype e.g. IgGI ) which specifically binds hlL-13 and modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R, for example where it inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • a human constant region which maybe of a IgG isotype e.g. IgGI
  • a chimaeric antibody comprising a non- human (e.g. rodent) variable region and a human constant region (which maybe of an IgG isotype e.g. IgGI ) which specifically binds hlL-13, which antibody further comprises a CDRH3 of SEQ.I.D.NO3.
  • Such antibodies may further comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype, e.g. IgGI
  • chimaeric antibody comprising a non-human (e.g. rodent) variable region and a human constant region (which maybe of a IgG isotype, for example IgGI ) which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising the CDRs of SEQ. I. D. NO: 1 , 2,3,4,5 and 6.
  • a chimaeric antibody comprising a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:7 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:8 and a human constant region of an IgG isotype, e.g. IgGI which specifically binds hlL-13 and modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R, for example where it inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • a humanised antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13 and modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R, for example where it inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • a humanised antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13 and comprises a CDRH3 of SEQ. I. D. NO: 3.
  • Such antibodies may comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype, e.g. IgGL
  • a humanised antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13 and comprises CDRs of SEQ.I.D.NO1 , 2,3,4,5 and 6.
  • Such antibodies may comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype, e.g. IgGL
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain selected from the group of: SEQ.I.D.NO:11 , and a VL domain selected from the group of: SEQ.I.D.NO:15,16,17.
  • Such antibodies may comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype e.g. IgGI .
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain selected from the group of: SEQ.I.D.NO.12, and a VL domain selected from the group of: SEQ.I.D.NO:15,16,17.
  • Such antibodies may comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype e.g. IgGI .
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain selected from the group of: SEQ.I.D.NO:13, and a VL domain selected from the group of: SEQ.I.D.NO:15,16,17.
  • Such antibodies may comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype e.g. IgGL
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain selected from the group of: SEQ.I.D.NO:14, and a VL domain selected from the group of: SEQ.I.D.NO:15,16,17.
  • Such antibodies may comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype e.g. IgGI
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 11 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:15.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 12 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:15.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 13 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:15.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 14 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:15.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 11 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:16.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 12 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:16.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 13 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:16.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 14 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:16.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 11 and a VL domain of SEQ. I. D. NO:17.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 12 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:17.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 13 and a VL domain of SEQ. I. D. NO:17.
  • a humanised antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain of SEQ.I.D.NO: 14 and a VL domain of SEQ.I.D.NO:17.
  • a humanised antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13 wherein said antibody or fragment thereof comprises CDRH3 of SEQ.I.D.NO:3 optionally further comprising one or more of CDRs of SEQ.I.D.NO:1 , 2, 4, 5, and 6 wherein one or more of the residue(s) selected from the group consisting of position 10, 30, 67, 69, 71 , 73 and 93 of the human acceptor heavy chain framework and one or both residue(s) at position 76 and 98 of the human acceptor light chain framework are substituted by the corresponding residues found in the donor antibody framework from which CDRH3 is derived (which is set out in SEQ.I.D.NO:7).
  • a humanised antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which specifically binds hlL-13 wherein said antibody or fragment thereof comprises CDRH3 of SEQ.I.D.NO:3, optionally further comprising one or more CDRs of SEQ.I.D.NO:1 ,2,4,5 and 6 wherein the human heavy chain framework comprises one or more (e.g. all) of the following residues (or conservative substitution thereof);
  • a humanised antibody comprising a heavy chain selected from the group consisting of: SEQ. I. D. NO: 18,19,20,21 and a light chain selected from the group consisting of; SEQ.I.D.NO:22, 23, 24.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:18 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:19 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:20 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:21 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO.-22.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:18 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:23.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:19 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:23.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:20 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:23.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:21 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:23.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:18 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:24.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:19 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:24.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:20 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:24.
  • a humanised antibody which specifically binds hlL-13 comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:21 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:24.
  • a human or humanised heavy chain variable region comprising each of the CDRs listed in SEQ ID NO 1-3.
  • a humanised heavy chain variable region comprising the CDRs listed in SEQ ID NO 1-3 within the larger sequence of a human heavy chain variable region.
  • the humanised heavy chain variable region comprises the CDRs listed in SEQ ID NO 1-3 within an acceptor antibody framework having greater than 40% identity in the framework regions, or greater than 50%, or greater than 60%, or greater than 65% identity to the murine 3G4 donor antibody heavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO. 7).
  • the antibodies comprise a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 44 further comprising a number of substitutions at one or more of positions 10, 30, 67, 69, 71 , 73, 93 (Kabat numbering system); wherein each substituted amino acid residue is replaced with the amino acid residue at the equivalent position in SEQ ID NO. 7 (the heavy chain variable region of the donor antibody 3G4) and the number of substitutions is between 0 and 7. In other embodiments the number of substitutions is 0, or 1 , or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7.
  • a human or humanised light chain variable region comprising each of the CDRs listed in SEQ ID NO 4-6.
  • a humanised light chain variable region comprising the CDRs listed in SEQ ID NO 4-6 within the larger sequence of a human light chain variable region.
  • the humanised light chain variable region comprises the CDRs listed in SEQ ID NO 4-6 within an acceptor antibody framework having greater than 40% identity in the framework regions, or greater than 50%, or greater than 60%, or greater than 65% identity to the murine 3G4 donor antibody heavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO. 8).
  • the antibodies comprise a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 45 further comprising a number of substitutions at one or more of positions 76, 98 (Kabat numbering system); wherein each substituted amino acid residue is replaced with the amino acid residue at the equivalent position in SEQ ID NO. 8 (the light chain variable region of the donor antibody 3G4) and the number of substitutions is between 0 and 2. In other embodiments the number of substitutions is 0 or 1 or 2.
  • a bispecific antibody is an antibody having binding specificities for at least two different epitopes. Methods of making such antibodies are known in the art. Traditionally, the recombinant production of bispecific antibodies is based on the coexpression of two immunoglobulin H chain-L chain pairs, where the two H chains have different binding specificities see Millstein et al, Nature 305 537-539 (1983), WO93/08829 and Traunecker et al EMBO, 10, 1991 , 3655-3659. Because of the random assortment of H and L chains, a potential mixture of ten different antibody structures are produced of which only one has the desired binding specificity.
  • variable domains with the desired binding specificities to heavy chain constant region comprising at least part of the hinge region, CH2 and CH3 regions. It is preferred to have the CH 1 region containing the site necessary for light chain binding present in at least one of the fusions. DNA encoding these fusions, and if desired the L chain are inserted into separate expression vectors and are then cotransfected into a suitable host organism. It is possible though to insert the coding sequences for two or all three chains into one expression vector.
  • the bispecific antibody is composed of a H chain with a first binding specificity in one arm and a H-L chain pair, providing a second binding specificity in the other arm, see WO94/04690. Also see Suresh et a/ Methods in Enzymology 121 , 210, 1986.
  • a bispecific antibody wherein at least one binding specificity of said antibody is for hlL-13, wherein said antibody modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and IL-13R, for example where it inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • Such antibodies may further comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype, e.g.
  • the bispecific therapeutic antibody has a first binding specificity for hlL- 13 and modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R, for example where it inhibits the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor and a second binding specificity for hlL-4 and modulates the interaction between hlL-4 and a receptor for hlL-4, for example where it inhibits the interaction between hlL-4 and its receptor.
  • a bispecific antibody wherein at least one binding specificity of said antibody is for hlL-13, wherein said antibody comprises a CDRH3 of SEQ. I. D. NO: 3.
  • Such antibodies may further comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype, e.g. IgGL
  • a bispecific antibody wherein at least one binding specificity of said antibody is for hlL-13, wherein said antibody comprises at least CDRs of SEQ.I.D.NO: 1 , 2,3,4,5 and 6.
  • Such antibodies may further comprise a human constant region of the IgG isotype, e.g. IgGL
  • antibody fragments which modulate the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R, for example where the fragments inhibit the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • Such fragments may be functional antigen binding fragments of intact and/or humanised and/or chimaeric antibodies such as Fab, Fab 1 , F(ab')2, Fv, ScFv fragments of the antibodies described supra.
  • Fab, Fab 1 , F(ab')2, Fv, ScFv fragments of the antibodies described supra Traditionally such fragments are produced by the proteolytic digestion of intact antibodies by e.g. papain digestion (see for example, WO 94/29348) but may be produced directly from recombinants transformed host cells. For the production of ScFv, see Bird et a/ ;(1988) Science, 242, 423-426.
  • antibody fragments may be produced using a variety of engineering techniques as described below.
  • Fv fragments appear to have lower interaction energy of their two chains than Fab fragments.
  • VH and VL domains To stablise the association of the VH and VL domains, they have been linked with peptides (Bird et a/, (1988) Science 242, 423-426, Huston et a/, PNAS, 85, 5879-5883), disulphide bridges (Glockshuber et al, (1990) Biochemistry, 29, 1362-1367) and "knob in hole” mutations (Zhu et a/ (1997), Protein ScL, 6, 781-788).
  • ScFv fragments can be produced by methods well known to those skilled in the art see Whitlow et al (1991 ) Methods companion Methods Enzymol, 2, 97-105 and Huston et al (1993) Int.Rev.lmmunol 10, 195-217.
  • ScFv may be produced in bacterial cells such as E. CoIi but are more preferably produced in eukaryotic cells.
  • One disadvantage of ScFv is the monovalency of the product, which precludes an increased avidity due to polyvalent binding, and their short half-life. Attempts to overcome these problems include bivalent (ScFv') 2 produced from ScFV containing an additional C terminal cysteine by chemical coupling ( Adams et al (1993) Can.
  • ScFv can be forced to form multimers by shortening the peptide linker to 3 to 12 residues to form "diabodies", see Holliger et al PNAS (1993), 90, 6444- 6448.
  • ScFv-Sc-Fv tandems may also be produced by linking two ScFv units by a third peptide linker, see Kurucz et al (1995) J.lmmol.154, 4576-4582.
  • Bispecific diabodies can be produced through the noncovalent association of two single chain fusion products consisting of VH domain from one antibody connected by a short linker to the VL domain of another antibody, see Kipriyanov et al (1998), Int. J. Can 77,763-772.
  • bispecific diabodies can be enhanced by the introduction of disulphide bridges or "knob in hole” mutations as described supra or by the formation of single chain diabodies (ScDb) wherein two hybrid ScFv fragments are connected through a peptide linker see Kontermann et a/ (1999) J. Immunol. Methods 226 179- 188.
  • Tetravalent bispecific molecules are available by e.g. fusing a ScFv fragment to the CH3 domain of an IgG molecule or to a Fab fragment through the hinge region see Coloma et al (1997) Nature Biotechnol. 15, 159-163.
  • tetravalent bispecific molecules have been created by the fusion of bispecific single chain diabodies (see Alt et al, (1999) FEBS Lett 454, 90-94.
  • Smaller tetravalent bispecific molecules can also be formed by the dimerization of either ScFv-ScFv tandems with a linker containing a helix-loop-helix motif (DiBi miniantibodies, see Muller et al (1998) FEBS Lett 432, 45-49) or a single chain molecule comprising four antibody variable domains (VH and VL) in an orientation preventing intramolecular pairing (tandem diabody, see Kipriyanov et al, (1999) J. MoI. Biol.
  • Bispecific F(ab') 2 fragments can be created by chemical coupling of Fab 1 fragments or by heterodimerization through leucine zippers (see Shalaby et al, (1992) J. Exp. Med. 175, 217-225 and Kostelny et al (1992), J.Immunol. 148, 1547-1553). Also available are isolated VH and VL domains (Domantis pic), see US 6, 248,516; US 6,291 ,158; US 6, 172,197.
  • an antibody fragment e.g. ScFv, Fab, Fab 1 , F(ab') 2
  • an engineered antibody fragment as described supra that specifically binds hlL-13 and modulates the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R, for example where such fragments inhibit the interaction between hlL-13 and its receptor.
  • the antibody fragment may comprise a CDRH3 comprising the sequence of SEQ. I. D. NO: 3 optionally together with further CDRs comprising one or more of the sequences as set out in SEQ. I. D. NO: 1 , 2, 4, 5 and 6.
  • a ScFv may be made comprising the VH and VL regions of the antibodies of the present invention.
  • a ScFv may comprise SEQ.
  • I. D. NO: 12 and 15 may comprise SEQ. I. D. NO: 13 and 15.
  • a ScFv comprising a protein encoded by the sequences as set out in SEQ.I.D.NO: 93 and 94.
  • Heteroconjugate antibodies also form an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Heteroconjugate antibodies are composed of two covalently joined antibodies formed using any convenient cross-linking methods. See, for example, US 4,676,980.
  • Fc ⁇ R Fc receptors
  • ADCC antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
  • phagocytosis phagocytosis and half-life/clearance of the antibody.
  • Various modifications to the Fc region of antibodies of the invention may be carried out depending on the desired property. For example, specific mutations in the Fc region to render an otherwise lytic antibody, non-lytic is detailed in EP 0629 240B1 and EP 0307434B2 or one may incorporate a salvage receptor binding epitope into the antibody to increase serum half life see US 5,739,277.
  • Fc ⁇ R Fc ⁇ R
  • Fc ⁇ Rlla Fc ⁇ Rllb
  • Fc ⁇ Rllla neonatal FcRn. Shields et a/, (2001 ) J.Biol.Chem 276, 6591-6604 demonstrated that a common set of IgGI residues is involved in binding all Fc ⁇ Rs, while Fc ⁇ RII and Fc ⁇ RIII utilize distinct sites outside of this common set.
  • One group of IgGI residues reduced binding to all Fc ⁇ Rs when altered to alanine: Pro-238, Asp-265, Asp-270, Asn-297 and Pro-239. All are in the IgG CH2 domain and clustered near the hinge joining CH1 and CH2.
  • Fc ⁇ RI utilizes only the common set of IgGI residues for binding
  • Fc ⁇ RII and Fc ⁇ RIII interact with distinct residues in addition to the common set.
  • Alteration of some residues reduced binding only to Fc ⁇ RII (e.g. Arg-292) or Fc ⁇ RIII (e.g. GIu- 293).
  • Some variants showed improved binding to Fc ⁇ RI! or Fc ⁇ RIII but did not affect binding to the other receptor (e.g. Ser-267Ala improved binding to Fc ⁇ RII but binding to Fc ⁇ Rlil was unaffected).
  • Other variants exhibited improved binding to Fc ⁇ RII or Fc ⁇ RIII with reduction in binding to the other receptor (e.g.
  • glycosylation variants of the antibodies of the invention include glycosylation variants of the antibodies of the invention. Glycosylation of antibodies at conserved positions in their constant regions is known to have a profound effect on antibody function, particularly effector functioning such as those described above, see for example, Boyd et al (1996), MoI. Immunol. 32, 1311-1318. Glycosylation variants of the antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof of the present invention wherein one or more carbohydrate moiety is added, substituted, deleted or modified are contemplated. Introduction of an asparagine-X- serine or asparagine-X-threonine motif creates a potential site for enzymatic attachment of carbonhydrate moieties and may therefore be used to manipulate the glycosylation of an antibody.
  • the invention contemplates a plurality of (monoclonal) antibodies (which maybe of the IgG isotype, e.g. IgGI ) as herein described comprising a defined number (e.g. 7 or less, for example 5 or less such as two or a single) glycoform(s) of said antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof.
  • a defined number e.g. 7 or less, for example 5 or less such as two or a single
  • Further embodiments of the invention include antibodies of the invention or antigen binding fragments thereof coupled to a non-proteinaeous polymer such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol or polyoxyalkylene.
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • PEG polypropylene glycol
  • polyoxyalkylene polyethylene glycol
  • Conjugation of proteins to PEG is an established technique for increasing half-life of proteins, as well as reducing antigenicity and immunogenicity of proteins.
  • the use of PEGylation with different molecular weights and styles has been investigated with intact antibodies as well as Fab 1 fragments, see Koumenis I. L. et al (2000) Int.J.Pharmaceut. 198:83-95.
  • Antibodies of the invention maybe produced as a polyclonal population but are more preferably produced as a monoclonal population (that is as a substantially homogenous population of identical antibodies directed against a specific antigenic binding site). It will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art that a population implies more than one antibody entity.
  • Antibodies of the present invention may be produced in transgenic organisms such as goats (see Pollock et al (1999), J. Immunol. Methods 231 :147-157), chickens (see Morrow KJJ (2000) Genet.Eng.News 20:1-55, mice (see Pollock et al) or plants (see Doran PM, (2000) Curr.Opinion Biotechnol.
  • Antibodies may also be produced by chemical synthesis. However, antibodies of the invention are typically produced using recombinant cell cultuhng technology well known to those skilled in the art. A polynucleotide encoding the antibody is isolated and inserted into a replicable vector such as a plasmid for further cloning (amplification) or expression.
  • One useful expression system is a glutamate synthetase system (such as sold by Lonza Biologies), particularly where the host cell is CHO or NSO (see below).
  • Polynucleotide encoding the antibody is readily isolated and sequenced using conventional procedures (e.g. oligonucleotide probes).
  • Vectors that may be used include plasmid, virus, phage, transposons, minichromsomes of which plasmids are a typical embodiment.
  • such vectors further include a signal sequence, origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter and transcription termination sequences operably linked to the light and/or heavy chain polynucleotide so as to facilitate expression.
  • Polynucleotide encoding the light and heavy chains may be inserted into separate vectors and transfected into the same host cell or, if desired both the heavy chain and light chain can be inserted into the same vector for transfection into the host cell.
  • a process of constructing a vector encoding the light and/or heavy chains of an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof of the invention which method comprises inserting into a vector, a polynucleotide encoding either a light chain and/or heavy chain of an antibody of the invention.
  • a polynucleotide encoding a murine VH domain comprising the sequence set forth as SEQ.I.D.NO:25.
  • polynucleotide encoding a murine VL domain comprising the sequence set forth as SEQ. I. D. NO: 26.
  • a polynucleotide encoding a VH domain comprising the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ.I.D.NO:27, 28, 29,30
  • a polynucletotide encoding a VL domain comprising the sequence selected from the group consisting of; SEQ. I. D. NO: 31 , 32, 33
  • polynucleotide encoding a heavy chain of the invention which polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of; SEQ.I.D.NO:34, 35, 36, 37.
  • polynucleotide encoding a light chain of the invention which polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of; SEQ.I.D.NO:38, 39, 40.
  • Antibodies of the present invention maybe produced as a fusion protein with a heterologous signal sequence having a specific cleavage site at the N terminus of the mature protein.
  • the signal sequence should be recognised and processed by the host cell.
  • the signal sequence may be an alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, or heat stable enterotoxin Il leaders.
  • yeast secretion the signal sequences may be a yeast invertase leader, ⁇ factor leader or acid phosphatase leaders see e.g. WO90/13646.
  • viral secretory leaders such as herpes simplex gD signal and a native immunoglobulin signal sequence are available.
  • the signal sequence is ligated in reading frame to DNA encoding the antibody of the invention.
  • Origin of replications are well known in the art with pBR322 suitable for most gram- negative bacteria, 2 ⁇ plasmid for most yeast and various viral origins such as SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV or BPV for most mammalian cells.
  • origin of replication component is not needed for mammalian expression vectors but the SV40 may be used since it contains the early promoter.
  • Typical selection genes encode proteins that (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins e.g. ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate or tetracycline or (b) complement auxiotrophic deficiencies or supply nutrients not available in the complex media.
  • the selection scheme may involve arresting growth of the host cell. Cells, which have been successfully transformed with the genes encoding the antibody of the present invention, survive due to e.g. drug resistance conferred by the selection marker.
  • Another example is the so-called DHFR selection marker wherein transformants are cultured in the presence of methotrexate. In typical embodiments, cells are cultured in the presence of increasing amounts of methotrexate to amplify the copy number of the exogenous gene of interest.
  • CHO cells are a particularly useful cell line for the DHFR selection.
  • a further example is the glutamate synthetase expression system (Lonza Biologies).
  • a suitable selection gene for use in yeast is the trp1 gene, see Stinchcomb et al Nature 282, 38, 1979.
  • Suitable promoters for expressing antibodies of the invention are operably linked to DNA/polynucleotide encoding the antibody.
  • Promoters for prokaryotic hosts include phoA promoter, Beta-lactamase and lactose promoter systems, alkaline phosphatase, tryptophan and hybrid promoters such as Tac.
  • Promoters suitable for expression in yeast cells include 3-phosphoglycerate kinase or other glycolytic enzymes e.g.
  • yeast promoters include alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C, acid phosphatase, metallothionein and enzymes responsible for nitrogen metabolism or maltose/galactose utilization.
  • Promoters for expression in mammalian cell systems include viral promoters such as polyoma, fowlpox and adenoviruses (e.g.
  • adenovirus 2 bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus (in particular the immediate early gene promoter), retrovirus, hepatitis B virus, actin, rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter and the early or late Simian virus 40.
  • adenovirus 2 bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus (in particular the immediate early gene promoter), retrovirus, hepatitis B virus, actin, rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter and the early or late Simian virus 40.
  • RSV rous sarcoma virus
  • a first plasmid comprising a RSV and/or SV40 and/or CMV promoter, DNA encoding light chain V region (VL) of the invention, KC region together with neomycin and ampicillin resistance selection markers and a second plasmid comprising a RSV or SV40 promoter, DNA encoding the heavy chain V region (VH) of the invention, DNA encoding the ⁇ 1 constant region, DHFR and ampicillin resistance markers
  • an enhancer element operably linked to the promoter element in a vector may be used.
  • suitable mammalian enhancer sequences include enhancer elements from globin, elastase, albumin, fetoprotein and insulin.
  • an enhancer element from a eukaroytic cell virus such as SV40 enhancer (at bp100-270), cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, polyma enhancer, baculoviral enhancer or murine lgG2a locus (see WO04/009823).
  • the enhancer is preferably located on the vector at a site upstream to the promoter.
  • polyadenylation signals are operably linked to DNA/polynucleotide encoding the antibody of this invention. Such signals are typically placed 3' of the open reading frame.
  • non-limiting example include signals derived from growth hormones, elongation factor-1 alpha and viral (eg SV40) genes or retroviral long terminal repeats.
  • polydenylation/termination signals include those derived from the phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and the alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH) genes.
  • PGK phosphoglycerate kinase
  • ADH alcohol dehydrogenase 1
  • prokaryotic system polyadenylation signals are typically not required and it is instead usual to employ shorter and more defined terminator sequences. Of course the choice of polyadenylation/termination sequences is based upon suitable compatibility with the host cell used for expression.
  • Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing vectors encoding antibodies of the invention are prokaroytic, yeast or higher eukaryotic cells.
  • Suitable prokaryotic cells include eubacteria e.g. enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia e.g. E. CoIi (for example ATCC 31 ,446; 31 ,537; 27,325), Enterobacter, Erwinia, Klebsiella Proteus, Salmonella e.g. Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia e.g.
  • Serratia marcescans and Shigella as well as Bacilli such as B.subtilis and B.licheniformis (see DD 266 710), Pseudomonas such as P.aeruginosa and Streptomyces.
  • yeast host cells Saccharomyces cerevisiae, schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces (e.g. ATCC 16,045; 12,424; 24178; 56,500), yarrowia (EP402, 226), Pichia Pastoris (EP183, 070, see also Peng et al J.Biotechnol. 108 (2004) 185-192), Candida, Trichoderma reesia (EP244, 234J, Penicillin, Tolypocladium and Aspergillus hosts such as A.nidulans and A.niger are also contemplated.
  • host cells of the present invention are higher eukaryotic cells.
  • Suitable higher eukaryotic host cells include mammalian cells such as COS-1 (ATCC No.CRL 1650) COS-7 (ATCC CRL 1651), human embryonic kidney line 293, baby hamster kidney cells (BHK) (ATCC CRL.1632), BHK570 (ATCC NO: CRL 10314), 293 (ATCC NO.CRL 1573), Chinese hamster ovary cells CHO (e.g.
  • CHO-K1 ATCC NO: CCL 61 , DHFR-CHO cell line such as DG44 (see Urlaub et al, (1986) Somatic Cell Mol.Genet.12, 555-556)), particularly those CHO cell lines adapted for suspension culture, mouse Sertoli cells, monkey kidney cells, African green monkey kidney cells (ATCC CRL-1587), HELA cells, canine kidney cells (ATCC CCL 34), human lung cells (ATCC CCL 75), Hep G2 and myeloma or lymphoma cells e.g. NSO (see US 5,807,715), Sp2/0, YO.
  • DG44 see Urlaub et al, (1986) Somatic Cell Mol.Genet.12, 555-556
  • mice Sertoli cells monkey kidney cells
  • African green monkey kidney cells ATCC CRL-1587
  • HELA cells canine kidney cells
  • human lung cells ATCC CCL 75
  • Hep G2 myeloma or lymphoma cells e.g
  • a stably transformed host cell comprising a vector encoding a heavy chain and/or light chain of the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof as herein described.
  • host cells comprise a first vector encoding the light chain and a second vector encoding said heavy chain.
  • Bacterial systems are particularly suited for the expression of antibody fragments. Such fragments are localised intracellular ⁇ or within the periplasma. Insoluble periplasmic proteins can be extracted and refolded to form active proteins according to methods known to those skilled in the art, see Sanchez et al (1999) J.Biotechnol. 72, 13-20 and Cupit PM et a/ (1999) Lett Appl Microbiol, 29, 273-277.
  • Host cells transformed with vectors encoding the antibodies of the invention or antigen binding fragments thereof may be cultured by any method known to those skilled in the art.
  • Host cells may be cultured in spinner flasks, roller bottles or hollow fibre systems but it is preferred for large scale production that stirred tank reactors are used particularly for suspension cultures.
  • stirred tank reactors are used particularly for suspension cultures.
  • the stirred tankers are adapted for aeration using e.g. spargers, baffles or low shear impellers.
  • For bubble columns and airlift reactors direct aeration with air or oxygen bubbles maybe used.
  • the host cells are cultured in a serum free culture media it is preferred that the media is supplemented with a cell protective agent such as pluronic F-68 to help prevent cell damage as a result of the aeration process.
  • a cell protective agent such as pluronic F-68 to help prevent cell damage as a result of the aeration process.
  • either microcarriers maybe used as growth substrates for anchorage dependent cell lines or the cells maybe adapted to suspension culture (which is typical).
  • the culturing of host cells, particularly invertebrate host cells may utilise a variety of operational modes such as fed-batch, repeated batch processing (see Drapeau et a/ (1994) cytotechnology 15: 103-109), extended batch process or perfusion culture.
  • recombinantly transformed mammalian host cells may be cultured in serum-containing media such as fetal calf serum (FCS), it is preferred that such host cells are cultured in synthetic serum -free media such as disclosed in Keen ef a/ (1995) Cytotechnology 17:153-163, or commercially available media such as ProCHO-CDM or UltraCHOTM (Cambrex NJ, USA), supplemented where necessary with an energy source such as glucose and synthetic growth factors such as recombinant insulin.
  • FCS fetal calf serum
  • synthetic serum -free media such as disclosed in Keen ef a/ (1995) Cytotechnology 17:153-163, or commercially available media such as ProCHO-CDM or UltraCHOTM (Cambrex NJ, USA), supplemented where necessary with an energy source such as glucose and synthetic growth factors such as recombinant insulin.
  • the serum-free culturing of host cells may require that those cells are adapted to grow in serum free conditions.
  • One adaptation approach is to culture such host cells in serum containing media and repeatedly exchange 80% of the culture medium for the serum-free media so that the host cells learn to adapt in serum free conditions (see e.g. Scharfenberg K et al (1995) in Animal Cell technology: Developments towards the 21st century (Beuvery E. C. et al eds), pp619- 623, Kluwer Academic publishers).
  • Antibodies of the invention secreted into the media may be recovered and purified using a variety of techniques to provide a degree of purification suitable for the intended use.
  • the use of antibodies of the invention for the treatment of human patients typically mandates at least 95% purity, more typically 98% or 99% or greater purity (compared to the crude culture medium).
  • cell debris from the culture media is typically removed using centrifugation followed by a clarification step of the supernatant using e.g. microfiltration, ultrafiltration and/or depth filtration.
  • HA hydroxyapatite
  • affinity chromatography optionally involving an affinity tagging system such as polyhistidine
  • hydrophobic interaction chromatography HIC, see US 5, 429,746
  • the antibodies of the invention following various clarification steps, are captured using Protein A or G affinity chromatography followed by further chromatography steps such as ion exchange and/or HA chromatography, anion or cation exchange, size exclusion chromatography and ammonium sulphate precipitation.
  • various virus removal steps are also employed (e.g. nanofiltration using e.g. a DV-20 filter).
  • a purified (preferably monoclonal) preparation comprising at least 75mg/ml or greater e.g. 10Omg/ml or greater of the antibody of the invention or antigen binding fragment thereof is provided and therefore forms an embodiment of the invention.
  • a purified preparation comprising at least 75mg/ml or greater e.g. 10Omg/ml or greater of the antibody of the invention or antigen binding fragment thereof is provided and therefore forms an embodiment of the invention.
  • Such preparations are substantially free of aggregated forms of antibodies of the invention.
  • compositions for use in the treatment of human diseases and disorders such as atopic diseases e.g. asthma, allergic rhinitis, COPD.
  • atopic diseases e.g. asthma, allergic rhinitis, COPD.
  • compositions comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as known and called for by acceptable pharmaceutical practice, see e.g. Remingtons Pharmaceutical Sciences, 16th edition, (1980), Mack Publishing Co.
  • carriers include sterilised carrier such as saline, Ringers solution or dextrose solution, buffered with suitable buffers to a pH within a range of 5 to 8.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions for injection e.g.
  • compositions by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular or intraportal) or continuous infusion are suitably free of visible particulate matter and may comprise between 0.1 ng to 100mg of antibody, preferably between 5mg and 25mg of antibody. Methods for the preparation of such pharmaceutical compositions are well known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, pharmaceutical compositions comprise between 0.1 ng to 100mg of antibodies of the invention in unit dosage form, optionally together with instructions for use. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be lyophilised (freeze dried) for reconstitution prior to administration according to methods well known or apparent to those skilled in the art.
  • a chelator of copper such as citrate (e.g. sodium citrate) or EDTA or histidine may be added to pharmaceutical composition to reduce the degree of copper-mediated degradation of antibodies of this isotype, see EP0612251.
  • Anti-hlL-13 treatment maybe given orally, by inhalation, topically (for example, intraocular, intransnasal, rectal into wounds on the skin).
  • Effective doses and treatment regimes for administering the antibody of the invention are generally determined empirically and are dependent on factors such as the age, weight and health status of the patient and disease or disorder to be treated. Such factors are within the purview of the attending physician. Guidance in selecting appropriate doses may be found in e.g. Smith et a/ (1977) Antibodies in human diagnosis and therapy, Raven Press, New York but will in general be between 1 mg and 1000mg.
  • compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody of the invention may be used simultaneously, separately or sequentially with an effective amount of another medicament such as anti-inflammatory agents (e.g. corticosteroid or an NSAID), anticholinergic agents (particularly M1/M2/M3 receptor antagonists), ⁇ 2 adrenoreceptor agonists, antiinfective agents (e.g. antibiotics, antivirals), antihistamines, PDE4 inhibitor.
  • anti-inflammatory agents e.g. corticosteroid or an NSAID
  • anticholinergic agents particularly M1/M2/M3 receptor antagonists
  • ⁇ 2 adrenoreceptor agonists include salmeterol, salbutamol, formoterol, salmefamol, fenoterol, terbutaline.
  • Preferred long acting ⁇ 2 adrenoreceptor agonists include those described in WO02/66422A, WO02/270490, WO02/076933, WO03/024439 and WO03/072539.
  • Suitable corticosteroids include methyl prednisolone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, fluticasone propionate, 6 ⁇ ,9 ⁇ -difluoro-17 ⁇ -[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11 ⁇ -hydroxy-16 ⁇ - methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1 ,4-diene-17 ⁇ -carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester, 6 ⁇ ,9 ⁇ - difluoro-11 ⁇ -hydroxy-16 ⁇ -methyl-3-oxo-17 ⁇ -propionyloxy- androsta-1 ,4-diene-17 ⁇ - carbothioic acid S-(2-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3S-yl) ester, beclomet
  • Preferred corticosteroids include fluticasone propionate, 6 ⁇ ,9 ⁇ -difluoro-11 ⁇ -hydroxy-16 ⁇ - methyl-17 ⁇ -[(4-methyl-1 ,3-thiazole-5-carbonyl)oxy]-3-oxo-androsta-1 ,4-diene-17 ⁇ - carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester and 6 ⁇ ,9 ⁇ -difluoro-17 ⁇ -[(2- furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11 ⁇ -hydroxy-16 ⁇ -methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1 ,4-diene-17 ⁇ - carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester, more preferably 6 ⁇ ,9 ⁇ -difluoro-17 ⁇ -[(2- furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11 ⁇ -hydroxy-16 ⁇ -methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1 ,4-diene-17 ⁇ - carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester.
  • Non-steroidal compounds having glucocorticoid agonism that may posess selectivity for transrepression over transactivation and that may be useful in combination therapy include those covered in the following patents: WO03/082827, WO01/10143, WO98/54159, WO04/005229, WO04/009016, WO04/009017, WO04/018429, WO03/104195, WO03/082787, WO03/082280, WO03/059899, WO03/101932, WO02/02565, WO01/16128, WO00/66590, WO03/086294, WO04/026248, WO03/061651 , WO03/08277.
  • Suitable anti-inflammatory agents include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's).
  • Suitable NSAID's include sodium cromoglycate, nedocromil sodium, phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors (e.g. theophylline, PDE4 inhibitors or mixed PDE3/PDE4 inhibitors), leukotriene antagonists, inhibitors of leukotriene synthesis (eg. montelukast), iNOS inhibitors, tryptase and elastase inhibitors, beta-2 integrin antagonists and adenosine receptor agonists or antagonists (e.g. adenosine 2a agonists), cytokine antagonists (e.g.
  • chemokine antagonists such as a CCR3 antagonist
  • Suitable other ⁇ 2 -adrenoreceptor agonists include salmeterol (e.g. as the xinafoate), salbutamol (e.g. as the sulphate or the free base), formoterol (e.g. as the fumarate), fenoterol or terbutaline and salts thereof.
  • An iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) is preferably for oral administration.
  • Suitable iNOS inhibitors include those disclosed in WO93/13055, WO98/30537, WO02/50021 , WO95/34534 and WO99/62875.
  • Suitable CCR3 inhibitors include those disclosed in WO02/26722.
  • the PDE4-specific inhibitor useful in this aspect of the invention may be any compound that is known to inhibit the PDE4 enzyme or which is discovered to act as a PDE4 inhibitor, and which are only PDE4 inhibitors, not compounds which inhibit other members of the PDE family, such as PDE3 and PDE5, as well as PDE4.
  • Compounds of interest include c/s-4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4- methoxyphenyl)cyclohexan-1 -carboxylic acid, 2-carbomethoxy-4-cyano-4-(3- cyclopropylmethoxy-4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)cyclohexan-1 -one and c/s-[4-cyano-4- (3-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)cyclohexan-1 -ol].
  • AWD-12-281 from Elbion (Hofgen, N. et al. 15th EFMC lnt Symp Med Chem (Sept 6- 10, Edinburgh) 1998, Abst P.98; CAS reference No. 247584020-9); a 9- benzyladenine derivative nominated NCS-613 (INSERM); D-4418 from Chiroscience and Schering-Plough; a benzodiazepine PDE4 inhibitor identified as CI-1018 (PD- 168787) and attributed to Pfizer; a benzodioxole derivative disclosed by Kyowa Hakko in WO99/16766; K-34 from Kyowa Hakko; V-11294A from Napp (Landells, L.J.
  • Suitable anticholinergic agents are those compounds that act as antagonists at the muscarinic receptors, in particular those compounds which are antagonists of the Mi or M 3 receptors, dual antagonists of the M-1/M3 or M 2 /M 3 , receptors or pan- antagonists of the M- ⁇ /M 2 /M 3 receptors.
  • Exemplary compounds for administration via inhalation include ipratropium (e.g. as the bromide, CAS 22254-24-6, sold under the name Atrovent), oxitropium (e.g. as the bromide, CAS 30286-75-0) and tiotropium (e.g. as the bromide, CAS 136310-93-5, sold under the name Spiriva).
  • revatropate e.g. as the hydrobromide, CAS 262586-79-8
  • LAS- 34273 which is disclosed in WO01/04118.
  • Exemplary compounds for oral administration include pirenzepine (CAS 28797-61-7), darifenacin (CAS 133099-04- 4, or CAS 133099-07-7 for the hydrobromide sold under the name Enablex), oxybutynin (CAS 5633-20-5, sold under the name Ditropan), terodiline (CAS 15793- 40-5), tolterodine (CAS 124937-51-5, or CAS 124937-52-6 for the tartrate, sold under the name Detrol), otilonium (e.g.
  • Suitable anticholinergic agents include compounds of formula (XXI), which are disclosed in US patent application 60/487981 :
  • R 31 and R 32 are, independently, selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain lower alkyl groups having preferably from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having from 5 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl-alkyl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, 2-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted with an alkyl group having not in excess of 4 carbon atoms and phenyl substituted with an alkoxy group having not in excess of 4 carbon atoms;
  • X " represents an anion associated with the positive charge of the N atom.
  • X " may be but is not limited to chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, benzene sulfonate, and toluene sulfonate, including, for example:
  • anticholinergic agents include compounds of formula (XXII) or (XXIII), which are disclosed in US patent application 60/511009:
  • R 41" represents an anion associated with the positive charge of the N atom.
  • R1 " may be but is not limited to chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, benzene sulfonate and toluene sulfonate;
  • R 42 and R 43 are independently selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain lower alkyl groups (having preferably from 1 to 6 carbon atoms), cycloalkyl groups (having from 5 to 6 carbon atoms), cycloalkyl-alkyl (having 6 to 10 carbon atoms), heterocycloalkyl (having 5 to 6 carbon atoms) and N or O as the heteroatom, heterocycloalkyl-alkyl (having 6 to10 carbon atoms) and N or O as the heteroatom, aryl, optionally substituted aryl, heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;
  • R 44 is sleeted from the group consisting of (C- ⁇ -C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 12 )cycloalkyl, (C 3 -
  • R 45 is selected from the group consisting of (d-C 6 )alkyl, (Ci-C 6 )alkyl(C 3 -C 12 )cycloalkyl, (C 1 -
  • R 46 is selected from the group consisting of (C r C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 12 )cycloalkyl, (C 3 -
  • C 7 heterocycloalkyl, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl(C 3 -C 12 )cycloalkyl, (CrCeJalkyKCa-C T Oheterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl-aryl, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl-heteroaryl;
  • R 47 and R 48 are, independently, selected from the group consisting of H, (CrC 6 )alkyl,
  • C 6 )alkyl(C 3 -C 7 )heterocycloalkyl, (CrC 6 )alkyl-aryl, and (CrC 6 )alkyl-heteroaryl including, for example:
  • More preferred compounds useful in the present invention include:
  • Suitable antihistamines include any one or more of the numerous antagonists known which inhibit H 1 -receptors, and are safe for human use.
  • First generation antagonists include derivatives of ethanolamines, ethylenediamines, and alkylamines, e.g diphenylhydramine, pyrilamine, clemastine, chlropheniramine.
  • Second generation antagonists which are non-sedating, include loratidine, desloratidine,terfenadine,astemizole,acrivastine, azelastine, levocetirizine fexofenadine and cetirizine.
  • Examples of preferred anti-histamines include loratidine, desloratidine, fexofenadine and cetirizine.
  • antibodies of the invention in combination with an anti-IL-4 agent (e.g. anti-IL-4 antibody such as pascolizumab) and/or anti-IL-5 agent (e.g. anti-IL-5 antibody such as mepolizumab) and/or anti-lgE agent (e.g. anti-lgE antibody such as omalizumab (XolairTM) or talizumab).
  • an anti-IL-4 agent e.g. anti-IL-4 antibody such as pascolizumab
  • anti-IL-5 agent e.g. anti-IL-5 antibody such as mepolizumab
  • anti-lgE agent e.g. anti-lgE antibody such as omalizumab (XolairTM) or talizumab
  • XolairTM omalizumab
  • talizumab omalizumab
  • the invention furthermore contemplates a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of monoclonal therapeutic antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof as herein described for use in the treatment of diseases responsive to modulation of the interaction between hlL-13 and hlL-13R.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal humanised therapeutic antibody which antibody comprises a VH domain selected from the group consisting of: SEQ. I. D. NO:11 ,12,13,14 and a VL domain selected from the group consisting of: SEQ.I.D.NO:15,16, 17.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a monoclonal antibody comprising a heavy chain selected from the group consisting of: SEQ. I. D. NO: 18,19,20,21 and a light chain selected from the group consisting of; SEQ.I.D.NO:22, 23,24
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a monoclonal antibody comprising a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:18 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a monoclonal antibody comprising (or consisting essentially of) a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:18 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:18 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:18 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:23.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:18 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:24.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:19 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:19 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:23.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:19 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:24.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:20 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:20 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:23
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:20 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:24.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:21 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:22.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:21 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:23.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal population of antibody which antibody comprises a heavy chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:21 and a light chain of SEQ.I.D.NO:24.
  • Antibodies of the invention may be used in the treatment of atopic diseases/ disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases/disorders.
  • asthma such as allergic asthma, particularly severe asthma (that is asthma that is unresponsive to current treatment, including systemically administered corticosteroids; see Busse WW et al, J Allergy Clin.
  • asthma defined as the asthmatic phenotype characterised by failure to achieve control despite maximally recommended doses of prescribed inhaled steroids, see Barnes PJ (1998), Eur Respir J 12:1208-1218), "brittle” asthma (defines a subgroup of patients with severe, unstable asthma who maintain a wide peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability despite high doses of inhaled steroids, see Ayres JG et al (1998) Thorax 58:315-321 ), nocturnal asthma, premenstrual asthma, steroid resistant asthma (see Woodcock AJ (1993) Eur Respir J 6:743-747), steroid dependent asthma (defined as asthma that can be controlled only with high doses of oral steroids), aspirin induced asthma, adult-onset asthma, paediatric asthma .
  • PEF expiratory flow
  • Antibodies of the invention maybe used to prevent, reduce the frequency of, or mitigate the effects of acute, asthmatic episodes (status asthmaticus). Antibodies of the invention may also be used to reduce the dosing required (either in terms of amount administered or frequency of dosing) of other medicaments used in the treatment of asthma. For example, antibodies of the invention may be used to reduce the dosing required for steroid treatment of asthma such as corticosteroid treatment ("steroid sparing").
  • diseases or disorders that may be treated with antibodies of the invention include atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, Crohn's disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), eosinophilic esophagitis, fibrotic diseases or disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), hepatic fibrosis, hepatic granulomas, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and diseases of cell cycle regulation, e.g. Hodgkins disease, B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Further diseases or disorders that may be treated with antibodies of the invention are detailed in the Background of the invention Example above.
  • a method of treating a human patient afflicted with an asthmatic condition which is refractory to treatment with corticosteroids which method comprises the step of administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the invention.
  • a method of preventing an acute asthmatic attack in a human patient which method comprises the step of administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the invention.
  • a method of reducing the frequency of and/or mitigating the effects of an acute asthmatic attack in a human patient comprises the step of administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the invention.
  • a method of biasing T helper cell response towards a Th1 type response following an inflammatory and/or allergic insult in a human patient which method comprises administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof of the invention.
  • a method of treating a human patient having the Q130hll_-13 variant which patient is afflicted with asthma, such as severe asthma comprising the step of administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof of the invention.
  • the present invention has been described principally in relation to the treatment of human diseases or disorders, the present invention may also have applications in the treatment of similar diseases or disorders in non-human mammals.
  • Sandwich ELISA illustrating the binding of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4 to recombinant E.coli-expressed human IL-13 at increasing concentrations.
  • Neutralisation assay illustrating the ability of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4 at increasing concentrations to inhibit the bioactivity of recombinant E.coli-expressed human IL-13 in a TF-1 cell proliferation assay.
  • Neutralisation assay illustrating the ability of chimaeric 3G4 at increasing concentrations to inhibit the bioactivity of recombinant E.coli-expressed human IL-13 in a TF-1 cell proliferation assay.
  • Neutralisation assay illustrating the ability of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4 (and chimaeric 3G4) at increasing concentrations to inhibit the bioactivity of recombinant E.coli-expressed cynomolgus IL-13 in a TF-1 cell proliferation assay.
  • the curve labelled 'Campath' is that obtained using anti-CD52 humanised antibody alemtuzumab, acting as an irrelevant antibody control in this experiment.
  • the line labelled 'anti-hlL13 poly' is that obtained using a neutralising polyclonal anti-IL13 preparation (R&D Systems, catalogue number AF-213-NA) as a positive control.
  • Neutralisation assay illustrating the ability of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4 and (chimaeric 3G4) at increasing concentrations to inhibit the bioactivity of recombinant E.coli-expressed Q130 human IL-13 in a TF-1 cell proliferation assay.
  • Campath and anti-hlL13 are control reagents as described supra.
  • An epitope mapping ELISA to determine the binding epitope for mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4 on human and cynomolgus IL-13.
  • Neutralisation assay illustrating the ability of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4, 3G4 chimera and humanised mAbs H2L1 , H3L1 at increasing concentrations to inhibit the bioactivity of recombinant E.coli-expressed human IL-13 in a TF- 1 cell proliferation assay.
  • Neutralisation assay illustrating the ability of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4, 3G4 chimera and humanised mAbs H2L1 , H3L1 at increasing concentrations to inhibit the bioactivity of recombinant E.coli-expressed cynomolgus IL-13 in a TF- 1 cell proliferation assay.
  • Neutralisation assay illustrating the ability of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4, 3G4 chimera and humanised mAbs H2L1 , H3L1 at increasing concentrations to inhibit the bioactivity of mammalian-expressed (CHO cell) human IL-13 in a TF- 1 cell proliferation assay.
  • Neutralisation assay illustrating the ability of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4, 3G4 chimera and humanised mAbs H2L1 , H3L1 at increasing concentrations to inhibit the bioactivity of recombinant E.coli-expressed Q130 human IL-13 in a TF-1 cell proliferation assay.
  • Sandwich ELISA illustrating the binding of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4, 3G4 chimera and humanised mAbs H2L1 , H3L1 to native human IL-13 at increasing concentrations.
  • ELISA illustrating the ability of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4, 3G4 chimera and humanised mAbs H2L1 , H3L1 at increasing concentrations to inhibit recombinant E.coli-expressed human IL-13 binding to the human IL-13 receptor ⁇ 1 chain.
  • ELISA illustrating the ability of mouse monoclonal antibody 3G4, 3G4 chimera and humanised mAbs H2L1 , H3L1 at increasing concentrations to inhibit recombinant E.coli-expressed human IL-13 binding to the human IL-13 receptor ⁇ 2 chain.
  • mice Five SJL mice were immunised by intraperitoneal injection each with 2 ⁇ g recombinant human IL-13 derived from E. CoIi (Cambridge Bioscience, Cat. No. CH- 013). Spleen cells from the mice were removed and B lymphocytes fused with mouse myeloma cells derived from P3X cells using PEG 1500 (Boehringer) to generate hybridomas. Individual hybridoma cell lines were cloned by limiting dilution (E Harlow and D Lane). Wells containing single colonies were identified microscopically and supernatants tested for activity. Cells from the most active clones were expanded for cryopreservation, antibody production etc.
  • hybridoma supernatants were screened for binding activity against an E.coli- expressed recombinant det-1 tagged human IL-13 protein (made in-house) in a sandwich assay format.
  • a secondary screen of these positives was completed using a BIAcoreTM method to detect for binding to the det-1 tagged human IL-13 protein.
  • Samples from these hybridomas were then tested for ability to neutralise the bioactivity of E.coli-expressed recombinant human IL-13 (Cambridge Bioscience, cat. no CH-013) in a TF-1 cell bioassay.
  • Monoclonal antibody 3G4 was identified as a potent antibody that neutralised human IL-13 bioactivity.
  • the 3G4 antibody has the V H region amino acid sequence as set out in SEQ.I.D.NO:7
  • the 3G4 antibody has the V L region amino acid sequence as set out in SEQ.I.D.NO:8
  • a chimaeric antibody was constructed by taking variable regions from the 3G4 murine monoclonal antibody and grafting these on to human IgG 1/k wild type C regions.
  • a human signal sequence (as shown in SEQ. I. D. NO: 43) was used in the construction of these constructs.
  • This chimearic antibody was termed 3G4C.
  • TF- 1 cells proliferate in response to human IL-13 and cynomolgus IL-13.
  • a bioassay was developed to assess the neutralisation capacity of an anti-IL-13 mAb on human and cynomolgus IL-13-induced TF-1 cell proliferation. The method was carried out as described in Example 6.2.
  • amino acid sequence and a cDNA sequence for cynomolgus IL-13 (not including signal sequence) is set forth as SEQ.I.D.NO:41 and SEQ.I.D.NO:42 respectively.
  • 3G4 neutralised the bioactivity of recombinant human IL-13 in a TF-1 cell bioassay
  • ND 50 neutralisation dose
  • the neutralisation capacity of monoclonal antibody 3G4 for human IL-13 expressed from CHO cells was assessed in a TF-1 cell proliferation assay. The method was carried out as described in Example 6.2. 3G4 neutralised mammalian-expressed human IL-13 more potently than a commercially available anti-human IL-13 polyclonal reagent. An ND 50 value of 0.31 ⁇ g/ml was calculated for the neutralisation of ⁇ 20ng/ml mammalian-expressed human IL-13 in a TF-1 cell bioassay by monoclonal antibody 3G4. See Figure 4.
  • the neutralisation capacity of monoclonal antibody 3G4 for E.coli-expressed recombinant Q130 human IL-13 (Peprotech, Cat. No. 200-13A) was assessed in a TF- 1 cell proliferation assay. The method was carried out as described in Example 6.2. 3G4 neutralised Q130 human IL-13 more potently than a commercially available anti-human IL-13 polyclonal reagent. An ND 50 value of 0.025 ⁇ g/ml was calculated for the neutralisation of ⁇ 60ng/ml Q130 human IL-13 bioactivity in a TF- 1 cell bioassay by monoclonal antibody 3G4. See Figure 5.
  • BIAcoreTM analyses were carried out using anti-mouse IgG capture.
  • An anti-mouse IgG antibody was coupled onto a CM5 chip by primary amine coupling in accordance with the manufacturers recommendation.
  • 3G4 parental mouse mAb was then captured onto this surface and human or cynomolgus IL-13 passed over at defined concentrations.
  • the surface was regenerated back to the anti-mouse IgG surface using mild acid elution conditions, this did not significantly affect the ability to capture antibody for a subsequent IL-13 binding event.
  • This work was carried out on the Biacore 3000 and analysed using the evaluation software inherent in the machine and the data analysed using the 1 :1 model of binding.
  • the data for human IL-13 binding was generated using recombinant E.coli-expressed Det-1 tagged human IL- 13 as well as a commercial recombinant E.coli-expressed untagged human IL-13 reagent (supplied by Peprotech). Recombinant E.coli-expressed cynomolgus IL-13 was generated at GSK. All Biacore runs were carried out at 25 degrees C.
  • Position is according to the Kabat et al numbering system.
  • H1 consists of a CDR graft of the 3G4 VH CDRs into the specified acceptor sequence. Additionally, H1 contains the murine residue at position 30 (isoleucine). This is outside the Kabat definition of CDR, but within the CDR H1 definition of Chothia. In this case, this residue is considered to be part of the CDR rather than a true framework back-mutation.
  • H2 is identical to H1 , but with a back-mutation where the amino acid at position 93 is threonine instead of alanine.
  • H3 is identical to H2, but with an additional back-mutation where the amino acid at position 10 is aspartic acid instead of glutamic acid.
  • H4 is identical to H3, but contains four additional back-mutations at positions 67
  • L1 consists of a CDR graft of the 3G4 V L CDRs into the specified acceptor sequence, using the Kabat definition of CDRs.
  • L2 is identical to L1 , but with a back-mutation where the amino acid at position 98 is leucine in place of phenylalanine.
  • L3 is identical to L2, but with an additional back-mutation where the amino acid at position 76 is asparagine in place of serine.
  • Humanised VH and VL constructs were prepared by de novo build up of overlapping oligonucleotides including restriction sites for cloning into RId and RIn mammalian expression vectors as well as a human signal sequence.
  • Hind III and Spe I restriction sites were introduced to frame the V H domain containing the human signal sequence (SEQ.I.D.NO: 43) for cloning into RId containing the human ⁇ 1 wild type constant region.
  • Hind III and BsiW I restriction sites were introduced to frame the V L domain containing the human signal sequence for cloning into RIn containing the human kappa constant region. This is essentially as described in WO 2004/014953.
  • Humanised VH constructs H 1 , H2, H3 and H4 and two humanised V L constructs (L1 , and L2) were prepared in RId hC ⁇ iwt and RIn h ⁇ C ⁇ mammalian expression vectors. Plasmid heavy chain-light chain combinations (H1 L1 , H1 L2, H2L1 , H2L2,, H3L1 , H3L2, H4L1 , H4L2) were transiently co-transfected into CHO cells and expressed at small scale to give eight different humanised antibodies.
  • the antibodies produced in the CHO cell supernatant and subsequent batches of purified antibodies were analysed for activity in the human IL-13 binding ELISA, in the human IL-13 neutralisation bioassay, and binding to human IL-13 by BIAcoreTM. All eight humanised mAbs showed binding and/or neutralisation of human IL-13 in each of these assays. H2L1 and H3L1 were selected for further analysis due to better performance in the human IL-13 neutralisation bioassay, and binding to human IL-13 by BIAcoreTM, whilst offering a limited number of back-mutations.
  • the 3G4, 3G4C, H2L1 , and H3L1 have also been shown to inhibit human IL-13 binding to human IL-13 receptor chains (IL13R ⁇ 1 and IL13R ⁇ 2) by ELISA. This method was carried out as described in Example 6.5 and 6.6.
  • Figure 19 shows the data demonstrating inhibition for binding to IL13R ⁇ 1.
  • Table 4 shows the average IC 50 values for the inhibition for binding to IL13R ⁇ 2.
  • the IC 50 is the concentration of mAb required to inhibit binding of a fixed amount of human IL-13 to IL13R ⁇ 2 by 50%].
  • Figure 19 illustrates that 3G4, 3G4, H2L1 and H3L1 inhibit human IL-13 binding to IL13R ⁇ 1 with similar potency.
  • Figure 20 illustrates that 3G4, 3G4C, H2L1 and H3L1 inhibit human IL-13 binding to IL13R ⁇ 2 with similar potency. 3.2 Binding to native human IL-13
  • the HDLM-2 cell line (a Reed-Steinberg-like cell line, originally derived from bone marrow) makes human IL-13 and uses it in an autocrine fashion for growth. This native human IL-13 is secreted into HDLM-2 cell supernatant. This was used to assess the binding of 3G4, 3G4C, H2L1 and H3L1 to native human IL-13 using a method as described in Example 6.1 B. By ELISA, all four antibodies bound native human IL-13 in the HDLM2 cell supernatant with very similar performance to that of the parental 3G4 mAb. See figure 18.
  • 3G4, 3G4C, H2L1 and H3L1 neutralised the bioactivity of E-coli expressed recombinant human and cynomomogus IL-13.
  • the method was carried out as described in Example 6.2A.
  • 3G4, 3G4C, H2L1 and H3L1 neutralised the bioactivity of E-coli expressed recombinant cynomomogus IL-13 less potently than human IL-
  • ND 50 neutralising dose is the concentration of mAb required to reduce TF-1 cell proliferation by 50%, in response to a set concentration of IL-13].
  • the average ND 50 value for 3G4 was 0.049 ⁇ g/ml as calculated for the neutralisation of approximately 10ng/ml E.coli-expressed recombinant human IL-13 bioactivity in the TF-1 assay.
  • the results in table 5 are the average of four separate repeats. The value obtained is comparable although approximately two fold lower than the ND 50 value previously obtained (see Example 1.2).
  • the level of neutralisation of E.coli expressed human IL13 achieved for parental 3G4 mouse mAb is comparable to that achieved by chimaeric 3G4.
  • the potency of H2L1 and H3L1 were reduced in comparison to both parental 3G4 mouse mAb and chimaeric 3G4.
  • the average ND 5 O value for 3G4 parental is 34 ⁇ g/ml. This was calculated for the neutralisation of approximately 10ng/ml E.coli-expressed recombinant cyno IL-13 bioactivity in the TF-1 assay. This value was similar to the value previously reported for parental 3G4 (see Example 1.2). H2L1 and H3L1 also showed similar potency against cyno IL13 as 3G4.
  • 3G4, 3G4C H2L1 and H3L1 neutralised the bioactivity of recombinant CHO- expressed human IL13 (see table 6 and figure 13).
  • ND 50 neutralising dose is the concentration of mAb required to reduce TF-1 cell proliferation by 50%, in response to a set concentration of IL-13]
  • the average ND50 value for 3G4 parental was 0.05 ⁇ g/ml. This was calculated for the neutralisation of - 10ng/ml mammalian-expressed human IL-13 in a TF-1 cell bioassay. This value differs to that previously obtained (see Example 1.3). However the amount of human IL13 used to stimulate proliferation of the TF-1 cells in these experiments was lower than previously used (10ng/ml).
  • the level of neutralisation of CHO expressed human IL13 achieved by the parental 3G4 mAb was slightly better than the level for 3G4C.
  • the potencies of H2L1 and H3L1 were reduced in comparison with both parental 3G4 mAb and chimaeric 3G4.
  • Table 7 sets out the potencies of 3G4C, H2L1 and H3L1 , which were all similar. See also Figure 14.
  • the binding data for human IL-13 fitted well to the 1 :1 model for all constructs, however the fit for binding to cynomolgus IL-13 was worse, raising the possibility that the actual values may be slightly worse (e.g. a 2- 3 fold difference) than reported due to this poorer fit and the difficulty in the analyses.
  • the data were generated using untagged recombinant human or cynomolgus IL-13 (made at GSK). All Biacore runs were carried out at 25 degrees C.
  • Table 8 Biacore 3000 data for chimeric and humanised antibodies binding to human IL-13
  • Table 9 T100 data for chimeric and humanised antibodies binding to human IL-13
  • the 3G4 chimaeric antibody and the humanised mAbs H2L1 and H3L1 bind with high affinity to human IL-13, and these data are comparable to the bind affinity of the parental 3G4 mouse mAb for human IL-13.
  • Table 10 T100 data for chimeric and humanised antibody binding to cvnomolgus IL- 13
  • the 3G4 chimaeric antibody and the humanised mAbs H2L1 and H3L1 bind to cynomolgus IL-13 with a lower affinity in comparison to their binding affinity for human IL-13.
  • Biotinylated 16 mer peptides offset by 4 were synthesised to map the location of the binding epitope recognised by mouse mAb 3G4 on human and cynomolgus IL-13.
  • An ELISA method as described in Example 6.3 was used to detect binding of immobilised biotinylated peptide to the parental mouse mAb 3G4. Details of 16 mer custom designed Peptides: 88 x 16 mers, offset by 4 (supplied by Mimotopes, Australia).
  • Peptide 25 DLLLHLKKLFREGRFN (SEQ.I.D.NO:88)
  • Peptide 44 DLLVHLKKLFREGQFN (SEQ.I.D.NO:89)
  • Peptide 25 is derived from human IL-13.
  • Peptide 44 is derived from cynomolgus IL-13.
  • NB: BOLD indicates residue differences between human IL-13 and the cynomolgus IL-13 orthologue.
  • the minimal binding epitope for mouse mAb 3G4 on human IL-13 was determined using a peptide set based around the peptide sequence
  • QFVKDLLLHLKKLFREGRFN (SEQ.I.D.NO:90). Peptides were obtained with 1 amino acid sequentially removed from either the N or C-terminus of this parental peptide sequence in order to define the precise linear binding epitope for mouse mAb 3G4. A similar approach was taken to map binding to cynomolgus IL-13. An ELISA method (carried out as described in Example 6.4) was used to detect binding of immobilised biotinylated peptide to the parental mouse mAb 3G4 (figures 7a and 7b).
  • the 3 amino acids (Q, F and N) located adjacent to the C-terminal end of the above peptide sequence (in the cynomolgus IL-13 sequence) may also be important for binding, as the binding signal is lost when the Q and F residues are present, but the binding signal is restored when the N residue is present.
  • This Example is prophetic.
  • asthmatic response can be characterised by measuring airways hyper-responsiveness (AHR), cellular infiltration as measured in broncho alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum IgE levels.
  • AHR airways hyper-responsiveness
  • BAL broncho alveolar lavage
  • A.suum is administered at the optimal response dose (ORD) for each animal. It is a p re-determined dose of A.suum that produces an increase in RL (lung resistance) of at least 40% and a decrease in CDY N (dynamic compliance) of at least 35%, by aerosol inhalation (for a single dose given over 15 breaths using a neublizer).
  • ORD optimal response dose
  • phase 1 AHR is assessed in response to intravenous (i/v) histamine challenge (that is a dose of histamine sufficient to induce an increase in R L of at least 30% above baseline (PC 30 )) both before (the baseline pulmonary function assessment on day 1 ) and after (on day 11 ) administering A.suum antigen (on days 9 and 10, when A.suum is administered at an optimal predetermined dose for each animal by aerosol inhalation).
  • i/v intravenous histamine challenge
  • Phase 2 is identical to phase 1 except that animals receive treatment with antibody (see below), each antibody is given as 3 doses of approximately 30mg/kg administered by i/v infusion on days 1 , 5 and 9.
  • Group 1 A humanised anti-IL-13 mAb (30mg/kg)
  • Group 2 A humanised anti-IL-13 mAb (30mg/kg) and Pascolizumab (humanised anti-IL4 mAb, 30mg/kg)
  • the AHR readouts from phases 1 and 2 are calculated by taking pressure and airflow readings - lung resistance (R L ) and dynamic compliance (CDYN) - in response to histamine, using the Buxco pulmonary mechanics system.
  • the maximum percentage change from the baseline compared to post A.suum antigen challenge [for lung resistance (R L ) and dynamic compliance (C DYN )] is compared for phases 1 and 2 i.e. with or without antibody treatment, and these data are used to assess the AHR phenotype.
  • BAL samples are taken at days 1 and 11 in phases 1 and 2, to measure cellular infiltration and in particular eosinophilia. Serum samples are also taken to monitor IgE levels. 6.1. Human or cvnomolqus IL-13 binding ELISA
  • This assay describes an ELISA that detects binding of an antibody to human or cynomolgus IL-13. It is a sandwich ELISA format.
  • Anti-human IgG-HRP Sigma, Cat No. A-6029
  • Blocking solution is 3% BSA+TBST
  • Development time is ⁇ 12 minutes.
  • This assay describes an ELISA that detects binding of an antibody to human IL-13. It is a sandwich ELISA format and differs only slightly to that described in Example 6.1.
  • Carbonate/bicarbonate buffer (Sigma; cat. no. C-3041 )
  • Blocking solution is 3% BSA+TBST
  • This assay describes an ELISA that detects binding of an antibody to native human IL-13. It is a sandwich ELISA format.
  • Carbonate/bicarbonate buffer (Sigma; cat. no. C-3041 )
  • Blocking solution is 1 % BSA in PBST
  • the method described below uses recombinant human or cynomolgus IL-13. Mammalian-expressed human IL-13 or the Q130 human IL-13 variant can also be used in this assay too.
  • TF- 1 cell line (TF- 1 cell line obtained in-house, NB, ATCC version available)
  • This assay is performed in sterile 96 well tissue culture plates (Invitrogen), under sterile conditions. All tests are performed in triplicate.
  • negative control wells will have no IL-13 and no anti-human IL-13 mAb present.
  • the method described below uses recombinant human and cynomolgus IL-13. Mammalian-expressed human IL-13 or the Q130 human IL-13 variant can also be used in this assay too. Note that this method differs only slightly to that described in Example 6.2
  • TF-1 cell line (TF- 1 cell line obtained in-house, NB, ATCC version available)
  • Method 1 Method to measure the ability of an anti-human IL-13 mAb to neutralise the bioactivity of recombinant human and cynomolgus IL-13 in a TF-1 cell bioassay.
  • This assay is performed in sterile 96 well tissue culture plates (Corning costar, cat no. 3596), under sterile conditions. All tests are performed in triplicate.
  • This assay describes an ELISA that detects binding of mouse mAb 3G4 to human or cynomolgus IL-13 peptides.
  • Blocking solution is 3% BSA+PBST.
  • Washing solution is PBST.
  • control wells in duplicate and using PBST as a dilutent add 100 ⁇ l per well of 10-fold dilutions of control peptides (dissolved as per manufacturers instructions in 1ml 40% Acetonitrile 60% Water and stored at -2O 0 C). Add plate sealer and incubate at rtp for 1 hr on a shaking table.
  • This assay describes an ELISA that detects binding of mAb 3G4 to human or cynomolgus IL-13 peptides.
  • Blocking solution is 3% BSA+PBST.
  • Washing solution is PBST.
  • This ELISA determines whether an antibody can inhibit human IL-13 binding to the human IL13R ⁇ 1 chain.
  • Carbonate/bicarbonate buffer (Sigma; cat. no. C-3041 )
  • Blocking solution is 3% BSA+TBST
  • wash X3 TBST (at least 20OuI wash solution per well per wash).
  • This ELISA determines whether an antibody can inhibit human IL-13 binding to the human IL13R ⁇ 2 chain.
  • Carbonate/bicarbonate buffer (Sigma; cat. no. C-3041 )
  • Blocking solution is 3% BSA+TBST
  • wash X3 TBST (at least 20OuI wash solution per well per wash).
  • This assay describes an ELISA that detects binding of an antibody to human IL-4. It is a sandwich ELISA format.
  • Anti-mouse IgG-HRP (Dako, Cat No. P0260)
  • Anti-human kappa light chain-HRP (Sigma A7164)
  • Carbonate/bicarbonate buffer (Sigma; cat. no. C-3041 )
  • Blocking solution is 3% BSA in TBST
  • 3G4 mouse monoclonal antibody detect binding using 5OuI per well anti- mouse IgG-HRP (Dako, Cat No. P0260) at a 1/2000 dilution in block solution for 1 hr at rtp.
  • 3G4 chimaeric antibody or humanised antibody detect binding using 5OuI per well anti-human kappa light chain-HRP (Sigma, Cat No. Sigma A7164) at a 1/2000 dilution in block solution for 1 hr at rtp.
  • biotinylated rat anti-human IL-4 monoclonal antibody detect using a streptavidin- HRP conjugated antibody (Sigma cat no. E2886) at 1/1000 dilution in block solution for 1 hr at rtp.
  • This assay describes an ELISA that detects binding of an antibody to human IL-5. It is a sandwich ELISA format.
  • anti-human IL-5 polyclonal antibody R+D Systems, Cat. No. AF-205-NA
  • anti-human IL-5 Mepolizumab in house clinical grade
  • Anti-mouse IgG-HRP Dako, Cat No. P0260
  • Carbonate/bicarbonate buffer (Sigma; cat. no. C-3041 )
  • Blocking solution is 3% BSA in TBST
  • 3G4 mouse monoclonal antibody detect binding using 5OuI per well anti- mouse IgG-HRP (Dako, Cat No. P0260) at a 1/2000 dilution in block solution for 1 hr at rtp.
  • 3G4 chimaeric antibody or humanised antibody and anti IL5 Mepolizumab detect binding using 5OuI per well anti-human kappa light chain- HRP (Sigma, Cat No. Sigma A7164) at a 1/2000 dilution in block solution for 1 hr at rtp.
  • This assay describes an ELISA that detects binding of an antibody to human GM- CSF. It is a direct binding ELISA format.
  • Anti-human GM-CSF monoclonal antibody (R+D Systems, Cat. No. MAB215) 38.
  • Anti-mouse IgG-HRP (Dako, Cat No. P0260 )
  • Blocking solution is 3% BSA in PBST

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