NZ631476B2 - Antigens associated with inflammatory bowel disease - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is the use of an antibody conjugate for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or the delivery of an immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory molecule to sites of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a patient, wherein the antibody conjugate comprises an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds the Extra Domain-A (ED-A) of fibronectin and is conjugated to an immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory molecule such as IL-10, said antibody comprising a VH domain and a VL domain, wherein the VH domain comprises heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1(LFT), 2(SGSGGS) and 3(STHLYL), respectively; and the VL domain comprises light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 4(MPF), 5(GASSRAT) and 6(MRGRPP), respectively. rises an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds the Extra Domain-A (ED-A) of fibronectin and is conjugated to an immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory molecule such as IL-10, said antibody comprising a VH domain and a VL domain, wherein the VH domain comprises heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1(LFT), 2(SGSGGS) and 3(STHLYL), respectively; and the VL domain comprises light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 4(MPF), 5(GASSRAT) and 6(MRGRPP), respectively.

Description

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ANTIGENS ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE The present ion relates to the treatment and detection of inflammatory bowel disease (13D). The ion involves use of a specific binding member that binds the ED—A isoform of fibroneCtin, especially a specific g member that binds domain ED—A of fibroneC':in. The specific binding member may, for example, be conjugated to an immunosuppressive or anti— inflammatory molecule, such as interleukin—10.

Background to the invention Inflammatory Bowel Disease (13D) is a group of inflammatory conditions that affect colon and small intestine. The major types of 13D are s disease (CD) and ulcerative s (UC). 13D pathogenesis is characterized by different angiogenic regulation contributing to and perpetuating a chronic inflammatory state in the bowel (Chidlow et al., 2006, Am J Physiol. Gastroin :est. river Physiol., 29, G5 — G18). s disease can affec : any part of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas ulcerative coli:is is typically restricted to the colon and rectum (Summe :s RW, Tlliott D?, Qadir K, Ucban JF, on R, Weinstock JV (2003) Am. J. Gastroenool., 98:2034—2041).

Depending on its severity, treatment of ulcerative colitis may require immunosuppression to control its symptoms and treatment usually involves the administration of anti—inflammatory molecules. 13D is known to be terized by upregulation of pro— inflammatory cytokines, such as IFN—y, IL—6 and IL—12 (e.g. In— 12p70). For example, Crohn’s disease is known to be associated with excess IL—12/IL—23 and IFN—y/IL—17 produCtion (Strober et al. (2007), The l of Clinical Investigation, 117(3), 514— 521). Synthesis of IL—12p70 and IL—23 during active Cfohn’s disease has also been reported (Fuss et al. 2006, Inf'amm. Rowe] as. 12:9—15).

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm Fibronectin (FN) is a glycoprotein and is widely expressed in a variety of normal tissues and body fluids. It is a component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and plays a role in many biological processes, incleing cellular adhesion, ar ion, haemostasis, thrombosis, wound healing, tissue differentiation and oncogenic transformation.

Different FN isoforms are generated by alternative splicing of three regions (fiD—A, fiD—R, IIICS) of the primary transcript FN pre—mRNA, a process that is modulated by nes and ellular p { (3alza (1988) F_*J RS .ett., 228, 42—44; Carnemolla (1989) J. Cell 3iol., 106, 1139—1148; Borsi (1990) F_*J RS Lett. 261, 175—178). ectin contains two type—III glolear eXtra— domains which may undergo alternative splicing: ED—A and ?D—a (ffrench—Constant (1995) Exp. Cell Res., 22, 261—271, Kaspar et al. (2006) Int. J. cancer, 118, 1331—1339). The ED—As of moase fibronectin and human fibronectin are 96.7% identical (only 3 amino acids differ between the two 90 amino acid sequences).

Expression of the ED—A of fibronectin has been reported in tumour cells and in solid tumours at the mRNA level in breast cancer (Jacobs et al. (2002) Human Pa :hol, 33, 29—38, Matsumoto et al. (1999) Jpn. J. Cancer Res., 90, 320—325) and liver cancer (Oyama et al. (1989) J 3C, 264, 10331—10334, Tavian et al. (1994) Int. J.

Cancer, 56, 820—825) and at the level of isolated protein in fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and melanoma (Borsi et al. (1987) J. Cell 3iol., 104, 595—560). Other than cancer, sion of the ED—A of fibronectin has been repo :ted in toid arthritis (WO2009/056268). W02010/078950 also :epor :s expression of ED—A of fib :onectin in endometriosis, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, however histochemical analysis :evealed a very weak to virtually absent expression of ?D—A in mu] tiple sis and in ive colitis. Immunohistochemical analyses reported by 3renmoehl et al. (Int. J. cta Dis. (2007) 22:611—623) show d CD patLents_ at ED—A expre:sion is decreased in infla ‘Qr u\,» i.testinal mucosa when compared to control mucosa and increased in [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ulcerative colitis. ehl et a1. (2007) also report ircreased expression :f EDwA and EDwB ms in fibrotic mucosa of CD patients. Exrression of ED—A and ED—s isoforms in fibrotic mtcosa is expected as these fibronectin iso orms are known to be ed in wound lealing. There is no suggestion in Brenmoehl et al. (2007) that ED—A is expressed during (active) tD,A given tke decreased expression of ED—A in inflamed intestinal mucosa of CD patients compared with mucosa derived from control patients.

The use of binding members Wiich bind tne Eb A isoforn of fibronectin for the ent or diagnosis of IBD is also not disclosed in this document.

Interleukin—10 (IL—10) is an anti—inflammatory cytokine that functions as an important regulator of the immune system.

Although IE—10 is known to have many different roles in the immune syStem, its two major activities e tion of ne production by macrophages and inhibition of the accessory funCtions of macrophages during T cell activation (Abbas A, nichtman A, Pober J., 1994, Cellular and Molecular Immunology. 2nd Ed. Philadelphia: W.3. rs y). The effects of these s cause IL—10 to play mainly an anti— inflammatory role in the immune system. IL—10 was originally known as the cytokine synthesis inhibiting factor (CSIF), and the discovery of this prOtein was based on its biological activity (Delves P, Roitt I (eds), 1998, Encyclopedia of Immunology, 2nd Ed. San Diego: Academic Press). Because of its well known anti— inflammatory properties, IL—10 therapy was introduced as a potential new anti—inflammatory therapy in s disease (CD) (Fedorak et al., Gastroenterology (2000) 119, 1473—1482.; Schreiber et al., Gastroenterology (2000) 119, 1461—1472; Colombel et al., Gut (2001) 49, 42—46). lah et al. (Pharmacology Reviews, (2003), 55, 245—269) review the state of the art of Interleukin—10 therapy in a number of inflammatory diseases. When reviewing chronic inflammatory ‘ijel disease, Asadullah et al. report that several large lticenter trials were performed, testing multiple IL—10 dosages in patients with mild/moderate or therapy refractory CD, as well as in patients undergoing curative ileal or ileocolonic resection to prevent endoscopic erative occurrence by systemic administration (Fedorak et al., Gastroenterology (2000) 119, 1473-1482.; ber et al., Gastroenterology (2000) 119, 1461-1472; Colombel et al., Gut (2001) 49, 42-46.). The data indicate that IL-10 therapy is safe and well tolerated.

However, IL-10 treatment did not result in icantly higher remission rates or clinical improvement compared with placebo treatment.

Overall the clinical results were found to be unsatisfying and several explanations for the disappointment with this therapeutic strategy were discussed by Herfarth and Scholmerich (Gut (2002) 50, 7).

Therefore, there is a need for effective treatments of various IBD . y of invention In one aspect, the present ion provides the use of an antibody conjugate for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), wherein the antibody conjugate comprises an dy, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds the Extra Domain-A (ED-A) of ectin and is conjugated to an immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory molecule, said antibody comprising a VH domain and a VL domain, wherein the VH domain comprises heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3, tively; and the VL domain comprises light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5 and 6, respectively.

The present invention also provides the use of an antibody conjugate for the preparation of a medicament for the ry of an immunosuppressive or anti- inflammatory molecule to sites of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a patient, wherein the antibody conjugate comprises an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds the Extra Domain-A (ED-A) of fibronectin and is conjugated to the immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory molecule, said antibody comprising a VH domain and a VL domain, wherein the VH domain comprises heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3, respectively; and the VL domain comprises light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid ces of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5 and 6, respectively.

The t invention also provides the use of an antibody conjugate for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of matory bowel disease (IBD), wherein said antibody conjugate ses the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13.

The present invention also provides the use of an antibody conjugate for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), wherein said antibody conjugate consists of the amino acid ce of SEQ ID NO: 13.

The t invention also provides the use of an antibody conjugate for the preparation of a medicament for the delivery of human IL-10 to sites of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a patient, wherein said antibody ate comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13.

The present invention also es the use of an antibody conjugate for the preparation of a medicament for the delivery of human IL-10 to sites of inflammatory bowel e (IBD) in a patient, wherein said antibody conjugate consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that, an anti-EDA antibody fused to IL-10, was able (i) to localise selectively at sites of inflamed colon in vivo in IBD diseased mice and (ii) to decrease the serum levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines in the IBD diseased mice, in particular interferon-gamma, IL-6 and IL-12p70.

Downregulation of flammatory cytokines through administration of an anti-EDA antibody fused to IL-10 was particularly surprising as Tilg et al. (Gut (2002), 50, 5) report that treatment of Crohn's disease patients with recombinant human IL-10 induces interferon-gamma. Shibata et al. (J. Immunol., (1998) 161, 4283-4288) also report that IL-10 enhances NK cell production of INF-gamma but inhibits macrophage production of IFN-gamma-inducing factors.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm ore, in a first aspect, the invention es a specific binding member, e.g. an antibody molecule, that binds the Extra Domain—A (ED—A) isoform of fibroneCtin (A—FN) for use in a method of treatment of I3D. The invention also provides the use of a specific binding member, e.g. an antibody molecule, that binds the Extfa Domain—A (ED—A) isoform of fibroneCtin for the manufaCture of a medicament for treating I3D. The ion also provides a method of treating I33 in a patient, the method comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a medicament sing a specific binding member which binds the ED—A isoform of fibronectin. Preferably, the specific binding member binds the ED—A isoform of human fibronectin. rThe specific g member, e.g. an antibody molecule, for use in this first aspect of the invention, may bind the ED—A of fibronectin. rThe specific binding member e.g. an antibody le, for use in this first aspect of the invention, may be conjugated to a mo'ecu'e that has immunosuppressive or anti—inflammatory activity, a detectable label, a radioisotope, o: a bioactive mo'ecu'e, such as a cytokine, a hormone, a therapeutic radioisotope, a cytotoxic drug. rThe ic binding member may be conjugated to the bioactive molecule by a cleavable linker.

In a preferred embodiment, the specific binding member, e.g. antibody molecule, is conjugated to a molecule that has immunosuppressive or anti—inflammatory activity, such as IL—lO.

I3D, as referred to herein, may aCtive I3D. In particular, the I3D may be Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), collagenous s, lymphocytic colitis, ischaemic colitis, diversion colitis, 3ehcet’s disease or indeterminate colitis.

The I3D may be CD or UC. The I3D may be CD, collagenous colitis, lymphocytic colitis, mic s, diversion s, ‘Eihcet’s disease or indeterminate s. In one embodiment, the D is not UC. The I3D may be an I3D which is not typically [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm restricted to inflammation in the colon and the rectum, such as CD. The 13D may be an 13D which does not affeCt only the lining of the colon. Preferably, the IBD is CD. The terms CD, UC, collagenous colitis, lymphocytic colitis, mic colitis, ion colitis, Behcet’s e and indeterminate colitis, as used herein, may refer to active CD, active JC, active collagenous colitis, aCtive lymphocytic colitis, aCtive ischaemic colitis, aCtive diversion s, active 3ehcet’s disease and active indeterminate colitis, respeCtively.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a specific binding member, e.g. an antibody molecule, that binds the ED—A isoform of fibronectin for use in the delivery to 13D tissue of a le conjugated to the specific binding member. The invention also provides the use of a specific g member, e.g. an dy mo'ecu'e, that binds the ED—A isoform of fibronectin for the manufacture of a medicament for delivery to 13D tissue of a mo'ecu'e conjugated to the specific binding member. The invention also provides a method of delivering a molecule to 13D tissue in a human or animal, wherein the molecule is conjugated to a specific binding member which binds the ED—A isoform of fibronectin to form a conjugate and the method comprises administering the conjugate to the human or animal. Preferably, the specific binding member binds the ED—A isoform of human fibronectin. rThe specific g member, e.g. an antibody molecule, for use in this second aspect of the invention, may bind the ED—A of fibronectin.

The specific binding member e.g. an antibody molecule, for use in this second aspect of the ion, may be conjugated to a detectable label, a radioisOtope, or a bioactive le, such as a cytokine, a hormone, a therapeutic radioisotope or a cytotoxic drug. The specific binding member may be conjugated to ‘ije bioactive molecule by a cleavable linker.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm The specific binding member, e.g. dy molecule, is prefe :ably conjugated to IL-10.

In a thi :d , the invention provides a specific binding membe A—I e.g. an dy molecule, that binds the ED—A isoform of fibroneCtin for use i n a method of diagnosis of 133. The invention also provides use of a specific binding member that binds the ED—A isoform of fibronectin for the man Jfacture of a diagnostic product for diagnosing 13D. The invention also provides a method of detecting or diagnosing 13D in a human or animal, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) administering to the human or animal a specific binding member which binds the ED—A domain of fibronectin, and (b) determining the presence or absence of the specific binding member in sites of 13D of the human or animal body, wherein localisation of the specific binding member to site of 13D indicates the presence of 13D.

Preferably, the specific binding member binds the ED—A m of human fibronectin. rThe specific binding member, e.g. an antibody molecule, for use in this third aspect of the invention, may bind the ED—A of fibroneCtin.

I-The specific binding member e.g. an dy molecule, for use in this thi :d aspect of the invention, may be conjugated to a detectable label, or a radioisotope.

In a fourth aspect, the invention es a specific binding membe : that binds the ED—A isoform of fibronectin for use in a method 0 imaging 13D . The invention also provides use of a specific binding member that binds the ED—A isoform of {fibroneCtin for the manufacture of an imaging agent for imaging D . The invention also provides a method of detecting or [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm imaging IRD tissue in a human or animal, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) administering to the human or animal a specific binding member which binds the ED—A domain of fibronectin, and (b) detecting the binding of the specific g member to 13D tissue in the human or animal body.

Preferably, the specific binding member binds the ED—A isoform of human fibronectin.

The specific binding member, e.g. an antibody le, for use in this fourth aspect of the invention, may bind the ED—A of fibronectin.

The specific binding member e.g. an antibody molecule, for use in this fourth aspect of the invention, may be conjugated to a detectable label, or a radioisOtope.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a conjugate comprising a binding member which binds the ED—A isoform, e.g. the ED—A, of fibroneCtin conjugated to IL—lO, wherein the conjugate has the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 13. This conjugate is ed to as F8—IulO herein. As the VB and VL s of this conjugate are lin<ed by means of a 5 amino acid linker (see Figure 13), the ate is expected to form noncovalent homodimers in solution.

A specific binding member for Jse in the invention may be an antibody le which binds the ED—A isoform of ectin and/or the ED—A of fibronectin, wherein the dy comprises one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the F8 dy described herein. These sequences are provided below (see SEQ ID NOs: 1—6). The CD? sequences of the F8 antibody are also shown in Figure l.

A specific binding member for use in the invention may comprise {fie or more CDRs as described herein, e.g. a CDR3, and optionally so a CDRl and CDR2 to form a set of CDRs.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm Preferably, a specific binding member for use in the invention comprises a set of H and/or E CDRs of dy the F8 dy described herein with ten or fewer, e .g. one, two, three, four, or five, amino acid substitutions within the disclosed set of H and/or L CDRs.

Substitutions may potentially be made at any residue within the set of CDRs, and may be within CDRl, CDR2 and/or CDR3.

A specific binding member for use in the invention may comprise an antibody molecule, e.g. a human antibody molecule. The specific binding member ly comp :ises an antibody VH and/or VL domain. VH domains of specific binding members are also provided for use in the invention. Within each of the VB and VL domains are complementarity determining regions, (“CDRs"), and framework regions, (“FRs”). A VH domain comprises a set of HCDRs, and a VL domain comprises a se t of LCDRs. An antibody molecule may comprise an antibody VH domain comprising a VH CDRl, CDR2 and CDR3 and a framework. It may alternatively or also comprise an antibody VL domain compri sing a VE CDRl, CDR2 and CD?3 and a framewor<. All VH and VL sequences, CDR sequences, sets of CDRs and sets of HCDRs and sets of LCDRs disclosed herein represent embodiments of a specific b inding member fo: use in the invention. As described herein, a "set of CDRs" comprises CDRl, CDR2 and CDR3. Thus, a set of HCDRs refers to HCDRl, HCDRZ and HCDR3, and a set of ECDRs refers to LCDRl, LCDRZ and ECDR3.

Unless otherwise stated, a "set of CDRs" inclees HCDRs and LCDQS.

A specific binding member for use in the ion may comprise an antibody VH domain comprising mentarity ining regions HCDRl, HCDRZ and HCDR3 and a framework, wherein HCDRl is SEQ ID NO: I, and wherein optionally HCDRZ is SEQ ID NO: 2, and/or HCDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 3.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm Typically, a VB domain is paired with a VL domain to provide an antibody n—binding site, although as discussed further below, a VB or VL domain alone may be used to bind antigen.

ThJS, a specific binding membe: for u se in the invention may fu :ther comprise an antibody VE domain comp :ising mentarity determining regions LCDRl, LCDQZ and LCDR3 and a framework, wherein LCDRl is SEQ ID NO: 4, and n optionally LCDR? is SEQ ID NO: 5 and/or LCDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 6.

A specific g member for use in the invention may preferably comprise an antibody mo'ecu'e for the ED—A of fibronectin, whereir the antibody mo'ecu'e compris es a VB domain and a VL domain, wherein the VB domain comprises a framework and a set of complementarity determining regions HCDRI, HCDRZ and HCDR3 and whereir the VE domain conprises complementarity determining regions ECDRl, LCDRZ and LCDR3 and a framework, and wherein {CDRI ras amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: {CDRZ ras amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: {CDR3 Fas amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: ECDRI ras amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: ECDRZ ras amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: ; and ECDR3 Fas amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: One or more CDRs or a set of CDRs of an antibody may be d into a framework (e.g. than framework) to provide an antibody molecule for use in the invention. Framework regions may comprise htman g rmlin g n s gm nt s gu nc s. Thus, the framework Hay b g :mlin d, wh r by on or more residues within the framework are changed to match the residues at the equivalent position ir the most similar human germline framework. A specific binding member for use in the invention may be an isolated ar tibody molecule having a VB domain sing a set of HCDRs in a human germline framework, e.g. DP47. Normally the specific binding member also has a VL domain comprising a set of LCDQS, e.g. in a human germline framework. The human germline ‘Ejamework of the VL domain may be DPK22. ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm A VH domain for use in the invention may preferably have amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 7, which is the VH domain of the F8 antibody. A VL domain for use in the invention may preferably have amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 8, which is the VL domain of the wildtype F8 antibody.

A specific binding member for use in the invention may be or comprise a single chain Fv (scFv), comprising a VH domain and a VL domain joined via a peptide linker. The skilled person may select an appropriate length and sequence of linker, e.g. at least 5 or at least 10 amino acids in length, up to about 15, up to about 20 or up to about 25 amino acids in length. The linker may have the amino acid sequence GGSGG (SEQ ID NO: 9).

The specific binding member may be a diabody, which is a multivalent or multispecific fragment construCted by gene fusion (W09 /1380 ; Holliger et al. (1993a), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90 6 11—61 8).

Preferably, the ic binding member is a scFv which forms (stable) noncovalent homodimers in solution. For example, the F8 antibody and F8—IL10 conjugate described herein bOth comprise an scFv which is ed to form (stable) alent homodimers in solution.

A single chain Fv (scFv) may be sed within a mini— immunoglobulin or small immunoprotein (SIP), e.g. as described in (Li et al., (1997), n Engineering, 10: 731—736). An SIP may comprise an scFv molecule fused to the CH4 domain of the human IgE secretory isoform IgE—S2 (SW—CH4; Batista et al., (1996), J. Exp. Med., 184: 2197—205) forming an imeric mini—imminoglobulin antibody molecule.

Alternatively, a specific binding member for use in the invention may comprise an n—binding site within a non—antibody {:jlecule, normally provided by one or more CDRs e.g. a set of ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm CDRs in a non—antibody protein scaffold. Specific binding members, including non—antibody and antibody molecules, are bed in mor d tail ls wh r h r in.

The specific g member for use in the present invention may be an antibody molecule comprising the VB domain of the F8 antibody shown in SEQ ID NO:7 and/or the VL domain of the F8 antibody shown in SEQ ID NO:8. The specific binding member for use in the present invention may be an antibody molecule comprising the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 11. The ic binding member conjugated to IL—lO of the present invention may se the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 13.

A specific binding member for use in the present invention may also comprise one or more, for example all six, of the CDRs of anti ED—A antibodies H1, 32, C5, D5, E5, C8, Fl, E7, E8 or G9, or variants thereof, or the VB and/or VL domains of anti ED—A antibodies H1, 32, C5, D5, E5, C8, Fl, E7, E8 or G9, or variants thereof. The CDR sequences and VB and VL domain sequences of these antibodies are disclosed in WOZOlO/O78950.

A suitable variant for use in the present invention comprises an antibody antigen binding site comprising a VB domain and a VL domain of the F8 antibody described herein, wherein the leucine (L) residue at position 5 of the VB domain shown as SEQ ID NO:7 is substituted with valine (V) and/or the arginine (R) residue at position 18 of the VL domain shown as SEQ ID NO:8 is substituted with lysine (K).

These and other aspects of the invention are described in r detail below.

Brief description of the figures Figure 1A shows the amino acid sequence of the anti—ED—A F8 antibody heavy chain (VH) (SEQ ID NO: 7). The amino acid unence of the heavy chain CDRl (SEQ ID NO: I) of anti—ED—A F8 [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm antibody is underlined. The amino aci d sequence of the heavy chain CDR2 (SEQ ID NO: 2) of the anti?ED—A F8 antibody is shown in italics and underlined. The amino acid sequence of the heavy chain CDR3 (SEQ ID NO: 3) of D—A antibody F8 is shown in bold and underlined. Figure 13 shows the amino acid sequence of the antiéL‘J D—A F8 antibody link r s qu no b tw n th VH and VL domains (SEQ ID NO: 9). Figure 1C shows the amino acid sequences of the anti—ED—A F8 antibody light cha in (VL) (SEQ ID NO: 8). The amino acid sequence of the light chain CDRl (SEQ ID NO: 4) Of the arti—ED—A F8 antibody is underlined. The amino acid sequence of tre light chain CDR2 (SEQ ID NO: 5) of the anti—ED—A F8 antibody is shown in italics and underlined. The amino acid sequence of tre light chain CDR3 (SEQ ID NO: 6) of D—A F8 antibody is skown in bold and underlined. Figure lD shows the amino acid sequence of th lin< r b tw n th F8 antibody and IL—10 when the artibody is conjugated to IL—lO. Figu _‘ re 1E shows the amino acid sequence of human IE—IO.

Figure 2 shows the results of a colon diography from I3D and y mice. Colons were harvested and exposed to a phosphor—imaging sc:een (Molecular Dynamics) for 24 hours, and imaging via Storm 860. Lane—l: colon harvested at 6—hr post injection from Group 0 (healthy mouse) ; : colon harvested at 6—hr post injection from Group 2 (I 3D mouse); Lane—3: colon harvested at 24—hr post injection from Group 0 (healthy mouse); Lane—4: colon harvested at 24—hr post injection Group 2 (I3D mouse).

Figure 3 shows the biodistribution of 125I—F8—IL10 in healthy or diseased mice. The charts show the biodistribution of 8— ILlO in healthy and diseased mice 6 hours post—injeCtion (A) 24 hours post—injeCtion (3) and 96 hours post—injection (C). At 96 hours a preferential accumulation of 125I—F8—IElO in the colon and in the mesenteric lymph nodes (L.N.) of ed mice is visible as compared to healthy mice. The sequence of the F8—ILlO {:jnjugate used in these experiments is shown in SEQ ID NO: 13.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm Figure 4 shows the cytokine levels in mice treated with F8—ILlO.

The above chart represents the cytokine levels in the serum of healthy mice (water), diseased mice which received no treatment ( % DSS), ed mice which received F8 antibody in Small Immune PrOtein format (F8SIP), diseased mice which received F8— ILlO (F8—I410). The cytokine levels (expressed as pg of protein pe: ml of serum) : port d ar : Int rl ukin 18, (ILl—b), Inter'eukin l? (I.—l9p70), eron y (IFNV) and Interleukin 6 (1.46) .

Figure 5 shows the cytokine levels in mice treated with F8—ILlO.

The above chart represents the cytokine levels in the serum of healthy mice (water), diseased mice which ed no treatment ( % DSS), diseased mice which received F8 antibody in Small Immune PrOtein format (F8SIP), diseased mice which received F8— ILlO (F8—IulO). The cytokine levels (whos l v ls w r xpr ss d as pg of p:otein per ml of serum) reported are: nocyte— derived chemohine (KC), Interleukin 10 (ILlO) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFa).

Figure 6 shows histochemical analysis of specimens of colon tissue from ts affected by ulcerative colitis and by Crohn’s e probed with the F8 antibody in SIP format and the Von rand faCtor. rThe ng pattern observed with the F8 antibody and the Von Willebrand factor shows that the F8 stains the newly formed blood s but not the normal blood vessels in patients affected by ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

(Von Willebrand factor is routinely used as a marker of normal vasculature.) Figure 7 shows histochemical analysis of specimens of colon tissue of patients affected by tive co'itis and by Crohn’s disease (right) and of non—affected colons (left). The ng pattern observed with the F8 antibody shows that the F8 stains ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm more intensely the new forming blood vessels in the diseased colons.

TERMINOLOGY Fibronectin Fibronectin is an antigen subject to alternative ng, and a number of ative isoforms of fibronectin are <nown, as d scrib d ls wh r h r in. Extra Domain—A (EDA o: ED—A) is also known as ED, extra type III repeat A (EIIIA) or EDI. The sequence of human ED—A has been published by <ornblihtt et al. (1984), NJcleic Acids Res. 12, 5853—5868 and Paolella et al. (1988), NJcleic Acids Res. 16, 3545—3557. The sequence of human ED—A is also available on the SwissPrOt database as amino acids 1631—1720 (Fibronectin type—III 12; extra domain 2) of the amino acid s qu nc d posit d und r acc ssion number P02751. The sequence of mouse ED—A is available on the SwissProt database as amino acids 1721—1810 (Fibronectin type—III 13; extra domain 2) of the amino acid s qu nc d posit d und r acc ssion number P11276.

The ED—A isoform of fibfoneCtin (A—Ffl) ns the Extra Domain— A ( L‘J D—A). The sequence 0. the human A—FN can be dedJced from the corresponding human fibroneCtin precarsor sequence which is available on the COt database Jnder accession number P02751. The sequence of the mouse A—FN can be deduced from the corresponding mouse fibronectin precarsor sequence which is available on the COt database Jnder accession number P11276. The A—FN may be the human ED—A isoform of fibronectin.

The ED—A may be the Ext:a Domain—A of human ectin.

ED—A is a 90 amino acid ce which is inserted into fibronectin (FN) by alternative ng and is located between domain 11 and 12 of FN (Eorsi et a'., 1987, J. Cell 3iol., 104, ‘EiS—600). ED—A is mainly absent in the plasma form of FN but is [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm abundant during embryogenesis, tissue remodelling, fibrosis, c transplantation and solid tumour growth.

Alternative splicing ative splicing refers to the occarrence of different patterns of splicing of a primary RNA transcript of DNA to produce different mRNAs. After excision o_ int:ons, selection may determine which exons are spliced together to form the mRNA.

Alternative splicing leads to production of ent isoforms containing different exons and/or different numbers of exons.

For example one isoform may comprise an additional amino acid sequence corresponding to one or more exons, which may se one or more domains.

Specific binding member This describes one member of a pair of molecules that bind ically to one another. The members of a specific binding pair may be naturally derived or wholly or partially synthetically produced. One member of the pair of molecules has an area on its surface, or a cavity, which binds to and is therefore complementary to a particular spatial and polar organization of the other member of the pair 0: 'es.

Examples of types of binding pairs are antigen—antibody, biotin—avidin, hormone—hormone receptor, receptor—ligand, enzyme—substrate. rThe present invention is concerned with antigen—antibody type reactions.

A specific binding member ly comprises a molecule having an antigen—binding site. For example, a specific binding member may be an antibody molecule or a non—antibody protein that comprises an antigen—binding site. A specific binding member, as ed to herein, is preferably an antibody molecule. ‘fj antigen binding site may be provided by means of arrangement complementarity ining regions (CDRs) on non—antibody [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm protein scaffolds chh as fibronectin or cytochrome 3 etc. (Haan & Maggos, (2004), 3ioCentury, 12(5): Al—A6; Koide et al., (1998), Journal of Molecula: Biology, 284: 1141—1151; Nygfen et al., (1997), Current n in Structural Biology, 7: 463—469), or by randomising or mu saving amino acid residues of a loop within a prOtein scaffold to confer binding specificity for a desired target. Scaffolds for engineering novel binding sites in proteins have been ed in detail by Nygren et al. (1997) (Cu :rent Opinion in Structural 3iology, 7: 463—469). Protein sca Efolds for antibody mimics are sed in WO/0034784, in which the inventors describe proteins (antibody mimics) that include a fibronectin type III domain having at least one randomised loop. A suitable scaffold into which to graft one or more CDRs, e.g. a set of HCDRs, may be provided by any domain member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. The scaffold may be a human or non—human protein. An advantage of a non—antibody protein scaffold is tha c is may provide an n—binding site in a scaffold molecule that is smaller and/or easier to manufacture than at i_east some antibody les. Small size of a binding member may confer useful physiological ties such as an ability to enter ce' _S, penetrate deep into tissues or reach cargecs wi whin othe : ures, to bind within protein cavities of the carge can cigen. tigen binding sites in non—antibody prOtein scaf folds is ed in Wess, 2004, In: tury, The Bernstein Report on RioRusiness, 12(42), A1—A7. rTypical are ns having a s:able backbone and one or more variable loops, in which the amino acid sequence of the loop or loops is specifically or ly muta:ed to create an antigen— binding site cha c binds the target antigen. Such proteins include the IgG—binding domains of pro:ein A from S. aureus, transferrin, tet :anectin, fibronectin (e.g. 10th fibroneCtin type III domain) and lipocalins. Other app :oaches include synthetic "Microbodies" ore GmbH), which a :e based on cyclotides — small proteins having intra—molecular disulphide bonds. d addition to antibody sequences and/or an antigen—binding site, specific binding member for use in the present invention may [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm comprise other amino acids, e.g. forming a e or polypeptide, such as a folded domain, or to impart to the molecule another finctional characteristic in addition to ability to bind antigen. 3inding members for use in the invention may carry a detectable label, or may be conjugated to a toxin, a molecale that exerts immunosuppressive or nflammatory effeCt or a targeting moiety or enzyme (e.g. via a peptidyl bond or ). Preferably, a binding members for use in the ion is ated to interleukin 10.

For example, a binding member may comprise a catalytic site (e.g. in an enzyme domain) as well as an antigen binding site, wherein the n binding site binds to the antigen and thus targets the catalytic site to the n. The catalytic site may inhibit biological function of the n, e.g. by cleavage.

Although, as noted, CDRs can be carried by non—antibody scaffolds, the struCture for carrying a CDR or a set of CDRs will generally be an antibody heavy or light chain sequence or substantial portion thereof in which the CDR or set of CDRs is located at a location corresponding to the CDR or set of CDRs of naturally ing VH and VL antibody le domains encoded by rearranged immunoglobulin genes. The structures and locations of immunoglobulin variable domains may be determined by reference to Kabat et al. (1987) (Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest. 4th Edition. US Department of Health and Human Services.), and updates thereof, now available on the Internet (at immJno.bme.nwu.edu or find “Kabat” using any search engine). 3y CDR region or CDR, it is intended to te the hypervariable regions of the heavy and light chains of the immJnog'obu'in as defined by Kabat et al. (1987) Sequences of ns of Immuno'ogica' Interest, 4th Edition, US Deparomen, of Health and Human Services (Kabat et al., (l99la), Sequences of PrOteins of Immuno'ogica' Interest, 5th Edition, US Deparomen, of {fialth and Human es, PJbliC Service, NIH, Washington, and ter ns). An antibody typically contains 3 heavy chain [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm CDRs and 3 light chain CDRs. The term CDR or CDRs is used here in order to indicate, according to the case, one of these regions or several, or even the whole, of these regions which contain the majority of the amino acid residJes sible for the binding by affinity of the antibody for the antigen or the epitope which it recognizes.

Among the six short CDR sequences, the thi:d CD? of the heavy chain (HCDR3) has a greater size variability (greater diversity essentially due to the mechanisms of arrangement 0. the genes which give rise to it). It can be as short as 2 amino acids although the t size known is 26. Functionally, HCDR3 plays a role in part in the determination of the icity of the antibody (Segal et al., (1974), PNAS, 71:4298—4302; Amit et al., (1986), e, 233:747—753; Chothia et al., (1987), J. Mol. 3iol., 196:901—917; Chothia et al., (1989), Nature, 342:877—883; Caton et al., (1990), J. Immunol., 144:1965—1968; Sharon et al., (1990a), PNAS, 87:4814—4817; Sharon et al., (1990b), J. Immunol., 144:4863—4869; Kabat et al., (1991b), J. l., 147:1709— 1719).

Antibody Molecule This describes an immunoglobulin whethe: l or partly or wholly synthetically produced. The term also relates to any polypeptide or protein comprising an antibody antigen—binding site. It must be understood here that the invention does not relate to the dies in natural form, that is to say they are not in cheir natural nment bit that they have been able to be isolated or obtained by purification from natural sources, or else obtained by genetic recombination, or by chemical synthesis, and that they can then contain unnatural amino acids as will be described later. Antibody fragments that comprise an antibody antigen—binding site e, but are not limited to, dy molecules such as Fab, Fab’, Fab’—SH, scFv, Fv, dAb, Pd; and diabodies.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm It is possible to take monoclonal and other antibodies and use techniques of recombinant DNA technology to produce Other antibodies or chimeric molecules that bind the target antigen.

Such techniques may involve introducing DNA encoding the immunoglobulin variable region, or the CDRs, of an antibody to the constant regions, or constant regions plus framework regions, of a ent immunoglobulin. See, for instance, EP—A—184187, G3 2188638A or EP—A—239400, and a large body of uent literacure. A hybridoma or other cell producing an antibody may be subject to genetic mutation or other changes, which may or may not alter the binding specificity of antibodies proched.

As antibodies can be modified in a number of ways, tre term "antibody molecule" should be construed as ng any binding member or substance having an antibody antigen—bindirg site with the required specificity and/or binding to antigen. Thus, this term covers antibody fragments and derivatives, incltding any polypeptide comprising an dy antigen—binding site, r natural or wholly or partially synthetic. Chimeric Holecules sing an antibody antigen—binding site, or equivalent, fused to r polypeptide (e.g. d from another species or belonging to anOther antibody class or subclass) are therefore included. Cloning and expression of chimeric antibodies are described in EP—A—0120694 and EP—A—0125023, and a large body of subsequent literature.

Further techniques available in the art of antibody engineering have made it possible to isolate human and humanised antibodies.

For e, human hybridomas can be made as described by Kontermann & Dubel (2001), S, Antibody Engineering, Springer— Verlag New York, LLC; ISBN: 3545. Phage display, r established technique for generating binding members has been described in detail in many publications such as WO92/01047 (discussed further below) and US patents US5969108, US5565332, US5733743, US5858657, US5871907, US5872215, 793, US5962255, ‘Eid Kontermann6140471, US6172197, US6225447, US6291650, US6492160, US6521404 & Dubel (2001), S, Antibody Engineering, Springer— [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm Ver:_ag New York, LLC; ISBN: 3540413545. E‘ransgenic mice in which the mouse antibody genes are vated and onally rep:_aced with human antibody genes while I_eaving intact other components of the mouse immune system, can be used for isolating human antibodies (Mendez et al., (1997), Nature Genet, 15(2): Synthetic dy molecules may be created by expression from genes ted by means of oligonucleotides sized and assembled within suitable expression veCtors, for example as described by Knappik et al. (2000) J. Mol. Biol. 296, 57—86 or Krebs et al. (2001) Journal of Immunological Methods, 254 67—84.

It has been shown that fragments of a whole antibody can perform the funCtion of binding antigens. Examples of binding fragments are (i) the Fab fragment consisting of VL, VH, CL and CH1 domains; (ii) the Fd fragment consisting of the VH and CH1 domains; (iii) the Fv f:agment consisting of the V4 and VH domains of a single antibody; (iv) the dAb fragment (Ward et al. (1989) Nature 341, 544—546; McCaffecty et al., (1990) Nature, 348, 552—554; Holt et al. (2003) Trends in Biotechnology 21, 484— 490), which consists of a VH or a V4 domain; (v) isolated CDR regions; (vi) F(ab')2 fragments, a bivalent nt comprising two linked Fab fragments (vii) single chain Fv molecules (scFv), wherein a VH domain and a VL domain are linked by a peptide lin<er which allows the two domains to associate to form an antigen binding site (Rird et al. (1988) e, 242, 423—426; Huston et al. (1988) PNAS USA, 85, 5879—5883); (viii) ific single chain Fv dimers (PCT/US92/09965) and (ix) "diabodies", multivalent or multispecific fragments constructed by gene fusion (W09 /1380 ; er et al. ), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90 6 11—61 8). Fv, scFv o: diabody molecules may be stabilized by tr e incorporation of disulphide bridges linking the VH and VL domains (Reiter et al. (1996), Nature 3iotech, 14, 1239—1245).

Minibodies comprising a scFv joined to a CH3 domain may also be ‘fide (Hu et al. (1996), Cancer Res., 56(13):3055—61). Other amples of binding fragments are Fab’, which differs from Fab [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm fragments by the addition of a few residues at the carboxyl terminus of 'he heavy chain CH1 , including one or more cysteines from the antibody hinge region, and Fab’—SH, which is a Fab’ fragment in which the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domains bear a free thiol group.

Antibody fragments for use in the invention can be obtained starting from any of the antibody mol cul s d scrib d h r in, e.g. antibody molecules comprising VH and/or VL domains or CDRs of any of antibodies described herein, by methods such as ion by enzymes, such as pepsin or papain and/or by cleavage of the ide bridges by al reduction. In another manner, antibody fragments of the t ion may be obtained by technigues of genetic recombination likewise weli known to the person skilled in the art or else by peptide synthesis by means of, for example, automatic e synthesizers such as those supplied by the company Applied 3iosystems, e tc., or by nucleic acid synthesis and expression.

Functional an ibody fragments according to the present invention include any f inctional fragment whose half—life is increased by a chemical modi fication, especially by PEGylation, or by oration in a liposome.

A dAb (domain antibody) is a small monomeric antigen—binding fragment of an antibody, namely the variable region of an dy heavy or light chain (Holt et al. (2003) Trends in Biotechnology 21, 484—490). VH dAbs occur naturally in ds (e.g. camel, llama) and may be produced by immunizing a camelid with a target antigen, isolating antigen—specific 3 cells and direct'y c'on ing dAb genes from individual 3 cells. dAbs are also producib e in ce'l cu'tJre. Their small size, good so'ubi'ity and temperature stability makes them particularly physio'ogicai y useful and sJitable for selection and affinity maturation. A binding member of the present ion may be a fib comprising a VB 0: VL domain substantially as set out herein, ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm or a VB or VL domain comprising a set of CDRs ntially as set out herein.

As used herein, the phrase "substantia"y as set out" refers to the characteristic(s) of the relevant CDRs of the VB or VL domain of binding m mb rs d scrib d h r in wi" be either identical or highly similar to the specified regions of which the sequence is set out . As described , the phrase "highly similar" with respect to specified region(s) of one or more variable domains, it is contemplated that from 1 to about 5, e.g. from 1 to 4, ing 1 to 3, or 1 or 2, or 3 or 4, amino acid substitutions may be made in the CDR and/or VH or VL domain. 3ispecific or tional antibodies form a second generation of monoclonal antibodies in which two different le regions are combined in the same molecule (Holliger and Bohlen 1999 Cancer and metastasis rev. 18: 411—419). Their use has been demonstrated both in the stic field and in the therapy field from their capacity to recruit new effector functions or to target several molecules on the surface of tumor cells. Where bispecific antibodi s ar to b us d, th s may be conventional bispecific antibodies, which can be manufaCtured in a variety of ways (Hollige: et al. (1993b), Current Opinion 3iotechnol 4, 446— 449), e.g. prepared chemically or from hybrid hybridomas, or may be any of the bispecific antibody fragments mentioned above.

These antibodies can be obtained by chemical methods (Glennie et al., (1987) J. l. 139, 2367—2375; Repp et al., (1995) J.

Hemat. 377—382) or somatic methods (Staerz U. D. and 3evan M. J. (1986) PNAS 83; Suresh et al. (1986) Method. Enzymol. 121: 210— 228) but lik wis by g n tic ngin ring techniques which allow the heterodimerization to be forced and thus facilitate the s of erification of the antibody sought (Merchand et al., 1998 Nature 3iotech. 16:677—681). Examples of bispecific antibodies include those of the RiT?““technology in which the binding domains of two antibodies with different specificity can {ii used and directly linked via short f'exib'e peptides. This mbines two antibodies on a short sing'e po'ypeptide chain.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm Diabodies and scFv can be constructed without an Fc region, using only le domains, ially reducing the effects of anti— pic reaction.

Bispecific antibodies can be constructed as entire IgG, as bispecific Fab'2, as Fab'PEG, as diabodies or else as bispecific scFv. Further, two bispecific dies can be linked using routine methods known in the art to form tetravalent dies.

Bispecific diabodies, as opposed to bispecific whole antibodies, may also be particularly useful because they can be readily constructed and expressed in E.coli. Diabodies (and many other polypeptides such as antibody fragments) of appropriate binding specificities can be readily selected using phage display (WO94/13804) from libraries. If one arm of the diabody is to be kept constant, for instance, with a icity directed against a target n, then a library can b mad wh r th oth r arm is varied and an antibody of riate specificity selected.

Rispecific whole antibodies may be made by ative engineering methods as described in Ridgeway et al. (1996), Protein Lng.,_‘ 9, 616—621.

Various methods are available in the art for ing antibodies t a target antigen. The antibodies may be monoclonal antibodies, especially of human, murine, chimeric or humanized origin, which can be obtained according to the standard s well known to the person skilled in the art.

In general, for the preparation of monoclonal dies or their functional fragments, especially of murine origin, it is possible to refer to techniques which are described in particalar in the manual "Antibodies" (Harlow and Lane, Antibodies: A uaboratocy Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor N.Y., pp. 726, 1988) or to the technique of preparation from hybridomas described by Kohler and Milstein, 1975, Nature, 256:495—497.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm Monoc'ona' antibodies can be obtained, for example, from an anima' ce'l immunized against A—FN, or one of its fragments containing the epitope recognized by said monoclonal antibodies, e.g. a fragment comprising or consisting of ED—A, or a peptide fragment of ED—A. The A—FN, or one of their fragments, can especially be produced ing to the usual working methods, by genetic ination starting with a nucleic acid sequence contained in the cDNA sequence coding for A—FN, or fragment thereof, by peptide sis starting from a ce of amino acids comprised in the peptide sequence of the A—FN and/or fragment thereof.

Monoclonal antibodies can, for example, be purified on an affinity column on which A—FN, or one of their fragments containing the epitope recognized by said monoclonal antibodies, e.g. a fragment comprising or ting of ED—A, o: a peptide nt of ED—A, has previously been immobilized. Monoclonal antibodies can be purified by chromatography on n A and/or G, followed or not followed by ion—exchange chromatography aimed at eliminating the residual protein contaminants as well as the DNA and the LPS, in itself, fo'lowed or not followed by exclusion chromatography on Sepharose gel in order to eliminate the potential aggregates due to the presence of dimers or of other multimers. The whole of these techniques may be used simultaneously or successively.

Antigen-binding site This describes the part of a molecule that binds to and is complementary to all or part of the target ancigen. In an antibody molecule it is referred to as the antibody antigen— binding site, and comprises the part of the antibody that binds to and is complementary to all or part of the target antigen.

Where an antigen is large, an antibody may only bind to a particular pare of the antigen, which part is termed an e.

An antibody antigen—binding site may be provided by one or more Dtibody variable domains. An antibody antigen—binding site may [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm comprise an antibody light chain variable region (VL) and an dy heavy chain variable region (VH).

Isolated This refers to the state in which ic binding members for use in the invention or c acid encoding such specific g members, will generally be in ance with the present invention. Thus, specific binding members, VH and/or VL s of the present invention may be provided isolated and/or purified, e.g. from their natural environment, in ntially pure or homogeneous form, or, in the case of nJcleic acid, free or substantially free of nucleic acid or genes of origin other than the sequence encoding a polypeptide with the required function. Isolated members and isolated nucleic acid will be free or substantially free of material with which they are naturally associated such as other polypeptides or nucleic acids with which they are found in treir natural environment, or the environment in which th y ar pr par d ( .g. c 11 Cilture) when such preparation is by recombirant DNA technology practised in vitro or in vivo. Specific birding members and nucleic acid may be formulated with diluents or adjuvants and still for practical purposes be isolated — for example the s will normally be mixed with gelatin or other carriers if used to coat microtitre plates for use in immunoassays, or will be mixed with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents when used in diagnosis or therapy. Specific binding members may be glycosylated, either naturally or by systems of heterologous eukaryotic cells (e.g. CHO or NSO (ECACC 85110503) cells, or they may be (for example if produced by expression in a prokaryotic cell) unglycosylated.

Heterogeneous ations sing antibody molecules may also be used in the invention. For example, such preparations may be mixtures of antibodies with full—length heavy chains and heavy chains lacking the C—terminal lysine, with various degrees of Dycosylation and/or with derivatized amino acids, such as [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm cyclization of an N—terminal glutamic acid to form a pyroglutamic acid residue.

One or more specific binding members for an antigen, e.g. the A— FN, the ED—A of fibronectin, may be obtained by bringing into contact a library of specific binding members according to the invention and the antigen or a fragment f, e .g. a fragment sing or consisting of ED—A, or a peptide fragment of ED—A and ing one or more specific binding members of the library able to bind the n.

An antibody library may be screened using Iterative Colony Filter Screening (ICFS). In ICFS, bacteria containing the DNA ng l binding specificities are grown in a liquid medium and, onc th stag of xpon ntial growth has been reached, some billions 0: them are distributed onto a growth support consisting of a suitably pr —tr at d m mbran Eilt r which is incubated urtil completely confluent bacteria; colonies . A second trap substrate consists of anOth r m mbran filt r, pr — htmidified and covered with the d antigen.

Tre trap membrane filter is then placed onto a plate containing a stitable e medium and covered with the growth filter with tre surface covered with baCterial colonies pointing upwards.

Tre sandwich thus ed is incubated at room temperature for about 16 h. It is thJS possible to obtain the expression of the genes encoding antibody fragments scFv having a spreading action, so that those fragments binding specifically with the antigen which is present on the trap membrane are trapped. The trap membrane is then treated to point out bound antibody fragments scFv with colorimetric techniques commonly used to this purpose.

The position of the coloured spots on the trap fil:er allows one to go back to the corresponding bacterial colonies which are t on the growth membrane and produced the an tibody ‘Ejagments trapped. Such colonies are gathered and grown and the cteria—a few millions of them are distributed on cO a new ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm culture membrane repeating th proc dur s d scrib d above.

Analogoas cycles are then carried out until the ve s on the trap membrane correspond to single positive co'onies, each of which represents a potential source of monoclonal dy fragments directed against the antigen used in the ion.

ICFS is described in e.g. W00246455.

A library may also be displayed on particles or molecular complexes, e.g. replicable genetic packages such bacteriophage (e.g. rf7) particles, or other in Vitro display systems, each le or molecular complex containing nucleic acid encoding the antibody VH variable domain displayed on it, and optionally also a displayed V4 domain if present. Phage display is described in WO92/01047 and e.g. US patents USS969108, US$565332, 743, USS858657, 907, USS872215, USS885793, USS962255, US6140-7l, US6172197, US6225447, 650, US6492160 and US6521-04.

Following selection of binding members able to bind the antigen and yed on bacteriophage or other library particles or molecular complexes, nucleic acid may be taken from a bacteriophage or other particle or molecular complex displaying a said selected binding member. Such nucleic acid may be used in subsequent production of a binding member or an antibody VH or VL variable domain by expression from nucleic acid with the sequence of nucleic acid taken from a bacteriophage or other particle or molecular complex displaying a said selected binding member.

An antibody VH variable domain with the amino acid ce of an antibody VH variable domain of a said selected binding member may be provided in isolated form, as may a binding member comprising such a VB domain.

Ability to bind the A—FN, or the ED—A of fibronectin, or other target antigen or isoform may be further tested, e.g. ability to ‘Ejmpete with anti—ED—A antibody F8 for g to the A—FN or a agment of the A—FN, e.g. the ED—A of fibronectin.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm A specific binding member for use in the ion may bind the A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibronectin specifically. A specific binding member of the present invention may bind the A—FW and/or the ED—A of fibronectin, with the same affinity as anti—ED—A antibody F8 e.g. in scFv format, or with an affinity that is better. A specific binding member for use in the invention may bind the A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibronectin, with a {D of 3 x '8 M or an affinity that is better. Preferably, a specific binding member for use in the ion binds the A—FW and/or the ED—A of fibronectin, with a KB of 2 x 10'8 M or an affinity that is better. More preferably, a specific g member for use in the invention binds the A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibroneCtin, with a KB of 1.7 x 10'8 M or an affinity that is better. Yet more preferably, a specific g member for use in the invention binds the A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibronectin, with a KB of 1.4 x '8 M or an affinity that is better. Most preferably, a specific binding member for use in the invention binds the A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibronectin, with a KB of 3 x 10'9 M or an affinity that is better.

A specific binding member of the present ion may bind to the same e on A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibronectin anti—ED—A antibody F8.

A specific binding member for use in the invention may not show any significant binding to molecules other than to the A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibronectin. In particular, the specific g member may not bind other isoforms of fibronectin, for example the ?D—R isoform and/or the IIICS isoform of fibronectin.

Variants of antibody molecules disclosed herein may be produced and used in the present invention. The techniques ed to make substitutions within amino acid sequences of CDRs, antibody VH or VL domains, in particular the ork regions of the VH and VL s, and binding members generally are available in {:ie art. t sequences may be made, with substitutions that y or may not be predicted to have a minimal or beneficial ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm effect on activity, and tested for ability to bind A—FN and/or the ED—A of ectin, and/or for any other desired property.

Variable domain amino acid sequence variants of any of the VB and VL s whose sequences are specifically disclosed herein may be employed in accordance with the present invention, as discussed. Particular variants may include one or more amino acid sequence alterations (addition, dele tion, substitution and/or inse :tion of an amino acid residue), may be less than about 20 alterations, less than about 15 alterations, less than about 10 alterations or less than about 5 tions, maybe 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1. Alterations may be made in one or more framework regions and/or one or more CDRs. The al terations normally do not result in loss of function, so a specific binding member comprising a thus—altered amino acid seq Jence may retain an ability to bind A—FN and/or the ED—A of ectin. For example, it may retain the same quantita :ive binding as a speci Eic binding member in which the alteration is not made, e.g. as measured in an assay described herein. The specific binding membe : comprising a thus—altered amino acid sequence may have an improved ability to bind A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibronectin.

For example, a specific binding member that binds the ED—A isoform 0.A ED—A of fibronectin, as referred to herein, may comprise the V4 domain shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 and the VE domain shown in SEQ ID NO:8 with 10 or fewer, for example, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acid ststitution within the framework region of the VH and/or VL domain. Such a specific binding member may bind the ED—A isoform 0 A ED—A of ectin with the same or ntially the same, ty as a specific binding member comprising the V 4 domain shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 and the VL domain shown in SEQ ID VO:8 or may bind the ED—A isoform 0: ED—A of fibronectin with a higher affinity than a specific binding member comprising the V { domain shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 and the VL domain shown in SEQ ID “0:8.

{Eavel VH or VL regions carrying CDR—derived sequences for use in e invention may be generated using random mutagenesis of one or [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm mo :e selected VH and/or VL genes to generate mutations within the entire va :iable domain. In some embodiments one or two amino acid substitutions are made within an entice variable domain or se t of CDRs. r method that may be used is to direct mutagenesis to CDR regions of VH or VL genes.

AS noted above, a C DR amino acid sequence substantially as set out herein may be carried as a CDR in a human dy variable domain or a substan:ial portion thereof. The HCDR3 sequences substantially as se: out herein ent embodiments of the present invention and for example each of these may be carried as a HCDR3 in a human heavy chain variable domain or a substantial po :tion thereof.

Va :iable domains employed in the invention may be ed or de :ived from any germ—line or rear :anged human variable domain, or may be a synthetic variable domain based on consensus or actual sequences of known human va :iable domains. A variable domain can be derived from a non—than antibody. A CDR sequence fo 5 use in the invention (e.g. CDR3) may be introduced into a repertoire of variable domains lac<ing a CDR (e.g. CDR3), using recombinant DNA technology. For example, Marks et al. (1992) describe methods of producing repe :toires of antibody variable domains in which sus primers directed at or adjacent to the 5 V end of the variable domain area are used in conjunction with consensus primers to the third framework region of human VH genes to provide a repertoire of VH variable domains lacking a CDR3.

Marks et al. further describe how this repertoire may be combined with a CDR3 of a particular antibody. Using analogous techniques, the CDR3—derived sequences of the present invention may be sh Jffled with repertoires of VH or VL domains lacking a CDR3, and the shuffled complete VH or VL s combined with a cognate V4 0: VB domain to provide binding members for use in the ion. rThe repertoire may then be yed in a suitable host system such as the phage display system of 1047, or {3yI] of a uent large body of literature, including Kay, te: & McCafferty (1996), so that le binding members may [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm be seleCted. A repertoire may consist of from anything from 104 individual s upwards, for e at least 105, at least 106, at least 107, at least 108, at least 109 or at least 1010 members.

Similarly, one or more, or all three CDRs may be grafted into a repertoire of VH or VL domains that are then screened for a binding member or g membe :s for the A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibronectin.

One or more of the HCDRl, HCDRZ and HCDR3 of antibody F8 or the se t of HCDRs of antibody F8 may be employed, and/or one or more of the LCDRl, LCDR2 and LCDR3 of antibody F8 the set of LCDRs of antibody F8 may be employed.

Similarly, other VH and VL s, sets of CDRs and sets of HCDRs and/or sets of LCDRs disclosed herein may be employed.

The A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibroneCtin may be used in a screen for specific binding members, e.g. antibody les, for use in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of 13D. The screen may a screen Of a reper:oire as disclosed e:_sewhere herein.

A substantial_ portion of an immunoglobulin va :iable domain may comprise at least the three CDR regions, together with their intervening framework s. The portion may also include at least about 50% of either 0 : both of the first and fourth framework regions, the 50% terminal 50% of the first framework region and she N— terminal 50% of the fourth f :amework region. Additional es at the N—terminal or C—terminal end of the substantial pa: t of the le domain may be those not normally associated wi wh na turally occurring variable domain regions. For example, COHStruction of specific binding members of the t invention made by recombinant DNA techniques may :3sult in the introduCtion of N— or C—terminal residues encoded linkers introduced to facilitate cloning or other manipulation [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm steps. Other manipulation steps include the introduction of linkers to join variable domains disclosed elsewhere herein to f thher protein sequences including antibody constant regions, Other variable domains (for example in the produCtion of diabodies) or detectable/functional labels as discussed in more d tail ls wh r h r in.

Although specific binding members may comprise a pair of VH and VL domains, single binding domains based on either VH or VL domain sequences may also be used in the invention. It is known that single immunoglobulin domains, especially VH domains, are capable of g target antigens in a specific manner. For e, see the discussion of dAbs above.

In the case of eithe: of the single binding s, these domains may be used to screen for complementary s capable of g a two—domain binding member able to bind A—FN and/or the ED—A of fibronectin. This may be achieved by phage display screening methods using the so—called hierarchical dual combinatorial approach as disclosed in WO92/01047, in which an individual colony containing either an H or L chain clone is used to infect a complete library of clones encoding the other chain (L or H) and the resulting two—chain binding member is ed in ance with phage y techniques such as those described in that reference. This technique is also disc'osed in Marks 1992.

Specific binding s for use in the present invention may further comprise antibody nt regions or parts thereof, e.g. human antibody constant regions or parts thereof. For example, a VL domain may be ed at its C—cerminal end to antibody light chain conscanc domains including human CK or Ck chains, e.g. Ck.

Similarly, a specific binding membe: based on a VH domain may be attached at its C—cerminal end to all or part (e.g. a CHl domain) of an immunoglobulin heavy chain derived from any antibody dotype, e.g. IgG, IgA, IgE and IgM and any of the isotype sub— [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm classes, particularly IgG1 and IgG4. Any synthetic or other constant region variant that has these properties and stabilizes variable regions is also useful in embodiments of the present invention.

Specific binding members for use in the invention may be labelled with a detectable or functiona' label. A 'abel can be any molecule that produces or can be induced to produce a signal, ircluding but not limited to fluorescers, :adiolabels, enzymes, cremiluminescers r or photosensitizers. Thus, binding may be detected and/or measured by detecting fluorescence or leinescence, radioactivity, enzyme activity or light ance.

Detectable labels may be ed to antibodies for use in the irvention using conventional chemistry known in the art.

Trere are us methods by which the label can produce a signal detectable by external means, for example, by visual examination, electromagnetic radiation, heat, and chemical reagents. The label can also be bound to another specific g member that binds the antibody for use in the invention, or to a support.

Labelled specific binding members, e.g. scFv labelled with a detectable label, may be used stically in vivo, ex vivo or in vitro, and/or therapeutically.

For example, radiolabelled binding members (e.g. binding members conjugated to a radioisotope) may be used in radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy. sotopes which may be conjugated to a g member for use in the invention e isotopes such as TC, 99mTC, 186Re, 188Re, 2O3Pb, 67Ga, 68Ga, 47SC, 1111,], 97Ru, 62Cu, 64Cu, 86y, 88 90 121 161 153 166 105 177 123 124 125 131 18 Y, Y, Sn, Tb, Sm, Ho, Rh, lu, I, I, I, I, F, 211At and 225Ac. Preferably, positron emitters, such as 18F and 1241, 99m 111 or gamma emitters, such as Tc, In and 1231 , are used for diagnostic applications (e.g. for PET), while beta—emitters, such {ii 131I, 90Y and 177Lu, are ably used for therapeutic [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm applications. Alpha—emitters, such as 211At and 225Ac may also be used for therapy.

For example, a specific binding member for use in the invention labelled with a detectable label may be used to detect, diagnose or r 13D in a human or animal.

A specific binding member of the present invention may be used for the manufacture of a diagnostic product for use in diagnosing 13D.

A conjugate or fusion between a g member for Jse in the invention and a le that exerts a biocidal, cytotoxic immunosuppressive or nflammatory effect on target cells in the lesions and an antibody directed t an extracellular matrix component which is present in such lesions may be employed in the present invention. For example, the conjugated molecule may be interleukin—10. Such conjugates may be used therapeutically, e.g. for treatment of 13D as referred to herein.

Production and use of s or conjugates of specific binding members with biocidal or cytotoxic molecales is described for example in WOOl/62298.

The specific binding member for use in the invention may be a conjugate of (i) a molecule which exerts an anti—inflammatory effect on target cells by cellular interaction, an anti— inflammatory molecule, a cytokine e.g. nd (ii) a specific binding member for the ED—A isoform of fibronectin and/or the ED— A of fibronectin.

The specific binding member for use in the ion may be a coangate of (i) a molecule which exerts an immunosuppressive or anti—inflammatory effect and (ii) a specific binding member for the ED—A isoform of fibronectin and/or the ED—A of fibronectin. ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm The specific binding member for Jse in the invention is preferably a conjugate of (i) interleukin—10 (ILlO) and (ii) a specific binding member for the ED—A isoform of fibronectin and/or the ED—A of fibronectin. Such a specific binding member is usele in s of the invention disclosed herein relating to treatment of 13D.

Also described herein is a conjugate of (i) a molecule which exerts a biocidal or xic effect on target cells by ar interaction, or an immunosuppressive or anti—inflammatory effect and (ii) a binding member for the ED—A isoform of fibronectin and/or the ED—A of fibronectin. Such a conjugate preferably comprises a fusion protein comprising the biocidal, cytotoxic, suppressive or anti—inflammatory molecule and a said binding member, or, where the binding member is two—chain or multi—chain, a fusion protein comprising the biocidal, xic, immunosuppressive or anti—inflammatory molecule and a polypeptide chain component of said binding member. Preferably the binding member is a single—chain polypeptide, e.g. a single—chain antibody le, such as scFv.

A conjugate, as referred to , may be expressed as a fusion n. Thus, a fusion protein comprising the immunosuppressive or anti—inflammatory molecule and a single—chain Fv antibody molecule may be used in the invention.

The immunostpressive or anti—in lammatory molecule that exerts its effect on target cells by ce"ular interaction, may interact ly wish the carget cells, may interact with a membrane— bound receptor on the target cell or perturb the electrochemical potential of th c ll m mbran . Pr f :ably, the molecule is IL— Preferably, the molecule which is conjugated to the specific binding member is IL—lO.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm As discussed further below, the specific binding member for use in the invention is preferably an antibody molecule or comprises an antibody antigen—binding site. Conveniently, the specific binding member may be a sing'e—chain ptide, such as a single—chain antibody. This allows for convenient production of a fusion protein comprising single—chain antibody and, for example, immunosuppressive or anti—inflammatory molecule (e.g. interleukin—10 or TGF beta). An antibody antigen—binding site may be provided by means of association of an antibody VH domain and an antibody VL domain in separate ptides, e.g. in a te dy or in an antibody fragment such as Fab or diabody. Where the specific binding member is a two—chain or multi—chain le (e.g. Fab 0: whole antibody, respectively), an immunosuppressive or anti—inflammatory molecule, for example, may be conjugated as a fusion polypeptide with one or more polypeptide chains in the specific binding member.

The specific binding member may be conjugated with the immunosuppressive or anti—inflammatory molecule by means of a peptide bond, i.e. within a fusion polypeptide comprising said molecule and the specific binding member or a polypeptide chain component thereof (see e.g. Trachsel et al.). Other means for coangation include chemical conjugation, especially cross— linking using a bifunctional reagent (e.g. employing DOURL?— 95 RfiAGfiNTSTM Cross—linking Reagents Selection Guide, ).

Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid ng a specific binding member for use in the present invention. Nucleic acid may e DNA and/or RNA. A nucleic acid may code for a CDR or set of CDRs or VH domain or VL domain or antibody antigen—binding site or antibody le, e.g. scFv or IgG, e.g. IgGl, as defined abov . Th nucl Otid s qu nc s may encode the VB and/or VL domains disclosed herein.

Furth r d scrib d h r in ar constructs in the form of plasmids, {:iCCOIS, transcription or expression cassettes which comprise at ast one polynucleotide as described above.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm A recombinant host cell that comprises one or more constructs as above are also provided. A nucleic acid encoding any CDR or set of CDRs or VH domain or VL domain or antibody antigen—binding site or antibody le, e.g. scFv or IgGl or IgG4 as provided, is described, as is a method of production of the encoded product, which method comprises expression from ng nucleic acid. Expression may conveniently be achieved by culturing under appropriate conditions recombinant host cells ning the nucleic acid. Following produCtion by expression a VB or VL domain, or specific g member may be isolated and/or purified using any suitable technique, then used as appropriate.

A nucleic acid may comprise DNA or RNA and may be wholly or partially synthetic. Reference to a nucl Otid s qu no as s t out herein encompasses a DNA molecule with the specified sequence, and encompasses a RNA le with the ied sequence in which U is substituted for T, unless context requires otherwise.

A method of production of an antibody VH variable domain, the method including causing expression from encoding c acid is also described. Such a method may comprise culturing host cells under conditions for production of said antibody VH variable domain.

A method of production may comprise a step of isolation and/or purification of the produCt. A method of production may comprise formJlating the product into a composition including at least one additional component, such as a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

Systems for cloning and expression of a polypeptide in a variety of different host cells are we" known. Suitable host cells include baCteria, mammalian ce"s, plant cells, filamentous , yeast and baculovirus systems and transgenic plants and imals. The expression of antibodies and antibody fragments in [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm prokaryotic cells is well established in the art. For a review, see for example Pluckthun (1991), Bio/Technology 9: 545—551. A common bacterial host is E.coli.

Expression in eukaryotic cells in culture is also available to those d in the art as an option for production of a specific binding member for example Chadd et al. (2001), Current Opinion in Biotechnology 12: 188—194 ); Andersen et al. (2002) t n in 3i0technology 13: 117; Larrick & Thomas (200l) Current Opinion in Biotechnology 12:411—418. Mammalian cell lines available in the art for expression of a heterologous polypeptide include e hamster ovary (CHO) cells, HeLa cells, baby hamster kidney cells, NSO mouse melanoma cells, Y32/0 rat myeloma cells, human embryonic kidney cells, human embryonic retina cells and many others.

Suitable vectors can be chosen or constructed, containing appropriate regulatory sequences, including promoter sequences, terminator sequences, polyadenylation sequences, enhancer seqiences, marker genes and other sequences as appropriate.

VeCtors may be ds e.g. phagemid, or viral e.g. 'phage, as appropriate. For further details see, for example, Sambrook & Russell (2001) Molecular Cloning: a Laboratory Manual: 3rd edition, Cold Spring Harbor naboratory Press. Many known techniques and prOtocols for manipilation of nucleic acid, for example in preparation of c acid constructs, mutagenesis, sequencing, introdJction of DNA into cells and gene sion, and analysis of proteins, are described in detail in Ausubel et al. (1999) 4th eds., Short Protocols in Melecular Biology: A Compendium of Methods from t Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons.

A host ce" may contain a nucleic acid as described . Such a host ce" may be in Vitro and may be in culture. Such a host cell may be in vivo. In vivo presence of the host cell may allow 'dtracellular expression of a binding member for use in the [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm t invention as “intrabodies” or intracellular antibodies.

Intrabodies may be used for gene therapy.

A method comprising introducing a nucleic acid disclosed herein into a host cell is also described. I-The introduCtion may employ any available technique. For eukaryotic cells, sJitable techniques may include calcium phosphate transfeCtion, DfiAfi— Dextran, electcoporation, liposome—mediated transfection and transduction using retrovirus or o:her virus, e.g. vaccinia or, for insect cells, baculovirus. Introducing nucleic acid in the host ce", in particular a eukaryOtic cell may use a viral or a plasmid based . The plasmid system may be maintained episoma"y or may be incorporated into the host cell or into an artificial chromosome. Incorporation may be eithe: by random or targeted integration of one or more copies at single or multiple loci. For bacterial cells, suitable technques may include calcium chloride transformation, e:_eCtroporation and transfection using baCteriophage.

The introduction may be followed by g or ng expression from the nucleic acid, e.g. by culturing host cells under ions for expression of the gene. The cation of the expressed product may be achieved by methods known to one of skill in the art.

The nucleic acid may be ated into the genome (e.g. chromosome) of the host cell. Integ :ation may be promOted by inclusion of sequences that promo :e recombination with the genome, in accordance with standa :d techniques.

A method that comprises using a uct as stated above in an expression system in order to s a specific binding member or polypeptide as above is also desc :ibed.

Specific g members for use in the present invention are {fisigned to be used in methods of diagnosis or treatment in human [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm or animal subjects, e.g. human. Specific binding members for use in the invention may be used in sis or treatment of 13D. ingly, the invention provides methods of treatment comprising administration of a specific binding member as described, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such a specific g , and use of such a specific binding member in the cture of a medicament for administration, for example in a method of making a medicament or pharmaceutical composition comprising formulating the specific binding membe : with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. Pharmaceutically acc ptabl v hic S ar w ll known and will be adapted by the person d i n the art as a function of the nature and of the mode of st :ation of the active compound(s) chosen.

Specific binding members for use in the present invention will y be administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition, which may comprise at least one component in addition to the specific binding member. Thus, pharmaceutical compositions described herein, and for use in accordance with the present invention, may comprise, in addition to aCtive irgredient, a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, bLffer, s tabilizer o : Other materials well known to those skilled ir the art. Such materials should be non—toxic and should not irterfere with the e Eficacy of the active ingredient. The precise nature 0 f he carrier or other material will depend on tre route of administration, which may be oral, inhaled or by irjection, e.g. intravenous.

Ptarmaceutical compositions for oral administration such as for example nanobodies etc are also envisaged in the present irvention. Such oral formulations may be in tablet, capsule, powder, liquid or semi—solid form. A tablet may comprise a solid carrier such as gelatin 0 : an adjuvant. Lquid pharmaceutical compositions generally comprise a liquid ca: :ier such as water, {fitroleum, animal or vegetable oils, minera' oil or tic l. logical saline solution, dextrose or other saccharide [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm solution or glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol may be included.

For intravenous injection, or injection at the site of affliCtion, the aCtive ingredient will be in the form of a pa:enterally accep':able aqueous solution which is pyrogen—free and has suitable pi, isotonicity and stability. rThose of relevant skill in the ar t are well able to p:epare suitable solutions using, for example, isotonic vehicles such as Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, uactated Ringer's Injection. Preservatives, izers, s, antioxidants and/or Other additives may be employed, as required. Many methods for the ation of pharmaceutical formulations are known to those skilled in the art. See e.g. on ed., Sustained and Controlled Release Drug Delivery Systems, Marcel De<ker, Inc., New York, 1978.

A composition may be administered alone or in combination with other treatmen ts, concurrently or tially or as a combined preparation wi th another therapeutic agent or agents, dependent upon the condi tion to be treated.

A specific binding member for use in the present ion may be used as part of a combination therapy in coannction with an additional medicinal component. Combination treatments may be used to provide significant synergistic effeCts, particularly the combination of a specific binding member for Jse in the present invention with one or more Other drugs. A specific binding member for use in the present invention may be administered concurrently or tially or as a combined preparation with r therapeutic agent or agents, for the treatment of one or more of the conditions listed herein.

For example, a specific binding member for use in the invention may be used in combination with an existing therapeutic agent for fie treatment of 13D.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm A specific binding member for use in the invention and one or more of the above onal medicinal componen :s may be used in the manufacture 0 f a medicament. The medicament may be for separate or combined administration to an dual, and accordingly may se the specific binding member and the additional component asa combined preparation or as separate preparations. Sepa :ate p :eparations may be used 'ZO facilitate separate and sequential o : simultaneous administration, and allow administration of the components by different rou :es e.g. oral and parenteral administration.

In accordance with the present invention, compositions p :ovided may be administered to mammals. Administration may be in a "therape Jtically ef fective amount", this being su Eficient to show benefit to a patient. Such benefit may be at least amelioration of at least one symptom. Thus “treatment of 13D" refers to amelioration of a o least one m. The aCCJal amount administered, and rate and time—course of administration, will depend on the nat are and severity of what is being d, the particular mammal being treated, the clinical ion of the individual patien “I the cause of the disorder, the site of delivery of the composition, the type of specific binding , the method of administration, the scheduling of administration and other factors known to l practitioners. Prescription of treatment, e.g. decisions on dosage etc, is within the responsibility of general p :actitioners and other medical dOCtors, and may depend on the severity of the symptoms and/or progression of a disease being treated. Appropriate doses of antibody are well known in the art (Ledermann et al . (1991) Int.

J. Cancer 47: 659 —664; and 3agshawe et al. (1991) Antibody, Immunoconjugates and Radiopharmaceuticals 4: 915—922). Specific dosages indicated herein, or in the Physician's Desk nce (2003) as appropriate for th :yp of m dicam nt b ing stered, may be used. A therapeutically effective amount or suitable dose of a ic binding member for use in the dvention can be determined by comparing its in vitro activity d in Vivo activity in an animal model. Methods for [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm extrapolation of effective dosages in mice and other test animals to humans known. r are The precise dose wilj_ depend upon a numbe- of faCtors, including whether the antibody is for diagnosis, tion or for treatmen “I the size and on of the area b tr at d, th pr cis nature of the antibody (e.g. whole dy, fragment or diabody), and the nature of any detectable label 0 : other molecule a cached to the an tibody. A typical artibody dose will be in the range 100 ug to l g for ic applications, and 1 ug to 1 mg for topical applications. An iritial higher loading dose, ed by one 0 : more lower doses, may be stered. An antibody may be a whole antibody, e.g. tr e IgGl r or IgG4 isotype. This is a dose for a single ent of an adult patien “I which may be proportionally adj Jsted for crild :en and infants, and also adjusted f or other antibody formats in proportion to moi_ecular weight. Treatments may be repeated at daily, twice—weekly, weekly or monthly als, at the discretion of the physician. T :eatments may be every cWO cO four weeks for subcutaneous administra tion and every four to eight weeks for intravenous administration. In some embodiments of the present invention, treatment is ic, and the period between administra :ions is about two weeks or more, e .g. about three weeks or more, about four weeks or more, or aboaC once a month. In other embodiments of the ion, treatment may be given before, and/or after surgery, and may be administered or applied directly at the anatomical site of surgical treatment.

Inflammatory Rowe' Disease (I 3D) Inflammatory Rowe' Disease is a group of inf:_ammatory conditions that affect the colon and sma" intestine. The major types of I'3D are Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), while Other types of I3D include co' 'agenous colitis, lymphocytic colitis, ischaemic colitis, diversion colitis, Rehcet’s disease and indeterminate colitis. CD can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas UC is typically restricted to the nlon and rectum.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm 13D, as referred to herein, may be CD, UC, collagenous s, lymphocytic colitis, ischaemic colitis, diversion colitis, 3ehcet’s disease or indeterminate s. In particular, the terms CD, UC, collagenoas colitis, lymphocytic colitis, ischaemic co'itis, diversion co'i tis, Rehcet’ s disease and rminate colitis, as used , may refer to aCtive CD, aCtive UC, active collagenous coli tis, aCtive lymphocytic s, active ischaeH ic colitis, active divefsion colitis, active 3ehcet’s disease and ac:ive indeterminate colitis, respectively. In one embodin ent, the I3D may be CD or UC. In ano:her embodiment, the I3D may be CD I collagenous colitis, lymphocytic colitis, ischaeH ic colitis, diversion colitis, Rehcet’s disease or indeterminate colitis. In a further embodiment, the IBD is not UC. Tr e I3 3 may be an I3D which is no: typically rest :icted to inflamn ation in the colon and the rect am, such as CD. The I3D may be an I3D which does nOt affect only the lining of the colon.

In a preferred embodiment, the IBD is CD. Most preferably, the I3D is active CD.

FJIther aspects and embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the present disclosure ing the following experimental exempli fication.

All documents mentioned in this specification are orated herein by reference in their entirety. “and/or" where used herein is to be taken as specific disclosure of each of the two specified features or components with or without the other. For example “A and/or 3" is to be taken as specific disclosure of each of (i) A, (ii) 3 and (iii) A and 3, just as if each is set ou : individually herein.

Unless contex t dictat s o ,h rwis , th d scriptions and tions 0 E the features set out above are not limited to any articular aspect or men t of ,he invention and apply ually to all aspects and embodiments which are described.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm Certain aspects and embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example and with reference to the figures described above.

EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND S Mouse IBD model Mouse models for 13D which involve the administration of DSS are known in the art. A suitable mouse model is also described, for example, in OkayasJ et al. (1990), Gastroenterology, 98, 694—702.

For :h xp rim nts d scrib d h r in, colitis was induced in 6 mice (Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, ME) by inclusion of 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) ( P 3ioMedicals) into drinking water for 7 days followed by 3—5 days of normal drinking water.

Control mice were given standard water throughout the course of the study. Mice were monitored for disease induction/progression as evidenced by hemoccult on days 3—5 as well as by daily weight change. Mice were euthanized at various times 3—5 days ing cessation of DSS in the water to evaluate targeting, localization and pharmacological effects of F8—IL—10 /IL10 radioiodination, purification, characterization and dosing solution preparation 125I—F8/IL10 was prepared using Succinimidyl—iodobenzoate (SIB) (Zalutsky & Narula (1988) Cancer Research, 48,1446—1450; ZalLtsky & Narula (1987) Appl. Radiat. Isot. 38, 1051—1055; Cheng, et al. (2002) J} Med. Chem. 45, 3048—3056). 3riefly, an aliquot of Iodine-125 (20 uL ~2.0 mCi) (Perkin ?'mer, Waltham, MA) was reacted with 2.5 ug N—Succinimidyl—3—(:ri—n—butylstannyl) benzoate MMSn; MW = 508.23, synthesized by Texas Biochemicals, Inc. e Station, TX) together with 10 ug NCS {:ligma—Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) as an oxidant in 50 uL of methanol [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm containing 1.5% acetic acid (v:v) (both from Sigma—Aldrich).

After 15 min incubation at ambi nt t mp ratur th r maining oxidant in reaCtion solu :ion was quenched by adding 10 ug sodium bisulfate (reducing agent) (Sigma—Aldrich) and incubating at ambien for an additional min. temperature 5 The I—labe'ed SI? was coangated to the F8—IL10 antibody (N 0.2 mg, wi ch a starting molar :atio of approximately 2.5 :l for intermedia ,e to antibody) by incabating at t tempe :a' t p 4 8.0. The radiolabeled product (1”I—F8/L110) was purified using a pre— balanced PD—lO column (G*JA Healthcare, Little Chal Eon I ghamshire, UK) (poten wial non—speci Eic protein binding sites on the column were sa:urated using bovine serum albumin, followed by rinsing the colJmn with at I_east three column volumes of PES), eluted in PES. A radiochemical yield of imately 30% was ed.

The radiochemical purity (RCP) and bioactivity of 125I—F8/IL10 were characterized via size ion chromatogram ( SEC), and EDA-a Efinity column, :espectively. For SEC is, approximately 1 uCi o 8/IL10 produc: solution was injeCted in,o ,he HPLC (Agilen 1100, equipped with an in—line radioaCtive detector) equipped wi :h a size exclusion column (G3000Sle, TOSOH ences, Tokyo, Japan) and eluted with a flow rate of l mE pe : minute with mobile solvent 0: 25 mM phosphate buffer, 0.15 M VaCl, pH 6.8. The identity of H51-F8/IE "0 was confirmed by ing i:s retention time in :adiomet :ic chromatogram to that of the refe :ence F8/IL10 in UV (280 nm) chromatogram. An QCP of greater than 99% was obtained for 125I—F8/IL10, with a radioactive ic ac:ivity of approximate:_y 4.5 mCi/mg.

The bioactivity of 125I—F8—IL10 was determined via an EDA affinity column assay. 3riefly, an aliquot (approximately 1 uCi) of ”51— F8/I E10 was loaded on a pre—balanced EDA affinity col Jmn (containing 250uL of EDA resin, the pre—balance was conducted by bloc <ing the ecific binding sites with 9 mL 58A, 9 mg/mL in as, and then by washing the column with 8 mL PBS). The affinity [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm column was washed with 6 mL of RSA (9 mg/mL in P58) and the eluate was fractionally collected. The radioactivity in the collected eluate and ing on the af finity column was measured in a gamma counter. The percen :age of radioactivity retained in the EDA—resin column out of total loaded radioactivity was ated. A percentage of 64% of radioactivity ed in the affinity column was obtained for 125I—F8/IL10.

The dosing solutions used for PK and tissue distribution studies were prepared by mixing 125I—F8/IT.10 with un'abe'ed F8/IL10 (F8/ILlO stock solution), and a:ion buffer to the required final concentration. The test article solution was prepared on the day of dosing and t to ambient temperature prior to administration to the animals.

M51-F8/IL10 biodistribution and localization to colon in IBD mouse model Untreated or DSS—treated mice were both treated with pOtassium iodide (KI) water (20 mM) approximately 2~4 days prior to ,he dosing (day 5—7 following initiation of DSS) to block the thyroid uptake of any potertial unbound free I—l25 generated in vivo. On day 9 following initiation of DSS treatment, a single dose of 125I—F8/IL10 was administered intravenor sly (IV). The dose and radioactivity per group is outlined below: i) Gro,p 0 — approximate dose per momse: 5 mg/kg Group 0 — approximate radioactivity per mouse: 7.5 “Ci (specific activity 75 uCi/mg). ii) Gro,p l — approximate dose per momse: 5 mg/kg Group 1 — approximate ctivity per mouse: 10 pCi (specific activity 100 JCi/mg). iii) Gro,p 2 — approximate doses per mouse: 0.15 mg/kg, Group 2 — approximate radioactivity per mouse: 12 pCi (specific ty 4490 LCi/mg).

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm ation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm Subgroups of mice were bled at 5 s, l, 3, 6, 24, 48 and 96 hours and then various tissues were collected. Blood samples were colleCted either by cardiac punc :ure or retro—orbital bleeding into serum separator colleCtion tubes. Serum samples were harvested by fugation of the blood samples at 10,000 g for 5 min. For tissue collection, the animal was sacri ficed and tissues of int r st w r coll ct d imm diat ly after blood sampling and whole body per fusion. The whole body blood perfusion was condJcted by administering approximately 20 mL of heparin—P38 (25 units per m.J for approximately 10 min. The s of interest included brain, mesente ric lymph nodes, skin, fat, skeletal thigh muscle, lung, heart, spleen, liver, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and kidney were collected and weighed. The contents in GI were removed. The radioactivity (total counts in cpm) of the tissue samples was measured directly by gamma coanter.

Colon autoradiography of diseased and healthy mice Colon autography was performed on colons from Group 0 and Group 2 mice. Colons were ted, their contents removed, and tissue was exposed to a phosphor—imaging screen (Molecular Dynamics) for 24 hours , and imaged via 3:orm 860. The results are shown in Figure 2. sane—l: colon harvested at 6—hr post injection from Group 0 (healthy ; sane—2: colon harvested at 6—hr post injection from Group 2 (DSS treated mouse); Lane—3: colon harvested at 24—hr post injection from Group 0 (healthy mouse); Lane—4: colon harves:ed at 24—hr post injection Group 2 (DSS treated mouse). Patchy localization of 125I—F8/IL10 was ed along the colon in the DSS treated mice and nOt in the normal mice, consistent with the irregular colonic inflammation and associated expression profile of the target EDA in this model.

Determination of radioactive equivalent concentrations in serum and tissues and pharmacokinetic calculations [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm The seer equivalent tration (ng eq./g) of 125I—F8/IL10 was estimated based on the measured TCA loroacetic acid) precipitable (protein associated) radioactivity. For TCA itation, the t (50 ML) of serum sample was mixed with 50 “4 of mouse serum, followed by the addition of 100 ML of 20% TCA SOlJCiOH. The sample miXture was spin at 10,000 g for 5 minuces to precipitate the protein. TOtal and TCA—soluble radioaCtivity in the supernatant was determined. TCA— precipitable radioaCtivity (cpm) in a given sample, the specific ty of the do sing solution recipitable cpm per mg of protein), as well as dates of sample (ts) and dosing solution (tD) measurements, were used to calculate the equivalent concentration of test article (ng eq./mL) in a given , using the formula: [TCA—precipitable cpm/EXP(—0.693/60.2*( ts — td))]/[specific activity (in cpm/mg)*sample volume (in mL)].

The quantitation o f equivalent concentration (ng eq./g) of 125I— F8/IL10 in tissues was calculated based on the measured total radioactivity in the sample and the specific activity of the dosing solution after a correCtion for physical decay half—life of 125I, using the formula: [sample cpm/EXP(—0.693/60.2*(ts — tD))]/[Specific activity (in cpm/mg)*sample weight (in mg)]. No homogenization or TCA—precipitation was performed for tissue samples. In addition to radioactive lent concentration (ng eq./mL for serum, ne eq./g for ), percentage of injected dose per gram (%ID /g) and/or percentage of injeCted dose (%ID) were also ated for serum and tissues of interest. 3iodistribution o: 125I—F8/IL10 in normal (Group 0) and D88 treated (Group 1) mice was determined 6 hours (Figure 3A), 24 hours (Figure 33) and 96 hours post—injection (Figure 3C).

PK parameters were calculated with the mean serum or tissue concentrations at the measured time points. A non—compartmental analysis module of the pharmacokinetic software e WinNonlin {:lersion 5.1, Pharsight) was used. The area under the [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm concentration versus time curve (AUC) was calculated using the linear trapezoidal method.

Effect on serum ne levels with eutic treatment of F8- ILlO in mouse model of IBD As IL—10 is known to decrease proinflammatory cytokines, we tested whether administration of F8—InlO in the mouse model of I3D would affect serum cytokine responses in this model. Mice were administered 200ug/mouse of F8—I410, or control small Immune Protein (F8—SIP) IV on day 3, 6 and 9 following initiation of DSS treatment (n=lO mice/group). This dose regimen was the same as effective regimens in collagen induced arthritis models (Schwager K, et al. Arthritis Research and Therapy, (2009) 11: R142).

Control groups included non—diseased (regular water) and unt: at d dis as d (n—lOmic /group). On day 10 following initiation of DSS, blood was collected and serum obtained as described above for localization studies. Serum was evaluated for levels of IL—lb, IL—12p40, IFNg, IL—6, KC, IL—lO and TNFa using MSD technology platform and a mouse 7plex MSD kit according to manufaCturer’s ctions (Mesoscale Discovery, Gaithersburg, MD). Levels of cytokines are expressed as pg of prOtein per ml of serum in Figures 4 and 5.

Human tissue ng for EDA sion Immunohistochemical analysis of frozen OCT—embedded specimens of colon tissue of a 60 years old female patient ed by ulcerative colitis and of a 42 years old male patient ed by Crohn’s disease. Both ens were probed with the F8 antibody in SIP format and the Von rand factor.

In addition, affeCted and non—affeCted frozen biopsy specimens paired from the same patients with Crohn’s or ulcerative s (n=3 Crohn’s patients and n=5 UC patients) were obtained from Analytical Riological Services (Wilmington, DE). Frozen samples were orientated on dry ice to prevent thawing, embedded in Dyomolds, standard (Tissue—Tek 4557) filled with O.C.T. compound [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm (Tissu —T k 1583) and flash frozen in isopentane that had been cooled by dry ice. The tissue blocks were sectioned on a Leica CMl850 cryostat at 4 microns, placed onto glass slides and stored at —800C until the immunohistochemistry (THC) was performed.

Upon iniciacion of THC, tissues were dipped in cold (—20 F) methanol (Fisher Scientific A412P—4) to remove any moisture that can form wish scorage and air dried 20 min at room temperature.

Tissues were then dipped into cold (—20 F) acetone (ACROS CAS 67—64—1) for 10 min and air dried 10 min room temperature.

Tissu slid s w r lab l d with riate Ventana bar code and placed into a a Discovery XT for Fibronectin F8 SIP or KSF SIP ol antibody) THC. Endogenous biOtin was blocked with both 5% Normal Mouse Serum (Jackson Immuno Research 015—000—120) in a S 3lock(Ventana 760—4212) for 20 minutes and Ventana RiOtin ng kit (Ventana 760—050) for 8 minutes. Fibronectin F8SIP or KSF was diluted in Dako antibody diluent ) (Dako worth America, Carpinteria, CA) at 1:200 concentration (100 ul per slide) and incubated for 40 minutes. Slides were counterstained with hematoxylin and bluing reagent (4 minutes each) before the run was completed. Th slid s w r r mov d and placed into a a Symphony for subsequent dehydration and coverslipping. Representative images of THC are shown in Figure 7. THC from non—affected (left) and affected (right) tissue samples from ulcerative colitis patient UH0501—34 (top)and Crohn’s patient UH0405—09 m).

RESULTS Colon autoradiography Figure 2 shows autoradiography of colons of either non—diseased mice (water) (lanes 1 and 3) or diseased mice (DSS—treated) (lanes 2 and 4) at either 6 (lanes 1 and 2) or 24 (lanes 3 and 4) hours following administration of radiolabeled F8—IulO. This trates that the F8—IulO does accumulate in the inflamed Dlon more so than the normal colon. The patchy appearance of [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm the diseased colon localization of the F8—ILlO is consistent with the variab'e levels of inf' ammation and EDA expression observed along the length of the colon in this model further supporting zation of F8—Ith with the inflammation.

Biodistribution of -lLlO in diseased and healthy mice Figure 3 shows the accumulation of the 125I—F8—IL10 at 6, 24 and 96 hour time points in the colon and mesenteric lymph nodes (4.N.) in diseased (DSS) mice compared wi:h normal (water) mice.

Similar to Figure 2, these da:a demons trate the Large ting of F8— 1410 to the colon and associated lymph nodes in DSS—t :eated mice.

Also from these studies, the serum hal life was dete :mined to be approximately 3.5 hou :s s the ha'f— 'ife of F8—Ith in the colon was approximate:_y 35 hours; a lO—foj_d increase ting enhanced tissue persistence. This indicates that not only is F8— ILlO targeting the colon and mesenteric i_ymph nodes during colonic inflamma :ion, but once there it a:_so persis:s for longer periods of time than in circulat ion. Co" ectively these data suggest tha: under ions of inflammation in the colon, such as in Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis in , the F8— ILlO will p :eferentially target and persist at these sites.

Cytokine levels in serum from diseased and healthy mice Figure 4 shows that compared to control groups, the administration of F8—ILlO in a therapeutic modality results in a significant d cr as in s rum l v ls of inflamma tory cytokines, IL—lB, IL12p40, IFNy and IL-6.

Figure 5 shows that compared to control groups, the stration of F8—ILlO in a therapeutic modali:y does not result in an increase of TNF—alpha and noci:e derived chemokine (KC) and results in increased levels of I l—lO. The increased levels of these cytokines of Figure 4 in the DSS model are associated with the induction of the disease in the colon.

Dcreases in these inflammatory cytokines of Figure 4 and [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm ation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm increases in IL—lO are consistent with known biological effects of IL—"O (Abbas A, Eichtman A, Pobe r J., 1994, Cellular and Molecular logy. 2nd Ed. Philadelphia: W.3. Saunders y; Delves P, Roitt I (edS), 1 998, Encyclopedia of Immuno'ogy, 9nd Ed. San Diego: Academic Press). Thus, the F8— ILlO demonstrates pharmacological activity in this model of I3D by reducing cyto <ines associated with in flammation and pathology in the IBD sett ing. Since these pro—inflammato :y cyto<ines are known to be upregula :ed in IBD patients, downregulation of these cytokines throagh administration of F8—I E10 suggests that F8—ILlO is likely to be bene Eicial in treating I3D in Vivo. Interferon y and IL—12p70, in par icular, are known to be upregulated in CD patients, and the data disclosed herein suggest that stration of F8—ILlO is therefore likely to be particularly useful for treating CD in vivo.

Immunohistochemistry Figure 6 shows that that the F8 SIP antibody stains the newly formed blood vessels but not the normal blood vessels in a t affected by ulcerative colitis. (Von Willebrand factor is routinely used as a marker of normal vasculature.) Figure 7 shows representative images of s or UC paired biopsy samples stained by immunohistochemistry for I‘ .4 DA. Arrows ir dicate vessels within each image. The intensity of staining around s in the ed vessels is increased compared :0 Jraffected samples from the same patients. This suggests tha :r -—I e increased EDA exp n could result in increased targeting to inflamed areas 0 the colon in these human disease settings.

Ir summary, the colo ted dis tribution and decreased serum cytokines observed with F8— E10 in a murine I3D model as well as t? e increased expression of EDA aroand vessels in affected human Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis colon tissue collectively e evidence that sugges: that administ :ation of F8—ILlO could target and positively affec: patients with 13D.

[Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm ed set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm ionNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm SfiQUfiNC*S DISCLOSED IN APPLICATION SEQ ID WO:1 (F8 antibody VH domain CDRl) SEQ ID NO:2 (F8 antibody VH domain CDR2) SGSGGS SEQ ID NO:3 (F8 antibody VH domain CDR3) STHLYL SEQ ID NO:4 (F8 antibody VL domain CDRl) MPF SEQ ID NO:5 (F8 antibody VL domain CDR2) GASSRAT SEQ ID NO:6 (F8 antibody VL domain CDR3) MRGRPP SEQ ID NO:7 (F8 antibody VH ) fiVQLLfiSGGGLVQPGGSLQLSCAASGFTFSLFTMSWVRQAPGKGL EWVSAISGSGGSTYYADSVK GQFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMVSLRA EDTAVYYCAKSTHLYLFDYWGQGTLVTVSS SEQ ID NO:8 (F8 an :ibody VL domain) EIVLTQSPGT1T.SISPGERATLSCRASQSVSMPFLAWYQQKPGQAPRLLIYGASSRATGIPDRFSG SGSGTDFTLT1IS'RT.*1]?*iDFAVYYCQQMRGRPPTFGQGTKV EIK SEQ ID NO:9 (lin<er between VH domain and VL domain of F8 antibody) GGSGG SEQ ID NO:10 (Linker between VL domain of F8 antibody and IL—10) dSSGSSSSGSSSSG [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm ation] kjm ed set by kjm S3Q ID NO:ll (h Jman IL—lO) SPGQGTQSL‘JVSCTHFPGNLPVMLRDLRDAFSRVKT1FFQMKDQTDNT. .LK fiSLLfiDE {GYLGCQAL S fl IQEY.fi fiV PQA fiNQDP DIKAHVNS .G3NLKTLRLRLRRCHRF ?NKS<AV EQVKNAFNK LQ EKGIY {A SjEDIEINYIiAYMTMKIQN 3 W0: 12 (F8 antibody) mfiSGGG .VQPGGSLR 4SCAASGFTFSLFTMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSAISGSGGSTYYADSVK FTIS DNS {NT .YLQMNS .RA YCAKSTHLYJFDYWGQGTJVTVSSGGSGGEIVLTQS GT4 a :RAT" .SCRASQSVS PFLAWYQQKPGQAPQLLIYGASSRAT1GIPDRFSGSGSGT‘DF 1DEAVYYCQQMQGRPPTFGQGTKVEIK ID W0: l3 (F8—I 410) .VQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSLFTMSWVRQAPGKGL EWVSAISGSGGSTYYADSVK {NT .YLQMVS .RA 3DTAVYYCA {ST {LYJFDYWGQGTJVTVSSGGSGGEIVLTQS RAT" .SCRASQSVS PFJAWYQQ QJLIYGASSRATGIP DRFSGSGSGTDF YCQQMQG RPPTFGQGTKV SSGSSSSGSSSSGSPGQGTQSL‘JWSCTH DLR DAFSRVKTFFQMK DQLDNL ..K1 .fiDE {GYLGCQALSIJ. IQEYLfifiV PQ {VNS .GQNLKTLQLRL'RRCHRF {AVjQVKNAENKLQjKGIYKA SEFD TMKIRN

Claims (13)

Claims

1. Use of an antibody ate for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), wherein the antibody conjugate comprises an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment f, that binds the Extra Domain-A (ED-A) of ectin and is conjugated to an immunosuppressive or antiinflammatory molecule, said dy comprising a VH domain and a VL domain, n the VH domain comprises heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3, respectively; and the VL domain comprises light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5 and 6, respectively.

2. Use of an antibody ate for the preparation of a medicament for the delivery of an immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory molecule to sites of matory bowel disease (IBD) in a patient, wherein the antibody conjugate comprises an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds the Extra Domain-A (ED-A) of fibronectin and is conjugated to the immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory molecule, said antibody comprising a VH domain and a VL domain, wherein the VH domain comprises heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3, respectively; and the VL domain comprises light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 amino acid sequences comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5 and 6, respectively.

3. The use according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the VH domain and/or the VL domain comprises a human germline ork.

4. The use according to claim 3, wherein the human germline framework in the VH domain is from a human DP47 gene and/or the human germline framework in the VL domain is from a human DPK22 gene.

5. The use according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the VH domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7; and the VL domain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.

6. The use according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein said antibody or antigenbinding fragment is ated to a detectable label.

7. The use according to claim 6, wherein the detectable label is a radioisotope.

8. The use according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein said anti-inflammatory molecule is a cytokine.

9. The use according to claim 8, n said cytokine is human interleukin-10 (IL-10).

10. The use ing to any one of claims 1-9, wherein said antibody or antigenbinding fragment is conjugated to said immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory molecule by a cleavable linker.

11. The use according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein said antibody or antigenbinding fragment is conjugated to said immunosuppressive or nflammatory molecule via a peptide linker.

12. The use according to claim 11, wherein said peptide linker ses 15 amino acids. 13. The use according to claim 12, wherein said peptide linker consists of the amino acid residues (SSSSG)3 (SEQ ID NO: 10). 14. The use according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein the antibody conjugate comprises an antigen-binding fragment of said antibody. 15. The use according to claim 14, wherein said n-binding fragment comprises a small immunoprotein (SIP). 16. The use according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said antigen-binding fragment comprises a single chain Fv (scFv). 17. The use according to claim 16, wherein the VH domain and the VL domain in the scFv are conjugated to each other via an amino acid . 18. The use according to claim 17, n said amino acid linker comprises 5 to 25 amino acids. 19. The use according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said antigen-binding fragment is a diabody that comprises a polypeptide comprising the VH and VL domains, wherein the VH and VL domains in the polypeptide are conjugated to each other via an amino acid linker comprising 1-5 amino acids. 20. The use according to claim 19, wherein said amino acid linker consists of the amino acid residues GGSGG (SEQ ID NO: 9). 21. The use according to claim 20, wherein said antibody conjugate comprises (i) the diabody and (ii) human interleukin-10 (IL-10) conjugated to the VL domain of the diabody via a peptide linker comprising the amino acid residues (SSSSG)3 (SEQ ID NO: 10). 22. The use according to claim 20, wherein said antibody conjugate consists of (i) the diabody and (ii) human interleukin-10 (IL-10) conjugated to the VL domain of the diabody via a e linker consisting of the amino acid residues (SSSSG)3 (SEQ ID NO: 10). 23. Use of an antibody ate for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), wherein said antibody conjugate ses the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13. 24. Use of an antibody ate for the preparation of a ment for the treatment of matory bowel disease (IBD), wherein said antibody conjugate consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13. 25. Use of an antibody conjugate for the preparation of a medicament for the delivery of human IL-10 to sites of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a patient, n said antibody conjugate comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13. 26. Use of an antibody conjugate for the preparation of a medicament for the delivery of human IL-10 to sites of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a patient, n said antibody conjugate consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13. 27. The use according to any one of the preceding , n said IBD is selected from any of the following: ulcerative colitis (UC), collagenous colitis, lymphocytic colitis, ischaemic colitis, diversion colitis, Behcet’s disease, indeterminate colitis, and Crohn’s disease (CD). [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm [Annotation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm [Annotation] kjm None set by kjm ation] kjm MigrationNone set by kjm [Annotation] kjm Unmarked set by kjm .4“ 3...\ ...\\, xx.\x.« “in.\3 RW. 5“} «at. 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