US20240010750A1 - Novel anti-a2ap antibodies and uses thereof - Google Patents

Novel anti-a2ap antibodies and uses thereof Download PDF

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US20240010750A1
US20240010750A1 US18/026,089 US202118026089A US2024010750A1 US 20240010750 A1 US20240010750 A1 US 20240010750A1 US 202118026089 A US202118026089 A US 202118026089A US 2024010750 A1 US2024010750 A1 US 2024010750A1
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Stefan Heitmeier
Julia GLUNZ
Melanie Fischer
Cindy SCHULENBURG
Hannah Jörissen
Christoph Thiel
Andreas Wilmen
Ernst Weber
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Bayer AG
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    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/38—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against protease inhibitors of peptide structure
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
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    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K39/395—Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immune serum, e.g. antilymphocytic serum
    • A61K39/39533—Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immune serum, e.g. antilymphocytic serum against materials from animals
    • A61K39/3955—Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immune serum, e.g. antilymphocytic serum against materials from animals against proteinaceous materials, e.g. enzymes, hormones, lymphokines
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
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    • A61P7/02—Antithrombotic agents; Anticoagulants; Platelet aggregation inhibitors
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    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P9/00—Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
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    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
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    • C07K2317/24—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin containing regions, domains or residues from different species, e.g. chimeric, humanized or veneered
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    • C07K2317/56—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments variable (Fv) region, i.e. VH and/or VL
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/60—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by non-natural combinations of immunoglobulin fragments
    • C07K2317/62—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by non-natural combinations of immunoglobulin fragments comprising only variable region components
    • C07K2317/622—Single chain antibody (scFv)
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    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/70—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by effect upon binding to a cell or to an antigen
    • C07K2317/76—Antagonist effect on antigen, e.g. neutralization or inhibition of binding
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
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    • C07K2317/92—Affinity (KD), association rate (Ka), dissociation rate (Kd) or EC50 value

Definitions

  • the present invention provides isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to human alpha 2 antiplasmin (A2AP).
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention i) cross-react with rabbit and/or cynomolgus A2AP, ii) do not bind to human plasmin/do not inhibit human plasmin activity, iii) do not convert A2AP from a serine protease inhibitor to a serine protease substrate, iv) bind to human A2AP of the sequence of amino acid 40-491 of SEQ ID 1 with a dissociation constant (KD) ⁇ 100 nM, ⁇ 50 nM, ⁇ 25 nM, ⁇ 10 nM, ⁇ 1 nM, or ⁇ 0.5 nM; v) bind to human A2AP of the sequence of amino acid 40-491 of SEQ ID 1 with an EC50 of ⁇ 500 nM, ⁇ 250 nM, ⁇ 100
  • the present invention further provides isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding said antibodies or antigen-binding fragments and vectors comprising same, isolated cells expressing said antibodies or antigen-binding fragments, methods of producing said antibodies or antigen-binding fragments and pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising said antibodies or antigen-binding fragments.
  • Antibodies according to the present invention can be used in the treatment of diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis.
  • diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis.
  • Clot formation inside blood vessels can cause multiple severe diseases like ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis. Clot generation and persistency are influenced by the rates of its formation by fibrin and platelets and its dissolution by the lytic system.
  • the current standard of care focusses on anticoagulation for chronic prevention of thrombosis, which is despite all improvements by non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) still accompanied by a bleeding risk and has only an indirect effect on clot resolution.
  • NOACs non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants
  • the primary therapeutic goal for patients suffering from ischemic or embolic events is the timely restoration of blood flow.
  • Reperfusion therapy using thrombolysis including intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and endovascular interventions such as mechanical thrombectomy (MT), are the only approved treatments for patients suffering e.g. from ischemic stroke.
  • IV intravenous
  • tPA tissue plasminogen activator
  • MT mechanical thrombectomy
  • alpha2-Antiplasmin a2Ap
  • alpha2-Antiplasmin a2Ap
  • the inhibition of alpha2-Antiplasmin might be an innovative therapeutic option for the acceleration of clot lysis and for the prevention of (secondary) thrombotic events.
  • Alpha2-Antiplasmin is a member of the Serpin superfamily. It is the primary physiological inhibitor of the serine protease plasmin. Plasmin in turn is an important enzyme that participates in fibrinolysis and degradation of various other proteins.
  • Kikuno R Kume-Iwaki A, Hashimoto-Gotoh T. Structure of human alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor deduced from the cDNA sequence. J Biochem. 1987; 102(5):1033-1041; Silverman G A, Bird P I, Carrell R W, et al.
  • the serpins are an expanding superfamily of structurally similar but functionally diverse proteins. Evolution, mechanism of inhibition, novel functions, and a revised nomenclature. J Biol Chem. 2001; 276(36):33293-33296).
  • Alpha2-Antiplasmin is synthesized as a 491 amino acid precursor with a 27 amino acid signal peptide.
  • the secreted form exhibits a short pro-peptide (residues 28-39) and a mature chain (residues 40-491).
  • Liver and kidney are major sites of a2Ap production, but also other tissues such as muscle, intestine, central nervous system, and placenta also express its mRNA at a moderate level.
  • Plasma concentrations of alpha2-Antiplasmin are ca. 1 micromolar ( ⁇ 70 micrograms/ml), the half-life in plasma is determined with 2.6 days. (Collen D, Wiman B. Turnover of antiplasmin, the fast-acting plasmin inhibitor of plasma. Blood. 1979; 53(2):313-324).
  • Mimuro et al. describes JPTI-1, an A2AP antibody.
  • the avidity of JPTI-1 to preformed A2AP-plasmin-complex was lower than to free A2AP.
  • JPTI-1 inhibited A2AP activity by interfering with the formation of A2AP-plasmin-complex.
  • Mimuro et al is silent about the use of JPTI-1 to enhance clot lysis (Mimuro, J. et al. Blood 1987; 69:446-453).
  • Other function blocking anti-alpha2-antiplasmin antibodies are not suitable as therapeutic agents, either due to their origin as non-human antibodies, e.g. the Serpin F2/alpha 2-Antiplasmin Antibody derived from goat (R&D, catalog number AF1484-SP), due to their specificity, e.g. the mouse specific antibodies clone 27C9, 4H9, and CBYY-I0956, respectively (MyBioSource, catalogue numbers MBS135095 and MBS135076, Creative Biolabs, catalogue number CBMAB-I2124-YY), or due the fact that these antibodies are polyclonal (Invitrogen, catalogue number PAS-47142).
  • Serpin F2/alpha 2-Antiplasmin Antibody derived from goat R&D, catalog number AF1484-SP
  • specificity e.g. the mouse specific antibodies clone 27C9, 4H9, and CBYY-I0956, respectively (MyBioSource, catalogue numbers MBS135095 and MBS135076, Creative Bio
  • Desirable A2AP antibodies are cross-reactive to rabbit and/or cynomolgus A2AP. They are non-immunogenic in human therapy, i.e. they are human or humanized antibodies. Desirable A2AP antibodies are selective to A2AP, in particular they do not bind to and inhibit human plasmin. And they are able to increase plasmin mediated clot lysis in the presence of A2AP.
  • Such novel A2AP antibodies would offer major advances in the treatment of diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis or shunt thrombosis.
  • the above-mentioned object and other objects are achieved by the teaching of the present invention.
  • the present invention is based on the discovery of novel antibodies that have a specific affinity for alpha2-Antiplasmin and can deliver a therapeutic benefit to a subject.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to human A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention are function blocking anti-alpha2-Antiplasmin antibodies or antigen-binding fragments, which induce accelerated clot lysis in vitro as well as in vivo without leading to unwanted side effects like bleeding as it is typical for other pro-thrombolytic compounds.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention may be used in the treatment of diseases associated with ischemic events due to vessel partial or complete occlusion such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis or shunt thrombosis.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention may further be used in the diagnosis of A2AP-related disorders.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof capable of binding to A2AP and inhibiting the activity of A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof do not inhibit plasmin activity.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof capable of binding to human A2AP and inhibiting activity of A2AP,
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof which compete with said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments for binding to A2AP.
  • the present invention relates to antibody conjugates, comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen binding fragments according to the invention.
  • the present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences that encode the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention.
  • the present invention relates to vectors comprising a nucleic acid sequence according to the present invention.
  • the present invention relates to isolated cells expressing the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention and/or comprising the nucleic acid according to the present invention or the vector according to the present invention.
  • the present invention relates to methods of producing the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention comprising culturing of the cells according to the present invention and optionally purification of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment.
  • the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention or the antibody conjugates according to the present invention.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the invention or conjugates according to invention or pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the invention or conjugates according to invention for use as a diagnostic agent.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the invention or conjugates according to invention or the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of disorders or diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion, such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis.
  • the present invention relates isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the invention or conjugates according to invention or the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention for use in simultaneous, separate, or sequential combination with one or more further therapeutically active compounds, particularly selected from inhibitors of the coagulation cascade, anticoagulants and platelet aggregation inhibitors.
  • kits comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention or the conjugates according to the present invention and instructions for use.
  • the term “comprises” or “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”.
  • the term is intended to be open-ended, to specify the presence of any stated features, elements, integers, steps or components, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
  • the term “comprising” thus includes the more restrictive terms “consisting of” and “essentially consisting of”.
  • the term “comprising” as used throughout the application and in particular within the claims may be replaced by the term “consisting of”.
  • the term “about” or “approximately” means within 80% to 120%, alternatively within 90% to 110%, including within 95% to 105% of a given value or range.
  • polypeptide and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues.
  • the terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an artificial chemical mimetic of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers and non-naturally occurring amino acid polymer. Unless otherwise indicated, a particular polypeptide sequence also implicitly encompasses conservatively modified variants thereof.
  • A2AP designates “alpha2-antiplasmin”, also known as “SerpinF2” (serpin family F member 2), AAP, API, PLI, or ALPHA-2-PI.
  • A2AP is a member of the Serpin superfamily. It is the primary physiological inhibitor of the serine protease plasmin.
  • A2AP is synthesized as a 491 amino acid precursor with a 27 amino acid signal peptide. The secreted form exhibits a short pro-peptide (residues 28-39) and a mature chain (residues 40-491).
  • a reference sequence for human A2AP is available from UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot data base under accession number P08697-1 (SEQ-ID NO:1), including signal peptide (positions 1-27), pro-peptide (residues 28-39) and a mature chain (residues 40-491) (numbering is according to methionine in position 1).
  • Human A2AP (SEQ ID NO: 1): MALLWGLLVLSWSCLQGPCSVFSPVSAMEPLGRQLTSGPNQEQVSPLTLL KLGNQEPGGQTALKSPPGVCSRDPTPEQTHRLARAMMAFTADLESLVAQT STCPNLILSPLSVALALSHLALGAQNHTLQRLQQVLHAGSGPCLPHLLSR LCQDLGPGAFRLAARMYLQKGFPIKEDFLEQSEQLFGAKPVSLTGKQEDD LANINQWVKEATEGKIQEFLSGLPEDTVLLLLNAIHFQGFWRNKFDPSLT QRDSFHLDEQFTVPVEMMQARTYPLRWELLEQPEIQVAHFPFKNNMSFVV LVPTHFEWNVSQVLANLSWDTLHPPLVWERPTKVRLPKLYLKHQMDLVAT LSQLGLQELFQAPDLRGISEQSLVVSGVQHQSTLELSEVGVEAAAATSIA MSRMSLSSFSVNRPFLFFIFEDTTGLPLF
  • Plasmin designates “plasmin”. Plasmin is a that acts to dissolve fibrin e.g. in blood clots. Plasmin is released as a proenzyme called plasminogen (PLG) from the liver into the systemic circulation. Two major glycoforms of plasminogen are present in humans—type I plasminogen contains two glycosylation moieties (N-linked to N289 and O-linked to T346), whereas type II plasminogen contains only a single O-linked sugar (O-linked to T346). Type II plasminogen is preferentially recruited to the cell 25 surface over the type I glycoform. Conversely, type I plasminogen appears more readily recruited to blood clots.
  • plasminogen adopts a closed, activation-resistant conformation.
  • plasminogen Upon binding to clots, or to the cell surface, plasminogen adopts an open form that can be converted into active plasmin by a variety of enzymes, including e.g. tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).
  • tPA tissue plasminogen activator
  • Fibrin is a cofactor for plasminogen activation by tissue plasminogen activator.
  • the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin involves the cleavage of the peptide bond between Arg-561 and Val-562 (Wikipedia).
  • a reference sequence for human plasmin is available from UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot data base under accession number P00747-1 (numbering is according to methionine in position 1).
  • anti-A2AP antibody or “anti-alpha2-Antiplasmin antibody” and “an antibody that binds to alpha2-Antiplasmin” or “an antibody that binds to A2AP” refer to an antibody that is capable of binding alpha2-Antiplasmin with sufficient affinity such that the antibody is useful as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic agent in targeting alpha2-Antiplasmin.
  • the extent of binding of an anti alpha2-Antiplasmin antibody to an unrelated, non-alpha2-Antiplasmin protein is less than about 10%, less than about 5%, or less than about 2% of the binding of the antibody to alpha2-Antiplasmin as measured, e.g., by standard ELISA procedure.
  • an antibody that binds to alpha2-Antiplasmin has a binding activity (EC50) of ⁇ 1 ⁇ M, ⁇ 100 nM, ⁇ 10 nM, ⁇ 1 nM, ⁇ 0.1 nM, ⁇ 0.01 nM, or ⁇ 0.001 nM (e.g. 10 ⁇ 8 M or less, e.g. from 10 ⁇ 8 M to 10 ⁇ 13 M, e.g., from 10 ⁇ 9 M to 10 ⁇ 13 M).
  • an anti-alpha2-Antiplasmin antibody binds to an epitope of alpha2-Antiplasmin that is conserved among alpha2-Antiplasmin from different species.
  • antibody is intended to refer to immunoglobulin molecules.
  • Antibodies may comprise four polypeptide chains, two heavy (H) chains (about 50-70 kDa) and two light (L) chains (about 25 kDa) which are typically inter-connected by disulfide bonds.
  • the antibody is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains.
  • the amino-terminal portion of each chain includes a “variable” region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids primarily responsible for antigen recognition.
  • the heavy chain variable region is abbreviated herein as VH
  • the light chain variable region is abbreviated herein as VL.
  • the carboxyl-terminal portion of each chain defines a constant region primarily responsible for effector function.
  • the heavy chain constant region can comprise e.g. three domains CH1, CH2 and CH3.
  • the light chain constant region is comprised of one domain (CL).
  • CL complementarity determining regions
  • FR framework regions
  • Each VH and VL is typically composed of three CDRs and up to four FRs, arranged from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus e.g., in the following order: FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, FR4.
  • CDRs Complementarity Determining Regions
  • Each variable domain typically has three CDRs identified as CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3.
  • Each complementarity determining region may comprise amino acid residues from a “complementarity determining region” as defined by Kabat (e.g.
  • a complementarity determining region can include amino acids from both a CDR defined according to Kabat and a hypervariable loop.
  • “Framework” or FR residues are those variable domain residues other than the hypervariable region residues.
  • constant region refers to the portion of the antibody molecule that confers effector functions.
  • Fc region herein is used to define a C-terminal region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain that contains at least a portion of the constant region.
  • the term includes native sequence Fc regions and variant Fc regions.
  • a human IgG heavy chain Fc region extends from Cys226, or from Pro230, to the carboxyl-terminus of the heavy chain.
  • the C-terminal lysine (Lys447) of the Fc region may or may not be present.
  • numbering of amino acid residues in the Fc region or constant region is according to the EU numbering system, also called the EU index, as described in Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 1991.
  • Immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes depending on the amino acid sequence of the constant domain of their heavy chains. Heavy chains are classified as mu GO, delta (A), gamma ( ⁇ ), alpha (a), and epsilon (c), and define the antibody's isotype as IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA, and IgE, respectively.
  • the antibody according to the present invention is an IgG antibody. Several of these may be further divided into subclasses or isotypes, e.g. IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2.
  • the antibody according to the present invention is an IgG1, an IgG2, an IgG3 or an IgG4 antibody, more particularly an IgG1 or an IgG4 antibody.
  • Different isotypes may have different effector functions.
  • Human light chains are classified as kappa ( ⁇ ) and lambda ( ⁇ ) light chains.
  • ⁇ lambda
  • the variable and constant regions are joined by a “J” region of about 12 or more amino acids, with the heavy chain also including a “D” region of about 10 more amino acids. See generally, Fundamental Immunology, Ch. 7 (Paul, W., ed., 2nd ed. Raven Press, N.Y. (1989)).
  • a “functional fragment” or “antigen-binding antibody fragment” of an antibody/immunoglobulin hereby is defined as a fragment of an antibody/immunoglobulin (e.g., a variable region of an IgG) that retains the antigen-binding region.
  • An “antigen-binding region” of an antibody typically is found in one or more hyper variable region(s) of an antibody, e.g., the CDR1, -2, and/or -3 regions; however, the variable “framework” regions can also play an important role in antigen binding, such as by providing a scaffold for the CDRs.
  • the “antigen-binding region” comprises at least amino acid residues 4 to 103 of the variable light (VL) chain and 5 to 109 of the variable heavy (VH) chain, more preferably amino acid residues 3 to 107 of VL and 4 to 111 of VH, and particularly preferred are the complete VL and VH chains (amino acid positions 1 to 109 of VL and 1 to 113 of VH; numbering according to WO 97/08320).
  • Nonlimiting examples of “functional fragments” or “antigen-binding antibody fragments” include Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fv fragments, domain antibodies (dAb), complementarity determining region (CDR) fragments, single-chain antibodies (scFv), single chain antibody fragments, diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies, minibodies, linear antibodies (Zapata et al., Protein Eng., 8 (10): 1057-1062 (1995)); chelating recombinant antibodies, tribodies or bibodies, intrabodies, nanobodies, small modular immunopharmaceuticals (SMIPs), an antigen-binding-domain immunoglobulin fusion protein, a camelized antibody, a VHH containing antibody, or muteins or derivatives thereof, and polypeptides that contain at least a portion of an immunoglobulin that is sufficient to confer specific antigen binding to the polypeptide, such as a CDR sequence, as long as the antibody retains the desired biological
  • An antibody other than a “bispecific” or “bifunctional” antibody is understood to have each of its binding sites identical.
  • the F(ab′)2 or Fab may be engineered to minimize or completely remove the intermolecular disulfide interactions that occur between the C H1 and C L domains. Papain digestion of antibodies produces two identical antigen-binding fragments, called “Fab” fragments, each with a single antigen-binding site, and a residual “Fc” fragment, whose name reflects its ability to crystallize readily.
  • Fv F(ab′)2 fragment
  • An “Fv” fragment is the minimum antibody fragment that contains a complete antigen recognition and binding site. This region consists of a dimer of one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain in tight, non-covalent association. It is in this configuration that the three CDRs of each variable domain interact to define an antigen binding site on the surface of the VH-VL dimer.
  • the six CDRs confer antigen-binding specificity to the antibody.
  • a single variable domain or half of an Fv comprising only three CDRs specific for an antigen has the ability to recognize and bind antigen.
  • Single-chain Fv or “sFv” or “scFv” antibody fragments comprise the VH and VL domains of antibody, wherein these domains are present in a single polypeptide chain.
  • the Fv polypeptide further comprises a polypeptide linker between the VH and VL domains that enables the Fv to form the desired structure for antigen binding.
  • a polypeptide linker between the VH and VL domains that enables the Fv to form the desired structure for antigen binding.
  • the Fab fragment also contains the constant domain of the light chain and the first constant domain (CH1) of the heavy chain.
  • Fab fragments differ from Fab′ fragments by the addition of a few residues at the carboxyl terminus of the heavy chain CH1 domain including one or more cysteine residues from the antibody hinge region.
  • Fab′-SH is the designation herein for Fab′ in which the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domains bear a free thiol group.
  • F(ab′)2 antibody fragments originally were produced as pairs of Fab′ fragments which have hinge cysteine residues between them.
  • mutein or “variant” can be used interchangeably and refers to an antibody or antigen-binding fragment that contains at least one amino acid substitution, deletion, or insertion in the variable region or the portion equivalent to the variable region, provided that the mutein or variant retains the desired binding affinity or biological activity.
  • variants of the antibodies or antigen-binding antibody fragments contemplated in the invention are molecules in which the binding activity of the antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment is maintained.
  • variable domains are derived from a non-human origin and some or all constant domains are derived from a human origin.
  • Humanized antibodies contain CDR regions derived from a non-human species, such as mouse, that have, for example, been engrafted, along with any necessary framework back-mutations, into human sequence-derived V regions.
  • humanized antibodies are human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from a hypervariable region of the recipient are replaced by residues from a hypervariable region of a non-human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat, rabbit or non-human primate having the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,585,089; 5,693,761; 5,693,762; 5,859,205, each herein incorporated by reference.
  • framework residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,585,089; 5,693,761; 5,693,762, each herein incorporated by reference).
  • humanized antibodies may comprise residues that are not found in the recipient antibody or in the donor antibody. These modifications are made to further refine antibody performance (e.g., to obtain desired affinity).
  • the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the hypervariable regions correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the framework regions are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the humanized antibody optionally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin.
  • Fc immunoglobulin constant region
  • Human antibodies or “fully human antibodies” comprise human derived CDRs, i.e. CDRs of human origin.
  • Fully human antibodies may comprise a low number of germline deviations compared with the closest human germline reference determined based on the IMGT database (http://www.imgt.org).
  • a fully human antibody according to the current invention may comprise up to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 germline deviations in the CDRs compared with the closest human germline reference.
  • Fully human antibodies can be developed from human derived B cells by cloning techniques in combination with a cell enrichment or immortalization step.
  • CAT Cambridge Antibody Technologies
  • Dyax have obtained antibody cDNA sequences from peripheral B cells isolated from immunized humans and devised phage display libraries for the identification of human variable region sequences of a particular specificity. Briefly, the antibody variable region sequences are fused either with the Gene III or Gene VIII structure of the M13 bacteriophage. These antibody variable region sequences are expressed either as Fab or single chain Fv (scFv) structures at the tip of the phage carrying the respective sequences.
  • scFv single chain Fv
  • phages expressing Fab or scFv structures that are specific for the antigen of interest can be selected and isolated.
  • the antibody variable region cDNA sequences of selected phages can then be elucidated using standard sequencing procedures. These sequences may then be used for the reconstruction of a full antibody having the desired isotype using established antibody engineering techniques.
  • Antibodies constructed in accordance with this method are considered fully human antibodies (including the CDRs).
  • an in vitro maturation process can be introduced, including a combinatorial association of different heavy and light chains, deletion/addition/mutation at the CDR3 of the heavy and light chains (to mimic V-J, and V-D-J recombination), and random mutations (to mimic somatic hypermutation).
  • An example of a “fully human” antibody generated by this method is the anti-tumor necrosis factor ⁇ antibody, Humira (adalimumab).
  • An antibody of the invention may be derived from a recombinant antibody gene library.
  • the development of technologies for making repertoires of recombinant human antibody genes, and the display of the encoded antibody fragments on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage, has provided a recombinant means for directly making and selecting human antibodies, which also can be applied to humanized, chimeric, murine or mutein antibodies.
  • the antibodies produced by phage technology are produced as antigen binding fragments—usually Fv or Fab fragments—in bacteria and thus lack effector functions. Effector functions can be introduced by one of two strategies: The fragments can be engineered either into complete antibodies for expression in mammalian cells, or into bispecific antibody fragments with a second binding site capable of triggering an effector function.
  • the Fd fragment (VH-CH1) and light chain (VL-CL) of antibodies are separately cloned by PCR and recombined randomly in combinatorial phage display libraries, which can then be selected for binding to a particular antigen.
  • the Fab fragments are expressed on the phage surface, i.e., physically linked to the genes that encode them.
  • selection of Fab by antigen binding co-selects for the Fab encoding sequences, which can be amplified subsequently.
  • a procedure termed panning Fab specific for the antigen are enriched and finally isolated.
  • Such libraries may be built on a single master framework, into which diverse in vivo-formed (i. e. human-derived) CDRs are allowed to recombine as described by Carlsson and Söderlind Exp. Rev. Mol. Diagn. 1 (1), 102-108 (2001), Söderlin et al., Nat. Biotech. 18, 852-856 (2000) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,989,250.
  • an antibody library may be based on amino acid sequences that have been designed in silico and encoded by nucleic acids that are synthetically created.
  • silico design of an antibody sequence is achieved, for example, by analyzing a database of human sequences and devising a polypeptide sequence utilizing the data obtained therefrom.
  • Methods for designing and obtaining in silico-created sequences are described, for example, in Knappik et al., J. Mol. Biol. (2000) 296:57; Krebs et al., J. Immunol. Methods. (2001) 254:67; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,064.
  • phage display screening for example see Hoet R M et al, Nat Biotechnol 2005; 23(3):344-8
  • the well-established hybridoma technology for example see Kohler and Milstein Nature. 1975 Aug. 7; 256(5517):495-7
  • immunization of mice inter alia immunization of hMAb mice (e.g. VelocImmune Mouse®).
  • monoclonal antibody refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible mutations, e.g., naturally occurring mutations, that may be present in minor amounts. Thus, the term “monoclonal” indicates the character of the antibody as not being a mixture of discrete antibodies. In contrast to polyclonal antibody preparations, which typically include different antibodies directed against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody of a monoclonal antibody preparation is directed against a single determinant on an antigen. In addition to their specificity, monoclonal antibody preparations are advantageous in that they are typically uncontaminated by other immunoglobulins.
  • the term “monoclonal” is not to be construed as to require production of the antibody by any particular method.
  • the monoclonal antibodies to be used may be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler et al., Nature, 256: 495 [1975, or may be made by recombinant DNA methods (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567).
  • the “monoclonal antibodies” may also be recombinant, chimeric, humanized, human, Human EngineeredTM, or antibody fragments, for example.
  • an “isolated” antibody is one that has been identified and separated from a component of the cell that expressed it. Contaminant components of the cell are materials that would interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses of the antibody, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous solutes.
  • An “isolated” nucleic acid is one that has been identified and separated from a component of its natural environment.
  • An isolated nucleic acid includes a nucleic acid molecule contained in cells that ordinarily contain the nucleic acid molecule, but the nucleic acid molecule is present extrachromosomally or at a chromosomal location that is different from its natural chromosomal location.
  • an antibody “binds specifically to”, is “specific to/for” or “specifically recognizes” an antigen of interest, e.g. A2AP, is one that binds the antigen with sufficient affinity such that the antibody is useful as a therapeutic agent in targeting a cell or tissue expressing the antigen, and does not significantly cross-react with proteins other than orthologs and variants (e.g. mutant forms, splice variants, or proteolytically truncated forms) of the aforementioned antigen target.
  • proteins other than orthologs and variants e.g. mutant forms, splice variants, or proteolytically truncated forms
  • the term “specifically recognizes” or “binds specifically to” or is “specific to/for” a particular polypeptide or an epitope on a particular polypeptide target as used herein can be exhibited, for example, by an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, having a monovalent K D for the antigen of less than about 10 ⁇ 4 M, alternatively less than about 10 ⁇ 5 M, alternatively less than about 10 ⁇ 6 M, alternatively less than about 10 ⁇ 7 M, alternatively less than about 10 ⁇ 8 M, alternatively less than about 10 ⁇ 9 M, alternatively less than about 10 ⁇ 10 M, alternatively less than about 10 ⁇ 11 M, alternatively less than about 10 ⁇ 12 M, or less.
  • “specific binding”, “binds specifically to”, is “specific to/for” or “specifically recognizes” is referring to the ability of the antibody to discriminate between the antigen of interest and an unrelated antigen, as determined, for example, in accordance with one of the following methods.
  • Such methods comprise, but are not limited to surface plasmon resonance (SPR), Western blots, ELISA-, RIA-, ECL-, IRMA-tests and peptide scans.
  • SPR surface plasmon resonance
  • Western blots ELISA-, RIA-, ECL-, IRMA-tests
  • peptide scans for example, a standard ELISA assay can be carried out.
  • the scoring may be carried out by standard color development (e.g. secondary antibody with horseradish peroxidase and tetramethyl benzidine with hydrogen peroxide).
  • the reaction in certain wells is scored by the optical density, for example, at 450 nm.
  • determination of binding specificity is performed by using not a single reference antigen, but a set of about three to five unrelated antigens, such as milk powder, BSA, transferrin or the like.
  • Binding affinity refers to the strength of the total sum of non-covalent interactions between a single binding site of a molecule and its binding partner. Unless indicated otherwise, as used herein, “binding affinity” refers to intrinsic binding affinity which reflects a 1:1 interaction between members of a binding pair (e.g. an antibody and an antigen).
  • the dissociation constant “K D” is commonly used to describe the affinity between a molecule (such as an antibody) and its binding partner (such as an antigen) i.e. how tightly a ligand binds to a particular protein.
  • Ligand-protein affinities are influenced by non-covalent intermolecular interactions between the two molecules.
  • the “K D ” or “K D value” according to this invention is measured by using surface plasmon resonance assays using a Biacore T200 instrument (GE Healthcare Biacore, Inc.).
  • a Biacore T200 instrument GE Healthcare Biacore, Inc.
  • Other suitable devices are BIACORE T100, BIACORE®-2000, BIACORe 4000, a BIACORE®-3000 (BIAcore, Inc., Piscataway, NJ), or ProteOn XPR36 instrument (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.).
  • epitopic determinants includes any protein determinant capable of specific binding to an immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor.
  • Epitopic determinants usually consist of chemically active surface groupings of molecules such as amino acids or sugar side chains, or combinations thereof and usually have specific three-dimensional structural characteristics, as well as specific charge characteristics.
  • an “antibody that binds to the same epitope” as a reference antibody or “an antibody which competes for binding” to a reference antibody refers to an antibody that blocks binding of the reference antibody to its antigen in a competition assay by 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% or more, and conversely, the reference antibody blocks binding of the antibody to its antigen in a competition assay by 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% or more.
  • saturated antibodies or “maturated antigen-binding fragments” such as maturated Fab variants or “optimized” variants includes derivatives of an antibody or antibody fragment exhibiting stronger binding—i. e. binding with increased affinity—to a given antigen such as the extracellular domain of a target protein.
  • Maturation is the process of identifying a small number of mutations within the six CDRs of an antibody or antibody fragment leading to this affinity increase.
  • the maturation process is the combination of molecular biology methods for introduction of mutations into the antibody and screening for identifying the improved binders.
  • Percent (%) sequence identity with respect to a reference polynucleotide or polypeptide sequence, respectively, is defined as the percentage of nucleic acid or amino acid residues, respectively, in a candidate sequence that are identical with the nucleic acid or amino acid residues, respectively, in the reference polynucleotide or polypeptide sequence, respectively, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity. Conservative substitutions are not considered as part of the sequence identity. Preferred are un-gapped alignments.
  • Alignment for purposes of determining percent amino acid sequence identity can be achieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for aligning sequences, including any algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full length of the sequences being compared.
  • Sequence homology indicates the percentage of amino acids that either is identical or that represent conservative amino acid substitutions.
  • antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention are an A2AP blocking antibodies or antigen-binding fragments.
  • antibody conjugate refers to an antibody conjugated to one or more molecules including drugs—in which case the antibody conjugate is referred to as “antibody-drug conjugate” (“ADC”)—and high molecular weight molecules such as peptides or proteins.
  • ADC antibody-drug conjugate
  • Amino acids may be referred to herein by their commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission. Nucleotides, likewise, may be referred to by their commonly accepted single-letter codes.
  • vector refers to a nucleic acid molecule capable of propagating another nucleic acid to which it is linked.
  • the term includes the vector as a self-replicating nucleic acid structure as well as the vector incorporated into the genome of a host cell into which it has been introduced.
  • Certain vectors are capable of directing the expression of nucleic acids to which they are operatively linked. Such vectors are referred to herein as “expression vectors.”
  • host cell refers to cells into which at least one exogenous nucleic acid has been introduced, including the progeny of such cells.
  • Host cells include “transformants” and “transformed cells”, “transfectants” and “transfected cells” and “transduced cells” which include the primary transformed/transfected/transduced cell and progeny derived therefrom without regard to the number of passages.
  • Progeny may not be completely identical in nucleic acid content to a parent cell but may contain mutations. Mutant progeny that have the same function or biological activity as screened or selected for in the originally transformed cell are included herein.
  • therapeutically effective amount is meant to refer to an amount of therapeutic or prophylactic antibody that would be appropriate to elicit the desired therapeutic or prophylactic effect or response, including alleviating some or all of such symptoms of disease or reducing the predisposition to the disease, when administered in accordance with the desired treatment regimen.
  • pharmaceutical formulation refers to a preparation which is in such form as to permit the biological activity of an active ingredient contained therein to be effective, and which contains no additional components which are unacceptably toxic to a subject to which the formulation would be administered.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof binding to human A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof cross-react with rabbit and/or cynomolgus A2AP.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention have an affinity to rabbit A2AP that is less than 100-fold, particularly less than 30-fold, even more particularly less than 15-fold and most particularly less than different to that to human A2AP.
  • said affinities are to human A2AP of amino acid 40-491 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and to rabbit A2AP of amino acids 28-491 of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention have an affinity to cynomolgus A2AP that is less than 100-fold, particularly less than 30-fold, even more particularly less than 15-fold and most particularly less than 5-fold different to that to human A2AP.
  • said affinities are to human A2AP of amino acid 40-491 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and to cynomolgus A2AP of amino acid 28-491 SEQ ID NO: 3.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof capable of binding to human A2AP and inhibiting activity of A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof do not inhibit plasmin activity.
  • said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof according to the present invention inhibit the activity of A2AP by preventing the binding of A2AP to plasmin.
  • an A2AP antibody does not inhibit plasmin activity up to high concentration of the antibody.
  • isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof according to the present invention did not inhibit plasmin activity up to a concentration of 10 ⁇ M in an in vitro plasmin inhibition assay, whereas antibody 77A3 inhibited the plasmin activity with an IC50 of 1.7 ⁇ M in the same assay (see example 11, FIG. 16 ).
  • said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof according to the present invention do not inhibit the activity of human plasmin, particularly human plasmin comprising SEQ ID NO: 118 (plasmin heavy chain A) and SEQ ID NO: 119 (plasmin light chain B), even if present in high micromolar concentration.
  • said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof according to the present invention do not inhibit plasmin activity up to a concertation of said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of 1 ⁇ M, 2 ⁇ M, 5 ⁇ M or 10 ⁇ M in an in vitro plasmin inhibition assay.
  • said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof according to the present invention do not inhibit plasmin activity up to a concertation of said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of 1 ⁇ M, 2 ⁇ M, 5 ⁇ M or 10 ⁇ M in an in vitro plasmin inhibition assay, wherein the in vitro plasmin inhibition assay determines the inhibition of the proteolytic activity of plasmin.
  • Such an in vitro plasmin inhibition assay can be an assay, that determines the inhibition of the proteolytic activity of plasmin as described in example 11.
  • plasmin and a labeled substrate for the plasmin proteolytic activity like fluorogenic substrate 1-1275 (Bachem; MeOSuc-Ala-Phe-Lys-AMC trifluoroacetate salt; catalogue number 1-1275) may be used.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof capable of binding to human A2AP and inhibiting activity of A2AP,
  • A2AP comprises the amino acid sequence SRMSLSS (amino acid 402-408 of SEQ ID NO: 1), which is located in the reactive center loop of A2AP (amino acid 400-412 of Seq ID NO: 1).
  • said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof according to the present invention are capable of binding to human A2AP and inhibiting activity of A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof bind to an epitope of A2AP comprising amino acid 402-408 (SRMSLSS) of SEQ ID NO: 1 and wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof do not inhibit plasmin activity.
  • said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof according to the present invention are capable of binding to human A2AP and inhibiting activity of A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof bind to an epitope of A2AP comprising amino acid 402-408 (SRMSLSS) of SEQ ID NO: 1 and wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof do not inhibit plasmin activity up to a concertation of said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of 1 ⁇ M, 2 ⁇ M, 5 ⁇ M or 10 ⁇ M in an in vitro plasmin inhibition assay.
  • SRMSLSS amino acid 402-408
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof binding to human A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof do not convert A2AP from a serine protease inhibitor to a serine protease substrate.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof binding to human A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof bind to human A2AP of the sequence of amino acid 40-491 of SEQ ID 1 with a dissociation constant (KD) ⁇ 100 nM, ⁇ 50 nM, ⁇ 25 nM, ⁇ 10 nM, ⁇ 1 nM, or ⁇ 0.5 nM.
  • KD dissociation constant
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof binding to human A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof bind to human A2AP of the sequence of amino acid 40-491 of SEQ ID 1 with an EC50 of ⁇ 500 nM, ⁇ 250 nM, ⁇ 100 nM, ⁇ 50 nM, ⁇ 25 nM, ⁇ 10 nM, ⁇ 1 nM, or ⁇ 0.5 nM.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof binding to human A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof inhibit the activity of human A2AP of amino acid 40-491 of SEQ ID 1 with an EC50 of ⁇ 500 nM, ⁇ 250 nM, ⁇ 100 nM, ⁇ 50 nM, ⁇ 25 nM, ⁇ 10 nM, ⁇ 1 nM, or ⁇ 0.5 nM in an in vitro A2AP function blocking assay.
  • An in vitro A2AP function blocking assay can be an assay as described in example 4.
  • the test antibodies are pre-incubated with A2AP.
  • the activity of the added A2AP substrate which is not blocked by A2AP, can be analyzed for example by the use of a labeled substrate for the A2AP-substrate.
  • the fluorogenic substrate 1-1275 (Bachem; MeOSuc-Ala-Phe-Lys-AMC trifluoroacetate salt; catalogue number 1-1275) may be used.
  • said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof according to the present invention are provided.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof binding to human A2AP, wherein said isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof increase plasmin mediated clot lysis in the presence of A2AP.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention increase plasmin mediated clot lysis in vitro and/or in vivo.
  • the antibody's ability to increase plasmin mediated clot lysis in vitro may be assessed as described in Example 7.
  • the antibody's ability to increase plasmin mediated clot lysis in vivo may be assessed as described in Example 8.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention may exhibit any combination of the above described characteristics.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention interfere with the interaction of A2AP and plasmin, particularly with the interaction of human A2AP and human plasmin, particularly with the interaction of human A2AP of amino acid 40-491 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and human plasmin, particularly human plasmin comprising SEQ ID NO: 118 (plasmin heavy chain A) and SEQ ID NO: 119 (plasmin light chain B).
  • the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention are A2AP blocking antibodies or antigen-binding fragments.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention comprise a heavy chain variable domain that is at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 32.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention comprise a light chain variable domain that is at least 90% %, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 38.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention comprise a heavy chain variable domain that is at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 32, and a light chain variable domain that is at least 90% %, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 38.
  • the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention comprises a heavy chain antigen-binding region that comprises an H-CDR3 comprising the sequence EX 1 YDSSGYYHLX 2 Y (SEQ ID NO: 4) wherein X 1 is selected from the group consisting of Y, D and G and wherein X 2 is selected from the group consisting of D, V, E and T.
  • X 1 is selected from the group consisting of D and G and X 2 is selected from the group consisting of V, E and T.
  • the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention comprises a light chain antigen-binding region that comprises an L-CDR3 comprising the sequence X 1 AWDX 2 SLSGWV (SEQ ID NO: 5) wherein X 1 is selected from the group consisting of A and W and wherein X 2 is selected from the group consisting of D, N, L, W and V.
  • X 1 is selected from the group consisting of W and X 2 is selected from the group consisting of N, L, W and V.
  • the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention comprises i) a heavy chain antigen-binding region that comprises an H-CDR3 comprising the sequence EX 1 YDSSGYYHLX 2 Y (SEQ ID NO: 4) wherein X 1 is selected from the group consisting of Y, D and G and wherein X 2 is selected from the group consisting of D, V, E and T and ii) a light chain antigen-binding region that comprises an L-CDR3 comprising the sequence X 1 AWDX 2 SLSGWV (SEQ ID NO: 5), wherein X 1 is selected from the group consisting of A and W; and wherein X 2 is selected from the group consisting of D, N, L, W and V.
  • a heavy chain antigen-binding region that comprises an H-CDR3 comprising the sequence EX 1 YDSSGYYHLX 2 Y (SEQ ID NO: 4) wherein X 1 is selected from the group consisting of Y, D and
  • the two framework residues X 1 X 2 directly adjacent to the 5′ end of the H-CDR3 region are selected as follows: X 1 is selected from the group consisting of A and D, in particular X 1 is D, and X 2 is selected from the group consisting of R and S, in particular X 2 is S.
  • the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention comprises a heavy chain antigen-binding region that comprises an H-CDR1 comprising SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO: 21 and an H-CDR2 comprising SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO: 22.
  • the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention comprises a light chain antigen-binding region that comprises an L-CDR1 comprising SEQ ID NO: 9 and an L-CDR2 comprising SEQ ID NO: 10.
  • the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention comprises
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention comprises:
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention comprise at least one, at least two, at least three or at least four or five of the heavy chain variable domain framework and CDR residues selected from the group consisting of 30S, 31S, 53S, 56S, 97K.
  • These amino acid positions correspond to the amino acid positions of reference heavy chain variable domain of SEQ ID NO: 32 and include framework and H-CDR1 and H-CDR2 amino acid residues.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention comprise:
  • the isolated antibodies according to the present invention are IgG antibody.
  • the isolated antibodies according to the present invention are an IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or an IgG4 antibody.
  • the isolated antibodies according to the present invention is an IgG1 or an IgG4 antibody.
  • the isolated antibodies according to the present invention comprise:
  • the antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention are scFv, Fab, Fab′ fragment or a F(ab′)2 fragments.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention are monoclonal antibodies or antigen-binding fragments.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention are human, humanized or chimeric antibodies or antigen-binding fragments, more particularly fully human antibodies or antigen-binding fragments.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention are monospecific antibodies. In particular other embodiments, the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention are multispecific antibodies that bind to A2AP and at least one further antigen, such bispecific, trispecific or tetraspecific antibodies.
  • the present invention relates to isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that compete with the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention for binding to A2AP.
  • Antibodies or antigen-binding fragments of the invention are not limited to the specific peptide sequences provided herein. Rather, the invention also embodies variants of these polypeptides. With reference to the instant disclosure and conventionally available technologies and references, the skilled worker will be able to prepare, test and utilize functional variants of the antibodies disclosed herein, while appreciating these variants having the ability to bind to A2AP fall within the scope of the present invention.
  • a variant can include, for example, an antibody that has at least one altered complementary determining region (CDR) (hyper-variable) and/or framework (FR) (variable) domain/position, vis-à-vis a peptide sequence disclosed herein.
  • CDR complementary determining region
  • FR framework
  • the skilled worker routinely can generate mutated or diversified antibody sequences, which can be screened against the antigen, for new or improved properties, for example.
  • a further preferred embodiment of the invention is an antibody or antigen-binding fragment in which the VH and VL sequences are selected as shown in Table 1.
  • the skilled worker can use the data in Table 1 to design peptide variants that are within the scope of the present invention. It is preferred that variants are constructed by changing amino acids within one or more CDR regions; a variant might also have one or more altered framework regions. Alterations also may be made in the framework regions. For example, a peptide FR domain might be altered where there is a deviation in a residue compared to a germline sequence.
  • variants may be obtained by using one antibody as starting point for further optimization by diversifying one or more amino acid residues in the antibody, preferably amino acid residues in one or more CDRs, and by screening the resulting collection of antibody variants for variants with improved properties. Particularly preferred is diversification of one or more amino acid residues in CDR3 of VL and/or VH. Diversification can be done e.g. by synthesizing a collection of DNA molecules using trinucleotide mutagenesis (TRIM) technology (Virnekas B. et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 1994, 22: 5600.).
  • TAM trinucleotide mutagenesis
  • Antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof include molecules with modifications/variations including but not limited to e.g. modifications leading to altered half-life (e.g. modification of the Fc part or attachment of further molecules such as PEG), altered binding affinity or altered ADCC or CDC activity.
  • Polypeptide variants may be made that conserve the overall molecular structure of an antibody peptide sequence described herein. Given the properties of the individual amino acids, some rational substitutions will be recognized by the skilled worker. Amino acid substitutions, i.e., “conservative substitutions,” may be made, for instance, on the basis of similarity in polarity, charge, solubility, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and/or the amphipathic nature of the residues involved.
  • nonpolar (hydrophobic) amino acids include alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophane, and methionine;
  • polar neutral amino acids include glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, and glutamine;
  • positively charged (basic) amino acids include arginine, lysine, and histidine; and
  • negatively charged (acidic) amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Substitutions typically may be made within groups (a)-(d).
  • glycine and proline may be substituted for one another based on their ability to disrupt ⁇ -helices.
  • certain amino acids such as alanine, cysteine, leucine, methionine, glutamic acid, glutamine, histidine and lysine are more commonly found in ⁇ -helices
  • valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and threonine are more commonly found in (3-pleated sheets.
  • Glycine, serine, aspartic acid, asparagine, and proline are commonly found in turns.
  • the carbohydrate attached thereto may be altered.
  • Native antibodies produced by mammalian cells typically comprise a branched, biantennary oligosaccharide that is generally attached by an N-linkage to Asn297 using Kabat EU numbering of the CH2 domain of the Fc region; see, e.g., Wright et al. Trends Biotechnol. 15: 26-32 (1997).
  • an antibody provided herein is altered to increase or decrease the extent to which the antibody is glycosylated.
  • Addition or deletion of glycosylation sites to an antibody may be conveniently accomplished by altering the expression system (e.g. host cell) and/or by altering the amino acid sequence such that one or more glycosylation sites is created or removed.
  • aglycosyl antibodies having decreased effector function or antibody derivatives are prepared by expression in a prokaryotic host.
  • Suitable prokaryotic hosts for include but are not limited to E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium and various species within the genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces , and Staphylococcus.
  • antibody variants are provided having decreased effector function, which are characterized by a modification at the conserved N-linked site in the CH2 domains of the Fc portion of said antibody.
  • the modification comprises a mutation at the heavy chain glycosylation site to prevent glycosylation at the site.
  • the aglycosyl antibodies or antibody derivatives are prepared by mutation of the heavy chain glycosylation site, —i.e., mutation of N297 using Kabat EU numbering and expressed in an appropriate host cell.
  • aglycosyl antibodies or antibody derivatives have decreased effector function, wherein the modification at the conserved N-linked site in the CH2 domains of the Fc portion of said antibody or antibody derivative comprises the removal of the CH2 domain glycans, —i.e., deglycosylation.
  • deglycosylation aglycosyl antibodies may be generated by conventional methods and then deglycosylated enzymatically. Methods for enzymatic deglycosylation of antibodies are well known in the art (e.g. Winkelhake & Nicolson (1976), J Biol Chem. 251(4):1074-80).
  • deglycosylation may be achieved using the glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin (Nose & Wigzell (1983), Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 80(21):6632-6). That is, the modification is the prevention of glycosylation at the conserved N-linked site in the CH2 domains of the Fc portion of said antibody.
  • antibody variants having a carbohydrate structure that lacks fucose attached (directly or indirectly) to an Fc region.
  • the amount of fucose in such antibody may be from 1% to 80%, from 1% to 65%, from 5% to 65% or from 20% to 40%.
  • the amount of fucose is determined by calculating the average amount of fucose within the sugar chain at Asn297, relative to the sum of all glycostructures attached to Asn 297 (e.g. complex, hybrid and high mannose structures) as measured by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, as described in WO 2008/077546, for example.
  • Asn297 refers to the asparagine residue located at about position 297 in the Fc region (Eu numbering of Fc region residues); however, Asn297 may also be located about ⁇ 3 amino acids upstream or downstream of position 297, i.e., between positions 294 and 300, due to minor sequence variations in antibodies. Such fucosylation variants may have improved ADCC function.
  • Examples of cell lines capable of producing defucosylated antibodies include Lec13 CHO cells deficient in protein fucosylation (Ripka et al. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 249:533-545 (1986); and WO 2004/056312), and knockout cell lines, such as alpha-1,6-fucosyltransferase gene, FUT8, knockout CHO cells (see, e.g., Yamane-Ohnuki et al. Biotech. Bioeng. 87: 614 (2004); Kanda, Y. et al., Biotechnol. Bioeng., 94(4):680-688 (2006)).
  • Antibody variants are further provided with bisected oligosaccharides, e.g., in which a biantennary oligosaccharide attached to the Fc region of the antibody is bisected by GlcNAc.
  • Such antibody variants may have reduced fucosylation and/or improved ADCC function. Examples of such antibody variants are described, e.g., in WO 2003/011878; U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,684; and US 2005/0123546.
  • Antibody variants with at least one galactose residue in the oligosaccharide attached to the Fc region are also provided. Such antibody variants may have improved CDC function. Such antibody variants are described, e.g., in WO1997/30087; WO1998/58964; and WO1999/22764.
  • one or more amino acid modifications may be introduced into the Fc region of an antibody (e.g., a human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4 Fc region) provided herein, thereby generating an Fc region variant.
  • an antibody e.g., a human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4 Fc region
  • the invention contemplates an antibody variant that possesses some but not all effector functions, which make it a desirable candidate for applications in which the half-life of the antibody in vivo is important yet certain effector functions (such as complement and ADCC) are unnecessary or deleterious.
  • In vitro and/or in vivo cytotoxicity assays can be conducted to confirm the reduction/depletion of CDC and/or ADCC activities.
  • Fc receptor (FcR) binding assays can be conducted to ensure that the antibody lacks Fc ⁇ R binding (hence likely lacking ADCC activity) but retains FcRn binding ability.
  • alterations are made in the Fc region that result in altered (i.e., either improved or diminished) C1q binding and/or Complement Dependent Cytotoxicity (CDC).
  • the invention contemplates an antibody variant that possesses an increased or decreased half-live.
  • Antibodies with increased half-lives and improved binding to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), which is responsible for the transfer of maternal IgGs to the fetus are described in US2005/0014934 (Hinton et al.).
  • Those antibodies comprise an Fc region with one or more substitutions therein which improve binding of the Fc region to FcRn.
  • the present invention relates to antibody conjugates, comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen binding fragments according to the present invention.
  • An antibody of the invention may be derived from a recombinant antibody library that is based on amino acid sequences that have been isolated from the antibodies of a large number of healthy volunteers e.g. using the n-CoDeR® technology the fully human CDRs are recombined into new antibody molecules (Carlson & Söderlind, Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2001 May; 1(1):102-8). Or alternatively for example antibody libraries as the fully human antibody phage display library described in Hoet R M et al., Nat Biotechnol 2005; 23(3):344-8) can be used to isolate A2AP-specific antibodies. Antibodies or antibody fragments isolated from human antibody libraries are considered human antibodies or human antibody fragments herein.
  • Human antibodies may be further prepared by administering an immunogen to a transgenic animal that has been modified to produce intact human antibodies or intact antibodies with human variable regions in response to antigenic challenge.
  • Such animals typically contain all or a portion of the human immunoglobulin loci, which replace the endogenous immunoglobulin loci, or which are present extrachromosomally or integrated randomly into the animal's chromosomes.
  • immunization of genetically engineered mice inter alia immunization of hMAb mice (e.g. VelocImmune Mouse® or XENOMOUSE®) may be performed.
  • Further antibodies may be generated using the hybridoma technology (for example see Kohler and Milstein Nature. 1975 Aug. 7; 256(5517):495-7), resulting in for example murine, rat, or rabbit antibodies which can be converted into chimeric or humanized antibodies.
  • Humanized antibodies and methods of making them are reviewed, e.g., in Almagro and Fransson, Front. Biosci. 13:1619-1633 (2008), and are further described, e.g., in Riechmann et al., Nature 332:323-329 (1988); Queen et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 86:10029-10033 (1989); U.S. Pat. Nos.
  • Examples are provided for the generation of antibodies using a recombinant antibody library.
  • the present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence that encodes the antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention.
  • the isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding the antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention can for instance be produced by techniques described in Sambrook et al., 1989, and Ausubel et al., 1989, or alternatively, by chemically synthesis. (e.g. techniques described in Oligonucleotide Synthesis (1984, Gait, ed., IRL Press, Oxford)).
  • the DNA sequences used for the antibodies expressed are given in Table 2. These sequences are optimized in certain cases for mammalian expression.
  • DNA molecules of the invention are not limited to the sequences disclosed herein, but also include variants thereof.
  • DNA variants within the invention may be described by reference to their physical properties in hybridization.
  • the skilled worker will recognize that DNA can be used to identify its complement and, since DNA is double stranded, its equivalent or homolog, using nucleic acid hybridization techniques. It also will be recognized that hybridization can occur with less than 100% complementarity.
  • hybridization techniques can be used to differentiate among DNA sequences based on their structural relatedness to a particular probe. For guidance regarding such conditions see, Sambrook et al., 1989 supra and Ausubel et al., 1995 (Ausubel, F. M., Brent, R., Congress, R. E., Moore, D. D., Sedman, J. G., Smith, J. A., & Struhl, K. eds. (1995). Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. New York: John Wiley and Sons).
  • Structural similarity between two polynucleotide sequences can be expressed as a function of “stringency” of the conditions under which the two sequences will hybridize with one another.
  • stringency refers to the extent that the conditions disfavor hybridization. Stringent conditions strongly disfavor hybridization, and only the most structurally related molecules will hybridize to one another under such conditions. Conversely, non-stringent conditions favor hybridization of molecules displaying a lesser degree of structural relatedness. Hybridization stringency, therefore, directly correlates with the structural relationships of two nucleic acid sequences.
  • Hybridization stringency is a function of many factors, including overall DNA concentration, ionic strength, temperature, probe size and the presence of agents which disrupt hydrogen bonding. Factors promoting hybridization include high DNA concentrations, high ionic strengths, low temperatures, longer probe size and the absence of agents that disrupt hydrogen bonding. Hybridization typically is performed in two phases: the “binding” phase and the “washing” phase.
  • variants of DNA molecules provided herein can be constructed in several different ways. For example, they may be constructed as completely synthetic DNAs. Methods of efficiently synthesizing oligonucleotides are widely available. See Ausubel et al., section 2.11, Supplement 21 (1993). Overlapping oligonucleotides may be synthesized and assembled in a fashion first reported by Khorana et al., J. Mol. Biol. 72:209-217 (1971); see also Ausubel et al., supra, Section 8.2. Synthetic DNAs preferably are designed with convenient restriction sites engineered at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the gene to facilitate cloning into an appropriate vector.
  • a method of generating variants is to start with one of the DNAs disclosed herein and then to conduct site-directed mutagenesis. See Ausubel et al., supra, chapter 8, Supplement 37 (1997).
  • a target DNA is cloned into a single-stranded DNA bacteriophage vehicle.
  • Single-stranded DNA is isolated and hybridized with an oligonucleotide containing the desired nucleotide alteration(s).
  • the complementary strand is synthesized and the double stranded phage is introduced into a host.
  • Some of the resulting progeny will contain the desired mutant, which can be confirmed using DNA sequencing.
  • various methods are available that increase the probability that the progeny phage will be the desired mutant. These methods are well known to those in the field and kits are commercially available for generating such mutants.
  • the present invention further provides recombinant DNA constructs comprising one or more of the nucleotide sequences according to the present invention.
  • the recombinant constructs of the present invention can be used in connection with a vector, such as a plasmid, phagemid, phage or viral vector, into which a DNA molecule encoding an antibody of the invention or antigen-binding fragment thereof or variant thereof is inserted.
  • the present invention relates to a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence according to the present invention.
  • An antibody, antigen binding portion, or variant thereof provided herein can be prepared by recombinant expression of nucleic acid sequences encoding light and heavy chains or portions thereof in a host cell.
  • a host cell can be transfected with one or more recombinant expression vectors carrying DNA fragments encoding the light and/or heavy chains or portions thereof such that the light and heavy chains are expressed in the host cell.
  • Standard recombinant DNA methodologies are used to prepare and/or obtain nucleic acids encoding the heavy and light chains, incorporate these nucleic acids into recombinant expression vectors and introduce the vectors into host cells, such as those described in Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis (eds.), Molecular Cloning; A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., (1989), Ausubel, F. M. et al. (eds.) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Associates, (1989) and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,397 by Boss et al.
  • nucleic acid sequences encoding variable regions of the heavy and/or light chains can be converted, for example, to nucleic acid sequences encoding full-length antibody chains, Fab fragments, or to scFv.
  • the VL- or VH-encoding DNA fragment can be operatively linked, (such that the amino acid sequences encoded by the two DNA fragments are in-frame) to another DNA fragment encoding, for example, an antibody constant region or a flexible linker.
  • sequences of human heavy chain and light chain constant regions are known in the art (see e.g., Kabat, E. A., el al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242) and DNA fragments encompassing these regions can be obtained by standard PCR amplification.
  • the VH- and VL-encoding nucleic acids can be operatively linked to another fragment encoding a flexible linker such that the VH and VL sequences can be expressed as a contiguous single-chain protein, with the VL and VH regions joined by the flexible linker (see e.g., Bird et al. (1988) Science 242:423-426; Huston et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA McCafferty et al., Nature (1990) 348:552-554).
  • DNA encoding the desired polypeptide can be inserted into an expression vector which is then transfected into a suitable host cell.
  • suitable host cells are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Examples for prokaryotic host cells are e.g. bacteria, examples for eukaryotic hosts cells are yeasts, insects and insect cells, plants and plant cells, transgenic animals, or mammalian cells.
  • Introduction of the recombinant construct into the host cell can be carried out using standard techniques such as calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE dextran mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction or phage infection.
  • the DNAs encoding the heavy and light chains are inserted into separate vectors. In other embodiments, the DNA encoding the heavy and light chains is inserted into the same vector. It is understood that the design of the expression vector, including the selection of regulatory sequences is affected by factors such as the choice of the host cell, the level of expression of protein desired and whether expression is constitutive or inducible.
  • the present invention relates to an isolated cell expressing the antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention and/or comprising the nucleic acid according to the present invention or the vector according to the present invention.
  • the isolated cell can be virtually any cell for which expression vectors are available.
  • the isolated cell can for example a higher eukaryotic host cell, such as a mammalian cell, a lower eukaryotic host cell, such as a yeast cell, and may be a prokaryotic cell, such as a bacterial cell.
  • the present invention relates to a method of producing the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention comprising culturing of the cell according to the present invention.
  • the cell according to the present invention is cultivated under suitable conditions for antibody expression and the antibody or antigen-binding fragment is recovered.
  • the antibody or antigen-binding fragment is purified, particularly to at least 95% homogeneity by weight.
  • Useful expression vectors for bacterial use are constructed by inserting a DNA sequence encoding a desired protein together with suitable translation initiation and termination signals in operable reading phase with a functional promoter.
  • the vector will comprise one or more phenotypic selectable markers and an origin of replication to ensure maintenance of the vector and, if desirable, to provide amplification within the host.
  • Suitable prokaryotic hosts for transformation include but are not limited to E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium and various species within the genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces , and Staphylococcus.
  • Bacterial vectors may be, for example, bacteriophage-, plasmid- or phagemid-based. These vectors can contain a selectable marker and a bacterial origin of replication derived from commercially available plasmids typically containing elements of the well-known cloning vector pBR322 (ATCC 37017). Following transformation of a suitable host strain and growth of the host strain to an appropriate cell density, the selected promoter is de-repressed/induced by appropriate means (e.g., temperature shift or chemical induction) and cells are cultured for an additional period. Cells are typically harvested by centrifugation, disrupted by physical or chemical means, and the resulting crude extract retained for further purification.
  • appropriate means e.g., temperature shift or chemical induction
  • a number of expression vectors may be advantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the protein being expressed. For example, when a large quantity of such a protein is to be produced, for the generation of antibodies or to screen peptide libraries, for example, vectors which direct the expression of high levels of fusion protein products that are readily purified may be desirable.
  • an embodiment of the present invention is an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding for the novel antibodies of the present invention.
  • Antibodies of the present invention or antigen-binding fragments thereof or variants thereof include naturally purified products, products of chemical synthetic procedures, and products produced by recombinant techniques from a prokaryotic host, including, for example, E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium and various species within the genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces , and Staphylococcus , preferably, from E. coli cells.
  • Preferred regulatory sequences for mammalian host cell expression include viral elements that direct high levels of protein expression in mammalian cells, such as promoters and/or enhancers derived from cytomegalovirus (CMV) (such as the CMV promoter/enhancer), Simian Virus 40 (SV40) (such as the SV40 promoter/enhancer), adenovirus, (e.g., the adenovirus major late promoter (AdMLP)) and polyoma.
  • CMV cytomegalovirus
  • SV40 Simian Virus 40
  • AdMLP adenovirus major late promoter
  • Expression of the antibodies may be constitutive or regulated (e.g. inducible by addition or removal of small molecule inductors such as Tetracyclin in conjunction with Tet system).
  • the recombinant expression vectors can also include origins of replication and selectable markers (see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,399,216, 4,634,665 and 5,179,017).
  • Suitable selectable markers include genes that confer resistance to drugs such as G418, puromycin, hygromycin, blasticidin, zeocin/bleomycin or methotrexate or selectable marker that exploit auxotrophies such as Glutamine Synthetase (Bebbington et al., Biotechnology (N Y). 1992 February; 10(2):169-75), on a host cell into which the vector has been introduced.
  • DHFR dihydrofolate reductase
  • neo gene confers resistance to G4108
  • the bsd gene from Aspergillus terreus confers resistance to blasticidin
  • puromycin N-acetyl-transferase confers resistance to puromycin
  • the Sh ble gene product confers resistance to zeocin
  • resistance to hygromycin is conferred by the E. coli hygromycin resistance gene (hyg or hph).
  • Selectable markers like DHFR or Glutamine Synthetase are also useful for amplification techniques in conjunction with MTX and MSX.
  • Transfection of the expression vector into a host cell can be carried out using standard techniques such as electroporation, nucleofection, calcium-phosphate precipitation, lipofection, polycation-based transfection such as polyethlylenimine (PEI)-based transfection and DEAE-dextran transfection.
  • electroporation nucleofection
  • calcium-phosphate precipitation calcium-phosphate precipitation
  • lipofection lipofection
  • polycation-based transfection such as polyethlylenimine (PEI)-based transfection and DEAE-dextran transfection.
  • PEI polyethlylenimine
  • Suitable mammalian host cells for expressing the antibodies, antigen binding fragments thereof or variants thereof provided herein include Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO cells) such as CHO-K1, CHO-S, CHO-K1SV [including dhfr-CHO cells, described in Urlaub and Chasin, (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:4216-4220 and Urlaub et al., Cell. 1983 June; 33(2):405-12, used with a DHFR selectable marker, e.g., as described in R. J. Kaufman and P. A. Sharp (1982) Mol. Biol. 159:601-621; and other knockout cells exemplified in Fan et al., Biotechnol Bioeng. 2012 April; 109(4):1007-15], NS0 myeloma cells, COS cells, HEK293 cells, HKB11 cells, BHK21 cells, CAP cells, EB66 cells, and SP2 cells.
  • Expression might also be transient or semi-stable in expression systems such as HEK293, HEK293T, HEK293-EBNA, HEK293E, HEK293-6E, HEK293-Freestyle, HKB11, Expi293F, 293EBNALT75, CHO Freestyle, CHO-S, CHO-K1, CHO-K1SV, CHOEBNALT85, CHOS-XE, CHO-3E7 or CAP-T cells (for instance Durocher et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 2002 Jan. 15; 30(2):E9).
  • the expression vector is designed such that the expressed protein is secreted into the culture medium in which the host cells are grown.
  • the antibodies, antigen binding fragments thereof or variants thereof can be recovered from the culture medium using standard protein purification methods.
  • Antibodies of the invention or antigen-binding fragments thereof or variants thereof can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by well-known methods including, but not limited to ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, Protein A chromatography, Protein G chromatography, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phospho-cellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. High performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) can also be employed for purification.
  • HPLC high performance liquid chromatography
  • Antibodies of the present invention or antigen-binding fragments thereof or variants thereof include naturally purified products, products of chemical synthetic procedures, and products produced by recombinant techniques from a eukaryotic host, including, for example, yeast, higher plant, insect and mammalian cells. Depending upon the host employed in a recombinant production procedure, the antibody of the present invention can be glycosylated or can be non-glycosylated. Such methods are described in many standard laboratory manuals, such as Sambrook, supra, Sections 17.37-17.42; Ausubel, supra, Chapters 10, 12, 13, 16, 18 and 20.
  • the antibody is purified (1) to greater than 95% by weight of antibody as determined e.g. by the Lowry method, UV-Vis spectroscopy or by SDS-Capillary Gel electrophoresis (for example on a Caliper LabChip GXII, GX 90 or Biorad Bioanalyzer device), and in further preferred embodiments more than 99% by weight, (2) to a degree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence, or (3) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions using Coomassie blue or, preferably, silver stain.
  • Isolated naturally occurring antibody includes the antibody in situ within recombinant cells since at least one component of the antibody's natural environment will not be present. Ordinarily, however, isolated antibody will be prepared by at least one purification step.
  • Therapeutic methods involve administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof or a variant thereof contemplated by the invention.
  • a “therapeutically effective” amount hereby is defined as the amount of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment that is of sufficient quantity to increase plasmin mediated clot lysis in a subject—either as a single dose or according to a multiple dose regimen, alone or in combination with other agents, which leads to the alleviation of an adverse condition, yet which amount is toxicologically tolerable.
  • the subject may be a human or non-human animal (e.g., rabbit, rat, mouse, dog, monkey or other lower-order primate).
  • the present invention relates to the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according the present invention or to a conjugate comprising the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according the present invention or to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according the present invention for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases.
  • the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention can be used as a therapeutic or a diagnostic tool in a variety of A2AP associated disorders and/or diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion.
  • An ischemic event may be due to the partial or complete occlusion of one vessel but it may be also the result of a partial or complete occlusion of more than one vessel whereby some vessels may be partially occluded and some vessels may be complete occluded.
  • the present invention relates to the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according the present invention or to conjugates comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according the present invention or to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according the present invention for treatment or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular of disorders or diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion, such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis.
  • diseases in particular of disorders or diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion, such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis.
  • the present invention relates to the use of isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according the present invention or to conjugates comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according the present invention or to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according the present invention in a method of treatment or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular of disorders or diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion, such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis.
  • diseases in particular of disorders or diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion, such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis.
  • the present invention relates to use of isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according the present invention or to conjugates comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according the present invention or to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according the present invention for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, preferably a medicament, for the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases, in particular of disorders or diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion, such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis.
  • diseases in particular of disorders or diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion, such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombo
  • the present invention relates to methods of treatment or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular of disorders or diseases associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion, such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis, or shunt thrombosis, using an effective amount of an isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according the present invention or to a conjugate comprising the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according the present invention or to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment according the present invention.
  • the disorders mentioned above have been well characterized in humans, but also exist with a similar etiology in other animals, including mammals, and can be treated by administering pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention.
  • antibodies or the antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention or variants thereof might be co-administered with known medications, and in some instances the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof might itself be modified.
  • an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof or a variant thereof could be conjugated to a drug or to another peptide or protein to potentially further increase efficacy.
  • Antibodies of the present invention or antigen-binding fragments thereof or variants thereof may be administered as the sole pharmaceutical agent or in combination with one or more additional therapeutic agents where the combination causes no unacceptable adverse effects.
  • the present invention relates to the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention or the conjugates according to the present invention or the pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention for use in simultaneous, separate, or sequential combination with one or more further therapeutically active compounds.
  • Non-limiting examples of therapeutically active compounds to be used in combination with the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention are:
  • Combination therapy includes administration of a single pharmaceutical dosage formulation which comprises an antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention or a variant thereof and one or more additional therapeutic agents, as well as administration of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention and each additional therapeutic agent in its own separate pharmaceutical dosage formulation.
  • a single pharmaceutical dosage formulation which comprises an antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention or a variant thereof and one or more additional therapeutic agents, as well as administration of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention and each additional therapeutic agent in its own separate pharmaceutical dosage formulation.
  • an antibody of the invention or an antigen-binding fragment thereof or a variant thereof and a therapeutic agent may be administered to the patient together in a single liquid composition, or each agent may be administered in separate dosage formulation.
  • the antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention or the variant thereof and one or more additional therapeutic agents may be administered at essentially the same time (e.g., concurrently) or at separately staggered times (e.g., sequentially).
  • the antibodies or the antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention or variants thereof might be used in combination with surgical interventions, like but not limited to mechanical embolectomy, thrombectomy, clot retrieval devices, cerebral revascularization.
  • antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention may be utilized, as such or in compositions, in research and diagnostics, or as analytical reference standards, and the like.
  • Anti-A2AP antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof can be used for detecting the presence of A2AP.
  • the present invention relates to the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention or the antibody conjugates according to the present invention for use as a diagnostic agent.
  • the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention or the antibody conjugates according to the present invention.
  • pharmaceutical compositions for use in accordance with the present invention may be formulated in any conventional manner using one or more physiologically acceptable carriers, excipients, or auxiliaries. Further details on techniques for formulation and administration may be found in the latest edition of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ed. Maack Publishing Co, Easton, Pa.).
  • the antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention can be administered by any suitable means, which can vary, depending on the type of disorder being treated.
  • Possible administration routes include oral, parenteral, and topical administration. Methods of parenteral delivery include intra-arterial, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intramedullary, intrathecal, intraventricular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, or intranasal administration.
  • the antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention may be administered by pulse infusion, with, e.g., declining doses of the antibody.
  • administration is by injections, most preferably intravenous or subcutaneous injections, depending in part on whether the administration is brief or prolonged.
  • the amount to be administered will depend on a variety of factors such as the clinical symptoms, weight of the individual, whether other drugs are administered, and the like. The skilled artisan will recognize that the route of administration will vary depending on the disorder or condition to be treated.
  • the pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention comprises the antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention alone or in combination with at least one other agent, such as a stabilizing compound.
  • the antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention may be administered in any sterile, biocompatible pharmaceutical carrier, including, but not limited to, saline, buffered saline, dextrose, and water.
  • the pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention may comprise one or more further pharmaceutically active compounds, in particular one or more further pharmaceutically active compounds that are suitable to treat A2AP associated disorders and/or disorders associated with ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion. Any of these agents can be administered to a patient alone, or in combination with other agents or drugs, in pharmaceutical compositions where it is mixed with excipient(s) or pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
  • the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is pharmaceutically inert.
  • compositions for oral administration can be formulated using pharmaceutically acceptable carriers well known in the art in dosages suitable for oral administration.
  • Such carriers enable the pharmaceutical compositions to be formulated as tablets, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions and the like, for ingestion by the patient.
  • compositions for oral use can be obtained through combination of active compounds with solid excipient, optionally grinding a resulting mixture, and processing the mixture of granules, after adding suitable auxiliaries, if desired, to obtain tablets or dragee cores.
  • Suitable excipients are carbohydrate or protein fillers such as sugars, including lactose, sucrose, mannitol, or sorbitol; starch from corn, wheat, rice, potato, or other plants; cellulose such as methyl-cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; and gums including arabic and tragacanth; and proteins such as gelatin and collagen.
  • disintegrating or solubilizing agents may be added, such as the cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, alginic acid, or a salt thereof, such as sodium alginate.
  • Dragee cores can be provided with suitable coatings such as concentrated sugar solutions, which may also contain gum arabic, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carbopol gel, polyethylene glycol and/or titanium dioxide, lacquer solutions, and suitable organic solvents or solvent mixtures.
  • Dyestuffs or pigments may be added to the tablets or dragee coatings for product identification or to characterize the quantity of active compound, i.e. dosage.
  • Push-fit capsules made of gelatin, as well as soft, sealed capsules made of gelatin and a coating such as glycerol or sorbitol.
  • Push-fit capsules can contain active ingredients mixed with a filler or binders such as lactose or starches, lubricants such as talc or magnesium stearate, and optionally, stabilizers.
  • the active compounds may be dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids, such as fatty oils, liquid paraffin, or liquid polyethylene glycol with or without stabilizers.
  • compositions for parenteral administration include aqueous solutions of active compounds.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be formulated in aqueous solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hank's solution, Ringer's solution, or physiologically buffered saline.
  • Aqueous injection suspensions may contain substances that increase viscosity of the suspension, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, or dextran.
  • suspensions of the active compounds may be prepared as appropriate oily injection suspensions.
  • Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles include fatty oils such as sesame oil, or synthetic fatty acid esters, such as ethyl oleate or triglycerides, or liposomes.
  • the suspension may also contain suitable stabilizers or agents which increase the solubility of the compounds to allow for the preparation of highly concentrated solutions.
  • penetrants appropriate to the particular barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation.
  • penetrants are generally known in the art.
  • compositions of the present invention may be manufactured in a manner that is known in the art, e.g., by means of conventional mixing, dissolving, granulating, dragee-making, levigating, emulsifying, encapsulating, entrapping or lyophilizing processes.
  • the pharmaceutical composition may be provided as a salt and can be formed with acids, including but not limited to hydrochloric, sulfuric, acetic, lactic, tartaric, malic, succinic, etc. Salts tend to be more soluble in aqueous or other protonic solvents that are the corresponding free base forms.
  • the preferred preparation may be a lyophilized powder in 1 mM-50 mM histidine or phosphate or Tris, 0.1%-2% sucrose and/or 2%-7% mannitol at a pH range of 4.5 to 7.5 optionally comprising additional substances like polysorbate that is combined with buffer prior to use.
  • compositions comprising a compound of the invention formulated in an acceptable carrier
  • they can be placed in an appropriate container and labeled for treatment of an indicated condition.
  • labeling would include amount, frequency and method of administration.
  • compositions suitable for use according to the present invention include compositions wherein the active ingredients are contained in an effective amount to achieve the intended purpose, e.g., treatment of a particular disease state characterized by ischemic events due to partial or complete vessel occlusion.
  • an effective dose is well within the capability of those skilled in the art. Determining a therapeutically effective amount of the novel antibody of this invention or an antigen-binding fragment thereof or a variant thereof, largely will depend on particular patient characteristics, route of administration, and the nature of the disorder being treated. General guidance can be found, for example, in the publications of the International Conference on Harmonization and in REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, chapters 27 and 28, pp. 484-528 (18th ed., Alfonso R. Gennaro, Ed., Easton, Pa.: Mack Pub. Co., 1990). More specifically, determining a therapeutically effective amount will depend on such factors as toxicity and efficacy of the medicament. Toxicity may be determined using methods well known in the art and found in the foregoing references. Efficacy may be determined utilizing the same guidance in conjunction with the methods described below in the Examples.
  • the therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially either in cell culture assays, or in animal models, usually mice, rabbits, dogs, pigs or monkeys.
  • the animal model is also used to achieve a desirable concentration range and route of administration. Such information can then be used to determine useful doses and routes for administration in humans.
  • a therapeutically effective dose refers to that amount of antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, that ameliorates the symptoms or condition.
  • Therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of such compounds can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., ED 50 (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population) and LD 50 (the dose lethal to 50% of the population). The dose ratio between therapeutic and toxic effects is the therapeutic index, and it can be expressed as the ratio, ED 50 /LD 50 . Pharmaceutical compositions that exhibit large therapeutic indices are preferred. The data obtained from cell culture assays and animal studies are used in formulating a range of dosage for human use. The dosage of such compounds lies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED 50 with little or no toxicity. The dosage varies within this range depending upon the dosage form employed, sensitivity of the patient, and the route of administration.
  • the exact dosage is chosen by the individual physician in view of the patient to be treated. Dosage and administration are adjusted to provide sufficient levels of the active moiety or to maintain the desired effect. Additional factors that may be taken into account include the severity of the disease state, age, weight and gender of the patient; diet, time and frequency of administration, drug combination(s), reaction sensitivities, and tolerance/response to therapy. Long acting pharmaceutical compositions might be administered for example every 3 to 4 days, every week, once every two weeks, or once every three weeks, depending on half-life and clearance rate of the particular formulation.
  • Normal dosage amounts may vary from 0.1 to 100,000 micrograms, up to a total dose of about 10 g, depending upon the route of administration.
  • Guidance as to particular dosages and methods of delivery is provided in the literature. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,657,760; 5,206,344; or 5,225,212.
  • kits comprising the isolated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments according to the present invention or the conjugates according to the present invention and instructions for use.
  • the kits comprise one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the aforementioned compositions of the invention.
  • Associated with such container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals or biological products, reflecting approval by the agency of the manufacture, use or sale of the product for human administration.
  • FIG. 1 Panning strategy for finding cross-species specific, neutralizing anti-alpha2-Antiplasmin antibodies.
  • FIG. 2 ELISA-based analysis of the binding of Fab 431A-M080-001 to human alpha2-Antiplasmin and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin
  • FIG. 3 Analyzing Fab 431A-M080-001 for function blocking activity.
  • Fab 431A-M080-001 The function blocking activity of Fab 431A-M080-001 as measured in the Plasmin—alpha2-Antiplasmin biochemical assay is depicted.
  • supernatants from mammalian cells containing the Fab of interest were pre-incubated with human or rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin, followed by the addition of human Plasmin and the fluorogenic plasmin substrate.
  • the relative fluorescence units resulting from cleavage of the substrate by Plasmin were measured. Resulting data are presented as percentage of inhibition. Left light-grey column is representing the neutralization of human alpha2-Antiplasmin, right dark-grey column is representing the neutralization of rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin. See Example 4 for detailed description of the biochemical assay.
  • FIG. 4 Binding activity of antibody TPP-12387 on human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin.
  • antibody TPP-12387 was tested for its ability to bind human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin in a dose-dependent manner. Binding activities towards human alpha2-Antiplasmin are shown in the left panel, towards rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin are shown in the right panel of this figure. The binding activities were calculated as EC50 in M values.
  • One dose response curve is shown as example from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate: EC50 (human A2AP) was 1.2E-07 M; EC50 (rabbit A2AP) was 6.0E-09 M.
  • FIG. 5 Neutralizing activity of antibody TPP-12387 on human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin.
  • antibody TPP-12387 was tested for its ability to block the activity of human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin in a dose-dependent manner.
  • Neutralizing activities towards human alpha2-Antiplasmin are shown in the left panel, towards rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin are shown in the right panel of this figure.
  • Function blocking activities were calculated as EC50 in M values.
  • One dose response curve is shown as example from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate: EC50 (human A2AP) was 1.7E-07 M; EC50 (rabbit A2AP) was 1.4E-09 M.
  • FIG. 6 Binding and function blocking activity of antibody TPP-12387 on Cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin
  • antibody TPP-12387 was tested for its ability to block the activity of cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin in a dose-dependent manner. Binding activity of the antibody towards cynomolgus alpha-2Antiplasmin is shown in FIG. 6 . 1 , its neutralizing activity in FIG. 6 . 2 . Activities were calculated as EC50 in M values.
  • One dose response curve is shown as example from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate: EC50 (cynomolgus A2AP binding) was 9.9E-08 M; EC50 (cynomolgus A2AP activity blocking) was 1.6E-07 M.
  • FIG. 7 Binding and function blocking activities of TPP-12387 variants towards human alpha2-Antiplasmin.
  • TPP-14323 (7.17, 7.18), TPP-14318 (7.15, 7.16), TPP-14314 (7.13, 7.14), TPP-14313 (7.11, 7.12), TPP-14308 (7.9, 7.10), TPP-14305 (7.7, 7.8), TPP-14303 (7.5, 7.6), TPP-14298 (7.3; 7.4), and TPP-14293 (7.1; 7.2) were tested for their ability to bind to and to block the activity of human alpha2-Antiplasmin in a dose-dependent manner.
  • Binding activities towards human alpha2-Antiplasmin are shown in 7.1, 7.3, 7.5, 7.7, 7.9, 7.11, 7.13, 7.15, 7.17, neutralizing activities are shown in 7.2, 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, 7.10, 7.12, 7.14, 7.16, 7.18.
  • Binding and function blocking activities were calculated as EC50 in M values (table 3.3). For each antibody, one dose response curve is shown as example from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate.
  • FIG. 8 Testing germline variants of TPP-14308 for binding and neutralizing human alpha2-Antiplasmin.
  • TPP-14308 47 antibodies resulting from the germlining approach of TPP-14308 were tested for ability to bind and to block the activity of human alpha2-Antiplasmin in a dose-dependent manner in comparison to TPP-14308.
  • 6 antibodies resulting from the germlining approach of TPP-14308 show improved binding activities and/or neutralizing activities. Binding activities towards human alpha2-Antiplasmin are shown in 8.1, 8.3, 8.5, 8.7, 8.9, 8.11, neutralizing activities are shown in 8.2, 8.4, 8.6, 8.8, 8.10, 8.12. Binding and function blocking activities were calculated as EC50 in M values (table 3.5).
  • FIG. 9 Neutralizing activity of TPP-17044 IgG1 antibody on human alpha2-Antiplasmin from different species.
  • TPP-17044 for function blocking activity according to the methods described in Example 4 on human (9.1), cynomolgus (9.2), and rabbit (9.3) alpha2-Antiplasmin is shown. Neutralizing activity was calculated as EC50 in M values. For this antibody, one dose response curve is shown as example from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate. Function blocking activity of TPP-17044 for human alpha2-Antiplasmin was 4.4E-10 M (as shown in FIGS. 9 . 1 ), and 5.4E-10 M for the second and 5.0E-10 M for the third experiment. For the inhibition of Cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin values were 4.6E-10 M ( FIG. 9 .
  • FIG. 10 Neutralizing activity of TPP-17928 IgG4 antibody on human alpha2-Antiplasmin from different species.
  • TPP-17928 for function blocking activity according to the methods described in Example 4 on human (10.1), cynomolgus (10.2), and rabbit (10.3) alpha2-Antiplasmin is shown. Neutralizing activity was calculated as EC50 in M values. For this antibody, one dose response curve is shown as example from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate. Function blocking activity of TPP-17928 for human alpha2-Antiplasmin was 1.1E-10 M (as shown in FIGS. 10 . 1 ), and 1.6E-10 M for the second experiment. For the inhibition of Cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin values were 2.6E-10 M (FIG. 3.4E-10 M for the second experiment and 2.9E-10 M for the third experiment. Rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin was blocked in its activity by TPP-17928 with IC50 values of 1.5E-08 M ( FIG. 10 . 3 ), 1.9E-10 M for a second experiment and 1.6E-10 M for a third experiment.
  • FIG. 11 Reduction of clot lysis time by TPP-17928.
  • Antibody TPP-17928 reduces the tPA-induced clot lysis time in human (triangles) and in rabbit (squares) plasma, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner. Activity was calculated as IC50 in M values. The curves represent the mean (+/ ⁇ SD) from three independent experiments. For experimental details see Example 7. IC50 (human plasma) was 2.5E-07 M; EC50 (rabbit plasma) was 2.3E-07 M.
  • FIG. 12 in vivo effects of TPP-17928 on clot lysis.
  • Relative fluorescence units (rFU, ordinate) are plotted against the timepoints at which plasma samples have been taken (abscissa). Values are mean+/ ⁇ SD.
  • TPP-17928 alone has a dose-dependent effect on clot dissolution. After application of the antibody of the invention an activity maximum is achieved at around 60 min which then results in a lasting effect over the whole experimental time (360 min). Also, tPA-treatment shows a dose-dependent effect on clot dissolution. tPA has a fast and steep increase of clot dissolution (maximum after 15 min) but does not show a longer lasting effect as observed for TPP-17928.
  • the co-administration of TPP-17928 to a low dose tPA leads to a faster clot dissolution than the administration of the single compounds. For details see Example 8.
  • FIG. 13 Determination of tPA and TPP-17928 induced ear bleeding time.
  • ear bleeding time was determined at time point 0 min following compound administration. For each treatment group, the bleeding time in seconds (sec) is shown. Values are mean+/ ⁇ SEM.
  • FIG. 14 Effect of 77A3 and antibodies of the invention on plasmin
  • FIG. 14 . 1 6.1E-11-3.0E-08 M 77A3 (left diagram) and 6.11E-11-1.0E-06 M 77A3 (right diagram)
  • FIG. 14 . 2 6.11E-11-1E-06 M 77A3 (circle) and 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M TPP-17041 (triangle)
  • FIG. 14 . 3 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M 77A3 (circle) and 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M TPP-17044 (square)
  • FIG. 14 . 4 6.1E-11-1Ee-06 M 77A3 (circle) and 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M TPP-17045 (triangle)
  • FIG. 14 . 5 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M 77A3 (circle) and 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M TPP-17048 (diamond)
  • FIG. 14 . 6 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M 77A3 (circle) and 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M TPP-17051 (triangle).
  • FIG. 14 . 7 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M 77A3 (circle) and 6.1E-11-1.0E-06 M TPP-17053 (square).
  • testing antibodies of the invention up to 1 did not result into a decrease of fluorescence signal indicating that testing antibodies of the invention have no impact on plasmin activity ( FIGS. 14 . 2 - 14 . 7 ).
  • FIG. 15 Amino acid sequences of preferred antibodies according to the present invention
  • FIG. 16 Effect of 77A3 and antibodies of the invention on the proteolytic activity of plasmin
  • 77A3 shows an inhibitory effect on plasmin activity in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 1.7 ⁇ M) whereas TPP-17928 surprisingly does not inhibit plasmin activity up to a concentration of 10 ⁇ M (see also tabular overview of IC50 values in example 11).
  • a fully human antibody phage display library (BioInvent n-CoDeR Fab lambda library) was used to isolate human monoclonal antibodies by selection against soluble biotinylated antigens, which are human alpha2-Antiplasmin from human and from rabbit origin.
  • the human alpha2-Antiplasmin was used from a commercial source (antibodies online; catalogue number ABIN2544306) whereas the rabbit antigen was produced in house by recombinant expression and purification.
  • the cDNA from rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin was cloned into standard expression vector and HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with this construct using 293fectin transfection reagent (Invitrogen, catalogue number 12347-019) following manufactures instructions.
  • Expressed rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin were purified from the cell culture supernatant via Ni-IMAC and size exclusion chromatography.
  • Antigens were biotinylated using a Sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin kit (Thermo Scientific, catalogue number A39257). Free biotin was removed from the reactions by dialysis against the appropriate buffer.
  • Streptavidin-coupled Dynabeads M-280 (Invitrogen, catalogue number 11205D) were coated for one hour at room temperature (RT) with the biotinylated antigen (1 tube) and the biotinylated off-target (3 tubes), respectively.
  • Dynabeads were washed and subsequently blocked for 1 h at RT with end-over-end rotation.
  • the blocked phage library was added to the blocked off-target loaded Dynabeads and incubated for 10 min at room temperature with end-over-end rotation. This depletion step was repeated 2 times.
  • Strategy I was designed in such a way to identify antibodies exhibiting binding activity towards the full length human alpha2-Antiplasmin and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin, respectively, both lacking the N-terminus. A depletion step was included using a biotinylated irrelevant protein.
  • Strategy II aimed for antibodies recognizing Plasmin binding site of alpha2-Antiplasmin. Like in Strategy I and in order to increase the probability of success, a depletion step was included using an alpha2-Antiplasmin variant missing the Plasmin-binding site as antigen.
  • FIG. 1 A detailed overview of the panning strategies is given in FIG. 1 .
  • Fabs as well as full length antibodies were produced by mammalian cell culture using transiently transfected HEK293-6E cells. Heavy and light chains were cloned into a suitable expression vector system. Cells were incubated for 3-4 days. Supernatants were collected and Fabs and antibodies were purified as described.
  • Antibodies were purified by Protein A chromatography (ThermoFischer, catalogue number A26455) according to manufacturer's instructions.
  • the antibodies, antigen binding portions, or derivatives thereof were recovered from the culture medium by using standard protein purification methods.
  • Fabs were purified from sterile filtered mammalian cell supernatants using a 3-step research downstream process.
  • capture step a “Capture Select IgG-CH1” affinity column (ThermoFisher, catalogue number 494320005) equilibrated in PBS pH 7.4 was used. After washing in wash buffer (PBS pH 7.4) for 10 column volumes, elution of the Fab was achieved using glycine 0.1M pH 3.0 (6 CV).
  • wash buffer PBS pH 7.4
  • elution of the Fab was achieved using glycine 0.1M pH 3.0 (6 CV).
  • Tris Base Upon neutralization with Tris Base a size exclusion chromatography (GE Healthcare, Superdex 200, catalogue number GE29321905) was used for buffer exchange into DPBS pH 7.4 and aggregate removal. Analytical size exclusion chromatography demonstrated that no dimer was present in the resulting batch.
  • the anti-human IgG Fc specific antibody (Sigma, catalogue number 12136) was coated at a concentration of 5 ⁇ g/ml over night at 4° C. to 384-well microtiter plates (Nunc). Solutions containing the IgGs of interest were added at different concentrations an incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. For detection, the detection antibody A0170 (Sigma) and as substrate Amplex Red were added. Fluorescence was monitored at 535/590 nm using a SpectraFluorplus Reader (Tecan).
  • a standard ELISA format was used for analyzing the binding affinity of Fabs of this invention to human and rabbit alpha-2-Antiplasmin, respectively.
  • Antigens were coated to black 384 well Maxisorp microtiter plates (Nunc; catalogue number 460518), diluted to a concentration of 1 ⁇ g/ml in 1 ⁇ Coating Buffer (Candor Bioscience; catalogue number 121125). Plates were incubated overnight at 4° C. After overnight incubation, plates were washed 2 ⁇ with 50 ⁇ l/well using PBS+0.05% Tween 20. Following this, 50 ⁇ l/well of blocking buffer (Smart Block; Candor Bioscience; catalogue number 113500) was added and the plates were incubated for 1 hour at room temperature.
  • Fabs of this invention were added at different concentrations in a final volume of 30 ⁇ l/well. Plates were incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. Following this incubation step, plates were washed for 3 ⁇ using 50 ⁇ l/well of a PBS+0.05% Tween 20 buffer.
  • the anti-Human Lambda Light Chains (Bound and Free)—Peroxidase antibody (Sigma; catalogue number A5175) was diluted by the factor of 1:10.000 in 10% Blocking Buffer.
  • Measurement mode Fluorescence; Top reading; Ex 535 nm; Em 590 nm.
  • 2944 variants were selected as potential candidates to be tested for binding human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin, respectively.
  • HEK293 cells were transiently transfected. Resulting supernatants were used directly without further purification or dilution for testing their ability to bind the human and rabbit antigen. From these 2944 Fabs, 88 candidates exhibiting distinct sequences showed the requested cross-species binding activity towards the two antigens.
  • FIG. 4 One dose response curve is shown in FIG. 4 as an example from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate.
  • the EC50 value for the binding activity of TPP-12387 towards human alpha2-Antiplasmin were as follows: 1.2E-07 M (as shown in FIG. 4 ), 1.0E-07 M, and 1.3E-07 M, respectively.
  • the binding activity towards rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin were 6.0E-09 M (as shown in FIG. 4 ), 6.07E-09 M and 6.2E-09 M, respectively.
  • Fabs or full-length antibodies were pre-incubated with 1 nM of human alpha2-Antiplasmin (antibodies online; catalogue number ABIN2544306) or in house produced rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin or in house produced cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin in a buffer consisting of 50 mM TRIS-HCl (GIBCO; catalogue number 15567-027 (50 mM)), 100 mM NaCl (Sigma; catalogue number S7653), 5 mM CaCl2 (Sigma; catalogue number 21115-100ML), 0.1% Albumin 0.1% (Sigma; BSA, catalogue number A4503-100g), pH 7.4 for minutes at 37° C.
  • TRIS-HCl GRIS-HCl
  • human Plasmin (Haematologic Technologies INC.; catalogue number HCPM0140) at a final concentration of 400 pM and the fluorogenic substrate 1-1275 (Bachem; MeOSuc-Ala-Phe-Lys-AMC trifluoroacetate salt; catalogue number 1-1275 (stock: 10 mM in DMSO)) at a final concentration of 50 ⁇ m were added and the reaction was incubated for 1 hour at 37° C. This reaction was carried out in 384 well microtiter plates (Nunc; catalogue number 262260). The fluorogenic signals were measured at the following conditions: modus fluorescence top reading, Ex 360 nM, Em 465 nm, Ex bandwidth 5 nm, Em bandwidth 5 nm.
  • Fabs and/or full-length antibodies function blocking activity
  • concentrations of these molecules were measured as described above. Different concentrations of Fabs and/or full-length antibodies starting at a defined concentration, followed by 1:3 or 1:4 dilution steps, were pre-incubated with 1 nM of human, cynomolgus, or rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin, respectively.
  • the 88 Fab candidates were tested for function blocking activity in single-point measurement on human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin, meaning that from the supernatants resulting from transiently transfected HEK293 cells the maximal possible volume was added to the activity assay.
  • 17 Fabs were identified showing at least a reduction of alpha2-Antiplasmin activity of ca. 30%.
  • these 12 antibodies were tested for ability to bind human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin in a dose-dependent manner. Data generated were analyzed using the GraphPadPrism software. The binding activities of the antibodies were calculated as EC50 values. Two to three independent experiments were performed in quadruplicate.
  • FIG. 2 shows the binding activity of the Fab fragment corresponding to TPP-12387 for human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin as determined in Example 3.
  • FIG. 3 shows the function blocking activity of the Fab fragment corresponding to TPP-12387 towards human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin as determined in Example 4.
  • FIG. 4 shows the binding activity of the IgG1 antibody TPP-12387 for human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin as determined in a binding assay described in Example 3.
  • FIG. 5 shows the function blocking activity of the IgG1 antibody TPP-12387 towards human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin as determined in a function blocking assay described in Example 4.
  • FIG. 5 One dose response curve for the neutralizing activity of TPP-12387 on human and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin is shown in FIG. 5 as an example of two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate.
  • the IC50 value for the function blocking activity of TPP-12387 towards human alpha2-Antiplasmin were as follows: 1.7E-07 M (as shown in FIG. 5 ), 1.8E-07 M, and 1.8E-07 M, respectively.
  • the binding activity towards rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin were 1.4E-08 M (as shown in FIG. 4 ), 1.3E-08 M and 1.5E-08 M.
  • TPP-12387 was tested for its binding activity as well as for its function blocking activity towards cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin.
  • Cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin was made in the same way as the rabbit alph2-Antiplasmin. Values of the binding activity as well as its function blocking activity of TPP-12387 towards cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin are shown in FIG. 6 .
  • One dose response curve for the binding and function blocking activity of antibody TPP-12387 on Cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin is shown in FIG. 6 as example of two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate.
  • the EC50 values for the binding activity of TPP-12387 towards Cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin was 9.0E-08 M (as shown in FIGS. 6 . 1 ) and 9.0E-08 M in a second, independent experiment
  • the IC50 for the function blocking activity of Cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin was 1.6E-07 M (as shown in FIGS. 6 . 2 ) and 1.6E-07 M in a second experiment.
  • Antibody TPP-12387 was subjected to lead optimization procedures aiming to optimize its affinity and to increase its functional efficiency.
  • K G or T
  • NNK codon-diversification of residues AAWDDSLSGWV residues 91 to 101, comprising CDR-L3
  • AREYYDSSGYYHLDY residues 96 to 110, comprising CDR-H3 residues 98-110 plus two additional amino acids flanking the CDR at its N-terminal site
  • Antibodies generated in this recombination library were TPP-14290, TPP-14291, TPP-14292, TPP-14293, TPP-14294, TPP-14295, TPP-14296, TPP-14297, TPP-14298, TPP-14299, TPP-14300, TPP-14301, TPP-14302, TPP-14303, TPP-14304, TPP-14305, TPP-14306, TPP-14307, TPP-14308, TPP-14309, TPP-14310, TPP-14311, TPP-14312, TPP-14313, TPP-14314, TPP-14315, TPP-14316, TPP-14317, TPP-14318, TPP-14319, TPP-14320, TPP-14322, TPP-14323, TPP-14324.
  • antibodies were purified from supernatants and their concentration determined. Next, antibodies were tested for their ability of binding human alpha2-Antiplasmin and their ability of blocking human alpha2-Antiplasmin (as described in Example 3 and 4).
  • Antibodies TPP-14293, TPP-14298, TPP-14303, TPP-14305, TPP-14308, TPP-14313, TPP-14314, TPP-14318, TPP-14323 represent the most improved recombined mutants of TPP-12387 as identified as being most potent in terms of binding human alpha2-Antiplasmin and blocking the activity of human alpha2-Antiplasmin. Binding as well as activity data for these antibodies are given in FIG. 7 .
  • antibodies TPP-14323, TPP-14318, TPP-14314, TPP-14313, TPP-14308, TPP-14305, TPP-14303, TPP-14298, and TPP-14293 were tested for their ability to bind to and to block the activity of human alpha2-Antiplasmin in a dose-dependent manner.
  • one dose response curve from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate is shown as example in FIG. 7 . 1 to FIG. 7 . 18 . (see Table 3.3)
  • TPP-14308 was chosen for further optimization.
  • amino acids which differ from the nearest germline sequence were exchanged, the corresponding cDNAs were synthesized, HEK293 cells were transiently transfected, the expressed antibodies of this invention were quantified but not purified and tested for their ability to bind human alpha2-Antiplasmin and to block the function of human alpha2-Antiplasmin.
  • TPP-17041 1.9E ⁇ 10 2.3E ⁇ 10 5.6E ⁇ 10 6.9E ⁇ 10 TPP-17044 3.7E ⁇ 11 4.9E ⁇ 11 1.0E ⁇ 10 1.7E ⁇ 10 2.3E ⁇ 10 2.0E ⁇ 10 TPP-17045 8.5E ⁇ 11 1.2E ⁇ 10 1.1E ⁇ 10 4.0E ⁇ 10 5.0E ⁇ 10 TPP-17048 1.8E ⁇ 10 3.6E ⁇ 10 2.8E ⁇ 10 3.9E ⁇ 10 3.0E ⁇ 10 TPP-17051 1.1E ⁇ 10 1.6E ⁇ 10 2.2E ⁇ 10 3.3E ⁇ 10 4.4E ⁇ 10 TPP-17053 5.2E ⁇ 10 5.8E ⁇ 10 6.3E ⁇ 10 4.3E ⁇ 10 6.5E ⁇ 10 5.0E ⁇ 10 *Shown in Figure 8
  • TPP-17044 was expressed in larger amounts and was purified and quantified.
  • the purified and quantified antibody was retested for its function blocking activity of human, cynomolgus, and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin. Results are shown in FIG. 9 .
  • One dose response curve from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate is shown as an example.
  • Function blocking activity of TPP-17044 for human alpha2-Antiplasmin was 4.4E-10 M (as shown in FIGS. 9 . 1 ), and 5.4E-10 M for the second and 5E-10 M for the third experiment.
  • Cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin values were 4.6E-10 M ( FIG. 9 .
  • TPP-17044 was re-cloned into the human IgG4 Fc version of human antibodies.
  • the resulting antibody TPP-17928 was again tested for its function blocking activity on human, cynomolgus, and rabbit alpha2-Antiplasmin. Results are shown in FIG. 10 .
  • One dose response curve from two to three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate is shown as an example.
  • Function blocking activity of TPP-17928 for human alpha2-Antiplasmin was 1.1E-10 M (as shown in FIGS. 10 . 1 ), and 1.6E-10 M for the second experiment.
  • Cynomolgus alpha2-Antiplasmin values were 2.6E-10 M ( FIG. 10 .
  • PPP Platelet-Poor Plasma
  • Clot lysis assay was performed as followed. Frozen plasma was thawed (at 37° C. for 30 min) and mixed with defined concentrations of the test compounds [varying between 0.015 ⁇ M-1 ⁇ M] or solvent only as control in a 96-well plate. On a second 96-well plate CaCl2 (Sigma; catalogue number 21115-100ML) [final concentration: 12.5 mM] as clot inducer and low dose tPA (Actilyse®, Boehringer Ingelheim) [final concentration 0.3 ⁇ g/ml] as lysis initiator were prepared.
  • CaCl2 Sigma; catalogue number 21115-100ML
  • tPA Actilyse®, Boehringer Ingelheim
  • test compound in plasma After short incubation of test compound in plasma (5 min at 37° C.) the mixture was added to the second plate and directly transferred to a microplate reader (Tecan infinite 200 Pro) to measure absorption (at 405 nm, 37° C., 1/min) over time for 3 h.
  • a microplate reader Tecan infinite 200 Pro
  • absorption at 405 nm, 37° C., 1/min
  • tPA-induced lysis time was set as 100% (individually for every donor plasma) and lysis time reduction was calculated for each test compound in a dose-response curve.
  • antibody TPP-17928 reduces the tPA-induced clot lysis time in a dose-dependent manner in human and in rabbit plasma, respectively.
  • value for the function blocking activity of TPP-17928 was 2.5E-07 M and for rabbit plasma 2.3E-07 M.
  • Xylazine/Ketamine Male New Zealand White Rabbits were anesthetized by an intramuscular injection of Xylazine/Ketamine (5 mg/kg+40 mg/kg, Sigma, catalogue numbers X 1126 and K2753). Ears, neck and the left hind limb (in the area of the femoral triangle) were shaved. To keep the rabbit anesthetized an infusion of Xylazine/Ketamine (80 ml+800 ml ad 60 ml NaCl 0.9%) with 5 ml/h was given via the ear vein. The rabbits were placed on a heating plate and kept at 37° C. for the whole experimental time. The left vena femoralis was cannulated for compound application and blood sampling, the right vena jugularis for clot injection.
  • rabbit platelet poor plasma was mixed with ALEXA 488 fluorescently-labeled human Fibrinogen (Thermo Fisher Scientific, catalogue number F13191). Clotting was initiated by adding 2.5 ⁇ l Batroxobin [20 U/ml] (LOXO, catalogue number 101-04,) and 2.5 ⁇ l CaCl2 [0.1 mM] to 45 ⁇ l of plasma mixture; final clot volume 50 ⁇ l containing 75 ⁇ g of fluorescently-labeled Fibrinogen.
  • TPP-17928 dose-dependently increases the plasma fluorescence (2.1-fold increase of AUC in comparison to control) as indirect measurement parameter for clot dissolution.
  • tPA-treatment also shows a dose-dependent effect on clot dissolution ( FIG. 12 . 2 ).
  • the ear bleeding time was determined.
  • the ear bleeding time was measured as follows. To access the ear bleeding time an incision of app. 3-5 mm was made with a scalpel blade in parallel to the outer edge of the ear (close to the outer ear vein). Every 30 sec it was proven whether the incision was still bleeding by gently dabbing with a small filter tip directly besides the incision. Ear bleeding time unravels a superior safety profile for anti-a2AP-antibody treatment in comparison to tPA treatment. Directly after compound administration there is no increase in bleeding time detectable for none of the used antibody concentrations whereas tPA treatment especially at the highest concentration of 1 mg/kg shows an immediate effect on ear bleeding time prolongation.
  • Binding assays were performed on a Biacore T200 instrument at 25° C. with a protein G sensor chip and assay buffer HBS-EP+. Antibodies were captured to ⁇ 150 RU and analytes were used at concentrations between 1.56 and 200 nM for full kinetics. As interaction partner, alpha2-Antiplasmin from human, cynomolgus and rabbit was used. Regeneration was performed with glycine-HCl pH 1.5. Kinetic parameters were derived by fitting experimental sensorgrams to a 1:1 Langmuir binding model. Results are given in Table 4.
  • test antibody 77A3 In order to compare the blocking activity of the test antibody 77A3 with the test antibodies of the invention against the A2AP activity the function blocking assay as described in detail in example 4 was used.
  • test antibodies were pre-incubated at a concentration of 6.1E-11-3.0E-08 M and 0.0E-06 M, respectively with A2AP.
  • plasmin and 1-1275 a fluorogenic substrate for plasmin serine protease activity
  • the following IC50 values for the function blocking activity of A2AP were generated: TPP-17041-6.4 E-10 M, TPP-17044-3.9 E-10 M, TPP-17045-1.4 E-10 M, TPP-17048-1.2 E-09 M, TPP-17051-3.3 E-10 M, TPP-17053-1.5 E-10 M. None of the antibodies of the invention tested up to a concentration of 1 ⁇ M results in a decrease of fluorescence signal indicating that testing antibodies of the invention have no impact on plasmin activity ( FIG. 14 . 2 - 14 . 7 ).
  • This reaction was carried out in 384 well microtiter plates (Nunc; catalogue number 262260).
  • the fluorogenic signals were measured at the following conditions: modus fluorescence top reading, Ex 360 nM, Em 465 nm, Ex bandwidth 5 nm, Em bandwidth 5 nm.
  • TPP-17928 (exemplarily shown for all antibodies of the invention) has no impact on the biochemical activity whereas 77A3 blocks the proteolytic activity of Plasmin with an IC50 value of 1.7 ⁇ M.
  • Example 12 Epitope Mapping of TPP-12387 and 77A3
  • Epitope mapping was performed by the company PEPperPRINT (Heidelberg, Germany) by using the PEPperCHIP® Peptide Microarray platform.
  • the antigen sequence was translated into overlapping linear 15 amino acid peptides with a peptide-peptide overlap of 14 amino acids.
  • the resulting peptide microarrays contained 491 different peptides printed in duplicate.
  • the antigen sequence was translated into overlapping 7, 10 and 13 amino acid peptides with peptide-peptide overlaps of 6, 9 and 12 amino acids.
  • all peptides were cyclized via a thioether linkage between a C-terminal cysteine side chain and an appropriately modified N-terminus.
  • the resulting conformational peptide microarrays contained 1,488 different cyclic constrained peptides printed in duplicate.
  • Microarray were blocked by using Rockland blocking buffer MB-070 (30 min before the first assay), antibody incubation was performed in Incubation buffer consisting of PBS, pH 7.4 with 0.05% (linear epitope mappings) or 0.005% (conformational epitope mappings) Tween 20 with 10% blocking buffer.
  • arrays were washed using PBS, pH 7.4 with 0.05% (linear epitope mappings) or (conformational epitope mappings) Tween 20. Arrays were washed 3 ⁇ 1 min (linear epitope mappings) or 2 ⁇ 10 sec (conformational epitope mappings).
  • Antibodies were incubated on the Microarray in concentrations of 1 ⁇ g/ml, 10 ⁇ g/ml and 100 ⁇ g/ml in incubation buffer. Incubation time was 16 h at 4° C. and shaking at 140 rpm.
  • the mouse monoclonal anti-HA (12CA5) DyLight800 was used at a dilution of 1:2000; this detection antibody was incubated on the Microarray at 45 min staining in incubation buffer at room temperature.
  • the goat anti-human IgG (Fc) DyLight680 was used at a dilution of 1:5000. This detection antibody was incubated on the Microarray at 45 min staining in incubation buffer at room temperature.
  • Quantification of spot intensities and peptide annotation were based on the 16-bit gray scale tiff files at scanning intensities of 7/7 that exhibit a higher dynamic range than the 24-bit colorized tiff files.
  • Microarray image analysis was done with PepSlide® Analyzer.
  • a software algorithm was used to break down fluorescence intensities of each spot into raw, foreground and background signal, and calculated averaged median foreground intensities and spot-to-spot deviations of spot duplicates. Based on averaged median foreground intensities, an intensity map was generated and interactions in the peptide map highlighted by an intensity color code with red for high and white for low spot intensities.
  • Averaged spot intensities of the assays were plotted with the antibody samples against the antigen sequence from the N- to the C-terminus to visualize overall spot intensities and signal-to-noise ratios.
  • the intensity plots were correlated with peptide and intensity maps as well as with visual inspection of the microarray scans to identify the epitopes of the tested antibodies.
  • TPP-12387 showed a high signal-to-noise ratio against peptides with the consensus motif SRMSLSS, which corresponds to amino acid 402-408 of SEQ ID NO: 1 which is located in the reactive center loop of A2AP (amino acid 400-412 of Seq ID NO: 1).

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