Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
  • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K39/395—Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immune serum, e.g. antilymphocytic serum
  • 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
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K19/00—Hybrid peptides, i.e. peptides covalently bound to nucleic acids, or non-covalently bound protein-protein complexes
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  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
  • 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
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/505—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising antibodies
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/505—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising antibodies
  • A61K2039/507—Comprising a combination of two or more separate antibodies
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
  • C07K2317/22—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin from camelids, e.g. camel, llama or dromedary
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
  • C07K2317/24—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin containing regions, domains or residues from different species, e.g. chimeric, humanized or veneered
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/30—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by aspects of specificity or valency
  • C07K2317/33—Crossreactivity, e.g. for species or epitope, or lack of said crossreactivity
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/30—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by aspects of specificity or valency
  • C07K2317/34—Identification of a linear epitope shorter than 20 amino acid residues or of a conformational epitope defined by amino acid residues
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/50—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments
  • C07K2317/56—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments variable (Fv) region, i.e. VH and/or VL
  • C07K2317/567—Framework region [FR]
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/50—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments
  • C07K2317/56—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments variable (Fv) region, i.e. VH and/or VL
  • C07K2317/569—Single domain, e.g. dAb, sdAb, VHH, VNAR or nanobody®
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • 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
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/90—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by (pharmaco)kinetic aspects or by stability of the immunoglobulin
  • C07K2317/92—Affinity (KD), association rate (Ka), dissociation rate (Kd) or EC50 value
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/90—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by (pharmaco)kinetic aspects or by stability of the immunoglobulin
  • C07K2317/94—Stability, e.g. half-life, pH, temperature or enzyme-resistance
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
  • C07K2319/31—Fusion polypeptide fusions, other than Fc, for prolonged plasma life, e.g. albumin

Definitions

• the present invention relates to amino acid sequences that can bind to serum albumin.
• the present invention relates to immunoglobulin single variable domains, and in particular heavy-chain immunoglobulin single variable domains, that can bind to serum albumin.
• the immunoglobulin single variable domains provided by the invention are preferably such that they can (at least) bind (and in particular, specifically bind) to human serum albumin. More preferably, as further described herein, these immunoglobulin single variable domains are preferably further such that they are cross-reactive (as described herein) between human serum albumin and serum albumin from at least one other species of mammal.
• the invention also relates to proteins, polypeptides and other constructs, compounds, molecules or chemical entities that comprise at least one of the immunoglobulin single variable domains binding to serum albumin that are described herein.
• Immunoglobulin single variable domains will also generally be referred to herein by means of the abbreviations "ISV's” or “ISVD 's” (which will be used interchangeably herein).
• immunoglobulin single variable domains binding to serum albumin that are described herein will also be referred to herein as "amino acid sequences of the invention", or “serum albumin binders of the invention”.
• the albumin binders of the invention may in particular be Nanobodies (as further described herein).
• proteins, polypeptides and other constructs, compounds, molecules or chemical entities that comprise at least one of the serum albumin binder of the invention will also referred to herein as "compounds of the invention” or as “polypeptides of the invention”.
• the compounds of the invention are proteins or polypeptides, and may in particular be fusion proteins.
• the CDR's As is well-known in the art, there are multiple conventions to define and describe the CDR's of a VH or VHH fragment, such as the Kabat definition (which is based on sequence variability and is the most commonly used) and the Chothia definition (which is based on the location of the structural loop regions). Reference is for example made to the website http://www.bioinf.org.uk/abs/. For the purposes of the present specification and claims, even though the CDRs according to Kabat may also be mentioned, the CDRs are most preferably defined on the basis of the Abm definition (which is based on Oxford Molecular's AbM antibody modelling software), as this is considered to be an optimal compromise between the Kabat and Chothia definitions. Reference is again made to the website http ://www.bioinf.org.uk/abs/).
• ISVD's (and in particular Nanobodies) that can bind to serum albumin and their uses are well-known in the art, for example from WO 2004/041865, WO 2006/122787, WO 2012/175400, WO 2015/173325 and PCT/EP2016/077973, which describe serum albumin- binding ISVD's and their use for extending the serum half-life (as defined in these applications) of therapeutic compounds, moieties and entities.
• WO 2004/041865 WO 2006/122787, WO 2012/175400, WO 2015/173325 and PCT/EP2016/077973, which describe serum albumin- binding ISVD's and their use for extending the serum half-life (as defined in these applications) of therapeutic compounds, moieties and entities.
• WO 2006/122787 WO 2012/175400
• WO 2015/173325 and PCT/EP2016/077973
• SEQ ID NO: 62 a humanized serum albumin-binding Nanobody called Alb-8 (see SEQ ID NO: l herein).
• WO 2012/175400 discloses as SEQ ID NO: 6 a humanized serum albumin-binding Nanobody called Alb-23D (see SEQ ID NO:2 herein).
• the amino acid sequences of Alb-8 and Alb-23D and their CDR's (which are the same for Alb-8 and Alb-23D) are given in Table A below as SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 and 3 to 8, respectively.
• Figures 3A and 3B show alignments of Alb-8, Alb-23D, SEQ ID NO: 15 and the reference albumin binders of SEQ ID NOs: 79 and 80 (which are based on Alb-8 and Alb23, respectively).
• the present invention aims to provide improved serum albumin binders, and in particular serum albumin binders that have improved properties compared to the serum albumin binders known in the art.
• Table A Alb-8, Alb-23D and their CDRs
• SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2 share the same CDRs according to Kabat. However, if the CDRs are defined under the Abm convention, SEQ ID NO: 1 has a different CDRl from SEQ ID NOs: 2 compared to SEQ ID NOs: 2, SEQ ID NO: 1 has an S at position 30 instead of an R.
• serum albumin-binding ISVD's provided by the present invention are variants of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15, in that:
• serum albumin-binding ISVD's provided by the present invention will generally have a (limited) number of "amino acid differences" (as described herein) compared to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15.
• amino acid differences may be present in the CDR's (as long as the resulting amino acid sequences as such that they retain the further properties of the amino acid sequences of the invention that are set out herein) and/or be present in the framework regions, and may in particular be present in the framework regions (as defined according to Kabat and/or according to Abm).
• these amino acid differences may for example be humanizing substitutions, substitutions that improve expression in a desired host cell or host organism, substitutions that improve stability and/or resistance to degradation and/or proteases, mutations that reduce binding by pre-existing antibodies, and/or other mutations that are intended to optimize the sequence of the amino acid sequences of the invention; or any suitable combination of such amino acid differences.
• substitutions that improve expression in a desired host cell or host organism substitutions that improve stability and/or resistance to degradation and/or proteases, mutations that reduce binding by pre-existing antibodies, and/or other mutations that are intended to optimize the sequence of the amino acid sequences of the invention.
• the invention relates to an ISVD that can bind (and in particular, specifically bind) to human serum albumin, and that has:
• CDR1 (according to Kabat) that is the amino acid sequence SYAMG (SEQ ID NO: 9) or an amino acid sequence that has 2 or 1 amino acid difference(s) (as defined herein) with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9; and
• CDR2 (according to Kabat) that is the amino acid sequence SISRGGGYTYYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO: 10) or an amino acid sequence that has 3, 2 or 1 amino acid difference(s) (as defined herein) with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10; and
• CDR3 (according to Kabat) that is the amino acid sequence ARYWATGSEYEFDY (SEQ ID NO: 11) or an amino acid sequence that has 3, 2 or 1 amino acid difference(s) (as defined herein) with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10.
• a serum albumin binder according to this aspect of the invention may be (and preferably is) as further described herein.
• the invention relates to an ISVD that can bind (and in particular, specifically bind) to human serum albumin, and that has:
• CDR2 (according to Kabat) that is the amino acid sequence SISRGGGYTYYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO: 10);
• CDR3 (according to Kabat) that is the amino acid sequence ARYWATGSEYEFDY (SEQ ID NO: 11).
• a serum albumin binder according to this aspect of the invention may be (and preferably is) as further described herein.
• the invention relates to an ISVD that can bind (and in particular, specifically bind) to human serum albumin, and that has:
• CDR1 (according to Abm) that is the amino acid sequence GLTFS SYAMG (SEQ ID NO: 12) or an amino acid sequence that has 2 or 1 amino acid difference(s) (as defined herein) with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12; and
• CDR2 (according to Abm) that is the amino acid sequence SISRGGGYTY (SEQ ID NO: 13) or an amino acid sequence that has 3, 2 or 1 amino acid difference(s) (as defined herein) with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; and r
• CDR3 (according to Abm) that is the amino acid sequence ARYWATGSEYEFDY (SEQ ID NO: 14) or an amino acid sequence that has 3, 2 or 1 amino acid difference(s) (as defined herein) with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14.
• a serum albumin binder according to this aspect of the invention may be (and preferably is) as further described herein.
• the invention relates to an ISVD that can bind (and in particular, specifically bind) to human serum albumin, and that has:
• CDR1 (according to Abm) that is the amino acid sequence GLTFSSYAMG (SEQ ID NO: 12) or an amino acid sequence that has 2 or 1 amino acid difference(s) (as defined herein) with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12; and
• CDR2 (according to Abm) that is the amino acid sequence SISRGGGYTY (SEQ ID NO: 13) or an amino acid sequence that has 3, 2 or 1 amino acid difference(s) (as defined herein) with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; and
• CDR3 (according to Abm) that is the amino acid sequence ARYWATGSEYEFDY (SEQ ID NO: 14) or an amino acid sequence that has 3, 2 or 1 amino acid difference(s)
• a serum albumin binder according to this aspect of the invention may be (and preferably is) as further described herein.
• the serum albumin binders according to the different aspects of the invention are preferably such that they have:
• a degree of sequence identity with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 (in which the CDR's and any C-terminal extension that may be present are not taken into account for determining the degree of sequence identity) of at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%;
• amino acid differences as defined herein, and not taking into account the CDRs and any C-terminal extension that may be present
• the serum albumin binders according to the different aspects of the invention are generally preferably such that they bind to human serum albumin with a dissociation constant
• KD KD of lO " to 10 " moles/liter or less, and preferably 10 " to 10 " moles/liter or less and more preferably 10 - " 8 to 10 - " 12 moles/liter, and/or with a binding affinity of at least 107 M - " 1 ,
• a serum albumin binder of the invention will bind to the desired antigen with an affinity less than 500 nM, preferably less than 200 nM, more preferably less than 10 nM, such as less than 500 pM, again as determined using ProteOn (reference is again made to Example 1).
• the serum albumin binders according to the different aspects of the invention are preferably also such that they compete with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 for binding to (human) serum albumin and/or that they "cross-block" (as defined herein) the binding of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 to (human) serum albumin.
• the serum albumin binders according to the different aspects of the invention are preferably such that they bind (at least) to a non-linear epitope that appears to comprise one or more of the amino acid residues within one or more of the following stretches of stretches of amino acid residues within the primary sequence of human serum albumin: positions 298-311 (and in particular one or more of Met298, Pro299, Ala300, Asp301, Leu302, Pro303, Ser304, Leu305, Ala306 and Glu311); positions 334 to 341 (and in particular one or more of Tyr334, Arg337, His338, Pro339 and/or Asp340) and/or positions 374-381 (and in particular one or more of Phe374, Asp375, Phe 377, Lys378 and Val381), with the amino acid residues in human serum albumin being numbered according to the numbering given in Meloun et al., FEBS Letters, 1975, 58,
• the albumin binders of the invention are such that they bind to essentially the same amino acid residues and/or epitope on human serum albumin as SEQ ID NO: 15, and even more preferably such that they share essentially the same amino acid interactions SEQ ID NO: 15.
• the albumin binders of the invention preferably either have the same CDRs as the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15, or compared to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 preferably contain within their CDR's only such mutations (such as conservative amino acid substitutions) that still allow them to undergo the same or essentially the same amino acid interactions with human serum albumin as SEQ ID NO: 15.
• the serum albumin binders according to the different aspects of the invention are generally preferably also such that they are cross-reactive between human serum albumin and serum albumin from at least one, preferably from at least two, more preferably from at least three and up to essentially all of the following species of mammal: rat, mouse, rabbit, guinea pig, pig, sheep, cow and cynomolgus monkey.
• the serum albumin binders according to the different aspects of the invention may be such that they are (at least) cross- reactive between human serum albumin and at least one, preferably at least two, more preferably at all three of rat serum albumin, mouse serum albumin and serum albumin from cynomolgus monkey.
• the serum albumin binders of the invention may have improved cross-reactivity (in particular between human serum albumin on the one hand and rat and/or mouse serum albumin on the other hand) compared to serum albumin binders that have (essentially) the same CDR's as Alb-11 and/or Alb-23D.
• Figure 11 gives an alignment of serum albumin from different species of mammal (source: http://macromoleculeinsights.com/albumin.php, the amino acid numbering in Figure 11 is the numbering used on said webpage).
• source http://macromoleculeinsights.com/albumin.php
• the amino acid numbering in Figure 11 is the numbering used on said webpage.
• the stretches of amino acids that are assumed to be part of the putative epitope of the amino acid sequences of the invention have been highlighted. Without being limited to any specific mechanism or hypothesis, it is assumed that the amino acid sequences of the invention are (essentially) capable of binding to (one or more amino acid residues within) the corresponding stretches of amino acid residues that are present within the amino acid sequence of those mammalian serum albumins that the amino acid sequences of the invention are cross-reactive with.
• a serum albumin binder of the invention can be considered to be cross- reactive between human serum albumin and serum albumin from one of these species when it can bind to human serum albumin with an affinity less than 500 nM, preferably less than 200 nM, more preferably less than 10 nM; and also to the serum albumin from said species with an affinity less than 500 nM, preferably less than 200 nM, more preferably less than 10 nM, again both as determined using ProteOn (reference is again made to Example 1).
• the serum albumin binders according to the different aspects of the invention are preferably also such that either:
• serum half-life in man (expressed as tl/2 beta) that is more than 6 hours, preferably more than 12 hours, more preferably of more than 24 hours, even more preferably more than 72 hours; for example of about one week, two weeks and up to the half- life of serum albumin in man (estimated to be around 19 days);
• a serum half-life in man (expressed as tl/2 beta) that is more than 6 hours, preferably more than 12 hours, more preferably of more than 24 hours, even more preferably more than 72 hours; for example of about one week, two weeks and up to the half- life of serum albumin in man (estimated to be around 19 days)
• the half-life in mammalian species other than man will, among other factors, mainly depend on the binding properties (such as affinity) of the albumin binder of the invention for the serum albumin from said mammalian species as well on the half-life of the naive serum albumin in said species.
• the half-life of the serum albumin binder of the invention (and/or of a compound of the invention comprising said serum albumin binder) as determined in said species is preferably at least 5%, such as at least 10%, more preferably at least 25%, for example about 50%> and possibly up to 100% of the half- life of the naive serum albumin in said species.
• the serum albumin binders of the invention preferably also contain (at least):
• one or more mutations i.e. amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions, and in particular substitutions
• amino acid substitutions i.e. amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions, and in particular substitutions
• Such mutations can comprise (a suitable combination of) one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions (and in particular substitutions), which mutations will often be in the so-called C-terminal region of the ISV.
• such mutations can comprise mutations (and in particular substitutions) at one or more of positions 11, 13, 14, 15, 40, 41, 42, 82, 82a, 82b, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 103, 108 and/or mutations at one or more positions in the C-terminal VTVSS sequence (i.e. positions 109, 110, 111, 112 and 113), with one or more mutations at positions 11, 89, 110 and/or 112 being particularly preferred.
• Such mutations are suitable substitutions (where required) such that after the mutation, at the indicated position, one of the following amino acid residues is present: 11L, 1 IK, 1 IV, 14A, 14P, 41A, 41L, 41P, 41S, 4 IT, 42E, 42G, 87A, 87T, 89A, 89L, 89T, 108L, 110K, 110Q, 112K and/or 112Q (with 11L, 89A, 89L, 89T, 110K, 110Q, 112K and 112Q being particularly preferred); or any suitable combination of such substitutions, such as for example and without limitation: 1 IV in combination with 89L or 89T; 1 IV in combination with 110K or 110Q; or 1 IV in
• Such mutations that reduce binding by preexisting antibodies may also be suitably combined with one or more other mutations as described herein (such as with one or more humanizing substitutions).
• the serum albumin binders of the invention may also comprise a C-terminal extension (such as a C-terminal alanine residue). As described in WO 2012/175741, such a C-terminal extension reduces ⁇ ⁇ binding by pre-existing antibodies.
• a suitable C-terminal extension can generally be further described herein and can in particular have the formula -(X) n , in which X can be any naturally occurring amino acid (but preferably not cysteine) and n can be 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
• X can be any naturally occurring amino acid (but preferably not cysteine) and n can be 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
• WO 2012/175741 to also to for example WO 2015/173325, WO 2013/024059 and WO 2016/118733.
• the presence of such a C-terminal extension may also be suitably combined with one or more of the other mutations described herein (such as with one or more humanizing substitutions and/or one or more mutations that reduce binding by pre-existing antibodies).
• mutations that may be present in the serum albumin binders of the invention for example and without limitation include one or more mutations (an in particular substitutions) that improve expression in a desired host cell or host organism, one or more mutations (and in particular substitutions) that improve stability and/or resistance to degradation and/or proteases, and/or one or more other mutations that are intended to optimize the sequence of the amino acid sequences of the invention (for example and without limitation, one or more mutations that (further) reduce any tendency of the albumin binders to form dimers); or any suitable combination of such mutations.
• the serum albumin binders of the invention may have a D at position 1 (i.e. a E1D mutation compared to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15), in particular when the serum albumin binder of the invention is present at and/or forms the N- terminal end of the compound of the invention in which it is present.
• Such mutations may again be suitably combined with one or more other mutations as described herein (such as with one or more humanizing substitutions and/or one or more mutations that reduce binding by pre-existing antibodies).
• a single mutation (or a suitable combination of mutations) provides multiple functionalities or advantages.
• a humanizing Q108L substitution may also reduce binding by pre-existing antibodies.
• amino acid residues i.e. mutations compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15
• amino acid residues include: 1 IV (i.e. LI IV), 14P (i.e. A14P), 47F (i.e. R47F), 49A (i.e. V49A), 74S (i.e. A74S), 75N (i.e. E75N), 83R (i.e.
• SEQ ID NOs: 15 to 35 which are examples of amino acid sequences of the invention without a C-terminal alanine extension
• SEQ ID NOs: 36 to 56 which are examples of amino acid sequences of the invention with a C-terminal extension (in each case, exemplified by means of a C-terminal alanine extension, which is generally the preferred C-terminal extension); and
• SEQ ID NOs: 57 to 77 which are examples of amino acid sequences of the invention with an N-terminal E1D mutation).
• albumin binders of the invention with a C-terminal extension (such as those of SEQ ID NOs: 36 to 56) will often be used as/present at the C-terminal end of the polypeptides of the invention (as defined herein) in which they are present;
• albumin binders of the invention with an E1D mutation (such as those of SEQ ID NOs: 57 to 77) will often be used as/present at the N-terminal end of the polypeptides of the invention in which they are present;
• albumin binders of the invention without a C-terminal extension and without an E1D mutation (such as those of SEQ ID NOs: 15 to 35) will often be present somewhere in the
• amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 15 to 77 as well as proteins, polypeptides and other compounds and constructs comprising the same (as further described herein), form further aspects of the present invention.
• the invention relates to an amino acid sequence which is one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:
• the amino acid sequences provided by the invention are proteins that can bind to, and that can in particular specifically (as described herein) bind to, human serum albumin.
• they can be used as binding units or binding domains for binding to (human) serum albumin, for example to confer an increase in half-life (as defined herein) to therapeutic compounds, moieties or entities.
• serum albumin-binding domains to increase half-life of therapeutic compounds, moieties or entities, reference is for example made to WO 2004/041865, WO 2006/122787, EP 2 139 918, WO 2011/006915,
• the serum albumin binders of the invention can generally be used in the same way and for the same purposes as the serum albumin binders described in these references.
• the invention also relates to: ⁇ ⁇
• a host cell, host organism or other (expression) system that can express or produce a serum albumin binder of the invention and/or a compound of the invention
• compositions and products that comprise a serum albumin binder of the invention and/or a compound of the invention;
• nucleotide sequences and nucleic acids such as (expression) vectors, that encode a serum albumin binder of the invention and/or a compounds of the invention;
• immunoglobulin single variable domain also referred to as "ISV” or “ISVD"
• immunoglobulin variable domains which may be heavy chain or light chain domains, including VH, VHH or VL domains
• another variable domain e.g. without a VH/VL interaction as is required between the VH and VL domains of conventional 4-chain monoclonal antibody.
• ISVDs examples include Nanobodies (including a VHH, a humanized VHH and/or a camelized VHs such as camelized human VHs), IgNAR, domains, (single domain) antibodies (such as dAbsTM) that are VH domains or that are derived from a VH domain and (single domain) antibodies (such as dAbsTM) that are VL domains or that are derived from a VL domain.
• ISVDs that are based on and/or derived from heavy chain variable domains (such as VH or VHH domains) are generally preferred.
• an ISVD will be a Nanobody.
• the term "Nanobody” is generally as defined in WO 2008/020079 or WO 2009/138519, and thus in a specific aspect generally denotes a VHH, a humanized VHH or a camelized VH (such as a camelized human VH) or generally a sequence optimized VHH (such as e.g. optimized for chemical stability and/or solubility, maximum overlap with known human framework regions and maximum expression).
• the terms Nanobody or Nanobodies are registered trademarks of Ablynx N.V. and thus may also be referred to as Nanobody® and/or Nanobodies®);
• the ISVD's, Nanobodies, polypeptides, proteins and other compounds and constructs referred to herein will be intended for use in prophylaxis or treatment of diseases or disorders in man (and/or optionally also in warmblooded animals and in particular mammals).
• the ISVD's, Nanobodies, polypeptides, proteins and other compounds and constructs described herein are preferably such that they can be used as, and/or can suitably be a part of, a (biological) drug or other pharmaceutically or therapeutically active compound and/or of a pharmaceutical product or composition.
• a drug, compound or product is preferably such that it is suitable for administration to a human being, e.g.
• such a drug or compound may contain other moieties, entities or binding units besides the ISVDs provided by the invention (which, as also described herein, may for example be one or more other further therapeutic moieties and/or one or more other moieties that influence the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic properties of the ISVD-based or Nanobody-based biological, such as its half- life).
• an ISVD-based biological or Nanobody-based biological is preferably a therapeutic or intended for use as a therapeutic (which includes prophylaxis and diagnosis) and for this purpose preferably contains at least one ISVD against a therapeutically relevant target (such as for example RANK-L, vWF, IgE, RSV, CXCR4, IL-23 or other interleukins, etc.).
• a therapeutically relevant target such as for example RANK-L, vWF, IgE, RSV, CXCR4, IL-23 or other interleukins, etc.
• the further moiety may be an ISVD or Nanobody as described herein directed against a (human) serum protein such as (human) serum albumin, and such an ISVD or Nanobody may also find therapeutic uses, in particular in and/or for extending the half-life of the TNF binders described herein.
• any pharmaceutical product or composition comprising any ISVD or compound of the invention may also comprise one or more further components known per se for use in pharmaceutical products or compositions (i.e. depending on the intended pharmaceutical form) and/or for example one or more other compounds or active principles intended for therapeutic use (i.e. to provide a combination product).
• half-life as used herein in relation to an ISVD, Nanobody, ISVD-based biological, Nanobody-based biological or any other amino acid sequence, compound or polypeptide referred to herein can generally be defined as described in paragraph o) on page 57 of WO 2008/020079 and as mentioned therein refers to the time taken for the serum concentration of the amino acid sequence, compound or polypeptide to be reduced by 50%, in vivo, for example due to degradation of the sequence or compound and/or clearance or sequestration of the sequence or compound by natural mechanisms.
• the in vivo half-life of an amino acid sequence, compound or polypeptide of the invention can be determined in any manner known per se, such as by pharmacokinetic analysis.
• the half-life can be expressed using parameters such as the tl/2-alpha, tl/2-beta and the area under the curve (AUC).
• AUC area under the curve
• amino acid residues of a Nanobody are numbered according to the general numbering for VHs given by Kabat et al. ("Sequence of proteins of immunological interest", US Public Health Services, NIH Bethesda, MD,
• FR1 of a Nanobody comprises the amino acid residues at positions 1-30
• CDRl of a Nanobody comprises the amino acid residues at positions 31-35
• FR2 of a Nanobody comprises the amino acids at positions 36-49
• CDR2 of a Nanobody comprises the amino acid residues at positions 50-65
• FR3 of a Nanobody comprises the amino acid residues at positions 66-94
• CDR3 of a Nanobody comprises the amino acid residues at positions 95-102
• FR4 of a Nanobody comprises the amino acid residues at positions 103-113.
• the total number of amino acid residues in each of the CDR's may vary and may not correspond to the total number of amino acid residues indicated by the Kabat numbering (that is, one or more positions according to the Kabat numbering may not be occupied in the actual sequence, or the actual sequence may contain more amino acid residues than the number allowed for by the Kabat numbering).
• the numbering according to Kabat may or may not correspond to the actual numbering of the amino acid residues in the actual sequence.
• position 1 according to the Kabat numbering corresponds to the start of FR1 and vice versa
• position 36 according to the Kabat numbering corresponds to the start of FR2 and vice versa
• position 66 according to the Kabat numbering corresponds to the start of FR3 and vice versa
• position 103 according to the Kabat numbering corresponds to the start of FR4 and vice versa.
• serum albumin binders of the invention can be used with advantage as a moiety, binding unit or fusion partner in order to increase the half-life of therapeutic compounds, moieties or entities such as polypeptides, proteins, compounds (including, without limitation, small molecules) or other therapeutic entities.
• the invention provides polypeptides, proteins, constructs, compounds or other chemical entities that comprise or essentially consist of a serum albumin binder of the invention and one or more other amino acid sequences, (binding) domains, binding units or other moieties or chemical entities.
• the invention provides polypeptides, proteins, constructs, compounds or other chemical entities that comprise a serum albumin binder of the invention and one or more (such as one or two) therapeutic moieties (which may be the same or different, and may for example be directed against the same target or to different targets, and when they are directed to the same target may be directed towards the same or different epitopes, parts, domains or subunits of said target), suitably linked to each other either directly or via one or more suitable linkers or spacers.
• Such polypeptides, proteins or constructs may for example and without limitation be a fusion protein, as further described herein.
• the invention further relates to therapeutic uses of such polypeptides, proteins, constructs or compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptides, proteins, constructs or compounds.
• the at least one therapeutic moiety comprises or essentially consists of a therapeutic protein, polypeptide, compound, factor or other entity.
• the therapeutic moiety is directed against a desired antigen or target, is capable of binding to a desired antigen (and in particular capable of specifically binding to a desired antigen), and/or is capable of interacting with a desired target.
• the at least one therapeutic moiety comprises or essentially consists of a therapeutic protein or polypeptide.
• the at least one therapeutic moiety comprises or essentially consists of a binding domain or binding unit, such as an immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin sequence (including but not limited to a fragment of an immunoglobulin), such as an antibody or an antibody fragment (including but not limited to an ScFv fragment), or of another suitable protein scaffold, such as protein A domains (such as AffibodiesTM), 2Q tendamistat, fibronectin, lipocalin, CTLA-4, T-cell receptors, designed ankyrin
• a binding domain or binding unit such as an immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin sequence (including but not limited to a fragment of an immunoglobulin), such as an antibody or an antibody fragment (including but not limited to an ScFv fragment), or of another suitable protein scaffold, such as protein A domains (such as AffibodiesTM), 2Q tendamistat, fibronectin, lipocalin, CTLA-4, T-cell receptors, designed ankyrin
• the at least one therapeutic moiety comprises or essentially consists of an antibody variable domain, such as a heavy chain variable domain or a light chain variable domain.
• the at least one therapeutic moiety comprises or essentially consists of at least one immunoglobulin single variable domain, such as a domain antibody, single domain antibody, "dAb” or Nanobody (such as a VHH, a humanized VHH or a camelized VH) or an IgNAR domain.
• immunoglobulin single variable domain such as a domain antibody, single domain antibody, "dAb” or Nanobody (such as a VHH, a humanized VHH or a camelized VH) or an IgNAR domain.
• the at least one therapeutic moiety comprises or essentially consists of at least one monovalent Nanobody or a bivalent, multivalent, bispecific or multispecific Nanobody construct.
• the polypeptides, (fusion) proteins, constructs or compounds that comprise a serum albumin binder of the invention and one or more therapeutic moieties can generally be (prepared and used) as described in the prior art cited above (such as WO 04/041865, WO 06/122787, WO 2012/175400 and WO 2015/173325; reference is also made to for example, WO 2004/003019, EP 2 139 918, WO 2011/006915 and WO 2014/111550) with a serum albumin binder of the invention instead of the half-life increasing moieties described in said
• the polypeptides, (fusion) proteins, constructs or compounds that comprise a serum albumin binder of the invention and one or more therapeutic moieties will generally and preferably have an increased half-life (as described herein, and preferably expressed as tl/2- beta), compared to the therapeutic moiety or moieties per se.
• the compounds, polypeptides, constructs or fusion proteins described herein preferably have a half-life (again, as described herein, and preferably expressed as tl/2-beta) that is at least 1.5 times, preferably at least 2 times, such as at least 5 times, for example at least 10 times or more than 20 times, greater than the half-life of the
• corresponding therapeutic moiety per se (as measured in either in man or a suitable animal, such as mouse or cynomolgus monkey).
• any such compound, polypeptide, fusion protein or construct has a half- life (again, as described herein, and preferably expressed as tl/2-beta) in man that is increased with more than 1 hour, preferably more than 2 hours, more preferably of more than 6 hours, such as of more than 12 hours, compared to the half-life of the corresponding therapeutic moiety per se.
• a compound or polypeptide of the invention has a half-life (again, as described herein, and preferably expressed as tl/2-beta) in man that is more than 1 hour, preferably more than 2 hours, more preferably of more than 6 hours, such as of more than 12 hours, and for example of about one day, two days, one week, two weeks and up to the half- life of serum albumin in man (estimated to be around 19 days).
• a half-life (again, as described herein, and preferably expressed as tl/2-beta) in man that is more than 1 hour, preferably more than 2 hours, more preferably of more than 6 hours, such as of more than 12 hours, and for example of about one day, two days, one week, two weeks and up to the half- life of serum albumin in man (estimated to be around 19 days).
• a serum albumin binder of the invention is used to increase the half-life of (one or more) immunoglobulin single variable domains, such as domain antibodies, single domain antibodies, "dAb's", VHH's or Nanobodies (such as VHH's, humanized VHH's or camelized VH's such as camelized human VH's).
• immunoglobulin single variable domains such as domain antibodies, single domain antibodies, "dAb's", VHH's or Nanobodies (such as VHH's, humanized VHH's or camelized VH's such as camelized human VH's).
• one embodiment of the invention relates to a polypeptide, construct or fusion protein that comprises a serum albumin binder of the invention and one or more (such as one or two) immunoglobulin single variable domain sequences, which are suitably linked to each other, either directly or optionally via one or more suitable linkers or spacers.
• each such immunoglobulin single variable domain present in such a polypeptide, construct or fusion protein may independently be a domain antibody, single domain antibody, "dAb"' or Nanobody (such as a VHH, humanized VHH or camelized VH, such as a camelized human VH); and according to one specific but non-limiting aspect, at least one (and up to all) of these immunoglobulin single variable domains comprises two or three disulphide bridges.
• all ISVDs present in such a compound of the invention are Nanobodies.
• a compound of the invention When a compound of the invention has an ISVD at its C-terminal end (such as a serum albumin binder of the invention or an ISVD that is directed against a therapeutic target), then said C-terminal ISVD (and thus, by extension, the entire compound of the invention) preferably has a C-terminal extension at its C-terminal end.
• This C-terminal extension will be directly linked to the last C-terminal amino acid residue of the ISVD, which will usually be the amino acid residue at position 113 according to Kabat (unless the ISVD contains one or more amino acid deletions such that the sequence of the ISVD ends before position 113).
• the C-terminal extension will be directly linked to the C- terminal VTVSS sequence (SEQ ID NO:78) of the C-terminal ISV (and thus, by extension, to the C-terminal TVTSS sequence of the compound of the invention) or the C-terminal sequence of the C-terminal ISVD that corresponds to the C-terminal ISVD sequence (for example, where said C-terminal sequence of the C-terminal ISVD contains one or more substitutions or deletions compared to the usual VTVSS sequence, such as Tl 10K, Tl 10Q, S112K or S112K).
• any C-terminal extension that is used herein i.e. at the C-terminal end of a compound of the invention and/or at the C-terminal end of a serum albumin binder of the invention
• a C-terminal extension may have the formula (X) n , in which n is 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 5, such as 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (and preferably 1 or 2, such as 1); and each X is an (preferably naturally occurring) amino acid residue that is independently chosen from naturally occurring amino acid residues (although according to preferred one aspect, it does not comprise any cysteine residues), and preferably independently chosen from the group consisting of alanine (A), glycine (G), valine (V), leucine (L) or isoleucine (I).
• A alanine
• G glycine
• V valine
• L leucine
• I isoleucine
• any C-terminal extension present in a serum albumin binder of the invention does not contain a (free) cysteine residue (unless said cysteine residue is used or intended for further functionalization, for example for pegylation).
• C-terminal extensions are the following amino acid sequences: A, AA, AAA, G, GG, GGG, AG, GA, AAG, AGG, AGA, GGA, GAA or GAG.
• a compound of the invention when a compound of the invention has an ISVD at its C-terminal end (such as a serum albumin binder of the invention or an ISVD that is directed against a therapeutic target), then (at least) said C-terminal ISVD preferably contains, even more preferably in addition to a C-terminal extension as described herein, one or more mutations that reduce binding by pre-existing antibodies (i.e. as described herein for the serum albumin binders of the invention and as more generally described in WO 2012/175741 and WO 2015/173325 and also for example in WO 2013/024059 and WO 2016/118733).
• a compound of the invention has a serum albumin binder of the invention at its C-terminal end, that then (at least) said hail
• serum albumin binder of the invention preferably will contain such mutations (i.e. preferably in addition to a C-terminal extension).
• a compound of the invention contains two or more ISVDs (e.g. a serum albumin binder of the invention and one or more ISVDs against a therapeutic target), then preferably all these ISVDs contain mutations that reduce binding to pre-existing antibodies (again, preferably in addition to the C-terminal extension that is linked to the C-terminal ISVD if the compound of the invention has an ISVD at its C-terminal end).
• ISVDs e.g. a serum albumin binder of the invention and one or more ISVDs against a therapeutic target
• all these ISVDs contain mutations that reduce binding to pre-existing antibodies (again, preferably in addition to the C-terminal extension that is linked to the C-terminal ISVD if the compound of the invention has an ISVD at its C-terminal end).
• a compound of the invention When a compound of the invention has an ISVD at its N-terminal end (such as a serum albumin binder of the invention or an ISVD that is directed against a therapeutic target), then said N-terminal ISVD (and thus, by extension, the entire compound of the invention) preferably contain a D at position 1.
• said serum albumin binder of the invention will preferably have a D at position 1 (e.g. an E1D mutation compared to for example the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15, such as the in the amino acid sequences of the invention of SEQ ID NOs: 57 to 77).
• the invention relates to a protein, polypeptide or other compound or construct that comprises or essentially consists of at least one (and preferably only one) serum albumin binder of the invention and at least one (such as one, two or three) therapeutic moiety or entity (in which said serum albumin binder and the one or more therapeutic moieties or entities are suitably linked, optionally via one or more suitable linkers), which protein, polypeptide, compound, construct is such that: when it has an ISVD at its C-terminal end, then (the C-terminal ISVD of) said protein, polypeptide, compound, construct has a C-terminal extension (X) n (as further described herein) at its C-terminal end; and/or
• the C-terminal ISVD contains one or more mutations that reduce the binding of pre-existing antibodies (as further described herein);
• said N-terminal ISVD of said protein, polypeptide, compound, construct preferably contains a D at position 1; and/or in which said ISVDs which protein, polypeptide or other compound may also have ISVD at its N-terminal end, in which case said N-terminal ISVD end preferably has a D or an E1D at position 1; ⁇
• ISVDs present in said protein, polypeptide, compound, construct contain one or more mutations that reduce the binding of pre-existing antibodies (as further described herein).
• all therapeutic moieties present in a compound of the invention are ISVD's (i.e. ISVDs against a therapeutic target), and in particular heavy-chain ISVDs, and more in particular Nanobodies (i.e. Nanobodies against a therapeutic target).
• such compounds of the invention may comprise: one copy of a serum albumin binder of the invention and one ISVD (and preferably Nanobody) against a therapeutic target; or
• ISVDs one copy of a serum albumin binder of the invention and two ISVDs (and preferably two Nanobodies) against a therapeutic target (which ISVDs may be the same or different and when different may be directed against the same target, against different epitopes on the same target or against different therapeutic targets); or
• ISVDs may be the same or different and when different may be directed against the same target, against different epitopes on the same target or against different therapeutic targets.
• constructs, fusion proteins or polypeptides of the invention can be schematically represented as follows, in which "[Alb]” represents a serum albumin binder of the invention, “[therapeutic moiety 1]” and “[therapeutic moiety 2]” represent the therapeutic moieties (which as mentioned may each independently be an immunoglobulin single variable domain), " - " represents a suitable linker (which is optional; suitable examples are 9GS and 35GS linkers) and the N-terminus is on the left hand side and the C-terminus is on the right hand side:
• fusion proteins or polypeptides of the invention can be schematically represented as follows, in which "[Alb]” represents a serum albumin binder of the invention, "[therapeutic ISVD 1]” and “[therapeutic ISVD 2]” represent ISVDs against a therapeutic target (which ISVDs may be the same or different and when different may be directed against the same target, against different epitopes on the same target or against different therapeutic targets), " - " represents a suitable linker (which is optional), X(n) represents a C-terminal extension as described herein, and the N-terminus is on the left hand side and the C-terminus is on the right hand side:
• the invention relates to a multispecific (and in particular bispecific) Nanobody construct that comprises a serum albumin binder of the invention and at least one other Nanobody (such as one or two other Nanobodies, which may be the same or different), in which said at least one other Nanobody is preferably directed against a desired target (which is preferably a therapeutic target) and/or another Nanobody that useful or suitable for therapeutic, prophylactic and/or diagnostic purposes.
• a desired target which is preferably a therapeutic target
• the serum albumin binder of the invention and the other Nanobodies may be suitably linked to each other either directly or optionally via one or more suitable linkers or spacers.
• SEQ ID NOs:82 to 88 some examples of compounds of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs:82 to 88, using the anti-HER2-Nanobody of SEQ ID NO: 81 as a representative example of an anti-target Nanobody, and with the constituent Nanobodies being in different positions in the compound of the invention.
• the compounds of SEQ ID NOs: 82 to 85 are examples illustrating bivalent bispecific compounds of the invention and the compounds of SEQ ID NOs: 86 to 88 are examples illustrating trivalent bispecific compounds of the invention.
• the compounds contain an E1D mutation and a C-terminal alanine residue, and contain representative but non-limiting examples of the use of suitable linkers (i.e. a 15GS linker in SEQ ID NO:83 and or 35GS linkers in SEQ ID NO:s 84 and 85-88).
• the invention also relates to nucleotide sequences or nucleic acids that encode the albumin binders, compounds or polypeptides of the invention.
• the invention further includes genetic constructs that include the foregoing nucleotide sequences or nucleic acids and one or more elements for genetic constructs known per se.
• the genetic construct may be in the form of a plasmid or vector. Again, such constructs can be generally as described in the published patent applications of Ablynx N.V., such as for example WO 04/041862, WO 2006/122786, WO 2008/020079, WO 2008/142164 or WO 2009/068627.
• the invention also relates to hosts or host cells that contain such nucleotide sequences or nucleic acids, and/or that express (or are capable of expressing), the albumin binders, compounds or polypeptides of the invention.
• host cells can be generally as described in the published patent applications of Ablynx N.V., such as for example WO 04/041862, WO 2006/122786, WO 2008/020079, WO 2008/142164 or WO 2009/068627.
• the invention also relates to a method for preparing an albumin binder, compound or polypeptide of the invention, which method comprises cultivating or maintaining a host cell as described herein under conditions such that said host cell produces or expresses an albumin binder, compound or polypeptide of the invention, and optionally further comprises isolating the albumin binder, compound or polypeptide of the invention so produced.
• a method for preparing an albumin binder, compound or polypeptide of the invention comprises cultivating or maintaining a host cell as described herein under conditions such that said host cell produces or expresses an albumin binder, compound or polypeptide of the invention, and optionally further comprises isolating the albumin binder, compound or polypeptide of the invention so produced.
• such methods can be performed as generally described in the published patent applications of Ablynx N.V., such as for example WO 04/041862, WO 2006/122786, WO 2008/020079, WO 2008/142164 or WO 2009/068627.
• the invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition that comprises at least one compound or polypeptide of the invention, and optionally at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.
• a pharmaceutical composition that comprises at least one compound or polypeptide of the invention, and optionally at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.
• Such preparations, carriers, excipients and diluents may generally be as described in the published patent applications of Ablynx N.V., such as for example WO 04/041862, WO 2006/122786, WO 2008/020079, WO 2008/142164 or WO 2009/068627.
• the compounds or polypeptides of the invention have an increased half-life, they are preferably administered to the circulation. As such, they can be
• any suitable manner that allows the compound or polypeptide of the invention to enter the circulation such as intravenously, via injection or infusion, or in any other suitable manner (including oral administration, subcutaneous administration, intramuscular administration, administration through the skin, intranasal administration, administration via the lungs, etc.).
• suitable methods and routes of administration will be clear to the skilled person, again for example also from the teaching of the published patent applications of Ablynx N.V., such as for example WO 04/041862, WO 2006/122786, WO 2008/020079, WO 2008/142164 or WO 2009/068627.
• the invention relates to a method for the prevention and/or treatment of at least one disease or disorder that can be prevented or treated by the use of a compound or polypeptide of the invention, which method comprises administering, to a subject in need thereof, a pharmaceutically active amount of a compound or polypeptide of the invention, and/or of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.
• the diseases and disorders that can be prevented or treated by the use of a compound or polypeptide of the invention as described herein will generally be the same as the diseases and disorders that can be prevented or treated by the use of the therapeutic moiety or moieties that is/are present in the compound or polypeptide of the invention.
• prevention and/or treatment not only comprises preventing and/or treating the disease, but also generally comprises preventing the onset of the disease, slowing or reversing the progress of disease, preventing or slowing the onset of one or more symptoms associated with the disease, reducing and/or alleviating one or more symptoms associated with the disease, reducing the severity and/or the duration of the disease and/or of any symptoms associated therewith and/or preventing a further increase in the severity of the disease and/or of any symptoms associated therewith, preventing, reducing or reversing any physiological damage caused by the disease, and generally any pharmacological action that is beneficial to the patient being treated.
• the subject to be treated may be any warm-blooded animal, but is in particular a mammal, and more in particular a human being.
• the subject to be treated will in particular be a person suffering from, or at risk from, the diseases and disorders mentioned herein.
• the invention relates to a method for immunotherapy, and in particular for passive immunotherapy, which method comprises administering, to a subject suffering from or at risk of the diseases and disorders mentioned herein, a pharmaceutically active amount of a compound or polypeptide of the invention, and/or of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.
• the compound or polypeptide of the invention and/or the compositions comprising the same are administered according to a regime of treatment that is suitable for preventing and/or treating the disease or disorder to be prevented or treated.
• the clinician will generally be able to determine a suitable treatment regimen, depending on factors such as the disease or disorder to be prevented or treated, the severity of the disease to be treated and/or the severity of the symptoms thereof, the specific polypeptide of the invention to be used, the specific route of administration and pharmaceutical formulation or composition to be used, the age, gender, weight, diet, general condition of the patient, and similar factors well known to the clinician.
• the treatment regimen will comprise the administration of one or more compounds or polypeptides of the invention, or of one or more compositions comprising the same, in one or more pharmaceutically effective amounts or doses.
• the specific amount(s) or doses to be administered can be determined by the clinician, again based on the factors cited above.
• the compounds or polypeptides of the invention will generally be administered in an amount between 1 gram and 0.01 microgram per kg body weight per day, preferably between 0.1 gram and 0.1 microgram per kg body weight per day, such as about 1, 10, 100 or 1000 microgram per kg body weight per day, either continuously (e.g., by infusion), as a single 3Q daily dose or as multiple divided doses during the day.
• the clinician will generally be able to determine a suitable daily dose, depending on the factors mentioned herein.
• the compounds of the invention contain a half-life extending serum albumin binder of the invention, they do not need to be administered essentially continuously (e.g. by infusion), but they can be administered at suitable intervals (to be determined by the skilled person). For example, they can be administered (at a suitable dose) once every two days, once every four days, once weekly, once every two weeks and in some cases once every four weeks or even less frequently, for example by injection or infusion.
• compositions comprising at least one compound or polypeptide of the invention wherein said composition is intended for administration at an interval between once weekly and once every 4 weeks, and in particular between once every 7 days and once every 21 days, such as once every 7 days or 14 days.
• polypeptides of the invention may also be used in combination with one or more further pharmaceutically active compounds or principles, i.e., as a combined treatment regimen, which may or may not lead to a synergistic effect.
• a combined treatment regimen which may or may not lead to a synergistic effect.
• the clinician will be able to select such further compounds or principles, as well as a suitable combined treatment regimen, based on the factors cited above and his expert judgement.
• polypeptides of the invention may be used in combination with other pharmaceutically active compounds or principles that are or can be used for the prevention and/or treatment of the diseases and disorders that can be prevented or treated with the fusion proteins or constructs of the invention, and as a result of which a synergistic effect may or may not be obtained.
• the effectiveness of the treatment regimen used according to the invention may be determined and/or followed in any manner known per se for the disease or disorder involved, ⁇ as will be clear to the clinician.
• the clinician will also be able, where appropriate and or a case-by-case basis, to change or modify a particular treatment regimen, so as to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, to avoid, limit or reduce unwanted side-effects, and/or to achieve an appropriate balance between achieving the desired therapeutic effect on the one hand and avoiding, limiting or reducing undesired side effects on the other hand.
• the treatment regimen will be followed until the desired therapeutic effect is achieved and/or for as long as the desired therapeutic effect is to be maintained. Again, this can be determined by the clinician.
• Figure 1 is a table listing some of the amino acid positions that will be specifically referred to herein and their numbering according to some alternative numbering systems (such as Aho and IMGT);
• Figure 2 lists the amino acid sequences referred to herein;
• Figures 3 A and 3B show an alignment of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 (invention) with the prior art sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2 and the reference sequences of SEQ ID NO: 79 and 80 (which are based on SEQ ID NO: l and SEQ ID NO:2, respectively);
• Figure 4 A shows an alignment of SEQ ID NOs: 15 to 56 and
• Figure 4B shows an alignment of SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 57 to 77
• Figure 5 is a graph showing competitive binding for the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: l (reference), the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 (invention) and an irrelevant Nanobody (cAblys3-Flag3His6), as generated in Example 2;
• Figure 6 is a graph showing binding of human serum albumin to FcRn in the presence of the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15.
• Human FcRn-human ⁇ 2 microglobulin heterodimer was immobilized on CM5 chip. Binding of 1 ⁇ HSA in absence or presence of 2 ⁇ Nanobody in 50 mM NaP04 + 150 mM NaCl + 0.05 % Tween-20 pH 6.0 was monitored on a Biacore T100 instrument;
• Figure 7 shows the data collection and processing statistics used in Example 7 in determining/calculating the crystal structure for the crystal structure of human serum albumin and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15; ⁇
• Figure 8 lists the refinement statistics used for used in Example 7 in
• Figure 9 is a graph showing serum concentrations for the constructs of SEQ ID NO: 82 (invention), SEQ ID NO:89 (reference) and SEQ ID NO:90 (reference), respectively, as determined in Example 5.
• the symbols in the graph represent individual data points and the lines represent the mean concentration.
• Figure 10 shows the most important residues on human serum albumin and on SEQ ID NO: 15, respectively, that based on the crystal structure data generated in Example 7 are assumed to be involved in the binding interaction between human serum albumin and
• Figure 11 gives an alignment of serum albumin from different species of mammal.
• sequence of human serum albumin the stretches of amino acids that are assumed to be part of the putative epitope of SEQ ID NO: 15 (see also Figure 10) have been highlighted.
• Example 1 Affinity for serum albumin The affinity of the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 for human (Sigma-
• SA serum albumin
• Table 1 Kinetic parameters for binding of the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 on SA from different species.
• albumin The long half-life of albumin in blood is mainly driven by two characteristics: (i) the large size (65 kDa) of albumin limits its glomerular filtration and (ii) albumin binds to FcRn at low pH (pH 6), which protects albumin from degradation in the lysosomes after passive endocytosis in endothelial and epithelial cells, by recycling from early endosome back to the extracellular environment.
• pH pH
• Nanobodies to result in long serum half-life through albumin binding and subsequent recycling, these should stay bound to albumin in the pH range from 5.0 to 7.4.
• the dissociation rate of the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 from HSA at pH 5, pH 6 and pH 7.4 was measured on a ProteOn instrument as described above, including serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: l as a reference.
• the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 and serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: l (reference) were injected at 500 nM and 300 nM respectively in HBS-P+ pH 7.4 buffer.
• Dissociation buffers were 50 mM NaOAc/HOAc + 150 mM NaCl + 0.05 % Tween-20 pH 5.0, 50 mM NaOAc/HOAc + 150 mM NaCl + 0.05 % Tween-20 pH 6.0 and HBS-P+ pH 7.4 respectively. Dissociation was analysed for 2700 s. As can be seen from the data shown in Table 2, the dissociation rates for the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 do not differ significantly across the pH range from 5.0 to 7.4.
• Table 2 Dissociation rate of T023500010 from HSA at different pH.
• Epitope binning was analysed in a competition ELISA. Human serum albumin was coated at 125 ng/ml in PBS at 4 °C over night. After blocking with PBS + 1 % casein, 1.5 nM serum albumin binder of [SEQ ID NO: l-cMycHis6] and a concentration series of competitors ([His6Flag3-SEQ ID NO: 15], [His6Flag3-SEQ ID NO: l] as positive control or hen egg lysozyme binding single domain antibody cAblys3-Flag3His6 as negative control) were added. Bound [SEQ ID NO: l-cMycHis6] was detected with goat anti-cMyc (Abeam ab 19234) and HRP-labelled rabbit anti-goat (Genway 18-511-244226) antibodies.
• the stability of the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 was assessed, using the serum albumin binders of SEQ ID NOs: l and 2 as reference. Melting temperature (Tm) was determined in Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the physical stability was analysed by measuring the following parameters before and after storage at 40 °C in D- PBS at 5 mg/ml: Turbidity (OD 5 oo n m), percentage high molecular weight variants (SE-HPLC), content (OD280) and chemical variants (RP-HPLC).
• Table 3 Summary data physical stability the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15.
• Example 5 P profile of the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO : 15 in rat
• SEQ ID NO: 82 The pharmacokinetics of a representative compound of the invention (SEQ ID NO: 82) comprising the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 after single i.v. dose were studied in Sprague Dawley rats and compared to similar constructs (SEQ ID NOs: 89 and 90) comprising the reference serum albumin binders of SEQ ID NOs: 79 and 80, respectively. Alignments of SEQ ID NO: 15 with the reference sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 79 and 80 are given in Figure 3A and 3B.
• the constructs of SEQ ID NOs: 82, 89 and 90 comprise thetician r
• the I-labelled construct (3 rats per group) at a specific activity of 3.5 - 4 mCi/mg Nanobody construct.
• Blood samples were taken at 5 min, 1 h, 4 h, 8 h, 24 h, 48 h, 96 h, 168 h, 240 h, 336 h and 504h post dosing.
• Radioactivity was measured in each blood sample and converted to a protein concentration based on the specific activity of the labelled Nanobody construct.
• the decay of the radioactive label over time was taken into account in the calculations.
• the measured concentrations of the constructs in blood over time are shown in Figure 9.
• PK parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis: the relevant data are listed in Table 4). In line with the expected higher affinity for rat SA compared to the references of SEQ ID NOs: 79 and 89, a higher exposure and reduced clearance was observed for the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15.
• Example 6 In vivo safety of the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 in rat
• Albumin is a carrier protein for many natural ligands, such as bilirubin, lipids, ions, sugars, metabolites.
• serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 for half-life extension of therapeutic compounds, it should not displace binding of natural ligands. This was assessed in a safety study in Crl:CD(SD) rats. Animals were injected i.v. with 100 mg/kg of the construct of SEQ ID NO: 82 or vehicle (D-PBS) on day 1, 4 and 7. Blood was collected on day 4, 7 and 12 and clinical parameters were measured. The compound of the invention was well tolerated and did not result in any adverse clinical observation, food consumption, body weight, or clinical chemistry changes.
• Crystals of human serum albumin in complex with the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 were flash- frozen and measured at a temperature of 100 K.
• Diffraction data for the co-crystallized complex were collected at the SWISS LIGHT SOURCE (Villigen, Switzerland). Data collection and processing statistics are summarized Figures 7 and 8.
• the resulting electron density maps reveal that the crystals contain one HSA:the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 complex in the asymmetric unit and show the unambiguous binding mode for the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15, binding to domain II of HSA.
• a structural model was constructed and refined to a final resolution of 2.80 A.
• the model comprises residues Glul to Serl23 of the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 and Lys4 to Leu583 of HSA.
• the main residues that were found to be involved in the interaction of the serum albumin binder of SEQ ID NO: 15 with HSA are listed in Figure 10 (see also Figure 11).

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