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• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/185—Acids; Anhydrides, halides or salts thereof, e.g. sulfur acids, imidic, hydrazonic or hydroximic acids
  • A61K31/19—Carboxylic acids, e.g. valproic acid
  • A61K31/192—Carboxylic acids, e.g. valproic acid having aromatic groups, e.g. sulindac, 2-aryl-propionic acids, ethacrynic acid 
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/33—Heterocyclic compounds
  • A61K31/395—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins
  • A61K31/41—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having five-membered rings with two or more ring hetero atoms, at least one of which being nitrogen, e.g. tetrazole
  • A61K31/415—1,2-Diazoles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/33—Heterocyclic compounds
  • A61K31/395—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins
  • A61K31/41—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having five-membered rings with two or more ring hetero atoms, at least one of which being nitrogen, e.g. tetrazole
  • A61K31/42—Oxazoles
  • A61K31/423—Oxazoles condensed with carbocyclic rings
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K45/00—Medicinal preparations containing active ingredients not provided for in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
  • A61K45/06—Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/28—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• • 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
  • A61K2300/00—Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
  • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
• • 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
  • C07K2317/50—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
• • 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
  • C07K2317/565—Complementarity determining region [CDR]

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to a combination therapy for use in a method of treating transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) in a subject, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effect amount of an anti-transthyretin (TTR) antibody and a therapeutically effect amount of a TTR tetramer stabilizer.
• TTR transthyretin amyloidosis
• Transthyretin amyloidosis is a severe age-associated disease leading to cardiomyopathy and/or sensorimotor polyneuropathy (Gertz et al., J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 66 (2015), 2451-24661) and includes two sub-types - wild-type ATTR (wtATTR) and variant ATTR (vATTR) - that vary regarding their pathogenesis.
• wtATTR wild-type ATTR
• vATTR variant ATTR
• TTR common precursor protein transthyretin
• TTR physiologically functions as a transport protein for thyroxin and retinol binding protein. TTR is predominantly synthesized in the liver and occurs as a tetramer in its natural form (Alshehri et al., J. Neuroendocrinol.
• vATTR formerly known as hereditary/mutant ATTR
• wtTTR wild-type TTR
• vTTR mutant/variant TTR
• ATTR is characterized by two main forms of clinical presentation. Predominant amyloid fibril accumulation in cardiac tissues leads to cardiomyopathy, whereas fibril deposition in nerve fibers leads to polyneuropathy (Ando et al., Guideline of transthyretin-related hereditary amyloidosis for clinicians. Orphanet J. Rare Dis. 2013;8:31). The factors triggering amyloid deposition in a specific organ have not been elucidated yet. Patients commonly present with a mix of symptoms, with only few TTR mutations known to exclusively cause pure cardiac or neuropathic disease (Maurer et al., J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 68 (2016), 161-172).
• Gene silencers (mRNA-inhibiting oligonucleotides) reduce liver-secreted vTTR and wtTTR.
• Inotersen represents an antisense oligonucleotide that is administered subcutaneously (s.c.) once a week.
• Patisiran acts as a siRNA oligonucleotide administered intravenously (i. v.) every three weeks in combination with premedication. Both gene silencers were approved in 2018 for the treatment of ATTR stages 1 and 2.
• monoclonal antibodies are investigated as an additional concept of potential treatment for ATTR including anti-TTR and anti-serum amyloid P component (anti-SAP)] monoclonal antibodies.
• the present invention is based on the observation that the combined use of an anti-TTR antibody with a TTR tetramer stabilizer surprisingly shows synergistic effects in the clearance of amyloid TTR fibrils in vivo.
• co-treatment of patient-derived amyloid TTR fibril grafts in mice with the TTR tetramer stabilizer tafamidis increases induction of the clearance of the pathological amyloid TTR fibrils by a recombinant human monoclonal anti-TTR antibody that exclusively targets the disease-associated amyloid TTR conformation with high affinity.
• the present invention generally relates to a combination therapy for use in a method of treating ATTR in a subject, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effect amount of an anti-TTR antibody and a therapeutically effect amount of a TTR tetramer stabilizer.
• the anti- TTR antibody specifically recognizes misfolded TTR, targets with high affinity the disease- associated amyloid conformation but not physiological forms of TTR and is capable of facilitating removal of TTR amyloid, while the TTR tetramer stabilizer prevents the dissociation of TTR tetramers into amyloidogenic monomers.
• the anti-TTR antibody and the TTR tetramer stabilizer may be provided in a pharmaceutical product, for example in separate compartments and designed for the combined use as described herein below and illustrated in the appended Examples.
• TTR stabilizers such as tafamidis, diflunisal and AGIO are suitable for combination therapy of ATTR.
• anti-TTR antibody and TTR tetramer stabilizer, which may vary regarding possible supportive and synergistic effects on the clearance of pathological TTR amyloid fibrils by the anti-TTR antibody.
• diflunisal because of its known anti inflammatory properties has an immune-lowering activity which may not contribute to the anti- TTR antibody induced clearance of TTR fibrils by immune cells.
• anti-TTR antibody mediates ATTR fibril clearance by antibody effector functions, in particular antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP); see Example 3 and Figure 3 which indicate that an active Fc domain is required for antibody-mediated fibril removal by phagocytic immune cells in vivo. Accordingly, due to its immune-lowering activity diflunisal may not enhance phagocytosis promoted by the anti-TTR antibody.
• the anti-TTR antibody has an active Fc domain and is capable of inducing ADCP and the stabilizer is substantially devoid of anti-inflammatory properties, i.e. immune-lowering activity that may not contribute to phagocytosis promoted by the anti-TTR antibody. Both activities may be tested by using the PDAX mouse model disclosed in WO 2020/094883 A1 and illustrated in the Examples.
• the anti-TTR antibody used in the combination therapy of the present invention is of the IgGl or IgG3 class or isotype, most preferably IgGl.
• effector functions can be genetically engineered; see, e.g., Saunders KO (2019) Conceptual Approaches to Modulating Antibody Effector Functions and Circulation Half-Life. Front. Immunol. 10:1296. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01296.
• TTR tetramer stabilizers are small molecules that influence the rate-limiting step in the formation of amyloid fibrils, the dissociation of TTR tetramers into amyloidogenic monomers.
• binding of a ligand to either of the binding sites for thyroxin or retinol-binding protein on TTR stabilizes its tetrameric structure and reliably prevents TTR dissociation.
• Tafamidis is a small molecule that belongs to the group of benzoxazole carboxylic acids, which achieve high oral bioavailability, while lacking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug activity.
• tafamidis Through binding to the thyroxin binding site on TTR with high affinity and selectivity, tafamidis induces dose-dependent kinetic stabilization of wtTTR and a range of vTTR variants, e.g., V30M, V122I, etc.
• Diflunisal is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NS AID) which has immune-lowering activity, and, in addition, TTR tetramer stabilizing properties.
• the immune-lowering activity of diflunisal may not support or contribute to the anti-TTR antibody induced clearance of TTR fibrils by immune cells. Since tafamidis has not the mentioned immune-lowering activity it may be capable of supporting or enhancing anti- TTR antibody mediated removal of TTR amyloid and therefore is preferred for use in the combination therapy with an anti-TTR antibody.
• AGIO another TTR tetramer stabilizer, devoid of anti-inflammatory properties like tafamidis is also expected to be suitable for a combined therapy with an anti-TTR antibody against misfolded TTR and, like tafamidis to support or enhance the antibody’s capability of facilitating removal of TTR amyloid fibrils.
• the findings obtained in the experiments illustrated in the Examples are of high importance and of particular interest since due to the present invention, more efficient concepts for the treatment of ATTR can be provided.
• the ATTR treatment approaches currently known in particular TTR tetramer stabilizers and antisense/siRNA oligonucleotides only stabilize structural and functional disease progression and are usually only effective in patients with early disease stages, but not in patients with advanced or late-onset disease.
• the combination therapy of the present invention may pave a new and additional way of treatment in that TTR tetramers are stabilized and remain in the human body in amounts sufficient to assume their physiological function and that at the same time pathological TTR amyloid is removed from the patient and its formation anew is prevented.
• FIG. 1 Antibody NI-301.37F1 binding to amyloidogenic TTR in the presence of TTR tetramer stabilizers. Binding affinities were evaluated by ELISA in the presence of tafamidis or diflunisal at 10 pg/mL.
• FIG. 2 Evaluation of combination therapies on TTR fibril elimination in vivo.
• N 6- 8 mice per group, with 4 non-consecutive sections per mouse. ** p ⁇ 0.01, **** pO.OOl.
• FIG. 3 Antibody-mediated fibril removal activity in vivo requires an active Fc domain.
• ATTR fibril-grafted mice received a single administration of ch.NI-301.37Fl, ch.NI-301.37Fl-LALAPG or isotype control at 5 mg/kg iv, and skin biopsies were collected 5 days later for histological analysis.
• FIG 4 NI-301.37F1 binding selectivity in presence of tafamidis and diflunisal using BLI.
• Figure 5 NI-301.37F1 binding selectivity in presence of tafamidis and AGIO using BLI.
• the present invention generally relates to a combination therapy for use in a method of treating transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) in a subject, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effect amount of an anti-TTR antibody and a therapeutically effect amount of a TTR tetramer stabilizer. More specifically, the present invention relates to the embodiments as characterized in the claims, disclosed in the description and illustrated in the Examples and Figures further below.
• TTR When using the term “ATTR”, usually vATTR as well as wtATTR is meant if not indicated otherwise. Similarly, if not indicated otherwise, “TTR” also refers to wtTTR and vTTR.
• anti-TTR antibody usually refers to an antibody that binds misfolded/aggregated TTR and not the physiological TTR tetramer.
• combination therapy or “combined treatment” or “in combination” or “combined pharmaceutical product” as used herein denotes any form of concurrent or parallel treatment with at least two distinct therapeutic agents, i.e. the anti-TTR antibody and TTR tetramer stabilizer.
• co-administration of or “co-treatment” with two or more compounds is defined as administration of the two or more compounds to the patient within a specific time, usually about 24 h, including separate administration of two medicaments each containing one of the compounds as well as simultaneous administration whether or not the two compounds are combined in one formulation or whether they are in two separate formulations.
• therapeutically effective amount or “clinically active concentration” of a substance, it is meant that a given substance is administered to a subject suffering from a condition, in an amount sufficient to ensure, alleviate or partially arrest the condition or one or more of its symptoms. Such therapeutic treatment may result in a decrease in severity of disease symptoms, or an increase in frequency or duration of symptom-free periods.
• Effective amounts for a given purpose and a given agent will depend on the severity of the disease or injury as well as the weight and general state of the subject.
• the term "subject” includes any mammal, preferably a human.
• Therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of such compounds can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g ., ED50 (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population) and LD50 (the dose lethal to 50% of the population).
• ED50 the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population
• LD50 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, LD50/ED50.
• the pharmaceutical product comprises at least two different components, an anti-TTR antibody which specifically targets misfolded human TTR and removes amyloidogenic TTR fibrils typically due to an active Fc domain which is capable of inducing antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and a TTR tetramer stabilizer such as those described in Miiller et al. (2020) and Gertz et al. (2019), supra , which preferably is devoid of anti-inflammatory properties.
• the antibody is preferably of the IgGl class or isotype.
• the anti-TTR antibody is humanized, preferably human- derived and non-immunogenic in human.
• anti-TTR antibody NI-301.37F1 which is capable of binding a human TTR epitope which comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence TTR41-45 (SEQ ID NO: 51 of WO 2015/092077 Al) and comprises in its variable region or binding domain the complementary determining regions (CDRs) and variable heavy (VH) and variable light (VL) chain having the amino acid sequences depicted in Fig. 1C and 1M, respectively, of WO 2015/092077 Al.
• CDRs complementary determining regions
• VH variable heavy
• VL variable light chain having the amino acid sequences depicted in Fig. 1C and 1M, respectively, of WO 2015/092077 Al.
• This antibody and cognate antibodies have been derived from memory B cell repertoire of healthy aged human donors; see description of the Examples in WO 2015/092077 Al.
• WO 2015/092077 Al discloses further human-derived antibodies that could be shown to bind to the same human TTR epitope as NI-301.37F1, i.e. antibody NI-301.28B3 and NI-301.12D3 which VH and VL chain amino acid sequences including indication of the CDRs are depicted for NI-301.28B3 in Fig. IE and for NI-301.12D3 in Fig. 1L of WO 2015/092077 Al.
• the anti-TTR antibody for use in the combination therapy of the present invention may be generally characterized by binding a human TTR epitope which comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence TTR4i-4s(SEQ ID NO: 51 ofWO 2015/092077 Al).
• a human TTR epitope which comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence TTR4i-4s(SEQ ID NO: 51 ofWO 2015/092077 Al).
• Another class of anti-TTR antibodies presumably suitable for the combination therapy of the present invention is described in international applications by Prothena Biosciences Limited (Prothena).
• Prothena reports on an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to specifically target and clear the misfolded (toxic) forms of the TTR amyloid protein found in ATTR, wherein said antibody is designated PRX004 and is currently in a Phase 1 study in patients with ATTR (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03336580).
• antibody PRX004 corresponds to and is the humanized version of antibody 14G8 described in Higaki et al., Amyloid 23 (2016) 86-97 and which is disclosed in WO 2016/120810 Al and WO 2018/007922A2 and more specifically in WO 2019/108689 Al. Accordingly, antibody PRX004 would be another preferred anti-TTR antibody for use in the combination therapy of the present invention among others which recognize the same epitope as PRX004, i.e.
• amino acids TTRs9-97 or an epitope comprising amino acids TTR101-109 and which are humanized versions of the originally cloned mouse monoclonal antibodies 14G8, 9D5, 5A1, 6C1 disclosed in WO 2016/120810 Al, WO 2018/007924 A2, WO 2018/007924 A2 and WO 2018/007923 Al.
• a further suitable antibody is a humanized version of antibody 18C5 or an isolated monoclonal antibody that competes for binding to human TTR with monoclonal antibody 18C5, preferably that binds to the same epitope on human TTR as a monoclonal antibody 18C5, wherein 18C5 is a mouse antibody characterized by a mature heavy chain variable region having an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 81 and a mature light chain variable region having an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 87 as disclosed in WO 2019/071205 Al.
• Still another class of humanized anti-TTR antibodies presumably suitable for the combination therapy of the present invention is described in international applications by The Chemo-Sero- Therapeutic Research Institute and KM Biologies Co., Ltd., respectively, recognizing an epitope comprising amino acids TTR78-89 or TR118-122 as disclosed for antibodies 371M and 313M in WO 2015/115332 and for the antibody described in WO 2015/115331 Al (which is designated herein as XY for ease of reference).
• the antibody binds amyloidogenic wtTTR as well as amyloidogenic vTTR. More than 120 mutations in the TTR gene affect persons of all ages with vATTR, but the most common ones are the Val30Met and the Vail 2211 e substitution. The VaBOMet substitution is endemic in certain regions of Portugal, Sweden, and Japan and is the most frequent mutation causing ATTR polyneuropathy, previously named Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy.
• TTR toxicity is observed as a consequence of the Vall22Ile mutation, which is found with high frequency (3-5%) in the African-American and West African populations.
• This mutation is associated with ATTR cardiomyopathy, previously named Familial Amyloid Cardiomyopathy, a condition where massive TTR accumulation in the myocardium leads to cardiac weaknesses and ultimately cardiac failure (Ruberg et al. , Circulation. 126 (2012), 1286-1300).
• the anti-TTR antibody binds to a TTR epitope which does not cover amino acids Vall22 and/or Val30 or the anti-TTR antibody binds to an epitope covering amino acids Vall22 and/or Val30, but the amino acid substitution to Met and lie, respectively does not affect binding of the antibody.
• the antibody binds to vTTR having different mutations, but in particular to vTTR having the Val 122Ile and/or the VaBOMet mutation.
• the anti-TTR antibody binds to aggregated wtTTR.
• the anti-TTR antibody binds to wtTTR and vTTR, preferably to the same extent.
• the anti-TTR antibody is derived from human antibody NI-301.37F1, NI-301.28B3 or NI-301.12D3 and characterized by comprising in its variable region, i.e. binding domain the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the variable heavy (VH) and variable light (VL) chain having the amino acid sequences depicted in Fig. 1C [NI-301.37F1], IE [NI-301.28B3] or 1L [NI-301.12D3] of WO 2015/092077 Al, or wherein one or more of the CDRs may differ in their amino acid sequence from those set forth in Fig.
• CDRs complementarity determining regions
• the corresponding nucleotide sequences are set forth in Table II at page 70 of WO 2015/092077 Al for NI-301.37F1, at pages 70 to 71 for NI-301.28B3 and at page 73 for NI- 301.12D3.
• the framework regions or complete VH and/or VL chain are 80% identical to the framework regions depicted in Fig.
• the anti-TTR antibody is characterized by the CDRs of the VH and VL chain and by the entire VH and VL chain, respectively depicted in Fig. 1C and 1M of WO 2015/092077 Al.
• the antibody preferably comprises
• variable heavy chain comprising the following VH complementary determining regions (CDRs) 1, 2, and 3, and/or a variable light (VL) chain comprising the following
• VL CDRs 1, 2, and 3 VL CDRs 1, 2, and 3:
• VH-CDR1 positions 31-35 of SEQ ID NO: 10 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions,
• VH-CDR2 positions 52-67 of SEQ ID NO: 10 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions,
• VH-CDR3 positions 100-109 of SEQ ID NO: 10 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions,
• VL-CDRl positions 24-34 of SEQ ID NO: 12 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions
• VL-CDR2 positions 50-56 of SEQ ID NO: 12 of WO 2015/092077 A1 or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions
• VL-CDR3 positions 89-97 of SEQ ID NO: 12 of WO 2015/092077 A1 or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions; and/or
• the VH chain comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 10 or 53, or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or more amino acid substitutions;
• the VL chain comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 12, or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or more amino acid substitutions; preferably wherein the VH and VL chain amino acid sequence is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10 or 53 and 12, respectively.
• the anti-TTR antibody is characterized by the CDRs of the VH and/or VL chain and by the entire VH and VL chain, respectively depicted in Fig. IE of WO 2015/092077 Al.
• the antibody preferably comprises
• variable heavy chain comprising the following VH complementary determining regions (CDRs) 1, 2, and 3, and/or a variable light (VL) chain comprising the following
• VL CDRs 1, 2, and 3 VL CDRs 1, 2, and 3:
• VH-CDR1 positions 31-37 of SEQ ID NO: 18 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions,
• VH-CDR2 positions 52-67 of SEQ ID NO: 18 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions,
• VH-CDR3 positions 100-116 of SEQ ID NO: 18 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions
• VL-CDR1 positions 24-34 of SEQ ID NO: 20 of WO 2015/092077 A1 or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions
• VL-CDR2 positions 50-56 of SEQ ID NO: 20 of WO 2015/092077 A1 or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions, and
• VL-CDR3 positions 89-98 of SEQ ID NO: 20 of WO 2015/092077 A1 or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions; and/or
• VH chain comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 18, or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or more amino acid substitutions;
• the VL chain comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 20, or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or more amino acid substitutions; preferably wherein the VH and VL chain amino acid sequence is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 18 and 20, respectively.
• the anti-TTR antibody is characterized by the CDRs of the VH and/or VL chain and by the entire VH and VL chain, respectively depicted in Fig. IE of WO 2015/092077 Al.
• the antibody preferably comprises
• variable heavy chain comprising the following VH complementary determining regions (CDRs) 1, 2, and 3, and/or a variable light (VL) chain comprising the following
• VL CDRs 1, 2, and 3 VL CDRs 1, 2, and 3:
• VH-CDR1 positions 31-35 of SEQ ID NO: 46 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions,
• VH-CDR2 positions 50-66 of SEQ ID NO: 46 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions,
• VH-CDR3 positions 99-108 of SEQ ID NO: 46 of WO 2015/092077 Al or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions
• VL-CDR1 positions 23-36 of SEQ ID NO: 48 of WO 2015/092077 A1 or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions
• VL-CDR2 positions 52-58 of SEQ ID NO: 48 of WO 2015/092077 A1 or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions, and
• VL-CDR3 positions 91-100 of SEQ ID NO: 48 of WO 2015/092077 A1 or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or two amino acid substitutions; and/or
• the VH chain comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 46, or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or more amino acid substitutions;
• the VL chain comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 48, or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises one or more amino acid substitutions; preferably wherein the VH and VL chain amino acid sequence is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 46 and 48, respectively.
• antibody NI-301.37F1 is used as one component in the combination therapy of the present invention.
• the anti-TTR antibody comprises a human constant domain with an active Fc domain and has an IgG format, i.e. being a full IgG antibody, preferably an IgGl antibody or isotype.
• Recombinant expression of complete human IgGl antibodies with a human constant domain can be performed substantially as described in, e.g ., in Harlow and Lane "Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual", CSH Press, Cold Spring Harbor (1988) First edition; Second edition by Edward A. Greenfield, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ⁇ 2014, ISBN 978-1-936113-81-1 and the Examples of WO 2012/080518 Al.
• ATTR can be either wtATTR or vATTR and thus, a treatment approach for both variants is preferred.
• the anti-TTR antibody binds both aggregated wtTTR and vTTR
• the second component in the combination therapy of the present inventions preferably stabilizes both TTR forms to physiologically functional tetramers.
• Most pharmaceuticals currently available on the market for the treatment of ATTR have been approved for vATTR-polyneuropathy, for example inotersen and patisiran, but only tafamidis and diflunisal have been shown to be efficient for the treatment of vATTR and wtATTR; see Miiller et al.
• TTR tetramer stabilizer is a novel, potent, and selective oral TTR tetramer stabilizer being developed to treat wtATTR and vATTR; see Fox et al., Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development 9 (2020), 115-129.
• TTR tetramer stabilizers are clinically approved for the treatment of vATTR and wtATTR and have high potency for the respective approval in case of AGIO.
• the combination therapy of the present invention further comprises one or two TTR tetramer stabilizers, preferably one TTR tetramer stabilizer which is able to stabilize wtTTR tetramers and vTTR tetramers.
• the combination therapy of the present invention comprises a TTR tetramer stabilizer that binds to either of the binding sites for thyroxin or retinol-binding protein of the TTR tetramer.
• the TTR tetramer stabilizer is tafamidis (Cas Registry number: 594839-88-0).
• Tafamidis is a member of the class of 1,3-benzoxazoles that is 1,3-benzoxazole- 6-carboxylic acid in which the hydrogen at position 2 is replaced by a 3,5-dichlorophenyl group.
• Tafamidis is structurally similar to diflunisal, but in contrast to diflunisal is not an NSAID.
• the combination therapy of the present invention comprises next to the anti-TTR antibody the TTR tetramer stabilizer AGIO.
• AGIO is a 3-(3-(3,5-Dimethyl-lH- pyrazol-4-yl)propoxy)-4-fluorobenzoic acid (Cas Registry Number: 1446711-81-4) and is disclosed for example in US patent 9,169,214 B2, where it is designated as compound Vile.
• AGIO is a potent, highly selective, small-molecule TTR tetramer stabilizer. It is manufactured by a simple synthetic route, and its pharmaceutical properties include good oral bioavailability, high binding selectivity, and ability to stabilize TTR. AGIO was designed to mimic the structural influence of the protective TTR mutation T119M.
• AGIO is unique in its capacity to form hydrogen bonds with the same serine residues at position 117 that stabilize the T119M variant.
• First clinical trials have already been conducted and it was shown that AGIO has the potential to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with either vATTR or wtATTR (Fox el al., Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development 9 (2020), 115 - 129).
• phase II clinical trials showed its potency for the treatment of patients with ATTR-cardiomyopathy (Judge et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 74 (2019), 285 - 295).
• the combination therapy of the present invention comprises next to the anti-TTR antibody the TTR tetramer stabilizer diflunisal.
• Diflunisal is a non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) and is described inMiiller et al., European Journal of Heart Failure 22 (2020), pages 39-53.
• NSAID non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug
• the anti-TTR antibody as part of the combination therapy of the present invention can be formulated according to methods well known in the art; see for example Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy (2000) by the University of Sciences in Philadelphia, ISBN 0-683-306472.
• suitable pharmaceutical carriers include phosphate buffered saline solutions, water, emulsions, such as oil/water emulsions, various types of wetting agents, sterile solutions etc.
• Compositions comprising such carriers can be formulated by well-known conventional methods. These pharmaceutical compositions can be administered to the subject at a suitable dose.
• compositions may be effected by different ways, e.g., by intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intranasal, topical or intradermal administration or spinal or brain delivery.
• Aerosol formulations such as nasal spray formulations include purified aqueous or other solutions of the active agent with preservative agents and isotonic agents. Such formulations are preferably adjusted to a pH and isotonic state compatible with the nasal mucous membranes.
• Formulations for rectal or vaginal administration may be presented as a suppository with a suitable carrier.
• the anti-TTR antibody is formulated in a liquid formulation and is designed to be administered intravenously (i.v.) or subcutaneously (s.c).
• the dosage regimen will be determined by the attending physician and clinical factors. As is well known in the medical arts, dosages for any one patient depends upon many factors, including the patient's size, body surface area, age, the particular compound to be administered, sex, time and route of administration, general health, and other drugs being administered concurrently. Generally, the dosage can range, e.g ., from about 0.0001 to 100 mg/kg, and more usually 0.01 to 5 mg/kg (e.g., 0.02 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.75 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, etc.), of the host body weight.
• 0.01 to 5 mg/kg e.g. 0.02 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.75 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, etc.
• dosages can be 1 mg/kg body weight or 10 mg/kg body weight or within the range of 1-10 mg/kg, preferably at least 1 mg/kg. Doses intermediate in the above ranges are also intended to be within the scope of the invention.
• Subjects can be administered such doses daily, on alternative days, weekly or according to any other schedule determined by empirical analysis.
• An exemplary treatment entails administration in multiple dosages over a prolonged period, for example, of at least six months. Additional exemplary treatment regimens entail administration once per every two weeks or once a month or once every 3 to 6 months.
• Exemplary dosage schedules include 1-10 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg on consecutive days, 30 mg/kg on alternate days or 60 mg/kg weekly. Progress can be monitored by periodic assessment.
• the anti-TTR antibody for use in accordance with the present invention may be therapeutically effective can be determined by using the PDAX animal model described in Example 4 of WO 2020/094883 Al.
• the anti-TTR antibody is effective when administered at a dose of at least 0.5 mg/kg, preferably at 5 or 50 mg/kg or any dose between. More preferably, the antibody is administered at a dose of about 3, 10, 30 or 60 mg/kg or any dose between every two to four weeks.
• TTR tetramer stabilizers preferably tafamidis, diflunisal and/or AGIO are used in the combination therapy of the present invention.
• tafamidis afamidis
• diflunisal and/or AGIO two preparations, namely tafamidis meglumine and tafamidis are available, both which have the same active moiety, tafamidis.
• the TTR tetramer stabilizers are preferably administered in a clinically active concentration.
• Tafamidis meglumine administered as an 80 mg, once-daily dose (4 c 20 mg capsules), is approved in the United States, Japan, Canada, and Brazil for the treatment of wtATTR- and vATTR-cardiomyopathy in adults.
• An alternative single solid oral dosage formulation (tafamidis 61 mg free acid capsules) was developed and introduced for patient convenience (approved in the United States, United Arab Emirates, and European Union); see Lockwood et al ., Clin. Pharmacol. Drug Dev., 2020 Mar 20. doi: 10.1002/cpdd.789 as well as product information provided by the FDA as regards VYNDAQEL ® (tafamidis meglumine) and VYNDAMAXTM (tafamidis).
• tafamidis meglumine administered as an 20 mg, once-daily dose (corresponds to 12.2 mg tafamidis), is approved in more than 40 countries worldwide for the treatment of adults with early-stage symptomatic wtATTR- and vATTR- polyneuropathy; see Lockwood et al. 2002 and the product information of the EMA as regards VYNDAQEL ® .
• tafamidis is designed to be administered at a once-daily dose of 20 mg as tafamidis meglumine or at a once-daily dose of 12.2 mg as tafamidis, preferably wherein this dosage is administered to patients having symptomatic wtATTR- and vATTR- polyneuropathy.
• tafamidis is designed to be administered at a once-daily dose of 80 mg as tafamidis meglumine or at a once-daily dose of 61 mg as tafamidis, preferably wherein this dosage is administered to patients having symptomatic wtATTR- and vATTR-cardiomyopathy.
• tafamidis or tafamidis meglumine are designed to be administered at a dose of 1, 5, 15, or 30 mg/kg/day or any dose in between.
• diflunisal is administered at a dose up to 250 mg once or twice daily.
• AGIO is not yet approved by the regulatory agencies but first clinical trials suggest that AGIO is already effective when administered at a single dose of 50, 150, 300, 400 or 800 mg.
• one single dose of 300 mg or 800 mg is used; see Fox et al. 2020 and Judge et al. 2019).
• AGIO is administered at a dose of 50, 150, 300, 400 or 800 mg, preferably of 400 mg or 800 mg, preferably twice daily.
• doses between these amounts are encompassed by the present invention.
• the anti-TTR antibody and the TTR tetramer stabilizer are provided in a pharmaceutical product, wherein they are typically present in separate containers.
• the anti-TTR antibody is preferably a liquid formulation designed to be administered intravenously.
• the container is preferably a prefilled syringe, injection pen, ampoule, bottle, autoinjector or an infusion bag.
• the container is an infusion bottle or bag.
• the TTR tetramer stabilizer is preferably formulated for oral administration and preferably present in a tablet or capsule as described above.
• the present invention relates to pharmaceutical product which comprises the anti-TTR antibody and the TTR tetramer stabilizer as defined hereinabove with the mentioned preferences, in particular wherein the antibody is capable of facilitating removal of amyloidogenic TTR due to an active Fc domain and is capable of inducing antibody- dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and the stabilizer is substantially devoid of anti inflammatory properties.
• ADCP antibody- dependent cellular phagocytosis
• the separate components of the pharmaceutical product of the present invention i.e. at least the anti-TTR antibody and the TTR tetramer stabilizer are present in one composition, wherein the formulation and the dose regime have to be adapted in that both components remain stable and are pharmaceutically active.
• This embodiment may be useful clinical situations like an instant heart or stroke, where, as a first aid simultaneous administration of the two drugs could be considered.
• the present invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled with at least two of the above described ingredients, i.e. the anti-TTR antibody and TTR tetramer stabilizer.
• a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled with at least two of the above described ingredients, i.e. the anti-TTR antibody and TTR tetramer stabilizer.
• 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, which notice reflects approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration.
• the pharmaceutical product of the present invention preferably in form of a kit is of course particularly suitable for the treatment of a disease or disorder which is accompanied with the presence of mutated, misfolded, misassembled, and/or aggregated TTR, and in particular applicable for the treatment of disorders generally characterized by ATTR which are outlined further below.
• pharmaceutical product, pharmaceutical pack or kit of the present invention may lack either of the components but comprises the anti- TTR antibody and the TTR tetramer stabilizer only and instead of the other component detailed instructions for use of the pharmaceutical product, pharmaceutical pack or kit in the combination therapy of the invention.
• the combination therapy or pharmaceutical product of the present invention may comprise not only one TTR tetramer stabilizer, but may comprise more than one, for example two TTR tetramer stabilizers.
• the pharmaceutical product comprises tafamidis and AGIO.
• the pharmaceutical product of the present invention can be used in a method of treating ATTR in a subject, i.e. a combination therapy.
• a combination therapy comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical product of the present invention.
• the presence and level of amyloidogenic TTR is determined prior to the administration of the anti-TTR antibody and the TTR tetramer stabilizer and the pharmaceutical product of the present invention, respectively.
• any suitable anti- TTR antibody that preferentially binds aggregated TTR over physiological TTR can be used.
• the antibodies disclosed in WO 2015/092077 A1 can be used for diagnosis, preferably antibodies NI-301.37F1, NI-301.28B3 or NI-301.12D3, most preferably NI- 301.37F1.
• antibodies mentioned above, i.e. 14G8, 18C5, 9D5, 5A1, 6C1, XY, 371M, or 313M can be used. Determination of the amyloidogenic TTR amount is preferably performed in a sample (body fluid) from the subject to be treated.
• the pharmaceutical product is present in a single pharmaceutical composition.
• both components i.e. the anti-TTR antibody and the TTR tetramer stabilizer are administered simultaneously. This is of particular relevance for the combination of the anti-TTR antibody with AGIO since both components are preferably administered as a single dose.
• the pharmaceutical product is present as a kit of parts in separate containers.
• the method of treating ATTR comprises either administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-TTR antibody, and concurrently or subsequently administering to the subject a therapeutically effect amount of the TTR tetramer stabilizer, or administering to the subject a therapeutically effect amount of the TTR tetramer stabilizer, and concurrently or subsequently administering to the subject a therapeutically effect amount of the anti-TTR antibody.
• concurrent or subsequent treatment is performed as long as the first drug is still present in the human body, e.g. plasma at a significant concentration, for example considering the half-life of the drug.
• the anti-TTR antibody as defined above induces clearance of TTR fibrils in vivo.
• a patient having ATTR and who already receives treatment with one or more TTR tetramer stabilizers in order prevent that more aggregation-prone TTR monomers are generated may be further treated with the anti-TTR antibody.
• This has the beneficial effect that in addition to the prevention of TTR monomer generation, the already existing TTR fibrils will be cleared.
• TTR tetramer stabilisers are most efficient in the treatment of early stage diseases since these pharmaceuticals do not remove already existing TTR fibrils, but only prevent the generation of aggregation-prone TTR monomers.
• tafamidis is approved for the treatment of stage 1 ATTR-polyneuropathy by the EMA.
• a patient having ATTR and who already receives treatment with an anti-TTR antibody which induces the clearance of TTR fibrils may be further treated with the TTR tetramer stabilizer as characterized above in order to prevent that new TTR monomers, which tend to aggregate, are generated.
• the anti-TTR antibody is used in a method of treating ATTR in a subj ect who receives a treatment with the TTR tetramer stabilizer.
• the TTR tetramer stabilizer is used in a method of treating ATTR in a subject who receives a treatment with the anti-TTR antibody.
• the present invention relates to a method of treating ATTR by inducing or promoting ATTR fibril clearance through antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, i.e. patient an anti-TTR antibody and a TTR tetramer stabilizer.
• the anti-TTR antibody is an antibody as defined hereinbefore and/or the TTR tetramer stabilizer is a stabilizer as defined hereinbefore.
• the antibody and the stabilizer can be administered concomitantly, sequentially or subsequently.
• the term "subject who receives a treatment" with the TTR stabilizer or anti-TTR antibody includes concurrent treatment as well as sequential treatment as long as the first drug is still present in the human body, e.g. plasma at a significant concentration, for example considering the half-life of the drug. For example, since the mean half-life of tafamidis is approximately 49 hours, administration of the anti-TTR antibody 48 hours after the last dose of tafamidis would be considered as an embodiment of the present invention.
• the subject is treated with the second drug, e.g. anti-TTR antibody after the first drug, e.g. tafamidis is degraded or excreted and there is no longer an effective or detectable amount of the first drug in the body, such treatment may not be an embodiment of the present invention.
• the anti-TTR antibody is administered by intravenous infusion and the TTR tetramer stabilizer is administered orally.
• the combination therapy is suitable for the treatment of wtATTR and vATTR since both TTR tetramer stabilizer and anti-TTR antibody bind to wtTTR and vTTR and the corresponding aggregated forms of TTR, respectively.
• vATTR was formerly known as hereditary/mutant ATTR.
• ATTR is an autosomal-dominant disorder and is associated with various diseases or conditions which are selected from the group consisting of ATTR-Cardiomyopathy, Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (FAP) (also known as TTR-polyneuropathy), Senile Systemic Amyloidosis (SSA), systemic familial amyloidosis, leptomeningeal / Central Nervous System (CNS) amyloidosis including Alzheimer's disease, TTR-related ocular amyloidosis, TTR-related renal amyloidosis, TTR-related hyperthyroxinemia, TTR-related ligament amyloidosis including carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tears and lumbar spinal stenosis, and preeclampsia.
• FAP Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy
• SSA Senile Systemic Amyloidosis
• CNS Central Nervous System
• amyloidosis including Alzheimer's disease, TTR-related ocular am
• the pharmaceutical product and the combination therapy, respectively of the present invention as well as the anti-TTR antibody and the TTR tetramer stabilizer when administered to a patient who already receives treatment are used in the treatment of any one of the diseases mentioned above.
• the disease is ATTR-cardiomyopathy.
• ATTR-cardiomyopathy is an age-associated disease of the heart characterized by intramyocardial deposition of misfolded and aggregated TTR.
• the causative amyloid deposits in the heart may be composed of either wtTTR or vTTR, the latter associated with numerous mutations in the TTR gene.
• the accumulation of amyloid results in increased ventricular wall thickness and severely impacts heart function and survival.
• the disease manifests predominantly in men > 60 years of age and can be diagnosed using echocardiography, scintigraphy and biopsies. The prevalence of the disease is currently unknown despite the fact that diagnosis tools are widely accessible. It is estimated that today only 1 % or less of the patients are being diagnosed.
• the pharmaceutical product of the present invention i.e. the combination therapy is useful for treating patients having ATTR in an early disease state, as well as patients having ATTR in an advanced or late stage.
• the anti-TTR antibody efficiently removes TTR fibrils from diseased tissue and thus, even at a late disease stage, it can be expected that the diseased tissue and the respective organ, which is in case of ATTR- cardiomyopathy the heart, recovers after treatment with the anti-TTR antibody.
• the TTR tetramer stabilizer prevents the formation of new aggregated TTR species so that a beneficial effect on the patient's health is highly likely.
• any anti-TTR antibody against misfolded TTR which is capable of facilitating removal of amyloidogenic TTR and any TTR tetramer stabilizer can be combined to the pharmaceutical product of the present invention, the following combinations are preferred:
• each combination can be used for the treatment of ATTR in general, each combination can be used for the treatment of ATTR-cardiomyopathy and/or ATTR- polyneuropathy:
• Antibody NI-301.28B3 with tafamidis and AGIO for use in the treatment of ATTR- cardiomyopathy • Antibody NI-301.28B3 with tafamidis and AGIO for use in the treatment of ATTR- cardiomyopathy ⁇ Antibody NI-301.28B3 with tafamidis and AGIO for use in the treatment of ATTR- polyneuropathy
• Antibody 6C1 with tafamidis and AGIO for use in the treatment of ATTR-cardiomyopathy
• Antibody 313M with tafamidis and AGIO or use in the treatment of ATTR-polyneuropathy A particular preferred embodiment of the present invention is the combination of antibody NI- 301.37F1 with tafamidis for use in the treatment of ATTR-cardiomyopathy.
• the mouse chimeric antibody ch.NI-301.37Fl was generated based on the human-derived monoclonal antibody NI-301.37F1 disclosed in the international application WO 2015/092077 Al.
• the mouse chimeric variant was designed to contain the human variable domains of NI- 301.37F1 in murine constant domain backbones.
• variable heavy (VH) and light (VL) chain of human-derived monoclonal antibody NI-301.37F1 are disclosed in WO 2015/092077 Al in Figure 1 with SEQ ID NO: 10 and 53, respectively, corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2 and 6 of the present sequence listing for the VH chain and SEQ ID NO: 12 corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 4 of the present sequence listing for the VL chain, while the mouse heavy chain constant domain corresponds to Uniprot entry P01863 and the mouse light chain constant domain corresponds to Uniprot entry P01837.
• gene synthesis was used to produce a synthetic heavy chain gene comprising the sequence coding for the human variable heavy chain of NI-301.37F1 followed by the sequence coding for a murine IgG2a constant heavy chain (cf. sequence mur.37Fl H), and a synthetic light chain gene comprising the sequence coding for the human variable chain of NI-301.37F1 followed by the sequence coding for a murine constant kappa light chain (cf. mur.37Fl L).
• These 2 genes were then sub-cloned into suitable expression vectors that were used for the transfection of CHO cells.
• Ch.NI-301.37Fl antibody was purified from the cell culture medium using standard processes as described in WO 2015/092077 Al including purification of the antibody by chromatography on protein A column. TTR tetramer stabilizers
• Tafamidis (Mw: 308.1 g/mol) was prepared at 100 pg/mL (325 mM) in 10% EtOH, 10% PS80 and 80% PBS pH7.4.
• Diflunisal (Mw: 250.2 g/mol) was prepared at 1.875 mg/mL in 12.5% EtOH, 12.5% PS80 and 75% PBS.
• AGIO (Mw: 292.3 g/mol) was prepared at 200 pg/mL in 10% EtOH, 10% PS80 and 80% PBS pH7.4 as follow. 2 mg of AGIO was solubilized in 1 mL pure ethanol, supplemented with 1 mL polysorbate 80 and diluted progressively with 8 mL PBS under constant stirring.
• PDAX mice have been prepared and used as disclosed in WO 2020/094883 Al.
• 96 well microplates were coated for 1 hour at 37°C with mis.WT-TTR aggregates diluted to a concentration of 10 pg/mL in PBS buffer pH7.4.
• Non-specific binding sites were blocked for 1 hour at room temperature (RT) with a blocking buffer containing 2% bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 0.1% tween-20 in PBS buffer.
• BSA bovine serum albumin
• Human NI-301.37F1 antibody was diluted in duplicates to the indicated concentrations in PBS supplemented with tafamidis or diflunisal at 10 pg/mL or corresponding concentration of vehicle buffer, and incubated overnight at 4°C. Binding was determined using an anti-human IgG antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), followed by measurement of HRP activity in a standard colorimetric assay.
• HRP activity in a standard colorimetric assay.
• the antibody NI-301.37F1 was loaded on anti-human capture sensors at 5 pg/mL in PBS for 5 min at 25°C.
• the binding assay was performed with soluble WT-TTR amyloid aggregates and tetrameric WT-TTR.
• a baseline was performed in lx kinetic buffer for 3 min, the association was measured for 10 min and the dissociation for another 10 min in lx kinetic buffer, all steps performed at 25°C with shaking at 1000 rpm.
• a reference sample was also included consisting in lx kinetic buffer. Data were analyzed in ForteBio Data Analysis 8.2 software, using reference subtraction and interstep correction between association and dissociation.
• Example 1 Preserved NI-301.37F1 target binding in presence of TTR tetramer stabilizers
• Tafamidis and diflunisal were dissolved in vehicle (80% PBS pH 7.4, 10% ethanol, 10% polysorbate 80) and antibody NI-301.37F1 dilution series were prepared with tafamidis or diflunisal at a final concentration of 10 pg/mL or a corresponding volume of the vehicle.
• concentration of 10 pg/mL is 40% above the maximal peak concentration in patients treated with tafamidis at 80 mg per day ( ⁇ 6 pg/mL).
• NI-301.37F1 dilution series were incubated in the ELISA plates overnight at 4°C, and, after washes, NI-301.37F1 was detected using an horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-coupled anti-human IgG antibody and standard detection methods.
• HRP horseradish peroxidase
• Data were analyzed with the Prism software from GraphPad. ECso values were estimated using non-linear regression of individual data points using log(agonist) versus response model with variable slope. Data fitting was performed with the least square regression method.
• Patient-derived amyloid xenograft (PD AX) mouse model has been prepared as disclosed in WO 2020/094883 Al.
• Example 2 NI-301.37F1-TTR stabilizer drug combination is active in vivo
• Amyloidogenic TTR-grafted mice received immediately a single administration of the mouse chimeric NI-301.37F1 variant (ch.NI-301.37Fl) at 10 mg/kg i.v. (intravenous injection) or a corresponding isotype antibody as negative control.
• Tafamidis and diflunisal were dissolved in the vehicle (80% PBS pH 7.4, 10% ethanol, 10% polysorbate 80). Tafamidis was administered at 1 mg/kg daily i.p. (intraperitoneal injection). This dose level corresponds to 33% of the rat equivalent of the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD).
• Diflunisal which has a much faster elimination and lower affinity for TTR, was administered twice daily at 19 mg/kg i.p in the morning and evening.
• TTR IHC immunohistochemistry
• Amyloidogenic TTR-grafted mice (PDAX mouse model) were treated with ch37Fl antibody at 0.15, 0.5, 1.5 and 5 mg/kg i.v. or with the Fc-inactive variant ch37Fl-LALAPG or the isotype control antibody at 5 mg/kg.
• the combination of the L234A, L235A and P329G amino-acid substitutions are sufficient to virtually abolish binding to FcgRl, 2, 3 and 4 and complement Clq binding while preserving antibody stability (Lo et al ., J. Biol. Chem. 292 (2017), 3900- 3908).
• ATTR fibril grafts were collected and the remaining amount of ATTR fibrils quantified using IHC as performed in Example 2. As shown in Fig.
• Example 4 Binding kinetics of anti-TTR antibody in presence of a TTR stabilizing agent
• NI-301.37F 1 absent binding to TTR tetramers was investigated in presence and absence of TTR stabilizers using BLI. Soluble ATTR oligomers were included in this experiment to serve as positive controls.
• NI-301.37F1 binding to ATTR oligomers and TTR tetramers was evaluated in presence of the TTR stabilizers AGIO and diflunisal at 5 pg/mL, or in presence of corresponding vehicle buffer using BLI.
• NI-301.37F1 binds ATTR amyloid with similar affinity in presence or absence of the TTR stabilizers tafamidis, diflunisal and AGIO.
• NI-301.37F1 binding selectivity characterized by its absent binding to TTR tetramers, is maintained in presence of TTR stabilizers.

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