Classifications

• • 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
  • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
  • C07K16/2803—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants against the immunoglobulin superfamily
  • C07K16/2827—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants against the immunoglobulin superfamily against B7 molecules, e.g. CD80, CD86
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
  • C07K2317/21—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin from primates, e.g. man
• • 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
  • C07K2317/35—Valency
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/50—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments
  • C07K2317/55—Fab or Fab'
• • 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]
• • 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
  • C07K2317/70—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

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates generally to binding agents, such as antibodies, that bind to PD-L1 , including human PD-L1 , and methods of their use.
• Programmed death ligand 1 is a cell surface glycoprotein ligand that specifically binds to programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1), a key immune checkpoint receptor.
• PD-1 is upregulated on activated T cells, B cells, and monocytes and mediates immunosuppression. While PD-L2, the other PD-1 ligand, is expressed primarily on activated antigen-presenting cells (APCs), PD-L1 is broadly expressed, including in cells of hematopoietic lineage, such as activated T cells, B cells, monocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages, and peripheral tissues such as heart, skeletal, muscle, placenta, lung, kidney and liver tissues.
• APCs activated antigen-presenting cells
• the binding of PD-L1 to PD-1 is a negative checkpoint that can activate the downstream signaling of PD-1 receptor in T cells, thus inhibiting the proliferation, cytokine generation and release, and cytotoxicity of T cells.
• This inhibition of T cell activation and secretion of effector cytokines can prevent autoimmunity and chronic infection.
• tumor cells use this mechanism to protect themselves from immune attack, resulting in tumor immune evasion (e.g., tumor immunity).
• Many cancers overexpress PD-L1 , and its overexpression is often associated with poor prognosis. In cancer, the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction stimulates the downstream signals to suppress T cell activation, resulting in tumor cell survival.
• the blockade of PD-1 interaction with its ligands has been proposed as an immunotherapeutic method of enhancing T cell immune responses against tumor cells.
• Current strategies of PD-1/PD-L1 based immunotherapy have shown efficacy in treating some advanced carcinoma, but have limited effects on many solid tumors and on certain PD-L1 functions. Accordingly, there remains an urgent need in the art for agents that can block or prevent PD-1/PD-L1 interaction and/or that can target PD-L1 to treat, prevent, or alleviate T cell dysfunctional diseases, disorders, or conditions, including those involving tumor cells expressing PD-L1 .
• the PD-L1 binding agents, compositions and methods provide herein satisfy this need and provide related advantages.
• the present disclosure provides PD-L1 binding agents, including human PD- L1 binding agents.
• Such agents include antibodies that bind to PD-L1 , for example, monospecific or multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibodies that bind to PD-L1 .
• Such antibodies in some embodiments, compete for the binding of human PD-L1 with an antibody having a heavy chain variable region and a light chain variable region described herein (e.g., Table 1-3).
• compositions comprising a PD-L1 binding agent.
• Such compositions include antibodies that bind to PD-L1 , for example, monospecific or multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibodies that bind to PD-L1 .
• Such compositions include antibodies that have essentially the same affinity as and/or compete for the binding of human PD-L1 with an antibody having a heavy chain variable region and a light chain variable region described herein (e.g., Table 1-3).
• the present disclosure also provides methods of treating, preventing, or alleviating a T cell dysfunctional disease, disorder, or condition, including one or more symptoms of the T cell dysfunctional disease, disorder, or condition with a PD-L1 binding agent or a composition comprising the agent, including a PD-L1 binding agent or composition comprising the agent.
• a PD-L1 binding agent or a composition comprising the agent including a PD-L1 binding agent or composition comprising the agent.
• Such compositions include antibodies that bind to PD-L1 , for example, monospecific or multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibodies that bind to PD-L1.
• FIGs. 1A-1C illustrate exemplary results from Octet binding assays, further described in Example 2.
• FIGs. 2A-2C illustrate exemplary results from cell binding assays, further described in Example 3.
• FIGs. 3A-3C illustrate exemplary results from PD-L1/PD-1 inhibiting assays, further described in Example 4.
• FIGs. 4A-4C illustrate exemplary results from SEC chromatography, further described in Example 5.
• FIGs. 5A-5C illustrate exemplary results from HIC chromatography, further described in Example 5.
• FIGs. 6A-6C illustrate exemplary results from SMAC chromatography, further described in Example 5.
• FIGs. 7A-7B show a sequence alignment of heavy chain variable regions and light chain variable regions of P22, P24, and P31.2, including consensus sequences for VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and VL CDR3. Boundaries of CDRs are indicated by Kabat, AbM, Chothia, Contact, and IMGT numbering. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• the present disclosure provides PD-L1 binding agents.
• Such agents include antibodies (e.g., monospecific or multispecific, including bispecific) that bind to PD-L1 , including antibodies that bind to human PD-L1 .
• Such binding agents are useful in compositions and in methods of treating, preventing, or alleviating a T cell dysfunctional disease, disorder, or condition, including one or more symptoms of the disease, disorder, or condition.
• T cell dysfunctional diseases, disorders, and conditions include tumor immunity and associated cancers, including, but not limited to, any cancer wherein the tumor cells express or overexpress PD-L1 .
• Such PD-L1 expressing tumor cells may help tumor cells escape immune surveillance and clearance (e.g., tumor immunity).
• PD-L1 binding agents described herein such as PD-L1 binding antibodies (e.g., monospecific or multispecific antibodies, including bispecific antibodies), are useful to inhibit PD-1 signaling and/or enhance T cell function and thus enhance immune surveillance and removal of tumor cells.
• PD-L1 binding agents described herein, such as PD-L1 binding antibodies are useful in compositions and in methods for enhancing T cell function, including the upregulation of cell-mediated immune responses.
• PD-L1 Programmed Cell Death Ligand-1
• PD-1 ligand 1 refers to a polypeptide (“polypeptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein) or any native PD-L1 from any vertebrate source, including mammals such as primates (e.g., humans, cynomolgus monkey (cyno)), dogs, and rodents (e.g., mice and rats), unless otherwise indicated.
• PD-L1 also known as cluster of differentiation 274 (CD274) or B7 homolog 1 (B7-H1 ) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CD274 gene.
• CD274 cluster of differentiation 274
• B7-H1 B7 homolog 1
• PD-L1 is a one of two naturally- occurring cell surface glycoprotein ligands for PD-1 (the other is PD-L2). Like PD-1 , PD-L1 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and consist of two extracellular Ig domains, an N-terminal V domain, and a C-terminal constant domain. PD-L1 is known in the art to downregulate T cell activation and cytokine secretion upon binding to PD-1 . The term PD-L1 encompasses “full-length,” PD-L1 , as well as any form of PD-L1 or any fragment thereof that results from processing in the cell.
• PD-L1 also encompasses naturally occurring variants of PD-L1 , such as SNP variants, splice variants and allelic variants.
• PD-L1 polypeptides that are also encompassed by the term PD- L1 include fragments, derivatives (e.g., substitution, deletion, truncations, and insertion variants), fusion polypeptides, and interspecies homologs that retain PD-L1 activity and/or are sufficient to generate an anti-PD-L1 immune response.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent described herein can bind to a PD-L1 polypeptide, a PD-L1 polypeptide fragment, a PD-L1 antigen, and/or a PD-L1 epitope.
• An epitope may be part of a larger PD-L1 antigen, which may be part of a larger PD-L1 polypeptide fragment, which, in turn, may be part of a larger PD-L1 polypeptide.
• PD-L1 may exist in a native or denatured form.
• PD-L1 polypeptides described herein may be isolated from a variety of sources, such as from human tissue types or from another source, or prepared by recombinant or synthetic methods.
• a PD- L1 polypeptide may comprise a polypeptide having the same amino acid sequence as a corresponding PD-L1 polypeptide derived from nature. Orthologs to the PD-L1 polypeptide are also well known in the art.
• PD-1 Programmed Cell Death-1
• PD-1 receptor refers to a polypeptide (“polypeptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein) or any native PD-1 from any vertebrate source, including mammals such as primates (e.g., humans, cynomolgus monkey (cyno)), dogs, and rodents (e.g., mice and rats), unless otherwise indicated.
• PD-1 also known as CD279 (cluster of differentiation 279), is an immunoinhibitory receptor belonging to the CD28 family.
• PD-1 is expressed predominantly on previously activated T cells in vivo, and binds to two ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2.
• PD-1 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and consist of two extracellular Ig domains, an N-terminal V domain, and a C-terminal constant domain.
• PD-1 contains two cytoplasmic tyrosine-based signaling motifs, an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM) and an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based switch motif (ITSM).
• ITIM immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif
• ITSM immunoreceptor tyrosine-based switch motif
• the term PD-1 encompasses “full- length,” PD-1 , as well as any form of PD-1 or any fragment thereof that results from processing in the cell.
• PD-1 also encompasses naturally occurring variants of PD-1 , such as SNP variants, splice variants and allelic variants.
• SNP variants such as SNP variants, splice variants and allelic variants.
• PD-1 is known in the art to recruit the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 to the ITSM motif within its cytoplasmic tail, leading to, among other things, the dephosphorylation of effector molecules such as CD3 Zeta, PKC theta and ZAP70 that are involved in the CD3 T cell signaling cascade (Carter et al. (2002) Eur J Immunol 32:634-43).
• the full-length amino acid sequence of human PD-1 is provided below: MQIPQAPWPWWAVLQLGWRPGWFLDSPDRPWNPPTFSPALLWTEGDNATFTCSF SNTSESFVLNWYRMSPSNQTDKLAAFPEDRSQPGQDCRFRVTQLPNGRDFHMSVVR ARRNDSGTYLCGAISLAPKAQIKESLRAELRVTERRAEVPTAHPSPSPRPAGQFQTLV VGVVGGLLGSLVLLVVWLAVICSRAARGTIGARRTGQPLKEDPSAVPVFSVDYGELDF QWREKTPEPPVPCVPEQTEYATIVFPSGMGTSSPARRGSADGPRSAQPLRPEDGHC SWPL (SEQ ID NO:79).
• binding agent or a grammatical equivalent thereof refers to a molecule (e.g., antibody) with one or more antigen binding sites that binds an antigen.
• a PD-L1 binding agent as described herein is an antibody, antibody fragment, or other peptide-based molecule that binds to PD-L1 , such as human PD-L1 .
• antibody immunoglobulin
• immunoglobulin is used interchangeably herein, and is used in the broadest sense and specifically covers, for example polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies (including agonist, antagonist, neutralizing antibodies, full length monoclonal antibodies), antibody compositions with polyepitopic or monoepitopic specificity, recombinantly produced antibodies, monospecific antibodies, multispecific antibodies (including bispecific antibodies), synthetic antibodies, chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, or human versions of antibodies having full length heavy and/or light chains.
• the present disclosure also includes antibody fragments (and/or polypeptides that comprise antibody fragments) that retain PD-L1 binding characteristics.
• Non-limiting examples of antibody fragments include antigen-binding regions and/or effector regions of the antibody, e.g., Fab, Fab’, F(ab’)2, Fv, scFv, (SCFV)2, single chain antibody molecule, dual variable region antibody, single variable region antibody, linear antibody, V region, a multispecific antibody formed from antibody fragments, F(ab)2, Fd, Fc, diabody, di-diabody, disulfide-linked Fvs (dsFv), single-domain antibody (e.g., nanobody) or other fragments (e.g., fragments consisting of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains that are non-covalently coupled),.
• variable (V) region domain may be any suitable arrangement of immunoglobulin heavy (VH) and/or light (VL) chain variable domains.
• the present disclosure also includes tetrameric antibodies comprising two heavy chain and two light chain molecules, an antibody light chain monomer, and an antibody heavy chain monomer.
• the V region domain may be dimeric and contain VH-VH, VH-VL, or VL-VL dimers that bind PD-L1 .
• the VH and VL chains may be covalently coupled either directly or through a linker to form a single chain Fv (scFv).
• scFv proteins are referred to herein as included in the category “antibody fragments.”
• Another form of an antibody fragment is a peptide comprising one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of an antibody.
• CDRs also termed “minimal recognition units” or “hypervariable region” can be obtained by constructing polynucleotides that encode the CDR of interest.
• Such polynucleotides are prepared, for example, by using the polymerase chain reaction to synthesize the variable region using mRNA of antibody-producing cells as a template (see, for example, Larrick et al., Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology, 2:106 (1991 ); Courtenay-Luck, “Genetic Manipulation of Monoclonal Antibodies,” in Monoclonal Antibodies Production, Engineering and Clinical Application, Ritter et al.
• Antibody fragments may be incorporated into single domain antibodies, maxibodies, minibodies, intrabodies, diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies, variable domains of new antigen receptors (v-NAR), and bis-single chain Fv regions (see, e.g., Hollinger and Hudson, Nature Biotechnology, 23(9): 1126-1136, 2005).
• the binding agent in some embodiments, contains a light chain and/or a heavy chain constant region, such as one or more constant regions, including one or more IgG 1 , lgG2, lgG3 and/or lgG4 constant regions.
• antibodies can include epitope-binding fragments of any of the above.
• the antibodies described herein can be of any class (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, and IgA) or any subclass (e.g., lgG1 , lgG2, lgG3, lgG-4, lgA1 , and lgA2) of immunoglobulin molecule.
• Antibodies may be agonistic antibodies or antagonistic antibodies.
• the term “bispecific” when used in reference to a binding agent (e.g., an antibody) means that the binding agent is able to specifically bind to at least two distinct antigenic determinants, for example two binding sites each formed by a pair of an antibody heavy chain variable domain (VH) and an antibody light chain variable domain (VL) binding to different antigens or to different epitopes on the same antigen.
• VH antibody heavy chain variable domain
• VL antibody light chain variable domain
• Such a bispecific binding agent may have a 1 +1 format.
• Other bispecific binding agent e.g., an antibody
• formats may be 2+1 or 1 +2 formats (comprising two binding sites for a first antigen or epitope and one binding site for a second antigen or epitope) or 2+2 formats (comprising two binding sites for a first antigen or epitope and two binding sites for a second antigen or epitope).
• a bispecific binding agent e.g., an antibody
• comprises two antigen binding sites each may bind to a different antigenic determinant.
• Such a bispecific binding agent e.g., an antibody
• nucleic acids or polypeptides refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of nucleotides or amino acid residues that are the same, when compared and aligned (introducing gaps, if necessary) for maximum correspondence, not considering any conservative amino acid substitutions as part of the sequence identity.
• the percent identity can be measured using sequence comparison software or algorithms or by visual inspection.
• Various algorithms and software that can be used to obtain alignments of amino acid or nucleotide sequences are well-known in the art. These include, but are not limited to, BLAST, ALIGN, Megalign, BestFit, GCG Wisconsin Package, and variants thereof.
• two nucleic acids or polypeptides are substantially identical, meaning they have at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, and in some embodiments at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% nucleotide or amino acid residue identity, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using a sequence comparison algorithm or by visual inspection.
• identity exists over a region of the amino acid sequences that is at least about 10 residues, at least about 20 residues, at least about 40-60 residues, at least about 60-80 residues in length or any integral value there between.
• identity exists over a longer region than 60-80 residues, such as at least about 80-100 residues, and in some embodiments the sequences are substantially identical over the full length of the sequences being compared, such as the coding region of a target protein or an antibody. In some embodiments, identity exists over a region of the nucleotide sequences that is at least about 10 bases, at least about 20 bases, at least about 40-60 bases, at least about 60-80 bases in length or any integral value there between.
• identity exists over a longer region than 60-80 bases, such as at least about 80-1000 bases or more, and in some embodiments the sequences are substantially identical over the full length of the sequences being compared, such as a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein of interest.
• a “conservative amino acid substitution” is one in which one amino acid residue is replaced with another amino acid residue having a side chain with similar chemical characteristics.
• Families of amino acid residues having similar side chains have been generally defined in the art, including basic side chains (e.g., lysine, arginine, histidine), acidic side chains (e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid), uncharged polar side chains (e.g., glycine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine), nonpolar side chains (e.g., alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan), beta-branched side chains (e.g., threonine, valine, isoleucine) and aromatic side chains (e.g., tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine).
• substitution of a phenylalanine for a tyrosine is a conservative substitution.
• conservative substitutions in the sequences of the polypeptides, soluble proteins, and/or antibodies of the disclosure do not abrogate the binding of the polypeptide, soluble protein, or antibody containing the amino acid sequence, to the target binding site.
• Methods of identifying amino acid conservative substitutions which do not eliminate binding are well-known in the art.
• polypeptide refers to polymers of amino acids of any length.
• the polymer can be linear or branched, it can comprise modified amino acids, and it can include (e.g., be interrupted by) non-amino acids.
• the terms also encompass an amino acid polymer that has been modified naturally or by intervention; for example, disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, lipidation, acetylation, phosphorylation, or any other manipulation or modification, such as linkage to or conjugation with (directly or indirectly) a moiety such as a labeling component.
• polypeptides containing one or more analogs of an amino acid including, for example, unnatural amino acids
• the polypeptides of this disclosure can be based upon antibodies or other members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, in some embodiments, the polypeptides can occur as single chains.
• an “antigen” is a moiety or molecule that contains an epitope to which a binding agent (e.g., an antibody) can bind.
• a binding agent e.g., an antibody
• an antigen can be bound by an antibody.
• the antigen, to which a binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein binds is PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ), or a fragment thereof.
• an “epitope” is a term in the art and refers to a localized region of an antigen to which an antibody can bind.
• An epitope can be a linear epitope or a conformational, non-linear, or discontinuous, epitope.
• an epitope can be contiguous amino acids of the polypeptide (a “linear” epitope) or an epitope can comprise amino acids from two or more noncontiguous regions of the polypeptide (a “conformational,” “non-linear” or “discontinuous” epitope), e.g., human PD-L1 .
• a linear epitope may or may not be dependent on secondary, tertiary, or quaternary structure.
• an antibody binds to a group of amino acids regardless of whether they are folded in a natural three dimensional protein structure.
• an antibody requires amino acid residues making up the epitope to exhibit a particular conformation (e.g., bend, twist, turn or fold) in order to recognize and bind the epitope.
• An antibody binds “an epitope” or “essentially the same epitope” or “the same epitope” as a reference antibody, when the two antibodies recognize identical, overlapping or adjacent epitopes in a three-dimensional space.
• the most widely used and rapid methods for determining whether two antibodies bind to identical, overlapping or adjacent epitopes in a three-dimensional space are competition assays, which can be configured in a number of different formats, for example, using either labeled antigen or labeled antibody.
• the antigen is immobilized on a 96-well plate, or expressed on a cell surface, and the ability of unlabeled antibodies to block the binding of labeled antibodies is measured using radioactive, fluorescent or enzyme labels.
• epitope binning is the process of grouping antibodies based on the epitopes they recognize. More particularly, epitope binning comprises methods and systems for discriminating the epitope recognition properties of different antibodies, using competition assays combined with computational processes for clustering antibodies based on their epitope recognition properties and identifying antibodies having distinct binding specificities.
• the terms “specifically binds,” “specifically recognizes,” “immunospecifically binds,” “selectively binds,” “immunospecifically recognizes” and “immunospecific” are analogous terms in the context of antibodies and refer to molecules that bind to an antigen (e.g., epitope) as such binding is understood by one skilled in the art.
• “specifically binds” means, for instance that a polypeptide or molecule interacts more frequently, more rapidly, with greater duration, with greater affinity, or with some combination of the above to the epitope, protein, or target molecule than with alternative substances, including related and unrelated proteins.
• a molecule that specifically binds to an antigen may bind to other peptides or polypeptides, generally with lower affinity as determined by, e.g., immunoassays, BiacoreTM, KinExA 3000 instrument (Sapidyne Instruments, Boise, ID), or other assays known in the art.
• an antibody or antigen binding domain binds to or specifically binds to an antigen when it binds to an antigen with higher affinity than to any cross-reactive antigen as determined using experimental techniques, such as radioimmunoassays (RIA) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).
• a specific or selective reaction will be at least twice background signal or noise and may be more than 10 times background. See, e.g., Fundamental Immunology 332-36 (Paul ed., 2d ed. 1989) for a discussion regarding binding specificity.
• the extent of binding of an antibody or antigen binding domain to a “non-target” protein is less than about 10% of the binding of the antibody or antigen binding domain to its particular target antigen, for example, as determined by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis or RIA.
• FACS fluorescence activated cell sorting
• molecules that specifically bind to an antigen bind to the antigen with a Ka that is at least 2 logs, 2.5 logs, 3 logs, 4 logs or greater than the Ka when the molecules bind to another antigen.
• molecules that specifically bind to an antigen do not cross react with other proteins.
• molecules that specifically bind to an antigen do not cross react with other non-PD-L1 proteins.
• “specifically binds” means, for instance, that a polypeptide or molecule binds a protein or target with a KD of about 0.1 mM or less, but more usually less than about 1 pM.
• “specifically binds” means that a polypeptide or molecule binds a target with a KD of at least about 0.1 pM or less, at least about 0.01 pM or less, or at least about 1 nM or less. Because of the sequence identity between homologous proteins in different species, specific binding can include a polypeptide or molecule that recognizes a protein or target in more than one species. Likewise, because of homology within certain regions of polypeptide sequences of different proteins, specific binding can include a polypeptide or molecule that recognizes more than one protein or target. It is understood that, in some embodiments, a polypeptide or molecule that specifically binds a first target may or may not specifically bind a second target.
• telomere binding does not necessarily require (although it can include) exclusive binding, e.g., binding to a single target.
• a polypeptide or molecule can, in some embodiments, specifically bind more than one target.
• multiple targets can be bound by the same antigenbinding site on the polypeptide or molecule.
• an antibody can, in certain instances, comprise two identical antigen-binding sites, each of which specifically binds the same epitope on two or more proteins.
• an antibody can be bispecific and comprise at least two antigen-binding sites with differing specificities. Generally, but not necessarily, reference to “binding” means “specific binding”.
• Binding affinity generally refers to the strength of the sum total of noncovalent interactions between a single binding site of a molecule (e.g., a binding protein such as an antibody) and its binding partner (e.g., an antigen). Unless indicated otherwise, as used herein, “binding affinity” refers to intrinsic binding affinity which reflects a 1 :1 interaction between members of a binding pair (e.g., antibody and antigen).
• the affinity of a binding molecule X for its binding partner Y can generally be represented by the dissociation constant (KD). Affinity can be measured by common methods known in the art, including those described herein.
• the “KD” or “KD value” may be measured by biolayer interferometry (BLI) using, for example, the OctetQK384 sytem (ForteBio, Menlo Park, CA).
• the KD may be also be measured in a radiolabeled antigen binding assay (RIA), for example, performed with the Fab version of an antibody of interest and its antigen (Chen, et al., (1999) J.
• Biacore surface plasmon resonance
• an “on-rate” or “rate of association” or “association rate” or “kon,” as well as an “off-rate” or “rate of dissociation” or “dissociation rate” or “koff,” may can also be determined with the same SPR or BLI techniques described above using, for example, the OctetQK384 sytem (ForteBio, Menlo Park, CA) or a BIAcoreTM-2000 or a BIAcoreTM-3000 (BIAcore, Inc., Piscataway, NJ), respectively.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• binding agents that compete for the same epitope or binding site on a target, which includes competition between such binding agents as determined by an assay in which the binding agent under study prevents or inhibits the specific binding of a reference molecule (e.g., a reference ligand, or reference antigen binding protein, such as a reference antibody) to a common antigen (e.g., PD-L1 ).
• a reference molecule e.g., a reference ligand, or reference antigen binding protein, such as a reference antibody
• Numerous types of competitive binding assays can be used to determine if a test binding agent competes with a reference molecule for binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ).
• assays examples include solid phase direct or indirect radioimmunoassay (RIA), solid phase direct or indirect enzyme immunoassay (EIA), sandwich competition assay (see, e.g., Stahli et al., (1983) Methods in Enzymology 9:242-253); solid phase direct biotin-avidin EIA (see, e.g., Kirkland et al., (1986) J. Immunol.
• RIA solid phase direct or indirect radioimmunoassay
• EIA enzyme immunoassay
• sandwich competition assay see, e.g., Stahli et al., (1983) Methods in Enzymology 9:242-253
• solid phase direct biotin-avidin EIA see, e.g., Kirkland et al., (1986) J. Immunol.
• solid phase direct labeled assay solid phase direct labeled sandwich assay (see, e.g., Harlow and Lane, (1988) Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press); solid phase direct label RIA using 1-125 label (see, e.g., Morel et al., (1988) Molec.
• Such an assay involves the use of a purified antigen (e.g., PD-L1 , such as human PD-L1 ) bound to a solid surface or cells bearing either of an unlabelled test antigen binding protein (e.g., test PD-L1 antibody) or a labeled reference antigen binding protein (e.g., reference PD-L1 antibody).
• a purified antigen e.g., PD-L1 , such as human PD-L1
• a solid surface or cells bearing either of an unlabelled test antigen binding protein e.g., test PD-L1 antibody
• a labeled reference antigen binding protein e.g., reference PD-L1 antibody
• Competitive inhibition may be measured by determining the amount of label bound to the solid surface or cells in the presence of the test antigen binding protein. Usually the test antigen binding protein is present in excess.
• Antibodies identified by competition assay include antibodies binding to the same epitope as the reference antibody and/or antibodies binding to an adjacent epitope sufficiently proximal to the epitope bound by the reference for antibodies steric hindrance to occur (e.g., similar epitope or overlapping epitope). Additional details regarding methods for determining competitive binding are described herein, as shown in Example 6.
• a competing antibody when it is present in excess, it will inhibit specific binding of a reference antibody to a common antigen by at least 20%, for example, at least 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70% or 75%. In some instance, binding is inhibited by at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96% or 97%, 98%, 99% or more.
• the term “constant region” or “constant domain” is a well- known antibody term of art and refers to an antibody portion, e.g., for example, a carboxyl terminal portion of a light and/or heavy chain which is not directly involved in binding of an antibody to antigen but which can exhibit various effector functions, such as interaction with the Fc receptor.
• the term include the portion of an immunoglobulin molecule having a generally more conserved amino acid sequence relative to an immunoglobulin variable domain.
• Antibody effector functions refer to those biological activities attributable to the Fc region (e.g., a native sequence Fc region or amino acid sequence variant Fc region) of an antibody, and vary with the antibody isotype. Examples of antibody effector functions include: C1q binding and complement dependent cytotoxicity; Fc receptor binding; antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC); phagocytosis; down regulation of cell surface receptors (e.g., B cell receptor); and B cell activation.
• Fc region herein is used to define a C-terminal region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain, including, for example, native sequence Fc regions, recombinant Fc regions, and variant Fc regions.
• the human IgG heavy chain Fc region is often defined to stretch from an amino acid residue at position Cys226 (according to the Ell numbering system), or from Pro230 (according to the Ell numbering system), to the carboxyl-term inus thereof.
• the C-terminal lysine (residue 447 according to the Ell numbering system) of the Fc region may be removed, for example, during production or purification of the antibody, or by recombinantly engineering the nucleic acid encoding a heavy chain of the antibody.
• a “functional Fc region” possesses an “effector function” of a native sequence Fc region.
• effector functions include C1q binding; complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC); Fc receptor binding; antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC); phagocytosis; down regulation of cell surface receptors (e.g., B cell receptor; BCR), etc.
• Such effector functions generally require the Fc region to be combined with a binding region or binding domain (e.g., an antibody variable region or domain) and can be assessed using various assays as disclosed.
• a “native sequence Fc region” comprises an amino acid sequence identical to the amino acid sequence of an Fc region found in nature, and not manipulated, modified, and/or changed (e.g., isolated, purified, selected, including or combining with other sequences such as variable region sequences) by a human.
• Native sequence human Fc regions include a native sequence human lgG1 Fc region (non-A and A allotypes); native sequence human lgG2 Fc region; native sequence human lgG3 Fc region; and native sequence human lgG4 Fc region as well as naturally occurring variants thereof.
• a “variant Fc region” comprises an amino acid sequence which differs from that of a native sequence Fc region by virtue of at least one amino acid modification, (e.g., substituting, addition, or deletion) preferably one or more amino acid substitution(s).
• the variant Fc region has at least one amino acid substitution compared to a native sequence Fc region or to the Fc region of a parent polypeptide, for example, from about one to about ten amino acid substitutions, and preferably from about one to about five amino acid substitutions in a native sequence Fc region or in the Fc region of the parent polypeptide.
• the variant Fc region described herein can possess at least about 80% homology with a native sequence Fc region and/or with an Fc region of a parent polypeptide, or at least about 90% homology therewith, for example, at least about 95% homology therewith.
• the variant Fc region herein described herein may have a loss of effctor function (e.g., silent Fc).
• the term “heavy chain” when used in reference to an antibody refers to a polypeptide chain of about 50-70 kDa, wherein the amino-terminal portion includes a variable region of about 120 to 130 or more amino acids, and a carboxyterminal portion includes one or more constant regions.
• the “heavy chain” can refer to any distinct types, e.g., for example, alpha (a), delta (5), epsilon (E), gamma (y) and mu (p), based on the amino acid sequence of the constant domain, which give rise to IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM classes of antibodies, respectively, including subclasses of IgG, e.g., lgG1 , lgG2, lgG3 and lgG4.
• the term “light chain” when used in reference to an antibody can refer to a polypeptide chain of about 25 kDa, wherein the amino-terminal portion includes a variable region of about 100 to about 110 or more amino acids, and a carboxy-terminal portion includes a constant region.
• the approximate length of a light chain is 211 to 217 amino acids.
• K kappa
• A lambda
• Light chain amino acid sequences are well known in the art.
• antigen binding fragment refers to that portion of an antibody, which comprises the amino acid residues that interact with an antigen and confer on the binding fragment, domain, or region its specificity and affinity for the antigen (e.g., the CDRs).
• Antigen binding fragment as used herein include “antibody fragment,” which comprise a portion of an antibody including one or more CDRs, such as the antigen binding or variable region of the antibody.
• Antibodies described herein include, but are not limited to, synthetic antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, recombinantly produced antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g., including bispecific antibodies), human antibodies, humanized antibodies, chimeric antibodies, intrabodies, single-chain Fvs (scFv) (e.g., including monospecific, bispecific, etc.), camelized antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab’) fragments, disulfide-linked Fvs (sdFv), anti-idiotypic (anti-ld) antibodies, and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above.
• synthetic antibodies e.g., monoclonal antibodies, recombinantly produced antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g., including bispecific antibodies), human antibodies, humanized antibodies, chimeric antibodies, intrabodies, single-chain Fvs (scFv) (e.g., including monospecific, bispecific, etc.), camelized antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab’) fragments,
• antibodies described herein include immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin molecules, including molecules that contain one or more antigen binding sites that bind to a PD-L1 antigen.
• Antibodies can be of any type (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, IgA or IgY), any class, (e.g., lgG1 , lgG2, lgG3, lgG4, lgA1 or lgA2), or any subclass (e.g., lgG2a or lgG2b) of immunoglobulin molecule.
• antibodies described herein are IgG antibodies (e.g., human IgG), or a class (e.g., human lgG1 , lgG2, lgG3 or lgG4) or subclass thereof.
• IgG antibodies e.g., human IgG
• a class e.g., human lgG1 , lgG2, lgG3 or lgG4 or subclass thereof.
• an antibody is a 4-chain antibody unit comprising two heavy (H) chain I light (L) chain pairs, wherein the amino acid sequences of the H chains are identical and the amino acid sequences of the L chains are identical.
• the H and L chains comprise constant regions, for example, human constant regions.
• the L chain constant region of such antibodies is a kappa or lambda light chain constant region, for example, a human kappa or lambda light chain constant region.
• the H chain constant region of such antibodies comprise a gamma heavy chain constant region, for example, a human gamma heavy chain constant region.
• such antibodies comprise IgG constant regions, for example, human IgG constant regions (e.g., lgG1 , lgG2, lgG3, and/or lgG4 constant regions).
• An antibody or fragment thereof may preferentially bind to PD-L1 , such as human PD-L1 , meaning that the antibody or fragment thereof binds PD-L1 with greater affinity than it binds to an unrelated control protein and/or binds human PD-L1 with greater affinity than it binds to an unrelated control protein.
• the antibody or fragment thereof may specifically recognize and bind PD-L1 or a portion thereof. “Specific binding” means that the antibody or fragment thereof binds to PD-L1 with an affinity that is at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, or 10,000 times greater than the affinity for an unrelated control protein (e.g., hen egg white lysozyme).
• the antibody or fragment thereof may bind PD-L1 substantially exclusively (e.g., is able to distinguish PD-L1 from other known polypeptides, for example, by virtue of measurable differences in binding affinity).
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• variable region refers to a portion of the light or heavy chains of an antibody that is generally located at the amino-terminal of the light or heavy chain and has a length of about 120 to 130 amino acids in the heavy chain and about 100 to 110 amino acids in the light chain, and are used in the binding and specificity of each particular antibody for its particular antigen.
• the variable region of the heavy chain may be referred to as “VH.”
• the variable region of the light chain may be referred to as “VL.”
• variable refers to the fact that certain segments of the variable regions differ extensively in sequence among antibodies. The V region mediates antigen binding and defines specificity of a particular antibody for its particular antigen.
• variable regions consist of less variable (e.g., relatively invariant) stretches called framework regions (FRs) of about 15-30 amino acids separated by shorter regions of greater variability (e.g., extreme variability) called “hypervariable regions” or alternatively called “complementarity determining regions.”
• the variable regions of heavy and light chains each comprise four FRs (FR1 , FR2, FR3 and FR4), largely adopting a [3 sheet configuration, connected by three hypervariable regions, which form loops connecting, and in some cases forming part of, the [3 sheet structure.
• the hypervariable regions in each chain are held together in close proximity by the FRs and, with the hypervariable regions from the other chain, contribute to the formation of the antigen-binding site of antibodies (see, e.g., Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 1991 )).
• the constant regions are not involved directly in binding an antibody to an antigen, but exhibit various effector functions, such as participation of the antibody in antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).
• the variable regions differ extensively in sequence between different antibodies. The variability in sequence is concentrated in the CDRs while the less variable portions in the variable region are referred to as framework regions (FR).
• the CDRs of the light and heavy chains are primarily responsible for the interaction of the antibody with antigen.
• the variable region is a human variable region.
• hypervariable region refers to the regions of an antibody variable region that are hypervariable in sequence and/or form structurally defined loops.
• antibodies comprise six hypervariable regions; three in the VH (H1 , H2, H3), and three in the VL (L1 , L2, L3).
• a number of hypervariable region delineations are in use and are encompassed herein.
• the Kabat CDRs are based on sequence variability and are the most commonly used (see, e.g., Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
• Chothia refers instead to the location of the structural loops (see, e.g., Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987)).
• the end of the Chothia CDR-H1 loop when numbered using the Kabat numbering convention varies between H32 and H34 depending on the length of the loop (this is because the Kabat numbering scheme places the insertions at H35A and H35B; if neither 35A nor 35B is present, the loop ends at 32; if only 35A is present, the loop ends at 33; if both 35A and 35B are present, the loop ends at 34).
• the AbM hypervariable regions represent a compromise between the Kabat CDRs and Chothia structural loops, and are used by Oxford Molecular’s AbM antibody modeling software (see, e.g., Martin, in Antibody Engineering, Vol. 2, Chapter 3, Springer Verlag).
• the “contact” hypervariable regions are based on an analysis of the available complex crystal structures. The residues from each of these hypervariable regions or CDRs are noted below.
• IMGT ImMunoGeneTics
• IG immunoglobulins
• TR T cell receptors
• MHC major histocompatibility complex
• Hypervariable regions may comprise “extended hypervariable regions” as follows: 24-36 or 24-34 (L1 ), 46-56 or 50-56 (L2) and 89-97 or 89-96 (L3) in the VL and 26-35 or 26-35A (H1 ), 50-65 or 49-65 (H2) and 93-102, 94-102, or 95-102 (H3) in the VH.
• the terms “hypervariable region,” “HVR,” “HV,” “complementarity determining region,” or “CDR” are used interchangeably.
• vector refers to a substance that is used to carry or include a nucleic acid sequences, including for example, in order to introduce a nucleic acid sequence into a host cell.
• Vectors applicable for use include, for example, expression vectors, plasmids, phage vectors, viral vectors, episomes and artificial chromosomes, which can include selection sequences or markers operable for stable integration into a host cell’s chromosome.
• the vectors can include one or more selectable marker genes and appropriate expression control sequences. Selectable marker genes that can be included, for example, provide resistance to antibiotics or toxins, complement auxotrophic deficiencies, or supply critical nutrients not in the culture media.
• Expression control sequences can include constitutive and inducible promoters, transcription enhancers, transcription terminators, and the like which are well known in the art.
• two or more nucleic acid molecules are to be co-expressed (e.g. both an antibody heavy and light chain or an antibody VH and VL) both nucleic acid molecules can be inserted, for example, into a single expression vector or in separate expression vectors.
• the encoding nucleic acids can be operationally linked to one common expression control sequence or linked to different expression control sequences, such as one inducible promoter and one constitutive promoter.
• the introduction of nucleic acid molecules into a host cell can be confirmed using methods well known in the art.
• nucleic acid analysis such as Northern blots or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of mRNA, or immunoblotting for expression of gene products, or other suitable analytical methods to test the expression of an introduced nucleic acid sequence or its corresponding gene product.
• PCR polymerase chain reaction
• suitable analytical methods to test the expression of an introduced nucleic acid sequence or its corresponding gene product.
• the nucleic acid molecules are expressed in a sufficient amount to produce a desired product (e.g., a PD-L1 binding agent as described herein), and it is further understood that expression levels can be optimized to obtain sufficient expression using methods well known in the art.
• “Dysfunction” in the context of immune dysfunction refers to a state of immune reduced responsiveness to antigenic stimulation.
• the term includes the common elements of both exhaustion and/or anergy in which antigen recognition may occur, but the ensuing immune response is ineffective to control infection or tumor growth.
• a “T cell dysfunctional disease” and “T cell dysfunctional disorder” and “T cell dysfunctional condition” are used interchangeably and refer to any disease, disorder or condition of T cells characterized by decreased responsivemess to antigenic stimulation.
• a T cell dysfunctional disease includes a disease, disorder or condition that is completely or partially caused by or is the result of PD-L1 or the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and/or alternatively any disease, disorder, or condition in which it is desirable to inhibit the in vivo effects of the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 .
• a T cell dysfunctional disease is a disease, disorder or contition that is specifically associated with inappropriate increased signaling through PD-1.
• a T cell dysfunctional disease is one in which T cells are anergic or have decreased ability to secrete cytokines, proliferate, or execute cytolytic activity.
• the decreased responsiveness results in ineffective control of a pathogen or tumor, including but not limited to tumors expressing PD-L1 .
• T cell dysfunctional disease characterized by T cell dysfunction include unresolved acute infection, chronic infection and tumor immunity (e.g., from any cancers, including but not limited to cancers that express or overexpress PD-L1).
• Tumor immunity refers to the process in which tumors evade immune recognition and clearance.
• tumor immunity is “treated” when such evasion is attenuated and the tumors are recognized and attacked by the immune system. Such treatment thus includes treatment of any cancer.
• tumor recognition include tumor binding, tumor strinkage and tumor clearance.
• “Enhancing T cell function” means to induce, cause or stimulate a T cell to have a sustained or increased biological function, or renew or reactivate exhausted or inactive T cells.
• Examples of enhancing T cell function include: increased secretion of cytokines (e.g., TNFa, IFNy) from CD8 + T cells, increased proliferation, increased antigen responsiveness (e.g., tumor cell removal) relative to such levels before the intervention.
• the level of enhancement is as least 50%, alternatively 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%, 120%, 150%, 200%. The manner of measuring this enhancement is known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• an “effective amount” is generally an amount sufficient to reduce the severity and/or frequency of symptoms, eliminate the symptoms and/or underlying cause, prevent the occurrence of symptoms and/or their underlying cause, and/or improve or remediate the damage that results from or is associated with a disease, disorder, or condition.
• the effective amount is a therapeutically effective amount or a prophylactically effective amount.
• terapéuticaally effective amount refers to the amount of an agent (e.g., an antibody described herein or any other agent described herein) that is sufficient to reduce and/or ameliorate the seventy and/or duration of a given disease, disorder or condition, and/or a symptom related thereto.
• an agent e.g., an antibody described herein or any other agent described herein
• a therapeutically effective amount of an agent can be an amount necessary for (i) reduction or amelioration of the advancement or progression of a given disease, disorder, or condition, (ii) reduction or amelioration of the recurrence, development or onset of a given disease, disorder or conditions, and/or (iii) to improve or enhance the prophylactic or therapeutic effect of another therapy (e.g., a therapy other than the administration of an antibody described herein).
• another therapy e.g., a therapy other than the administration of an antibody described herein.
• a “therapeutically effective amount” of a substance/molecule/agent of the present disclosure may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of the individual, and the ability of the substance/molecule/agent, to elicit a desired response in the individual.
• a therapeutically effective amount encompasses an amount in which any toxic or detrimental effects of the substance/molecule/agent are outweighed by the therapeutically beneficial effects.
• the term “therapeutically effective amount” refers to an amount of an antibody or other agent (e.g., or drug) effective to “treat” a disease, disorder, or condition, in a subject or mammal.
• a “prophylactically effective amount” is an amount of a pharmaceutical composition that, when administered to a subject, will have the intended prophylactic effect, e.g., preventing or delaying the onset (or reoccurrence) of a disease, disorder or condition, or reducing the likelihood of the onset (or reoccurrence) of a disease, disorder, or condition or associated symptom(s).
• the full therapeutic or prophylactic effect does not necessarily occur by administration of one dose, and may occur only after administration of a series of doses.
• a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount may be administered in one or more administrations.
• pharmaceutically acceptable means being approved by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a state government, or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia, European Pharmacopeia or other generally recognized Pharmacopeia for use in animals, and more particularly in humans.
• Carriers as used herein include carriers, excipients, or stabilizers that are nontoxic to the cell or mammal being exposed thereto at the dosages and concentrations employed. Often the carrier is an aqueous pH buffered solution.
• carriers include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid; low molecular weight ((e.g., less than about 10 amino acid residues) polypeptide; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol; salt-forming counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such as TWEENTM, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and PLURONICSTM.
• buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids
• antioxidants including ascorbic acid
• carrier can also refer to a diluent, adjuvant (e.g., Freund’s adjuvant (complete or incomplete)), excipient, or vehicle with which the therapeutic is administered.
• adjuvant e.g., Freund’s adjuvant (complete or incomplete)
• excipient or vehicle with which the therapeutic is administered.
• Such carriers can be sterile liquids, such as water and oils, including those of petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, such as peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil and the like. Water is an exemplary carrier when a composition (e.g., a pharmaceutical composition) is administered intravenously.
• Saline solutions and aqueous dextrose and glycerol solutions can also be employed as liquid carriers, particularly for injectable solutions.
• Suitable excipients include starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol, water, ethanol and the like.
• the composition if desired, can also contain minor amounts of wetting or emulsifying agents, or pH buffering agents.
• Compositions can take the form of solutions, suspensions, emulsion, tablets, pills, capsules, powders, sustained-release formulations and the like.
• compositions can include standard carriers such as pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, etc. Examples of suitable carriers are described in Remington’s Pharmaceutical Sciences (1990) Mack Publishing Co., Easton, PA.
• Compositions, including pharmaceutical compounds may contain a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), for example, in isolated or purified form, together with a suitable amount of carrier so as to provide the form for proper administration to the subject (e.g., patient).
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• the formulation should suit the mode of administration.
• the present disclosure provides PD-L1 binding agents that can be used herein as therapeutic agents.
• Such agents include antibodies (e.g., monospecific or multispecific, including bispecific) that bind to PD-L1 .
• Exemplary antibodies include polyclonal, monoclonal, humanized, human, bispecific, and heteroconjugate antibodies, as well as variants thereof having increased or decreased affinity or other properties.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents that bind to PD-L1 , including a PD-L1 polypeptide, a PD-L1 polypeptide fragment, a PD-L1 peptide or a PD-L1 epitope.
• the PD-L1 binding agents are human or humanized antibodies (e.g., comprising human constant regions) that bind PD-L1 , including a PD-L1 polypeptide, a PD-L1 polypeptide fragment, a PD-L1 peptide or a PD-L1 epitope.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD-L1 binding agent can bind to PD-L1 expressed on the surface of a mammalian (e.g., human) cell, including a PD-L1 expressing tumor cell.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• PD-L1 is a human PD-L1.
• a PD-L1 binding agent is a human PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody that binds to human PD-L1 ).
• An exemplary amino acid sequence of human PD-L1 is described herein.
• the PD-L1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies) described herein compete for the binding to PD-L1 , such as human PD-L1 , with a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) that comprises a VH region, VL region, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3 of any one of the antibodies described herein, such as an amino acid sequence of a VH region, VL region, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3 depicted in Tables 1-3.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody that comprises a VH region, VL region, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3 depicted in
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD- L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD- L1 binding agent that comprises one, two, and/or three VH CDRs and/or one, two, and/or three VL CDRs from: (a) the antibody designated P22; (b) the antibody designated P24; or (c) the antibody designated P31.2, as shown in Tables 1-3.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent that comprises one, two, and/or three VH CDRs and one, two, and/or three VL CDRs from: (a) the antibody designated P22; (b) the antibody designated P24; or (c) the antibody designated P31 .2, as shown in Tables 1-3.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody that comprises a VH region and VL region from: (a) the antibody designated P22; (b) the antibody designated P24; or (c) the antibody designated P31.2, as shown in Tables 1-3.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein competes for the binding to PD-L1 , such as human PD-L1 , with a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) that comprises: (a) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 and a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:26; (b) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:51 and a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:52; or (c) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:77 and a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:78.
• the PD-L1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies) described herein comprise a VH region, VL region, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3 of any one of the antibodies described herein, such as an amino acid sequence of a VH region, VL region, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3 depicted in Tables 1-3.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein comprises one, two, and/or three heavy chain CDRs and/or one, two, and/or three light chain CDRs from: (a) the antibody designated P22; (b) the antibody designated P24; or (c) the antibody designated P31.2, as shown in Tables 1-3.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein comprises one, two, and/or three heavy chain CDRs and one, two, and/or three light chain CDRs from: (a) the antibody designated P22; (b) the antibody designated P24; or (c) the antibody designated P31.2, as shown in Tables 1-3.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) comprises a VH region, which comprises VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, and/or VH CDR3, and a VL region, which comprises VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3, of any one of the binding agents described herein (see, e.g., Table 1 , Table 2, Table 3). Accordingly, in some embodiments, a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein comprises one, two, and/or three heavy chain CDRs and/or one, two, and/or three light chain CDRs from Table 1 .
• a PD-L1 binding agent described herein comprises one, two, and/or three heavy chain CDRs and/or one, two, and/or three light chain CDRs from Table 2.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein comprises one, two, and/or three heavy chain CDRs and/or one, two, and/or three light chain CDRs from Table 3.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein is bispecific and comprises a first binding domain that comprises one, two, and/or three heavy chain CDRs and/or one, two, and/or three light chain CDRs from Table 1 , Table 2, or Table 3 and a second binding domain that comprises one, two, and/or three heavy chain CDRs and/or one, two, and/or three light chain CDRs from a binding agent that binds to a second target antigen that is not PD-L1.
• the antibody designated P22 comprises a VH sequence that is SEQ ID NO:25 and a VL sequence that is SEQ ID NO:26.
• the antibody designated P24 comprises a VH sequence that is SEQ ID NO:51 and a VL sequence that is SEQ ID NO:52.
• the antibody designated P31.2 comprises a VH sequence that is SEQ ID NO:77 and a VL sequence that is SEQ ID NO:78.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein comprise a VH region or VH domain.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein comprise a VL region or VL domain.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• including human PD-L1 binding agents, described herein have a combination of (i) a VH domain or VH region; and/or (ii) a VL domain or VL region.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein comprise heavy chain having a combination of (i) a VH domain described in any one of Tables 1-3; and (ii) one or more heavy chain constant domains (e.g., CH1 , Hinge, CH2, and CH3).
• An exemplary IgG heavy chain comprises any VH domain as described herein and the following CH1 , Hinge, CH2, and CH3 amino acid sequence:
• IgG heavy chain comprises any VH domain as described herein and the following CH1 , Hinge, CH2, and CH3 amino acid sequence:
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein comprise a light chain having a combination of (
• An exemplary light chain (e.g., for pairing with an IgG heavy chain) comprises any VL as domain described herein and the following CL amino acid sequence: RTVAAPSVFIFPPSDSQLKSGTASWCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTE QDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC (SEQ ID NO:97).
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein comprise (a) a heavy chain have a combination of (i) a VH domain described in any one of Tables 1-3, and (ii) one or more heavy chain constant domains (e.g., CH1 , Hinge, CH2, and CH3); and (b) a light chain having a combination of (i) a VL domain described in any one of Tables 1-3, and (ii) a light chain constant domain in an IgG format (CL1 ).
• a heavy chain have a combination of (i) a VH domain described in any one of Tables 1-3, and (ii) one or more heavy chain constant domains (e.g., CH1 , Hinge, CH2, and CH3)
• An exemplary PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) comprises an IgG heavy chain comprising any VH domain as described herein and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:96 or 98, and a light chain comprising any VL domain as described herein and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:97.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• a human PD-L1 binding agent described herein comprises one or more CDRs, including six CDRs, for example, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3 identified in Table 1 .
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• a human PD-L1 binding agent described herein comprises one or more, including six CDRs, for example, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3 identified in Table 2.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• including a human PD-L1 binding agent, described herein comprises one or more, including six CDRs, for example, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3 identified in Table 3.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• a human PD-L1 binding agent described herein comprises one or more, including six CDRs, for example, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3 identified in Tables 1 , 2 and/or 3.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein comprise one or more CDRs, including three VH CDRs, for example, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, listed in Table 1.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• including human PD-L1 binding agents, described herein comprise one or more CDRs, including three CDRs, for example, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3, listed in Table 1 .
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein comprise one or more CDRs, including three VH CDRs, for example, VH CDR1 , VH CDR2, VH CDR3, listed in Table 1 and one or more CDRs, including three VL CDRs, for example, VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, and/or VL CDR3, listed in Table 1 .
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent comprises one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-24, 27-50, and 53-76.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent comprises three or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-24, 27-50, and 53-76.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent comprises four or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-24, 27-50, and 53-76.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent comprises five or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) comprising an amino acid sequence selected from a group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-24, 27-50, 53-76.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody) described herein comprises one or more (e.g., one, two or three) VH CDRs listed in Tables 1-3 and one or more VL CDRs listed in Tables 1-3. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody) described herein comprises a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, and 70. In some embodiments, a PD- L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody) described herein comprises a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2,
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent comprises a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 3,
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody) described herein comprises a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, and 73.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody) described herein comprises a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, and 74.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody) described herein comprises a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, and 75.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody) described herein comprises a VL CDR1 and/or a VL CDR2 and/or a VL CDR3 independently selected from a VL CDR1 , VL CDR2, VL CDR3 as depicted in any one of the amino acid sequences depicted in Tables 1-3.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:1 , 27, or 53, (ii) SEQ ID NO:7, 33, or 59, (iii) SEQ ID NO:12, 38, or 64, (iv) SEQ ID NO:13, 39, or 65, and (v) SEQ ID NO:18, 44, or 70; (2) a VH CDR2 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:2, 28, or 54, (ii) SEQ ID NO:8, 34, or 60, (iii) SEQ ID NO:14, 40, or 66, (iv) SEQ ID NO:19, 45, or 71 , and (v) SEQ ID NO:24, 50
• VL light chain variable region
• a VL CDR1 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:4, 30, or 56, (ii) SEQ ID NQ:10, 36, or 62, (iii) SEQ ID NO:16, 42, or 68, and (iv) SEQ ID NO:21 ,
• VL CDR2 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:5, 31 , or 57, (ii) SEQ ID NO:11 , 37, or 63, and (iii) SEQ ID NO:22, 48, or 74; and (3) a VL CDR3 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:6, 32, or 58, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 17, 43, or 69, and (iii) SEQ ID NO:23, 49, or 75.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:1 , 27, or 53, (ii) SEQ ID NO:7, 33, or 59, (iii) SEQ ID NO:12, 38, or 64, (iv) SEQ ID NO:13, 39, or 65, and (v) SEQ ID NO:18, 44, or 70; (2) a VH CDR2 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:2, 28, or 54, (ii) SEQ ID NO:8, 34, or 60, (iii) SEQ ID NO:14, 40, or 66, (iv) SEQ ID NO:19, 45, or 71 , and (v) SEQ ID NO:24, 50
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody) described herein comprises a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:4, 30, or 56, (ii) SEQ ID NQ:10, 36, or 62, (iii) SEQ ID NO:16, 42, or 68, and (iv) SEQ ID NO:21 , 47, or 73; (2) a VL CDR2 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:5, 31 , or 57, (ii) SEQ ID NO:11 , 37, or 63, and (iii) SEQ ID NO:22, 48, or 74; and (3) a VL CDR3 having an amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:6, 32, or
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents comprising one or more (e.g., one, two or three) VH CDRs and one or more (e.g., one, two or three) VL CDRs listed in Tables 1 -3.
• PD-L1 binding agent e.g., antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or 70
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or 73
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or 70
• VL CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or 70
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32
• VH CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24,
• VL CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 ,
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50
• VL CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75); a VH CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72) and a VL CDR1 (SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or 73); a VH CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72) and a VL CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74); a VH CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72) and a VL CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 6,
• CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or 76) and a VL
• CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74); a VH CDR1 (SEQ ID NOS: 1 ,
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or 76
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or 76
• VH CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 ,
• VL CDRI SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56
• VH CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or 76), a VH CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72) and a VL CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74); a VH CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or 76), a VH CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72) and a VL CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75); a VH CDR1 (SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40,
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42,
• VL CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or 73
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or 70
• VL CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or 76
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47,
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39,
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45,
• VH CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55,
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or
• VH CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72
• VL VH CDR3
• CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74); a VH CDR1 (SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or 70), a VH CDR2 (SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or 76), a VH CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72) and a VL CDR3 (SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75); a VH CDR1 (SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44,
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or 73
• VL CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or 70
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or 76
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or 73
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or 73
• VL CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or 70
• VH CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or 73
• VL CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or 73
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or 70
• VH CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72
• VL CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 5 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74
• VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39,
• VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45,
• VH CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55,
• VL CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 16, 21 , 30, 36, 42, 47, 56, 62, 68, or 73
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 6, 17, 23, 32, 43, 49, 58, 69, or 75
• a VH CDR1 SEQ ID NOS: 1 , 7, 12, 13, 18, 27, 33, 38, 39, 44, 53, 59, 64, 65, or 70
• a VH CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 50, 54, 60, 66, 71 , or 76
• VH CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 3, 9, 15, 20, 29, 35, 41 , 46, 55, 61 , 67, or 72
• VL CDR2 SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74
• VL CDR3 SEQ ID NOS: 5 11 , 22, 31 , 37, 48, 57, 63, or 74
• a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:1 , 27, or 53, (ii) SEQ ID NO:7, 33, or 59, (iii) SEQ ID NO:12, 38, or 64, (iv) SEQ ID NO:13, 39, or 65, and (v) SEQ ID NO: 18, 44, or 70; (2) a VH CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:2, 28, or 54, (ii) SEQ ID NO:8, 34, or 60, (iii) SEQ ID NO:14, 40, or 66, (iv) SEQ ID NO:19, 45, or 71 , and (v) SEQ ID NO:24, 50
• VL CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:4, 30, or 56, (ii) SEQ ID NQ:10, 36, or 62, (iii) SEQ ID NO:16, 42, or 68, an (iv) SEQ ID NO:21 , 47, or 73; (2) a VL CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:5, 31 , or 57, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 11 , 37, or 63, an (iii) SEQ ID NO:22, 48, or 74; and (3) a VL CDR3 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:6, 32, or 58, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 17, 43, or 69, an (iii) SEQ ID NO:23, 49, or 75.
• VH heavy chain variable
• a VH CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:1 , 27, or 53, (ii) SEQ ID NO:7, 33, or 59, (iii) SEQ ID NO:12, 38, or 64, (iv) SEQ ID NO:13, 39, or 65, and (v) SEQ ID NO: 18, 44, or 70; (2) a VH CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:2, 28, or 54, (ii) SEQ ID NO:8, 34, or 60, (iii) SEQ ID NO:14, 40, or 66, (iv) SEQ ID NO:19, 45, or 71 , and (v) SEQ ID NO:24, 50, or 76
• VL light chain variable
• a VL CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:4, 30, or 56, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 10, 36, or 62, (iii) SEQ ID NO:16, 42, or 68, and (iv) SEQ ID NO:21 , 47, or 73; (2) a VL CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:5, 31 , or 57, (ii) SEQ ID NO:11 , 37, or 63, and (iii) SEQ ID NO:22, 48, or 74; and (3) a VL CDR3 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:6, 32, or 58, (ii)
• an antibody or fragment thereof that binds to PD-L1 comprising all three heavy chain complementarity determining regions (CDRs) and/or all three light chain CDRs from: the antibody designated P22 that comprises a VH sequence that is SEQ ID NO:25 and a VL sequence that is SEQ ID NO:26; the antibody designated P24 that comprises a VH sequence that is SEQ ID NO:51 and a VL sequence that is SEQ ID NO:52; or the antibody designated P31 .2 that comprises a VH sequence that is SEQ ID NO:77 and a VL sequence that is SEQ ID NO:78.
• CDRs heavy chain complementarity determining regions
• the antibody or fragment thereof comprises all three heavy chain CDRs and/or all three light chain CDRs from the antibody designated P22. In some embodiments, antibody or fragment thereof comprises all three heavy chain CDRs and/or all three light chain CDRs from the antibody designated P24. In some embodiments, the antibody or fragment thereof comprises all three heavy chain CDRs and/or all three light chain CDRs from the antibody designated P31.2.
• an antibody or fragment thereof that binds to PD-L1 wherein the antibody comprises: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising a VH CDR1 , a VH CDR2, and a VH CDR3 amino acid sequence depicted in Tables 1-3; and/or (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising a VL CDR1 , a VL CDR2, and a VL CDR3 amino acid sequence depicted in Tables 1 -3.
• VH heavy chain variable
• the antibody comprises a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising a VH CDR1 , a VH CDR2, and a VH CDR3 amino acid sequence depicted in Tables 1-3.
• the antibody comprises a light chain variable (VL) region comprising a VL CDR1 , a VL CDR2, and a VL CDR3 amino acid sequence depicted in Tables 1-3.
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1) a VH CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 , 7, 12, 13, and 18; (2) a VH CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, 8, 14, 19, and 24; and (3) a VH CDR3 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, 9, 15, and 20; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1) a VL CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:4, 10, 16, and 21 ; (2) a VL CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:5, 11 , and 22; and (3) a VL CDR3 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:6, 17, and 23.
• VH heavy chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 ; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 ; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 ; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NQ:20; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 ; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:22; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:23.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 ; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1) a VH CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:27, 33, 38, 39, and 44; (2) a VH CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:28, 34, 40, 45, and 50; and (3) a VH CDR3 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:29, 35, 41 , and 46; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1) a VL CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NQ:30, 36, 42, and 47; (2) a VL CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:31 , 37, and 48 and (3) a VL CDR3 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:32, 43
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:27; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31 ; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:33; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:34; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:35; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:36; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:37; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:38; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NQ:30; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31 ; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:39; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NQ:40; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:41 ; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:42; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:37; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:43.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:44; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:45; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:46; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:47; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:48; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:49.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:27; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NQ:50; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NQ:30; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31 ; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:53, 59, 64, 65, and 70; (2) a VH CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:54, 60, 66, 71 , and 76; and (3) a VH CDR3 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:55, 61 , 67, and 72; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1) a VL CDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:56, 62, 68, and 73; (2) a VL CDR2 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:57, 63 and 74; and (3) a VL CDR3 having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:53; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:54; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:55; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:56; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:57; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:58.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:59; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NQ:60; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:61 ; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:62; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:63; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:58.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:64; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:54; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:55; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:56; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:57; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:58.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:65; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:67; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:68; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:63; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:69.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NQ:70; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:71 ; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:72; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:73; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:74; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:75.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• an antibody comprising: (a) a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:53; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:76; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:55; and (b) a light chain variable (VL) region comprising: (1 ) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:56; (2) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:57; and (3) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:58.
• VH heavy chain variable
• VL light chain variable
• VH region and/or VL region described herein further comprises human framework sequences.
• the VH region and/or VL region further comprises a framework 1 (FR1 ), a framework 2 (FR2), a framework 3 (FR3) and/or a framework 4 (FR4) sequence.
• the antibody described herein is a monoclonal antibody.
• the monoclonal antibody is a humanized, human or chimeric antibody.
• the antibody described herein is a Fab, Fab’, F(ab’)2, Fv, scFv, (scFv)2, single chain antibody molecule, dual variable region antibody, single variable region antibody, linear antibody, V region, or a multispecific antibody formed from antibody fragments.
• the CDRs disclosed herein include consensus sequences derived from groups of related antibodies (see, e.g., Tables 1-3).
• a “consensus sequence” refers to amino acid sequences having conserved amino acids common among a number of sequences and variable amino acids that vary within a given amino acid sequences.
• the CDR consensus sequences provided include CDRs corresponding to CDRH1 , CDRH2, CDRH3, CDRL1 , CDRL2 and/or CDRL3.
• Consensus sequences of CDRs of PD-L1 binding agents are shown in FIGs. 7A and 7B.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody, such as a bispecific antibody
• a heavy chain variable (VH) region comprising: (1 ) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence GFTFX1X2YYIH (SEQ ID NO:83), wherein Xi and X2 are each independently a naturally occurring amino acid; (2) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of Xi IX2X3X4GX5X6TX7YADSVKG (SEQ ID NO:84), wherein Xi, X2, X3, X4, X5, Xe, and X7 are each independently a naturally occurring amino acid; and (3) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid of X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8LDY (SEQ ID NO:85), wherein Xi, X2, X 3 , X 4 , X 5 , X 6
• the VH CDR1 of a PD-L1 binding agent described herein has the amino acid sequence of GFTFX1X2YYIH (SEQ ID NO: 101 ), wherein Xi is a D or S, X 2 is a Q or S.
• the VH CDR2 of a PD-L1 binding agent described herein has the amino acid sequence of Xi IX2X3X4GX5X6TX7YADSVKG (SEQ ID NO:89), wherein Xi is a E, W, or T, X2 is a Y, T, or S, X3 is a P or S, X4 is a A, H, or G, Xs is a S, Y, or G, Xe is a Y, S, or F, and X7 is Y or K.
• the VH CDR3 of a PD-L1 binding agent described herein has the amino acid sequence of X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8LDY (SEQ ID NQ:90), wherein Xi is a G or D, X2 is a P, S, or Y, X3 is a Y, V, or T, X4 is a S, I, or L, Xs is a V, Y, or T, Xe is a R, G or P, X7 is a Y or V (or not present), and Xs is an A (or not present).
• the VL CDR1 of a PD-L1 binding agent described herein has the amino acid sequence of RASQSVSSAVA (SEQ ID NO:86). In some embodiments, the VL CDR2 of a PD-L1 binding agent described herein has the amino acid sequence of SASSLYS (SEQ ID NO:87).
• the VL CDR3 of a PD-L1 binding agent described herein has the amino acid sequence of QQX1X2X3X4PX5T (SEQ ID NO:91 ), wherein Xi is a V, Y, or F, X 2 is a S, Y, or G, X 3 is a Y, T, or A, X4 is a S or E, and X5 is a Y or I.
• described herein is a binding agent that binds to essentially the same epitope as an antibody or fragment thereof of any one of the antibodies described herein. In some embodiments, described hereins is a binding agent that competes for binding to human PD-L1 with an antibody or fragment thereof of any one described herein. In some embodiments, the binding agent is an antibody or fragment thereof.
• the CDRs of a PD-L1 binding agent can be determined according to the Kabat system (Kabat et al. (1971 ) Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 190:382-391 and, Kabat et al. (1991 ) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91 -3242).
• the CDRs of a PD-L1 binding agent can be determined according to the Chothia system, which will be referred to herein as the “Chothia CDRs” (see, e.g., Chothia and Lesk, 1987, J. Mol. Biol., 196:901-917; Al-Lazikani et al., 1997, J. Mol. Biol., 273:927- 948; Chothia et al., 1992, J. Mol. Biol., 227:799-817; Tramontane A et al., 1990, J. Mol. Biol. 215(1 ): 175-82; and U.S. Patent No. 7,709,226).
• the CDRs of a PD-L1 binding agent can be determined according to the ImMunoGeneTics (IMGT) system, for example, as described in Lefranc, M.-P., 1999, The Immunologist, 7:132-136 and Lefranc, M.-P. et al., 1999, Nucleic Acids Res., 27:209-212 (“IMGT CDRs”).
• IMGT CDRs ImMunoGeneTics
• the CDRs of a PD-L1 binding agent can be determined according to the AbM system, which will be referred to herein as the “AbM CDRs,” for example as described in MacCallum et al., 1996, J. Mol. Biol., 262:732-745. See also, e.g., Martin, A., “Protein Sequence and Structure Analysis of Antibody Variable Domains,” in Antibody Engineering, Kontermann and Dubel, eds., Chapter 31 , pp. 422-439, Springer-Verlag, Berlin (2001 ).
• the CDRs of a PD-L1 binding agent can be determined according to the Contact system, which will be referred to herein as the “Contact CDRs” (see, e.g., MacCallum RM et al., 1996, J Mol Biol 5: 732-745).
• the Contact CDRs are based on an analysis of the available complex crystal structures.
• the position of one or more CDRs along the VH (e.g., CDR1 , CDR2, or CDR3) and/or VL (e.g., CDR1 , CDR2, or CDR3) region of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a human PD-L1 binding agent, described herein may vary by one, two, three, four, five, or six amino acid positions so long as binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ) is maintained (e.g., substantially maintained, for example, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%).
• the position defining a CDR of any of Table 1 or 2 may vary by shifting the N-terminal and/or C-terminal boundary of the CDR by one, two, three, four, five, or six amino acids, relative to the current CDR position, so long as binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ) is maintained (e.g., substantially maintained, for example, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%).
• PD-L1 e.g., human PD-L1
• the length of one or more CDRs along the VH (e.g., CDR1 , CDR2, or CDR3) and/or VL (e.g., CDR1 , CDR2, or CDR3) region of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a human PD-L1 binding agent, described herein may vary (e.g., be shorter or longer) by one, two, three, four, five, or more amino acids, so long as binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ) is maintained (e.g., substantially maintained, for example, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%).
• a VH and/or VL CDR1 , CDR2, and/or CDR3 described herein may be one, two, three, four, five or more amino acids shorter than one or more of the CDRs described by SEQ ID NOS: 1-24, 27- 50, or 53-76, so long as binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ) is maintained (e.g., substantially maintained, for example, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%).
• PD-L1 e.g., human PD-L1
• a VH and/or VL CDR1 , CDR2, and/or CDR3 described herein may be one, two, three, four, five or more amino acids longer than one or more of the CDRs described by SEQ ID NOS: 1 -24, 27-50, or 53-76, so long as binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ) is maintained (e.g., substantially maintained, for example, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%).
• PD-L1 e.g., human PD-L1
• the amino terminus of a VH and/or VL CDR1 , CDR2, and/or CDR3 described herein may be extended by one, two, three, four, five or more amino acids compared to one or more of the CDRs described by SEQ ID NOS: 1-24, 27-50, or 53-76, so long as binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ) is maintained (e.g., substantially maintained, for example, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%).
• PD-L1 e.g., human PD-L1
• the carboxy terminus of a VH and/or VL CDR1 , CDR2, and/or CDR3 described herein may be extended by one, two, three, four, five or more amino acids compared to one or more of the CDRs described by SEQ ID NOS: 1-24, 27-50, or 53-76, so long as binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ) is maintained (e.g., substantially maintained, for example, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%).
• PD-L1 e.g., human PD-L1
• the amino terminus of a VH and/or VL CDR1 , CDR2, and/or CDR3 described herein may be shortened by one, two, three, four, five or more amino acids compared to one or more of the CDRs described by SEQ ID NOS: 1-24, 27-50, or 53- 76, so long as binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ) is maintained (e.g., substantially maintained, for example, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%).
• PD-L1 e.g., human PD-L1
• the carboxy terminus of a VH and/or VL CDR1 , CDR2, and/or CDR3 described herein may be shortened by one, two, three, four, five or more amino acids compared to one or more of the CDRs described by SEQ ID NOS: 1-24, 27-50, or 53-76, so long as binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ) is maintained (e.g., substantially maintained, for example, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%).
• PD-L1 e.g., human PD-L1
• Example 2 described herein describes an assay for measuring binding to PD-L1 (e.g., human PD-L1 ).
• the PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents presented herein that bind to PD-L1
• conservative sequence modifications include conservative amino acid substitutions that include ones in which the amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a similar side chain. Families of amino acid residues having similar side chains have been defined in the art.
• amino acids with basic side chains e.g., lysine, arginine, histidine
• acidic side chains e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid
• uncharged polar side chains e.g., glycine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine, tryptophan
• nonpolar side chains e.g., alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine
• beta-branched side chains e.g., threonine, valine, isoleucine
• aromatic side chains e.g., tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine
• a predicted nonessential amino acid residue in a PD-L1 is replaced with another amino acid residue from the same side chain family.
• the conservative sequence modifications described herein modify the amino acid sequences of the PD-L1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies), including human PD-L1 binding agents, by 50%, or 55%, or 60%, or 65%, or 70%, or 75%, or 80%, or 85%, or 90%, or 95%, or 98%, or 99%.
• the nucleotide and amino acid sequence modifications refer to at most 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 amino acid substitutions to the CDRs described in Table 1 , Table 2, or Table 3.
• each such CDR may contain up to 5 conservative amino acid substitutions, for example up to (not more than) 4 conservative amino acid substitutions, for example up to (not more than) 3 conservative amino acid substitutions, for example up to (not more than) 2 conservative amino acid substitutions, or no more than 1 conservative amino acid substitution.
• the present disclosure provides PD-L1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies) with a masking moiety and/or cleavable moiety in which one or more of the PD-L1 binding domains of the PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., antibody) are masked (e.g., via a masking moiety) and/or activatable (e.g., via a cleavable moiety).
• PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• SAFE body masking technology see, e.g., US Patent Application Publication No.
• PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• Such masked and/or activatable PD-L1 binding agents are useful for the preparation of conjugates, including immunoconjugates, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), masked ADCs and activatable antibody-drug conjugates (AADCs), comprising any one of the PD-L1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies), such as human PD-L1 binding agents, of the present disclosure, including those directly or indirectly linked another agent such as a drug.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD- L1 binding agent is linked or conjugated (directly or indirectly) to a moiety with effector function, such as cytotoxic activity (e.g., a chemotherapeutic moiety or a radioisotope) or immune recruitment activity.
• cytotoxic activity e.g., a chemotherapeutic moiety or a radioisotope
• Moieties that are linked or conjugated (directly or indirectly) include drugs that are cytotoxic (e.g., toxins such as aurostatins) or non- cytotoxic (e.g., signal transduction modulators such as kinases or masking moieties that mask one or more binding domains of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., antibody), or cleavable moieties that allow for activating a PD-L1 binding agent by cleaving of a cleavable moiety to unmask one or more binding domains of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., antibody) in the tumor microenvironment) in the form of masked conjugates.
• Moieties that promote immune recruitment can include other antigen-binding agents, such as viral proteins that bind selectively to cells of the innate immune system.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD-L1 binding agent is optionally linked or conjugated (directly or indirectly) to a moiety that facilitates isolation from a mixture (e.g., a tag) or a moiety with reporter activity (e.g., a detection label or reporter protein).
• reporter activity e.g., a detection label or reporter protein
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents may be linked or conjugated (directly or indirectly) to a polypeptide, which can result in the generation of an activatable antibody.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• the agent is a drug, resulting in an ADC or an AADC when the antibody of the ADC comprises a masking moiety and a cleavable moiety.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein are conjugated or recombinantly linked (directly or indirectly) to a therapeutic agent (e.g., a cytotoxic agent) or to a diagnostic or detectable agent.
• a therapeutic agent e.g., a cytotoxic agent
• the conjugated or recombinantly linked antibodies, including masked or activatable conjugates can be useful, for example, for treating or preventing a disease, disorder or condition such as a PD-L1 -mediated disease, disorder or condition.
• the conjugated or recombinantly linked PD-L1 binding agents can be useful, for example, for monitoring or prognosing the onset, development, progression, and/or severity of a T cell dysfunctional disease, disorder or condition.
• Such diagnosis and detection can be accomplished, for example, by coupling a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) to detectable substances including, for example: enzymes, including, but not limited to, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase; prosthetic groups, including, but not limited to, streptavidin/biotin or avidin/biotin; fluorescent materials, including, but not limited to, umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocynate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride, or phycoerythrin; luminescent materials, including, but not limited to, luminol; bioluminescent materials, including, but not limited to, luciferase, luciferin, or aequorin; chemiluminescent material, including, but not limited to
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• a heterologous protein or polypeptide or fragment thereof, for example, to a polypeptide (e.g., of about 10, about 20, about 30, about 40, about 50, about 60, about 70, about 80, about 90, or about 100 amino acids) to generate fusion proteins, as well as uses thereof.
• fusion proteins comprising an antigen-binding fragment of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a human PD-L1 binding agent, described herein (e.g., comprising CDR1 , CDR2, and/or CDR3 of VH and/or VL) and a heterologous protein, polypeptide, or peptide.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• the heterologous protein, polypeptide, or peptide that a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents can be linked (directly or indirectly) to marker or “tag” sequences, such as a peptide, to facilitate purification.
• the marker or tag amino acid sequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in a pQE vector (see, e.g., QIAGEN, Inc.), among others, many of which are commercially available.
• hexa-histidine provides for convenient purification of a fusion protein.
• peptide tags useful for purification include, but are not limited to, the hemagglutinin (“HA”) tag, which corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein (Wilson et al., 1984, Cell 37:767-78), and the “FLAG” tag.
• HA hemagglutinin
• FLAG FLAG
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein is a fusion protein.
• fusion protein refers to a polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence of a binding agent (e.g., an antibody) and an amino acid sequence of a heterologous polypeptide or protein (e.g., a polypeptide or protein not normally a part of the antibody (e.g., a non-PD-L1 binding antibody)).
• the fusion protein retains the biological activity of a PD-L1 binding agent.
• the fusion protein comprises a PD-L1 antibody VH region, VL region, VH CDR (one, two or three VH CDRs), and/or VL CDR (one, two or three VL CDRs), wherein the fusion protein binds to a PD-L1 epitope, a PD-L1 fragment and/or a PD-L1 polypeptide.
• Fusion proteins may be generated, for example, through the techniques of gene-shuffling, motif-shuffling, exon-shuffling, and/or codon-shuffling (collectively referred to as “DNA shuffling”).
• DNA shuffling may be employed to alter the activities of PD-L1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies), including human PD-L1 binding agents, as described herein, including, for example, PD-L1 binding agents with higher affinities and lower dissociation rates (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.
• PD-L1 binding agents including human PD-L1 binding agents, may be altered by being subjected to random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR, random nucleotide insertion, or other methods prior to recombination.
• a polynucleotide encoding a PD-L1 binding agent described herein may be recombined with one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc. of one or more heterologous molecules.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein may also be attached to solid supports, which are useful for immunoassays or purification of the target antigen.
• solid supports include, but are not limited to, glass, cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, or polypropylene.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents described herein can also be linked or conjugated (directly or indirectly) to a second antibody to form an antibody heteroconjugate.
• the linker may be a “cleavable moiety” facilitating release of the linked or conjugated agent in a cell, but non-cleavable linkers are also contemplated herein.
• Linkers for use in conjugates (e.g., antibody-drug conjugates) of the present disclosure include, without limitation, acid labile linkers (e.g., hydrazone linkers), disulfide- containing linkers, peptidase-sensitive linkers (e.g., peptide linkers comprising amino acids, for example, valine and/or citrulline such as citrulline-valine or phenylalaninelysine), photolabile linkers, dimethyl linkers, thioether linkers, or hydrophilic linkers designed to evade multidrug transporter-mediated resistance.
• acid labile linkers e.g., hydrazone linkers
• disulfide- containing linkers e.g., peptidase-sensitive linkers
• Conjugates of an antibody and agent may be made using a variety of bifunctional protein coupling agents such as BMPS, EMCS, GMBS, HBVS, LC-SMCC, MBS, MPBH, SBAP, SIA, SIAB, SMCC, SMPB, SMPH, sulfo-EMCS, sulfo-GMBS, sulfo-KMUS, sulfo- MBS, sulfo-SIAB, sulfo-SMCC, sulfo-SMPB, and SVSB (succinimidyl-(4- vinylsulfone)benzoate).
• bifunctional protein coupling agents such as BMPS, EMCS, GMBS, HBVS, LC-SMCC, MBS, MPBH, SBAP, SIA, SIAB, SMCC, SMPB, SMPH, sulfo-EMCS, sulfo-GMBS, sulfo-KMUS, sulfo
• conjugates of antibodies and agents may be prepared using any suitable methods as disclosed in the art (see, e.g., Bioconjugate Techniques (Hermanson ed., 2d ed. 2008)).
• Conventional conjugation strategies for antibodies and agents, including wherein the agent is a drug for the preparation of ADC or AADC have been based on random conjugation chemistries involving the s-amino group of Lys residues or the thiol group of Cys residues, which results in heterogeneous conjugates.
• selenocysteine is cotranslationally inserted into an antibody sequence by recoding the stop codon UGA from termination to selenocysteine insertion, allowing site specific covalent conjugation at the nucleophilic selenol group of selenocysteine in the presence of the other natural amino acids (see, e.g., Hofer et al., 2008, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105:12451-56; and Hofer et al., 2009, Biochemistry 48(50): 12047-57).
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD- L1 binding agent disclosed herein can be optionally conjugated with one or more cytotoxic agent(s) disclosed herein or known in the art in order to generate an ADC or AADC.
• the cytotoxic agent is a chemotherapeutic agent including, but not limited to, methotrexate, adriamycin, doxorubicin, melphalan, mitomycin C, chlorambucil, daunorubicin or other intercalating agents.
• the cytotoxic agent is an enzymatically active toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant, or animal origin, or fragments thereof, including, but not limited to, diphtheria A chain, nonbinding active fragments of diphtheria toxin, exotoxin A chain, ricin A chain, abrin A chain, modeccin A chain, alpha-sarcin, Aleurites fordii proteins, dianthin proteins, Phytolaca americana proteins (PAPI, PAP 11, and PAP-S), Momordica charantia inhibitor, curcin, crotin, Sapaonaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin, mitogellin, restrictocin, phenomycin, enomycin, and the tricothecenes.
• diphtheria A chain nonbinding active fragments of diphtheria toxin
• exotoxin A chain ricin A chain
• abrin A chain abrin A chain
• modeccin A chain alpha-sarc
• the cytotoxic agent is a radioisotope to produce a radioconjugate or a radioconjugated agent.
• a radionuclides are available for the production of radioconjugated agents including, but not limited to, 90Y, 1251, 1311, 1231, 1111n, 131 In, 105Rh, 153Sm, 67Cu, 67Ga, 166Ho, 177Lu, 186Re, 188Re, and 212Bi.
• Conjugates of a polypeptide or molecule and one or more small molecule toxins such as a calicheamicin, maytansinoids, a trichothene, and CC1065, and the derivatives of these toxins that have toxin activity, can also be used.
• Conjugates of a polypeptide or molecule and cytotoxic agent are made using a variety of bifunctional protein-coupling agents such as N- succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyidithiol) propionate (SPDP), iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such as dimethyl adipimidate HCL), active esters (such as disuccinimidyl suberate), aldehydes (such as glutaraldehyde), bis-azido compounds (such as bis(p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis-diazonium derivatives (such as bis- (p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (such as toluene 2,6- diisocyanate), and bis-active fluorine compounds (such as 1 ,5-difluoro-2,4- dinitrobenzene).
• SPDP N- succinimidy
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a human PD-L1 binding agent, described herein is conjugated to a drug such as a signal transduction modulator, a pro-apoptotic agent, a mitotic inhibitor, an anti-tumor antibiotic, an immunomodulating agent, a nucleic acid for gene therapy, an alkylating agent, an anti-angiogenic agent, an anti-metabolite, a boron-containing agent, a chemoprotective agent, a hormone agent, an anti-hormone agent, a corticosteroid, a photoactive therapeutic agent, an oligonucleotide, a radionuclide agent, a radiosensitizer, a topoisomerase inhibitor, and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
• a drug such as a signal transduction modulator, a pro-apoptotic agent, a mitotic inhibitor, an anti-tumor antibiotic, an immunomodulating agent,
• the mitotic inhibitor is a dolastatin, an auristatin, a maytansinoid, and a plant alkaloid.
• the drug is a dolastatin, an auristatin, a maytansinoid, and a plant alkaloid.
• An example of an auristatin is monomethylaurisatin F (MMAF) or monomethyauristatin E (MMAE).
• MMAF monomethylaurisatin F
• MMAE monomethyauristatin E
• examples of maytansinoids include, but are not limited to, DM1 , DM2, DM3, and DM4.
• the anti-tumor antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of an actinomycine, an anthracycline, a calicheamicin, and a duocarmycin.
• the actinomycine is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD).
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents may be monospecific, bispecific, trispecific or of greater multispecificity.
• Such agents may include antibodies.
• Multispecific antibodies, such as bispecific antibodies are monoclonal antibodies that have binding specificities for at least two different targets (e.g., antigens) or two different epitopes on the same target (e.g., a bispecific antibody directed to PD-L1 with a first binding domain for a first epitope of a PD-L1 , and a second binding domain for a second epitope of PD-L1 ).
• the multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibodies can be constructed based on the sequences of the antibodies described herein, e.g., the CDR sequences listed in Table 1 , Table 2, and Table 3.
• the multispecific antibodies described herein are bispecific antibodies.
• bispecific antibodies are mouse, chimeric, human or humanized antibodies.
• one of the binding specificities of the multispecific antibody is for PD-L1 and the other is for any other target (e.g., antigen).
• a multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody can comprise more than one target (e.g., antigen) binding domain, in which different binding domains are specific for different targets (e.g., a first binding domain that binds to PD-L1 and a second binding domain that binds another target (e.g., antigen), such as an immune checkpoint regulator (e.g., a negative checkpoint regulator).
• targets e.g., a first binding domain that binds to PD-L1 and a second binding domain that binds another target (e.g., antigen), such as an immune checkpoint regulator (e.g., a negative checkpoint regulator).
• multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody molecules can bind than one e.g., two or more) epitopes on the same target (e.g., antigen).
• one of the binding specificities is PD-L1 and the other is for one or more of Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), CD80, CD86, Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1 ), Programmed cell death ligand 2 (PD-L2), Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3; also known as CD223), Galectin-3, B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), T-cell membrane protein 3 (TIM3), Galectin-9 (GAL9), B7-H1 , B7- H3, B7-H4, T-Cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGITA/stm3/WUCAMA/SIG9), V-domain Ig suppressor of T-Cell activation (VISTA), Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related (GITR) protein, Herpes Virus Entry Mediator (HVEM), 0X40, CD27, CD28, CD137.
• CGEN-15001T CGEN-15001T
• Multispecific antibodies are known in the art, such as, by co-expression of two immunoglobulin heavy chain-light chain pairs, where the two heavy chains have different specificities (see, e.g., Milstein and Cuello, 1983, Nature 305:537-40).
• multispecific antibodies e.g., bispecific antibodies
• Bispecific Antibodies Kontermann ed., 2011 .
• bispecific antibody molecules can be classified into different structural groups: (i) bispecific immunoglobulin G (BsIgG); (ii) IgG appended with an additional antigen-binding moiety; (iii) bispecific antibody fragments; (iv) bispecific fusion proteins; and (v) bispecific antibody conjugates.
• BsIgG formats can include crossMab, DAF (two-in-one), DAF (four-in-one), DutaMab, DT-IgG, knobs-in-holes common LC, knobs-in-holes assembly, charge pair, Fab-arm exchange, SEEDbody, triomab, LUZ-Y, Fcab, K -body, orthogonal Fab.
• BsIgG comprises heavy chains that are engineered for heterodimerization.
• heavy chains can be engineered for heterodimerization using a “knobs-into-holes” strategy, a SEED platform, a common heavy chain (e.g., in KA-bodies), and use of heterodimeric Fc regions.
• Strategies are known in the art to avoid heavy chain pairing of homodimers in BsIgG, including knobs- into-holes, duobody, azymetric, charge pair, HA-TF, SEEDbody, and differential protein A affinity.
• bispecific antibody format is IgG appended with an additional antigen-binding moiety.
• monospecific IgG can be engineered to have bispecificity by appending an additional antigen-binding unit onto the monospecific IgG, e.g., at the N- or C- terminus of either the heavy or light chain.
• additional antigen-binding units include single domain antibodies (e.g., variable heavy chain or variable light chain), engineered protein scaffolds, and paired antibody variable domains (e.g., single chain variable fragments or variable fragments).
• Non-limiting examples of appended IgG formats include dual variable domain IgG (DVD-lg), lgG(H)-scFv, scFv- (H)lgG, lgG(L)-scFv, scFv-(L)lgG, lgG(L,H)-Fv, lgG(H)-V, V(H)-lgG, lgG(L)-V, V(L)-lgG, KIH IgG-scFab, 2scFv-lgG, lgG-2scFv, scFv4-lg, zybody, and DVI-IgG (four- in-one).
• an exemplary antibody format is a B-Body format for monospecific or multispecific (e.g., bispecific antibodies) as described in e.g. International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2018/075692 and US Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0118811.
• Bispecific antibody fragments are a format of bispecific antibody molecules that lack some or all of the antibody constant domains. For example, some BsAb lack an Fc region.
• bispecific antibody fragments include heavy and light chain regions that are connected by a peptide linker that permits efficient expression of the BsAb in a single host cell.
• bispecific antibody fragments include, but are not limited to, nanobody, nanobody- HAS, BiTE, Diabody, DART, TandAb, scDiabody, scDiabody-CH3, Diabody-CH3, triple body, miniantibody, minibody, TriBi minibody, scFv-CH3 KIH, Fab-scFv, scFv-CH-CL-scFv, F(ab’)2, F(ab’)2-scFv2, scFv-KIH, Fab-scFv-Fc, tetravalent HCAb, scDiabody-Fc, Diabody-Fc, tandem scFv-Fc, and intrabody.
• Bispecific fusion proteins include antibody fragments linked to other proteins.
• bispecific fusion proteins can be linked to other proteins to add additional specificity and/or functionality.
• the dock-and-lock (DNL) method can be used to generate bispecific antibody molecules with higher valency.
• bispecific antibody fusions to albumin binding proteins or human serum albumin can be extend the serum half-life of antibody fragments.
• chemical conjugation e.g., chemical conjugation of antibodies and/or antibody fragments, can be used to create BsAb molecules.
• An exemplary bispecific antibody conjugate includes the CovX-body format, in which a low molecular weight drug is conjugated site-specifically to a single reactive lysine in each Fab arm or an antibody or fragment thereof. In embodiments, the conjugation improves the serum half-life.
• multispecific antibodies including bispecific antibodies
• multispecific antibodies can be produced by separate expression of the component antibodies in different host cells and subsequent purification/assembly or by expression of the component antibodies in a single host cell.
• Purification of multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody molecules can be performed by various methods known in the art, including affinity chromatography.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents can be provided in any antibody format disclosed herein or known in the art.
• the PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• a multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody disclosed herein comprises a PD-L1 binding domain and one or more additional binding domains that bind to one or more targets that are not PD-L1 .
• a multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody disclosed herein comprises a PD-L1 binding domain thate.g. comprises the VH and/or VL amino acid sequences of Table 1 .
• a multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody disclosed herein comprises a PD-L1 binding domain that comprises the VH and/or VL amino acid sequences of Table 2.
• a multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody disclosed herein comprises a PD-L1 binding domain that comprises the VH and/or VL amino acid sequences of Table 3.
• described herein is a multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody comprising a binding domain which binds to PD-L1 that comprises VH and VL CDRs as set forth in Table 1.
• a multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody comprising a binding domain which binds to PD-L1 that comprises VH and VL CDRs as set for in Table 2.
• a multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibody comprising a binding domain which binds to PD-L1 that comprises VH and VL CDRs as set for in Table 3.
• Antibodies that bind PD-L1 may be obtained by any suitable method, such as (but not limited to) immunization with whole tumor cells comprising PD-L1 and collection of antibodies, recombinant techniques, or screening libraries of antibodies or antibody fragments using PD-L1 extracellular domain epitopes. Monoclonal antibodies may be generated using a variety of known techniques (see, for example, Coligan et al.
• One exemplary technique for generating monoclonal antibodies comprises immunizing an animal with a human PD-L1 antigen and generating a hybridoma from spleen cells taken from the animal.
• a hybridoma may produce a monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment that binds PD-L1 .
• monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments can be isolated from antibody phage libraries generated using the techniques described in, for example, Antibody Phage Display: Methods and Protocols, P.M. O’Brien and R. Aitken, eds, Humana Press, Totawa N.J., 2002.
• synthetic antibody clones are selected by screening phage libraries containing phage that display various fragments of antibody variable region (Fv) fused to phage coat protein. Such phage libraries are screened for against the desired antigen. Clones expressing Fv fragments capable of binding to the desired antigen are adsorbed to the antigen and thus separated from the non-binding clones in the library. The binding clones are then eluted from the antigen, and can be further enriched by additional cycles of antigen adsorption/elution.
• Fv antibody variable region
• Variable domains can be displayed functionally on phage, either as singlechain Fv (scFv) fragments, in which VH and VL are covalently linked through a short, flexible peptide, or as Fab fragments, in which they are each fused to a constant domain and interact non-covalently, as described, for example, in Winter et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol., 12: 433-455 (1994).
• scFv singlechain Fv
• Repertoires of VH and VL genes can be separately cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and recombined randomly in phage libraries, which can then be searched for antigen-binding clones as described in Winter et al., supra.
• Libraries from immunized sources provide high-affinity antibodies to the immunogen without the requirement of constructing hybridomas.
• the naive repertoire can be cloned to provide a single source of human antibodies to a wide range of non-self and also self antigens without any immunization as described by Griffiths et al., EMBO J, 12: 725-734 (1993).
• naive libraries can also be made synthetically by cloning the unrearranged V-gene segments from stem cells, and using PCR primers containing random sequence to encode the highly variable CDR3 regions and to accomplish rearrangement in vitro as described, for example, by Hoogenboom and Winter, J. Mol. Biol., 227: 381-388 (1992).
• PD-L1 e.g., a PD-L1 polypeptide, fragment or epitope
• PD-L1 can be used to coat the wells of adsorption plates, expressed on host cells affixed to adsorption plates or used in cell sorting, or conjugated to biotin for capture with streptavidin-coated beads, or used in any other method for panning display libraries.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• a suitable antigen screening procedure to select for the phage clone of interest followed by construction of a full length PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) clone using VH and/or VL sequences e.g., the Fv sequences), or various CDR sequences from VH and VL sequences, from the phage clone of interest and suitable constant region (e.g., Fc) sequences described in Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, NIH Publication 91-3242, Bethesda MD (1991 ), vols. 1-3.
• human antibodies that bind PD-L1 may be generated by any of a number of techniques including, but not limited to, Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) transformation of human peripheral blood cells (e.g., containing B lymphocytes), in vitro immunization of human B cells, fusion of spleen cells from immunized transgenic mice carrying inserted human immunoglobulin genes, isolation from human immunoglobulin V region phage libraries, or other procedures as known in the art and based on the disclosure herein.
• EBV Epstein Barr Virus
• human antibodies that bind PD-L1 may be obtained from transgenic animals that have been engineered to produce specific human antibodies in response to antigenic challenge.
• International Patent Publication No. WO 98/24893 discloses transgenic animals having a human Ig locus, wherein the animals do not produce functional endogenous immunoglobulins due to the inactivation of endogenous heavy and light chain loci.
• Transgenic non-primate mammalian hosts capable of mounting an immune response to an immunogen, wherein the antibodies have primate constant and/or variable regions, and wherein the endogenous immunoglobulin encoding loci are substituted or inactivated also have been described.
• WO 96/30498 discloses the use of the Cre/Lox system to modify the immunoglobulin locus in a mammal, such as to replace all or a portion of the constant or variable region to form a modified antibody molecule.
• International Patent Publication No. WO 94/02602 discloses non-human mammalian hosts having inactivated endogenous Ig loci and functional human Ig loci.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,939,598 discloses methods of making transgenic mice in which the mice lack endogenous heavy chains, and express an exogenous immunoglobulin locus comprising one or more xenogeneic constant regions.
• an immune response can be produced to a selected antigenic molecule, and antibody producing cells can be removed from the animal and used to produce hybridomas that secrete human-derived monoclonal antibodies.
• Immunization protocols, adjuvants, and the like are known in the art, and are used in immunization of, for example, a transgenic mouse as described in International Patent Publication No. WO 96/33735.
• the monoclonal antibodies can be tested for the ability to inhibit or neutralize the biological activity or physiological effect of the corresponding protein.
• the present disclosure provides humanized antibodies that bind PD-L1 , including human PD-L1.
• Humanized antibodies of the present disclosure may comprise one or more CDRs as shown in Tables 1-3.
• Various methods for humanizing non- human antibodies are known in the art.
• a humanized antibody can have one or more amino acid residues introduced into it from a source that is non-human. These non-human amino acid residues are often referred to as “import” residues, which are typically taken from an “import” variable domain.
• Humanized antibodies that bind PD-L1 may be produced using techniques known to those skilled in the art (Zhang et al., Molecular Immunology, 42(12): 1445-1451 , 2005; Hwang et al., Methods, 36(1 ): 35- 42, 2005; Dall’Acqua et al., Methods, 36(1): 43-60, 2005; Clark, Immunology Today, 21 (8): 397-402, 2000, and U.S. Patent Nos. 6,180,370; 6,054,927; 5,869,619;
• the humanized antibodies are constructed by CDR grafting, in which the amino acid sequences of the six complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the parent non-human antibody (e.g., rodent) are grafted onto a human antibody framework.
• CDRs complementarity determining regions
• Padlan et al. FASEB J. 9:133-139, 1995
• SDRs specificity determining residues
• SDR grafting only the SDR residues are grafted onto the human antibody framework (see, e.g., Kashmiri et al., Methods 36: 25-34, 2005).
• variable domains both light and heavy
• the sequence of the variable domain of a non-human (e.g., rodent) antibody is screened against the entire library of known human variable-domain sequences.
• the human sequence which is closest to that of the rodent may be selected as the human framework for the humanized antibody (Sims et al. (1993) J. Immunol. 151 :2296; Chothia et al. (1987) J. Mol. Biol. 196:901.
• Another method uses a particular framework derived from the consensus sequence of all human antibodies of a particular subgroup of light or heavy chains.
• the same framework may be used for several different humanized antibodies (Carter et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:4285; Presta et al. (1993) J. Immunol., 151 :2623.
• the framework is derived from the consensus sequences of the most abundant human subclasses, VL6 subgroup I (Vi_6l) and VH subgroup III (VHIII).
• Vi_6l VL6 subgroup I
• VHIII VH subgroup III
• human germ line genes are used at the source of the framework regions.
• FR homology is irrelevant.
• the method consists of comparison of the non-human sequence with the functional human germline gene repertoire. Those genes encoding the same or closely related canonical structures to the murine sequences are then selected. Next, within the genes sharing the canonical structures with the non-human antibody, those with highest homology within the CDRs are chosen as FR donors. Finally, the non-human CDRs are grafted onto these FRs (see, e.g., Tan ef a/., J. Immunol. 169: 1119-1125, 2002).
• humanized antibodies are prepared by a process of analysis of the parental sequences and various conceptual humanized products using three-dimensional models of the parental and humanized sequences.
• Three- dimensional immunoglobulin models are commonly available and are familiar to those skilled in the art.
• Computer programs are available which illustrate and display probable three-dimensional conformational structures of selected candidate immunoglobulin sequences. These include, for example, WAM (Whitelegg and Rees, Protein Eng. 13: 819-824, 2000), Modeller (Sali and Blundell, J. Mol. Biol. 234: 779-815, 1993), and Swiss PDB Viewer (Guex and Peitsch, Electrophoresis 18: 2714-2713, 1997).
• HSC Human String Content
• Antibody variants may be isolated from phage, ribosome and yeast display libraries as well as by bacterial colony screening (see, e.g., Hoogenboom, Nat. Biotechnol. 23: 1105-1116, 2005; Dufner et al., Trends Biotechnol. 24: 523-529, 2006; Feldhaus et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 21 : 163-70, 2003; Schlapschy et al., Protein Eng. Des. Sei. 17: 847-60, 2004).
• residues to be substituted may include some or all of the “Vernier” residues identified as potentially contributing to CDR structure (see, e.g., Foote and Winter, J. Mol. Biol. 224: 487-499, 1992), or from the more limited set of target residues identified by Baca et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 272: 10678-10684, 1997).
• FR shuffling whole FRs are combined with the non-human CDRs instead of creating combinatorial libraries of selected residue variants (see, e.g., Dall’Acqua et al., Methods 36: 43-60, 2005).
• the libraries may be screened for binding in a two-step selection process, first humanizing VL, followed by VH.
• a one-step FR shuffling process may be used.
• Such a process has been shown to be more efficient than the two-step screening, as the resulting antibodies exhibited improved biochemical and physico-chemical properties including enhanced expression, increased affinity and thermal stability (see, e.g., Damschroder et al., Mol. Immunol. 44: 3049-60, 2007).
• the “humaneering” method is based on experimental identification of essential minimum specificity determinants (MSDs) and is based on sequential replacement of non-human fragments into libraries of human FRs and assessment of binding. It begins with regions of the CDR3 of non-human VH and VL chains and progressively replaces other regions of the non-human antibody into the human FRs, including the CDR1 and CDR2 of both VH and VL. This methodology typically results in epitope retention and identification of antibodies from multiple sub-classes with distinct human V-segment CDRs. Humaneering allows for isolation of antibodies that are 91-96 % homologous to human germline gene antibodies, (see, e.g., Alfenito, Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Third Annual PEGS, The Protein Engineering Summit, 2007).
• the "human engineering" method involves altering an non-human antibody or antibody fragment, such as a mouse or chimeric antibody or antibody fragment, by making specific changes to the amino acid sequence of the antibody so as to produce a modified antibody with reduced immunogenicity in a human that nonetheless retains the desirable binding properties of the original non-human antibodies.
• the technique involves classifying amino acid residues of a non-human (e.g., mouse) antibody as “low risk”, “moderate risk”, or “high risk” residues. The classification is performed using a global risk/reward calculation that evaluates the predicted benefits of making particular substitution (e.g., for immunogenicity in humans) against the risk that the substitution will affect the resulting antibody’s folding and/or are substituted with human residues.
• the particular human amino acid residue to be substituted at a given position (e.g., low or moderate risk) of a non-human (e.g., mouse) antibody sequence can be selected by aligning an amino acid sequence from the non-human antibody’s variable regions with the corresponding region of a specific or consensus human antibody sequence.
• the amino acid residues at low or moderate risk positions in the non-human sequence can be substituted for the corresponding residues in the human antibody sequence according to the alignment.
• a PD-L1 binding agent described herein comprises a non-antibody protein scaffold.
• a non-antibody protein scaffold include a fibronectin scaffold, an anticalin, an adnectin, an affibody, a DARPin, a fynomer, an affitin, an affilin, an avimer, a cysteine-rich knottin peptide, or an engineered Kunitz-type inhibitor.
• non-antibody protein scaffolds are well known in the art, any one of which can be used to generate a PD-L1 binding agent comprising a non-antibody protein scaffold (see, e.g., Simeon and Chen, Protein Cell, 9(1 ):3-14 (2016); Yang et al., Annu Rev Anal Chem (Palo Alto Calif). 10(1 ):293-320 (2017)).
• an isolated cell e.g., a hybridoma
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., antibody or antibody fragment
• a cell e.g., an isolated cell
• polynucleotides described herein may comprise one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., antibody or antibody fragment).
• the polynucleotide is an isolated and/or recombinant polynucleotide.
• the isolated polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes an antibody heavy chain variable region (VH) and/or an antibody light chain variable region (Vi_), wherein the VH and the VL comprise complementarity determining regions (CDRs) identical to CDRs as shown in Table 1 , CDRs as shown in Table 2, or CDRs as shown in Table 3.
• VH antibody heavy chain variable region
• Vi_ antibody light chain variable region
• CDRs complementarity determining regions
• one or more vectors may comprise one or more polynucleotides for expression of the one or more polynucleotides in a suitable host cell.
• Such vectors are useful, e.g., for amplifying the polynucleotides in host cells to create useful quantities thereof, and for expressing binding agents, such as antibodies or antibody fragments, using recombinant techniques.
• one or more vectors are expression vectors wherein one or more polynucleotides are operatively linked to one or more polynucleotides comprising expression control sequences.
• Autonomously replicating recombinant expression constructs such as plasmid and viral DNA vectors incorporating one or more polynucleotides encoding antibody sequences that bind PD-L1 are specifically contemplated.
• Expression control DNA sequences include promoters, enhancers, and operators, and are generally selected based on the expression systems in which the expression construct is to be utilized. Promoter and enhancer sequences are generally selected for the ability to increase gene expression, while operator sequences are generally selected for the ability to regulate gene expression.
• Expression constructs may also include sequences encoding one or more selectable markers that permit identification of host cells bearing the construct. Expression constructs may also include sequences that facilitate, and preferably promote, homologous recombination in a host cell. In some embodiments, expression constructs of the can also include sequences necessary for replication in a host cell.
• Exemplary expression control sequences include promoter/enhancer sequences, e.g., cytomegalovirus promoter/enhancer (Lehner et al., J. Clin. Microbiol., 29: 2494-2502, 1991 ; Boshart et al., Cell, 41 : 521-530, 1985); Rous sarcoma virus promoter (Davis et al., Hum. Gene Then, 4: 151 , 1993); Tie promoter (Korhonen et al., Blood, 86(5): 1828-1835, 1995); simian virus 40 promoter; DRA (downregulated in adenoma; Alrefai et al., Am. J. Physiol.
• promoter/enhancer sequences e.g., cytomegalovirus promoter/enhancer (Lehner et al., J. Clin. Microbiol., 29: 2494-2502, 1991 ; Boshart et al., Cell
• MCT1 monocarboxylate transporter 1 ; Cuff et al., Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointet. Liver Physiol., G977-G979. 2005
• Mathl mime atonal homolog 1 ; Shroyer et al., Gastroenterology, 132: 2477-2478, 2007
• the promoter is an epithelial-specific promoter or endothelial- specific promoter.
• Polynucleotides may also optionally include a suitable polyadenylation sequence (e.g., the SV40 or human growth hormone gene polyadenylation sequence) operably linked downstream (e.g., 3’) of the polypeptide coding sequence.
• a suitable polyadenylation sequence e.g., the SV40 or human growth hormone gene polyadenylation sequence
• operably linked downstream e.g., 3’
• the one or more polynucleotides also optionally comprise nucleotide sequences encoding secretory signal peptides fused in frame with the polypeptide sequences.
• the secretory signal peptides direct secretion of the antibody polypeptides by the cells that express the one or more polynucleotides, and are cleaved by the cell from the secreted polypeptides.
• the one or more polynucleotides may further optionally comprise sequences whose only intended function is to facilitate large scale production of the vector.
• polynucleotides may further comprise additional sequences to facilitate uptake by host cells and expression of the antibody or fragment thereof (and/or any other peptide).
• a “naked” transgene encoding an antibody or fragment thereof described herein e.g., a transgene without a viral, liposomal, or other vector to facilitate transfection is employed.
• Any suitable vectors may be used to introduce one or more polynucleotides that encode an antibody or fragment thereof into the host.
• Exemplary vectors that have been described include replication deficient retroviral vectors, including but not limited to lentivirus vectors (Kim et al., J. Virol., 72(1 ): 811-816, 1998; Kingsman & Johnson, Scrip Magazine, October, 1998, pp. 43-46); parvoviral vectors, such as adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors (U.S. Patent Nos.
• AAV adeno-associated viral
• any of these expression vectors can be prepared using standard recombinant DNA techniques described in, e.g., Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, a Laboratory Manual, 2d edition, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), and Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Associates and John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y. (1994).
• viral vectors are rendered replication-deficient by, e.g., deleting or disrupting select genes required for viral replication.
• Non-viral delivery mechanisms contemplated include calcium phosphate precipitation (Graham and Van Der Eb, Virology, 52: 456-467, 1973; Chen and Okayama, Mol. Cell Biol., 7: 2745-2752, 1987; Rippe et al., Mol. Cell Biol., 10: 689- 695, 1990) DEAE-dextran (Gopal, Mol. Cell Biol., 5: 1188-1190, 1985), electroporation (Tur-Kaspa et al., Mol. Cell Biol., 6: 716-718, 1986; Potter et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.
• An expression vector (or the antibody or fragment thereof discussed herein) may be entrapped in a liposome. See, e.g., Ghosh and Bachhawat, In: Liver diseases, targeted diagnosis and therapy using specific receptors and ligands, Wu G, Wu C ed., New York: Marcel Dekker, pp. 87-104 (1991 ); Radler et al., Science, 275(5301): 810- 814, 1997). Also contemplated are various commercial approaches involving “lipofection” technology.
• the liposome may be complexed with a hemagglutinating virus (HVJ).
• HVJ hemagglutinating virus
• the liposome is complexed or employed in conjunction with nuclear nonhistone chromosomal proteins (HMG-1 ) (Kato et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266: 3361-3364, 1991 ).
• HMG-1 nuclear nonhistone chromosomal proteins
• the liposome are complexed or employed in conjunction with both HVJ and HMG-1 .
• Such expression constructs have been successfully employed in transfer and expression of nucleic acid in vitro and in vivo.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD-L1 binding agent is included in the liposome to target the liposome to cells (such as tumor cells) expressing PD-L1 on their surface.
• a cell may comprise one or more polynucleotides or one or more vectors, e.g., the cell is transformed or transfected with one or more polynucleotides encoding a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a human PD-L1 binding agent, or the one or more vectors comprising the one or more polynucleotides.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• cells express a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a human PD-L1 binding agent, containing one or more, including six CDRs having at least 75% identity to the CDRs of P22 (see, e.g., Table 1 ).
• the cell expresses a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a human PD-L1 binding agent, containing the VH and the VL comprising CDRs identical to those of P24 (see, e.g., Table 2).
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• the cell expresses a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a human PD-L1 binding agent, containing the VH and the VL comprising CDRs identical to those of P31 .2 (see, e.g., Table 3).
• the cells may be prokaryotic cells, such as Escherichia coli (see, e.g., Pluckthun et al., Methods Enzymol., 178: 497-515, 1989), or eukaryotic cells, such as an animal cell (e.g., a myeloma cell, Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell, or hybridoma cell), yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae), or a plant cell (e.g., a tobacco, com, soybean, or rice cell).
• prokaryotic cells such as Escherichia coli (see, e.g., Pluckthun et al., Methods Enzymol., 178: 497-515, 1989)
• eukaryotic cells such as an animal cell (e.g., a myeloma cell, Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell, or hybridoma cell), yeast (e.g., Saccharomy
• mammalian host cells may provide for translational modifications (e.g., glycosylation, truncation, lipidation, and phosphorylation) that may be desirable to confer optimal biological activity on recombinant expression products.
• polypeptides e.g., PD-L1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies), including human PD-L1 binding agents
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents may be glycosylated or non-glycosylated and/or have been covalently modified to include one or more water soluble polymer attachments such as polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene glycol, or polypropylene glycol.
• Methods for introducing DNA or RNA into host cells are well known and include transformation, transfection, electroporation, nuclear injection, or fusion with carriers such as liposomes, micelles, ghost cells, and protoplasts.
• host cells are useful for amplifying polynucleotides and also for expressing polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides.
• a process for the production of a PD-L1 binding agent may comprise culturing a host cell and isolating the PD-L1 binding agent.
• Transferring a naked DNA expression construct into cells can be accomplished using particle bombardment, which depends on the ability to accelerate DNA coated microprojectiles to a high velocity allowing them to pierce cell membranes and enter cells without killing them (Klein et al., Nature, 327: 70-73, 1987).
• particle bombardment depends on the ability to accelerate DNA coated microprojectiles to a high velocity allowing them to pierce cell membranes and enter cells without killing them.
• Several devices for accelerating small particles have been developed. One such device relies on a high voltage discharge to generate an electrical current, which in turn provides the motive force (Yang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 87: 9568-9572, 1990).
• the microprojectiles used have consisted of biologically inert substances such as tungsten or gold beads.
• a host cell may be isolated and/or purified.
• a host cell also may be a cell transformed in vivo to cause transient or permanent expression of the polypeptide in vivo.
• a host cell may also be an isolated cell transformed ex vivo and introduced posttransformation, e.g., to produce the polypeptide in vivo for therapeutic purposes.
• the definition of host cell explicitly excludes a transgenic human being.
• a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a human PD-L1 binding agent, is produced using any suitable method, e.g., isolated from an immunized animal, recombinantly or synthetically generated, or genetically-engineered, including as described above.
• Antibody fragments derived from an antibody are obtained by, e.g., proteolytic hydrolysis of an antibody. For example, papain or pepsin digestion of whole antibodies yields a 5S fragment termed F(ab’)2 or two monovalent Fab fragments and an Fc fragment, respectively.
• F(ab)2 can be further cleaved using a thiol reducing agent to produce 3.5S Fab monovalent fragments.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD-L1 binding agent comprises, for example, a variable region domain generated by recombinant DNA engineering techniques.
• a variable region is optionally modified by insertions, deletions, or changes in the amino acid sequence of the antibody to produce an antibody of interest, including as described above.
• Polynucleotides encoding complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of interest are prepared, for example, by using polymerase chain reaction to synthesize variable regions using mRNA of antibody producing cells as a template (see, for example, Courtenay Luck, “Genetic Manipulation of Monoclonal Antibodies,” in Monoclonal Antibodies: Production, Engineering and Clinical Application, Ritter et al. (eds.), page 166 (Cambridge University Press 1995); Ward et al., “Genetic Manipulation and Expression of Antibodies,” in Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Applications, Birch et al., (eds.), page 137 (Wiley Liss, Inc.
• Humanized antibodies are antibodies in which CDRs of heavy and light variable chains of non-human immunoglobulins are transferred into a human variable domain. Constant regions need not be present, but if they are, they optionally are substantially identical to human immunoglobulin constant regions, e.g., at least about 85-90%, about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical, in some embodiments. Hence, in some instances, all parts of a humanized immunoglobulin, except possibly the CDRs, are substantially identical to corresponding parts of natural human immunoglobulin sequences.
• humanized antibodies are human immunoglobulins (e.g., host antibody) in which hypervariable region residues of the host antibody are replaced by hypervariable region residues from a non-human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat, rabbit, or a non-human primate having the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity.
• donor antibody e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, or a non-human primate having the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity.
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• T cell dysfunctional diseases, disorders, and conditions include tumor immunity and associated cancers, including, but not limited to, any cancer wherein the tumor cells overexpress PD-L1 .
• Such PD-L1 over-expressing tumor cells may help tumor cells escape immune surveillance and removal.
• PD-L1 binding agents described herein such as PD-L1 binding antibodies (e.g., monospecific or multispecific antibodies, including bispecific antibodies), are useful to inhibit PD-1 signaling and/or enhance T cell function (e.g., secrete cytokines, proliferate, execute cytolytic activity) and thus enhance immune surveillance and removal of tumor cells.
• PD-L1 binding antibodies e.g., monospecific or multispecific antibodies, including bispecific antibodies
• T cell function e.g., secrete cytokines, proliferate, execute cytolytic activity
• described herein is a method for treating tumor immunity in a subject comprising administering to the subject a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein or fragment thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• described herein is a method for treating a cancer or a tumor in a subject comprising administering to the subject a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein or fragment thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• described herein is a method for alleviating one or more symptoms associated with a cancer or a tumor in a subject comprising administering to the subject a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein or fragment thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• described herein is a method for decreasing tumor size in a subject with a tumor comprising administering to the subject a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein or fragment thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• described herein is a method for treating a T cell dysfunctional disease, disorder or condition in a subject comprising administering to the subject a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein or fragment thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• the T cell dysfunctional disease, disorder or condition is tumor immunity.
• described herein is a method for enhancing tumor cell removal in a subject with a tumor comprising administering to the subject PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein or fragment thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• described herein is a method for enhancing T cell function in a subject comprising administering to the subject PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein or fragment thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• the T cell function is secretion of cytokines.
• the T cell function is removal of tumor cells.
• the subject is diagnosed with a cancer or a tumor.
• the subject of a method described above can be administered one or more therapeutic agents described herein in combination with a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) described herein or fragment thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a pharmaceutical composition comprising the binding agent (e.g., antibody) described herein.
• the antibody is a human antibody, including, but not limited to, an antibody having variable regions in which both the framework and CDR regions are derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences as described, for example, in Kabat et al. (1991 ) Sequences of proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242. If the antibody contains a constant region, the constant region also preferably is derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences.
• Human antibodies may comprise amino acid residues not encoded by human germline immunoglobulin sequences, for example, to enhance the activity of the antibody, but do not comprise CDRs derived from other species (e.g., a mouse CDR placed within a human variable framework region).
• a PD-L1 binding agent increases T cell function and/or enhances cytolytic activity of cells in cell culture.
• Such cell culture may include tumor cells expressing or overexpressing PD-L1 .
• Tumor cells include, but are not limited to, breast cancer cells, bladder cancer cells, melanoma cells, prostate cancer cells, mesothelioma cells, lung cancer cells, testicular cancer cells, thyroid cancer cells, squamous cell carcinoma cells, glioblastoma cells, neuroblastoma cells, uterine cancer cells, colorectal cancer cells, and pancreatic cancer cells.
• the method comprises administering an amount of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), such as a human PD-L1 binding agent described herein, effective to enhance the removal of the tumor cells.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• the method includes administering a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), including a PD-L1 binding agent, that competes for binding with antibody P22, antibody P24, and/or antibody P31 .2 (see, e.g., CDRs and VH/VL of Tables 1 , 2 and/or 3), to human PD-L1 and/or binds the region of a PD-L1 recognized by antibody P22, antibody P24, and/or antibody P31 .2 (see, e.g., CDRs and VH/VL of Tables 1 , 2 and/or 3), resulting in enhancement of the removal of tumor cells.
• one or more binding agents e.g. antibodies
• polynucleotides, vectors, and/or cells as described above can be used in methods of enhancing the removal of tumor cells in vivo (e.g., in a method of treating cancer in a subject).
• a method of modulating e.g., inhibiting, reducing, preventing
• the method comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) in an amount effective to modulate tumor growth in the subject.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• Tumor refers to any neoplastic cell growth or proliferation, whether malignant or benign, and to all pre- cancerous and cancerous cells and tissues.
• cancer and “cancerous” refer to or describe the physiological condition in mammals that is typically characterized by unregulated cell growth.
• cancers include, but are not limited to: breast cancer, colon cancer, renal cancer, lung cancer, squamous cell myeloid leukemia, hemangiomas, melanomas, astrocytomas, and glioblastomas as well as other cellular- proliferative disease states, including but not limited to: Cardiac: sarcoma (angiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, liposarcoma), myxoma, rhabdomyoma, fibroma, lipoma and teratoma; Lung: bronchogenic carcinoma (squamous cell, undifferentiated small cell, undifferentiated large cell, adenocarcinoma), alveolar (bronchiolar) carcinoma, bronchial adenoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, chondromatous hanlartoma, inesothelioma; Gastrointestinal: esophagus
• “Enhancing” tumor cell removal does not require a 100% enhancement of removal. Any enhancement in the rate of removal is contemplated.
• “modulating” tumor growth refers to reducing the size of the tumor, slowing tumor growth, or inhibiting an increase in the size of an existing tumor. Complete abolition of a tumor is not required; any decrease in tumor size or slowing of tumor growth constitutes a beneficial biological effect in a subject.
• tumor cell removal may be enhanced by, for example, at least about 5%, at least about 10% or at least about 20% compared to levels of removal observed in the absence of the method (e.g., in a biologically-matched control subject or specimen that is not exposed to the agent of the method).
• the effect is detected by, for example, a reduction in tumor size, a decrease or maintenance of the levels of tumor markers, or reduction or maintenance of a tumor cell population.
• removal of tumor cells is enhanced by, for example, at least about 30%, at least about 40%, at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%, or more (about 100%) compared to the removal of tumor cells in the absence of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) of the method.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• PD-L1 binding agents may be used to alleviate or reduce side effects associated with cancer such as, for example, bone deterioration, vertebral collapse, and paralysis.
• the subject suffers from or is at risk of suffering from bone metastases and a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) is administered in an amount to reduce deterioration of surrounding bone.
• a PD-L1 binding agent prevents bone deterioration due to bone metastases, wherein tumor cell proliferation is or is not reduced.
• a PD-L1 binding agent both prevents bone deterioration due to bone metastases and reduces tumor cell proliferation.
• the effect on tumor cell proliferation depends on the microenvironment of a particular metastasis. For example, proliferation of metastases located in microenvironments with substantial amounts of type 1 collagen may be inhibited. In contrast, proliferation of metastases located in microenvironments lacking substantial amounts of type 1 collagen may not be inhibited, yet bone deterioration in the vicinity of the metastasis is reduced or prevented.
• a particular administration regimen of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) for a particular subject will depend, in part, upon the agent used, the amount of agent administered, the route of administration, and the cause and extent of any side effects.
• the amount of agent (e.g., an antibody) administered to a subject should be sufficient to effect the desired response over a reasonable time frame.
• the amount of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) or pharmaceutical composition described herein administered to a subject is an effective amount.
• the amount of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) or pharmaceutical composition described herein administered to a subject is a therapeutically effective amount.
• the method comprises administering, e.g., from about 0.1 pg/kg to up to about 100 mg/kg or more.
• the dosage ranges from about 1 pg/kg up to about 100 mg/kg; or about 5 pg/kg up to about 100 mg/kg; or about 10 pg/kg up to about 100 mg/kg; or about 1 mg/kg up to about 50 mg/kg; or about 2 mg/kg up to about 30 mg/kg; or about 3 mg/kg up to about 25 mg/kg; or about 3 mg/kg up to about 25 mg/kg; or about 5 mg/kg up to about 10 mg/kg; or about 10 mg/kg up to about 20 mg/kg; or about 10 mg/kg up to about 30 mg/kg.
• Some conditions or disease states require prolonged treatment, which may or may not entail administering doses of PD-L1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies), including human PD-L1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies), over multiple administrations (e.g., every day, three times a week, once a week, once every two weeks, or once every month for a treatment period of three days, seven days, two weeks, three weeks, one month, three months, six months, nine months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months, two years, or more).
• PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• human PD-L1 binding agents e.g., antibodies
• multiple administrations e.g., every day, three times a week, once a week, once every two weeks, or once every month for a treatment period of three days, seven days, two weeks, three weeks, one month, three months, six months, nine months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months, two years, or more).
• Suitable routes of administering a composition comprising a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a particular route can provide a more immediate and more effective reaction than another route.
• a composition comprising a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD-L1 binding agent such as a human PD-L1 binding agent is applied or instilled into body cavities, absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes, ingested, inhaled, and/or introduced into circulation.
• a composition comprising a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), such as a human PD-L1 binding agent, through injection by intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intracerebral (intra-parenchymal), intracerebroventricular, intramuscular, intra-ocular, intraarterial, intraportal, intralesional, intramedullary, intrathecal, intraventricular, transdermal, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intranasal, enteral, topical, sublingual, urethral, vaginal, or rectal means, by sustained release systems, or by implantation devices.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent is administered regionally via intraarterial or intravenous administration feeding the region of interest, e.g., via the hepatic artery for delivery to the liver.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD-L1 binding agent is administered locally via implantation of a membrane, sponge, or another appropriate material on to which the binding agent has been absorbed or encapsulated.
• the device is, one aspect, implanted into any suitable tissue or organ, and delivery of a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), such as a human PD-L1 binding agent, is, for example, via diffusion, timed-release bolus, or continuous administration.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a PD-L1 binding agent is administered directly to exposed tissue during tumor resection or other surgical procedures.
• compositions such as pharmaceutical composition, comprising a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) such as a human PD-L1 binding agent and a carrier (e.g., a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier).
• a carrier e.g., a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier
• the particular carrier employed may depend on chemico-physical considerations, such as solubility and lack of reactivity with the binding agent or co-therapy, and by the route of administration.
• Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are well-known in the art, examples of which are described herein.
• Illustrative pharmaceutical forms suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersions.
• a pharmaceutical composition comprising a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) such as a human PD-L1 binding agent is, in one aspect, placed within containers, along with packaging material that provides instructions regarding the use of such pharmaceutical compositions.
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• a human PD-L1 binding agent is, in one aspect, placed within containers, along with packaging material that provides instructions regarding the use of such pharmaceutical compositions.
• a method described herein further comprises administering one or more additional agents, including therapeutic agents, which may be present in a composition or may be administered with a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), such as a human PD-L1 binding agent, or provided in a separate composition using the same or a different route of administration.
• additional agents including therapeutic agents, which may be present in a composition or may be administered with a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody), such as a human PD-L1 binding agent, or provided in a separate composition using the same or a different route of administration.
• the one or more additional agents may be administered (e.g., for combination therapy) together or separately (e.g., simultaneously, alternatively, sequencially) with a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., antibody).
• additional therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, therapeutic antibodies, immunotherapies and immunotherapeutic agents, cytotoxic agents, chemotherapeutic agents, and inhibitors.
• Therapeutic antibodies that can be used with a PD-L1 binding agent include, but are not limited to, trastuzumab; abciximab; daclizumab; BEC2; IMC-C22; vitaxin; Campath 1 H/LDP-03; Smart M195; epratuzumab; bectumomab; visilizumab; CM3, a humanized anti-ICAM3 antibody; IDEC-I 14; ibritumomab tiuxetan; IDEC-131 ; IDEC-151 ; IDEC-152; SMART anti-CD3; eculizumab; adalimumab; certolizumab; IDEC-I 51 ; MDX-CD4; CD20- sreptdavidin; CDP571 ; LDP-02; OrthoClone OKT4A; r
• Immunotherapies and immunotherapeutic agents that can be used with a PD- L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) as described herein (e.g., for combination therapy) include, but are not limited to, cytokines, such as granulocyte- macrophage colonystimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-I -alpha, interleukins (including IL-I, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, IL-21 , and IL-27), tumor necrosis factors (including TNF- alpha), and interferons (including IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, and IFN-gamma); aluminum hydroxide (alum); Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG); Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH); Incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IF A);
• the immunotherapy includes an immunotherapeutic agent that modulates immune responses, for example, a checkpoint inhibitor or a checkpoint agonist.
• the immunotherapeutic agent is an antibody modulator that targets PD-1 , PD-L1 , PD-L2, CEACAM (e g., CEACAM-I, -3 and/or -5), CTLA-4, TIM-3, LAG-3, VISTA, BTLA, TIGIT, LAIR1 , CD160, 2B4, TGF beta, 0X40, 41 BB, LIGHT, CD40, GITR, TGF-beta, TIM-3, SIRP-alpha, VSIG8, BTLA, SIGLEC7, SIGLEC9, ICOS, B7H3, B7H4, FAS, and/or BTNL2 among others known in the art.
• CEACAM e g., CEACAM-I, -3 and/or -5
• CTLA-4 e g., CEACAM-I, -3 and/or
• the immunotherapeutic agent is an agent that increases natural killer (NK) cell activity. In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agent is an agent that inhibits suppression of an immune response. In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agent is an agent that inhibits suppressor cells or suppressor cell activity. In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agent is an agent or therapy that inhibits Treg activity. In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agent is an agent that inhibits the activity of inhibitory immune checkpoint receptors.
• the immunotherapeutic agent includes a T cell modulator chosen from an agonist or an activator of a costimulatory molecule.
• the agonist of the costimulatory molecule is chosen from an agonist (e.g., an agonistic antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, or a soluble fusion) of GITR, 0X40, ICOS, SLAM (e.g., SLAMF7), HVEM, LIGHT, CD2, CD27, CD28, CDS, ICAM-I, LFA-I (CD1 la/CDI8), ICOS (CD278), 4-1 BB (CD137), CD30, CD40, BAFFR, CD7, NKG2C, NKp80, CD160, B7-H3, or CD83 ligand.
• the effector cell combination includes a bispecific T cell engager (e.g., a bispecific antibody molecule that binds to CD3 and a tumor antigen (e.g., EGFR, PSCA, PSMA, EpCAM, HER2 among others).
• a bispecific T cell engager e.g., a bispecific antibody molecule that binds to CD3 and a tumor antigen (e.g., EGFR, PSCA, PSMA, EpCAM, HER2 among others.
• a tumor antigen e.g., EGFR, PSCA, PSMA, EpCAM, HER2 among others.
• Cytotoxic agents that can be used with a PD-L1 binding agent include a substance that inhibits or prevents a cellular function and/or causes cell death or destruction.
• cytotoxic agents include, but are not limited to, radioactive isotopes (e.g., At211 , 1131 , 1125, Y90, Re186, Re188, Sm153, Bi212, P32, Pb212 and radioactive isotopes of Lu); growth inhibitory agents; enzymes and fragments thereof such as nucleolytic enzymes; and toxins such as small molecule toxins or enzymatically active toxins of bacterial, fungal, plant or animal origin, including fragments and/or variants thereof.
• radioactive isotopes e.g., At211 , 1131 , 1125, Y90, Re186, Re188, Sm153, Bi212, P32, Pb212 and radioactive isotopes of Lu
• growth inhibitory agents e.g., enzymes and fragments thereof such as nucleolytic enzymes
• toxins such as small molecule toxins or enzymatically active toxins of bacterial, fungal, plant or animal origin, including fragments and/or
• exemplary cytotoxic agents can be selected from anti-microtubule agents, platinum coordination complexes, alkylating agents, antibiotic agents, topoisomerase II inhibitors, antimetabolites, topoisomerase I inhibitors, hormones and hormonal analogues, signal transduction pathway inhibitors, non-receptor tyrosine kinase angiogenesis inhibitors, immunotherapeutic agents, proapoptotic agents, inhibitors of LDH-A; inhibitors of fatty acid biosynthesis; cell cycle signaling inhibitors; HDAC inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors; and inhibitors of cancer metabolism.
• Chemotherapeutic agents that can be used with a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) as described herein (e.g., for combination therapy) include chemical compounds useful in the treatment of cancer.
• chemotherapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, erlotinib, bortezomib, disulfiram, epigallocatechin gallate, salinosporamide A, carfilzomib, I7-AAG (geldanamycin), radicicol, lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A), fulvestrant, sunitib, letrozole, imatinib mesylate, fmasunate, oxaliplatin, 5-FET (5-fluorouracil), leucovorin, Rapamycin, Lapatinib, Lonafamib (SCH 66336), sorafenib, Bayer Labs), gefitinib, AG1478; alkylating agents such as
• dynemicin including dynemicin A; bisphosphonates, such as clodronate; an esperamicin; as well as neocarzinostatin chromophore and related chromoprotein enediyne antibiotic chromophores), aclacinomysins, actinomycin, authramycin, azaserine, bleomycins, cactinomycin, carabicin, caminomycin, carzinophilin, chromomycinis, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, detorubicin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L- norleucine, doxorubicin, morpholino-doxorubicin, cyanomorpholino- doxorubicin, 2-pyrrolino- doxorubicin and deoxydoxorubicin), epirubicin, esorubicin,
• Chemotherapeutic agent also includes (i) anti-hormonal agents that act to regulate or inhibit hormone action on tumors such as anti-estrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), including, for example, tamoxifen (including tamoxifen citrate), raloxifene, droloxifene, iodoxyfene, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, trioxifene, keoxifene, LY117018, onapristone, and toremifme citrate; (ii) aromatase inhibitors that inhibit the enzyme aromatase, which regulates estrogen production in the adrenal glands, such as, for example, 4(5)-imidazoles, aminoglutethimide, megestrol acetate, exemestane, formestanie, fadrozole, vorozole, letrozole, and anastrozole; (iii) antiandrogens such as flutamide, nilutamide, bical
• Chemotherapeutic agents also include antibodies, as described above, including alemtuzumab, bevacizumab; cetuximab; panitumumab, rituximab, pertuzumab, tositumomab, and the antibody drug conjugate, gemtuzumab ozogamicin.
• Additional humanized monoclonal antibodies with therapeutic potential as agents in combination with PD-L1 binding agents include: apolizumab, aselizumab, atlizumab, bapineuzumab, bivatuzumab mertansine, cantuzumab mertansine, cedelizumab, certolizumab pegol, cidfusituzumab, cidtuzumab, daclizumab, eculizumab, efalizumab, epratuzumab, erlizumab, felvizumab, fontolizumab, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, inotuzumab ozogamicin, ipilimumab, labetuzumab, lintuzumab, matuzumab, mepolizumab, motavizumab, motovizumab, natalizumab,
• Chemotherapeutic agents also include dexamethasone, interferons, colchicine, metoprine, cyclosporine, amphotericin, metronidazole, alemtuzumab, alitretinoin, allopurinol, amifostine, arsenic trioxide, asparaginase, BCG live, bevacuzimab, bexarotene, cladribine, clofarabine, darbepoetin alfa, denileukin, dexrazoxane, epoetin alfa, elotinib, filgrastim, histrelin acetate, ibritumomab, interferon alfa-2a, interferon alfa-2b, lenalidomide, levamisole, mesna, methoxsalen, nandrolone, nelarabine, nofetumomab, oprelvekin,
• Chemotherapeutic agents also include hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate, cortisone acetate, tixocortol pivalate, triamcinolone acetonide, triamcinolone alcohol, mometasone, amcinonide, budesonide, desonide, fluocinonide, fluocinolone acetonide, betamethasone, betamethasone sodium phosphate, dexamethasone, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, fluocortolone, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate, hydrocortisone- 17-valerate, aclometasone dipropionate, betamethasone valerate, betamethasone dipropionate, prednicarbate, clobetasone-l 7-butyrate, clobetasol-l 7- propionate, fluocortolone caproate, fluocortolone pivalate and flupredni
• celecoxib or etoricoxib include proteosome inhibitor (e.g. PS341 ); CCI-779; tipifamib (R11577); orafenib, ABT510; Bcl- 2 inhibitor such as oblimersen sodium pixantrone; farnesyltransferase inhibitors such as lonafamib (SCH 6636); and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the above; as well as combinations of two or more of the above such as CHOP, an abbreviation for a combined therapy of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone; and FOLFOX, an abbreviation for a treatment regimen with oxaliplatin combined with 5-FU and leucovorin.
• proteosome inhibitor e.g. PS341
• CCI-779 tipifamib (R11577); orafenib, ABT510
• Bcl- 2 inhibitor such as
• Chemotherapeutic agents also include Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors: olaparib, rucaprib niraparib, talzoparib.
• PARP Poly ADP ribose polymerase
• Inhibitors that can be used with a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) as described herein (e.g., for combination therapy) include, but are not limited to, kinase inhibitors such as imatinib, baricitinib gefitinib, erlotinib, sorafenib, dasatinib, sunitinib, lapatinib, nilotinib, pirfenidone, pazopanib, crizotinib, vemurafenib, vandetanib, ruxolitinib, axitinib, bosutinib, regorafenib,
• a compound as described herein can be used in combination with a HSP90 inhibitor (e.g., XL888), liver X receptor (LXR) modulators, retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma (RORy) modulators, checkpoint inhibitors such as a CK1 inhibitor or aCK1 a inhibitor, a Wnt pathway inhibitor (e.g. , SST-215), or a mineralocorticoid receptor inhibitor, (e.g., esaxerenone) or XL-888 for the treatment of a disease disclosed herein such as cancer.
• HSP90 inhibitor e.g., XL888
• LXR liver X receptor
• RORy retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma
• checkpoint inhibitors such as a CK1 inhibitor or aCK1 a inhibitor
• Wnt pathway inhibitor e.g. , SST-215
• mineralocorticoid receptor inhibitor e.g., esaxeren
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• inhibitors that can be used with a PD-L1 binding agent (e.g., an antibody) as described hereine.g. for treatment of cancer (e.g., for combination therapy) include an FGFR inhibitor (FGFR1 , FGFR2, FGFR3 or FGFR4, e.g., pemigatinib, an EGFR inhibitor (also known as ErB-1 or HER-1 ; e.g.
• VEGFR inhibitor or pathway blocker e.g., bevacizumab, pazopanib, sunitinib, sorafenib, axitinib, regorafenib, ponatinib, vandetanib, ramucirumab, lenvatinib, ziv-aflibercept
• PARP inhibitor e.g.
• olaparib rucaparib, veliparib or niraparib
• a JAK inhibitor e.g., ruxolitinib, baricitinib, itacitinib
• an IDO inhibitor e.g.
• epacadostat NLG919, or BMS- 986205, MK7162
• an LSD1 inhibitor an LSD1 inhibitor
• a TDO inhibitor a PI3K-delta inhibitor (e.g., parsaclisib), a PI3K-gamma inhibitor such as PI3K-gamma selective inhibitor, a Pim inhibitor, a CSF1 R inhibitor, a TAM receptor tyrosine kinases (Tyro-3, Axl, and Mer), an adenosine receptor antagonist (e.g., A2a/A2b receptor antagonist), an HPK1 inhibitor, a chemokine receptor inhibitor (e.g.
• HDAC histone deacetylase inhibitor
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• inhibitors of PD-1 or inhibitors of PD-L1 e.g., an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody or an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, for example, nivolumab (Opdivo), pembrolizumab (Keytruda, MK-3475), atezolizumab, avelumab, cemiplimab, spartalizumab, camrelizumab, cetrelimab, toripalimab, sintilimab, AB122, JTX-4014, BGB-108, BCD-100, BAT1306, LZM009, AK105, HLX10, and TSR-042, AMP-224, AMP- 514, PDR001 , durvalumab, pidilizumab (Imfinzi®
• a PD-L1 binding agent e.g., an antibody
• CTLA-4 inhibitors e.g., an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, for example, ipilimumab (Yervoy), tremelimumab and AGEN1884, or with phosphatidylserine inhibitors, for example, bavituximab (PGN401 ), or with antibodies to cytokines (IL-10, TGF-b, and the like), or with bispecific antibodies that bind to PD-L1 and CTLA-4 (e.g., AK104) or PD-1 and CTLA-4, or with other anti-cancer agents such as cemiplimab.
• CTLA-4 inhibitors e.g., an anti-CTLA-4 antibody
• ipilimumab Yervoy
• tremelimumab and AGEN1884 phosphatidylserine inhibitors
• phosphatidylserine inhibitors for example, bavituximab (PG
• the additional agent may be a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, hydrate, and/or prodrug of any of these therapeutic agents described above or other agents.
• binders for human PD-L1 antibody discovery was conducted by phage display of human Fab libraries was carried out using standard protocols.
• the extracellular domain of human PD-L1 was purchased from Aero Biosystems (human PD-L1-His tag Aero Cat. No. PD1 H5229, biotinylated human PD-L1-His Avitag Aero Cat. No. PDL- H82E4).
• the non-biotinylated extracellular domain of PD-L1 was biotinylated using EZ-Link NHS-PEGi2-Biotin (ThermoScientific Cat. No. 21312) using standard protocol as needed.
• Phage clones were screened for the ability to bind to biotinylated human PD-L1 by phage ELISA using standard protocols. Briefly, Fab- formatted phage libraries were constructed using expression vectors capable of replication and expression in phage (also referred to as a phagemid). Both the heavy chain and the light chain were encoded in the same expression vector, where the heavy chain was fused to a truncated variant of the phage coat protein pill. The light chain and heavy chain-pill fusion were expressed as separate polypeptides and assembled in the bacterial periplasm, where the redox potential enables disulfide bond formation, to form the antigen binding domain (Fab) of the candidate antibody.
• Fab antigen binding domain
• the library was created using sequences derived from a specific human heavy chain variable domain (VH3-23) and a specific human light chain variable domain (Vk-1). Light chain variable domains within the screened library were generated with diversity was introduced into the VL CDR3 (L3) and where the light chain VL CDR1 (L1 ) and CDR2 (L2) remained the human germline sequence. For the screened library, all three CDRs of the VH domain were diversified to match the positional amino acid frequency by CDR length found in the human antibody repertoire.
• phage display heavy chain (SEQ ID NO:92) and light chain (SEQ ID NO:93) scaffolds used in the library are listed below, where a lower case “x” represents CDR amino acids that were varied to create the library, and bold italic represents the CDR sequences that were constant.
• SEQ ID NO:92 The sequence for SEQ ID NO:92 was EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSXXXXWVRQAPGKGLEWVAXXXXXXX XXXXXXRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWG QGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSG VHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSWTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSC.
• SEQ ID NO:93 was DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQSVSSAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASSLYSGV PSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCXXXXXXXFGQGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIF PPSDSQLKSGTASWCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSL SSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC.
• Phage panning was performed using standard procedures. Briefly, the first round of phage panning was performed with target immobilized on streptavidin magnetic beads which were subjected to approximately 1x10 12 phages from the prepared library in a volume of 1 mL in PBST-2% BSA. After a one-hour incubation, the bead-bound phage were separated from the supernatant using a magnetic stand.
• phage were washed three times to remove non-specifically bound phage and were then added to ER2738 cells (5 mL) at ODeoo of approximately 0.6. After 20 minutes incubation at room temperature, infected cells were sub-cultured in 25 mL 2xYT + Ampicillin and M13K07 helper phage (final concentration of approximately 1x10 10 pfu/ml) and allowed to grow overnight at 37 °C with vigorous shaking. The next day, phage were prepared using standard procedures by PEG precipitation. Pre-clearance of phage specific to SAV-coated beads was performed prior to panning.
• the second round of panning was performed using the KingFisher magnetic bead handler with 50 or 25 nM bead-immobilized PD-L1 antigen using standard procedures (50 nM PD-L1 for round 3, 25 nM PD-L1 for round 4).
• 3-4 rounds of phage panning were performed to enrich in phage displaying Fabs specific for the target antigen.
• Targetspecific enrichment was confirmed using polyclonal ELISA and individual clones were isolated and further verified by performing monoclonal phage ELISA.
• DNA sequencing was used to determine the sequence of the CDRs of isolated Fab clones containing a candidate antibodies.
• the genes encoding heavy chain and light chain variable domains of the candidate antibodies were cloned separately into mammalian expression vectors for expression as full length IgGs in mammalian cells.
• CH1 regular text
• Hinge italicized text
• CH2 bold text
• CH3 underline text
• the light chain constant region (e.g., CL) included the following amino acid sequence:
• the IgG antibodies were purified from culture supernatant using Protein A resin.
• Antibodies to PD-L1 were generated by phage display, for example, such as described in Example 1.
• bio-layer interferometry BBI was used to confirm the specific interaction of the antigens to the candidate antibodies obtained from Example 1.
• the sensor was dipped into buffer solution that did not contain the analyte, where the bound analyte on the surface of the sensor was allowed to dissociate.
• Octet kinetic analysis software was used to calculate the kinetic and equilibrium binding constants from the rate of association and dissociation curves. The analysis was performed using global curve fit where kinetic constants were derived simultaneously from all analyte concentration included in the experiment.
• Results show that 24 antibodies showed strong binding affinity (P1 , P2, P3, P4, P5, P9, P10, P18, P19, P21 , P22, P24, P26, P31.2, P33, P34, P35, P36, P38, P39, P45, P47, P53 and P54), 12 antibodies showed moderate cell binding affinities (P6, P12, P17, P23, P28, P30, P37, P40, P41 , P44, P46 and P49 ), and 9 antibodies showed weak cell binding affinities (P20, P25, P27, P29, P32, P43, P51 , P52, and P55).
• FIGs. 1A-1 C Exemplary sensograms for monovalent antibody binding are shown in FIGs. 1A-1 C.
• Qualitative PD-L1 binding and monovalent KD results are shown in Table 5.
• KD values are listed and strong binding, ⁇ 2E-08 M ( ⁇ 20 nM), is indicated by the symbol “+++”, moderate binding, 2E-08 - 2E-07 M (20 - 200 nM), is indicated by “++”, and weak binding, > 2E-07 M (> 200 nM), is indicated “ND” indicates that antibody binding was not determined.
• Results indicate that 8 antibodies showed strong binding (P2, P6, P9, P10, P22, P24, P31.2 and P39), 7 antibodies showed moderate binding (P21 , P23, P34, P35, P36, P45, and P47), 5 antibodies showed weak binding (P18, P26, P28, P30, and P54), and 2 antibodies showed no binding P7 and P8). No binding was detected for P7 and P8.
• Binding to mouse PD-L1 was characterized by assessing cell binding to mouse cells. Specifically, binding of the antibodies to mouse cells was determined by flow cytometry. Antibodies were incubated with the indicated cell lines at the indicated concentrations followed by labeling with a fluorescently labeled secondary antibody.
• Mouse PD-L1 was obtained from Aero Biosystems (Aero Cat. No. PD1- M5220) and biotinylated using standard protocols. The free biotin was removed by extensive dialysis against PBS. Biotinylated antigen (PD-L1 ) was immobilized on a streptavidin sensor. The cross-reactive antibodies were identified by the association to mouse PD-L1 using Octet.
• Mouse cross-reactivity results are shown in Table 6. Mouse cross-reactivity is indicated with a “Y,” and no mouse cross-reactivity is indicated with a “X.” Antibody cross-reactivity that was not determined is indicated with a “ND.”
• Antibodies that were selected for binding to PD-L1 were evaluated for binding to cells that express PD-L1 .
• antibodies were tested using flow cytometry for binding to PD-L1 overexpressing CHO-K1 cells (BPS Bioscience PD-L1/TCR Activator - CHO line, catalog No. 30536), which have a surface PD-L1 copy number of approximately 674,000.
• Cells were harvested at 70-90% confluence on the day of the assay. Cells were collected by centrifugation at 200xg for 5 minutes and media was removed. Cells were resuspended at 2x10 6 cells per mL in cold PBS. An 8-point antibody dilution series (2x concentration) was prepared in PBS to cover the expected binding affinities of the antibodies being tested. 50 pL per well of the antibody dilution was plated in a 96 well V-bottom plate (Costar 3897). 50 pL per well of cell suspension was added. Plates were placed at 4°C for 45-60 minutes. [00235] Cells were collected by centrifugation at 400xg for 7 minutes and primary antibody was removed. 50 pL per well of AF488 goat anti human IgG Fab (Jackson Immuno Research 109-547-003) at 1 :100 dilution was added. Plates were placed at 4°C for 30 minutes.
• FIGs. 2A-2C Exemplary binding curves are depicted in FIGs. 2A-2C.
• Qualitative binding affinity to cells and half maximal effective concentration (ECso) of cell binding for the assayed antibodies are summarized in Table 7.
• ECso half maximal effective concentration
• results show that 29 antibodies showed strong cell binding affinity (P2, P3, P6, P7, P8, P9, P10, P11 , P12, P13, P14, P18, P19, P21 , P22, P23, P24, P26, P28, P31.2, P34, P35, P36, P37, P38, P39, P45, P47, and P54), and 21 antibodies showed weak binding (P1 , P4, P5, P15, P17, P27, P29, P30, P32, P33, P40, P41 , P42, P43, P46, P49, P50, P51 , P52, P53, and P55).
• Antibodies that were selected for binding to PD-L1 were evaluated for inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling in PD-L1 overexpressing CHO-K1 cells.
• FIGs. 3A-3C Exemplary results of the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint signaling assay in PD-L1 MDA-MB-231 cells are shown in FIGs. 3A-3C.
• ICso values for the assay in are shown in Table 3. Strong blocking, ⁇ 2E-08 M ( ⁇ 20 nM), is indicated by the symbol “+++”, moderate blocking, 2E-08 - 2E-07 M (20 - 200 nM), is indicated by “++”, and weak blocking, > 2E-07 M (> 200 nM), is indicated by “ND” indicates that interaction blocking was not determined.
• Results show that 15 antibodies had strong blocking of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction (P2, P7, P8, P18, P22, P24, P26, P28, P31.2, P34, P35, P36, P39, P45, and P47), 11 antibodies had moderate blocking (P3, P6, P9, P10, P15, P21 , P23, P30, P37, P41 , and P54). Other tested antibodies had weak blocking. “Low blocking” and “no blocking,” indicate that IC50 was not determined due to low or undetectable blocking in the assay.
• Antibodies that were selected for binding to PD-L1 were tested in various developability methods.
• various chromatographic methods including size exclusion chromatography (SEC), hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), and standup monolayer adsorption chromatography (SMAC) were employed to assess developability factors, such as monomer percentage, solubility, and antibody aggregation or precipitation.
• Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis was performed using a 7.8 mm ID x 30 cm TSKgel G3000SWXL column (Tosoh Bioscience LLC, PN 08541 ) on an Agilent 1100 HPLC.
• Antibodies were normalized to 1 mg/mL concentration in Dulbecco’s PBS (pH 7.4, without Ca2+/Mg2+) and clarified via centrifugation to pellet particulates while still retaining soluble aggregates.
• the mobile phase buffer was Dulbecco’s PBS (pH 7.4, without Ca2+/Mg2+). For each sample, 10 pL was loaded and isocratically eluted at 1 .0 mL/min over 20 minutes.
• FIGs. 4A-4C Exemplary SEC results are shown in FIGs. 4A-4C and summarized in Table 9. Strong developability is indicated by the symbol “+++”, moderate developability is indicated by the symbol “++”, and weak developability is indicated by the symbol “++”. “ND” indicates that developability using SEC was not determined. Results show that 2 antibodies, P11 and P26, had weak developability based on the SEC assay, while all other antibodies tested had strong or moderate developability. Results indicate low antibody aggregation and strong developability based on SEC results for most tested antibodies.
• HIC Hydrophobic interaction chromatography
• FIGs. 5A-5C Exemplary HIC results are shown in FIGs. 5A-5C and summarized in Table 10. Strong developability is indicated by the symbol “+++”, moderate developability is indicated by the symbol and weak developability is indicated by the symbol “++”.
• ND indicates that developability was not determined using HIC.
• Results show that 23 antibodies had strong developability based on HIC results (P2, P4, P6, P7, P9, P11 , P14, P15, P16, P21 , P22, P23, P24, P28, P30, P31.2, P34, P35, P36, P37, P39, P45, and P47), 8 antibodies had moderate developability (P3, P8, P10, P12, P13, P17, P18, and P54), and 3 antibodies had weak developability (P1 , P5, and P26).
• Antibody hydrophobicity can impact antibody aggregation, solubility and viscosity. Results indicate a low propensity for aggregation and precipitation of these antibodies.
• Standup monolayer adsorption chromatography (SMAC) analysis was performed using a 4.6 mm ID x 300 mm Zenix SEC 300 column (Sepax Technologies, PN 213300P-4630) on an Agilent 1100 HPLC.
• Antibodies were normalized to 1 mg/mL concentration in dPBS (pH 7.4) and clarified via centrifugation to pellet particulates.
• the mobile phase buffer was dPBS (pH 7.4, without calcium and magnesium). For each sample, 10 pL was loaded and isocratically eluted at 0.25 mL/min over 32 min.
• 14 tested antibodies had good retention times, indicating colloidal stability and low propensity to aggregate (P4, P6, P9, P11 , P14, P15, P16, P21 , P24, P30, P31.2, P34, P35, and P45), 6 antibodies had moderate developability (P8, P12, P17, P22, P36, and P39), and 14 antibodies had weak developability based on SMAC (P1 , P2, P3, P5, P7, P10, P13, P18, P23, P26, P28, P37, P47, and P54).
• the UNcle analytical instrument (Unchained Labs) was employed to assess the biostability of antibodies using multiple assays. Stability analysis of engineered antibody variants was evaluated by measuring the Polydispersity Index (PDI), Hydrodynamic Diameter (Z-ave D), Melting Temperature (Tm), and Aggregation Temperature (Tagg).
• PDI Polydispersity Index
• Z-ave D Hydrodynamic Diameter
• Tm Melting Temperature
• Tg Aggregation Temperature
• Antibodies were assayed at concentrations ranging from to 1-20 mg/mL formulated in Dulbecco’s PBS (pH 7.4, without Ca 2 7Mg 2+ ) and clarified via centrifugation to pellet large particulates while still retaining soluble aggregates.
• Samples were aliquoted into UNcle's 9 pL quartz capillary cuvette device (Uni) and sealed. PDI and hydrodynamic diameter were measured by DLS at 15°C. The temperature was ramped from 15°C to 95°C at 0.5°C/min during which Tm and Tagg were measured by fluorescence and SLS (266 nm, filter 4; 473 nm, filter 3), respectively.
• Data were analyzed using UNcle Analysis Software v 3.1 or v 3.2.
• Exemplary biostability results are shown in Table 12.

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