WO2023227660A1 - Nectin-4 binding agents - Google Patents

Nectin-4 binding agents Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023227660A1
WO2023227660A1 PCT/EP2023/063912 EP2023063912W WO2023227660A1 WO 2023227660 A1 WO2023227660 A1 WO 2023227660A1 EP 2023063912 W EP2023063912 W EP 2023063912W WO 2023227660 A1 WO2023227660 A1 WO 2023227660A1
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Prior art keywords
antibody
nectin
optionally
amino acid
linker
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PCT/EP2023/063912
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Manel KRAIEM
Stéphanie CHANTEUX
Benjamin Rossi
Laurent Gauthier
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Innate Pharma SA
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Innate Pharma SA
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Priority to CN202380039589.3A priority Critical patent/CN119233994A/zh
Priority to EP23729061.4A priority patent/EP4532020A1/en
Priority to US18/867,898 priority patent/US20250297004A1/en
Priority to IL316140A priority patent/IL316140A/en
Priority to AU2023276860A priority patent/AU2023276860A1/en
Priority to KR1020247037990A priority patent/KR20250017209A/ko
Application filed by Innate Pharma SA filed Critical Innate Pharma SA
Priority to JP2024569253A priority patent/JP2025517476A/ja
Priority to CA3245954A priority patent/CA3245954A1/en
Publication of WO2023227660A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023227660A1/en
Priority to MX2024014288A priority patent/MX2024014288A/es
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/68—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. an Fc-fragment
    • A61K47/6801—Drug-antibody or immunoglobulin conjugates defined by the pharmacologically or therapeutically active agent
    • A61K47/6803—Drugs conjugated to an antibody or immunoglobulin, e.g. cisplatin-antibody conjugates
    • A61K47/68037—Drugs conjugated to an antibody or immunoglobulin, e.g. cisplatin-antibody conjugates the drug being a camptothecin [CPT] or derivatives
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/68—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. an Fc-fragment
    • A61K47/6835—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. an Fc-fragment the modifying agent being an antibody or an immunoglobulin bearing at least one antigen-binding site
    • A61K47/6849—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. an Fc-fragment the modifying agent being an antibody or an immunoglobulin bearing at least one antigen-binding site the antibody targeting a receptor, a cell surface antigen or a cell surface determinant
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/68—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. an Fc-fragment
    • A61K47/6835—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. an Fc-fragment the modifying agent being an antibody or an immunoglobulin bearing at least one antigen-binding site
    • A61K47/6851—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. an Fc-fragment the modifying agent being an antibody or an immunoglobulin bearing at least one antigen-binding site the antibody targeting a determinant of a tumour cell
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/68—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. an Fc-fragment
    • A61K47/6889—Conjugates wherein the antibody being the modifying agent and wherein the linker, binder or spacer confers particular properties to the conjugates, e.g. peptidic enzyme-labile linkers or acid-labile linkers, providing for an acid-labile immuno conjugate wherein the drug may be released from its antibody conjugated part in an acidic, e.g. tumoural or environment
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
    • C07K2317/24—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin containing regions, domains or residues from different species, e.g. chimeric, humanized or veneered
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/30—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by aspects of specificity or valency
    • C07K2317/33—Crossreactivity, e.g. for species or epitope, or lack of said crossreactivity
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/30—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by aspects of specificity or valency
    • C07K2317/34—Identification of a linear epitope shorter than 20 amino acid residues or of a conformational epitope defined by amino acid residues
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/50—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments
    • C07K2317/56—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments variable (Fv) region, i.e. VH and/or VL
    • C07K2317/567—Framework region [FR]
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/70—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by effect upon binding to a cell or to an antigen
    • C07K2317/77—Internalization into the cell
    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention also relates to cells producing such compounds, method of making such compounds, conjugates and method of making conjugates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, method of using such compounds to diagnose, treat or prevent diseases, e.g. cancer characterized by Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells.
  • BACKGROUND Nectin-4 is a surface molecule of the nectin proteins family that play a key role in various biological processes such as polarity, proliferation, differentiation and migration for epithelial, endothelial, immune and neuronal cells, during development and adult life.
  • Nectin- 4 was initially cloned from human trachea by the Lopez group in 2001 (see Reymond et al. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276(46):43205-15).
  • Nectins are the main receptors for polio, herpes simplex and measles viruses and are further involved in several pathological processes in humans. Nectin-4 is expressed at significantly higher levels in several tumors, and it is particularly over-expressed in breast cancer, including triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (See M-Rabet et al. Ann Oncol. 2017 Apr 1;28(4):769-776), pancreatic cancer and in Urothelial cancer. In addition, nectin-4 is also expressed in non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal cancer tumor specimens. Challita-Eid et al.
  • Nectin-4 was present in 86 (58%) of the 148 TNBC cases.
  • the detection of soluble forms of Nectin-4 is associated with a poor prognosis.
  • Levels of serum Nectin-4 increase during metastatic progression and decrease after treatment.
  • Enfortumab Vedotin (ASG-22ME) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Nectin-4 and is currently in clinical investigation for the treatment of patients suffering from solid tumors.
  • ADC antibody-drug conjugate
  • the work gave rise to the ADC drug candidate enfortumab vedotin see US Patent No. 8,637,642 and PCT publication No.
  • Bicycle Therapeutics has reported development of an anti-Nectin-4 targeting agent comprised of a Nectin-4 binding protein conjugated to a cytotoxic auristatin (MMAE) payload via a valine-citrulline (val-cit), cleavable linker.
  • MMAE cytotoxic auristatin
  • val-cit valine-citrulline
  • Enfortumab vedotin has shown impressive therapeutic responses with an ORR (objective response rate) of 44% and CR (complete response rate) of 12% in UC in the EV-201 Phase 2 study (2019), about half of the patients discontinued treatment. Most of the discontinuation was due to progressive disease as assessed by RECIST (48%) or clinical symptoms (5%). Also, 18% patients that discontinued experienced adverse events, notably neuropathy.
  • the Nectin-4- targeted ADCs therefore have limitations, and there is a need in the art for improved benefit to patients afflicted with UC and other cancers.
  • VH variable heavy
  • VL variable light domains for use in Nectin-4 binding proteins.
  • One object of the present disclosure is to provide an anti-Nectin-4 antibody, or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55 or 57 and a light chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 59, 61, 63 or 65.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 69 and a light chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 70.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising a CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 having the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 21, 22 and 23 respectively and framework FR1, FR2 and FR3 amino acid sequences from the human IGHV1-46*01 gene (and optionally further framework FR4 amino acid sequences from the human IGHJ4*01 gene); and a light chain variable region (VL) CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 having the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 24, 25 and 26 respectively, and framework FR1, FR2 and FR3 amino acid sequences from the human IGKV2-28*01 gene (and optionally further framework FR4 amino acid sequences from the human IGKJ4*01 gene).
  • VH heavy chain variable region
  • VL light chain variable region
  • the framework sequences from the particular human IGHV, IGHJ, IGKV and IGKJ genes may comprise one or more amino acid substitutions as further described herein.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable region that comprises one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight amino acid substitutions at a Kabat position selected from 28, 38, 40, 48, 69, 71, 73, 78.
  • the threonine residue at position 28 is substituted by an isoleucine residue.
  • the arginine residue at position 38 is substituted by a lysine residue.
  • the alanine residue at position 40 is substituted by an arginine residue.
  • the methionine residue at position 48 is substituted by an isoleucine residue.
  • the methionine residue at position 69 is substituted by a leucine residue.
  • the arginine residue at position 71 is substituted by a leucine residue.
  • the threonine residue at position 73 is substituted by a lysine residue.
  • the valine residue at position 78 is substituted by a threonine residue.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable region that comprises one, two, three or four amino acid substitutions at a kabat position selected from 2, 8, 11, 64.
  • the isoleucine residue at position 2 is substituted by a valine residue.
  • the proline residue at position 8 is substituted by an alanine residue.
  • the leucine residue at position 11 is substituted by an asparagine.
  • the glycine residue at position 64 is substituted by a serine residue.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody comprising a heavy chain having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 70%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 77; and a light chain having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 70%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 78.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47 and a light chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65.
  • a Nectin-4 binding protein that comprises an antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure, and optionally further an additional antigen- binding domain.
  • the antibody or antibody fragment can optionally be characterized as being monoclonal, humanized and/or in isolated form.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment binds the VC1 bridging domain of a Nectin-4 polypeptide.
  • the antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure is for use in preparation of an antibody drug conjugate (ADC).
  • the antibody of the disclosure is for use in (e.g., for use in a method of) reducing cell-cell adhesion between Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells, inhibiting a Nectin-4:Nectin-1 interaction, inhibiting a Nectin- 4:Nectin-4 interaction, reducing growth of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells and/or reducing cluster formation of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells.
  • an antibody drug conjugate comprising an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment, conjugated to a cytotoxic agent, optionally wherein the cytotoxic agent is conjugated to the antibody or antibody fragment via a linker, and optionally further wherein the linker or linker-toxin comprises any one of Formulae III to XIV.
  • the antibody drug conjugate comprises an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment connected to at least one cytotoxic drug moiety, wherein the antibody or antibody fragment comprises a heavy chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 69 and a light chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 70.
  • a heavy chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 70.
  • the antibody drug conjugate comprises (a) at least one antigen binding domain that binds to Nectin-4 polypeptide, said antigen binding domain comprising (i) a heavy chain variable region that has at least 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55 or 57 and (ii) a light chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 59, 61, 63 or 65; and (b) at least one cytotoxic drug moiety.
  • a heavy chain variable region that has at least 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the
  • the antibody drug conjugate comprises (a) an anti- Nectin-4 humanized antibody comprising (i) a heavy chain variable region that has at least 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 47, and (ii) a light chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 65.
  • the antibody e.g.
  • an antibody fragment that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide is capable of reducing cell-cell adhesion between Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells, and/or reducing growth and/or cluster formation of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells (as assessed, for example, using 3-dimensional or non-adherent tumor cell culture; tumor spheroid assays), for use in preparation of an antibody drug conjugate.
  • the antibody e.g.
  • an antibody fragment is capable of inhibiting a Nectin-4:Nectin-1 interaction and/or a Nectin-4:Nectin-4 interaction (e.g., the antibody is capable of reducing the interaction of Nectin-4 on a first cell with Nectin-1 and/or Nectin-4 on a second cell, optionally wherein the cell(s) is a tumor cell).
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment, or the antibody-drug conjugate comprising such antibody or fragment is capable, upon binding to Nectin-4 on the surface of a tumor cell, of undergoing intracellular internalization.
  • an antibody drug conjugate comprising conjugating an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment (e.g. an antibody or antibody fragment according to the disclosure) to a cytotoxic agent (e.g. a linker or linker- toxin according to the disclosure).
  • preparation of an antibody drug conjugate comprises a step of conjugating the antibody to a cytotoxic agent (e.g. via a linker moiety, a linker moiety further comprising an intracellularly cleavable moiety).
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent via an intracellularly-cleavable (e.g., protease cleavable) oligo-peptide (e.g. di-, tri, tetra- or penta-peptide).
  • a cytotoxic agent e.g. a camptothecin derivative
  • an intracellularly-cleavable e.g. protease-cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide and a self- eliminating spacer.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent (e.g. a camptothecin derivative) via an intracellularly- cleavable (e.g., protease cleavable) tetra- or penta-peptide and a self- or non-self-eliminating spacer.
  • a cytotoxic agent e.g. a camptothecin derivative
  • an intracellularly- cleavable e.g., protease cleavable
  • the cytotoxic agent is a highly potent chemotherapeutic agent, optionally a cytotoxic agent selected from the group consisting of taxanes, anthracyclines, camptothecins, epothilones, mytomycins, combretastatins, vinca alkaloids, nitrogen mustards, maytansinoids, duocarmycins, tubulysins, dolastatins and auristatins, enediynes (e.g., calicheamicins, esperamicins, shishijimicins and namenamicins), pyrrolobenzodiazepines (e.g., pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers and indolino- pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers), amatoxins and ethylenimines.
  • a cytotoxic agent selected from the group consisting of taxanes, anthracyclines, camptothecins, epothilones, myto
  • the cytotoxic agent is a DNA damaging agent
  • a DNA damaging agent include for example a DNA intercalating agent, e.g. an agent that inserts itself into the DNA structure of a cell and binds to the DNA, in turn causing DNA damage (e.g. daunorubicin).
  • Compounds include topoisomerase inhibitors, chemical compounds that block the action of topoisomerase (topoisomerase I and II). Such compounds are used for a wide range of solid tumor and hematological malignancies, notably lymphomas.
  • Topoisomerase I inhibitors include camptothecins, for example irinotecan (approved for treatment of colon cancer), topotecan (approved for treatment of ovarian and lung cancer), camptothecin, lamellarin D, indenoisoquinoline, indimitecan. Further camptothecins include silatecan, cositecan, exatecan, lurtotecan, gimatecan, belotecan, and rubitecan.
  • camptothecins for example irinotecan (approved for treatment of colon cancer), topotecan (approved for treatment of ovarian and lung cancer), camptothecin, lamellarin D, indenoisoquinoline, indimitecan.
  • Further camptothecins include silatecan, cositecan, exatecan, lurtotecan, gimatecan, belotecan, and rubitecan.
  • Topoisomerase II inhibitors include for example etoposide (VP- 16), teniposide, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, mitoxantrone, amsacrine, ellipticines, aurintricarboxylic acid, and HU-331, a quinolone synthesized from cannabidiol.
  • the antibody or antibody fragment is functionalized with (e.g. conjugated to, covalently bound to) a linker-toxin of any one of Formulae III to XIV.
  • the cytotoxic agent is camptothecin analogue, e.g., an exatecan, Dxd or SN-38 molecule.
  • the present invention provides a Nectin-4 binding antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure conjugated (e.g. covalently bound to) to a camptothecin, e.g. a camptothecin analogue, an exatecan or exatecan derivative, a Dxd molecule or a SN-38 molecule.
  • a Nectin-4 binding antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure conjugated (e.g. covalently bound to) to a camptothecin analogue, e.g. an exatecan or SN-38 molecule can be characterized as comprising an antibody that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide having one or more amino acid residues (e.g.
  • a Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment can be characterized as being functionalized with a linker-camptothecin molecule having a structure of Formulas III, IV, V, VI, VII, VII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, or XIV, or with any of Compounds 3 to 16.
  • the Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to a camptothecin derivative is a Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to an exatecan molecule, e.g.
  • a cleavable linker or an immunoconjugate or ADC comprising a linker can be characterized as releasing an exatecan molecule, e.g. a molecule having the structure of Compound 1 (1a or 1b), e.g. upon enzymatic cleavage of the linker.
  • the humanized Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to a camptothecin derivative is a Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to a SN-38 molecule, e.g., a molecule having the structure of Compound 2.
  • the Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment can be characterized as comprising an antibody that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide having one or more amino acid residues (e.g. cysteine, lysine, glutamine or non-natural amino acid residues) functionalized, via a linker (e.g. a cleavable linker molecule with or without an additional spacer, for example spacer (Y’) described herein), with a molecule having the structure:
  • a linker e.g. a cleavable linker molecule with or without an additional spacer, for example spacer (Y’) described herein
  • the Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to a cytotoxic agent can be specified as being an immunoconjugate represented by Formula (I): Ab–X–Z Formula (I) wherein, Ab is an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide (e.g.
  • any antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure optionally the antibody binds the VC1 bridging domain of human Nectin-4 and/or displays decreased binding to a mutant human Nectin-4 polypeptide comprising an amino acid substitution at residues K197 and/or S199 (with reference to SEQ ID NO: 1), compared to binding to a wild-type human Nectin-4 polypeptide);
  • X is a linker molecule which connects Ab and Z (e.g., is covalently bound to each of Ab and Z), wherein X comprises a moiety that is cleavable, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions, optionally a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide, optionally wherein X further comprises a self-eliminating or non-self- eliminating spacer system (Y’) positioned between the cleavable moiety and Z, optionally wherein X further comprises a spacer (Y
  • the Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to a cytotoxic agent can be specified as being an immunoconjugate represented by Formula (I): Ab–X–Z Formula (I) wherein, Ab is an antibody or antibody fragment according to the disclosure that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide; X is a linker molecule which connects Ab and Z (e.g., is covalently bound to each of Ab and Z), wherein X comprises a valine-citrulline, valine-alanine or phenylalanine-lysine dipeptide, wherein X further comprises a self-eliminating or non-self-eliminating spacer system (Y’) positioned between the cleavable moiety and Z, and wherein X further comprises a spacer (Y) positioned between the Ab and the cleavable moiety; and Z is a cytotoxic agent, optionally a camptothecin analogue, optionally an exatecan molecule or
  • a method of delivering or targeting a cytotoxic agent (optionally a camptothecin analogue) to a tumor a method of releasing a cytotoxic agent (optionally a camptothecin analogue, a Dxd, an exatecan) in a tumor (e.g.
  • Ab is an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide
  • X is a linker molecule which connects Ab and Z (e.g., is covalently bound to each of Ab and Z)
  • X comprises a moiety that is cleavable, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions, optionally a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide, optionally wherein X further comprises a self-eliminating or non-self- eliminating spacer system (Y’) positioned between the cleavable moiety and Z, optionally wherein X further comprises
  • the antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to a cytotoxic agent can be specified as being an immunoconjugate represented by Formula (II): Ab–(X–(Z)n)m Formula (II) wherein, Ab is an antibody or antibody fragment according to the disclosure that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide; X is a linker molecule which connects Ab and Z, wherein X comprises a moiety that is cleavable, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions, optionally a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide, optionally wherein X further comprises a self-eliminating or non-self-eliminating spacer system (Y’) positioned between the cleavable moiety and Z, optionally wherein X further comprises a spacer (Y) positioned between the Ab and the cleavable moiety
  • a Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to a cytotoxic agent can be characterized as a composition of immunoconjugates represented by Formula (II): Ab–(X–(Z) n ) m Formula (II) wherein, Ab is an antibody or antibody fragment according to the disclosure that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide; X is a molecule which connects Ab and Z, wherein X comprises a moiety that is cleavable, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions, optionally a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide, optionally wherein X further comprises a self-eliminating or non-self-eliminating spacer system (Y’) positioned between the cleavable moiety and Z, optionally wherein X further comprises a spacer (Y) positioned
  • the (X-Z) moiety can optionally be characterized having a structure of any of Formulae III to XI or of any of Compounds 3-12.
  • molecule X or spacer Y can optionally be specified as comprising a reactive group (R) or a residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with an amino acid of the antigen binding protein (e.g., antibody) or with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid of the antibody or antibody fragment.
  • the exatecan molecule can be specified as being bound to linker (X) via the amine at position 1 of the exatecan (NH replaces NH 2 at position 1 when the exatecan molecule is part of a linker).
  • the exatecan is bound to the linker (X), e.g. to the carbonyl of a p-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl (PAB) self-eliminating spacer moiety of X.
  • the SN-38 molecule can be specified as being bound to linker (X) via the OH at position 9 (O replaces OH at position 9 when the SN-38 molecule shown in Compound 2 is part of a linker).
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated to an exatecan can be characterized as comprising an antibody that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide having one or more amino acid residues (e.g. cysteine residues, glutamine residues) functionalized, via a spacer (Y), with a linker-exatecan molecule comprising the following structure: .
  • the humanized Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to an exatecan can be characterized as comprising an antibody that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide having one or more amino acid residues (e.g.
  • the humanized Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to an exatecan can be characterized as comprising an antibody that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide having one or more amino acid residues (e.g. cysteine residues, glutamine residues) functionalized, via a spacer (Y), with a linker- exatecan molecule comprising the following structure: .
  • the humanized Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to an exatecan can be characterized as comprising an antibody that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide having one or more amino acid residues (e.g. cysteine residues, glutamine residues) functionalized, via a spacer (Y), with a linker- exatecan molecule comprising the following structure:
  • Spacer (Y) can be specified as being or comprising a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or heteroalkyl chain, optionally wherein Y has a chain length of 2-100 atoms, 2-40 atoms, optionally 2-30, 2-20, 4-40, 4-30 or 4-20 atoms, optionally where one or more atoms can be other than carbon, for example oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or other atoms, optionally wherein any carbon of the chain is substituted with an alkoxy, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, alkyl-S-, thiol, alkyl-C(O)S-, amine, alkylamine, amide, or alkylamide.
  • Y may comprise one or more ethylene oxide monomers, optionally Y comprises a polyethylene oxide moiety, optionally Y comprises a structure -(CH 2 CH 2 O) x - where x is 1 to 24, optionally 1 to 12, optionally 1 to 8, optionally 1 to 6.
  • x is 1 to 24, optionally 1 to 12, optionally 1 to 8, optionally 1 to 6.
  • linker-exatecan molecule having the structure: .
  • an immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin- 4 polypeptide, wherein the immunoconjugate is represented by any one of the Formulae: wherein n is 1-15, 5-15, 5-23 (e.g.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23); and wherein Ab is an antibody or antibody fragment thereof that specifically binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide, optionally wherein the antibody or antibody fragment comprising an amino acid sequence at least 60%, optionally at least 70%, optionally 80% or optionally 90% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 19, 47, 69 or 77; and an amino acid sequence at least 60%, optionally at least 70%, optionally 80% or optionally 90% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS : 20, 65, 70 or 78.
  • the immunoconjugate is represented by any one of the Formulae: wherein n is 1-15, 5-15, 5-23 (e
  • S can be specified as being an atom of a cysteine residue of the antibody (Ab).
  • an immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide, wherein the immunoconjugate is represented by the Formula: wherein Ab is an antibody or antibody fragment thereof that specifically binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide.
  • n is 15 and the immunoconjugate is characterized by a DAR of between 6 and 8, optionally wherein the DAR is 6, optionally wherein the DAR is 8; and wherein S is an atom of a cysteine residue of the antibody (Ab).
  • the Ab comprises a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 47; and a light chain variable region (VL) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 65, optionally wherein the antibody or antibody fragment comprises a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 77; and a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 78.
  • the treatment shows improved efficacy and/or improved (lower) drug resistance compared to existing anti-Nectin-4 ADC therapies (e.g. an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment conjugated to an auristatin; enfortumab vedotin).
  • a method of treating and/or preventing a cancer and/or killing tumor cells in an individual in need thereof wherein the treatment comprises 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 or more administrations of a Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated to a camptothecin derivative (e.g. an exatecan or SN-38 molecule) at a frequency of 1 to 2 times per month (e.g. once every two weeks, once every three weeks or once every four weeks).
  • a method of using the antibody, the fragment thereof, optionally conjugated with a cytotoxic drug moiety in the treatment or prevention of disease, e.g., cancer, in an individual in need thereof.
  • the antibody or fragment, optionally conjugated with a cytotoxic drug moiety is administered to an individual having a cancer in an amount and frequency sufficient to kill Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells.
  • said individual has a Nectin-4 expressing tumor, optionally wherein the tumor is an HER-2 expressing tumor or a HER2-negative tumor, e.g. an urothelial cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma or an esophageal cancer.
  • the cancer or tumor is advanced recurrent or metastatic cancer, optionally an advanced recurrent or metastatic urothelial cancer.
  • the cancer or tumor is a triple- negative breast cancer (TNBC).
  • the methods of treatment herein can be used in individuals having a Nectin-4-expressing cancer irrespective of the level of Nectin-4 expression on tumor cells. In one aspect, the methods of treatment herein can be used advantageously in individuals whose tumor cells express P-glycoprotein (Pgp). In one aspect, the methods of treatment of the disclosure can be used advantageously in individuals having received prior treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent (e.g.
  • a chemotherapeutic agent transported by P-glycoprotein P-glycoprotein
  • a platinum agent e.g., oxaliplatin, cisplatin, carboplatin, nedaplatin, Phenanthriplatin, picoplatin, satraplatin
  • a taxane e.g., Paclitaxel (TaxolTM) and docetaxel (TaxotereTM)
  • an anti- Nectin-4 antibody of the disclosure provides the possibility for improved treatment outcomes in individuals having tumors having resistance to, that are not responsive to or that have progressed following treatment with a composition comprising an anti-HER2 agent (e.g. trastuzumab; an ADC comprising trastuzumab), or with a composition comprising another anti-Nectin-4 agent (e.g. an ADC comprising enfortumab; enfortumab vedotin).
  • an anti-HER2 agent e.g. trastuzumab; an ADC comprising trastuzumab
  • another anti-Nectin-4 agent e.g. an ADC comprising enfortumab; enfortumab vedotin.
  • the improved therapeutic window provides the possibility for combination treatment with other agents, particularly chemotherapeutic agents and/or anti-HER2 agents.
  • the methods of treatment herein can be used advantageously in an individual whose tumor or cancer has resistance, that is not responsive to or that has progressed following treatment with a composition comprising an anti-HER2 antibody (e.g. trastuzumab; an ADC comprising traztuzumab) or a composition comprising another anti- Nectin-4 agent (e.g. an ADC comprising enfortumab; enfortumab vedotin).
  • the individual has received prior treatment with radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and/or therapy with a biological agent.
  • the individual has received prior treatment with an anti-Nectin-4 agent, optionally an anti-Nectin-4 agent comprising a cytotoxic moiety, other than a topoisomerase inhibitor, e.g. enfortumab vedotin.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 agent optionally an anti-Nectin-4 agent comprising a cytotoxic moiety, other than a topoisomerase inhibitor, e.g. enfortumab vedotin.
  • a cancer comprising administering to an individual who has received prior treatment with a Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated to an auristatin, optionally enfortumab vedotin, a therapeutically effective amount of an immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide, wherein the immunoconjugate is represented by any one of the Formulae:
  • the immunoconjugate is characterized by a DAR of between 6 and 8, optionally wherein the DAR is 6, optionally wherein the DAR is 8.
  • the present invention provides methods of treatment that can be used to mediate an anti-tumor effect in an individual at doses that are low or lower than those employed for conventional anti-Nectin-4 ADCs, e.g. less than 3 mg/kg body weight, less than 1.25 mg/kg body weight, less than 1 mg/kg body weight, less than 125 mg flat dose.
  • the methods of treatment of the disclosure can be used in an individual who has existing neuropathy, diabetes or hyperglycemia, cardiac insufficiency, an ocular pathology.
  • the methods of treatment of the disclosure can be used in an individual having a Nectin-4-expressing cancer characterized by low or moderate levels of tumor cell expression of Nectin-4 polypeptides (e.g. expression of Nectin-4 polypeptides at the tumor cell membrane).
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated to a cytotoxic agent is used in combination with a further cytotoxic agent (e.g.
  • compositions and kits comprising the anti-Nectin-4 antibody or, antibody fragment, optionally conjugated with a cytotoxic drug moiety, and typically one or more additional ingredients that can be active ingredients or inactive ingredients that promote formulation, delivery, stability, or other characteristics of the composition (e.g. various carriers).
  • FIG. 1 shows expression levels of HER2 and Nectin-4 polypeptides at the surface of SUM190 human breast cancer tumor cells, as determined by FACS (MFI:Mean of fluorescence intensity).
  • the SUM190 tumor cells expressed HER2 at low to moderate levels (median fluorescence units 1777) as well as Nectin-4 at lower levels (median 991 fluorescence units).
  • Figure 2 shows expression levels of HER2 and Nectin-4 polypeptides at the surface of SUM185 human breast cancer tumor cells as determined by FACS (MFI:Mean of fluorescence intensity).
  • Figure 3B shows efficacy of “5E7-exatecan” (5E7 conjugated to the exatecan linker (PEG(8U)-Val-Ala-PAB-Exatecan) shown in Example 9) as in causing the death of HER-2 and Nectin-4 expressing SUM185, SUM190, MDA-MB-468 (TNBC) human tumor cells and MC38 (colon cancer) and B16F10 (melanoma) murine tumor cells as well as EC50 values for ability of 5E7-exatecan to cause cell death.
  • 5E7-exatecan 5E7 conjugated to the exatecan linker (PEG(8U)-Val-Ala-PAB-Exatecan) shown in Example 9) as in causing the death of HER-2 and Nectin-4 expressing SUM185, SUM190, MDA-MB-468 (TNBC) human tumor cells and MC38 (colon cancer) and B16F10 (melanoma) murine tumor cells as well as EC50
  • Figure 4 shows the efficacy at a single dose of 3 mg/kg of 5E7 antibody as a camptothecin ADC, in comparison to the same dose of enfortumab, N41 and an isotype control antibody (IC), in a mouse model of human breast cancer.
  • Figures 6A and 6B show binding of anti-Nectin-4 antibody 5E7 on rat and cynomolgus Nectin-4 expressing CHO cell lines respectively, as determined by flow cytometry.
  • Figures 7A and 7B show the structure of the human Nectin-4 protein, with shading of substitutions; the white areas corresponding to the C1 domain residues substituted in mutants 7 (7A) and 7bis (7B) are indicated.
  • Figures 8A and 8B show several views of the structure of the human Nectin-4 protein, with shading of substitutions; the white areas corresponding to residues substituted in mutants 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are indicated.
  • Figures 9A, 9B and 9C show the evolution of tumor growth over time (days post tumor engraftment) in mice treated with ADCs.
  • Figures 9A and 9B show treatment with a dose of 3 mg/kg body weight by i.v.
  • Figure 9C shows treatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight by i.v. with antibody 5E7 conjugated to linkers designed release either Dxd or exatecan upon cleavage of the linker.
  • Figure 10A shows luminescence (indicating cell viability) of cells treated with PadcevTM (enfortumab vedotin), antibody 5E7 conjugated to Dxd or 5E7 conjugated to exatecan.
  • the cells are MC-38 cells that endogenously express MDR1 p-glycoprotein and that are engineered to express Nectin-4.
  • FIG 10B shows tumor growth (area under the curve) of the MC38 cells treated, in the presence or absence of the Pgp inhibitor cyclosporine, with PadcevTM (enfortumab vedotin), antibody 5E7 conjugated to Dxd or 5E7 conjugated to exatecan, at 150 nM ADC and normalized to control antibody, suggesting that the anti-tumor activity of PadcevTM and antibody 5E7 conjugated to Dxd are negatively affected by Pgp.
  • Figures 11 and 12 show results of in vivo evaluation in mice of free toxin and ADCs at 3 mg/kg dose.
  • Results for the IC are shown in Figure 11.
  • Results for the ADCs are shown in Figure 12.
  • Figure 13 shows results in vivo anti-tumor efficacy in mice of anti-Nectin-4 ADCs and plasma concentration of ADCs over time. The top left panel shows that PBS did not prevent an increase in tumor volume. Top right panel shows that the 1 mg/kg dose of ADC showed strong anti-tumor efficacy. The bottom panel shows the concentration of ADC in plasma over time.
  • Figure 14 shows the in vivo plasma concentration of ADCs in rats.
  • Figure 14A shows 3 mg/kg dose (top panel) and 10 mg/kg dose (bottom panel) and
  • Figure 14B shows the results for the 30 mg/kg dose.
  • Figure 15 shows the in vivo plasma concentration of ADCs in non-human primates.
  • Figure 15A shows 3 mg/kg dose (top panel) and 10 mg/kg dose (bottom panel) and
  • Figure 15B shows the results for the 30 mg/kg dose.
  • Table 15 shows the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences disclosed in the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Definitions
  • “a” or “an” may mean one or more.
  • the words “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the word “comprising”, the words “a” or “an” may mean one or more than one.
  • “another” may mean at least a second or more.
  • Nectin-4 and Nectin-4 polypeptide refer to a protein or polypeptide encoded by the NECTIN4 gene (see Uniprot accession number Q96NY8) or by a cDNA prepared from such a gene. Any naturally occurring isoform, allele or variant is encompassed by the term Nectin- 4 polypeptide (e.g., an Nectin-4 polypeptide 95%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1, or to a contiguous sequence of at least 100, 200, 300, 400 or 500 amino acid residues thereof).
  • the 510 amino acid residue sequence of canonical human Nectin-4 (isoform 1), including the 31 amino acid signal peptide, is shown as follows: MPLSLGAEMW GPEAWLLLLL LLASFTGRCP AGELETSDVV TVVLGQDAKL PCFYRGDSGE QVGQVAWARV DAGEGAQELA LLHSKYGLHV SPAYEGRVEQ PPPPRNPLDG SVLLRNAVQA DEGEYECRVS TFPAGSFQAR LRLRVLVPPL PSLNPGPALE EGQGLTLAAS CTAEGSPAPS VTWDTEVKGT TSSRSFKHSR SAAVTSEFHL VPSRSMNGQP LTCVVSHPGL LQDQRITHIL HVSFLAEASV RGLEDQNLWH IGREGAMLKC LSEGQPPPSY NWTRLDGPLP SGVRVDGDTL GFPPLTTEHS GIYVCHVSNE FSSRDSQVTV DVLDPQEDSG KQV
  • SEQ ID NO: 1 corresponds to UniProt KB identifier Q96NY8-1, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide anti-Nectin-4 antibodies that bind to a human Nectin-4, or a homolog thereof, including without limitation a mammalian Nectin-4 protein and Nectin-4 orthologs from other species, e.g. non-human primates, macaca fascicularis.
  • HER2 also known as HER2/neu and ErbB-2
  • immunoconjugate and “antibody conjugate” are used interchangeably and refer to an antigen binding agent, e.g., an antibody binding polypeptide or an antibody that is conjugated to another molecule (e.g., a camptothecin derivative, an exatecan molecule, a SN-38 molecule).
  • an immunoconjugate comprises an antigen binding agent conjugated to a therapeutic agent, e.g., a cytotoxic agent or anti-cancer agent
  • the immunoconjugate can also be referred to as a "antibody drug conjugate" or an "ADC”.
  • cytotoxic agents include camptothecins, taxanes, anthracyclines, camptothecins, epothilones, mytomycins, combretastatins, vinca alkaloids, nitrogen mustards, maytansinoids, calicheamycins, duocarmycins, tubulysins, dolastatins and auristatins, enediynes, pyrrolobenzodiazepines, and ethylenimines.
  • “treatment” and “treating” and the like generally mean obtaining a desired pharmacological and physiological effect.
  • the effect may be prophylactic in terms of preventing or partially preventing a disease, symptom or condition thereof and/or may be therapeutic in terms of a partial or complete cure of a disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect attributed to the disease.
  • treatment covers any treatment of a disease in a mammal, particularly a human, and includes: (a) preventing the disease from occurring in a subject which may be predisposed to the disease but has not yet been diagnosed as having it such as a preventive early asymptomatic intervention; (b) inhibiting the disease, e.g., arresting its development; or relieving the disease, e.g., causing regression of the disease and/or its symptoms or conditions such as improvement or remediation of damage, for example in a subject who has been diagnosed as having the disease.
  • treatment may cause (e.g. may be characterized as a method of causing) a decrease in tumor burden, a decrease in the size and/or number of lesions, a decrease or delay in the progression of cancer (e.g., an increase in progression-free survival), a delay or prevention of cancer metastasis and/or an increase in survival.
  • treatment may cause or provide (e.g. may be characterized as a method of causing or providing) stable disease, a partial response or a complete response in a subject, e.g. according to standard criteria, optionally RECIST criteria.
  • Treatment of cancer or the like is mentioned with reference to a Nectin-4 binding agent (e.g.
  • biopsy as used herein is defined as removal of a tissue for the purpose of examination, such as to establish diagnosis.
  • types of biopsies include by application of suction, such as through a needle attached to a syringe; by instrumental removal of a fragment of tissue; by removal with appropriate instruments through an endoscope; by surgical excision, such as of the whole lesion; and the like.
  • antibody refers to polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Depending on the type of constant domain in the heavy chains, antibodies are assigned to one of five major classes: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM.
  • An exemplary immunoglobulin (antibody) structural unit comprises a tetramer.
  • Each tetramer is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one “light” (about 25 kDa) and one “heavy” chain (about 50-70 kDa).
  • the N-terminus of each chain defines a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids that is primarily responsible for antigen recognition.
  • the terms variable light chain (V L ) and variable heavy chain (V H ) refer to these light and heavy chains respectively.
  • the heavy-chain constant domains that correspond to the different classes of immunoglobulins are termed “alpha,” “delta,” “epsilon,” “gamma” and “mu,” respectively.
  • the subunit structures and three-dimensional configurations of different classes of immunoglobulins are well known.
  • IgG are the exemplary classes of antibodies employed herein because they are the most common antibodies in the physiological situation and because they are most easily made in a laboratory setting.
  • the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
  • Particular examples of antibodies are humanized, chimeric, human, or otherwise-human-suitable antibodies.
  • “Antibodies” also includes any fragment or derivative of any of the herein described antibodies.
  • the amino acid residues of an antibody that are responsible for antigen binding can also be referred to hypervariable region.
  • the hypervariable region generally comprises amino acid residues from a "complementarity-determining region" or "CDR" (e.g., residues 24-34 (L1), 50-56 (L2) and 89-97 (L3) in the light-chain variable domain and 31-35 (H1), 50- 65 (H2) and 95-102 (H3) in the heavy-chain variable domain; Kabat et al.1991) and/or those residues from a "hypervariable loop” (e.g., residues 26-32 (L1), 50-52 (L2) and 91-96 (L3) in the light-chain variable domain and 26-32 (H1), 53-55 (H2) and 96-101 (H3) in the heavy- chain variable domain; Chothia and Lesk, J.
  • CDR complementarity-determining region
  • the numbering of amino acid residues in this region is performed by the method described in Kabat et al., supra. Phrases such as “Kabat position”, “variable domain residue numbering as in Kabat” and “according to Kabat” herein refer to this numbering system for heavy chain variable domains or light chain variable domains. Using the Kabat numbering system, the actual linear amino acid sequence of a peptide may contain fewer or additional amino acids corresponding to a shortening of, or insertion into, a FR or CDR of the variable domain.
  • a heavy chain variable domain may include a single amino acid insert (residue 52a according to Kabat) after residue 52 of CDR H2 and inserted residues (e.g., residues 82a, 82b, and 82c, etc. according to Kabat) after heavy chain FR residue 82.
  • the Kabat numbering of residues may be determined for a given antibody by alignment at regions of homology of the sequence of the antibody with a "standard" Kabat numbered sequence.
  • the term “specifically binds to” means that an antibody can bind preferably in a competitive binding assay to the binding partner, e.g.
  • Nectin-4 as assessed using either recombinant forms of the proteins, epitopes therein, or native proteins present on the surface of isolated target cells.
  • Competitive binding assays and other methods for determining specific binding are well-known in the art. For example, binding can be detected via radiolabels, physical methods such as mass spectrometry, or direct or indirect fluorescent labels detected using, e.g., cytofluorometric analysis (e.g. FACScan). Binding above the amount seen with a control, non-specific agent indicates that the agent binds to the target.
  • an antibody When an antibody is said to “compete with” a particular monoclonal antibody, it means that the antibody competes with the monoclonal antibody in a binding assay using either recombinant molecules (e.g., Nectin-4) or surface expressed molecules (e.g., Nectin- 4).
  • recombinant molecules e.g., Nectin-4
  • surface expressed molecules e.g., Nectin- 4
  • a test antibody reduces the binding of an antibody having a heavy chain variable region of any of SEQ ID NO: 19 and a respective light chain variable region of SEQ ID NO: 20 to a Nectin-4 polypeptide or Nectin-4-expressing cell in a binding assay, the antibody is said to “compete” respectively with such antibody.
  • intracellular internalization refers to the molecular, biochemical and cellular events associated with the process of translocating a molecule from the extracellular surface of a cell to the intracellular surface of a cell.
  • the processes responsible for intracellular internalization of molecules are well-known and can involve, inter alia, the internalization of extracellular molecules (such as hormones, antibodies, and small organic molecules); membrane-associated molecules (such as cell- surface receptors); and complexes of membrane-associated molecules bound to extracellular molecules (for example, a ligand bound to a transmembrane receptor or an antibody bound to a membrane-associated molecule).
  • “inducing and/or increasing internalization” comprises events wherein intracellular internalization is initiated and/or the rate and/or extent of intracellular internalization is increased.
  • affinity means the strength of the binding of an antibody to an epitope.
  • the affinity of an antibody is given by the dissociation constant Kd, defined as [Ab] x [Ag] / [Ab-Ag], where [Ab-Ag] is the molar concentration of the antibody-antigen complex, [Ab] is the molar concentration of the unbound antibody and [Ag] is the molar concentration of the unbound antigen.
  • K a is defined by 1/Kd.
  • a “determinant” designates a site of interaction or binding on a polypeptide.
  • epitope refers to an antigenic determinant and is the area or region on an antigen to which an antibody binds.
  • a protein epitope may comprise amino acid residues directly involved in the binding as well as amino acid residues which are effectively blocked by the specific antigen binding antibody or peptide, i.e., amino acid residues within the "footprint" of the antibody. It is the simplest form or smallest structural area on a complex antigen molecule that can combine with e.g., an antibody or a receptor. Epitopes can be linear or conformational/structural.
  • linear epitope is defined as an epitope composed of amino acid residues that are contiguous on the linear sequence of amino acids (primary structure).
  • formational or structural epitope is defined as an epitope composed of amino acid residues that are not all contiguous and thus represent separated parts of the linear sequence of amino acids that are brought into proximity to one another by folding of the molecule (secondary, tertiary and/or quaternary structures).
  • a conformational epitope is dependent on the 3-dimensional structure.
  • the term ‘conformational’ is therefore often used interchangeably with ‘structural’.
  • agent is used herein to denote a chemical compound, a mixture of chemical compounds, a biological macromolecule, or an extract made from biological materials.
  • the term "therapeutic agent” refers to an agent that has biological activity.
  • the terms "Fc domain,” “Fc portion,” and “Fc region” refer to a C-terminal fragment of an antibody heavy chain, e.g., from about amino acid (aa) 230 to about aa 450 of human ⁇ (gamma) heavy chain or its counterpart sequence in other types of antibody heavy chains (e.g., ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ and ⁇ for human antibodies), or a naturally occurring allotype thereof.
  • aa amino acid
  • gamma human ⁇
  • ⁇ ⁇
  • ⁇ and ⁇ for human antibodies
  • the commonly accepted Kabat amino acid numbering for immunoglobulins is used throughout this disclosure (see Kabat et al.
  • FR Framework residues as used herein is meant the region of an antibody variable domain exclusive of those regions defined as CDRs.
  • Each antibody variable domain framework can be further subdivided into the contiguous regions separated by the CDRs (FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4).
  • isolated purified or biologically pure refer to material that is substantially or essentially free from components which normally accompany it as found in its native state. Purity and homogeneity are typically determined using analytical chemistry techniques such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or high performance liquid chromatography.
  • polypeptide A protein that is the predominant species present in a preparation is substantially purified.
  • polypeptide peptide
  • protein is used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. The terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an artificial chemical mimetic of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers and non- naturally occurring amino acid polymer.
  • recombinant when used with reference, e.g., to a cell, or nucleic acid, protein, or vector, indicates that the cell, nucleic acid, protein or vector, has been modified by the introduction of a heterologous nucleic acid or protein or the alteration of a native nucleic acid or protein, or that the cell is derived from a cell so modified.
  • recombinant cells express genes that are not found within the native (nonrecombinant) form of the cell or express native genes that are otherwise abnormally expressed, under expressed or not expressed at all.
  • antibody that “binds” a polypeptide or epitope designates an antibody that binds said determinant with specificity and/or affinity.
  • identity refers to the degree of sequence relatedness between polypeptides, as determined by the number of matches between strings of two or more amino acid residues. "Identity” measures the percent of identical matches between the smaller of two or more sequences with gap alignments (if any) addressed by a particular mathematical model or computer program (i.e., "algorithms"). Identity of related polypeptides can be readily calculated by known methods. Such methods include, but are not limited to, those described in Computational Molecular Biology, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1988; Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects, Smith, D.
  • Computer program methods for determining identity between two sequences include the GCG program package, including GAP (Devereux et al., Nucl. Acid. Res. 12, 387 (1984); Genetics Computer Group, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), BLASTP, BLASTN, and FASTA (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215, 403-410 (1990)).
  • the BLASTX program is publicly available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and other sources (BLAST Manual, Altschul et al. NCB/NLM/NIH Bethesda, Md. 20894; Altschul et al., supra).
  • NCBI National Center for Biotechnology Information
  • the well-known Smith Waterman algorithm may also be used to determine identity.
  • alkyl refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain that comprises a fully saturated (no double or triple bonds) hydrocarbon group.
  • the alkyl group may have, for example, 1 to 20 carbon atoms (whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “1 to 20” refers to each integer in the given range; e.g., “1 to 20 carbon atoms” means that the alkyl group may consist of 1 carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, etc., up to and including 20 carbon atoms, although the present definition also covers the occurrence of the term “alkyl” where no numerical range is designated).
  • the alkyl group of the compounds may be designated as “C 1 -C 4 alkyl” or similar designations.
  • “C 1 -C 4 alkyl” indicates that there are one to four carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, i.e., the alkyl chain is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, and t-butyl.
  • Typical alkyl groups include, but are in no way limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tertiary butyl, pentyl and hexyl.
  • the alkyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted.
  • heteroalkyl refers to a straight or branched alkyl group that contains one or more heteroatoms, that is, an element other than carbon (including but not limited to oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus) in place of one or more carbon atoms. Whenever a group is described as being “substituted” that group substituted with one or more of the indicated substituents.
  • substituted group may be substituted with one or more group(s) individually and independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, (heteroalicyclyl)alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, mercapto, alkylthio, arylthio, cyano, halogen, thiocarbonyl, carbamyl, thiocarbamyl, amido, sulfonamido, sulfonamido, carboxy, isocyanato, thiocyanato, isothiocyanato, nitro, silyl, sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulf
  • substituents there may be one or more substituents present.
  • haloalkyl may include one or more of the same or different halogens.
  • C 1 -C 3 alkoxyphenyl may include one or more of the same or different alkoxy groups containing one, two or three atoms.
  • Reference to a “Compound” or “Formula” having a particular number e.g. “Compound 1”, “Compound 2”, “Formula I” or “Formula II”
  • Compound 1 for example includes reference to Compound 1a and 1b.
  • Nectin-4- binding by the antibody is mediated by a single antigen binding domain or by two identical antigen binding domains, optionally wherein each antigen binding domain comprises a VH and VL domain pair.
  • a single VH or VL variable domains can for example be incorporated into polypeptides that are expressed and produced separately, and then can be combined to form an Nectin-4 binding domain.
  • the Nectin-4 binding antibody e.g.
  • full- length antibody, antibody fragment) or a protein, conjugate or complex comprising such antibody may advantageously inhibit cell-cell interactions mediated by Nectin-4, e.g., as determined by assessing cell cluster formation (e.g., in a 3-dimensional cell culture system, by assessing tumor spheroid formation or growth) and/or anchorage-independent growth of Nectin-4 expressing cells.
  • the Nectin- 4 binding antibody may advantageously be capable of sensitizing tumors to the cytotoxic agent, for example the antibody may enhance the ability of the cytotoxic agent to inhibit the proliferation or cause the death of tumor cells, for example to inhibit the proliferation or cause the death of tumor cells that are in clusters (e.g. in spheroids), or to inhibit the formation or growth of tumor cell clusters (e.g. spheroids).
  • the anti-Nectin-4 immunoconjugate may advantageously be capable of causing the death of Nectin-4- expressing tumor cells when conjugated to a cytotoxic molecule as disclosed herein.
  • Tumor cells that express Pgp can have decreased sensitivity to certain cytotoxic agents.
  • Antibodies and cytotoxic agents (whether or not the cytotoxic agent is conjugated to the antibody) can optionally be tested using cells (e.g. tumor cells) that express Pgp.
  • Tumor spheroids are generally less sensitive to chemotherapy, in part due to the protection afforded by their structure, but also due to their slower proliferation rate, and consequently can be useful to assess the anti-tumor effect of the antibodies or immunoconjugates.
  • Antibodies or immunoconjugates can be tested for the ability to inhibit spheroid formation in a concentration-dependent manner, or to disrupt cancer cells spheroid formation.
  • Antibodies or immunoconjugates can for example be tested for their ability to alter spheroid formation in different cancer cell lines using real-time digital photography.
  • the antibodies or immunoconjugates can for example be characterized as being able to maintain (or increase maintenance of) the cancer cells as single cells, which cells may thereby be made more sensitive to a cytotoxic agent (e.g. a chemotherapy). Promoting maintenance of cancer cells as single cells to increase sensitivity to chemotherapy can be tested in vitro by adding different chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., doxorubicine, cisplatin, paclitaxel, camptothecin or a camptothecin analog) separately or in combination at different concentrations in the presence of antibodies or immunoconjugates, optionally further with comparison to antibodies or immunoconjugates that bind solely to the Ig-like V domain or the Ig-like C2-type 1 or 2 domains.
  • chemotherapeutic agents e.g., doxorubicine, cisplatin, paclitaxel, camptothecin or a camptothecin analog
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment binds to a wild-type human Nectin-4 polypeptide, e.g. a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, as well to a modified human Nectin-4 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 (Nectin-4 protein containing the Ig-like C2 type 1 and 2 domains but lacking the Ig-like V type domain.
  • the antibody retains partial binding to the polypeptide lacking the Ig-like V type domain, optionally wherein the antibody retains binding to the Nectin-4 protein lacking the Ig-like V type domain at a reduced level compared to binding to a wild-type Nectin-4 protein, for example wherein the reduced level is between 5-50%, optionally 5-30%, optionally 5-25%, optionally 5-15% of binding to wild-type Nectin-4.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody does not bind a Nectin-4 polypeptide lacking both the Ig-like V type and the Ig-like C2 type 1 domains, e.g., a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11.
  • binding is assessed by flow cytometry using cells made to express the Nectin-4 polypeptide and fluorescence intensity level (e.g. MFI) is determined.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment does not bind to any of a human Nectin 1 protein, a human Nectin 2 protein, a human Nectin 3 protein and a human PVR protein.
  • the respective Nectin or PVR protein can be specified as being expressed at the surface of a cell.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment binds: a Nectin-4 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and a Nectin-4 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 (optionally at a reduced level, optionally a level between 5-50% compared to binding to SEQ ID NO: 1), wherein the anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment does not bind any of: a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13, a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16, a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17, and a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment does not bind a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment binds a rat Nectin- 4 polypeptide (e.g. the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13).
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment binds to the VC1 bridging domain, epitope or determinant of Nectin-4.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment binds to human Nectin-4 at 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 or more residues selected from the group consisting of A72, G73, S195, K197, S199, L150, S152, Q234 and I236 (with reference to SEQ ID NO: 1).
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antigen binding protein or antibody binds to human Nectin-4 at 1, 2 or 3 residues selected from the group consisting of K197, S199 and Q234, optionally residues K197 and/or S199.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment binds to residue K197 of human Nectin-4.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment binds to residue S199 of human Nectin-4. In one embodiment, an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment binds to residue Q234 of human Nectin-4. Binding can be determined, for example, by assessing whether the antibody or antibody fragment has decreased or loss of binding to a mutant Nectin-4 polypeptide (e.g. as expressed at the surface of a cell) in which said residue is substituted by a different residue.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment is capable of binding to both the Ig-like V type domain and the Ig-like C2 type 1 domain, for example to a determinant or epitope on the Ig-like V type domain and to a determinant or epitope on the Ig-like C2 type 1 domain.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment retains at least partial binding to a modified Nectin-4 polypeptide comprising the Ig-like C2 type 1 domain but lacking the Ig-like V type domain, e.g. a Nectin-4 polypeptide lacking all or part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.
  • Partial binding can be characterized as retaining binding, but at a reduced level (e.g. as assessed by flow cytometry) compared to binding to a wild-type human Nectin-4 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of residue of SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • the Nectin-4 polypeptides can be specified as being expressed at the surface of a cell (e.g., a host cell made to express the polypeptide(s).
  • Antibodies may be produced by a variety of techniques known in the art. Typically, they are produced by immunization of a non-human animal, preferably a mouse, with an immunogen comprising a Nectin-4 polypeptide, preferably a human Nectin-4 polypeptide.
  • the Nectin-4 polypeptide may comprise the full length sequence of a human Nectin-4 polypeptide, or a fragment or derivative thereof, typically an immunogenic fragment, i.e., a portion of the polypeptide comprising an epitope exposed on the surface of cells expressing a Nectin-4 polypeptide, for example the epitope recognized by the 5E7 antibody.
  • the Nectin- 4 polypeptide can be specified as comprising or consisting of VC1 bridging domain or a fragment or subsequence thereof. Such fragments typically contain at least about 7 consecutive amino acids of the mature polypeptide sequence, even more preferably at least about 10 consecutive amino acids thereof. Fragments typically are essentially derived from the extra-cellular domain of the receptor.
  • the immunogen comprises a wild-type human Nectin-4 polypeptide in a lipid membrane, typically at the surface of a cell.
  • the immunogen comprises intact cells, particularly intact human cells, optionally treated or lysed.
  • the polypeptide is a recombinant Nectin-4 polypeptide.
  • the immunogen comprises intact Nectin-4-expressing cells.
  • Antibodies may also be produced by selection of combinatorial libraries of immunoglobulins, as disclosed for instance in (Ward et al. Nature, 341 (1989) p. 544, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference).
  • Provided herein are modified human acceptor framework sequences into which antibody CDRs can be incorporated such that the resulting anti-Nectin-4 variable region has high potency in binding and internalizing in Nectin-4 expressing cells.
  • the antibodies have the advantage of having low or decreased immunogenicity in humans, e.g.
  • antibodies of the disclosure include antibodies comprising the H0, H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, H9 or H10 VH domain combined with a L0, L1, L2 or L3 VL domain.
  • antibodies of the disclosure include antibodies comprising the VH and VL domain pairs of any one of the antibodies H0+L0, H1+L0, H2+L0, H3+L0, H3+L1, H3+L2, H3+L3, H4+L1, H4+L2, H4+L3, H5+L1, H5+L2, H5+L3, H6+L1, H6+L2, H6+L3, H7+L1, H7+L2, H7+L3, H8+L1, H9+L1 and H10+L1.
  • an antibody or antibody fragment that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide comprises VH and VL frameworks (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4) of human origin (e.g., derived from human amino acid sequences).
  • VH and VL frameworks e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4 of human origin (e.g., derived from human amino acid sequences).
  • the antibody or antibody fragment comprises: a HCDR1 (heavy chain CDR1) comprising an amino acid sequence SYWMH as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 21; a HCDR2 (heavy chain CDR2) comprising an amino acid sequence EIDPSDSYTNYNQKFKG as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 22; a HCDR3 (heavy chain CDR3) comprising an amino acid sequence GYGNYGDY as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 23; a LCDR1 comprising an amino acid sequence RSSKSLLHSNGITYLY as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 24; a LCDR2 comprising an amino acid sequence QMSNLAS as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 25; a LCDR3 comprising an amino acid sequence AQNLELPWT as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 26.
  • the antibody comprises a heavy chain framework derived from the human subgroup IGHV1-46 (optionally together with IGHJ4, preferably IGHJ4*01), optionally the IGHV1-46 is IGHV1-46*01.
  • the antibody comprises a light chain framework derived from the human subgroup IGKV2-28 (optionally together with IGKJ, preferably IGKJ4*01), optionally the IGKV2-28 is IGKV2-28*01.
  • the antibody may further comprise one, two, three, four, five or more amino acid substitutions across the human heavy and/or light chain frameworks, to, e.g., enhance affinity, stability, or other properties of the antibody.
  • the antibody can be specified as being an antibody other than a murine parental antibody, e.g. a murine parental antibody having the respective VH and VL of SEQ ID NO: 19 and 20.
  • a human framework comprises one or more mutations, e.g., back mutations to introduce a residue present at the particular position in a non-human mammal (e.g., a mouse).
  • the human framework of the heavy chain variable region of the antibody comprises one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight mutations at a kabat position selected from 28, 38, 40, 48, 69, 71, 73 or 78.
  • the threonine residue at Kabat heavy chain position 28 is substituted by a threonine residue.
  • the arginine residue at Kabat heavy chain position 38 is substituted by a lysine residue.
  • the alanine residue at Kabat heavy chain position 40 is substituted by an arginine residue.
  • the methionine residue at Kabat heavy chain position 48 is substituted by an isoleucine residue.
  • the methionine residue at Kabat heavy chain position 69 is substituted by a leucine residue.
  • the arginine residue at Kabat heavy chain position 71 is substituted by a leucine residue.
  • the threonine residue at Kabat heavy chain position 73 is substituted by a lysine residue.
  • the valine residue at Kabat heavy chain position 78 is substituted by a threonine residue.
  • the human framework of the light chain variable region of the antibody comprises one, two, three or four mutations at a kabat position selected from 2, 8, 11 or 64.
  • the isoleucine residue at kabat light chain position 2 is substituted by a valine residue.
  • the proline residue at Kabat light chain position 8 is substituted by an alanine residue.
  • the leucine residue at Kabat light chain position 11 is substituted by an asparagine.
  • the glycine residue at Kabat light chain position 64 is substituted by a serine residue. Positions in the VH and VL domains herein are described using the Kabat numbering system (Kabat et al. (1991) Sequences of Protein of Immunological Interest, 5th ed., United States Public Health Service, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD).
  • the isolated anti-Nectin-4 humanized monoclonal antibody, or fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequences of any of SEQ ID NO: 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55 or 57 and a light chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NO: 59, 61, 63 or 65.
  • sequence identity e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity
  • the isolated anti-Nectin-4 humanized monoclonal antibody, or fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47 (H5) and a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65 (L3).
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody comprising a heavy chain having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 77; and a light chain having at least about 80% sequence identity (e.g., at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, or 100% identity) to a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 78.
  • DNA encoding an antibody can be prepared and placed in an appropriate expression vector for transfection into an appropriate host.
  • the host is then used for the recombinant production of the antibody, or variants thereof, such as a humanized version of that monoclonal antibody, active fragments of the antibody, chimeric antibodies comprising the antigen recognition portion of the antibody, or versions comprising a detectable moiety.
  • DNA encoding the monoclonal antibodies of the disclosure can be readily isolated and sequenced using conventional procedures (e.g., by using oligonucleotide probes that are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding the heavy and light chains of murine antibodies).
  • a nucleic acid encoding a heavy chain or a light chain of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment of any embodiment herein.
  • the DNA can be placed into expression vectors, which are then transfected into host cells such as E. coli cells, simian COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, or myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce immunoglobulin protein, to obtain the synthesis of monoclonal antibodies in the recombinant host cells.
  • host cells such as E. coli cells, simian COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, or myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce immunoglobulin protein.
  • Such DNA sequences can be modified for any of a large number of purposes, e.g., for humanizing antibodies, producing fragments or derivatives, or for modifying the sequence of the antibody, e.g., in the antigen binding site in order to optimize the binding specificity of the antibody.
  • an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a light chain and/or a heavy chain of an antibody as well as a recombinant host cell comprising (e.g., in its genome) such nucleic acid.
  • Recombinant expression in bacteria of DNA encoding the antibody is well known in the art (see, for example, Skerra et al., Curr. Opinion in Immunol., 5, pp.256 (1993); and Pluckthun, Immunol.130, p.151 (1992).
  • Fragments and derivatives of antibodies (which are encompassed by the term “antibody” or “antibodies” as used in this application, unless otherwise stated or clearly contradicted by context) can be produced by techniques that are known in the art.
  • “Fragments” comprise a portion of the intact antibody, generally the antigen binding site or variable region.
  • antibody fragments include Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, F (ab') 2, and Fv fragments; diabodies; any antibody fragment that is a polypeptide having a primary structure consisting of one uninterrupted sequence of contiguous amino acid residues (referred to herein as a “single-chain antibody fragment” or “single chain polypeptide”); and multispecific (e.g., bispecific) antibodies formed from antibody fragments.
  • a multispecific protein can comprise a hypervariable region (e.g., a VH and a VL) of an antibody of any of the embodiment herein and a hypervariable region (e.g., a VH and a VL) of a different antibody, for example an antibody that binds to an antigen of interest other than Nectin-4.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody provided herein has an affinity for a Nectin-4 polypeptide (e.g., a Nectin-4 polypeptide as produced in the Examples herein) in the range of about 10 4 to about 10 11 M -1 (e.g., about 10 7 to about 10 10 M -1 ).
  • the disclosure provides anti-Nectin-4 antibody that have an average disassociation constant (K D ) of less than 1 x 10 -7 M with respect to Nectin-4, as determined by, e.g., surface plasmon resonance (SPR) screening (such as by analysis with a BIAcoreTM SPR analytical device).
  • K D surface plasmon resonance
  • the disclosure provides anti-Nectin-4 antibodies that have a K D of about 1 x 10 -7 M to about 1 x 10 -10 M for Nectin-4.
  • Antibodies can be characterized for example by a mean KD of no more than about (i.e. better affinity than) 200, 150, 100, 80, 70, 60, 40, 30, or 25 nanomolar.
  • KD can be determined for example for example by immobilizing recombinantly produced human Nectin- 4 proteins on a chip surface, followed by application of the antibody to be tested in solution.
  • the method further comprises a step (d), selecting antibodies from (b) that are capable of competing for binding to Nectin-4 with control antibody.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibodies may or may not have substantial binding to human Fc ⁇ receptors.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody comprises an Fc domain of human IgG1 isotype that retains binding to human Fc ⁇ receptor.
  • an anti-Nectin- 4 antibody comprises an Fc domain of human IgG1 isotype that is modified (e.g.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibodies can be prepared such that they do not have substantial binding to human Fc ⁇ receptors, e.g., any one or more of CD16A, CD16B, CD32A, CD32B and/or CD64).
  • Such antibodies may comprise constant regions of various heavy chains that are known to lack or have low binding to Fc ⁇ receptors.
  • antibody fragments that do not comprise (or comprise portions of) constant regions, such as F(ab’)2 fragments can be used to avoid Fc receptor binding.
  • Fc receptor binding can be assessed according to methods known in the art, including for example testing binding of an antibody to Fc receptor protein in a BIACORE assay.
  • any antibody IgG isotype can be used in which the Fc portion is modified (e.g., by introducing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more amino acid substitutions) to minimize or eliminate binding to Fc receptors (see, e.g., WO 03/101485, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference).
  • Assays such to assess Fc receptor binding are well known in the art, and are described in, e.g., WO 03/101485.
  • Examples of silent Fc lgG1 antibodies are the LALA mutant comprising L234A and L235A mutation in the lgG1 Fc amino acid sequence.
  • an Fc silent mutation is a mutation at residue D265, or at D265 and P329 for example as used in an lgG1 antibody as the DAPA (D265A, P329A) mutation (US 6,737,056).
  • Another silent lgG1 antibody comprises a mutation at residue N297 (e.g., N297A, N297S mutation), which results in aglycosylated/non-glycosylated antibodies.
  • substitutions at residues L234 and G237 include: substitutions at residues L234A/G237A); substitutions at residues S228, L235 and R409 (S228P/L235E/R409K,T,M,L); substitutions at residues H268, V309, A330 and A331 (H268Q/V309L/A330S/A331S); substitutions at residues C220, C226, C229 and P238 (C220S/C226S/C229S/P238S); substitutions at residues C226, C229, E233, L234 and L235 (C226S/C229S/E233P/L234V/L235A; substitutions at residues K322, L235 and L235 (K322A/L234A/L235A); substitutions at residues L234, L235 and P331 (L234F/L235E/P331S); substitutions at residues 234, 235 and
  • the antibody has a substitution in a heavy chain constant region at any one, two, three, four, five or more of residues selected from the group consisting of: 220, 226, 229, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 243, 264, 268, 297, 298, 299, 309, 310, 318, 320, 322, 327, 330, 331 and 409 (numbering of residues in the heavy chain constant region is according to EU numbering according to Kabat).
  • the format is: Wild type residue: Position in polypeptide: Mutant residues, wherein residue positions are indicated according to EU numbering according to Kabat.
  • an antibody that binds essentially the same epitope or determinant as monoclonal antibody 5E7; optionally the antibody comprises the hypervariable region of antibody 5E7.
  • antibody 5E7 can be characterized by the amino acid sequences and/or nucleic acid sequences encoding it.
  • the monoclonal antibody comprises the Fab or F(ab') 2 portion of 5E7.
  • an antibody or antibody fragment that comprises the heavy chain variable region of 5E7.
  • the antibody or antibody fragment comprises the three CDRs of the heavy chain variable region of 5E7.
  • an antibody or antibody fragment that further comprises the variable light chain variable region of 5E7 or one, two or three of the CDRs of the light chain variable region of 5E7.
  • the HCDR1, 2, 3 and LCDR1, 2, 3 sequences can optionally be specified as all (or each, independently) being those of the Kabat numbering system, those of the Chotia numbering system, those of the IMGT numbering, or any other suitable numbering system.
  • any one or more of said light or heavy chain CDRs may contain one, two, three, four or five or more amino acid modifications (e.g. substitutions, insertions or deletions).
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment comprises a V H domain having at least about 60%, 70% or 80% sequence identity, optionally at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, to the VH domain of SEQ ID NO: 19.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody comprises a VL domain having at least about 60%, 70% or 80% sequence identity, optionally at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity, to the VL domain of SEQ ID NO: 20.
  • the VH and VL comprise (e.g., are modified to incorporate) human acceptor frameworks.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody comprises the VH CDR1, CDR2 and/or CDR3 (e.g., according to Kabat numbering) of the heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody comprise the VL CDR1, CDR2 and/or CDR3 (e.g., according to Kabat numbering) of the light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody comprises a VH comprising the Kabat CDR1, CDR2 and/or CDR3 of the heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and a VL comprising a Kabat CDR1, CDR2 and/or CDR3 of the light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.
  • 5E7 VH QVQLQQPGAELVKPGASVKLSCKASGYIFTSYWMHWVKQRPGQGLEWIGEIDPSDSYTNYNQKFKGKA TLTLDKSSSTTYMQLSSLTSEDSAVYYCVRGYGNYGDYWGQGTTLTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 19)
  • 5E7 VL DVVMTQAAFSNPVTLGTSASISCRSSKSLLHSNGITYLYWYLQKPGQSPQLLIYQMSNLASG VPDRFSSSGSGTDFTLRISRVEAEDVGVYYCAQNLELPWTFGGGTKLEIK
  • 5E7 CDRs Kabat: CDR-H1 SYWMH (SEQ ID NO: 21) CDR-H2 EIDPSDSYTNYNQKFKG (SEQ ID NO: 22) CDR-H3 GYGNYGDY (SEQ ID NO: 23) CDR-L1 RSSKSLLHSNGITYLY
  • An anti-Nectin-4 antibody may for example comprise: a HCDR1 comprising an amino acid sequence: SYWMH (SEQ ID NO: 21), or a sequence of at least 4 contiguous amino acids thereof, optionally wherein one or more of these amino acids may be substituted by a different amino acid; a HCDR2 comprising an amino acid sequence: EIDPSDSYTNYNQKFKG (SEQ ID NO: 22), or a sequence of at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 contiguous amino acids thereof, optionally wherein one or more of these amino acids may be substituted by a different amino acid; a HCDR3 comprising an amino acid sequence: GYGNYGDY (SEQ ID NO: 23), or a sequence of at least 4, 5 or 6 contiguous amino acids thereof, optionally wherein one or more of these amino acids may be substituted by a different amino acid; a LCDR1 comprising an amino acid sequence: RSSKSLLHSNGITYLY (SEQ ID NO: 24), or a sequence of at
  • a process for preparing an antibody-conjugate comprises conjugating a cytotoxic agent (Z) to an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure.
  • cytotoxic agent (Z) can be specified as being conjugated to the antibody or fragment via a linker (X).
  • X is a linker which connects the antibody or fragment (Ab) and cytotoxic agent (Z), e.g., upon conjugation X is the residue of a linker following covalent linkage to one or both of Ab and Z.
  • a process for preparing the antibody-drug conjugates comprises a step of contacting and/or reacting an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure (Ab) with a cytotoxic agent (Z).
  • the contacting can be carried out under conditions suitable such that an antibody drug conjugate of an aspect of the disclosure is formed or obtained.
  • Z may for example be comprised in a compound comprising a cytotoxic agent (Z) and a linker (X) or portion of linker (X), such that the step comprises contacting an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure with a compound comprising a cytotoxic agent (Z) and a linker (X) or portion of linker (X).
  • a process can optionally specify a step of isolating or recovering the antibody drug conjugate that is formed, and, optionally, further processing the composition for use as a medicament, optionally formulating said antibody (e.g., with a pharmaceutical excipient) for administration to a human subject.
  • a method of making an ADC comprises conjugating the antibody or antibody fragment to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 molecules of cytotoxic agent.
  • the composition obtained is characterized by a DAR of between 2 and 4, between 4 and 6, between 6 and 8.
  • the method comprises conjugating the antibody to 4 molecules of cytotoxic agent.
  • the method comprises conjugating the antibody to 8 molecules of cytotoxic agent.
  • the method further comprises assessing the DAR, and if the DAR corresponds to a pre-determined specification (e.g. a DAR or DAR range as disclosed herein, a DAR of about 2, 4, 6, or 8, etc.), further processing the composition for use as a medicament, optionally formulating said antibody (e.g., with a pharmaceutical excipient) for administration to a human subject.
  • a pre-determined specification e.g. a DAR or DAR range as disclosed herein, a DAR of about 2, 4, 6, or 8, etc.
  • said antibody e.g., with a pharmaceutical excipient
  • the linker (X) – (Z) elements are prepared and isolated prior to contacting (and reacting) the compound comprising (X) and (Z) with the (Ab), thereby forming the antibody drug conjugate.
  • the method comprises: (a) contacting and/or reacting linker (X) or a portion of linker (X) with the (Ab) to form a Ab-X conjugate, and (b) contacting and/or reacting Ab-X of step (a) with a cytotoxic agent (Z) or a compound comprising a second portion of linker (X) and (Z), thereby forming the antibody drug conjugate.
  • X can for example represent a molecule comprising a moiety that is cleavable, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions.
  • X represents a molecule comprising (i) a spacer (Y), (ii) a cleavable moiety and (iii) an optional self-eliminating or non-self-eliminating spacer system (Y’).
  • the cleavable moiety can for example be an oligopeptide (e.g. a di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide).
  • the spacer Y can be positioned between the Ab and the cleavable moiety, and the spacer system (Y’) can be positioned between the cleavable moiety and Z.
  • linker X or spacer Y can optionally be specified as comprising a reactive group (R) capable of reacting (e.g. under suitable conditions, optionally after deprotection) with an amino acid of the antibody or with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid of the antibody.
  • R is a group reactive with a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody.
  • R can be a maleimid-N-yl group having the structure below, which is reactive with a thiol group (also referred to a sulfhydryl group) on the antibody: .
  • linker X or spacer Y can optionally be specified as comprising the residue of the reaction of reactive group R with an amino acid of the antibody or with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid of the antibody.
  • R is the residue of the reaction of a group reactive with a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody and said free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group.
  • the method comprises a step of preparing, selecting or providing an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment.
  • the step comprise preparing, selecting or providing an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment and determining or testing whether the antibody or antibody fragment has feature(s) of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment can be tested for the ability to bind to the VC1 bridging domain of Nectin-4.
  • An antibody or antibody fragment that is determined to bind to the VC1 bridging domain of Nectin-4 is then contacted and/or reacted with the compound (e.g.
  • an anti- Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment can be tested for the ability to bind to a mutant Nectin-4 polypeptide (e.g. a mutant Nectin-4 polypeptide comprising a substitution at residues K197 and/or S199).
  • An antibody or antibody fragment that is determined to have decreased or loss of binding to the mutant Nectin-4 polypeptide is then contacted and/or reacted with the compound (e.g. linker (X) and/or cytotoxic agent (Z)).
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment can be tested for the ability to reduce cell-cell adhesion between Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells (e.g. adherent tumor cells) and/or for the ability to reduce growth of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells (e.g. in 3-dimensional cell culture, in a tumor spheroid formation assay).
  • An antibody or antibody fragment that is determined to have the ability to reduce cell-cell adhesion between Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells and/or for the ability to reduce growth of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells (e.g. adherent tumor cells) is then contacted and/or reacted with the compound (e.g. linker (X) and/or cytotoxic agent (Z)).
  • the compound e.g. linker (X) and/or cytotoxic agent (Z)
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment can be tested for the ability to sensitize a tumor to a cytotoxic agent (e.g. a cytotoxic agent Z or of the same class of drugs as Z, for example a camptothecin agent).
  • a cytotoxic agent e.g. a cytotoxic agent Z or of the same class of drugs as Z, for example a camptothecin agent.
  • An antibody or antibody fragment that is determined to have the ability to sensitize a tumor to the cytotoxic agent is then contacted and/or reacted with the compound (e.g. linker (X) and/or cytotoxic agent (Z)).
  • a method can comprise any two or more of the antibody testing steps prior to contacting the antibody with the compound (e.g. linker (X) and/or cytotoxic agent (Z)).
  • some well-known methods for conjugating cytotoxic agents to antibodies involve multiple reactions steps in which an antibody is first modified with a linker or part of a linker, followed by a reaction in which the cytotoxic agent is conjugated to the antibody-linker composition.
  • a process for preparing the antibody-conjugate comprising: (i) obtaining anti-Nectin-4 antibodies by culturing an host cell transformed with an expression vector containing a polynucleotide encoding the antibody; collecting and purifying the antibody of interest from the cultures obtained in the preceding step; (ii) contacting an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment with a compound (L) comprising (a) a first reactive group capable of reacting with an amino acid (e.g., a side chain or glycan of the amino acid, or a group attached to an amino acid or glycan of the amino acid) of the antibody and (b) a second reactive group (R’), to obtain a modified antibody comprising one or more amino acids functionalized with the compound (L); and (iii) reacting the modified antibody of step (i) with a compound comprising (a) a reactive group (R) that is complementary to reactive group (R’), (b) an amino acid unit (e.
  • the compound of step (ii) further comprises a spacer (Y) placed between R and the amino acid unit.
  • the step obtaining anti-Nectin-4 antibodies can further comprises steps of preparing antibody-producing cells by immunizing an animal by injection of the antigen, collecting the blood, assaying its antibody titer to determine when the spleen is excised; preparing myeloma cells; fusing the antibody-producing cells with the myeloma; screening a group of hybridomas producing a desired antibody; dividing the hybridomas into single cell clones (cloning); culturing the hybridoma or rearing an animal implanted with the hybridoma for producing a large amount of monoclonal antibody; and/or examining the thus produced monoclonal antibody for biological activity and binding specificity, or assaying the same for properties as a labeled reagent; and the like.
  • the step obtaining anti-Nectin-4 antibodies can further comprise steps of preparing a cell library.
  • R and R’ are capable of undergoing a click reaction or a cycloaddition, optionally wherein R comprises or is an alkyne moiety and R’ comprises or is an azide moiety, or wherein R’ comprises or is an alkyne moiety and R comprises or is an azide moiety, and wherein the reaction of step (ii) is a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.
  • the reaction of step (i) is carried out in presence of a catalyst, optionally the catalyst is an enzyme (e.g., a transglutaminase).
  • step (i) comprises a step of modifying the anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment.
  • the antibody or antibody fragment can be modified by reacting or contacting it with an enzyme capable of modifying antibody glycosylation (e.g., at Kabat residue N297).
  • the modification comprises the deglycosylation of an antibody glycan having a core N-acetylglucosamine, in the presence of an endoglycosidase, in order to obtain an antibody comprising a core N-acetylglucosamine substituent, wherein said core N- acetylglucosamine and said core N-acetylglucosamine substituent are optionally fucosylated.
  • endoglycosidases include EndoS, EndoA, EndoE, Endo18A, EndoF, EndoM, EndoD, EndoH, EndoT and EndoSH and/or a combination thereof.
  • the antigen binding protein e.g.
  • the immunoconjugate can for example be represented by Formula (II): Ab–(X–(Z) n ) m Formula (II) wherein, Ab is an anti-Nectin4 antibody or antibody fragment); X is a linker which connects Ab and Z, e.g., the residue of a linker following covalent linkage to one or both of Ab and Z; Z a cytotoxic agent, e.g.
  • camptothecin analogue optionally Z comprises a structure of Compounds 1 or 2 (exatecan or a SN-38 molecule); n is 1 or 2; and when n is 1, m is from among 1 to 8, or optionally m is an integer selected from among 1 to 8 or 1 to 6, optionally m is an integer selected from among 1 to 4, optionally m is 2 or 4; optionally, m is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8; and when n is 2, m is from among 1 to 4, or optionally m is an integer selected from among 1 to 4 or 1 to 3, optionally m is an integer selected from among 1 to 4, optionally m is 2 or 4; optionally, m is 1, 2, 4 or 4.
  • n can be specified to represent the degree of branching or polymerization.
  • n and m can be specified to represent the average in a composition comprising a plurality of antibodies.
  • X represents a molecule comprising a moiety that is cleavable, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions.
  • X represents a molecule comprising (i) a spacer (Y), (ii) a cleavable moiety and (iii) an optional self-eliminating or non-self-eliminating spacer system (Y’).
  • the spacer Y can be positioned between the Ab and the cleavable moiety, and the spacer system (Y’) can be positioned between the cleavable moiety and Z.
  • Molecule X or spacer Y can optionally be specified as comprising a reactive group (R) or the residue of the reaction of reactive group R with an amino acid of the antibody or with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid of the antibody.
  • the variable m represents the number of –X–(Z) n moieties per antibody molecule in an immunoconjugate. In a composition comprising a plurality of anti-Nectin-4 ADCs, the number “m” of number of –X–Z moieties per antibody molecule may vary.
  • m is the average number of –X–(Z) n moieties per Ab, in which case m can also be referred to as the average drug loading or drug:antibody ratio (DAR).
  • Average drug loading or DAR may advantageously range from 1 to about 8 (–X–(Z) n ) moieties per Ab.
  • the number of Z moieties attached to a moiety X, “n”, can for example be 1 or 2.
  • n is 1.
  • n is 1, and m represents the average drug loading, m is between 2 and 8.
  • n is 1, and m represents the average drug loading, m is between 2 and 6.
  • n is 1, and m represents the average drug loading, m is between 4 and 8. In some embodiments, n is 1, and m represents the average drug loading, m is between 6 and 8, optionally about 6, 7 or 8. In some embodiments, n is 1, and m represents the average drug loading, m is between 4 and 6, optionally about 4, 5 or 6.
  • the number of (–X–Z) moieties per Ab may be characterized by conventional means such as mass spectroscopy, ELISA assay, and HPLC. The quantitative distribution of immunoconjugates in terms of m may also be determined.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 composition used in the treatment methods of the disclosure is characterized as comprising a plurality immunoconjugates represented by Formula (I): Ab–(X–(Z) n ) m Formula (II) wherein, Ab is an anti-Nectin-4 antigen binding protein (e.g.
  • X is a molecule which connects Ab and Z, e.g., the residue of a linker following covalent linkage to one or both of Ab and Z;
  • Z is a cytotoxic agent, optionally a topoisomerase inhibitor, optionally a camptothecin analogue, optionally a camptothecin analogue comprising an exatecan or a SN-38 molecule, e.g., a molecule having the structure of Compounds 1 or 2;
  • n is 1 or 2; and wherein at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% of immunoconjugates in an antibody sample have an m (the number of X-Z moieties) that is 2 or 4, at least 2, between 2 and 4, at least 4, between 4 and 6 or between 4 and 8, optionally wherein n is 1 and at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% of immunoconjugates in an antibody sample have an m (the
  • an anti-Nectin-4 composition used in the treatment methods of the disclosure is characterized as comprising a plurality immunoconjugates represented by Formula (I): Ab–(X–(Z) n ) m Formula (II) wherein, Ab is an anti-Nectin-4 antigen binding protein (e.g.
  • X is a molecule which connects Ab and Z, e.g., the residue of a linker following covalent linkage to one or both of Ab and Z;
  • Z a camptothecin analogue comprising an exatecan or a SN-38 molecule, e.g., a molecule comprising the structure of Compounds 1 or 2;
  • n is 1; and wherein at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% of immunoconjugates in an antibody sample have an m (the number of X-Z moieties) that is 6, at least 6, between 6 and 8, or 8.
  • linker comprising the cytotoxic agent to the antibody or antigen binding protein, either non- specifically or specifically to a particular amino acid residue.
  • the linker (X) can comprise a moiety that is cleavable, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally as shown in the Examples under intracellular conditions, such that cleavage of the linker releases the cytotoxic agent (e.g. Compound 1, Compound 2, Compound 13, etc.) in the intracellular environment.
  • the linker can be bonded to a chemically reactive group on the antibody molecule, e.g., to a free amino, imino, hydroxyl, thiol or carboxyl group (e.g., to the N- or C- terminus, to the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, or to the sulfhydryl group of one or more cysteinyl residues), to a carbohydrate, or generally to any reactive group introduced or engineered into an antibody.
  • a chemically reactive group on the antibody molecule e.g., to a free amino, imino, hydroxyl, thiol or carboxyl group (e.g., to the N- or C- terminus, to the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues,
  • the site to which the linker is bound can be a natural residue in the amino acid sequence of the antibody molecule or it can be introduced into the antibody molecule, e.g., by DNA recombinant technology (e.g., by introducing a cysteine or protease cleavage site in the amino acid sequence, by introducing a non-natural amino acid residue) or by protein biochemistry (e.g., reduction, pH adjustment or proteolysis, by glycoengineering, enzymatic modification of an amino acid-bound glycan).
  • DNA recombinant technology e.g., by introducing a cysteine or protease cleavage site in the amino acid sequence, by introducing a non-natural amino acid residue
  • protein biochemistry e.g., reduction, pH adjustment or proteolysis, by glycoengineering, enzymatic modification of an amino acid-bound glycan.
  • the linker (X) comprises peptide residues comprising amino acid selected from phenylalanine, glycine, valine, alanine, lysine, citrulline, serine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid, optionally the linker (X) comprises a dipeptide, a tripeptide, or a tetrapeptide residue.
  • an intermediate which is the precursor of the linker (X) is reacted with the cytotoxic agent (Z) under appropriate conditions.
  • reactive groups are used on the cytotoxic agent and/or the intermediate.
  • the product of the reaction between the cytotoxic agent and the intermediate, or the derivatized cytotoxic agent is subsequently reacted with the antibody molecule under appropriate conditions.
  • a precursor of the linker (X) is first reacted with the antibody molecule under appropriate conditions so at to yield an antibody bound to the precursor of the linker (X), and the antibody is subsequently reacted with a molecule comprising the cytotoxic agent (Z).
  • the linker (X) is cleavable by a cleaving agent that is present in the intracellular environment (e.g., within a lysosome or endosome or caveolea).
  • the linker can comprise for example a peptidyl linker or amino acid unit that is cleaved by an intracellular peptidase or protease enzyme, including, but not limited to, a lysosomal or endosomal protease.
  • a peptidyl linker moiety is at least two amino acids long or at least three amino acids long.
  • Cleaving agents can include cathepsins B and D and plasmin, all of which are known to hydrolyze dipeptide drug derivatives resulting in the release of active drug inside target cells. Most typical are peptidyl linkers that are cleavable by enzymes that are present in cells.
  • the peptidyl linker cleavable by an intracellular protease is a Val-Cit linker or a Phe-Lys linker (see, e.g., U.S. patent 6,214,345, which describes the synthesis of doxorubicin with the valine-citrulline linker).
  • a valine-citrulline (Val-Cit) element can have the structure shown below: .
  • the peptidyl linker cleavable by an intracellular protease is a valine-alanine (Val-Ala) linker.
  • a val-ala element can have the structure is shown below: .
  • the peptidyl linker cleavable by an intracellular protease is a glycine-containing oligopeptide linker, for example glycine- and phenylalanine- containing oligopeptide linker, optionally a GGF, DGGF, (D-)D-GGF, EGGF, SGGF, KGGF, DGGFG (SEQ ID NO: 71), DDGGFG (SEQ ID NO: 72), KDGGFG (SEQ ID NO: 73), GGFGGGF (SEQ ID NO: 74), GGFG, GGFGG (SEQ ID NO: 75) or GGFGGG (SEQ ID NO: 76) linker (see, e.g., U.S.
  • a linker can function to act as a spacer or stretcher to distance an antibody from Z in order to avoid interference with the ability of the antibody to bind Nectin-4 and/or inhibit cell-cell interactions mediated by Nectin-4.
  • a linker may comprise a spacer unit (Y) and/or a spacer or spacer system (Y’).
  • the spacer Y can thus be positioned between the Ab and the cleavable moiety.
  • the spacer system (Y’) can be positioned between the cleavable moiety and Z.
  • Molecule X or spacer Y can optionally be specified as comprising a reactive group (R) or the residue of the reaction of reactive group R with an amino acid of the antibody or with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid of the antibody.
  • the spacer Y can for example be a molecule that forms a bond (e.g. via its reactive group R) with an amino acid of the antibody, e.g., a sulfur atom, a primary or secondary amino group or a carbohydrate group of the antibody, and which spacer or stretcher (Y) links the antibody to the cytotoxic agent (Z) or to a cleavable amino acid unit (e.g.
  • the peptidyl linker a cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide, optionally further with a self-eliminating and/or non-self-eliminating spacer (Y’) which is in turn linked to Z.
  • a self-eliminating and/or non-self-eliminating spacer Y’
  • the spacer (Y) is linked at one end to an amino acid unit (e.g. a cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide)
  • the cleavable amino acid unit can in turn be directly linked to Z or can comprise a further spacer (Y’) such as a non-self-eliminating or a self-eliminating spacer which links the amino acid unit and Z.
  • Spacer can optionally be specified as being or comprising a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or heteroalkyl chain, optionally wherein Y has a chain length of 2-100 atoms, optionally 2-40, 2-30, 2-20, 4-40, 4-30 or 4-20 atoms, optionally where one or more atoms can be other than carbon, for example oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or other atoms, optionally wherein any carbon of the chain is substituted with an alkoxy, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, alkyl-S-, thiol, alkyl-C(O)S-, amine, alkylamine, amide, or alkylamide.
  • Spacer can optionally be specified as comprising a stability-enhancing moiety.
  • spacer Y can orthogonal poly-ethyleneglycol (PEG) moieties or polysarcosine (poly-N-methylglycine or PSAR) moieties in the linker design (see, e.g., WO2019/081455, WO2015/057699 and WO2016/059377, the disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference).
  • spacer (Y) may comprise one or more ethylene oxide monomers, optionally Y comprises a polyethylene oxide moiety, optionally Y comprises between 1 and 24, optionally 1 and 12, optionally 1 and 8, optionally 6 and 24 polyethylene oxide moieties, optionally Y comprises a structure - (CH 2 CH 2 O) x - where x is 1 to 24, optionally 1 to 12, optionally 1 to 6, optionally 6 to 24.
  • a suitable stability-enhancing moiety spacer chain Y can comprise a stability-enhancing moiety disclosed in PCT publication nos. WO2015/057699 or WO2019/081455.
  • spacer chain Y can comprise an orthogonal connector moiety and stability-enhancing moiety.
  • the stability-enhancing moiety can be a PEG homopolymer, or generally any single molecular weight homopolymer (e.g. a PEG or polysarcosine homopolymer) bound to the orthogonal connector moiety.
  • the homopolymer can have for example 1-4, 1-6, 1-7, 1-8, 1-10, 1-12, at least 6, 8 or 10, or 6-12, 6-24, 6-72, or no more than 6, 7, or 8 units of the PEG or other monomer.
  • orthogonal connector refers to a branched linker unit component that connects a linker moiety (e.g. the chain of spacer Y) to a homopolymer unit and via a linker (e.g.
  • the orthogonal connector moiety can for example be one or more natural or non-natural amino acids optionally selected from glutamic acid, lysine and glycine.
  • the amino acid orthogonal connector moiety is placed at the end of spacer chain Y such that the orthogonal connector moiety amino acid residue is connected, via a peptide bond between the ⁇ -carboxyl group of one amino acid to the ⁇ -amino group of the other amino acid, to an amino acid residue of the peptidyl linker (e.g. (Pep) in Formula V or VI).
  • the peptidyl linker e.g. (Pep) in Formula V or VI.
  • Y can for example comprise the result of the reaction of the orthogonal connector moiety with a moiety of Formula D: wherein R 1 and R 2 are different, and one of R 1 and R 2 is H or an inert group, the other one of R 1 and R 2 being functionalized reactive group, said group being reactive for covalently binding to a bindable group of the orthogonal connector moiety, in such reaction conditions that the inert group is non-reactive, Z 1 and Z 2 , identical or different, are optional spacers, and n is 1 or more and k is 2 or more.
  • the orthogonal connector derives from a glutamic acid.
  • spacer Y comprises a group disclosed in US patent publication no.
  • w herein a is 0 or 1; and R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl groups, C 3 -C 24 cycloalkyl groups, C2-C24 (hetero)aryl groups, C3-C24 alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C 3 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkyl groups, the C 1 -C 24 alkyl groups, C 3 -C 24 cycloalkyl groups, C 2 -C 24 (hetero)aryl groups, C 3 -C 24 alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C 3 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkyl groups optionally substituted and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and NR 3 wherein R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -
  • spacer Y can comprise -(Succinimid-3-yl-N)—CH2CH2—C( ⁇ O)—, -(Succinimid-3-yl-N)—CH2CH2CH2—C( ⁇ O)—, -(Succinimid-3-yl-N)—CH2CH2CH2CH2— C( ⁇ O)—, -(Succinimid-3-yl-N)—CH2CH2CH2CH2—C( ⁇ O)—.
  • such spacer Y can further comprise the following structure: —NH— (CH2CH2—O)n -CH 2CH 2 —C( ⁇ O)—, wherein n is an integer of 1 to 6, preferably 2 to 4.
  • Such structure includes for example —NH—CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —C( ⁇ O)—, —NH— CH 2 CH 2 —O— CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —C( ⁇ O)—, —NH—CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —O— CH 2 CH 2 —O— CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —C( ⁇ O)—, —NH—CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —O— CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —C( ⁇ O)—, —NH—CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 2 CH 2 —O
  • the spacer or spacer system (Y’) placed between the amino acid unit (e.g. a cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide) and Z may be self-eliminating or non-self- eliminating.
  • a spacer Y’ may for example comprise a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or heteroalkyl chain, optionally wherein Y has a chain length of 2-30 atoms, optionally 2-20, 4- 20, 2-10 or 4-20 atoms, optionally where one or more atoms can be other than carbon, for example oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or other atoms, optionally wherein any carbon of the chain is substituted with an alkoxy, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, alkyl-S-, thiol, alkyl-C(O)S-, amine, alkylamine, amide, or alkylamide.
  • Y’ comprises a p- aminobenzyloxycarbonyl group.
  • Y’ is a non-self-eliminating spacer and comprises a structure of -(CH2)n-C( ⁇ O)—, wherein n is an integer of 0 to 5, said structure being connected to the cleavable moiety by a –O- or a single bound.
  • a "self-eliminating" spacer unit allows for release of the drug moiety without a separate hydrolysis step.
  • a self-eliminating spacer is used, after cleavage or transformation of the amino acid unit, the side of the spacer linked to the amino acid unit becomes unblocked, which results in eventual release of one or more moieties Z.
  • the self- elimination spacer systems may for example be those described in WO02/083180 and WO2004/043493, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, as well as other self-elimination spacers known to a person skilled in the art.
  • a spacer unit of a linker comprises a p-aminobenzyl unit.
  • a p-aminobenzyl alcohol is attached to an amino acid unit via an amide bond, and a carbamate, methylcarbamate, or carbonate is made between the benzyl alcohol and a cytotoxic agent.
  • the spacer unit is a p-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl (PAB) for example having the structure: .
  • PAB p-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl
  • self-eliminating spacer units further include, but are not limited to, aromatic compounds that are electronically similar to p-aminobenzyl alcohol (see, e.g.. US 2005/0256030 Al), such as 2-aminoimidazol-5-methanoi derivatives (Hay et al. (1999) Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.
  • Spacers can be used mat undergo cyclization upon amide bond hydrolysis, such as substituted and unsubstituted 4-aminobutyric acid amides (Rodrigues et al.. Chemistry Biology, 1995, 2, 223) and 2-aminophenylpropionic acid amides (Amsberry, et al., J. Org. Chem., 1990, 55. 5867). Elimination of amine-containing drugs that are substituted at the a-position of glycine (Kingsbury, et al., J. Med. Chem., 1984, 27, 1447) are also examples of self-eliminating spacers.
  • a p-aminobenzyl self-eliminating spacer e.g. PAB
  • PAB p-aminobenzyl self-eliminating spacer
  • a "non-self-eliminating" spacer unit is one in which part or all of the spacer unit remains bound to the moiety Z upon enzymatic (e.g., proteolytic) cleavage of the antibody- moiety-of-interest conjugate.
  • non-self-eliminating spacer units include, but are not limited to, a glycine spacer unit and a glycine-glycine spacer unit.
  • Other known combinations of peptidic spacers susceptible to sequence-specific enzymatic cleavage can be used in a similar manner.
  • enzymatic cleavage of an antibody-moiety-of-interest conjugate containing a glycine-glycine spacer unit by a tumor cell associated protease would result in release of a glycine-glycine-drug moiety from the remainder of the antibody-moiety- of-interest conjugate.
  • the glycine-glycine-drug moiety is then subjected to a separate hydrolysis step in the tumor cell, thus cleaving the glycine-glycine spacer unit from the drug moiety.
  • An exemplary linker-cytotoxic drug moiety (X–Z) can comprise any of the structures shown below in Formulae III and IV.
  • Spacers (Y) and (Y’) can optionally be specified as being are independently selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C 1 -C 20 alkylene groups, C 2 -C 20 alkenylene groups, C 2 -C 20 alkynylene groups, C 3 -C 20 cycloalkylene groups, C 5 -C 20 cycloalkenylene groups, C 8 - C 20 cycloalkynylene groups, C 7 -C 20 alkylarylene groups, C 7 -C 20 arylalkylene groups, C 8 -C 20 arylalkenylene groups and C 9 -C 20 arylalkynylene groups, the alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, alkylarylene groups, arylalkylene groups, arylalkenylene groups and arylalkynylene groups being optionally substitute
  • spacer (Y) can optionally be specified as comprising, e.g., at one end of the chain, a reactive group (R) that is reactive with a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group, or carbohydrate, on the antibody.
  • spacer (Y) can optionally be specified as comprising, e.g., at one end of the chain, a reactive group (R) that is reactive with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid (e.g., via a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group, or carbohydrate) of the antibody, or, upon conjugation to an anti-Nectin-4 antibody, the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody or with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid of the antibody.
  • R reactive group
  • R complementary reactive group
  • Examples of reactive group pairs R and R’ include a range of groups capable of biorthogonal reaction, preferably a cycloaddition, for example a Diels-Alder reaction or a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, for example between azides and cyclooctynes (copper-free click chemistry), between nitrones and cyclooctynes, oxime/hydrazone formation from aldehydes and ketones and the tetrazine ligation (see also WO2013/092983 or US2017/0072068A1, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference).
  • a cycloaddition for example a Diels-Alder reaction or a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, for example between azides and cyclooctynes (copper-free click chemistry), between nitrones and cyclooctynes, oxime/hydrazone formation from aldehydes and ketones and the
  • R can be an alkyne and R’ can be an azide, or R can be an azide and R’ an alkyne.
  • the resulting linker and functionalized antibody, or the Y element thereof can thus in any embodiment comprise a group (RR’) resulting from the reaction of R and R’, for example RR’ can be or comprise a triazole resulting from the reaction of an alkyne and an azide.
  • the reactive groups R and R’ are complementary reagents together capable of undergoing a “click” reaction (i.e., a Click Chemistry reagent or reactive group).
  • a 1,3-dipole-functional compound can react with an alkyne in a cyclization reaction to form a heterocyclic compound, preferably in the substantial absence of added catalyst (e.g., Cu(I)).
  • a variety compounds having at least one 1,3-dipole group attached thereto can be used to react with the alkynes disclosed herein.
  • Exemplary 1,3- dipole groups include, but are not limited to, azides, nitrile oxides, nitrones, azoxy groups, and acyl diazo groups.
  • R is a moiety having a terminal alkyne or azide; such moieties are described for example in U.S. patent no. 7,763,736, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Suitable reaction conditions for use of copper (and other metal salt) as catalysts of click-reactions between terminal alkynes and azides are provided in U.S. patent no.7,763,736.
  • R is a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyne.
  • Cycloalkynes including specific compounds, are described for example in U.S. Patent No.7,807,619, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • a cycloalkyne may be a compound of Formula A: where: R 1 is selected from a carbonyl, an alkyl ester, an aryl ester, a substituted aryl ester, an aldehyde, an amide, an aryl amide, an alkyl halide, a thioester, a sulfonyl ester, an alkyl ketone, an aryl ketone, a substituted aryl ketone, and a halosulfonyl; R 1 can be at any position on the cyclooctyne group other than at the two carbons joined by the triple bond.
  • the modified cycloalkyne is of Formula A, wherein one or more of the carbon atoms in the cyclooctyne ring, other than the two carbon atoms joined by a triple bond, is substituted with one or more electron-withdrawing groups, e.g., a halo (bromo, chloro, fluoro, iodo), a nitro group, a cyano group, a sulfone group, or a sulfonic acid group.
  • a halo bromo, chloro, fluoro, iodo
  • R 1 can be at any position on the cyclooctyne group other than at the two carbons linked by the triple bond.
  • R is a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic strained alkyne. Cycloalkynes, including specific compounds, are described for example in U.S. Patent No. 8,133,515, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the alkyne is of the Formula C: wherein: each R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, and a C 1 -C 10 alkyl or heteroalkyl; each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, and a C 1 -C 10 organic group; X represents N-R 3 R 4 , NH-R 4 , CH-N-OR 4 , C-N-NR 3 R 4 , CHOR 4 , or CHNHR 4 ; and each R 3 represents hydrogen or an organic group and R 4 represents linking moiety C of a linker.
  • R or R’ is a DBCO (dibenzycyclooctyl) group below:
  • Alkynes such as those described herein above can be reacted with at least one 1,3- dipole-functional compound in a cyclization reaction to form a heterocyclic compound, preferably in the substantial absence of added catalyst (e.g., Cu(I)).
  • added catalyst e.g., Cu(I)
  • a wide variety compounds having at least one 1,3-dipole group attached thereto (having a three-atom pi- electron system containing 4 electrons delocalized over the three atoms) can be used to react with the alkynes disclosed herein.
  • Exemplary 1,3-dipole groups include, but are not limited to, azides, nitrile oxides, nitrones, azoxy groups, and acyl diazo groups.
  • Y’ can be optionally absent or can be a spacer, optionally a self-eliminating spacer, for example comprising p-aminobenzyl unit, or a non-self-eliminating spacer.
  • Y’ is or comprises a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or heteroalkyl chain, optionally wherein Y’ has a chain length of 2-40 atoms, optionally 2-30, 2-20, 4-40, 4- 30 or 4-20 atoms, optionally where one or more atoms can be other than carbon, for example oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or other atoms, optionally wherein any carbon of the chain is substituted with an alkoxy, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, alkyl-S-, thiol, alkyl-C(O)S-, amine, alkylamine, amide, or alkylamide.
  • An exemplary linker-cytotoxic agent molecule e.g.
  • an X-Z moiety of Formulae I to XI) that can be conjugated to an anti-Nectin-4 antibody can optionally be represented by Formula V: (R)–(Y) – (Pep) – (Y’) – (Z) Formula (V) wherein, R is a group reactive with a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody, or reactive with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid of the antibody, or, upon conjugation to the anti-Nectin-4 binding protein R is the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody or with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid of the antibody; Y is optionally absent or is a spacer; Pep is or comprises a peptidyl linker that is cleaved by an intracellular peptidase or protease
  • a resulting Nectin-4 binding immunoconjugate according to the invention can for example be represented by Formula (VI): Ab – (Y) – (Pep) – (Y’) – (Z) Formula (VI) wherein, Ab is an anti-Nectin-4 an antibody; Y is optionally absent or is a spacer.
  • Formula VI comprises, between (Ab) and (Y) the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (e.g. a maleimide, a primary amine) with the side chain or carbohydrate of an amino acid of anti-Nectin-4 antigen binding protein (Ab).
  • a reactive group e.g. a maleimide, a primary amine
  • the residue of the reaction of a reactive group e.g.
  • a maleimide, a primary amine) with the side chain of an amino acid of anti-Nectin-4 antigen binding protein (Ab) can be specified as being comprised in Y;
  • Pep is or comprises an amino acid unit (e.g. peptidyl linker) that is cleaved by an intracellular peptidase or protease enzyme, (e.g., (Pep) is a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide, for example a valine-citrulline, valine-alanine or phenylalanine-lysine unit);
  • Y’ is optionally absent or is a spacer, optionally a self-eliminating spacer or a non- self-eliminating spacer; and
  • Z is a cytotoxic agent, optionally a camptothecin derivative, optionally an exatecan, Dxd or SN-38 molecule.
  • the formula comprises can be specified as comprising (e.g. between (Ab) and the end of Y (or (Pep or X) if Y is absent)) the residue (RR’) of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody or with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to an amino acid of the antibody.
  • (RR’) is the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with a complementary reactive group (R’) that is attached to the antibody (e.g.
  • the Nectin-4 binding immunoconjugate according to the invention can for example be represented by Formula (VIbis): Ab – (RR’) – (Y) – (Pep) – (Y’) – (Z) Formula (VI bis ) wherein, Ab, Y, Pep, Y’ and Z are as defined in Formula VI, and RR’ is the result of biorthogonal reaction, preferably a cycloaddition, for example a Diels-Alder reaction or a 1,3- dipolar cycloaddition.
  • RR’ has a structure selected from the group consisting of: wherein X 8 is O or NH, X 9 is selected from H, methyl and pyridyl, and in structure (RR’ c ) and (RR’ d ), and the ---- bond represents either a single or a double bond.
  • an exatecan molecule (or other 6-ring camptothecin) can be specified as being bound to Y’ (or (Pep) if Y’ is absent) via the amine at position 1 of exatecan.
  • a SN-38 molecule (or other 5-ring camptothecin) can be specified as being bound to Y’ (or (Pep) if Y’ is absent) via the amine at position 9 of SN-38.
  • the cytotoxic agent also referred to as the (Z) moiety, includes, for example, cytotoxic agents such as antineoplastic agents. Examples of cytotoxic agents are known in the art.
  • Z can be an alkylating agent, preferably a DNA alkylating agent.
  • An alkylation agent is a compound that can replace a hydrogen atom with an alkyl group under physiological conditions (e.g. pH 7.4, 37 C, aqueous solution).
  • Alkylation reactions are typically described in terms of substitution reactions by N, O and S heteroatomic nucleophiles with the electrophilic alkylating agent, although Michael addition reactions are also important.
  • alkylating agents include nitrogen and sulfur mustards, ethylenimines, methanosulfonates, CC-1065 and duocarmycins, nitrosoureas, platinum- containing agents, agents that effectuate Topoisomerase II-mediated site dependent alkylation of DNA (e.g. psorospermin and related bisfuranoxanthones), ecteinascidin and other or related DNA minor groove alkylation agents.
  • Z is a chelated metal, such as chelates of di- or tripositive metals having a coordination number from 2 to 8 inclusive.
  • metals include technetium (Tc), rhenium (Re), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), gold (Au), silver (Ag), lead (Pb), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), gallium (Ga), yttrium (Y), terbium (Tb), gadolinium (Gd), and scandium (Sc).
  • the metal is preferably a radionuclide.
  • radionuclides include 99mTc, 186Re, 188Re, 58Co, 60Co, 67Cu, 195Au, 199Au, 110Ag, 203Pb, 206Bi, 207Bi, 111In, 67Ga, 68Ga, 88Y, 90Y, 160Tb, 153Gd and 47Sc.
  • the chelated metal may be for example one of the above types of metal chelated with any suitable polydentate chelating agent, for example acyclic or cyclic polyamines, polyethers, (e.g. crown ethers and derivatives thereof); polyamides; porphyrins; and carbocyclic derivatives.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment can also be used in diagnostics, e.g., to detect Nectin-4 tumor cells.
  • an antibody or antibody fragment can be conjugated to an effector molecules such as detectable substances useful for example in diagnosis.
  • detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, bioluminescent materials, radioactive nuclides, positron emitting metals (for use in positron emission tomography), and nonradioactive paramagnetic metal ions. See generally U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,900 for metal ions which can be conjugated to antibodies for use as diagnostics.
  • Suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase; suitable prosthetic groups include streptavidin, avidin and biotin; suitable fluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride and phycoerytbrin; suitable luminescent materials include luminol; suitable bioluminescent materials include luciferase, luciferin, and aequorin; and suitable radioactive nuclides include 125I, 131I, 111In and 99Tc.
  • cytotoxic agent (Z) is a DNA minor groove binding and/or alkylating agent, e.g., a pyrrolobenzodiazepine, a duocarmycin, or derivatives thereof.
  • the cytotoxic agent is selected from the group consisting of taxanes, anthracyclines, camptothecins, epothilones, mytomycins, combretastatins, vinca alkaloids, nitrogen mustards, maytansinoids, calicheamycins, duocarmycins, tubulysins, dolastatins and auristatins, enediynes, amatoxins, pyrrolobenzodiazepines, ethylenimines, radioisotopes, therapeutic proteins and peptides, and toxins or fragments thereof.
  • the cytotoxic agent is selected from cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, chlorambucil, 4-(bis(2-chloroethyl)amino)phenol, 4-(bis(2- fluoroethyl)ammo)phenol, N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)-p-phenylenediamine, N,N-bis(2-fluoro- ethyl)-p-phenylenediamine, carmustine, lomustine, treosulfan, dacarbazine, cisplatin, carboplatin, vincristine, vinblastine, vindesine, vinorelbine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, etoposide, teniposide, topotecan, inirotecan, 9-aminocamptothecin, 9-nitrocamptothecin, 10- hydroxycamptothecin, lurtotecan, camptothecin, cri
  • Exemplary auristatin embodiments include the N-terminus linked monomethylauristatin drug moieties comprising a structure of any of Formulas (a1) and (a2) below: wherein the wavy line of (a1) and (a2) indicates the covalent attachment site to linker (e.g.
  • R 2 is selected from H and C 1 -C 8 alkyl
  • R 3 is selected from H, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 carbocycle, aryl, C 1 -C 8 alkyl-aryl, C 1 -C 8 alkyl-(C 3 -C 8 carbocycle), C 3 -C 8 heterocycle and C 1 -C 8 alkyl-( C 3 -C 8 heterocycle)
  • R 4 is selected from H, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 carbocycle.
  • R 5 is selected from H and methyl; or R 4 and R 5 jointly form a carbocyclic ring and have the formula -(CR a R b ) n wherein R a and R b are independently selected from H, C1-C8 alkyl and C3-C8 carbocycle and n is selected from 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; R 6 is selected from H and C 1 -C 8 alkyl; R 7 is selected from H, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 carbocycle, aryl, C 1 -C 8 alkyl-aryl, C 1 -C 8 alkyl-(C 3 -C 8 carbocycle), C 3 -C 8 heterocycle and C 1 -C 8 alkyl-(C 3
  • R 3 , R 4 and R 7 are independently isopropyl or sec-butyl and R 5 is -H or methyl.
  • R 3 and R 4 are each isopropyl, R 5 is -H, and R 7 is sec-butyl.
  • R 2 and R 6 are each methyl, and R 9 is -H.
  • each occurrence of R 8 is -OCH 3 .
  • R 3 and R 4 are each isopropyl, R 2 and R 6 are each methyl, R 5 is -H, R 7 is sec- butyl, each occurrence of R 8 is -OCH3, and R 9 is -H.
  • Z is -O- or -NH-.
  • R 10 is aryl.
  • R 10 is -phenyl.
  • when Z is -0-, R 11 is -H, methyl or t-butyl.
  • when Z is -NH, R 11 is -CH(R 15 ) 2 , wherein R 15 is -(CH 2 ) n -N(R 16 ) 2 , and R 16 is -C 1 -C 8 alkyl or -(CH 2 ) n -COOH.
  • R 11 is -CH(R 15 ) 2 , wherein R 15 is -(CH 2 ) n - SO 3 H.
  • One exemplary auristatin embodiment of formula (a1) is MMAE, wherein the wavy line indicates the covalent attachment to a linker:
  • An exemplary auristatin embodiment of formula (a2) is MMAF, wherein the wavy line indicates the covalent attachment to a linker (L) of an antibody-drug conjugate (see US 2005/0238649 and Doronina et al.
  • exemplary Z embodiments include monomethylvaline compounds having phenylalanine carboxy modifications at the C-terminus of the pentapeptide auristatin drug moiety (WO 2007/008848) and monomethylvaline compounds having phenylalanine sidechain modifications at the C-terminus of the pentapeptide auristatin drug moiety (WO 2007/008603).
  • Other drug moieties include the following MMAF derivatives, wherein the wavy line indicates the covalent attachment to a linker:
  • a linker comprising a spacer (Y) comprising a primary amine, a valine-citrulline as the (Pep) moiety, a PAB as the (Y’) moiety together with a MMAF as the (Z) moiety is shown below: .
  • the Z moiety is a DNA minor groove binding agent, optionally Z comprises a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD).
  • PBD pyrrolobenzodiazepine
  • Z is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine monomer.
  • Z is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer comprising two pyrrolobenzodiazepine units.
  • Z is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine trimer comprising three pyrrolobenzodiazepine units. In one embodiment, Z is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine multimer comprising more than three pyrrolobenzodiazepine units. Structures of PBDs, as well as formulas and methods of producing them are described for example in PCT publications Nos: WO 2013/177481, WO 2011/130616, WO 2004/043880, WO 2005/085251, WO2012/112687 and WO 2011/023883, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4] benzodiazepines are a family of sequence-selective, minor- groove binding DNA-interactive agents that covalently attach to guanine residues. It has been reported that the (S)-chirality at the C11a-position of PBDs provides them with the appropriate 3-dimensional shape to fit perfectly into the DNA minor groove. PBDs can have different effects and modes of action. PBDs can be DNA-binders or DNA-alkylators that do not cause crosslinking of DNA, or PBDs can be DNA cross-linkers.
  • the pyrrolobenzodiazepine unit or monomer can have a general structure as follows: wherein the PBD can have different number, type and position of substituents, in both the aromatic A rings and pyrrolo C rings, and can vary in the degree of saturation of the C ring.
  • a pyrrolobenzodiazepine monomer or unit is a pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine.
  • a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer is a C8/C8’-linked pyrrolo[2,1- c][1,4]benzodiazepine dimer.
  • a PBD can be attached to a linker through any suitable position.
  • a PBD dimer comprises the structure of the general formula below: ' wherein R 6 , R 7 , R 9 , R 6’ , R 7’ , R 9’ , R 10 , R 11 , R 10’ and R 11’ are as defined above, and wherein the “K” ring is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or non-aromatic ring, optionally a 6-member ring, optionally a phenyl.
  • the cytotoxic agent (Z) is a camptothecin, e.g. it has or comprises the structure of camptothecin or of a camptothecin analog.
  • Camptothecin is well known, as are a wide range of camptothecin analogues that share the core ring system with various substitutions, but preferably have modifications or substitutions in rings A and/or B of the basic camptothecin structure below: Many camptothecin analogues have been reported including, topotecan, inirotecan, exatecan, DXd, 9-aminocamptothecin, 9-nitrocamptothecin, 10-hydroxycamptothecin, lurtotecan, camptothecin, gimatecan, belotecan, and rubitecan. Further camptothecin analogues are disclosed in Li et al., ACS Med. Chem.
  • the camptothecin analogue is a five-ring compound (e.g., the camptothecin lacks an F ring). In one embodiment, the camptothecin analogue is a six-ring compound, e.g., comprising the F ring.
  • linker e.g. spacer Y or Y’, or linker X
  • a camptothecin analogue is a six-ring compound (additionally an F ring), where the compound is attached to the linker through a substituent on such F ring.
  • six rings compounds include but are not limited to DXd (CAS No. : 1599440-33-1) and exatecan.
  • the antibody of the disclosure releases, in vivo or in vitro in presence of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells (e.g. upon enzymatic cleavage of the cleavable moiety followed by self-elimination of the spacer Y’) an exatecan molecule having the structure of Compound 1.
  • the camptothecin derivative or analogue exatecan is described in Mitsui et al.1995 Jpn. J. Cancer Res.86: 776-782 and in Takiguchi et al.1997 Jpn. J. Cancer Res.88: 760- 769, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • exatecan The structure of exatecan is shown below in Compound 1a: Compound 1a.
  • Exatecan can be coupled to a linker via the nitrogen atom of the amino group at position 1, such that the exatecan moiety, when bound to a linker or present within a linker- exatecan molecule (an (X-Z) molecule), for example as conjugated to an antibody, exatecan will have the structure of Compound 1b: Compound 1b.
  • linker an (X-Z) molecule
  • exatecan will be understood to be modified group at position 1 (i.e.
  • exatecan can be coupled to the antibody via a linker comprising a cleavable oligopeptide.
  • linker comprising a cleavable oligopeptide. Examples include di-, tri-, tetra- and penta-peptides such as the glycine and phenylalanine-containing peptides shown in U.S. patent no. 6,835,807, or the dipeptides valine-citrulline or valine- alanine attached to a PAB molecule, or the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • Various suitable linker-Z structures are known that can liberate active exatecan or exatecan derivatives at the amino at position 1.
  • Exatecan can be linked to a cleavable oligopeptide via a p-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl group (PAB) group attached to the position 1 amine, as shown in Formulae VII, VIII and IX, or in the (PEG(8U)-Val-Ala-PAB-Exatecan) linker of Example 7, which upon cleavage results in the liberation of the exatecan having the structure of Compound 1a.
  • PAB p-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl group
  • a substituted exatecan derivative e.g.
  • Dxd can be coupled to a linker via the oxygen atom at the terminus /of the carbon chain, such that the Dxd moiety, when bound to a linker or present within a linker-Dxd molecule (an (X-Z) molecule), for example as conjugated to an antibody, the carbon-chain- terminal OH will be replaced by an O.
  • the linker moiety (X–Z) is or comprises the structure shown in Formula VII, below, wherein (Y) is a spacer comprising (e.g., at its terminus) the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with an amino acid residue, for example a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody (e.g., on the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, or to the S atom of one or more cysteinyl residues).
  • R reactive group
  • An anti-Nectin-4 binding protein functionalized with a linker comprising the structure of Formula VII or Compounds 3 or 4 will release or yield (e.g. intracellularly, in the presence of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells) a compound having the structure of Compound 1a.
  • An exemplary linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compound 3, below.
  • Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent, e.g. tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine hydrochloride.
  • the resulting antibody-drug conjugate will comprise an antibody comprising one or a plurality of cysteine residues functionalized with a compound having the structure of Compound 3 (wherein Compound 3 is bound via the S atom of the cysteine residue).
  • a linker can have a primary amine as R group, and when reacted with an antibody in the presence of a transglutaminase enzyme, can yield an antibody comprising one or a plurality of acceptor glutamine residues functionalized with the linker.
  • a linker (X–Z), or an antibody functionalized therewith has or comprises the structure shown as Compound 4, below:
  • the linker moiety (X–Z) is or comprises the structure shown in Formula VIII, below, wherein (Y) is a spacer comprising (e.g., at its terminus) the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with an amino acid residue, for example a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody (e.g., on the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, or to the S atom of one or more cysteinyl residues), or for example a glycan structure of a glycosylated amino acid residue (e.g.
  • An anti-Nectin-4 binding protein functionalized with a linker comprising the structure of Formula VIII or Compounds 5, 6 or 7 will release or yield (e.g. intracellularly, in the presence of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells) a compound having the structure of Compound Ia.
  • An exemplary linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compounds 5 or 6, below. Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • a linker in another embodiment, can have a primary amine as R group, and when reacted with an antibody in the presence of a transglutaminase enzyme, can yield an antibody comprising one or a plurality of acceptor glutamine residues functionalized with the linker.
  • a linker (X–Z), or an antibody functionalized therewith has or comprises the structure shown as Compound 7, below:
  • the linker moiety (X–Z) is or comprises the structure shown in Formula IX, below, wherein (Y) is a spacer comprising (e.g., at its terminus) the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with an amino acid residue, for example a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody (e.g., on the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, or to the S atom of one or more cysteinyl residues), or for example a glycan structure of a glycosylated amino acid residue (e.g.
  • An anti-Nectin-4 binding protein functionalized with a linker comprising the structure of Formula IX will release (e.g. intracellularly, in the presence of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells) a compound having the structure of Compound Ia.
  • An exemplary linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compound 8, below. Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • a linker in another embodiment, can have a primary amine as R group, and when reacted with an antibody in the presence of a transglutaminase enzyme, can yield an antibody comprising one or a plurality of acceptor glutamine residues functionalized with the linker.
  • a linker (X–Z), or an antibody functionalized therewith has or comprises the structure shown as Compound 9, below:
  • the linker moiety (X–Z) is or comprises the structure shown in Formula X, below, wherein (Y) is a spacer comprising (e.g., at its terminus) the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with an amino acid residue, for example a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody (e.g., on the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, or to the S atom of one or more cysteinyl residues), or for example a glycan structure of a glycosylated amino acid residue (e.g.
  • An exemplary linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compound 10, below.
  • Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent, e.g. tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine hydrochloride.
  • the linker moiety (X–Z) is or comprises the structure shown in Formula XI, below, wherein (Y) is a spacer comprising (e.g., at its terminus) the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with an amino acid residue, for example a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody (e.g., on the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, or to the S atom of one or more cysteinyl residues), or for example a glycan structure of a glycosylated amino acid residue (e.g.
  • linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compound 11, below.
  • Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • the linker moiety (X-Z) is or comprises the structure according to Formula XII below, wherein (Y) is a spacer comprising (e.g.
  • the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with an amino acid residue for example a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody (e.g., on the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, or to the S atom of one or more cysteinyl residues), or for example a glycan structure of a glycosylated amino acid residue (e.g. a native truncated or otherwise modified N-glycan bound to Kabat residue N297 of an antibody).
  • R reactive group
  • the linker may comprise for example 1-72, 1-16, 1-12, 1-8, 1-7, 1-6, 6-24, 6, 8, 16, 18 or 24 PEG units.
  • the number n of PEG units can be for example 1-72, 5-23, 1-15, 1-16, 1-11, 1-12, 1- 8, 1-7, 1-6, 7, 15, 17 or 23.
  • an immunoconjugate or an antibody-drug conjugate comprising a linker moiety having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of formula XII bis, wherein the maleimide moiety is bound to the sulfure group (S) of an amino acid (i.e. a cysteine) of the antibody (Ab) after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • an immunoconjugate or an antibody-drug conjugate comprising a linker moiety having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of formula XIIter, F
  • An examplary linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compound 14a, below.
  • Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • the linker moiety comprises 8 PEG units.
  • one immunoconjugate or one antibody-drug conjugate comprising such a linker moiety can have the structure of Compound 14a bis, below.
  • linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compound 14b, below.
  • Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • the linker moiety comprises 7 PEG units.
  • one immunoconjugate or one antibody-drug conjugate comprising such a linker moiety can have the structure of Compound 14b bis, below.
  • linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compound 14c, below.
  • Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • the linker moiety comprise 16 PEG units.
  • an immunoconjugate or antibody-drug conjugate comprising such a linker moiety can have the structure of Compound 14c bis, below.
  • the linker moiety (X-Z) is or comprises the structure according to Formula XIII below, wherein (Y) is a spacer comprising (e.g. at its terminus) the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with an amino acid residue, for example a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody (e.g., on the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, or to the S atom of one or more cysteinyl residues), or for example a glycan structure of a glycosylated amino acid residue (e.g.
  • an immunoconjugate or antibody-drug conjugate comprising a linker moiety having a maleimide as R group can have the following formula XIII bis, wherein the maleimide moiety is bound to the sulfure group (S) of an amino acid (i.e.
  • a cysteine of the antibody (Ab) after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent can have the structure of Compound 15a, below.
  • Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • the linker moiety comprise 8 PEG units.
  • an immunoconjugate or antibody-drug conjugate comprising such a linker moiety can have the structure of Compound 15a bis, below.
  • linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compound 15b, below.
  • Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • the linker moiety comprise 7 PEG units.
  • animmunoconjugate or antibody-drug conjugate comprising such a linker moiety can have the structure of Compound 15b bis, below.
  • the linker moiety (X-Z) is or comprises the structure according to Formula XIV below, wherein (Y) is a spacer comprising (e.g. at its terminus) the residue of the reaction of a reactive group (R) with an amino acid residue, for example a free amino, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or carboxyl group on the antibody (e.g., on the epsilon amino group of one or more lysine residues, the free carboxylic acid group of one or more glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, or to the S atom of one or more cysteinyl residues), or for example a glycan structure of a glycosylated amino acid residue (e.g.
  • n of PSAR units can be for example 1-72, 1-24, 1-16, 1-10, 1-12, 1-8, 1-6, 8, 16, 18 or 24.
  • An examplary linker having a maleimide as R group can have the structure of Compound 16, below. Such linker can be conjugated to an antibody via cysteine residues in the antibody after the interchain disulfide bounds are reduced with a reducing agent.
  • an immunoconjugate or antibody-drug conjugate comprising such a linker moiety can have the structure of Compound 16 bis, below.
  • a linker in another embodiment, can have a primary amine as R group, and when reacted with an antibody in the presence of a transglutaminase enzyme, can yield an antibody comprising one or a plurality of acceptor glutamine residues functionalized with the linker.
  • a linker (X–Z), or an antibody functionalized therewith has or comprises the structure shown as Compound 12, below: An anti-Nectin-4 binding protein functionalized with an oligopeptide-containing linker of Formulae XI or Compounds 11 and 12 result in the release (e.g.
  • BTG Bacterial Transglutaminase, BTG
  • the transglutaminase enzyme catalyzes the conjugation of the linker to an acceptor glutamine residue within the primary structure of the antibody, for example within an immunoglobulin constant domain or within a TGase recognition tag inserted or appended to (e.g., fused to) a constant region.
  • Methods and linkers for use in BTG-mediated conjugation to antibodies is described in PCT publication no. WO2014/202773, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Conjugation catalyzed by BTG permits precise control of the average drug:antibody ratio in a composition.
  • transglutaminase refers to an enzyme capable of cross-linking proteins through an acyl- transfer reaction between the ⁇ -carboxamide group of peptide-bound glutamine and the ⁇ - amino group of a lysine or a structurally related primary amine such as amino pentyl group, e.g. a peptide-bound lysine, resulting in a ⁇ -( ⁇ -glutamyl)lysine isopeptide bond.
  • TGases include, inter alia, bacterial transglutaminase (BTG) such as the enzyme having EC reference EC 2.3.2.13 (protein-glutamine- ⁇ -glutamyltransferase).
  • acceptor glutamine residue when referring to a glutamine residue of an antibody, means a glutamine residue that is recognized by a TGase and can be cross-linked by a TGase through a reaction between the glutamine and a lysine or a structurally related primary amine such as amino pentyl group.
  • the acceptor glutamine residue is a surface-exposed glutamine residue.
  • TGase recognition tag refers to a sequence of amino acids comprising an acceptor glutamine residue and that when incorporated into (e.g.
  • a polypeptide sequence under suitable conditions, is recognized by a TGase and leads to cross-linking by the TGase through a reaction between an amino acid side chain within the sequence of amino acids and a reaction partner.
  • the recognition tag may be a peptide sequence that is not naturally present in the polypeptide comprising the enzyme recognition tag. Examples of TGase recognition tags include the amino acid sequences disclosed in WO2012/059882 and WO2014/072482.
  • the linker-drug moiety (X-Z) can be conjugated to glutamine residues in an antibody (acceptor glutamines) in two-step process comprising a first step in which a moiety comprising a primary amine and a first reactive group (R) is conjugated to the antibody in the presence of BTG, followed by a step of reacting the antibody-linker conjugate with a molecule comprising (i) a second reactive group (R’) that is reactive with the first reactive group and (ii) the cytotoxic agent (Z).
  • Examples of reactive group pairs R and R’ include a range of groups capable of biorthogonal reaction, for example 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between azides and cyclooctynes (copper-free click chemistry), between nitrones and cyclooctynes, oxime/hydrazone formation from aldehydes and ketones and the tetrazine ligation (see also WO2013/092983).
  • the resulting linker and functionalized antibody, or the Y element thereof can thus comprise a RR’ group resulting from the reaction of R and R’, for example a triazole.
  • An anti-Nectin-4 immunoconjugate can be incorporated in a pharmaceutical formulation in a concentration from 1 mg/ml to 500 mg/ml, wherein said formulation has a pH from 2.0 to 10.0.
  • the formulation may further comprise a buffer system, preservative(s), tonicity agent(s), chelating agent(s), stabilizers and surfactants.
  • the pharmaceutical formulation is an aqueous formulation, i.e., formulation comprising water. Such formulation is typically a solution or a suspension.
  • the pharmaceutical formulation is an aqueous solution.
  • aqueous formulation is defined as a formulation comprising at least 50 %w/w water.
  • aqueous solution is defined as a solution comprising at least 50 %w/w water
  • aqueous suspension is defined as a suspension comprising at least 50 %w/w water.
  • the pharmaceutical formulation is a freeze-dried formulation, whereto the physician or the patient adds solvents and/or diluents prior to use.
  • the pharmaceutical formulation is a dried formulation (e.g. freeze-dried or spray-dried) ready for use without any prior dissolution.
  • the pharmaceutical formulation comprises an aqueous solution of such an antibody, and a buffer, wherein the antibody is present in a concentration from 1 mg/ml or above, and wherein said formulation has a pH from about 2.0 to about 10.0.
  • the pH of the formulation is in the range selected from the list consisting of from about 2.0 to about 10.0, about 3.0 to about 9.0, about 4.0 to about 8.5, about 5.0 to about 8.0, and about 5.5 to about 7.5.
  • the buffer is selected from the group consisting of sodium acetate, sodium carbonate, citrate, glycylglycine, histidine, glycine, lysine, arginine, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium phosphate, and tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethan, bicine, tricine, malic acid, succinate, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, aspartic acid or mixtures thereof.
  • the formulation further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable preservative.
  • the formulation further comprises an isotonic agent.
  • the formulation also comprises a chelating agent.
  • the formulation further comprises a stabilizer.
  • the formulation further comprises a surfactant.
  • Remington The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19 th edition, 1995. It is possible that other ingredients may be present in the pharmaceutical formulation of the present invention.
  • Such additional ingredients may include wetting agents, emulsifiers, antioxidants, bulking agents, tonicity modifiers, chelating agents, metal ions, oleaginous vehicles, proteins (e.g., human serum albumin, gelatine or proteins) and a zwitterion (e.g., an amino acid such as betaine, taurine, arginine, glycine, lysine and histidine).
  • proteins e.g., human serum albumin, gelatine or proteins
  • a zwitterion e.g., an amino acid such as betaine, taurine, arginine, glycine, lysine and histidine.
  • Such additional ingredients should not adversely affect the overall stability of the pharmaceutical formulation of the present invention.
  • Administration of pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention may be through several routes of administration, for example, intravenous. Suitable antibody formulations can also be determined by examining experiences with other already developed therapeutic ADCs.
  • a composition can be characterized as comprising a plurality of Nectin-4 binding immunoconjugates of the disclosure, wherein at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% of the immunoconjugates in a sample have at least 4, 6 or 8 amino acid residues per antibody that are functionalized with a linker disclosed herein.
  • a composition can be characterized as comprising a plurality of Nectin-4 binding immunoconjugates of the disclosure, wherein at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% of the immunoconjugates in a sample have at least 2, 4, 6 or 8 amino acid residues per antibody that are functionalized with the linker-camptothecin moiety, e.g., the (X–Z) unit or the (–(Y) – (Pep) – (Y’) – (Z)) unit of the formulae herein.
  • a composition can be characterized as comprising a plurality of Nectin-4 binding immunoconjugates of the disclosure, wherein at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% of the immunoconjugates in a sample have the same number of functionalized amino acid per antibody, optionally wherein the number is 4, 6 or 8. Diagnostics, prognostics, and treatment of malignancies In some aspects, described are methods as well as antibodies, antibody fragments and immunoconjugates useful in the diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and treatment of a cancer characterized by tumor cells that express at their surface Nectin-4. In therapeutic methods, the treatment comprises administering to a human subject or individual an antibody of the disclosure.
  • cytotoxic agents to Nectin-4-positive tumors, particular camptothecin analogues.
  • the improved delivery of the cytotoxic agent may be the result of antibody- mediated inhibition of cluster formation and/or anchorage-independent growth of Nectin-4 expressing tumor cells, resulting in improved tumor penetration of the cytotoxic agent and/or an ADC comprising such agent.
  • Treatment with an ADC of the disclosure is particularly advantageous for the treatment of disease with lower or heterogeneous Nectin-4 expression, for patients having particularly resistant disease or for whom other ADCs are not suitable, and/or for use in combination with additional therapeutic agents that mediate toxicity as single agents (e.g., chemotherapeutic agents).
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment may be useful to sensitize a tumor to a cytotoxic or chemotherapeutic agent.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody may be useful in the reinforcement or enhancement of toxicity of an anti-cancer agent against cancer, as compared to the anti-cancer agent itself, by reducing the chemoresistance of cancerous cells.
  • a cancer-sensitizing composition comprising anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment may be useful to sensitize a tumor (e.g. a Pgp-expressing tumor) to an anti-cancer agent, to reduce the chemoresistance and to improve the therapeutic effect of the anti-cancer agent.
  • an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure can be specified as being for use in treating a tumor in a human individual in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the anti-Nectin-4 antibody, antibody fragment and the chemotherapeutic agent are formulated for separate administration and are administered concurrently or sequentially.
  • the treatment can comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of each of: (a) an anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment of the disclosure, and (b) an anti-cancer agent, optionally a chemotherapeutic agent, optionally a chemotherapeutic agent known to be capable of being transported by P- glycoprotein (Pgp), optionally an anthracycline, a vinca alkaloid, an etoposide, a taxane, a platinum compound or optionally a camptothecin.
  • the antibody or antibody fragment is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent, e.g., a camptothecin, an exatecan or SN-38 molecule.
  • the antibody or antibody fragment will typically be conjugated to a plurality of molecules of a cytotoxic agent, e.g. a camptothecin analogue, an exatecan.
  • a cytotoxic agent for example a camptothecin or exatecan, can be conjugated to the antibody via a linker comprising a protease-cleavable oligopeptide linker, e.g., a linker-toxin of any of Formulae VII-XIV.
  • An exemplary pharmaceutical composition can comprise on average from 1 to 8 cytotoxic agent molecules (e.g.
  • camptothecin derivative, exatecan, linker-toxin of any of Formulae VII-XIV) per antibody molecule optionally from 2-8, from 4-8, from 6-8 cytotoxic agent molecules per antibody molecule, or for example about 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 cytotoxic agent molecules per antibody molecule.
  • linker e.g. a linker-toxin of any of Formulae VII-XIV
  • such immunoconjugate is particularly advantageous to treat a Pgp-expressing tumor (e.g. a tumor characterized by expression of Pgp (MDR1).
  • Tumor characterized by expression of Pgp include tumors following treatment with chemotherapeutic agents and ADCs, for example it has been shown that treatment with ADCs comprising auristatin (MMAE) payloads induce Pgp expression on tumors.
  • ADCs comprising auristatin (MMAE) payloads induce Pgp expression on tumors.
  • MMAE auristatin
  • a range of tumors characterized by natural Pgp/MDR1 expression are known, for example significant levels of MDR1 are expressed by kidney cancer, adrenocortical carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, liver cancer, rectal cancer, colon cancer, brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, mesothelioma, stomach cancer, AML, thyroid cancer, DLBC, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, sarcoma, testical cancer, uterine cancer, thymoma, cervical cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer (e.g., urothelial carcinoma),
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent e.g. anti-Nectin-4 antibody or antibody fragment
  • a cytotoxic agent can be used advantageously to treat an individual having a Nectin-4-expressing cancer characterized by tumor cells that express Nectin-4 (e.g. at the tumor cell membrane or cell surface).
  • Example of such cancers are urothelial cancer, breast cancer (e.g. triple-negative breast cancer; HER2-positive breast cancer), non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer (e.g. colon cancer), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal cancer.
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated to a cytotoxic agent can be used in Nectin-4 high-expressing tumors.
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated to a cytotoxic agent can also be used in heterogeneous and/or low Nectin-4-expressing tumors.
  • the immunoconjugates of the disclosure can provide advantageous efficacy, optionally via avoidance of MDR1-mediated resistance and/or bystander anti-tumor effects.
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated to a cytotoxic agent can be used advantageously to treat an individual regardless of Nectin-4 expression levels, regardless of heterogeneity of Nectin-4 expression levels on tumor cells within an individual, and/or regardless of whether or not the individual has been previously treated with enfortumab vedotin.
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated to a cytotoxic agent can also be used advantageously to treat an individual regardless of tumor Pgp expression and/or regardless of whether or not the individual has been previously treated with an ADC comprising a cytotoxic agent that is capable of being transported by Pgp (for example an ADC comprising an anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated to a camptothecin analogue other than exatecan, an ADC comprising an anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated to Dxd (e.g.
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated to a camptothecin derivative molecule can be used advantageously to treat an individual who has been previously treated with enfortumab vedotin.
  • Such an individual may optionally have a cancer characterized by heterogeneous and/or low Nectin4-expressing tumors following enfortumab vedotin treatment.
  • Such an individual may optionally have a cancer characterized by Pgp- expressing tumors following enfortumab vedotin treatment.
  • An individual may have a cancer that is resistant, has not responded, has relapsed and/or progressed despite (e.g. during or following) treatment with an antibody conjugated to an auristatin or MMAE molecule (e.g., enfortumab vedotin).
  • the individual may have a locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer and has previously received treatment with an antibody conjugated to an auristatin or MMAE molecule (e.g., enfortumab vedotin).
  • an immunoconjugate comprising a Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to an exatecan is used advantageously to treat an individual who has been previously treated with an immunoconjugate comprising a Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to an cytotoxic agent that is capable of being transported by Pgp.
  • an immunoconjugate comprising an Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to an exatecan is used advantageously to treat an individual having a cancer characterized by heterogeneous and/or low Nectin4-expressing tumors following treatment with an immunoconjugate comprising a Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to an cytotoxic agent that is capable of being transported by Pgp.
  • an immunoconjugate comprising a Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to an exatecan is used advantageously to treat an individual having a cancer that is resistant, has not responded, has relapsed and/or progressed despite (e.g. during or following) treatment with an Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to an cytotoxic agent that is capable of being transported by Pgp.
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to an cytotoxic agent that is capable of being transported by Pgp comprises an anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated via a linker to a camptothecin analogue so as to release, upon cleavage of the linker, a camptothecin analogue other than exatecan (e.g. a Dxd or deruxtecan).
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to a cytotoxic agent that is capable of being transported by Pgp comprises an anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated to Dxd (e.g. via a GGFG-containing linker).
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to a cytotoxic agent that is capable of being transported by Pgp comprises an anti- Nectin-4 antibody conjugated to an auristatin, an anthracycline, a vinca alkaloid, an etoposide, a taxane or a platinum compound).
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to a cytotoxic agent that is capable of being transported by Pgp comprises an anti-Nectin-4 antibody that binds to the IgV domain of Nectin-4.
  • the Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to a cytotoxic agent that is capable of being transported by Pgp comprises an anti-Nectin-4 antibody that binds to the VC1 bridging domain of Nectin-4.
  • the immunoconjugate comprising an Nectin-4 binding agent conjugated via a linker to an exatecan comprises a linker having an enzymatically cleavable moiety (and optionally a self-immolating spacer) that results in the release of exatecan upon cleavage.
  • a significant proportion of individuals will express high levels of Nectin-4 on tumor cells, e.g.
  • H-score of at least 290 See EV-201 clinical trial Cohort 1 Nectin-4 expression. However, a subset of patients have an H-score of less than 250, and some less than 200. A minority of patient had an H-score of less than 150, with some having an H-score of less than 100. In triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), it has been reported that 62% of patients have high Nectin-4 expression on tumor cells and 38% have low Nectin-4 expression on tumor cells (Rabat et al., 2017 Annals Onc. 28: 769-776).
  • TNBC triple negative breast cancer
  • an individual treated according to the disclosure has an advanced recurrent or metastatic cancer, optionally an advanced recurrent or metastatic urothelial cancer.
  • an individual treated according to the disclosure has a cancer (e.g., a breast cancer) that tests positive for estrogen receptors and/or progesterone receptors, and tests negative for epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) or excess HER2 protein, optionally the cancer test positive for HER2 but HER2 is expressed at low levels.
  • HER2 epidermal growth factor receptor 2
  • an individual treated according to the disclosure has a triple- negative breast cancer (TNBC), e.g., a breast cancer that tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and excess HER2 protein.
  • TNBC triple- negative breast cancer
  • an individual treated according to the disclosure has a cancer (e.g. a breast cancer) that tests positive for HER2 protein, optionally wherein the cancer is expresses excess HER2 protein (HER2 over-expression), optionally the cancer is expresses low levels of HER2 protein (lower than excess HER2 expression).
  • the individual is treated with an anti-Nectin-4 ADC, in combination with an agent (e.g. antibody) that binds a HER2 polypeptide (e.g.
  • trastuzumab pertuzumab
  • the agent that binds HER2 is an ADC
  • the antibody that binds HER2 is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent, optionally an auristatin, a maytansinoid (e.g. DM1) or a camptothecin analogue (e.g. Compound 1, 2 or 13); optionally wherein the antibody that binds HER2 is trastuzumab emtansine or trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS-8201a; EnhertuTM).
  • an individual treated according to the disclosure has a non-small cell lung cancer, optionally a lung adenocarcinoma.
  • an individual treated according to the disclosure has a pancreatic cancer. In one embodiment, an individual treated according to the disclosure has an ovarian cancer. In one embodiment, an individual treated according to the disclosure has a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In one embodiment, an individual treated according to the disclosure has an oesophageal cancer. In one embodiment, an individual treated according to the disclosure has a colorectal cancer.
  • Colorectal cancer (CRC) as used herein refers to colon cancer, rectal cancer, and colorectal cancer (cancer of both the colon and rectal areas).
  • an individual treated according to the disclosure has a NSCLC or lung adenocarcinoma, a gastric cancer, a colorectal carcinoma, a pancreatic cancer, a urothelial carcinoma or bladder cancer that tests positive for HER2 protein, optionally wherein the cancer expresses excess HER2 protein (HER2 over-expression), optionally the cancer is expresses low levels of HER2 protein (lower than excess HER2 expression).
  • the individual is treated with an anti-Nectin-4 ADC according to disclosure, in combination with an agent (e.g. antibody) that binds HER2 polypeptides (e.g.
  • an antibody comprising the heavy and light chains CDRs or variable regions of trastuzumab or pertuzumab); optionally wherein the agent that binds HER2 is an ADC; optionally wherein the antibody that binds HER2 is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent, optionally an auristatin, a maytansinoid (e.g. DM1) or a camptothecin analogue (e.g. Compound 1, 2 or 13); optionally wherein the antibody that binds Her2 is trastuzumab emtansine or trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS-8201a).
  • an ADC that releases exatecan upon cleavage e.g.
  • the HER2 positive cancer is treated with a combination of anti-Nectin-4 binding agent (e.g. anti-Nectin-4 ADC) and anti-HER2 ADC
  • the anti-HER2 ADC can be designed to release exatecan upon cleavage (e.g. upon cleavage of the intracellularly cleavable linker that comprises the cytotoxic agent Z).
  • the anti-Nectin-4 binding agent e.g. anti-Nectin-4 ADC
  • Z can be designed to release exatecan upon cleavage (e.g. upon cleavage of the intracellularly cleavable linker that comprises the cytotoxic agent Z, or can release any other cytotoxic agent (Z), for example where Z is a taxane, anthracycline, camptothecin, epothilone, mytomycin, combretastatin, vinca alkaloid, nitrogen mustard, maytansinoid, duocarmycin, tubulysin, dolastatin, auristatin, enediyne, pyrrolobenzodiazepine, amatoxin or ethylenimine.
  • the present disclosure provides an immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide, for use in the treatment of cancer (e.g., a HER2 positive Nectin-4-positive cancer), wherein the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin- 4 polypeptide is represented by the formula: Ab N4 –(X N4 –(Z N4 )) wherein, Ab N4 is a polypeptide, peptide or antibody that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide; XN4 is a molecule which connects AbN4 and ZN4, wherein XN4 comprises a cleavable moiety, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions, optionally a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide; and Z N4 comprises a cytotoxic agent; wherein the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptid
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human HER2 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • Z N4 is an exatecan
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • the present disclosure provides an immunoconjugate that binds a human HER2 polypeptide, for use in the treatment of cancer e.g., a HER2 positive Nectin- 4-positive cancer), wherein the immunoconjugate that binds a human HER2 polypeptide is represented by the formula: Ab HER2 –(X HER2 –(Z HER2 )) wherein, Ab HER2 is a polypeptide, peptide or antibody that specifically binds to a human HER2 polypeptide, optionally wherein the Ab HER2 comprises the heavy and light chain CDRs or variable regions of trastuzumab or pertuzumab; X HER2 is a molecule which connects Ab HER2 and Z HER2 , wherein X HER2 comprises a cleavable moiety, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions, optionally a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, t
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human HER2 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • Z N4 is an exatecan
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • the present disclosure provides an immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide, for use in the treatment of cancer (e.g., a TROP-2 positive Nectin-4-positive cancer), wherein the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin- 4 polypeptide is represented by the formula: Ab N4 –(X N4 –(Z N4 )) wherein, Ab N4 is a polypeptide, peptide or antibody that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide; X N4 is a molecule which connects Ab N4 and Z N4 , wherein X N4 comprises a cleavable moiety, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions, optionally a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide; and Z N4 comprises a cytotoxic agent; wherein the immunoconjugate that binds a
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human TROP-2 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • Z N4 is an exatecan
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • the present disclosure provides an immunoconjugate that binds a human TROP-2 polypeptide, for use in the treatment of cancer e.g., a TROP-2 positive Nectin-4-positive cancer), wherein the immunoconjugate that binds a human TROP-2 polypeptide is represented by the formula: Ab TROP-2 –(X TROP-2 –(Z TROP-2 )) wherein, Ab TROP-2 is a polypeptide, peptide or antibody that specifically binds to a human TROP-2 polypeptide, optionally wherein the Ab TROP-2 comprises the heavy and light chain CDRs or variable regions of datopotamab or sacituzumab; X TROP-2 is a molecule which connects Ab TROP-2 and Z TROP-2 , wherein X TROP-2 comprises a cleavable moiety, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions, optionally a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, te
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human TROP-2 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • Z N4 is an exatecan
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • the present disclosure provides an immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide, for use in the treatment of cancer (e.g., a B7H3 positive Nectin-4-positive cancer), wherein the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide is represented by the formula: Ab N4 –(X N4 –(Z N4 )) wherein, AbN4 is a polypeptide, peptide or antibody that specifically binds to a human Nectin-4 polypeptide; X N4 is a molecule which connects Ab N4 and Z N4 , wherein X N4 comprises a cleavable moiety, e.g., under physiological conditions, optionally under intracellular conditions, optionally a protease-cleavable di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-peptide; and Z N4 comprises a cytotoxic agent; wherein the immunoconjugate that binds a
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human B7H3 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • Z N4 is an exatecan
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • the present disclosure provides an immunoconjugate that binds a human B7H3 polypeptide, for use in the treatment of cancer e.g., a B7H3 positive Nectin- 4-positive cancer), wherein the immunoconjugate that binds a human B7H3 polypeptide is represented by the formula: Ab B7H3 –(X B7H3 –(Z B7H3 )) wherein, Ab B7H3 is a polypeptide, peptide or antibody that specifically binds to a human B7H3 polypeptide, optionally wherein the Ab B7H3 comprises the heavy and light chain CDRs or variable regions of enoblituzumab, ifinatamab, mirzotamab, obrindatamab, omburtamab or vobramitamab; X B7H3 is a molecule which connects Ab B7H3 and Z B7H3 , wherein X B7H3 comprises a cle
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human B7H3 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • Z N4 is an exatecan
  • the immunoconjugate that binds a human Nectin-4 polypeptide releases exatecan upon cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
  • the treatment methods of the disclosure are independent of the assessment or detection of Nectin-4 expression in tumor tissue and/or independent of the expression level of Nectin-4 on tumor cells and/or the frequency or number of Nectin-4- expressing tumor cells in a tissue sample from said individual.
  • the treatment methods of the disclosure are independent of the assessment or detection of tumor Pgp (MDR1) expression.
  • the present invention provides methods of treating a cancer and/or eliciting an anti-tumor immune response in an individual in need thereof, wherein said individual has advanced recurrent or metastatic urothelial cancer or breast cancer (e.g. TNBC), wherein said methods do not necessitate the pre-determination of whether the individual has tumor tissue comprising cells (e.g. tumor cells) that express Nectin-4 or not.
  • the present invention provides methods of treating a cancer and/or killing tumor cells in an individual in need thereof, wherein said individual has advanced recurrent or metastatic urothelial cancer or breast cancer (e.g.
  • TNBC tumor tissue comprising cells (e.g. tumor cells) that express high-levels of Nectin-4, e.g. as defined by an immunohistochemistry assessment (e.g. an H-score or other appropriate IHC scoring method).
  • the methods of treating a cancer and/or killing tumor cells in an individual do not necessitate the pre-determination of the level of Nectin-4 expression of tumor cells.
  • the methods of treating a cancer in an individual optionally an advanced recurrent or metastatic urothelial cancer or a breast cancer (e.g.
  • TNBC, HER2 positive cancer comprise treating an individual having a cancer characterized by an H- score for Nectin-4 expression of no more than, or less than, 290, 250, 200, 150 or 100.
  • the method can be specified as comprising the steps of: (i) identifying an individual whose tumor cells express Nectin-4 (e.g. as determined by immunohistochemistry), and (ii) administering to the individual an effective amount of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure.
  • the method can be specified as comprising the steps of (i) identifying an individual whose tumor cells express (a) Nectin-4 (e.g.
  • HER2 optionally wherein the tumor cells express low levels of HER2 (e.g. as determined by immunohistochemistry; as determined by HerceptestTM) and (ii) administering to the individual an effective amount of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure, optionally in combination with an agent (e.g. antibody) that binds Her2 polypeptides (e.g. trastuzumab, pertuzumab); optionally wherein the antibody that binds Her2 is an ADC; optionally wherein the antibody that binds Her2 is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent, optionally an auristatin, a maytansinoid (e.g.
  • the method can be specified as comprising the steps of: (i) identifying an individual whose tumor cells have a low or moderate level of Nectin-4 expression (e.g. as determined by immunohistochemistry), and (ii) administering, to the individual identified in step (i), an effective amount of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure.
  • a cancer e.g.
  • the method can be specified as comprising the steps of: (i) identifying an individual whose cancer is characterized by a low level of Nectin-4 expression (e.g. as determined by immunohistochemistry), and (ii) administering, to the individual identified in step (i), an effective amount of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure.
  • the individual has a cancer characterized by an H-score for Nectin-4 expression of no more than, or less than, 150 or 100.
  • any embodiment for treating or preventing a cancer e.g.
  • the method can be specified as comprising the steps of: (i) identifying an individual whose cancer is characterized by a moderate level of tumor Nectin-4 expression (e.g. as determined by immunohistochemistry), and (ii) administering to the individual an effective amount of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure.
  • the individual has a cancer characterized by an H-score by an H-score for Nectin-4 expression of no more than, or less than, 290, 250, 200, 150, optionally further wherein the cancer is characterized by an H-score for Nectin-4 expression of at least 100.
  • a method for treating or preventing a cancer in an individual comprising: (i) identifying an individual whose cancer is characterized by an H-score for tumor Nectin-4 expression of no more than, or less than, 290, 250, 200, 150, 120 or 100, and (ii) administering to the individual an effective amount of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure.
  • step (i) may be specified as comprising a step of assessing Nectin-4 expression on tumor cells by histochemistry (e.g. IHC).
  • a method for treating or preventing a cancer e.g.
  • a Nectin-4 positive cancer; a breast cancer) in an individual comprising: (i) identifying an individual whose cancer is characterized by a QS-score for tumor Nectin-4 expression of no more than, or less than, 200, 150, 120 or 100, and (ii) administering to the individual an effective amount of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure.
  • step (i) may be specified as comprising a step of assessing Nectin-4 expression on tumor cells by histochemistry (e.g. IHC).
  • a biological sample from an individual for example from a biopsy, can be obtained and assessed.
  • the sample is preserved as formaldehyde (e.g. formalin)-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples.
  • assays include immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) assays, for example quantitative FACS, ELISA, immunoblotting (e.g. western blotting, dot blotting, or in- cell western blotting), and other immunoassays.
  • IHC staining of tissue sections has been shown to be a reliable method of assessing or detecting presence of proteins in a sample.
  • Immunohistochemistry techniques utilize an antibody to probe and visualize cellular antigens in situ, generally by chromogenic or fluorescent methods.
  • antibodies or antisera in some embodiments, polyclonal antisera, and in some embodiments, monoclonal antibodies specific for each marker are used to detect expression.
  • the antibodies can be detected by direct labeling of the antibodies themselves, for example, with radioactive labels, fluorescent labels, hapten labels such as, biotin, or an enzyme such as horse radish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase.
  • unlabeled primary antibody is used in conjunction with a labeled secondary antibody, comprising antisera, polyclonal antisera or a monoclonal antibody specific for the primary antibody.
  • the IHC assay is a direct assay, wherein binding of antibody to the target antigen is determined directly.
  • This direct assay uses a labeled reagent, such as a fluorescent tag or an enzyme-labeled primary antibody, which can be visualized without further antibody interaction.
  • the IHC assay is an indirect assay. In a typical indirect assay, unconjugated primary antibody binds to the antigen and then a labeled secondary antibody binds to the primary antibody. Where the secondary antibody is conjugated to an enzymatic label, a chromagenic or fluorogenic substrate is added to provide visualization of the antigen.
  • Signal amplification occurs because several secondary antibodies may react with different epitopes on the primary antibody.
  • the primary and/or secondary antibody used for immunohistochemistry typically will be labeled with a detectable molecule. Numerous labels are available, including radioisotopes, colloidal gold particles, fluorescent labels, and enzyme-substrate labels. Strongly staining, moderately staining, and weakly staining are descriptions well known to those in the art. In some aspects strongly staining, moderately staining, and weakly staining are calibrated levels of staining, wherein a range is established and the intensity of staining is binned within the range.
  • strong staining is staining above the 75th percentile of the intensity range
  • moderate staining is staining from the 25th to the 75th percentile of the intensity range
  • low staining is staining below the 25th percentile of the intensity range.
  • one skilled in the art and familiar with a particular staining technique, adjusts the bin size and defines the staining categories.
  • Control cell lines e.g., centrifuged into a pellet and formalin fixed and paraffin embedded, e.g., and prepared as a tissue microarray, and e.g., stained with anti-Nectin-4 antibodies
  • various staining intensities e.g., when stained with anti-Nectin-4 antibodies
  • control cell pellets with negative, weak, moderate and high c-met staining intensity may readily be identified using the teachings of the present application and methods well known in the art and disclosed herein.
  • a cancer or tumor is considered to be a Nectin-4-expressing cancer tumor when it is (e.g.
  • Nectin-4 positive is determined to be using an IHC assay) Nectin-4 positive.
  • an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 5% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin-4 protein at any intensity).
  • an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 10% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin-4 protein at any intensity).
  • an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 20% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin-4 protein at any intensity).
  • an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 30% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin-4 protein at any intensity). In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 40% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin-4 protein at any intensity). In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 50% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin- 4 protein at any intensity).
  • an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 60% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin-4 protein at any intensity). In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 70% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin-4 protein at any intensity). In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 80% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin-4 protein at any intensity).
  • an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 90% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein (e.g., express Nectin-4 protein at any intensity). In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 5% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity. In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 10% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity.
  • an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 20% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity. In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 30% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity. In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 40% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity.
  • an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 50% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity. In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 60% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity. In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 70% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity.
  • an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 80% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity. In some embodiments, an individual’s cancer or tumor is Nectin-4 positive when 90% or more of the tumor cells in the sample express Nectin-4 protein with a moderate and/or strong staining intensity. Assessing immunohistochemistry assays in order to determine whether an individual’s cancer or tumor is characterized by high Nectin-4 expression or not (e.g. low or moderate Nectin-4 expression) will typically involve application of a known scoring method. Low, moderate and high tumor Nectin-4 expression can be determined based on an “H-score” as described in US Pat.
  • H-score is obtained by the formula: (3 ⁇ percentage of strongly staining cells) + (2 ⁇ percentage of moderately staining cells) + (percentage of weakly staining cells), giving a range of 0 to 300. H-score has been used in particular in UC.
  • low or moderate Nectin-4 expression corresponds to an H-score of about 250 or lower, about 220 or lower, about 200 or lower, about 180 or lower, about 160 or lower, about 150 or lower, about 140 or lower, about 130 or lower, about 120 or lower, about 110 or lower or about 100 or lower.
  • low Nectin-4 expression corresponds to an H-score of 200 or lower, about 180 or lower, about 160 or lower, about 150 or lower, about 140 or lower, about 130 or lower, about 120 or lower, about 110 or lower or about 100 or lower.
  • high Nectin-4 expression e.g. tumors or tumor cells having a high level of Nectin-4 expression corresponds to an H-score of about 290 or higher.
  • QS has been used for example in breast cancer.
  • low or moderate Nectin-4 expression corresponds to QS-score of about 200 or lower, about 180 or lower, about 160 or lower, about 150 or lower, about 140 or lower, about 130 or lower, about 120 or lower, about 110 or lower or about 100 or lower.
  • Assays for assessing tumor cell expression of HER2 are well-known in the art. For example, assays such as the FDA-approved SPoT-Light HER2 CISH can be used to detect HER2 over-expression. Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) detects HER2 gene amplification.
  • This technique also referred to as Subtraction Probe Technology Chromogenic In situ Hybridization, is a test used see if breast cancer cells overexpress HER2 receptor proteins at the cell surface.
  • Another widely used assay for HER2 is the HercepTestTM (Dako North America, Inc.), a semiquantitative immunohistochemical assay used to determine HER2 protein overexpression in in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cancer tissue. For example, tumors expressing low levels of HER2 can be identified by a score of +1 to +2 via HercepTestTM.
  • the treatment is used in an individual who has existing neuropathy, diabetes or hyperglycemia, cardiac insufficiency, an ocular pathology.
  • the method of treatment may optionally comprise the steps of (a) assessing the cancer stage and/or disease progression in the individual; and (b) if the individual has recurrent, metastatic and/or progressing cancer, administering to the individual an effective amount of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure.
  • the invention includes a method of treating a tumor in an individual having a urothelial cancer, comprising: (a) assessing the cancer stage and/or disease progression in the individual; and (b) if the individual has recurrent, metastatic and/or progressing cancer, administering to the individual an effective amount of an anti- Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure.
  • an individual treated with an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure may have a cancer (e.g., a urothelial cancer, breast cancer (e.g.
  • treatment response can be defined and/or assessed according to well-known criteria, e.g. Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST), such as version 1.1, see Eisenhauer et al. (2009) Eur. J.
  • RECIST Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors
  • an individual treated with an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure has a tumor or cancer that displays resistance, that is not responsive to or that has progressed following treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent (e.g.
  • Pgp P-glycoprotein
  • anthracyclines doxorubicin, daunorubicin, taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel), Vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine, vindesine), and etoposides.
  • Compounds recognized by Pgp are typically characterized as modestly hydrophobic (octanol-to-water partitioning coefficient, logP>1), often contain titratable protons with a net cationic charge under physiological conditions, and are predominately "natural products" with an aromatic moiety.
  • an ADC comprising an anti-Nectin-4 antibody, antibody fragment is used or administered in the absence of combined administration of a chemotherapeutic agent.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody, antibody fragment or ADC comprising such is optionally used or administered in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent.
  • chemotherapeutic agents include, but are not limited to amsacrine, bleomycin, busulfan, capecitabine, carboplatin, carmustine, chlorambucil, cisplatin, cladribine, clofarabine, crisantaspase, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, docetaxel, doxorubicin, epirubicin, etoposide, fludarabine, fluorouracil, gemcitabine, hydroxy carbamide, idarubicin, ifosfamide, irinotecan, leucovorin, liposomal doxorubicin, liposomal daunorubicin, lomustine, melphalan, mercaptopurine, mesna, methotrexate, mitomycin, mitoxantrone, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel,
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody, antibody fragment (or ADC comprising such) and the chemotherapeutic agent are formulated for separate administration and are administered concurrently or sequentially.
  • the individual can be characterized as having cancer which has progressed, relapsed or not responded to prior treatment with a prior therapy, optionally further wherein the prior therapy comprises administration of enfortumab vedotin and/or administration of a PD-1 neutralizing agent (e.g., pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, nivolumab), optionally wherein the prior therapy is a chemotherapeutic agent.
  • a PD-1 neutralizing agent e.g., pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, nivolumab
  • the individual can be characterized being ineligible for treatment with enfortumab vedotin, and/or as having cancer which is not suitable or indicated for treatment with enfortumab vedotin.
  • Exemplary treatment protocols for treating a human with an anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated to an camptothecin derivative molecule include, for example, administering to the patient an effective amount of an anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure, wherein the method comprises at least one administration cycle in which at least one dose of the anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated to a camptothecin derivative molecule is administered at a dose of 0.1-10 mg/kg body weight, 0.1-5 mg/kg body weight, 0.1-1 mg/kg body weight, 1-10 mg/kg body weight or 1-5 mg/kg body weight.
  • a plurality of doses are administered, e.g. at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 doses.
  • administration of doses are separated by at least 2, 3 or 4 weeks. In one embodiment, the administration is every week, every two weeks, every three weeks or every four weeks. In one embodiment the anti-Nectin-4 antibody drug conjugate of the disclosure is administered by i.v.
  • Example 1 Human tumor cells co-expressing Her2, TROP-2, B7H3 and Nectin-4 A study of HER2 and Nectin-4 gene expression was carried out using The Cancer Genome Atlas (a collaboration between the National Cancer Institute and National Human Genome Research Institute) based on multi-dimensional maps of the key genomic changes in different types of cancer.
  • HER2 and Nectin-4 expression were observed in particular in samples from pancreatic cancer, lung adenocarcinoma patients, breast cancer and bladder cancer patients. The highest correlation observed was pancreatic cancer, with correlation values: Spearman 0.71 and Pearson 0.78.
  • HER2 and Nectin-4 expression on SUM185 and SUM190 human breast cancer tumor cell lines was determined by flow cytometry.
  • SUM185 originates from a pleural effusion of a patient with ER negative, PR negative and HER2 positive anaplastic carcinoma of the breast.
  • the cell line over expresses Her2.
  • SUM190 originates from a primary tumor from a patient with ER negative, PR negative and HER2 positive (amplified) breast cancer.
  • Tumor cells were stained with anti-Nectin-4 antibody (ASG-22ME modified as a human IgG1 isotype containing a N297Q mutation having reduced Fc gamma receptor binding), anti-TROP-2 antibody, anti-B7H3 antibody or Anti-Her2 antibody (trastuzumab modified as human IgG1 isotype containing a N297Q mutation reduced Fc gamma receptor binding), as well as isotype control, at 10 ⁇ g/ml (at 4°C), followed by PE conjugated polyclonal goat anti human antibodies at a dilution of 1:200. Samples were analyzed by cytofluorometric analysis with Canto II (HTS).
  • HTS Canto II
  • HER2 and Nectin-4 are shown in Figure 1 for SUM190 human breast cancer tumor cells and in Figure 2 for SUM185 human breast cancer tumor cells.
  • MFI Median of fluorescence intensity.
  • the SUM190 tumor cells expressed HER2 at low to moderate levels (median fluorescence units 1777) as well as Nectin-4 at lower levels (median 991 fluorescence units).
  • the SUM185 cells expressed HER2 at moderate to high levels (median fluorescence units 2880) as well as Nectin-4 at higher levels (median 4326 fluorescence units).
  • the SUM185 cells expressed TROP-2 and B7H3 at high levels (median fluorescence units 17327 and 11481 respectively). Expression data are presented in Table 1 below.
  • Example 2 Efficacy of anti-Nectin-4 camptothecin-derivative ADCs in combination with anti-HER2 ADCs
  • Anti-Nectin-4 antibody-drug conjugates were prepared and compared to trastuzumab antibody-drug conjugates for efficacy on HER2+ Nectin4+ human tumor cells.
  • the anti-Nectin-4 antibody-drug conjugates were prepared having the VH and VL of SEQ ID NOS: 6 and 7 as human IgG1 isotype.
  • N41 VH QVQLKQSGPGLVQPSQSLSITCTVSGFSLTNYGVHWVRQSPGKGLEWLGVIWSGGSTDYN AAFISRLSISKDTSKSQVFFKMNSLQADDTAIYYCARELIHAMDNWGQGTSVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 6).
  • N41 VL DIQMTQSPASLSVSVGETVTITCRASENIYSNLAWYQQKQGNSPQLLVFAATNLADGVPS RFSGSGSGTQYSLKINSLQSEDFGTYYCQHFWGTPTFGGGTKLEIK (SEQ ID NO: 7).
  • Anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugates were prepared having the heavy and light chains of trastuzumab (human IgG1 isotype).
  • Both the anti-Nectin-4 and the anti-HER2 antibodies were each conjugated stochastically to a linker-camptothecin derivative via cysteine residues in the antibody after partial reduction of interchain disulfide.
  • a range of 2- 10 molar equivalents of reducing agent tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine hydrochloride was incubated with antibody (3mg/mL) for 2h under agitation (350-400rpm, +37°C) to reduce disulfides.
  • Conjugation of the linker-toxin was carried out by addition of a molar excess of linker-toxin at 9.2 or 12 molar equivalents incubated overnight on a stirring wheel at +37°C.
  • the resulting ADCs had an average drug loading (drug:antibody ratio) of about 8.
  • anti-Nectin-4 antibodies were also conjugated to a second camptothecin (SN-38) containing linker using the same methods.
  • the ADCs used in this Example are as follows. N4 ADC1: Anti-Nectin-4 conjugated to a linker having the structure: H
  • the ADCs ability to cause cell death was determined by assessing confluence using Incucyte S3-2 apparatus; viability at day 6 after treatment was determined using the Cell Titer GloTM (CTG) assay with an Enspire2 apparatus. IC50 values for each ADC was determined using Luminescent Cell Viability at day 6 data with GraphPad Prism8. Experiments were repeated twice. Results showed that the combination of anti-Nectin-4 ADCs and anti-Her2 ADCs had an improved potency (lower IC50) in causing the death of the Nectin-4+ Her2+ tumor cells compared to either ADC used alone.
  • Example 3 Modelling and generation of a first set of anti-huNectin-4 antibodies with human framework sequences
  • Human VH and VK templates were identified for the introduction of CDRs of antibody 5E7.
  • Each VH, VJ, VK and JK framework was analysed individually.
  • Parental antibody having VH and VL amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 19 and 20, respectively, was then modified by the introduction into the VH of heavy chain frameworks (FR1, FR2, FR3) from the human subgroup IGHV1-46*01 together with IGHJ4*01 (FR4), and the introduction into the VL of light chain frameworks (FR1, FR2, FR3) from the human subgroup IGKV2-28*01, together with IGKJ4*01 (FR4).
  • HP heavy chain (variable domain underlined): QVQLQQPGAELVKPGASVKLSCKASGYIFTSYWMHWVKQRPGQGLEWIGEIDPSDSYTNYNQKFKGKA TLTLDKSSSTTYMQLSSLTSEDSAVYYCVRGYGNYGDYWGQGTTLTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTS GGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNH KPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDK (SEQ ID NO: 67)
  • LP heavy chain (variable domain underlined): DVVMTQAAFSNPVTLGTSASISCRSSKSLLHSNGITYLYWYLQKPGQSPQLLIYQMSNLASGVPDRFS SSGSGTDFTLRISRVEAEDVGVYYCAQNLELP
  • H0 heavy chain QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGEIDPSDSYTNYNQKFKGRV TMTRDTSTSTVYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARGYGNYGDYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTS GGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNH KPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDK (SEQ ID NO: 69)
  • L0 heavy chain DIVMTQSPLSLPVTPGEPASISCRSSKSLLHSNGITYLYWYLQKPGQSPQLLIYQMSNLASGVPDRFS GSGSGTDFTLKISRVEAEDVGVYYCAQNLELPWTFGGGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTAS VVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDS
  • Intrachain and extrachain connections between residues were also assessed in order to identify and to avoid disruption of any important low energy bond by introducing back-mutations in a given chain.
  • the potential back mutations were identified as followed by looking at framework differential residues between human and mouse.
  • Heavy chain design In order to investigate the role of residue at position 72 (residue 71 according to Kabat numbering), this residue was back-mutated thereby conserving the leucine present in the parental antibody.
  • the parental antibody has the sequence TLD compared to TRD in the H0L0 antibody. This back mutation should be coupled with the one on residue 79 in order to avoid a steric clash.
  • residue at position 74 In order to investigate the role of residue at position 74, this residue was back- mutated thereby conserving the lysine present in the parental antibody.
  • the parental antibody has the sequence DKS compared to DTS in the H0L0 antibody. Lysine residue in position 74 is exposed at the molecular surface and occupy a critical position, although it is not that close to the potential binding site. In order to investigate the role of residue at position 28, this residue was back- mutated thereby conserving the isoleucine present in the parental antibody.
  • the parental antibody has the sequence YIF compared to YTF in the H0L0 antibody. Isoleucine and threonine at position 28 are well superimposed.
  • a first heavy chain variant (H1) having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 39 had a R71L and V78T substitution.
  • a second heavy chain variant (H2) having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 41 had a R71L, T73K and V78T substitution.
  • a third heavy chain variant (H3) having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 43 had a T28I, R71L, T73K and V78T substitution. Numbering of substitution is according to Kabat.
  • Light chain design In order to investigate the role of the residue at position 2, this residue was back- mutated thereby conserving the valine residue of the parental antibody.
  • the parental antibody has the sequence DVV compared to DIV in the H0L0 antibody. Residue V2 interacts with residue K27, located in the CDR-L1, which further interacts with residue E98 located in the CDR-L3. In order to investigate the role of the residue at position 69, this residue was back- mutated thereby conserving the serine residue of the parental antibody.
  • the parental antibody has the sequence SSS compared to SGS in the H0L0 antibody.
  • Residue S69 is oriented inside the VL domain and forms many bonds with adjacent residues W40 and M56 (located in CDR-L2), whereas G69 (G64 according to Kabat numbering) forms a h-bound with M56. All these residues are well superimposed.
  • Residue W40 is the center of the entire internal network. In order to investigate the role of the residue at position 11, this residue was back- mutated thereby conserving the asparagine residue of the parental antibody.
  • the parental antibody has the sequence SNP compared to SLP in the H0L0 antibody.
  • Residue L11 interacts with residue P8 and is likely to rigidify the P8 beta strand.
  • a first light chain variant (L1) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 61 had a I2V and G64S substitution.
  • a second light chain variant (L2) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 63 had a I2V, L11N and G64S substitution.
  • a third light chain variant (L3) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65 had a I2V, P8A, L11N and G64S substitution. Numbering of substitution is according to Kabat.
  • the amino acid sequences of respective heavy (“H” chains in Table 2) and light (“L” chains in Table 2) chain variable regions are shown in the Table 2 below.
  • the antibodies having the heavy and light chain combinations shown in Table 3 below were produced.
  • Example 4 Characterization of binding to Nectin-4 by SPR The antibodies in Table 3 of Example 3 were cloned as human IgG1 isotype antibodies, produced and purified, then tested for binding to human Nectin-4. Affinity of the 16 humanized variants , as well as their association and dissociation constants were assessed by SPR analysis.
  • Table 4 summarizes all the calculated constants (Affinity constant KD (nM), association constant ka (1/Ms) and dissociation constant kd (1/s)).
  • the H0L0 antibody with an entirely human IGKHV-46*01 and IGHJ4*01 heavy chain framework and entirely human IGKV-28*01 and IGKJ4*01 light chain framework resulted in a kD of 80.2 nM.
  • other variants exhibited a lower KD than H0L0.
  • Heavy chain H3 recovers KD values close to the parental antibody. Back mutations introduced in H3 are therefore important for the stabilization of the humanized antibodies. A graduation of the dissociation constant values is noticed from H0 to H3.
  • Example 5 Modelling and generation of a second set of anti-huNectin-4 antibodies with human framework sequences
  • new antibodies were designed. Heavy chain design
  • the parental antibody has the sequence VKQ compared to VRQ in the H0L0 antibody.
  • K38 would be part of a salt bridge with residue E46.
  • this residue was back- mutated thereby conserving the arginine residue of the parental antibody.
  • the parental antibody has the sequence QRP compared to QAP in the H0L0 antibody.
  • Residue R40 contacts Q43, which residue contacts Q39 that form two hydrogen bonds with residue Q43 of the light chain.
  • residue Q43 of the heavy chain occupies a divergent position but contact with Q39 is maintained and the two hydrogen bonds with L0- Q43 as well.
  • the parental antibody has the sequence WIG compared to WMG in the H0L0 antibody.
  • Residue I48 interacts with A68, M81 and F64 (located in CDR-H2). In order to investigate the role of the residue in position 70, this residue was back- mutated thereby conserving the leucine residue of the parental antibody.
  • the parental antibody has the sequence TLT compared to TMT in the H0L0 antibody.
  • Residue L70 interacts with residues M81, I51 (which is located in CDR-H2), Y60 (located in CDR-H2) and W36.
  • Residue M70 (M69 according to Kabat numbering) interacts with residues I51 (located in CDR-H2), Y60 (located in CDR-H2) and W36. Except that residue I51 occupies different rotameric positions, all other residues are perfectly well superimposed and the two networks are almost equivalent.
  • a fourth heavy chain variant (H4) having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 45 had a R38K substitution.
  • a fifth heavy chain variant (H5) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47 had a R38K and A40R substitution.
  • a sixth heavy chain variant (H6) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 49 had a R38K, A40R and M48I substitution.
  • a seventh heavy chain variant (H7) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51 had a R38K, A40R, M48I and M69L substitution.
  • Further eight (H8; SEQ ID NO: 53), ninth (H9; SEQ ID NO: 55) and tenth (H10; SEQ ID NO: 57) chains were designed with different combinations of the substitutions. Numbering of amino acid residues is according to Kabat.
  • Example 6 Characterization of binding to Nectin-4 by SPR (second set) The antibodies in Table 6 of Example 5 were cloned as human IgG1 isotype antibodies, produced and purified, then tested for binding to human Nectin-4. Affinity of the 16 humanized variants , as well as their association and dissociation constants were assessed by SPR analysis. Table 7 summarizes all the calculated constants (Affinity constant KD (nM), association constant ka (1/Ms) and dissociation constant kd (1/s)).
  • H0L0 antibody with an entirely human IGKHV-46*01 and IGHJ4*01 heavy chain framework and entirely human IGKV-28*01 and IGKJ4*01 light chain framework resulted in a kD of 80.2 nM.
  • other variants exhibited a lower KD than H0L0.
  • Particularly variants H4L1, H5L3 and H8L1 had a KD closer to the chimeric parental antibody (which had a KD of 5.9 nM ⁇ 1.2).
  • Example 7 Characterization of binding to Nectin-4 by flow cytometry assay
  • the humanized antibodies in Table 3 of Example 3 and in Table 6 of Example 5 were cloned, produced and purified, then tested for binding to Nectin-4 expressing cells by flow cytometry. Binding of humanized variants in human IgG1 format was determined on the SUM190 cell line expressing high levels of Nectin-4. EC50 and Maximum MedFI representing MedFi at saturation phase are show in Table 8 below. All the humanized variants possessing the L0 or L1 chains have a lower binding capacity than the others (lower plateau phase).
  • Example 8 Intracellular internalization assay The humanized variants in Table 3 of Example 3 and in Table 6 of Example 5 were cloned, produced and purified, then tested for their ability to induce Nectin-4 internalization. Chimeric parental 5E7 antibody and isotype controls were used as negative control. This analysis was performed with the Fab-ZAP human Internalization kit assay with the Cell Titer GloTM (CTG) assay used as readout. Experiments were performed on two cell lines expressing different levels of Nectin-4.
  • CCG Cell Titer GloTM
  • MDA-MB-468 have a lower expression of Nectin-4 than SUM190.
  • Internalization assay on SUM190 cell line Results of the internalization assays on SUM190 cell line are shown in Table 9 below, that presents the internalization efficiency (normalized to the chimeric parental antibody internalization efficiency on SUM190 cell line). The experiment was conducted in duplicate (two independent experiments). Internalization efficiencies determined in the experiments performed on SUM190 cell line show that the humanized variants H3L0, H4L2, H5L2, H5L3, H6L3 and H7L2 induce 75% or more internalization compared to the parental antibody (5E7), exhibiting therefore an interesting internalization potential.
  • H8L1 and H7L1 variants were more potent than the chimeric 5E7 in the 1 st experiment but this result was not confirmed in the 2 nd experiment.
  • Internalization assay on MDA-M-468 cell line Results of the internalization assays on SUM190 cell line are shown in Table 10 below that presents the internalization efficiency (normalized to the chimeric parental antibody internalization efficiency on MDA-M-468 cell line). The experiment was conducted in duplicate (two independent experiments).
  • Example 9 In vitro cytotoxicity of antibodies as ADCs on tumor cell lines Nectin-4 low/SUM190 breast cancer model We assessed the ability of the 5E7 antibody conjugated with camptothecin analogues (Dxd or exatecan) to kill SUM190 cells. In this experiment, the 5E7 antibody was tested along with anti-Ig-like V domain antibodies enfortumab and N41 and a control antibody conjugated with the same toxin at equivalent drug to antibody ratios.
  • Luminescence vs. Ab concentration was plotted on graph. For each ADC, a concentration range of ADC was incubated with nectin-4- expressing cells. After incubation, CTG substrate was added at 1/1 ratio and the luminescent signal was read with a plate reader (Enspire). It allowed quantifying the ATP present (indicator of metabolically active cells) which was proportional to cell viability. Results are shown in Figure 3A.
  • Figure 3B shows efficacy of “5E7-exatecan” (5E7 conjugated to the exatecan linker (PEG(8U)-Val-Ala-PAB-Exatecan) is capable of causing the death of HER-2 and Nectin-4 expressing SUM185 and SUM190, as well as MDA-MB-468 (TNBC) human tumor cells and human Nectin-4-expressing MC38 (colon cancer), and B16F10 (melanoma) murine tumor cells.
  • EC 50 values for cell viability are shown in Table 11 below.
  • SUM190 cells were subcutaneously engrafted in CB17-SCID immunodeficient mice at a dose of 0.5 million cells in 100 ⁇ l of Matrigel with growth factor diluted at 1 ⁇ 2 in PBS.
  • tumors reached a volume between 195 and 250 mm3, mice were randomized into groups of 9 mice for intravenous treatment with a single injection of 3 mg/kg of camptothecin ADCs. Tumor growth were followed twice a week.
  • Kaplan Meier survival curves were established by using GraphPad Prism V7 software according to the following criteria: When the tumor volume reached 1500 mm3, mice were euthanized and considered dead on the day of sacrifice (D).
  • mice When tumors showed signs of necrosis, mice were euthanized and considered dead on the same day (D) (indicated with red star on the graphs of individual tumor growth). Results showed that at the 10 mg/kg dose all ADC were similarly efficient in preventing increase in tumor volume. However, at the lower dose of ADC (3 mg/kg), antibody 5E7 showed a strong ability to prevent tumor growth while both N41 and enfortumab no longer showed the ability to control tumor growth. Results for the 3 mg/kg dose are shown in Figure 4.
  • Example 11 Comparative in vitro efficacy of ADCs in a breast cancer model of drug resistance (human breast cancer, HER2/Nectin-4 high/SUM185 model)
  • PADCEVTM enfortumab vedotin
  • ENHERTUTM ENHERTUTM
  • 5E7 was conjugated with a camptothecin analogue Dxd via the ggfg-Dxd linker. Briefly, dose-ranges of each tested Ab (starting point 150 nM, dilution factor 2 for 3 points, then 5 for 5 points) were incubated on cells for 5 days before cell viability measurement by addition of CTG substrate. Luminescence vs. Ab concentration was plotted on graph. For each ADC, a concentration range of ADC was incubated with nectin-4- expressing cells.
  • Example 12 Characterization of species cross-reactivity of anti-Nectin-4 antibodies Anti-Nectin-4 antibodies were tested by flow cytometry for binding to different CHO cell lines made to express respectively the mouse, cynomolgus and rat Nectin-4 protein (including an N-terminal V5 tag not shown in the sequences below).
  • Mouse Nectin-4 ELETSDVVTVVLGQDAKLPCFYRGDPDEQVGQVAWARVDPNEGIRELALLHSKYGLHVNPAYEDRVEQ PPPPRDPLDGSVLLRNAVQADEGEYECRVSTFPAGSFQARMRLRVLVPPLPSLNPGPPLEEGQGLTLA ASCTAEGSPAPSVTWDTEVKGTQSSRSFTHPRSAAVTSEFHLVPSRSMNGQPLTCVVSHPGLLQDRRI THTLQVAFLAEASVRGLEDQNLWQVGREGATLKCLSEGQPPPKYNWTRLDGPLPSGVRVKGDTLGFPP LTTEHSGVYVCHVSNELSSRDSQVTVEVLDPEDPGKQVDLVSASVIIVGVIAALLFCLLVVVVVLMSR YHRRKAQQMTQKYEEELTLTRENSIRRLHSHHSDPRSQPEESVGLRAEGHPDSLK
  • Figures 6A and 6B show binding of anti-Nectin-4 antibodies on rat and cynomolgus Nectin-4-expressing CHO cell lines.
  • Example 13 Characterization of Nectin family cross reactivity Anti-Nectin-4 antibodies were tested by flow cytometry for binding to different CHO cell lines made to express respectively the human Nectin 1, Nectin 2, Nectin 3 and PVR proteins. The expression of each cell lines was controlled and validated with known respectively the anti-human Nectin1, anti-human Nectin2, anti-human Nectin3 and anti- human PVR antibodies.
  • Nectin-1 MGLAGAAGRWWGLALGLTAFFLPGVHSQVVQVNDSMYGFIGTDVVLHCSFANPLPSVKITQVTWQKST NGSKQNVAIYNPSMGVSVLAPYRERVEFLRPSFTDGTIRLSRLELEDEGVYICEFATFPTGNRESQLN LTVMAKPTNWIEGTQAVLRAKKGQDDKVLVATCTSANGKPPSVVSWETRLKGEAEYQEIRNPNGTVTVTV ISRYRLVPSREAHQQSLACIVNYHMDRFKESLTLNVQYEPEVTIEGFDGNWYLQRMDVKLTCKADANP PATEYHWTTLNGSLPKGVEAQNRTLFFKGPINYSLAGTYICEATNPIGTRSGQVEVNITEFPYTPSPP EHGRRAGPVPTAIIGGVAGSILLVLIVVGGIVVALRRRRHTFKGDYSTKKHVYGNGYSKAGIP
  • Example 14 Epitope mapping by competition for binding to Nectin-4 by SPR Chimeric antibody 5E7, together with previously reported antibodies N4.1 (N41), antibody 14A5 and enfortumab, were tested for their ability to compete with one another for binding to the wild-type human Nectin-4 protein by SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance) methods, with OCTET analysis using Ni-NTA (NTA) Biosensors (Fortebio).
  • human Nectin4-His-BirA protein diluted to 5 ⁇ g/mL in Kinetic buffer 10X were captured onto the biosensors.
  • the first antibody was injected diluted to 10 ⁇ g/mL in Kinetic buffer 10X, followed by a second injection of the first antibody diluted to 10 ⁇ g/mL in Kinetic buffer 10X in order to saturate the signal.
  • the second antibody was injected diluted to 10 ⁇ g/mL in Kinetic buffer 10X. Result are shown in Table 12 below.
  • Black squares indicate substantial or direct competition between the 1 st and 2 nd antibody (1 st antibody prevents/causes loss of binding of 2 nd antibody), squares with an X indicate potential partial competition (1st antibody causes a potential reduction but not loss of binding of 2 nd antibody), white squares indicate no competition.
  • Antibody 5E7 competed with one another for binding to Nectin-4.
  • Example 15 Epitope mapping of antibodies using Nectin-4 point mutants Cell surface expressed human Nectin-4 point mutants
  • the binding profile of the anti-Nectin-4 antibodies on full-length and Ig-like V domain-deleted proteins, together with species binding profile of the antibodies (binding to human, cynomolgus and rat Nectin-4 but not to mouse Nectin-4), together with inter-species differences among the non-human Nectin-4 proteins permitted the identification of residues the junction of the Ig-like V domain and the Ig-like C2 type 1 domain (also referred to as “C1”).
  • C1 Ig-like C2 type 1 domain
  • Nectin-4 domain structure was modelled based on Protein Data Bank reference: 4FRW (domains V et C1).
  • Human Nectin-4 used was NCBI Reference Sequence: NP_112178.2
  • mouse Nectin-4 used was NCBI Reference Sequence: AAL79833.1
  • cynomolgus Nectin-4 used was NCBI Reference Sequence: XP_005541277.1
  • rat Nectin-4 used was NCBI Reference Sequence: NP_001102546.1.
  • the cells expressing the Nectin-4 mutants are then be used for testing anti-Nectin-4 antibodies for loss of binding to different Nectin-4 mutants to identify antibodies that bind to the same site on Nectin-4.
  • mutants having C1-V junction substitutions at residues K197T and/or S199A, or mutants 7, 7bis and 9 having additional and/or adjacent substitutions at the junction of domain C1 and V can identify antibodies having advantageous application as immunoconjugates.
  • Mutant 7 had substitutions S195A/K197T/S199A.
  • Mutant 7bis had substitutions A72P/G73N/K197T/S199A.
  • Mutant 9 included the key residue Q234 substitution, and had substitutions L150S/S152A/Q234R/I236S.
  • Figures 7A and 7B show a molecular model of the human Nectin-4 protein, indicating the position of substituted residues in mutants 7 (7A) and in mutants 7bis (7B); these mutants are in the C1 domain identify two sites at the junction of domain C1 and V domain that are on opposing faces of the Nectin-4 protein.
  • Figures 8A and 8B show different view of a molecular model of the human Nectin-4 protein, indicating the position of substituted residues in mutants 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
  • Nectin-4 mutants were generated by PCR. The sequences amplified were run on agarose gel and purified using the Macherey Nagel PCR Clean-Up Gel Extraction kit.
  • the purified PCR products generated for each mutant were then ligated into an expression vector, with the ClonTech InFusion system.
  • the vectors containing the mutated sequences were prepared as Miniprep and sequenced. After sequencing, the vectors containing the mutated sequences were prepared as Midiprep using the Promega PureYieldTM Plasmid Midiprep System.
  • HEK293T cells were grown in DMEM medium (Invitrogen), transfected with vectors using Invitrogen’s Lipofectamine 2000 and incubated at 37°C in a CO 2 incubator for 48 hours prior to testing for transgene expression. Mutants were transfected in Hek-293T cells, as shown in the table below.
  • the targeted amino acid mutations are shown in Table 13 below, listing the residue present in wild-type Nectin-4 / position of residue / residue present in mutant Nectin-4, with position reference being to the Nectin-4 protein with leader peptide shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. Results of the association between antibodies and Nectin-4 mutant are shown in Table 14 below. (+) means that antibodies-Nectin-4 association occurs. (-) means antibodies-Nectin-4 association does not occur. Results related with mutant 5 are irrelevant, due to an absence of expression of said protein.
  • Antibody 5E7 therefore has a binding site on Nectin-4 encompassing C1 domain residues that are mutated in Mutant 7 and 7bis (S195A/K197T/S199A and A72P/G73N/K197T/S199A). Thus, antibody 5E7 binds epitopes on Nectin-4 that are different than Enfortumab, N41 and 14A5 (that bind epitopes on the V domain of Nectin-4).
  • Example 16 In vivo efficacy of exatecan ADC Human breast cancer cell line SUM190PT was cultured in the following cell culture medium containing Ham’s F12, FBS 1g/L, HEPES 10mM, Ethanolamine 5mM, Insulin 5 ⁇ g/mL, Hydrocortisone 1 ⁇ g/mL, Apo-Transferrin 5 ⁇ g/mL, Triiodo Thyronine (T3) 6.7 ng/mL, Sodium selenite 8.7 ng/mL. Immunodeficient CB17-SCID mice were used at 7 to 8 weeks of age.
  • Anti-Nectin-4 antibodies enfortumab, 5E7 and 6A7 each having a human Fc region were produced and conjugated to payloads Dxd (deruxtecan) or Exatecan via intracellularly cleavable linkers ggfg-Dxd or PEG(8U)-Val-Ala-PAB-Exatecan.
  • Antibodies 6A7 are 5E7 share most CDRs, have comparable Nectin-4 binding affinity and bind the same site on Nectin-4 (for 6A7 amino acid sequences see PCT/EP2021/082872 filed 24 November 2021).
  • the ggfg-Dxd linker will release Dxd (deruxtecan) upon cleavage and the PEG(8U)-Val-Ala-PAB-Exatecan linker will release exatecan upon cleavage.
  • SUM190 cells were subcutaneously engrafted in CB17-SCID immunodeficient mice at the dose of 0.5 million in 100 ⁇ l of Matrigel containing growth factor diluted at 1 ⁇ 2 in PBS.
  • mice were randomized into groups of 8 or 9 mice depending on the experiment and treated intravenously with a single injection of 3 or 10 mg/kg body weight ADC or PBS as control. Tumor growth were followed twice a week. Kaplan Meier survival curves were established by using GraphPad Prism V7 software according to the following criteria: when the tumor volume reached 1500 mm 3 , mice were euthanized and considered dead on the day of sacrifice (D). When tumors were highly necrotic, mice were euthanized and considered dead on the same day (D).
  • Results are presented in Figures 9A and 9B for the 3 mg/kg dose, where it can be seen that the anti-IgVC1 ADCs 5E7-ggfg-Dxd that was found to lose binding to Nectin-4 having K197T/S199A mutations exhibit the highest efficiency in limiting the tumor growth in mice. Furthermore, 5E7 conjugated with the PEG(8U)-Val-Ala-PAB-Exatecan designed to release exatecan upon linker cleavage shows a higher efficiency in controlling tumor growth in mice compared 5E7 conjugated with ggfg-Dxd designed to release Dxd upon linker cleavage, as shown in Figure 9C for the 10 mg/kg dose.
  • Example 17 In vitro efficacy of ADCs in Pg-p-expressing cancer model MC-38 cells that endogenously express MDR1 P-glycoprotein (Pgp) were engineered to express Nectin-4 and cultured in DMEM + 10% FBS. Cells were either treated with vehicle (DSMO) or with cyclosporin A (5 ⁇ M, stock solution in DMSO) known to act as an inhibitor of Pgp, in presence of ADCs.
  • DSMO vehicle
  • cyclosporin A 5 ⁇ M, stock solution in DMSO
  • the ADCs tested were as follows: (a) PADCEVTM, (b) Antibody 5E7 conjugated to deruxtecan (Dxd) via the ggfg-Dxd linker which releases Dxd upon cleavage (5E7-GGFG-DxD), and (c) Antibody 5E7 conjugated to exatecan via the PEG(8U)-Val-Ala-PAB-Exatecan linker which releases exatecan upon cleavage (5E7-exatecan).
  • the ADCs and the equivalent isotype control ADCs were used at dose range from 150 to 2.310 -3 nM. After five days of co-incubation with cells, cell viability was measured by addition of Cell Titer GloTM (CTG) substrate.
  • CCG Cell Titer GloTM
  • Luminescence vs. Ab concentration was plotted.
  • Figure 10A shows luminescence (indicating cell viability) of cells treated with PadcevTM (enfortumab vedotin), antibody 5E7 conjugated to Dxd or 5E7 conjugated to exatecan.
  • PadcevTM Enfortumab vedotin
  • the ADC with exatecan (5E7-exatecan) as payload was highly potent to decrease cell viability in this setting of drug resistance.
  • Figure 10B shows tumor growth (area under the curve) of the MC38 cells treated, in the presence or absence of the Pgp inhibitor cyclosporine, with PadcevTM (enfortumab vedotin), antibody 5E7 conjugated to Dxd or 5E7 conjugated to exatecan, at 150 nM ADC and normalized to control antibody.
  • PadcevTM Enfortumab vedotin
  • the results suggest that the anti-tumor activity of PadcevTM and antibody 5E7 conjugated to Dxd are negatively affected by Pgp at concentrations where 5E7 conjugated to exatecan is highly effective.
  • SUM190 cells were subcutaneously engrafted in CB17-SCID immunodeficient mice at a dose of 0.5 million cells in 100 ⁇ l of Matrigel with growth factor diluted at 1 ⁇ 2 in PBS.
  • tumors reached a volume between 200 and 250 mm 3
  • mice were randomized into groups of 10 mice for intravenous treatment with a single injection of 3 mg/kg of ADCs. Tumor growth were followed twice a week.
  • Kaplan Meier survival curves were established by using GraphPad Prism V7 software according to the following criteria: When the tumor volume reached 1500 mm 3 , mice were euthanized and considered dead on the day of sacrifice (D).
  • mice When tumors showed signs of necrosis, mice were euthanized and considered dead on the same day (D) (indicated with red star on the graphs of individual tumor growth). Results showed that at the 3 mg/kg dose all ADC were efficient in preventing increase in tumor volume.
  • the different linker-toxins administered as free toxin (not conjugated to anti-Nectin-4 antibody, indicated as “IC”, were less efficient in preventing tumor growth. Results for the IC (free toxins) are shown in Figure 11. Results for the ADCs are shown in Figure 12.
  • Example 19 In vivo pharmacokinetics and efficacy of branched PEG-dipeptide- exatecan ADCs
  • This experiment tested different dosing regimens of up to 1 mg/kg body weight and evaluated the correlation of anti-tumor efficacy with ADC concentration in circulation.
  • mice were subcutaneously engrafted in CB17-SCID immunodeficient mice at a dose of 0.5 million cells in 100 ⁇ l of Matrigel with growth factor diluted at 1 ⁇ 2 in PBS.
  • tumors reached a volume between 150 and 250 mm 3
  • mice were randomized into groups of 20 mice for intravenous treatment with either PBS as control, or with a single injection of ADCs at either 0.11 mg/kg, 0.33 mg/kg, 0.66 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg body weight (2.2 ⁇ g, 6.6 ⁇ g, 13.2 ⁇ g, and 20 ⁇ g doses, respectively).
  • FIG. 13 Tumor growth was measured and plasma samples obtained on the same day, with plasma samples post treatment at 5 minutes, 5h (hours), 24h and then both plasma samples and tumor growth measurement at 72h, day 7 and then a weekly basis thereafter. Results are shown in Figure 13.
  • Figure 13 top left panel shows that PBS did not prevent an increase in tumor volume.
  • Figure 13 top right panel shows that result for the 1 mg/kg dose of ADC, which showed strong anti-tumor efficacy.
  • Figure 13, bottom panel shows concentration of ADC in plasma over time, showing that ADC remained detectable for the period over which the ADC showed anti-tumor activity.
  • Example 20 In vivo safety of branched PEG-dipeptide-exatecan ADCs
  • a dose range study of anti-VC domain anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated to the VA- PAB-Exatecan-PEG(16U) linker at DAR-8 was carried out at doses ranging from 3 mg/kg body weight to 30 mg/kg body weight.
  • the ADC was injected by intravenous bolus in Sprague Dawley rats at 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg body weight on days 1 and 22.
  • Figure 14A shows the results for 3 mg/kg dose (top panel) and 10 mg/kg dose (bottom panel) and Figure 14B shows the results for the 30 mg/kg dose.
  • concentration values below the lower limit of quantification were plotted at LLOQ/2.
  • the Y axis represents the analyte plasma concentrations in ng/mL
  • the X axis represents the time in days. Symbols and bars show the mean and standard deviation of each group.
  • the ADC was injected by intravenous bolus in Mauritian cynomolgus monkeys at 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg body weight on days 1 and 22.
  • Figure 15A shows the results for 3 mg/kg dose (top panel) and 10 mg/kg dose (bottom panel) and Figure 15B shows the results for the 30 mg/kg dose.

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US12281166B2 (en) 2020-05-26 2025-04-22 Truebinding, Inc. Methods of treating inflammatory diseases by blocking Galectin-3
WO2025141316A1 (en) * 2023-12-27 2025-07-03 Intocell, Inc. Antibody drug conjugates comprising camptothecin derivatives and uses thereof
WO2025148933A1 (zh) * 2024-01-08 2025-07-17 上海橙帆医药有限公司 抗体及其药物偶联物和用途
WO2025157266A1 (zh) * 2024-01-26 2025-07-31 鲁南新时代生物技术有限公司 一种Nectin-4抗体及其应用
US12497458B2 (en) 2019-01-30 2025-12-16 Truebinding, Inc. Anti-GAL3 antibodies and uses thereof
WO2025261506A1 (zh) * 2024-06-21 2025-12-26 信达生物制药(苏州)有限公司 抗Nectin-4抗体以及其用途
WO2025260010A3 (en) * 2024-06-14 2026-01-15 Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. Anti-nectin-4 antibodies and uses of the same
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