WO2024108529A1

WO2024108529A1 - Properdin binding protein and use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2024108529A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/134249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhaozhong Han; Lingyu Li; Mengfan PENG
Original assignee: Linno Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Priority date: 2022-11-25
Filing date: 2022-11-25
Publication date: 2024-05-30
Also published as: WO2024109126A1

Abstract

Provided is an isolated antigen binding protein. The isolated antigen binding protein can specifically bind to properdin. Also provided is an anti-properdin antibody and a preparation method and an application thereof.

Description

PROPERDIN BINDING PROTEIN AND USE THEREOF

FIELD OF THE INTVENTION

The present application relates to the field of biomedicine, and in particular, relates to some isolated antigen binding proteins specifically binding to properdin, and its applications thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The complement system, as a vital part of innate and adaptive immunity, plays an important role in the clearance of pathogens, cell debris and mutated cells. However, unregulated activation of this system has a significant or critical role in the pathogenesis of human diseases including eye diseases, periodontal diseases, cancer, autoimmune diseases, CNS/PNS diseases, kidney diseases and chronic hemolytic diseases. Complement inhibition has been successfully applied to clinical or experimental treatment of few human diseases such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) ; Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) , thrombotic microangiopathy (TMAs) , age-related macular degeneration (AMD) , IgA nephropathy (IgAN) , and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and.

The complement system can be activated via three routes as classical (CP) , lectin (LP) or alternative (AP) pathway, respectively. The AP represents a true safeguard system that is always active and also accounts for approximately 80–90%of terminal pathway activation by forming a powerful amplification loop for the three complement pathways. The C3 convertase, either in the fluid phase or on cell surfaces, has a short half-life of around 90 seconds under physiological conditions. Properdin, a glycoprotein with low levels in plasma and high levels at inflammatory sites where it is dumped by the activated neutrophils, is the only positive regulator of the complement system by binding to and stabilizing surface-bound C3 convertases (C3bBb) and C5 convertases (C3bBbC3b) by extending the half-life of the nascent convertases by 5 to 10 folds, leading to an accelerated and efficient amplification of C3b deposition on the surface of targets. Therapeutic inhibitors of properdin would block complement at an earlier stage by interfering with the unregulated amplification of the AP and leaving CP and LP activation to physiological functions and thus potentially ameliorate human diseases more effectively and safely where the AP participates in the pathogenesis, in particular in diseases where properdin levels are increased and where properdin has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis.

In the past ten years, targeting complement system has been gradually gained attentions for treatment of human diseases. By interfering with terminal pathway effector generation, eculizumab (Soliris, Alexion Pharm) , one humanized monoclonal antibody against human complement C5 protein, was firstly approved by the FDA in 2007 for the treatment of PNH, and subsequently expanding the indications to aHUS, gMG and NMOSD. Encouraged by such successful clinical applications, C5 antagonists in variable formats such as modified peptide, aptamer, small molecular compound (SMC) , siRNA or antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) have been actively developed in clinical or preclinical settings. Molecular targets have been extended to complement proteins that are dominant in complement activation via classical, lectin or alternative pathways, including C3, complement factor B, complement factor D, MASP-2 or MASP-3, C1s, and complement factor H or I, et. al. Particularly, OMS721 (Omeros) , a human monoclonal antibody targeting mannose-binding lectin-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) , significantly reduced the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio of patients in a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of IgA nephropathy. The efficacy was unprecedented in other therapies, which also earned it the FDA's breakthrough therapy designation. Furthermore, other orally bioavailable drugs are progressing through phase 2 with a focus on the amplification loop. LNP023 (Novartis) blocks CFB and is in clinical trials for a number of indications including PNH and renal disease. Another potential target for convertase formation is properdin, a fully-human anti-properdin Fab (CLG561) was developed by Novartis for use in AMD; it had been evaluated as monotherapy or in combination with the anti-C5 mAb LFG316 in a phase 2 trial for geographic atrophy (NCT02515942) .

Inhibition or modulation of properdin is an important therapeutic strategy to mitigate symptoms and slow or prevent progression of disease associated with alternative pathway. It’s a viable and promising therapeutic strategy to block alternative pathway without inhibiting the classical complement pathway by depleting, neutralizing, or inactivating properdin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides an isolated antigenbinding protein, which may have one or more of the following properties: 1) specifically binds to properdin, 2) inhibits alternative pathway by binding properdin, 3) inhibits interaction between properdin and C3, 4) selectively inhibits alternative pathway rather than classical pathway or lectin pathway, and 5) has species-crossing properdin-binding and complement-inhibitory activity in AP-specific pathways in mammal. The isolated antigen binding protein also shows serum stability both in plasma and formulation buffer. By multiple subcutaneous dosing said isolated antigen binding protein, properdin was depleted from serum and AP activity was inhibited consistently.

In one aspect, the present application provides an isolated antigen binding protein, comprising at least one CDR in a heavy-chain variable region VH; the VH comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to specifically epitopes domain of properdin. In some embodiments, said epitopes comprise TSR5, TSR6, and/or TSR0 of properdin.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein mayhas a competitive target binding capability with reference antibodies, wherein said reference antibodies comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, and SEQ ID NO: 3, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, and SEQ ID NO: 8, said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, and SEQ ID NO: 14.

In some embodiments, said reference antibodies may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12.

In some embodiments, said reference antibodies may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13.

In some embodiments, said reference antibodies may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14.

In some embodiments, said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 66, and SEQ ID NO: 70.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR3, said CDR3 may comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR2, said CDR2 may comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 55.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR2, said CDR2 may comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, and SEQ ID NO: 11.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, said CDR1 may comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth inX ₁ X ₂CMX ₅, in which X ₁ is H or S or T or Y, X ₂ is G or Y, and X ₅ is A or G SEQ ID NO: 54.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, said CDR1 may comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 5.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in X ₁ X ₂CMX ₅, in which X ₁ is H or S or T or Y, X ₂ is G or Y, and X ₅ is A or G SEQ ID NO: 54, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 55, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 5, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, and SEQ ID NO: 11, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 15.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 11, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 17.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise FR1, wherein the C-terminus of said FR1 is linked directly or indirectly to the N-terminus of said CDR1, and said FR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 56.

In some embodiments, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, and SEQ ID NO: 30.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise FR2, wherein said FR2 is located between said CDR1 and said CDR2, and FR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 57.

In some embodiments, said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, and SEQ ID NO: 40.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise FR3, wherein said FR3 is located between said CDR2 and said CDR3, and FR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 58.

In some embodiments, said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, and SEQ ID NO: 51.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise FR4, wherein the N-terminus of said FR4 is linked directly or indirectly to the C-terminus of said CDR3, and said FR4 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 59.

In some embodiments, said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 52 and SEQ ID NO: 53.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein comprises FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4, said FR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 56, said FR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 57, said FR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 58, and said FR4 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 59.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein comprises FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4, said FR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, and SEQ ID NO: 30, said FR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, and SEQ ID NO: 40, said FR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, and SEQ ID NO: 51, and said FR4 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 52 and SEQ ID NO: 53.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein comprises FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4, and said isolated antigen binding protein comprising any set of amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of:

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 18, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 31, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 41, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 19, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 32, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 19, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 32, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 20, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 32, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 20, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 31, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 21, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 33, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 44, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 22, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 34, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 22, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 34, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 45, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 22, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 33, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 45, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 23, FR2SEQ ID NO: 35: , FR3: SEQ ID NO: 46, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 24, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 36, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 47, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 24, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 36, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 48, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 25, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 36, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 48, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 25, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 35, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 48, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 26, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 37, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 49, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 27, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 38, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 27, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 39, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 28, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 39, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 28, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 39, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 28, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 37, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 29, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 31, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 50, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52; and

FR1: SEQ ID NO: 30, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 40, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 51, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein comprises a heavy chain variable region VH, which comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

In some embodiments, said heavy chain variable region is VHH.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an antibody heavy-chain constant region.

In some embodiments, said heavy-chain constant region may comprise a human Fc region.

In some embodiments, said heavy-chain constant region may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 109.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may be directly or indirectly linked to a second antigen binding domain.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may be linked to a second antigen binding domain by a linker.

In some embodiments, said linker of said isolated antigen binding protein may be a poly-glycine linker.

In some embodiments, said linker of said isolated antigen binding proteinmay comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 108: GGGGSGGGGSGGGGS.

In some embodiments, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to properdin.

In some embodiments, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to different epitopes of properdin from said isolated antigen binding protein.

In some embodiments, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to the same epitopes of properdin with the isolated antigen binding protein.

In some embodiments, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in of any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 81.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an antibody or an antigen binding fragments thereof.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding fragment may comprise Fab, Fab’, F (ab) ₂, Fv fragments, F (ab') ₂, scFv, di-scFv, VHH and/or dAb.

In some embodiments, said antibody may be selected from the group consisting of: monoclonal antibodies, single chain antibodies, chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, and fully human antibodies.

In some embodiments, said antibody may be a camelid antibody.

In another aspect, the present application provides a fusion protein, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein.

In some embodiments, said fusion protein may comprise a functionally active protein.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may be directly or indirectly linked to said functionally active protein.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein may be linked to said functionally active protein by a linker.

In some embodiments, said linker of said isolated antigen binding protein and said functionally active protein may be a poly-glycine linker.

In some embodiments, said linker of said isolated antigen binding protein and said functionally active protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 108: GGGGSGGGGSGGGGS.

In some embodiments, said functionally active protein of said fusion protein may be factor H.

In some embodiments, said factor H of said fusion protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 110.

In another aspect, the present application provides a polypeptide, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein.

In another aspect, the present application provides an immunoconjugate, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein or the polypeptide.

In another aspect, the present application provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule or isolated nucleic acid molecules, encoding the isolated antigen binding protein.

In another aspect, the present application further provides a vector, comprising the nucleic acid molecule (s) .

In another aspect, the present application provides a cell, comprising said nucleic acid molecule (s) , said polypeptide, said immunoconjugate, said isolated nucleic acid molecule, and/or said vector.

In another aspect, the present application provides a method of producing said isolated antigen binding protein or saidpolypeptide, wherein saidmethod comprises culturing the cell under conditions that allow expression of said isolated antigen binding protein or said polypeptide.

In another aspect, the present application provides a method for detecting properdin, wherein said method comprises using said isolated antigen binding protein or said polypeptide.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein of said methods comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

In another aspect, the present application provides a detection kit for properdin, comprising said isolated antigen binding protein or said polypeptide.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein of said detection kit comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

In another aspect, the present application provides the use of said isolated antigen binding protein or said polypeptide in the preparation of a kit.

In some embodiments, said isolated antigen binding protein of said use comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

In another aspect, the present application provides a pharmaceutical composition, comprising said isolated antigen binding protein, said polypeptide, said immunoconjugate, said isolated nucleic acid molecule, said vector, said cell, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant and/or excipient.

In another aspect, the present application provides a pharmaceutical combination comprising said isolated antigen binding protein.

In another aspect, the present application provides a method of inhibiting alternative complement pathway, comprising administering an effective amount of said isolated antigen binding protein, said polypeptide, said immunoconjugate, said isolated nucleic acid molecule, said vector, said cell, and/or said pharmaceutical composition, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable therapeutic agent.

In another aspect, the present application provides a method of inhibiting alternative complement pathway, comprising administering an effective amount of said pharmaceutical combination and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable therapeutic agent.

In another aspect, the present application provides said isolated antigen binding protein, said polypeptide, said immunoconjugate, said isolated nucleic acid molecule, said vector, said cell and/or said pharmaceutical composition, and/or said pharmaceutical combination for use in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases.

In some embodiments, said diseases may be caused by properdin.

In some embodiments, said diseases may be mediated by alternative pathway.

In some embodiments, said diseases may include autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .

In another aspect, the present application provides the use of said isolated antigen binding protein, said polypeptide, said immunoconjugate, said isolated nucleic acid molecule, said vector, said cell, said pharmaceutical composition, and/or pharmaceutical combination in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease.

In some embodiments, said diseases of said use may be caused by properdin.

In some embodiments, said diseases of said use may be mediated by alternative pathway.

In some embodiments, said diseases of said use may include autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .

In another aspect, the present application provides a method of preventing and/or treating a disease, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of said isolated antigen binding protein, saidpolypeptide, said immunoconjugate, said isolated nucleic acid molecule, said vector, said cell, said pharmaceutical composition, and/or said pharmaceutical combination.

In some embodiments, said diseases of said method may be caused by properdin.

In some embodiments, said diseases of said method may be mediated by alternative pathway.

In some embodiments, said diseases of said method may include autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .

Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described. As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are employed, and the accompanying drawings (also “figure” and “FIG. ” herein) , of which:

FIG. 1 Illustrates production of human, mouse and cyno properdin analysis on non-reducing and reducing SDS-PAGE.

FIG. 2 Illustrates production of the recombinant VHH-Fc analysis on non-reducing and reducing SDS-PAGE.

FIG. 3 Illustrates ELISA binding of the recombinant VHH-Fc to human (FIG. 3A) , cyno (FIG. 3B) or mouse (FIG. 3C) properdin.

FIG. 4 Illustrates complement-inhibitory activities of the recombinant VHH-Fc within human (FIG. 4A) or mouse (FIG. 4B) serum.

FIG. 5 Illustrates epitope binning of the properdin (full length) -binding VHH’s .

FIG. 6 Illustrates production of bi-paratopic VHH’s analysis on non-reducing and reducing SDS-PAGE.

FIG. 7 Illustrates binding of the bi-paratopic VHH’s to human (FIG. 7A and FIG. 7C) or mouse (FIG. 7B and FIG. 7D) properdin.

FIG. 8 Illustrates complement-inhibitory activities of the bi-paratopic VHH’s within human (FIG. 8A and FIG. 8C) or mouse (FIG. 8B and FIG. 8D) serum.

FIG. 9 Illustrates humanization of the selected properdin-binding VHH’s . Human properdin binding (FIG. 9A and FIG. 9C) , mouse properdin binding (FIG. 9B and FIG. 9D) , human AP activity (FIG. 9E and FIG. 9F) , mouse AP activity (FIG. 9G and FIG. 9H) .

FIG. 10 Illustrates epitope mapping of the properdin (truncated variants) -binding VHH’s .

FIG. 11 Illustrates impact of properdin inhibitors on interactions between C3 and properdin. Properdin binding assay (FIG. 11A) , Competition assay (FIG. 11B) .

FIG. 12 Illustrates production of the VHH-CFH analysis on non-reducing and reducing SDS-PAGE.

FIG. 13 Illustrates properdin-binding activities of SLN12140 and SLN7207 in human (FIG. 13A and FIG. 13C) and mouse (FIG. 13B and FIG. 13D) serum.

FIG. 14 Illustrates AP inhibiting activities of SLN12140 and SLN7207 in human (FIG. 14A and FIG. 14C) and mouse (FIG. 14B and FIG. 14D) serum.

FIG. 15 Illustrates pathway-selectivity of SLN12140 in complement inactivation. AP (FIG. 15A) , CP (FIG. 15B) , and LP (FIG. 15C) .

FIG. 16 Illustrates cross-species reactivity of SLN12140 upon AP activity assay. AP activity in human serum (FIG. 16A) , AP activity in cyno serum (FIG. 16B) , AP activity in mouse serum (FIG. 16C) and AP activity in rat serum (FIG. 16D) .

FIG. 17 Illustrates serum stability of SLN12140 both in plasma and formulation buffer.

FIG. 18 Illustrates subcutaneous and intravenous single dose pharmacokinetic studies in mice.

FIG. 19 Illustrates dose-dependent subcutaneous PK of SLN12140 at a dosage of 3mpk (FIG19. A) , 10mpk (FIG19. B) or 30mpk (FIG19. C) , respectively.

FIG. 20 Illustrates multiple subcutaneous dosing SLN12140 once a week for 3 weeks sustainably reduce the target concentration to a low level and consistently inhibit AP activity.

FIG. 21 Illustrates multiple subcutaneous dosing SLN12140 once a week for 7 weeks in hCD89 Tg mice sustainably reduce the target concentration to a low level and stable pharmacokinetic characteristics of SLN12140.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed.

Terms &Definitions

The term “antibody” is used in the broadest sense, andmay include but not limited to monoclonal antibodies (including full-length monoclonal antibodies containing two light chains and two heavy chains) , polyclonal antibodies, multi-specific antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies) , murine antibodies, human antibodies (fully human antibodies) , humanized antibodies, chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies (e.g., scFv) , antibody derivatives , and antibody fragments that bind to an antigen (e.g., Fab', VHH, and (Fab) ₂ fragments) . The term “antibody” may also include all recombinant forms of antibodies, such as antibodies expressed in prokaryotic cells, unglycosylated antibodies, and any antigen-binding antibody fragments and derivatives thereof described herein. The “antibody” may generally comprise a protein in which at least two heavy chains (HC) and two light chains (LC) are linked to each other by disulfide bonds, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof. Each heavy chain may be composed of a heavy chain variable region (VH) and a heavy chain constant region. The VH region can be further distinguished as hypervariable regions, termed complementarity determining region (CDR) , interspersed with more conserved regions termed framework region (FR) . Each VH may be composed of three CDRs and four FRs regions, which may be arranged from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus in the following order: FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3 and FR4. The variable regions of the heavy chains contain binding domains that interact with an antigen (e.g., properdin) . In the art, the CDR of an antibody may be defined by a variety of methods, for example, the Kabat definition rules based on sequence variability (see, Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, National Institutes of Health, Besse Star, Maryland (1991) ) , the Chothia definition rules based on the location of the structural loop regions (see, A1-Lazikani et al., JMol Biol 273: 927-48, 1997) , and the IMGT definition rules based on the concepts in IMGT-ONTOLOGY and IMGT Scientific chart rules. In the present application, the CDRs may be defined by the Kabat definition rules.

The term “antigen binding domain” herein generally refers to a domain capable of binding to a target. For example, the binding may require some complementarityin binding sequence. For example, the binding may require special structure. For example, in the present application, the antigen binding domain of antigen binding protein may specifically bind to antigen (e.g., properdin) . For example, the antigen binding domain may belong to an antibody or an antigen binding fragment, and make them bind to the target with greater affinity, avidity, easiness, and/or duration than it binds to other targets. For example, the antigen binding domain may have a measurable and reproducible interaction, such as the binding between an antigen and an antibody, whereby the existence of a target may be determined in the presence of a heterogeneous population of molecules (including biomolecules) . “Binding sequence” refers to a specific amino sequence on the target (e.g., antigen) , which is complementary to the antigen binding protein.

The term “antigen binding fragment” herein generally refers to one or more fragments of an antibody that specifically bindto antigen. The antigen binding function of an antibody can be achieved by a full-length fragment of the antibody. The antigen binding function of an antibody can also be achieved by: a heavy chain comprising a fragment of Fv, scFv, dsFv, Fab’ or F (ab’) ₂, or a light chain comprising a fragment of Fv, scFv, dsFv, Fab’ or F (ab’) ₂. The term “Fab” generally refers to a fragment comprising a heavy-chain variable domain and a light-chain variable domain, and also comprising a light-chain constant domain and a heavy-chain first constant domain (CH1) . The term “Fab’” generally refers to a fragment that is different from Fab by the addition of a few residues (comprising one or more cysteines from the hinge region of an antibody) to a carboxyl terminus of the heavy-chain CH1. The term “F (ab’) ₂” generally refers to a dimer of Fab’, comprising an antibody fragment in which two Fab fragments are linked by a disulfide bridge on the hinge region. The term “Fv” generally refers to the smallest antibody fragment that comprises a complete antigen recognition and binding site. In some cases, this fragment may consist of a dimer in which one heavy-chain variable region and one light-chain variable region are tightly non-covalently bound. The term “dsFv” generally refers to a disulfide-stabilized Fv fragment, with a disulfide bond between a single light- chain variable region and a single heavy-chain variable region. The term “dAb fragment” generally refers to an antibody fragment consisting of a VH domain. The term “scFv” generally refers to a molecule produced by covalently linking and pairing one heavy-chain variable domain with one light-chain variable domain of an antibody by means of a flexible peptide linker. The term “Fd” generally refers to a fragment consisting of the VH and CH domains. For example, the term “antigen binding fragment” may include one class of antibody VHHs, which lacks the antibody light chain and has only the heavy chain variable region.

The term “antigen binding protein” herein generally refers to a polypeptide molecule capable of specifically recognizing and/or neutralizing a particular antigen. For example, in the present application, the term “antigen binding protein” may include an “antibody” or an “antigen binding fragment” , as long as they exhibit the desired antigen-binding activity. For example, the said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise a single domain protein, for example, the said isolated antigen bindingproteinmay include any molecule comprising an antigen-binding portion thereof. For example, the said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise a VHH-Fc protein or a Fc-VHH-VHH protein.

The term “camelid antibody” generally refers to an antibody derived from a camelid species. For example, in a camel, dromedary, llama, alpaca or guanaco. Camelid antibody lacks a light chain, and thus includes only heavy chains with complete and diverse antigen binding capabilities.

The term “cell” generally refers to an individual cell, a cell line or a cell culture, which may contain or already contain a plasmid or vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule of the present application, or which is capable of expressing the antibody or antigenbinding fragment thereof in the present application. The cell may include a progeny of a single host cell. Due to natural, accidental or deliberate mutations, progeny cells and original parent cells may not be necessarily identical in terms of morphology or genome, as long as they are capable of expressing the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof in the present application. The cells may be obtained by transfecting cells in vitro using the vector of the present application. The cells may be prokaryotic cells (e.g., Escherichia coli) , or eukaryotic cells (e.g., yeast cells; e.g., COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, HeLa cells, HEK293 cells, COS-1 cells, NS0 cells, or myeloma cells) . In some cases, the cells may be mammalian cells. For example, the mammalian cells may be CHO-K1 cells.

The term “chimeric antibodies” generally refers to an antibody in which the variable region is derived from one species and the constant region is derived from another species. Generally, the variable region is derived from an antibody ( “parent antibody” ) in an experimental animal such as a rodent, and the constant region is derived from a human antibody, such that the possibility of causing an adverse immune response in an individual human by the resulting chimeric antibody is reduced as compared with the parental (e.g., mouse-derived) antibody.

The term "derivative" generally refers to a polypeptide or polynucleotide of the present application, including any substitution, variation, modification, substitution, deletion and/or addition of one (or more) amino acid residues from/to the sequence, so long as the resulting polypeptide or polynucleotide substantially retains at least one of its endogenous functions.

The term “epitopes” generally refers to a domain or an amino acid sequence specifically bind to antigen binding protein. For example, the term “epitopes” may include chemically active surface molecular groups (e.g., asugar side chain, a phosphoryl group, or a sulfonyl group) . For example, the term “epitope” may have specific tertiary structural features, and/or specific charge features.

The term “fully human antibodies” generally refers to an antibody that contains only the sequence of human immunoglobulin proteins. The fully human antibody can greatly reduce the side immune effects caused by heterologous antibodies on the human body. Methods for obtaining the fully human antibody in the art may include the phage display technology, the transgenic mouse technology, the ribosome display technology, the RNA-polypeptide technology, etc.

The term “fusion protein” generally refers to a protein composed of two or more polypeptides. The two or more polypeptide components can be bound directly or indirectly through a peptide linker/spacer. For example, said polypeptides are not normally bound in their natural state, they are held together by peptide bonds through their respective amino and carboxyl termini to form a contiguous polypeptide. For example, the term “fusion protein” comprises an antigen binding protein which is prepared by the method described in present application, and a functionally active protein. For example, the said functionally active protein may be factor H.

The term “humanized antibodies” generally refers to an antibody in which some or all of the amino acids outside the CDR of a non-human antibody (e.g., a mouse antibody) have been replaced by corresponding amino acids derived from human immunoglobulins. In the CDR, small additions, deletions, insertions, substitutions, or modifications to the amino acids may also be allowed, as long as they still retain the capability of the antibody to bind to a specific antigen. The humanized antibody may optionally comprise at least a portion of a constant region of a human immunoglobulin. The “humanized antibody” reserves the antigen specificity similar to that of the original antibody. The “humanized” form of a non-human (e.g., a mouse) antibody may minimally comprise a chimeric antibody derived from a non-human immunoglobulin sequence. In some cases, CDR residues in a human immunoglobulin (receptor antibody) may be replaced with CDR residues from a non-human species (donor antibody) (e.g., a mouse, a rat, a rabbit, or a non-human primate) with the desired properties, affinity, and/or capability. In some cases, FR residues of the human immunoglobulin may be replaced with corresponding non-human residues. In addition, the humanized antibody may comprise an amino acid modification that is not present in the receptor antibody or in the donor antibody. These modifications may be made to further improve the properties such as binding affinity of the antibody.

The term “immunoconjugate” generally refers to a conjugate formed by conjugating (e.g., covalently linking via a linking molecule) the additional therapeutic agent to the isolated antigen binding protein, which conjugate can deliver the additional therapeutic agent to a target cell via specific binding of the isolated antigen binding protein to an antigen on the target cell.

The term “isolated” antigen binding protein generally refers to an antigen binding protein that has been identified, isolated, and/or recovered from (e.g., native or recombinant) components of the environment in which it is produced. Contaminant components of the environment in which it is produced are generally substances that interfere with its investigational, diagnostic or therapeutic use, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous solutes. An isolated antigen binding protein or an antibody is generally prepared by at least one purification step. The isolated antigen binding proteinof the present application generally specificallybindsto properdin.

The term “isolated nucleic acid molecule” generally refers to a genome, an mRNA, a cDNA, or a synthetic-origin DNA or RNA or a certain combination thereof. It is not associated with the all or some of polynucleotides found in nature, or is linked to polynucleotides to which it is not linked in nature.

The term “monoclonal antibodies” generally refers to an antibody obtained from a group of substantially homogeneous antibodies, that is, a cluster in which several antibodies are the same, except for a few natural mutants that may exist. The monoclonal antibody is generally highly specific for a single antigen site. Moreover, unlike conventional polyclonal antibody preparations (which generally comprise different antibodies directed against different determinants) , each monoclonal antibody is directed against a single determinant on the antigen. In addition to their specificity, the advantage of monoclonal antibodies lies in that they may be synthesized by hybridoma culture, without being contaminated by other immunoglobulins. The modifier “monoclonal” indicates the characteristics of an antibody obtained from a substantially homogeneous antibody population, and is not construed as requiring the production of the antibody by any specific method. For example, the monoclonal antibodies may be prepared in hybridoma cells, or may be prepared by recombinant DNA methods.

The term “patient” generally refers to a human or non-human animal, including but not limited to a cat, dog, horse, pig, cow, sheep, rabbit, mouse, rat, or monkey.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant” generally comprises pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers, which are nontoxic for the cells or mammals that are exposed to them at the dose and concentration used. Generally, the physiologically acceptable carrier is a PH buffered aqueous solution. Examples of the physiologically acceptable carrier may comprise: buffers, such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants, including ascorbic acid; low-molecular-weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides, and proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulin; hydrophilic polymers, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids, such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine, or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates, including glucose, mannose, or dextrin; chelating agents, such as EDTA; sugar alcohols, such as mannitol or sorbitol; salt-forming counterions, such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants, such as TWEEN ^TM, polyethylene glycol (PEG) , and PLURONICS ^TM.

The term “pharmaceutical combination” and "combination product" is used interchangeably, and generally refers to a product resulting from the admixture or combination of more than one active ingredients, and includes both fixed and non-fixed combinations of active ingredients. The term “fixed combination” means that the active ingredients, and one or more combination partners are both administered to a patient simultaneously in the form of a single entity or dose. The term "non-fixed combination" means that the active ingredients and one or more combination partners are administered to a patient simultaneously, jointly or sequentially (without a specific time limit) as separate entities, wherein such administration provides two compounds at therapeutically effective levels in the patient’s body. For example, one active ingredient of pharmaceutical combination may be an antigen binding protein prepared by the method described in present application.

The term “pharmaceutical composition” generally refers to a composition suitable for administration to a patient. For example, the term “pharmaceutical composition” contains one or more antigen binding proteins, which is generally preparedby the method described in present application. A pharmaceutical composition may also contain one or more suitable (pharmaceutically effective) carriers, stabilizers, excipients, diluents, solubilizers, surfactants, emulsifiers, preservatives and/or adjuvants. For example, an acceptable component of a composition is nontoxic to the patient at the dose and concentration used. The pharmaceutical composition in present application includes, but is not limited to liquid, frozen and lyophilized compositions.

The term “polypeptide” , “polypeptide” , “peptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably, and generally refer to a polymer of amino acids of any length. The polymer may be linear or branched, it may comprise modified amino acids, and it may be interrupted by non-amino acids. These terms also encompass amino acid polymers that have been modified. These modifications may comprise: disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, lipidation, acetylation, phosphorylation, or any other manipulation (e.g., binding to a labeling component) . The term “amino acid” includes natural and/or unnatural or synthetic amino acids, including glycine, D and L optical isomers, amino acid analogs and peptidomimetics.

The term “properdin” , “factor P” , and “Pillemer molecular” are used interchangeably, and are positive regulator of the alternative complement activation. For example, the term “properdin” may be oligomerization of a rod-like monomer into cyclic dimers, trimers, and tetramers. For example, the term “properdin” may be human properdin, which has about 469 amino acid soluble glycoprotein found in plasma and seven thrombospondin type I repeats (TSR) with the N-terminal domain. For example, the term “properdin” may be mouse properdin, which has about 457 amino acid soluble glycoprotein found in plasma and seven TSRs with the N-terminal domain. Said TSRs can be divided according to the common sense of people in the field. For example, the term “properdin” may comprise full length, truncated, and variant properdin.

The term “treatment” generally refers to the administration of an internal or external therapeutic agent to a patient who has one or more disease symptoms, and furthermore, the therapeutic agent is known to show a therapeutic effect against these symptoms. Generally, therapeutic agent is administered to the patient at an amount (therapeutically effective amount) for effectively alleviating one or more disease symptoms. The desired therapeutic effect comprises reducing the rate of disease progression, ameliorating or alleviating the disease state, and regressing or improving the prognosis.

The term “vector” generally refers to a nucleic acid molecule capable of self-replication in a suitable host. It transfers an inserted nucleic acid molecule into and/or between host cells. The vector may include a vector mainly for inserting DNA or RNA into cells, a vector mainly for replicating DNA or RNA, and a vector mainly for expressing DNA or RNA transcription and/or translation. The vector also includes a vector having a variety of the functions defined above. The vector may be a polynucleotide that may be transcribed and translated into a polypeptide when introduced into a suitable host cell. Generally, the vector may produce a desired expression product by culturing a suitable host cell containing the vector.

The term “optional” or “optionally” means that the event or situation described subsequently may occur but does not have to occur.

The term “comprise” generally refers to the meaning of including, inclusive, containing, or encompassing. In some cases, it also means “is/are” and “consist of” .

The term “about” generally refers to a variation within a range of 0.5%-10%above or below a specified value, for example, a variation within a range of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, and 10%above or below a specified value.

Details Description of the Invention

Isolated Antigen Binding protein

In one aspect, the present application provides an isolated antigen binding protein, which may specifically bind to properdin in an ELISA binding assay with an isolated antigen binding protein concentration of about 100 ng/ml or less (e.g., said concentration is no greater than about 50 ng/ml, no greater than about 55 ng/ml, no greater than about 60 ng/ml, no greater than about 65 ng/ml, no greater than about 70 ng/ml, no greater than about 75 ng/ml, no greater than about 80 ng/ml, no greater than about 85 ng/ml, no greater than about 90 ng/ml, or no greater than about 95 ng/ml or less) . For example, said properdin may comprise human properdin, cyno properdin, and mouse properdin.

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may inhibit alternative pathway by binding protein to induce hemolysis. For example, percent of hemolysis in alternative pathway experiments can be determined by co-incubation of complement-preserved serum and erythrocytes. For example, said complement-preserved serum may derived from human or mouse. For example, said percent of hemolysis may be about 60%or less (e.g., said percent of hemolysis is no greater than about 55%, no greater than about 50%, no greater than about 45%, no greater than about 40%, no greater than about 35%, no greater than about 30%, no greater than about 25%, no greater than about 20%, no greater than about 15%, no greater than about 10%, or no greater than about 5%or less) at the isolated antigen binding protein concentration of 500 nM.

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may specifically bind to TSR5, TSR6, and/or TSR0 domain of properdin. For example, the binding epitopes can be determined by combination between truncated variants of human properdin-biotin and thrombospondin repeats (TSRs) .

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may inhibit interaction between properdin and C3. For example, the inhibition activity of said isolated antigen binding protein can be determined by competitive binding assay. The isolated binding protein can competitively bind to properdin, so that inhibit the combination of properdin and C3. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein shows inhibition activity with properdin binding to C3 in dose-dependent manner.

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding proteinmay selectively inhibit alternative pathway rather than classical pathway or lectin pathway. For example, the pathway selectivity can be determined by percent of hemolysis. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein can inhibit alternative pathway with IC50 of about 50 nM or less (e.g., said IC50 is no greater than about 45 nM, no greater than about 40 nM, no greater than about 35 nM, no greater than about 30 nM, no greater than about 25 nM, no greater than about 20 nM, no greater than about 15 nM, no greater than about 10 nM, or no greater than about 5 nM or less) . For example, said isolated antigen binding protein exhibits no inhibitory activity in the classical pathway, while control shows inhibitory ability, with IC50 of 57 nM. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein exhibits no inhibitory activity in the lectin pathway, while control shows inhibitory ability, with IC50 of 45 nM.

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may have species-crossing properdin-binding and complement-inhibitory activity in AP-specific pathways in mammal. For example, the species-crossing complement inhibitory activity can be determined by detecting hemolysis in different species. For example, said species can be human, cyno, mouse and rat.

In one aspect, the present application provides an isolated antigen binding protein, which may comprise at least one CDR in a heavy-chain variable region VH. The VH may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one ofSEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

In the present application, the CDR of the isolated antigen binding protein may be divided in any form, and any form of divided CDR may fall within the scope of the present application, as long as the VH is identical to an amino acid sequence shown in any one ofSEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

The CDRs of an antibody, also known as complementarity determining regions, are part of the variable region. The amino acid residues of this region may be in contact with an antigen or an antigenic epitope. The CDRs can be determined by a variety of coding systems, such as CCG, Kabat, Chothia, IMGT, AbM, consensus Kabat/Chothia, and the like. These coding systems are known in the art and the person skilled in the art can determine the CDR regions using different coding systems depending on the sequence and structure of the antibody. Using different coding systems, the CDR regions may differ. In the present application, the CDR encompasses CDR sequences divided according to any CDR division manner; and variants thereof are also contemplated. The said variants comprise an amino acid sequence of the CDR substituted, deleted and/or added with one or more amino acids (e.g., 1-30, 1-20 or 1-10; further e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions) . Homologs are also encompassed, comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 85% (e.g., having at least about 85%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%or more) sequence homology to an amino acid sequence of the CDR. In some embodiments, the isolated antigen binding protein described herein is defined by the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to properdin. For example, human properdin, cyno properdin, mouse properdin, rat properdin and the like.

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise a heavy chain variable region VH, which may comprise at least one, two or three of CDR3, CDR2 and CDR1.

In the present application, said CDR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17. For example, the CDR3 sequence of said isolated antigen binding protein may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, said CDR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 55: X ₁X ₂X ₃X ₄ X ₅ X ₆X ₇X ₈X ₉YX ₁₁DSVKG, in which X ₁ is F or I or absent, X ₂is D or I, X ₃ is D or N or R or T, X ₄ is G or R or S or T, X ₅ is D or E, X ₆ is G or R, X ₇ is G or R or S or V or W, X ₈ is E or K or T, X ₉ is R or S or W or Y, and X ₁₁ is A or T. For example, the CDR2 sequence of said isolated antigen binding protein may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, said CDR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, andSEQ ID NO: 11.

In the present application, said CDR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth SEQ ID NO: 54: X ₁ X ₂CMX ₅, in which X ₁ is H or S or T or Y, X ₂is G or Y, and X ₅ is A or G. For example, the CDR1 sequence of said isolated antigen binding protein may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, said CDR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 5.

For example, said CDR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one ofSEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17, said CDR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, and SEQ ID NO: 11, and said CDR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 5.

For example, said CDR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12, said CDR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forthin SEQ ID NO: 6, and saidCDR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. For example, said CDR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13, said CDR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, and said CDR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. For example, said CDR3 of said isolated antigen bindingprotein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14, said CDR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8, and said CDR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3. For example, said CDR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 15, said CDR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9, and said CDR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forthin SEQ ID NO: 4. For example, saidCDR3 of said isolated antigen bindingprotein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16, said CDR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10, and said CDR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5. For example, said CDR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 17, said CDR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 11, and said CDR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93, or an antibody having the same CDR (e.g., CDR1, CDR2 or CDR3) .

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may further comprise framework regions FR1, FR2, FR3, and FR4.

In the present application, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth SEQ ID NO: 56: X ₁VQLVESGGGX ₁₁V X ₁₃X ₁₄GGSLRLSCX ₂₃X ₂₄X ₂₅X ₂₆YX ₂₈X ₂₉X ₃₀, in which X ₁ is D or E or H or Q, X ₁₁ is L or S or V, X ₁₃ is H or Q, X ₁₄ is A or P or S or V, X ₂₃ is A or E or V, X ₂₄ is A or D or H or V, X ₂₅ is F or P or S, X ₂₆ is A or E or G, X ₂₈ is I or T or absent, X ₂₉ is H or S or Y or absent, and X ₃₀ is G or S or T or absent. For example, said FR1 sequence of said isolated antigen binding protein may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, and SEQ ID NO: 30.

In the present application, said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth SEQ ID NO: 57: WX ₂RQAPG X ₈X ₉X ₁₀EX ₁₂VX ₁₄X ₁₅, in which X ₂ is F or I, X ₈ is E or K, X ₉ is E or G, X ₁₀ is L or R, X ₁₂ is G or R, X ₁₄ is A or S, and X ₁₅ is A or S or V. For example, said FR2 sequence of said isolated antigen binding protein may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, and SEQ ID NO: 40.

In the present application, said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth SEQ ID NO: 58: RFTISX ₆DX ₈X ₉ X ₁₀X ₁₁TLYLX ₁₆MNX ₁₉LX ₂₁X ₂₂EDTAX ₂₇YYCAX ₃₂, in which X ₆ is K or L or Q or R, X ₈ is I or N, X ₉ is A or S, X ₁₀ is E or K or T, X ₁₁ is N or S, X ₁₆ is E or Q, X ₁₉ is I or N or S, X ₂₁ is K or Q or R, X ₂₂ is A or P or S, X ₂₇ is M or V, and X ₃₂ is A or T. For example, the FR3 sequence of said isolated antigen binding protein may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, and SEQ ID NO: 51.

In the present application, said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth SEQ ID NO: 59: WGQGTX ₆VTVSS, in which X ₆ is L or Q. For example, said FR4 sequence of said isolated antigen binding protein may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 52 and SEQ ID NO: 53.

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, and SEQ ID NO: 30; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one ofSEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, and SEQ ID NO: 40; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one ofSEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, and SEQ ID NO: 51, and saidFR4 of said isolated antigen bindingprotein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one ofSEQ ID NO: 52 and SEQ ID NO: 53.

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 18; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 31; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 41, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 52. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 60, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 19; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 61, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 19; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 62, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 19; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 43, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 63, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 20; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 43, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 64, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 20; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 31; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 43, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 65or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 21; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 33; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 44, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 52. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 66, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 22; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 34; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 67, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 22; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 34; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 45, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 68, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 22; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 33; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 45, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 69, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 23; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 35; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 46, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 52. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 70, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 24; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 36; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 47} , and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 71, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 24; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 36; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 48, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 72, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 25; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 36; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 48, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 73, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 25; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 35; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 48, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 74, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 26; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 37; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 49, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 52. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 27; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 38; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 76, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 27; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 39; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 77, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 28; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 39; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 78, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 28; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 39; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 43, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 79, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 28; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 37; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 43, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 53. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 80, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 29; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 31; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 50, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 52. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 92, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

For example, said FR1 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 30; said FR2 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 40; said FR3 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 51, and said FR4 of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 52. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 93, or an antibody having the same FR (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, or FR4) .

In the present application, said heavy-chain variable region may comprise VHH. The VHH may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one ofSEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise a heavy-chain constant region.

For example, the Fc region of said isolated antigen binding protein may be a human Fc region. For example, said human Fc region may be modified to achieve the desired property (e.g., an amino acid mutation) . For example, said human Fc region may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 109.

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may be directly or indirectly linked to a second antigen binding domain.

For example, said isolated antigen binding proteinmay be linked by its N-terminus or C-terminus to the N-terminus or C-terminus of said second antigen binding domain. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may be linked by its N-terminus or C-terminus to the N-terminus or C-terminus of said second antigen binding domain with a linker. For example, said linker of said isolated antigen binding proteinmay be a simple covalent bond (e.g., a peptide bond) , a synthetic polymer (e.g., a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer) , or any kind of bond created from a chemical reaction. For example, said linker of said isolated antigen binding proteinmay be apoly-glycine linker. For example, said linker of said isolated antigen binding proteinmay comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 108: GGGGSGGGGSGGGGS.

In the present application, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to a different target from said isolated antigen binding protein.

In the present application, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to the same target as said isolated antigen binding protein.

For example, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to properdin. For example, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to different epitopes of properdin from the isolated antigen binding protein. For example, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to the same epitopes of properdin withthe isolated antigen binding protein. For example, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may bind to TSR5, TSR6, and/or TSR0 domain of properdin. For example, said second antigen binding domain of said isolated antigen binding protein may comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 81.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise Fab, Fab’, F (ab) ₂, Fv fragments, F (ab') ₂, scFv, di-scFv, VHH and/or dAb. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may be selected from the group consisting of: monoclonal antibodies, single chain antibodies, chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, and fully human antibodies.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may be a camelid antibody.

In the present application, said isolated antigen binding protein may have a competitive target binding capability with reference antibodies, wherein said reference antibodies may comprise a heavy chain variable region VH, which may comprise at least one, two or three of CDR3, CDR2 and CDR1.

In the present application, the CDR3 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one ofSEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, and SEQ ID NO: 14. For example, the CDR3 sequence of said reference antibodies may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, the CDR2 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 55: X ₁X ₂X ₃X ₄ X ₅X ₆X ₇X ₈X ₉YX ₁₁DSVKG, in which X ₁ is F or I or absent, X ₂ is D or I, X ₃ is D or N or R or T, X ₄ is G or R or S or T, X ₅ is D or E, X ₆ is G or R, X ₇ is G or R or S or V or W, X ₈ is E or K or T, X ₉ is R or S or W or Y, and X ₁₁ is A or T. For example, the CDR2 sequence of said reference antibodies may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, the CDR2 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, and SEQ ID NO: 8.

In the present application, the CDR1 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth SEQ ID NO: 54: X ₁ X ₂CMX ₅, in which X ₁ is H or S or T or Y, X ₂is G or Y, and X ₅ is A or G. For example, the CDR1 sequence of said reference antibodies may be defined according to the Kabat coding system.

In the present application, the CDR1 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, and SEQ ID NO: 3.

For example, the CDR3 of saidreference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one ofSEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, and SEQ ID NO: 14, the CDR2 of saidreference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, and SEQ ID NO: 8, and the CDR1 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, and SEQ ID NO: 3.

For example, the CDR3 of saidreference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12, the CDR2 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6, and the CDR1 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. For example, the CDR3 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequenceas set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13, the CDR2 of saidreference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, and the CDR1 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. For example, the CDR3 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14, the CDR2 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8, and the CDR1 of said reference antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, and SEQ ID NO: 74, or an antibody having the same CDR (e.g., CDR1, CDR2 or CDR3) .

Fusion Protein

In another aspect, the present application provides a fusion proteinthat may comprise the isolated antigen binding protein of the present application.

In the present application, said fusion protein may comprise a functionally active protein.

In the present application, said functionally active protein of said fusion protein may be directly or indirectly linked to said isolated antigen binding protein.

For example, said functionally active protein may be linked by its N-terminus or C-terminus to the N-terminus or C-terminus of said isolated antigen binding protein. For example, said functionally active protein may be linked by its N-terminus or C-terminus to the N-terminus or C-terminus of said isolated antigen binding protein with a linker. For example, said linker may be a simple covalent bond (e.g., a peptide bond) , a synthetic polymer (e.g., a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer) , or any kind of bond created from a chemical reaction. For example, said linker may be a poly-glycine linker. For example, said linker may comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 108: GGGGSGGGGSGGGGS. For example, saidfunctionally active proteinmay be factor H. For example, said factor H may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 110.

For example, said fusion protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 82.

Polypeptides and Immunoconjugates

In another aspect, the present application provides one or more polypeptides that may comprise the isolated antigen binding protein of the present application.

In another aspect, the present application provides one or more immunoconjugates that may comprise the isolated antigen binding protein of the present application. In certain embodiments, the immunoconjugate may further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable therapeutic agent.

Nucleic Acid, Vector and Cell

In another aspect, the present application further provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule or isolated nucleic acid molecules. The nucleic acid molecule (s) may encode the antigen binding protein of the present application. For example, each of the nucleic acid molecule (s) may encode the complete antigen binding protein, or a portion thereof (e.g., one or more of CDR1-3, FR1-4, VH, VHH or heavy chain) .

The nucleic acid molecule (s) of the present application may be isolated. For example, it may be produced or synthesized by the following methods: (i) in vitro amplification, for example by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, (ii) clonal recombination, (iii) purification, for example, by fractionation through restriction digestion and gel electrophoresis, or (iv) synthesis, for example, by chemical synthesis. In some embodiments, the isolated nucleic acid (s) is/are a nucleic acid molecule (s) prepared by the recombinant DNA technology.

In the present application, the nucleic acid (s) encoding the antibody and the antigen-binding fragment thereof may be prepared by a variety of methods known in the art. These methods include, but are not limited to, the overlap extension PCR using restriction fragment operations or using synthetic oligonucleotides. For specific operations, see Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989; and Ausube et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York N.Y., 1993.

In another aspect, the present application provides a vector or vectors, each of which comprises the nucleic acid molecule (s) of the present application. Each vector may comprise one or more said nucleic acid molecule (s) . In addition, the vector may also comprise other genes, for example, a marker gene that is allowed to select this vector in a suitable host cell and under a suitable condition. In addition, the vector may also comprise an expression control element that allows a coding region to be expressed correctly in a suitable host. Such a control element is well known to those skilled in the art, which, for example, may include a promoter, a ribosome binding site, an enhancer, and other control elements that regulate gene transcription or mRNA translation. In some embodiments, the expression control sequence is a regulatable element. A specific structure of the expression control sequence may vary depending on the function of the species or cell type, but generally includes a 5' non-transcribed sequence and 5' and 3' non-translated sequences, for example, a TATA box, a capped sequence, a CAAT sequence, etc., which are involved in transcription and translation initiation, respectively. For example, the 5'non-transcribed expression control sequence may include a promoter region, and the promoter region may include a promoter sequence for functionally linked to the nucleic acid for transcriptional control. The expression control sequence may further comprise an enhancer sequence or an upstream activator sequence. In the present application, suitable promoters may comprise, for example, promoters for SP6, T3, and T7 polymerases, human U6 RNA promoters, CMV promoters, and their artificial hybrid promoters (such as CMV) , wherein a portion of a promoter may be fused with a portion of a promoter of an additional cellular protein (such as human GAPDH and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) gene, and the promoter may or may not contain additional introns. The nucleic acid molecule (s) of the present application may be operably linked to the expression control element. The vector may comprise, for example, a plasmid, a cosmid, a virus, a bacteriophage, or other vectors commonly used in, for example, genetic engineering. For example, the vector is an expression vector.

In another aspect, the present application provides a host cell, which may comprise the nucleic acid molecule (s) of the present application and/or the vector or vectors of the present application. In some embodiments, each type of or each host cell may comprise one or one type of the nucleic acid molecule or vector of the present application. In some embodiments, each type of or each cell may comprise a plurality of (e.g., 2 or more) or a plurality of types of (e.g., 2 or more types of) vectors of the present application. For example, the vector of the present application may be introduced into the host cell, for example, a eukaryotic cell, such as a plant-originated cell, a fungal cell, or a yeast cell, etc. The vector of the present application may be introduced into the host cell by methods known in the art, such as electroporation, lipofectine transfection, lipofectamin transfection, etc.

Preparation Method

In another aspect, the present application provides a preparation method for the isolated antigen binding protein. The method may comprise culturing the host cell of the present application under such a condition that the isolated antigen binding protein is expressed. For example, an appropriate medium, an appropriate temperature, a culture time and the like may be used, and these methods are understood by those of ordinary skills in the art.

Any method suitable for producing a monoclonal antibody may be used to produce the isolated antigen binding protein (e.g., the anti-properdin antibody) of the present application. For example, animals may be immunized with linked or naturally occurring properdinor fragments thereof. Suitable immunization methods may be used, including adjuvants, immunostimulants, and repeated booster immunizations, and one or more routes may be used.

Any suitable form of properdinmay be used as an immunogen (antigen) to produce a non-human antibody specific to properdin and to screen the biological activity of the antibody. An eliciting immunogen may be a human properdin, a recombinant mouse, or peptides containing single/multiple epitopes. The immunogen may be used alone, or in combination with one or more immunogenicity enhancers known in the art. The immunogen may be purified from a natural source, or produced in a genetically modified cell. An DNA encoding the immunogen may be genomic or non-genomic (e.g. cDNA) in source. A suitable genetic vector may be used to express the DNA encoding the immunogen, and the vector comprises, but is not limited to, an adenovirus vector, an adeno-associated virus vector, a baculovirus vector, a material, and a non-viral vector.

An exemplary method for discovering the isolated antigen binding protein of the present application is described in Example 1.

Immunization may be performed using recombinant mouse properdin in healthy camels. An essential constant domain sequence may be optimized by screening antibodies with the biological assays described in the Examples below, so as to produce the desired biological activity.

An exemplary method for humanizing the isolated antigen binding protein of the present application is described in Example 2.

The sequence of the DNA molecule of the isolatedantigen binding proteinor the fragment thereof in the present application may be obtained by conventional techniques, such as methods using PCR amplification or genomic library screening and the like.

Once relevant sequences are obtained, they may be obtained on a large scale by recombination. This is generally done by cloning them into vectors, then transferring then into cells, and then isolating the relevant sequences from the proliferated host cell by means of a conventional method.

In addition, the relevant sequences may also be synthesized by using an artificial synthesis method, especially when a fragment is short. Generally, a fragment with a very long sequence may be obtained by first synthesizing multiple small fragments, and then linking these small fragments. Then, the nucleic acid molecules may be introduced into various existing DNA molecules (or such as vectors) and cells known in the art.

The present application also relates to vectors comprising the aforementioned appropriate nucleic acid molecules and appropriate promoters or control sequences. These vectors may be used for transforming appropriate host cells to enable them to express proteins. The host cells may be prokaryotic cells, such as bacterial cells; or lower eukaryotic cells, such as yeast cells; or higher eukaryotic cells, such as mammalian cells. For example, the animal cells may comprise (but are not limited to) : CHO-S, CHO-K1, and HEK-293 cells.

The step of transforming the host cells with recombinant DNAs in the present application may be performed using techniques well known in the art. An obtained transformant may be cultured by a conventional method, and it expresses the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule (s) of the present application. According to the host cells used, they are cultured in a conventional medium under suitable conditions. Generally, the host cells are cultured and transformed under conditions suitable for the expression of the isolated antigen binding protein of the present application. Then, the isolated antigen binding protein of the present application is purified and obtained using conventional immunoglobulin purification steps, such as protein A-Sepharose, hydroxyapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis, dialysis, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, molecular sieve chromatography, or affinity chromatography, and other conventional separation and purification means well known to those skilled in the art.

The resulting monoclonal antibody may be identified by a conventional means. For instance, the binding specificity of the monoclonal antibody may be determined by immunoprecipitation or in vitro binding assays, such as fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) , radioimmunoassay (RIA) , or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) .

Pharmaceutical Composition and Pharmaceutical Combination

In another aspect, the present application provides a pharmaceutical composition. The pharmaceutical composition may comprise the isolated antigen binding protein, the polypeptide, the immunoconjugate, the isolated nucleic acid molecule, the vector, the cell, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant and/or excipient described herein. In the present application, the pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant may include a buffer, an antioxidant, a preservative, a low molecular weight polypeptide, a protein, a hydrophilic polymer, an amino acid, a sugar, a chelating agent, a counter ion, a metal complex, and/or a non-ionic surfactant. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the cells described herein, its use in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present application is contemplated. In the present application, the pharmaceutically acceptable excipient may include an additive other than the main drug in the pharmaceutical preparation, and may also be referred to as an auxiliary material. For example, the excipients may include binders, fillers, disintegrants, lubricants in tablets. For example, the excipients may include wine, vinegar, medicinal juices, etc. in a traditional Chinese medicine pill. For example, the excipient may comprise a base portion of a semisolid formulation ointment, cream. For example, the excipients may include preservatives, antioxidants, flavoring agents, fragrances, cosolvents, emulsifiers, solubilizers, tonicity adjusting agents, colorants in liquid formulations. Apharmaceutical preparation should match the mode of administration. The pharmaceutical composition of the present application may be prepared into an injection form, for example, by means of a conventional method using normal saline or an aqueous solution containing glucose and other adjuvants. The pharmaceutical composition such as an injection and a solution should be manufactured under an aseptic condition. The dosage of an active ingredient is a therapeutically effective amount. In addition, the isolated antigen binding protein of the present application may also be used together with other therapeutic agents.

In another aspect, the present application provides a pharmaceutical combination comprising the isolated antigen binding protein and one or more active ingredients.

The isolated antigen binding protein, pharmaceutical composition orpharmaceutical combination described herein may be formulated, dosed, and administered in line with good medical practices. The considerations in this case comprise the specific disorder being treated, the specific mammal being treated, the clinical condition of a single patient, the cause of the disorder, the site of agent delivery, the method of administration, the schedule of administration, and other factors known to a medical practitioner. A therapeutic agent (e.g., an anti-properdin antibody) does not need to be but is optionally formulated and/or administered together with one or more agents that are currently used for preventing or treating the disorder in question. The effective amount of such other agents depends on the amount of the therapeutic agent (e.g., an anti-properdin antibody) existing in the preparation, the type of disorder or treatment, and other factors discussed above. Generally, these agents may be used at any dose that is empirically/clinically determined to be appropriate and via any route that is empirically/clinically determined to be appropriate. Compared with a single therapy, the dose of the antibody administered in a combination therapy may be reduced. The progress of such a therapy may be easily monitored by conventional techniques.

Kit, Use and Method

In another aspect, the present application provides a method for detecting or determining properdin, which method may comprise using saidisolated antigen binding protein or saidpolypeptide.

In the present application, the methods may include in vitro methods, ex vivo methods, methods of non-diagnostic or non-therapeutic interest. For example, the method may include a method for detecting the presence and/or amount of properdin for non-diagnostic purposes, which may include the steps of:

1) contacting a sample with an antigen binding protein of the present application; and

2) detecting the presence and/or amount of the antigen binding protein bound by the sample to determine the presence and/or level of expression of properdinin the sample obtained from the subject.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein of said method may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein of said method may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein of said method may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 92.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein of said method may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 93.

In another aspect, the present application provides a kit for properdin that may include use of the isolated antigen binding protein or the polypeptide. In the present application, the kit may further comprise instructions that document a method for detecting the presence and/or amount of properdin. For example, the methods may include in vitro methods, ex vivo methods, methods of non-diagnostic or non-therapeutic interest.

For example, said kit may be an ELISA kit comprising said isolated antigen binding protein or the polypeptide. For example, said ELISA kit may detect properdin by direct ELISA, indirect ELISA, Sandwich ELISA or competitive ELISA.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein or said polypeptide may be used as capture antibodies.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein or said polypeptide may be used as detecting antibodies. For example, said detecting antibodies may link to HRP (horse radish peroxidase) . For example, said detecting antibodies may link to ALP (alkaline phosphatase) .

For example, said capture antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93. For example, said capture antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

For example, said capture antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 92. For example, said capture antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 93.

For example, said detecting antibodies may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.

In another aspect, the application provides a use of the isolated antigen binding protein or the polypeptide in the preparation of a kit for use in a method of detecting the presence and/or amount of properdin. For example, the methods may include in vitro methods, ex vivo methods, methods of non-diagnostic or non-therapeutic interest.

For example, said isolated antigen binding protein of said use may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein of said use may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93. For example, said isolated antigen binding protein of said use may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 92. For example, said isolated antigenbinding protein of said use may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 93.

In another aspect, the present application provides a method of inhibiting alternative complement pathway comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the isolated antigen binding protein, the polypeptide, the immunoconjugate, the isolated nucleic acid molecule, the vector, the cell and/or the pharmaceutical composition, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable therapeutic agent. In the present application, the method of modulating an immune response may include in vitro methods, ex vivo methods, methods of non-diagnostic or non-therapeutic interest.

In another aspect, the present application provides a method of inhibiting alternative complement pathway comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition, pharmaceutical combination, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable therapeutic agent. In the present application, the method of modulating an immune response may include in vitro methods, ex vivo methods, methods of non-diagnostic or non-therapeutic interest.

In another aspect, the present application provides a method of inhibiting properdin binding to C3 comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the isolated antigen binding protein, the polypeptide, the immunoconjugate, the isolated nucleic acid molecule, the vector, and/or the cell. The method may be an ex vivo or in vitro method.

In another aspect, the present application provides an isolated antigen binding protein, said polypeptide, said immunoconjugate, said isolated nucleic acid molecule, said vector, said pharmaceutical composition for preventing and/or treating diseases. For example, said diseases may be caused by properdin. For example, said diseases may be mediated by alternative pathway. For example, said diseases may comprise autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .

In another aspect, the kit, the pharmaceutical composition and/or the pharmaceutical combination is used for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases in the present application. For example, said diseases may be caused by properdin. For example, said diseases may be mediated by alternative pathway. For example, said diseases may comprise autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .

In another aspect, the present application provides a use of the isolated antigen binding protein, the polypeptide, the immunoconjugate, the isolated nucleic acid molecule, the vector, the cell and/or the pharmaceutical composition for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases in the present application. For example, said diseases may be caused by properdin. For example, said diseases may be mediated by alternative pathway. For example, said diseases may comprise autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liverenzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .

In another aspect, the present application provides the use of a pharmaceutical combination for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases in the present application. For example, said diseases may be caused by properdin. For example, said diseases may be mediated by alternative pathway. For example, said diseasesmay comprise autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .

In another aspect, the present application provides a method of preventing and/or treating a disease or disorder comprising administering the isolated antigen binding protein, the isolated nucleic acid molecule, the vector, the cell, the pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need thereof. For example, said diseases may be caused by properdin. For example, said diseases may be mediated by alternative pathway. For example, said diseases may comprise autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .

In another aspect, the present application provides a method of preventing and/or treating a disease or disorder comprising administering the pharmaceutical combination to a subject in need thereof. For example, said diseases may be caused by properdin. For example, said diseases may be mediated by alternative pathway. For example, said diseases may comprise autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .

The pharmaceutical compositions, pharmaceutical combinations, and methods described herein can be used in conjunction with other types of therapies, such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, gene therapy, and the like.

In the present application, the subject and/or patients may include a human or non-human animal. For example, the non-human animal may be selected from the group consisting of: monkey, chicken, goose, cat, dog, mouse and rat. Furthermore, non-human animals may also include any animal species other than humans, such as livestock animals, or rodents, or primates, or domestic animals, or poultry animals. The human may be caucasian, african, asian, amphibian, or other ethnicity, or a hybrid of various ethnicities. As another example, the person may be an elderly person, an adult, a teenager, a child, or an infant.

An effective amount in humans can be presumed from an effective amount in experimental animals. For example, Freiich et al describe the dose correlation between animals and humans (based on milligrams per square meter of body surface) (Freirich et al, Cancer Chemother. Rep. 50, 219 (1966) ) . The body surface area can be approximately determined from the height and weight of the patient. See, e.g., Scientific Tables, Geigy Pharmaceuticals, Ardsley, N.Y., 537 (1970) .

Examples

The following examples are set forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard as their invention nor are they intended to represent that the experiments below are all or the only experiments performed. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g., amounts, temperature, etc. ) but some experimental errors and deviations should be accounted for. Unless indicated otherwise, parts are parts by weight, molecular weight is weight average molecular weight, temperature is in degrees Celsius, and pressure is at or near atmospheric. Standard abbreviations may be used, e.g., bp, base pair (s) ; kb, kilobase (s) ; pl, picoliter (s) ; s or sec, second (s) ; min, minute (s) ; h or hr, hour (s) ; aa, amino acid (s) ; nt, nucleotide (s) ; i.m., intramuscular (ly) ; i. p., intraperitoneal (ly) ; s. c., subcutaneous (ly) ; and the like.

Example 1 Discovery of properdin-binding antibody fragments

1.1 Human, mouse and cyno properdin generation

The sequence of human, mouse and cyno properdin from Uniprot database synthesized by GENEWIZ were subcloned to expression vector. Protein expression was performed using transient expression of HEK293 cells transfected using PEI (Polysciences, cat#24765-1) . Cultures were grown in shaking flasks media at scales ranging from 100-200 ml for 5-7 days. Cells were removed by centrifugation and culture supernatants were used for protein purification by Ni sepharose with elution using a pH 7.4 PBS buffer. Purified proteins were analyzed with 4-12%SDS-PAGE under non-reduced and reduced conditions (FIG. 1) .

1.2 VHH immune library constructions

Immunization was performed using recombinant mouse properdin in two healthy camels. On day 60 after finishing 4 rounds of immunization, phage-displayed VHH library was constructed of PMBCs from immunized camels by following a standardized protocol. The final phage-displayed VHH library had 2.1×10 ⁹ independent clones, with 92%of them encoding VHH-gp3 fusion proteins.

1.3 Phage panning method

As previously prepared, an immune VHH library was used for VHH selection and was subjected to four rounds of panning in 1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes. About 1012 CFU phages were incubated with 10 μg of biotinylated properdin within 1ml of blocking buffer (1%BSA in PBS) at RT for 1 h to make phages/target mixture. At the same time, 100 μl of streptavidin-coated Dynabeads M-280 (Invitrogen, 11206D) were washed with 1 ml of blocking buffer for five times in an Eppendorf microtube. Thereafter, the phage/target mixture was incubated with the Mag-beads prepared as above on a rotator at RT for 30 min. To recover the phages binding to the Mag-beads, the reaction tube was placed on a magnetic rack for 30 s. After the supernatant was removed, the beads were washed with PBS containing 0.5%Tween20 (0.5%PBST) for 10 times, followed by three-times by PBS. The phages were eluted with 1 ml of trypsin (10 μg/ml in PBS) at 37℃ for 30min. After each round of selection, 100 μl of eluted phages were used to infect mid-log phase E. coli TG1 (OD ₆₀₀= 0.6) grown at 37℃for phage titration. Enrichment value of properdin-specific VHHs was also assessed to monitor the progress of the selection process. Remaining eluted phages were used to infect E. coli TG1 (OD ₆₀₀ =0.6) for subsequent amplification. The bacteria were subsequently superinfected with M13KO7 helper phage at a ratio of 20: 1 (phage: bacteria) to rescue phage particles. A mixture of kanamycin (50 μg/mL) and ampicillin (100 μg/mL) was added to the culture, and bacteria were further grown 4 h with shaking at 220 rpm at 30 ℃. The cultures were centrifuged at 4,000 g for 20 min, and the supernatants were added to 20% (w/v) polyethylene glycol 6000/2.5M NaCl (PEG/NaCl) to precipitate the phages. The samples were incubated on ice overnight and then centrifuged for 20 min at 8,000 g at 4 ℃. The pellets were resuspended in PBS, PEG precipitation was repeated once as described above. The final phage pellets were resuspended in 1 ml of PBS, and 1012phages were used in subsequent rounds of panning. The general panning procedure was repeated for another three rounds. The variation was the antigens derived from different species to have cross-reactive and affinity matched phage clones. Panning summary was listed in Table1.

Table1. Panning summary

1.4 Phage screening method

For phage-based Elisa screening, individual bacterial colonies were picked and inoculated into 200μl 2×YT-GA medium, cultured at 37℃ with shaking (250rpm) for 4-5 h. Then 10μl of culture was transferred into a new deep 96-well plate containing 200μl of 2×YT-GA medium and incubated as above till OD ₆₀₀ reached around 0.6. VHH expression was induced with 1 mM IPTG (Sangon Biotech) for 16 h at 30 ℃ with shaking (250 rpm) . After the overnight culture was spun at 4,000 rpm at 4℃ for 30 min, the supernatants were collected for phage ELISA.

Following four rounds of panning, output from 2 ^nd, 3 ^rd and 4 ^th round was screened by phage enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . Wells of MaxiSorp 96-well plates were coated with 1 μg/ml streptavidin in coating buffer overnight at 4 ℃. An equivalent concentration of BSA was used as a control for nonspecific binding. After washing with PBST, the remaining protein-binding sites in the wells wereblocked for 1 h at 37 ℃ with 1%BSA. The blocking reagent was discarded and washed by 0.05%PBST for three times. The 5μg/ml biotin-human/mouse/cyno properdin were added in the wells for 1 h at 37 ℃. The supernatant was discarded, and washed for three times with 0.05%PBST. 100μl supernatants prepared above were added to appropriate wells and incubated while shaking for 1 h at 37 ℃. The supernatant was discarded, and nonspecific phages were eliminated by washing three times with 0.05%PBST. Detection of the interaction between antigen and the phage-VHH was performed using a 5000-fold diluted solution of anti-Myc-HRP (Abcam, ab62928) . After incubation for 1 h at 37 ℃, plates were then washed as before and 100 μl of TMB substrate solution were added and incubated at RT for 15 min. 100 μl/well of stop solution were added to stop the reaction before the plates were scanned with a microplate reader at 450 nm. ELISA-positive clones were defined as those that exhibited at least three times stronger ELISA signals on antigen coated plates in comparison to signals on BSA-coated plates. In parallel, the genetic diversity of the ELISA positive clones was determined using DNA sequencing, and phages with different amino acid sequences of VHH were considered as unique clones. In total, 76 unique clones with different CDR sequences were identified as positive in target-binding assays with phage ELISA and 37 selected expression and purification in HEK293 cells.

Table 2. Screening summary

The properdin-binding VHH sequences were as follows:

>SLN7150 (SEQ ID NO: 60) ; SLN12066 (SEQ ID NO: 61) ; SLN12067 (SEQ ID NO: 62) ;

>SLN12068 (SEQ ID NO: 63) ; SLN12069 (SEQ ID NO: 64) ; SLN12070 (SEQ ID NO: 65) ;

>SLN7160 (SEQ ID NO: 66) ; SLN12075 (SEQ ID NO: 67) ; SLN12076 (SEQ ID NO: 68) ;

>SLN12077 (SEQ ID NO: 69) ; SLN7162 (SEQ ID NO: 70) ; SLN12078 (SEQ ID NO: 71) ;

>SLN12079 (SEQ ID NO: 72) ; SLN12080 (SEQ ID NO: 73) ; SLN12081 (SEQ ID NO: 74) ;

>SLN12036 (SEQ ID NO: 75) ; SLN12082 (SEQ ID NO: 76) ; SLN12083 (SEQ ID NO: 77) ;

>SLN12084 (SEQ ID NO: 78) ; SLN12085 (SEQ ID NO: 79) ; SLN12086 (SEQ ID NO: 80) ;

>SLN7151 (SEQ ID NO: 83) ; SLN7152 (SEQ ID NO: 84) ; SLN7153 (SEQ ID NO: 85) ;

>SLN7154 (SEQ ID NO: 86) ; SLN7155 (SEQ ID NO: 87) ; SLN7156 (SEQ ID NO: 88) ;

>SLN7159 (SEQ ID NO: 89) ; SLN7161 (SEQ ID NO: 90) ; SLN12027 (SEQ ID NO: 91) ;

>SLN12030 (SEQ ID NO: 92) ; SLN12039 (SEQ ID NO: 93) ; SLN12041 (SEQ ID NO: 94) ;

>SLN12042 (SEQ ID NO: 95) ; SLN12044 (SEQ ID NO: 96) ; SLN12045 (SEQ ID NO: 97) .

Example 2 Identification of properdin-binding antibodies with inhibitory effects on complement activation through alternative pathway

2.1 Expression and purification of VHHs-FC

Unique VHH clones were selected for subcloning to create recombinant plasmids to produce VHH-FC proteins, degenerated primers (Forward: SEQ ID NO: 111, Reverse: SEQ ID NO: 112) were used. After the DNA sequences were verified with DNA sequencing, the recombinant plasmids were prepared and fusion protein expressed and purified by following standard protocols.

To express the recombinant VHH-Fc proteins, 100 ml of Expi293F ^TMCells in OPM-CD05 Medium (OPM, cat#81075-001) were cultured to reach a cell density of approximately 3×10 ⁶ viable cells/ml with viability more than 95%. Plasmids were diluted with OPM-CD05 Medium to a concentration of 1.5 μg/ml in a total volume of 5 ml. Transfection reagent PEI was diluted with OPM-CD05 Medium to a same volume of 5 ml to have a DNA: PEI ratio as 1: 4 (m/m) when the diluted DNA and PEI weremixed together. After being incubated atRT for 15 minutes, the DNA/PEI complex were added onto the prepared Expi293F ^TMcells by swirling gently. Then the cells cultures were placed in a 37℃ incuEator with ≥80%relative humidity and 5%CO ₂ on an orbital shake. At 24 h post the transfection, 5%peptone (1 mg/ml) and 2%glucose (330 g/l) were added to the culture slowly. After days of culturing, the cell culture supernatant was collected by sequential centrifugations at 1,200 rpm for 10 min and 3,900 rpm for 20 min before being used for Protein A purification.

VHH-Fcs were purified with Protein A (BIOON, HZ1011-2) . 1 ml of Protein A slurry were loaded onto a 20-ml column (G-bios, C006197-0025) . After the columns were equilibrated with PBS of 10-fold of CV (column volume) , the cell culture supernatant prepared as above were loaded and flow throw the Protein-A columns by gravity for 2 times. After the columns were washed with PBS for 10 times of CV, 10 ml of 0.1 M Glycine-HCl buffer (pH 3.0) were used to elute the VHH-Fc proteins. The eluted proteins were neutralized with 100 μl of 1 M (pH 8.5) Tris-HCL buffer the pH was adjusted to 7.4. The Protein A affinity column was regenerated and preserved by washing with PBS, ddH ₂O and 20%ethanol sequentially. For the eluted protein, it was desalted through anAmicon UltraCel 30K centrifugal device (Milipore, UFC903016) . Briefly, eluted protein was diluted in 10 ml PBS and concentrated to 1.5 ml by centrifugation for 3 times at least. The final protein solution was formulated in PBS to less than 1 ml and filtrated with 0.22-μm filters.

Purity of VHH-Fcs were analyzed with SDS-PAGE. Briefly, 2 μg protein in 4×LDS Sample buffer was loaded and analyzed with SurePAGE gel in Tris-MOPS SDS buffer (Genscript, M00138) at a constant voltage of 160-V for 50 min. Proteins were visualized with Coomassie stain (TIANGEN, cat#PA101) following the manufacturer’s instructions. The purified proteins were analyzed with 4-12%gradient SDS-PAGE gel under non-reducing or reducing conditions (FIG. 2) .

2.2 Elisa binding

For binding ELISA, 96-well immunoplates were coated with 100μl/well 1μg/ml streptavidin and incubate at 4℃ overnight. Wells were washed with PBST for 3 times and blocked with 200μl of 1%BSA/PBS at RT for 1 h. Washed with PBST for 3 times and add human properdin-biotin, mouse properdin-biotin or cyno properdin-biotin (5 μg/ml) 100 μl/well and incubated at RT for 1h. Plates were washed with PBST for 3 times, 100 μl/well 5-fold serially diluted VHH-Fcs from 10 μg/ml was added. and incubate at RT for 1 h. Plates were washed with PBST for 3 times and add 100 μl goat anti-human Fc-HRP (Sigma, A0170) diluted 1/5000 in 1%BSA/PBST to each well and incubate at RT for 1 h. Plates were then washed as before and add 100 μl TMB substrate and incubate at RT for 15 min. 100 μl per well stop solution was added to stop the reaction, and the plates were read with microplate reader at 450 nm. 37 recombinant VHH-Fc clones were showed human properdin binding activity (FIG. 3A) , cyno properdin binding activity (FIG. 3B) and mouse properdin binding activity (FIG. 3C) , all of the clones showed cross binding and affinity matched activity.

2.3 AP activity

For human alternative pathway experiments, all test samples were diluted by PBS and added in duplicate (50 μl/well) to a U-bottom 96-well microtiter plate. At the same time, human complement-preserved serum (Quidel, A113) was diluted to 20%vol/vol in GVBS-EGTA (1×AP buffer: 0.1%gelatin, 145 mM NaCl, 2.5mM sodium barbital, pH7.4 with 10 mM Mg/EGTA) , incubate on ice for 30 minutes and added (50 μl/well) to the rows of the same 96-well plate such that the final concentration of human serum in each well was 10%. Then prepare the rabbit erythrocytes (4×10 ⁸/ml) were washed three times with 1 ml of 1×AP buffer and resuspended to a final concentration of 5×107/ml (6 ml) in 1×AP buffer. After that, 50μl aliquots of rabbit erythrocytes (2.5×10 ⁶ cells) were added to the plate as described above, mixed well, and incubated at 37℃ for 30 min. Each plate contained two wells of 50 μl of identically prepared rabbit erythrocytes, incubated with 50μl PBS +50μl 1×AP buffer alone (negative control) as a control for spontaneous hemolysis, two wells containing 100μl ddH ₂O serving as a control for 100%lysis and two wells containing 10 mM EDTA (Thermo 15575-038) as a serum blank control. After incubating, the plate was then centrifuged at 600 rpm for 2 min and 100μlof the supernatant transferred to a new flat bottom 96-well plate. Hemoglobin release was determined at OD 405 nm using a microplate reader, and the percent hemolysis was determined using the following formula:

Percent hemolysis (%) :

100× (OD sample -OD of EDTA) / (OD 100%lysis -OD negative control)

For mouse alternative pathway experiments, the process is basically the same as the above process, the difference is that the final concentration of mouse serum is 30%and that of human serum is 10%, and the incubation time is replaced by 30 min for 1 h in mouse alternative pathway assay (FIG. 4) . Some clones showed complement inhibitory activity in human (FIG. 4A) and mouse (FIG. 4B) serum at 500 nM.

Example 3 Bi-paratopic engineering of properdin-binding antibody fragments

3.1 Epitope binning assay with full length of human/mouse properdin

96 well immunoplates were coated with 100 μl/well of 5μg/ml VHH Fc fusion protein and incubate at 4℃ overnight. Wells were washed with PBST for 3 times and blocked with200 μl of 1%BSA/PBS at RT for 1 h. 60 μl human properdin-biotin or mouse properdin-biotin (0.5μg/ml) and 60 μl VHH-Fc fusion protein (20 μg/ml) were pre-mixed and transfer 100 μl to each well that had been coated with VHH-Fc and blocked with BSA, and continued incubation at RT for 1 h. Plates were washed with PBST for 3 times and add 100 μl SA-HRP (Sigma, S5512) diluted 1/5000 in 1 %BSA/PBST to each well and incubate at RT for 1 h. Plates were then washed as before and add 100 μl TMB substrate and incubate at RT for 15 min. 100 μl/well of stop solution was added to stop the reaction, and the plates were read with microplate reader at 450 nm. VHHs with competitive target binding capabilities were grouped to a same Bin. The results indicated SLN7150, SLN12036 and SLN12042 belong to Bin#1, SLN7150, SLN12036 and SLN12027 belong to Bin#2, SLN7150, SLN12036, SLN12041, SLN12044 and SLN12045 belong to Bin#3, SLN7160 and SLN7155 belong to Bin#4, SLN7162 might have different epitope with most of other VHH-Fcs belong to Bin #5 (FIG. 5) .

3.2 Production of bi-paratopic VHH’s

VHHs from different bins were combined with G4S linker to make bi-paratopic Fc-VHH-VHH fusion proteins as listed in Table 3. Plasmid construction and protein purificationprocedures can refer to the above. SDS-PAGE analysis and characterization result showed in FIG. 6.

Table 3. List of bi-paratopic VHHs

3.3 Characteristics of bi-paratopic VHH’s

In the target-binding assays, as is shown in FIG. 8, the 10 bi-paratopic VHHs demonstrated negligible effect than those of single VHHs whether in human (FIG. 7A &FIG. 7C) or mice (FIG. 7B &FIG. 7D) . In contrast, in the alternative pathway activity assays, as is shown in FIG. 8, bi-paratopic VHH’s shows better complement inhibitory activity than monovalent, especially in human serum.

Example 4 Humanization of the properdin-binding VHH’s

VHH humanization was conducted by standard procedures of CDR grafting and structural refinement. Upon the humanization design, recombinant DNA constructs were created to produce recombinant constructs as described above. The humanized sequences with an affinity equal to or better than that of the original VHH to properdin having acceptable expression and stability levels were selected for further development. FIG. 9 indicated that the humanized VHH variant SLN7160 possess similar profile as the parental VHH regarding its binding to human (FIG. 9A) and mouse properdin (FIG. 9B) . VHH variant SLN12036 possess similar profile as the parental VHH regarding its binding to human (FIG. 9C) and mouse properdin (FIG. 9D) . Meanwhile, SLN7160 possess negligible effect of complement inhibition activity in human (FIG. 9E) and mouse serum (FIG. 9F) , and it was noteworthy that humanized SLN12083 showed better human alternative pathway activity than the original VHH SLN12036 (FIG. 9G &FIG. 9H) .

Example 5 Epitope mapping assay with truncated human properdin

96-well immunoplates were coated with 100μl/well 1μg/ml streptavidin and incubate at 4℃ overnight. Wells were washed with PBST for 3 times and blocked with 200μl of 1%BSA/PBS at RT for 1 h. Washed with PBST for 3 times and add truncated variants of human properdin-biotin (50 μg/ml) 100 μl/well and incubated at RT for 1 h. Plates were washed with PBST for 3 times, 100 μl/well 10μg/ml VHH-Fcs were added and incubate at RT for 1 h. Plates were washed with PBST for 3 times and add 100 μl goat anti-human Fc-HRP (Sigma, A0170) diluted 1/5000 in 1%BSA/PBST to each well and incubate at RT for 1 h. Plates were then washed as before and add 100 μl TMB substrate and incubate at RT for 15 min. 100 μl per well stop solution was added to stop the reaction, and the plates were read with microplate reader at 450 nm. Result was shown in FIG. 10, SLN12068, SLN12075 and SLN12083 binding with different thrombospondin repeats (TSRs) respectively by TSR0, TSR1, TSR2, TSR3, TSR4, TSR5, TSR6, TSR 0-6, TSR1-6, TSR2-6, TSR3-6, TSR4-6 TSR 5-6 and TSR6, and the biologically active TSR5-6 and TSR 0 domains play the important role in the binding of properdin with SLN12068, SLN12075 and SLN12083.

Example 6 Impact of properdin inhibitors on interactions between C3 and properdin

6.1 C3 binding assay

Maxisorp 96-well plates were coated with human C3 (Sigma, C2910-. 1MG) 2μg/ml, 100 μl/well in PBS, pH 7.4, and left overnight at 4℃. After washing 3 times with PBST, the wells were blocked with 2%BSA in PBS for 1 h at 37℃. Serial three-fold dilution (100 μl/well) of biotin human Properdin (starting at 90 μg/ml) were added to wells and incubated for 1 h at 37℃. The wells were washed three times with PBST and HRP-labeled streptavidin (1/5000 dilution) (sigma, s5512) was added to the wells. The plate was incubated for 1 h at 37℃. Plates were then washed as before and add 100 μl TMB substrate and incubate at RT for 15 min. 100 μl per well stop solution was added to stop the reaction, and the plates were read with microplate reader at 450 nm.

6.2 Competitive binding assay

Maxisorp 96-well plates were coated with C3 (see binding assays) , blocked with 1%BSA in PBST, and washed three times with PBST. Serially five-fold dilution FP inhibitors (starting at 50 nM) , 100 μl/well, and a constant amount of properdin (20 μg/ml) 100 μl/well (in PBS) was added to each well, and incubated at 37℃ for 1 h. Wells were washed again three times with PBST, incubated with HRP-labeled Streptavidin (1/5000 dilution) (sigma, s5512) was added to the wells. The plate was incubated for 1 h at 37℃. Plates were then washed as before and add 100 μl TMB substrate and incubate at RT for 15 min. 100 μl per well stop solution was added to stop the reaction, and the plates were read with microplate reader at 450 nm. As is shown in FIG 11A, properdin showed binding to C3 in dose-dependent manner. In addition, SLN12068, SLN12075 and SLN12083 also showed inhibition activity with properdin binding to C3. (FIG. 11B)

Example 7 Fusion protein of VHH to engineered factor H as a dual-inhibitor of alternative pathway

7.1 Bi-paratopic engineering of humanized VHH sequence

Bi-paratopic VHHs with humanized sequences through a G4S linker, by procedures as described above were created. Purified proteins were analyzed with 4-12%SDS-PAGE under non-reduced and reduced conditions (FIG. 12) .

Target-binding ELISA shown in FIG. 13 indicated that such humanized bi-paratopic VHHs had negligible effect on the single VHH by human properdin binding (FIG. 13A) assay and mouse properdin binding assay (FIG. 13B) . Alternative pathway activity indicated that the SLN12140 AP activity of bi-paratopic was better than that of single VHH (FIG. 14A &FIG. 14B) .

7.2 Fusion protein of VHH to engineered factor H

Truncated CFH (domain 1-4) was fused to the C-terminus of SLN12140 to form SLN7207 to make a dual functional recombinant protein inhibiting complement activation. The results were shown in FIG. 13. Panel of (C) and (D) shows binding activity of SLN7207 and SLN12140 to human properdin-biotin and mouse properdin-biotin. Panel of (C) and (D) of FIG. 14 shows human and mouse alternative pathway activity of SLN12140 and SLN7207. Fusion with CFH (domain 1-4) at the C-terminus of SLN12140 showed negligible effect on that of SLN12140 by human serum, however it showed about three times biological activity increased by mouse serum. In any case, both SLN12140 and SLN7207 showed both human and mouse alternative pathway inhibition activity at nM level especially in humans with an IC50 of 17 nM. Such functional protein provides a potential therapeutical strategy for complement hyperactivation disease.

Example 8 Pathway selectivity and species cross activity of SLN12140

8.1 Pathway selectivity in complement inactivation

8.1.1 Complement inactivation in alternative pathway

For alternative pathway assay, procedure refer to 2.3. The inhibition curves of single VHH SLN12075, SLN12083 and bi-paratopic SLN12140 exhibited consistent alternative pathway complement inhibitory activity, and SLN12140 showed superior activity compared to single VHH with IC50 of 17 nM. Eculizumab (Targetmol, T9915) , a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against the complement protein C5 was as a control also showed inhibitory ability in the AP pathway, with IC50 of 50 nM.

8.1.2 Complement inactivation in classical pathway

For classical pathway assay, all test samples were serially diluted 1: 3 in PBS and added in duplicate (50μl/well) to a U-bottom 96-well microtiter plate. Human complement-preserved serum (Quidel A113) was diluted to 20%vol/vol with GVB2+buffer (0.1%gelatin, 141 mM NaCl, 0.5 mM MgCl ₂, 0.15 mM CaCl ₂, 1.8 mM sodium barbital) (Comp Tech B100) and added (50 μl/well) to the rows of the same 96-well plate such that the final concentration of human serum in each well was 10%. The plate was then incubated at RT for 30 min. Then chicken erythrocytes (1-4×10 ⁸) based on the samples were washed three times with 1 ml of GVBS2+buffer and resuspended to a final concentration of 1×10 ⁸/ml in GVBS2+buffer. After that, 1-6 ml of the chicken erythrocytes were sensitized by the addition of an anti-chicken red blood cell polyclonal antibody (Rockland, 103-4139) at 3%and the cells were incubated on ice for 15 min with frequent mixing. The cells were then washed twice with 1 ml of GVBS2+ buffer and resuspended to 1×10 ⁸/ml in GVBS2+ buffer. 30μl aliquots of chicken erythrocytes (3×10 ⁶cells) were added to the plate as described above, mixed well, and incubated at 37℃ for 30 min. Then, each plate contained two wells of 50 μl of identically prepared chicken erythrocytes, one incubated with 50μl PBS+ 50μl GVBS 2+ buffer alone (negative control) as a control for spontaneous hemolysis, two wells containing 10 mM EDTA (Thermo 15575-038) as the serum blank and two wells normal NHS as 100%lysis. The plate was then centrifuged at 600 rpm for 2 min and 100μl of the supernatant transferred to a new flat bottom 96-well plate. Hemoglobin release was determined at OD 405 nm using a microplate reader, and the percent hemolysis was determined using the following formula:

Hemolysis (%) :

100× (OD sample -OD EDTA blank) / (OD 100%lysis -OD EDTA blank)

As shown in FIG. 15B, VHHs either single or bi-paratopic of the alternative pathway specific antibody, exhibitedno inhibitory activity in the classical pathway. Eculizumab (Targetmol, T9915) , arecombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against the complement protein C5 was as a control also showed inhibitory ability in the CP pathway, with IC50 of 57 nM.

8.1.3 Complement inactivation in lectin pathway

For lectin pathway assay: 0.3 ml aliquots of mannan solution (0.5 mg/ml) were mixed with an equal volume of CrCl3 solution (0.5 mg/ml) (Sigma 27096-100G-F, Lot#BCCB5331) , an equal volume of the chicken erythrocyte suspension (1×l0 ⁹cells) was added, and the mixture was incubated with occasional mixing for 15 min at 25 ℃. Then wash with 1.0 ml of ice-cold GVBS2+. The erythrocytes coated with mannan (ME) (sigma M7604-100MG, Lot#SLOF4977) were washed three times by centrifugation with GVBS2+ (gelatin-Veronal-buffered saline, 5 mM Verona1 buffer, pH 7.4, containing 0.145 M NaC1, 0.1%gelatin, 0.15 M CaCl ₂ and 0.5 mM MgCl ₂) (Comp Tech, B100) , resuspended to a final concentration of 5×l07 cells/ml in GVBS2+ and store on ice. All test samples were serially diluted 1: 3 (from 500 nM to 0.2 nM) in PBS and added in duplicate (50 μl/well) to a U-bottom 96-well microtiter plate. Human complement-preserved serum was diluted to 20%vol/vol with GVBS2+ and added (50 μl/well) to the rows of the same 96-well plate, such that the final concentration of human serum in each well was 10%. 100μl ddH ₂O or serum only and 50μl PBS + 50μl GVBS2+was used as 100%lysis and 0%controls, respectively, 10 mM EDTA was used as serum blank. 50μl aliquots of chicken erythrocytes (2.5×10 ⁶ cells) was added to the plate as described above, mixed well, and incubated at 37℃ for 60 min. The plate was then centrifuged at 1,000 g for 2 min and 100μl of the supernatant transferred to a new flat bottom 96-well plate. Hemoglobin release was determined at OD 405 nm using a microplate reader, and the percent hemolysis was determined using the following formula:

Percent hemolysis (%) :

100× (OD sample-OD of EDTA) / (OD 100%lysis -OD of EDTA)

The inhibition curves of VHHs were shown in FIG. 15C, VHHs either single or bi-paratopic exhibited no inhibitory activity in the lectin pathway showing specificity in the alternative pathway. Eculizumab (Targetmol, T9915) , a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against the complement protein C5 was as a control also showed inhibitory ability in the LP pathway, with IC50 of 45 nM.

8.2 Human, cyno, mouse and rat species cross activity of SLN12140

For alternative pathway assay, procedure refer to 2.3. The inhibition curves of VHHs shown in FIG. 16, Panel of (A) , (B) , (C) and (D) of FIG. 15 shows human, cyno, mouse and rat alternative pathway activity of SLN12075, SLN12083 and SLN12140 respectively. SLN12140 shows good species-crossing complement inhibitory activity in AP-specific pathways including human, mouse, monkey and rat. And all showed the characteristics of bivalent activity higher than single VHH.

Example 9 Serum stability of SLN12140 and it’s PK profiles in mice

9.1 Serum stability of SLN12140 in mouse plasma

Test compound SLN12140 was prepared with C57BL/6 mouse plasma, human plasma and protein formulation buffer to a concentration of 10 μg/mL, and the samples were prepared and stored at -80℃. After that, samples were incubated at 37℃ with constant temperature and moisturizing conditions, and were collected at each time points (96, 72, 48, 24, 6, 2 and 0 h) . Supernatant of each sample was obtained and analyzed for quantification by analytical Elisa as described below. All assays were performed in triplicate. FIG 17 illustrates the buffer stability and plasma stability in human and mouse plasma. SLN12140 maintain a stable concentration in formulation buffer within 96 h and maintain stable concentration until 96 h still 70%of SLN12140 can be detected.

9.2 Sample analysis method establishment

9.2.1 Total drug pk assay development and QC verification

Goat F (ab') 2 anti-human IgG-Fc (Abeam, CAT#Ab98587) was coated on a 96-well enzyme-linked plate, washed 3 times with PBST (Tween-20, 0.1%) and washed with 200 μl of PBST containing 1%BSA at 37℃ blocked for 1 h. After washing 3 times with PBST, serial dilutions of SLN12140 standard, serum samples and quality control samples in PBST containing 1%BSA were added. After incubation at 37℃ for 1h. The cells were washed 3 times with PBST, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) -labeled goat anti-human IgG (FC-specific) antibody (Sigma, CAT#A0170) was added, and the cells were incubated at 37℃ for 1 h. After washing 3 times with PBST, 100 μl of TMB substrate solution was added to incubate for 15 min, and the absorbance at 450 nm was read after adding stop solution. The accuracy and accuracy of the standard curve and quality control materials were verified by SoftMax software, and the sample concentration was calculated. The validation of the PK method with three standard concentrations (high, medium, and low) showing the precision (CV%<20%) and accuracy (RE%+/-25%) of this method) meet the sample testing requirements.

9.2.2 Total mFP assay development and QC verification

SLN12039 (Linno) was coated on a 96-well enzyme-linked plate, washed three times with PBST (Tween-20, 0.1%) and blocked with 200 μl of PBST containing 1%BSA for 1 h at 37℃. After washing 3 times with PBST, serially diluted mFP (Linno) with 1%BSA in PBST was added, incubated at 37℃for 1 h, washed 3 times with PBST, and added with biotinylated SLN12030 antibody (Linno) , incubate at 37℃ for 1 h, wash three times with PBST, add horseradish peroxidase (HRP) -labeled streptavidin antibody (Sigma, CAT#S5512) , and incubate at 37℃ for 1 h. After washing 3 times with PBST, 100 μl of TMB substrate solution was added to incubate for 15 minutes, and the absorbance at 450 nm was read after adding stop solution. The accuracy and accuracy of the standard curve and quality control materials were verified by SoftMax software, and the sample concentration was calculated. the validation of the PK method with three standard concentrations (high, medium, and low) showing the precision (CV%<20%) and accuracy (RE%+/-25%) of this method) meet the sample testing requirements.

9.3 Subcutaneous and intravenous single dose pharmacokinetic studies in mice

PK studies were performed in 8 weeks old male C57BL/6 mice. The study consisted of two groups, 4 animals each group and administered by a single-dose subcutaneous or intravenous injection with 2.21 mpk SLN12140 respectively. Collected at Pro-dose (0) , 0.5 h, 2 h, 6 h, 24 h (D1) , 48 h (D2) , 72 h (D3) , 120 h (D5) , 144 h (D7) and 240 h (D10) , serum was separated from blood samples, and the above-mentioned PK method was used for quantitative analysis of drugs in serum, and PK solver software was used to calculate PK parameters. As shown in FIG18, the terminal elimination half-lives of SLN12140 after i. v and s. c administration in mouse was 2.5d. SLN12140 was rapidly absorbed after s. c. administration and the bioavailability based on AUC0–t was 40%for s. c. These results demonstrated that SLN12140 exhibited a suitable half-time and favorable bioavailability.

9.4 Subcutaneous dose dependent pharmacokinetic studies in mice

Dose dependent PK studies were performed in 8 weeks old male C57BL/6 mice. The study consisted of three groups, 5 animals each group and administered by a single-dose subcutaneous with 3, 10 and 30 mpk respectively. Blood samples were collected at pro-dose (0 h) and 8 sampling times post dosing: 2 h, 6 h, 24 h (D1) , 48 h (D2) , 72 h (D3) , 120 h (D5) , 144 h (D7) and 240 h (D10) . Once collected, blood samples were centrifuged at 4℃ for 10 min at 1500g and stored at -80℃ prior to analysis, and the above-mentioned PK method was used for quantitative analysis of drugs in serum, and PK solver software was used to calculate PK parameters. As results shown in FIG 19A-C, the exposure of SLN12140 in terms of AUC increased more than proportional with dose inthe entire dose range between 3, 10 and 30mpk. The concentration of the mFP also maintains a very consistent correspondence with the drug concentration. Low level FP concentration can be maintained for 48 h at 3mpk, 120 h at 10mpk, 168 h at 30mpk respectively and showed good target inhibitory activity and good safety profile.

9.5 Multiple dose pharmacokinetic studies in mice

PK studies were performed in 8 weeks old male C57BL/6 mice. The subcutaneous doses of SLN12140 of 30mpk, administered once every 7 days for four consecutive doses. Blood samples were collected at before each dose (0 h) , 24 h post each dose. Once collected, after 2 hours of natural agglutination at room temperature, blood samples were centrifuged at 4℃ for 10 min at 1500g and stored at -80℃ prior to analysis, and the above-mentioned PK method was used for quantitative analysis of drugs in serum, and PK solver software was used to calculate PK parameters. At the same time, AP activity was measured at different sampling time points using the method described above. As results shown in the Figure 20, FP concentration decreased significantly 24 h after administration and remained below physiological levels 7 days after administration, an no risk of increased FP after multiple administrations was observed. The AP activity detected by the erythrocyte lysis method was highly consistent with the FP concentration, and the AP activity decreased significantly when the FP concentration decreased and SLN12140 showed good and sustained AP pathway inhibitory activity after multiple dosing.

9.6 Multiple dose pharmacokinetic studies in hCD89 Tg mice

PK studies were performed in 13-14 weeks old male hCD89 Tg C57BL/6 mice. The hCD89 transgenic (Tg) mice expressed human CD89 on macrophage/monocytes and the key role of soluble CD89 in the pathogenesis of IgAN has been demonstrated inthe literature. The subcutaneous doses of 30mpk SLN12140, administered once every 7 days for seven consecutive doses. Blood samples were collected at before each dose (0 h) , 24 h post each dose. Once collected, after 2 hours of natural agglutination at room temperature, blood samples were centrifuged at 4℃ for 10 min at 1500g and stored at -80℃ prior to analysis, and the above-mentioned PK method was used for quantitative analysis of drugs in serum, and PK solver software was used to calculate PK parameters. At the same time, AP activity was measured at different sampling time points using the method described above. As results shown in Figure 21, with 7 consecutive doses, the SLN12140 serum concentration shows a continuous and stable pharmacokinetic character, and the weekly dosing can continuously decrease the target concentration at a low level, and there is no risk of immune complex formation according to blood concentration analysis and target concentration analysis. At the same time, mice are generally well observed.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. It is not intended that the invention be limited by the specific examples provided within the specification. While the invention has been described with reference to the aforementioned specification, the descriptions and illustrations of the embodiments herein are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Furthermore, it shall be understood that all aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific depictions, configurations or relative proportions set forth herein which depend upon a variety of conditions and variables. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the invention shall also cover any such alternatives, modifications, variations or equivalents. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

Claims

An isolated antigen binding protein, having one or more of the following properties:

1) specifically binds to properdin;

2) inhibits alternative pathway by binding properdin;

3) inhibits interaction between properdin and C3;

4) selectively inhibits alternative pathway rather than classical pathway or lectin pathway; and

5) has species-crossing properdin-binding and complement-inhibitory activity in AP-specific pathways in mammals.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 1, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein specifically binds to TSR5, TSR6, and/or TSR0 domain of properdin.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 1, which has a competitive target binding capability with reference antibodies, wherein said reference antibodies comprise CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, and comprise any set of amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of:

1) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 1, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 6, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 12;

2) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 2, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 7, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 13; and

3) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 3, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 8, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 14.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim of 3, wherein said reference antibodies comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 66, and SEQ ID NO: 70.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-4, comprising CDR3, wherein said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-5, comprising CDR2, wherein said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 55.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 6, wherein said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, and SEQ ID NO: 11.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-7, comprising CDR1, wherein said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in X ₁ X ₂CMX ₅, in which X ₁ is H or S or T or Y, X ₂ is G or Y, and X ₅ is A or G SEQ ID NO: 54.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 8, wherein said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 5.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-9, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in X ₁ X ₂CMX ₅, in which X ₁ is H or S or T or Y, X ₂ is G or Y, and X ₅ is A or G SEQ ID NO: 54, said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 55, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-10, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 5; said CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, and SEQ ID NO: 11, and said CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-11, comprising CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, and said isolated antigen binding protein comprising any set of amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of:

1) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 1, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 6, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 12;

2) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 2, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 7, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 13;

3) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 3, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 8, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 14;

4) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 4, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 9, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 15;

5) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 5, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 10, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 16; and

6) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 3, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 11, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 17.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-12, comprising FR1, wherein said FR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 56, and the C-terminus of said FR1 is linked directly or indirectly to the N-terminus of said CDR1.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 13, wherein said FR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, and SEQ ID NO: 30.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-14, comprising FR2, wherein said FR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 57, and the FR2 is located between said CDR1 and said CDR2.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claim 15, wherein said FR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, and SEQ ID NO: 40.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-16, comprising FR3, wherein said FR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 58, and the FR3 is located between said CDR2 and said CDR3.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 17, wherein said FR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, and SEQ ID NO: 51.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-18, comprising FR4, wherein said FR4 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 59, and the N-terminus of said FR4 is linked directly or indirectly to the C-terminus of said CDR3.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 19, wherein said FR4 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 52 and SEQ ID NO: 53.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-20, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4, said FR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 56, said FR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 57, said FR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 58, and said FR4 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 59.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-21, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4, said FR1 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, and SEQ ID NO: 30; said FR2 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, and SEQ ID NO: 40; said FR3 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, and SEQ ID NO: 51 and said FR4 comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 52 and SEQ ID NO: 53.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-22, comprising FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4, and said isolated antigen binding protein comprising any set of amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of:

1) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 18, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 31, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 41, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52;

2) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 19, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 32, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

3) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 19, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 32, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

4) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 20, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 32, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

5) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 20, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 31, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

6) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 21, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 33, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 44, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52;

7) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 22, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 34, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

8) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 22, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 34, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 45, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

9) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 22, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 33, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 45, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

10) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 23, FR2SEQ ID NO: 35: , FR3: SEQ ID NO: 46, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52;

11) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 24, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 36, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 47, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

12) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 24, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 36, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 48, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

13) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 25, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 36, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 48, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

14) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 25, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 35, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 48, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

15) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 26, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 37, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 49, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52;

16) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 27, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 38, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

17) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 27, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 39, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

18) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 28, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 39, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 42, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

19) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 28, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 39, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

20) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 28, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 37, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 43, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 53;

21) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 29, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 31, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 50, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52; and

22) FR1: SEQ ID NO: 30, FR2: SEQ ID NO: 40, FR3: SEQ ID NO: 51, FR4: SEQ ID NO: 52.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-24, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises a heavy chain variable region VH, which comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 24, wherein said heavy chain variable region is VHH.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-25, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises an antibody heavy-chain constant region.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 26, wherein said heavy-chain constant region comprises a human Fc region.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 27, wherein said human Fc region comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 109.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-28, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein is directly or indirectly linked to a second antigen binding domain.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim 29, wherein said second antigen binding domain is indirectly linked to the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-28 by a linker.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim of 30, wherein said linker is a poly-glycine linker.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 30-31, wherein said linker comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 108: GGGGSGGGGSGGGGS.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 29-32, wherein said second antigen binding domain can also bind to properdin.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 29-33, wherein said second antigen binding domain binds to different epitopes of properdin from the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-28.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 29-33, wherein said second antigen binding domain binds to the same epitopes of properdin with the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-28.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 29-35, wherein said second antigen binding domain comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of claims of 1-28.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 29-36, comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 81.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-37, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof.
The isolated antigen binding protein of claim of 38, wherein said isolated antigen binding fragment comprises Fab, Fab’ , F (ab) ₂, Fv fragments, F (ab') ₂, scFv, di-scFv, VHH and/or dAb.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-39, wherein said antibody is selected from the group consisting of: monoclonal antibodies, single chain antibodies, chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, and fully human antibodies.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-40, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein is a camelid antibody.
A fusion protein, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-41.
The fusion protein of claim of 42, comprising a functionally active protein.
The fusion protein of any one of claims of 42-43, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein is directly or indirectly linked to said functionally active protein.
The fusion protein of claim of 44, wherein said functionally active protein is indirectly linked by a linker.
The fusion protein of claim of 45, wherein said linker is a poly-glycine linker.
The fusion protein of any one of claims of 45-46, wherein said linker comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 108: GGGGSGGGGSGGGGS.
The fusion protein of any one of claims of 43-47, wherein said functionally active protein is factor H.
The fusion protein of claim of 48, wherein said factor H comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 110.
The fusion protein of any one of claims of 42-49, comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 82.
A polypeptide, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50.
An immunoconjugate, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51.
An isolated nucleic acid molecule, encoding the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51.
A vector, comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 53.
A cell, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50, the polypeptide of claim 51, the immunoconjugate of claim 52, the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 53, and/or the vector of claim 54.
A method of producing the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51, and the method comprising culturing the cell of claim 55 to express the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51.
A method for detecting properdin, wherein the method comprises using the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51.
The method of claim of 57, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.
A detection kit for properdin, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51.
The detection kit of claim of 59, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.
Use of the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51 in the preparation of a kit.
The use of claim of 60, wherein said isolated antigen binding protein comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 92, and SEQ ID NO: 93.
A pharmaceutical composition, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51, the immunoconjugate of claim 52, the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 53, the vector of claim 54, the cell of claim 55, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant and/or excipient.
A pharmaceutical combination, comprising the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50.
A method of inhibiting alternative complement pathway, comprising administering an effective amount of the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51, the immunoconjugate of claim 52, the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 53, the vector of claim 54, the cell of claim 55, and/or the pharmaceutical composition of claim 63, and/or the pharmaceutical combination of claim 64, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable therapeutic agent.
The isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51, the immunoconjugate of claim 52, the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 53, the vector of claim 54, the cell of claim 55, and/or the pharmaceutical composition of claim 63, and/or the pharmaceutical combination of claim 64, for use in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases.
The isolated antigen binding protein, the polypeptide, the immunoconjugate, the isolated nucleic acid molecule, the vector, the cell, and/or the pharmaceutical composition of claim 66, wherein said diseases are caused by properdin.
The isolated antigen binding protein, the polypeptide, the immunoconjugate, the isolated nucleic acid molecule, the vector, the cell, and/or the pharmaceutical composition of claim 66, wherein said diseases are mediated by alternative pathway.
The isolated antigen binding protein, the polypeptide, the immunoconjugate, the isolated nucleic acid molecule, the vector, the cell, and/or the pharmaceutical composition of any one of claims of 66-68, wherein said diseases include autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .
Use of the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51, the immunoconjugate of claim 52, the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 53, the vector of claim 54, the cell of claim 55, and/or the pharmaceutical composition of claim 63, and/or the pharmaceutical combination of claim 64 in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases.
The use of claim of 70, wherein said diseases are caused by properdin.
The use of claim of 70, wherein said diseases are mediated by alternative pathway.
The use of any one of claims of 70-72, wherein said diseases include thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .
A method of preventing and/or treating diseases, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of the isolated antigen binding protein of any one of claims of 1-50 or the polypeptide of claim 51, the immunoconjugate of claim 52, the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 53, the vector of claim 54, the cell of claim 55, and/or the pharmaceutical composition of claim 63, and/or the pharmaceutical combination of claim 64.
The method of claim of 74, wherein said diseases are caused by properdin.
The method of claim of 74, wherein said diseases are mediated by alternative pathway.
The method of any one of claims of 74-76, wherein said diseases include thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) , hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) , paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) , C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) , asthma, Gaucher disease, Hidradentitis suppurativa, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, severe burn, early sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer metastasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , acute lung injury (ACI) , transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) , hemodialysis induced thrombosis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) , uveitis, Parkinson's disease, primary biliary atresia, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis, retinal degeneration, broad thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) , broad TMA (APS) , hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) TMA, age-related macular degeneration (AMO) , pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , relapsing polychondritis, ischemic injury, stroke, graft versus host disease (GvHD) , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , emphysema, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis (cardiovascular risk) , cardiovascular disease, placental malaria, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancy loss, encephalitis, brain injury, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, malaria hemolytic crisis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) , or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) .