Title of Invention

ANTI-TNF ANTIBODIES, COMPOSITIONS, METHODS AND USES.

Abstract The present invention provides isolated human, primate, rodent, mammalian, chimeric, humanized and/or CDR-grafted anti-TNF antibodies, irnmunoglobulins,/jcleavage products and other specified portions and variants thereof, as well as anti-TNF antibody compositions, encoding or complementary nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, compositions, formulations, devices, transgenic animals, transgenic plants, and methods of making and using thereof, as described and enabled herein, in combination with what is known in the art. The present invention also provides at least one isolated anti-TNF antibody as described herein. An antibody according to the present invention includes any protein or peptide containing molecule that comprises at least a portion of an immunoglobulin molecule, such as but not limited to at least one complementarity determinng region (CDR) of a heavy or light chain or a ligand binding portion thereof, a heavy chain or light chain variable region, a heavy chain or light chain constant region, a framework region, or any portion thereof, that can be incorporated into an antibody of the present invention. An antibody of the invention can
Full Text ANTI- TNF ANTIBODIES, COMPOSITIONS, METHODS AND USES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This application is based in part on, and claims priority to, U.S. Provisional 60/223,360
filed August 7, 2000 and 60/236,826 filed September 29, 2000, each of which is entirely
incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to antibodies, including specified portions or variants,
specific for at least one tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) protein or fragment thereof, as well as
nucleic acids encoding such anti-TNF antibodies, complementary nucleic acids, vectors, host
cells, and methods of making and using thereof, including therapeutic formulations,
administration and devices.
RELATED ART
TNF alpha is a soluble homotrimer of 17 kD protein subunits (Smith et al., J. Biol.
Chem. 262:6951-6954 (1987)). A membrane-bound 26 kD precursor form of TNF also exists
(Kriegler et al., Cell 53:45-53 (1988)). For reviews of TNF, see Beutler et al., Nature 320:584
(1986); Old, Science 230:630 (1986); and Le et al., Lab. Invest. 56:234 (1987).
Cells other than monocytes or macrophages also produce TNF alpha. For example,
human non-monocytic tumor cell lines produce TNF alpha (Rubin et al., J. Exp. Med. 164:1350
(1986); Spriggs et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:6563 (1987)). CD4+ and CD8+
peripheral blood T lymphocytes and some cultured T and B cell lines (Cuturi et al., J. Exp. Med.
165:1581 (1987); Sung et al., J. Exp. Med. 168:1539 (1988); Turner et al., Eur. J. Immunol.
17:1807-1814 (1987)) also produce TNF alpha.
TNF alpha causes pro-inflammatory actions which result in tissue injury, such as
degradation of cartilage and bone (Saklatvala, Nature 322:547-549 (1986); Bertolini, Nature
319:516-518 (1986)), induction of adhesion molecules, inducing procoagulant activity on
vascular endothelial cells (Pober et al., J. Immunol. 136:1680 (1986)), increasing the adherence
of neutropbils and lymphocytes (Pober et al., J. Immunol. 138:3319 (1987)), and stimulating the
release of platelet activating factor from macrophages, neutrophils and vascular endothelial cells
(Camussi et al., J. Exp. Med. 166:1390 (1987)).
Recent evidence associates TNF alpha with infections (Cerami et al., Immunol. Today
9:28 (1988)), immune disorders, neoplastic pathologies (Oliff et al, Cell 50:555 (1987)),
autoimmune pathologies and graft-versus-host pathologies (Piguet et al., J. Exp. Med. 166:1280
(1987)). The association of TNF alpha with cancer and infectious pathologies is
often related to the host's catabolic state. Cancer patients suffer from weight loss, usually
associated with anorexia.
The extensive wasting which is associated with cancer, and other diseases, is
known as "cachexia" (Kern et al., J. Parent. Enter. Nutr. 12:286-298 (1988)). Cachexia
includes progressive weight loss, anorexia, and persistent erosion of lean body mass in
response to a malignant growth. The cachectic state causes much cancer morbidity and
mortality. There is evidence that TNF alpha is involved in cachexia in cancer, infectious
pathology, and other catabolic states (see, e.g., Beutler and Cerami, Ann. Rev. Immunol.
7:625-655 (1989)).
TNF alpha is believed to play a central role in gram-negative sepsis and
endotoxic shock (Michie et al., Br. J. Surg. 76:670-671 (1989); Debets et al., Second Vienna
Shock Forum, p. 463-466 (1989); Simpson et al., Crit. Care Clin. 5:27-47 (1989)), including
fever, malaise, anorexia, and cachexia. Endotoxin strongly activates monocyte/macrophage
production and secretion of TNF alpha and other cytokines (Kombluth et al., J. Immunol.
137:2585-2591 (1986)). TNF alpha and other monocyte-derived cytokines mediate the
metabolic and neurohormonal responses to endotoxin (Michie et al., New Engl. J. Med.
318:1481-1486 (1988)). Endotoxin administration to human volunteers produces acute illness
with flu-like symptoms including fever, tachycardia, increased metabolic rate and stress
hormone release (Revhaug et al., Arch. Surg. 123:162-170 (1988)). Circulating TNF alpha
increases in patients suffering from Gram-negative sepsis (Waage et al., Lancet 1:355-357
(1987); Hammerle et al., Second Vienna Shock Forum, p. 715-718 (1989); Debets et al., Grit
Care Mcd. 17:489-497 (1989); Calandra et al., J. Infect. Dis. 161:982-987 (1990)).
Thus, TNF alpha has been implicated in inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases,
viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, malignancies, and/or neurogenerative diseases and is a
useful target for specific biological therapy in diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and
Crohn's disease. Beneficial effects in open-label trials with a chimeric monoclonal antibody to
TNF alpha (cA2) have been reported with suppression of inflammation and with successful
retreatment after relapse in rheumatoid arthritis (Elliott et al., Arthritis Rheum. 36:1681-1690
(1993); and Elliott et al., Lancet 344:1125-1127 (1994)) and in Crohn's disease (Van Dullemen
et al., Gastroenterology 109:129-135 (1995)). Beneficial results in a randomized, double-
blind, placebo-controlled trial with cA2 have also been reported in rheumatoid arthritis with
suppression of inflammation (Elliott et al., Lancet 344:1105-1110 (1994)). Antibodies to
a "modulator" material which was characterized as cachectin (later found to be identical to
TNF) were disclosed by Cerami et al. (EPO Patent Publication 0212489, March 4,1987).
Such antibodies were said to be useful in diagnostic immunoassays and. in therapy of shock in
bacterial infections. Rubin et al. (EPO Patent Publication 0218868, April 22,1987) disclosed
monoclonal antibodies to human TNF, the hybridomas secreting such antibodies, methods of
producing such antibodies, and the use of such antibodies in immunoassay of TNF. Yone et al.
(EPO Patent Publication 0288088, October 26, 1988) disclosed anti-TNF antibodies, including
mAbs, and their utility in immunoassay diagnosis of pathologies, in particular Kawasaki's
pathology and bacterial infection. The body fluids of patients with Kawasaki's pathology
(infantile acute febrile mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; Kawasaki, T., Allergy 16:178
(1967); Kawasaki, T., Shonica (Pediatrics) 26:935 (1985)) were said to contain elevated TNF
levels which were related to progress of the pathology (Yone et al., supra).
Other investigators have described mAbs specific for recombinant human TNF
which had neutralizing activity in vitro (Liang, C-M. et al. (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm.
137:847-854 (1986); Meager, A. et al., Hybridoma 6:305-311 (1987); Fendly et al., Hybridoma
6:359-369 (1987); Bringman, T.S. et al., Hybridoma 6:489-507 (1987); Hirai, M. et al., J.
Immunol. Meth. 96:57-62 (1987); Moller, A. et al. (Cytokine 2:162-169 (1990)). Some of
these mAbs were used to map epitopes of human TNF and develop enzyme immunoassays
(Fendly et al., supra; Hirai et al., supra; Moller et al., supra) and to assist in the purification of
recombinant TNF (Bringman et al., supra). However, these studies do not provide a basis for
producing TNF neutralizing antibodies that can be used for in vivo diagnostic or therapeutic
uses in humans, due to immunogenicity, lack of specificity and/or pharmaceutical suitability.
Neutralizing antisera or mAbs to TNF have been shown in mammals other than man to
abrogate adverse phaysiological changes and prevent death after lethal challenge m
experimental endotoxemia and bacteremia. This effect has been demonstrated, e.g., in rodent
lethality assays and in primate pathology model systems (Mathison, J.C. et al., J. Clin. Invest.
81:1925-1937 (1988); Beutler, B. et al., Science 229:869-871 (1985); Tracey, K.J. et al.,
Nature 330:662-664 (1987); Shimamoto, Y. et al., Immunol. Lett. 17:311-318 (1988); Silva,
A.T.etal., J. Infect. Dis. 162:421-427 (1990); Opal, S.M. et al., J. Infect:-Dis. 161:1148-1152
(1990); Hinshaw, L.B. et al., Circ. Shock 30:279-292 (1990)).
Putative receptor binding loci of hTNF has been disclosed by Eck and Sprang (J. Biol.
Chem. 264(29), 17595-17605 (1989), who identified the receptor binding loci of TNF-a as
consisting of amino acids 11-13,37-42,49-57 and 155-157. PCT application WO91/02078
(priority date of August 7,1989) discloses TNF ligands which can bind to monoclonal
antibodies having the following epitopes: at least one of 1-20, 56-77, and 108-127; at least two
of 1-20,56-77, 108-127 and 138-149; all of 1-18, 58-65, 115-125 and 138-149; all of 1-18, and
108-128; all of 56-79,110-127 and 135- or 136-155; all of 1-30,117-128 and 141-153; all of
1-26,117-128 and 141-153; all of 22-40, 49-96 or -97, 110-127 and 136-153; all of 12-22,36-
45, 96-105 and 132-157; all of both of 1-20 and 76-90; all of 22-40, 69-97, 105-128 and 135-
155; all of 22-31 and 146-157; all of 22-40 and 49-98; at least one of 22-40, 49-98 and 69-97,
both of 22-40 and 70-87.
Non-human mammalian, chimeric, polyclonal (e.g., anti-sera) and/or monoclonal
antibodies (Mabs) and fragments (e.g., proteolytic digestion or fusion protein products thereof)
are potential therapeutic agents that are being investigated in some cases to attempt to treat
certain diseases. However, such antibodies or fragments can elicit an immune response when
administered to humans. Such an immune response can result in an immune complex-
mediated clearance of the antibodies or fragments from the circulation, and make repeated
administration unsuitable for therapy, thereby reducing the therapeutic benefit to the patient
and limiting the readministration of the antibody or fragment. For example, repeated
administration of antibodies or fragments comprising non-human portions can lead to serum
sickness and/or anaphalaxis. In order to avoid these and other problems, a number of
approaches have been taken to reduce the immunogenicity of such antibodies and portions
thereof, including chimerization and humanization, as well known in the art. These and other
approaches, however, still can result in antibodies or fragments having some immunogenicity,
low affinity, low avidity, or with problems in cell culture, scale up, production, and/or low
yields. Thus, such antibodies or fragments can be less than ideally suited for manufacture or
use as therapeutic proteins.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide anti-TNF antibodies or fragments that
overcome one more of these problems, as well as improvements over known antibodies or
fragments thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides isolated human, primate, rodent, mammalian, chimeric,
humanized and/or CDR-grafted anti-TNF antibodies, irnmunoglobulins,/jcleavage products and
other specified portions and variants thereof, as well as anti-TNF antibody compositions,
encoding or complementary nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, compositions, formulations,
devices, transgenic animals, transgenic plants, and methods of making and using thereof, as
described and enabled herein, in combination with what is known in the art.
The present invention also provides at least one isolated anti-TNF antibody as
described herein. An antibody according to the present invention includes any protein or
peptide containing molecule that comprises at least a portion of an immunoglobulin molecule,
such as but not limited to at least one complementarity determinng region (CDR) of a heavy or
light chain or a ligand binding portion thereof, a heavy chain or light chain variable region, a
heavy chain or light chain constant region, a framework region, or any portion thereof, that can
be incorporated into an antibody of the present invention. An antibody of the invention can
include or be derived from any mammal, such as but not limited to a human, a mouse, a rabbit,
a rat, a rodent, a primate, or any combination thereof, and the like.
The present invention provides, in one aspect, isolated nucleic acid molecules
comprising, complementary, or hybridizing to, a polynucleotide encoding specific anti-TNF
antibodies, comprising at least one specified sequence, domain, portion or variant thereof. The
present invention further provides recombinant vectors comprising said anti-TNF antibody
nucleic acid molecules, host cells containing such nucleic acids and/or recombinant vectors, as
well as methods of making and/or using such antibody nucleic acids, vectors and/or host cells.
At least one antibody of the invention binds at least one specified epitope specific to at
least one TNF protein, subunit, fragment, portion or any combination thereof. The at least one
epitope can comprise at least one antibody binding region that comprises at least one portion
of said protein, which epitope is preferably comprised of at least 1-5 amino acids of at least
one portion thereof, such as but not limited to, at least one functional, extracellular, soluble,
hydrophillic, external or cytopiasmic domain of said protein, or any portion thereof.
The at least one antibody can optionally comprise at least one specified portion of at
least one complementarity determining region (CDR) (e.g., CDR1, CDR2 or CDR3 of the
heavy or light chain variable region) and/or at least one constant or variable framework region
or any portion thereof. The at least one antibody amino acid sequence can further optionally
comprise at least one specified substitution, insertion or deletion as described herein or as
known in the art.
The present invention also provides at least one isolated anti-TNF antibody as
described herein, wherein the antibody has at least one activity, such as, but not limited to
inhibition of TNF-induced cell adhesion molecules, inhibition of TNF binding to
receptor, Arthritic index improvement in mouse model, (see, e.g., Examples 3-7). A(n)
anti-TNF antibody can thus be screened for a corresponding activity according to known
methods, such as but not limited to, at least one biological activity towards a TNF protein.
The present invention further provides at least one TNF anti-idiotype antibody to at
least one TNF antibody of the present invention. The anti-idiotype antibody includes any
protein or peptide containing molecule that comprises at least a portion of an immunoglobulin
molecule, such as but not limited to at least one complementarity determinng region (CDR) of
a heavy or light chain or a ligand binding portion thereof, a heavy chain or light chain variable
region, a heavy chain or light chain constant region, a framework region, or any portion
thereof, that can be incorporated into an antibody of the present invention. An antibody of the
invention can include or be derived from any mammal, such as but not limited to a human, a
mouse, a rabbit, a rat, a rodent, a primate, and the like.
The present invention provides, in one aspect, isolated nucleic acid molecules
comprising, complementary, or hybridizing to, a polynucleotide encoding at least one TNF
anti-idiotype antibody, comprising at least one specified sequence, domain, portion or variant
thereof. The present invention further provides recombinant vectors comprising said TNF
anti-idiotype antibody encoding nucleic acid molecules, host cells containing such nucleic
acids and/or recombinant vectors, as well as methods of making and/or using such anti-
idiotype antiobody nucleic acids, vectors and/or host cells.
The present invention also provides at least one method for expressing at least one
anti-TNF antibody, or TNF anti-idiotype antibody, in a host cell, comprising culturing a host
cell as described herein under conditions wherein at least one anti-TNF antibody is expressed
in detectable and/or recoverable amounts.
The present invention also provides at least one composition comprising (a) an
isolated anti-TNF antibody encoding nucleic acid and/or antibody as described herein; and (b)
a suitable carrier or diluent. The carrier or diluent can optionally be pharmaceutically
acceptable, according to known carriers or diluents. The composition can optionally further
comprise at least one further compound, protein or composition.
The present invention further provides at least one anti-TNF antibody method or
composition, for administering a therapeutically effective amount to modulate or treat at least
one TNF related condition in a cell, tissue, organ, animal or patient and/or, prior to, subsequent
to, or during a related condition, as known in the art and/or as described herein.
The present invention also provides at least one composition, device and/or method of
delivery of a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of at least one anti-TNF
antibody, according to the present invention.
The present invention further provides at least one anti-TNF antibody method or
composition, for diagnosing at least one TNF related condition in a cell.-tissue, organ, animal
or patient and/or, prior to, subsequent to, or during a related condition, as known in the art
and/or as described herein.
The present invention also provides at least one composition, device and/or method of
delivery for diagnosing of at least one anti-TNF antibody, according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 shows a graphical representation showing an assay for ability of TNV mAbs
in hybridoma cell supernatants to inhibit TNFV binding to recombinant TNF receptor.
Varying amounts of hybridoma cell supernatants containing known amounts of TNV mAb
were preincubated with a fixed concentration (5 ng/ml) of l25I-labeled TNFV. The mixture
was transferred to 96-well Opnplates that had been previously coated with p55-sf2, a
recombinant TNF receptor/IgG fusion protein. The amount of TNFV that bound to the p55
receptor in the presence of the mAbs was determined after washing away the unbound material
and counting using a gamma counter. Although eight TNV mAb samples were tested in these
experiments, for simplicity three of the mAbs that were shown by DNA sequence analyses to
be identical to one of the other TNV mAbs (see Section 5.2.2) are not shown here. Each
sample was tested in duplicate. The results shown are representative of two independent
experiments.
Figure 2 shows DNA sequences of the TNV mAb heavy chain variable regions. The
germline gene shown is the DP-46 gene. 'TNVs' indicates that the sequence shown is the
sequence of TNV14, TNV15, TNV148, and TNV196. The first three nucleotides in the TNV
sequence define the translation initiation Met codon. Dots in the TNV mAb gene sequences
indicate the nucleotide is the same as in the germline sequence. The first 19 nucleotides
(underlined) of the TNV sequences correspond to the oligonucleotide used to PCR-amplify the
variable region. An ammo acid translation (single letter abbreviations) starting with the
mature mAb is shown only for the germline gene. The three CDR domains in the germline
amino acid translation are marked in bold and underlined. Lines labeled TNV148(B) indicate
that the sequence shown pertains to both TNV148 and TNV148B. Gaps in the germline DNA
sequence (CDR3) are due to the sequence not being known or not existing in the germline
gene. The TNV mAb heavy chains use the J6 joining region.
Figure 3 shows DNA sequences of the TNV mAb light chain variable regions. The
germline gene shown is a representative member of the Vg/38K family of human kappa
germline variable region genes. Dots in the TNV mAb gene sequences indicate the nucleotide
is the same as in the germline sequence. The first 16 nucleotides (underlined) of the TNV
sequences correspond to the oligonucleotide used to PCR-amplify the variable region. An
amino acid translation of the mature mAb (single letter abbreviations) is shown only for the
germline gene. The three CDR domains in the germline amino acid translation are marked in
bold and underlined. Lines labeled TNV148(B) indicate that the sequence shown pertains to
both TNV148 and TNV148B. Gaps in the germline DNA sequence (CDR3) are due to the
sequence not being known or not existing in the germline gene. The TNV mAb light chains
use the J3 joining sequence.
Figure 4 shows deduced amino acid sequences of the TNV mAb heavy chain variable
regions. The amino acid sequences shown (single letter abbreviations) were deduced from
DNA sequence determined from both uncloned PCR products and cloned PCR products. The
amino sequences are shown partitioned into the secretory signal sequence (signal), framework
(FW), and complementarity determining region (CDR) domains. The amino acid sequence for
the DP-46 germline gene is shown on the top line for each domain. Dots indicate that the
amino acid in the TNV mAb is identical to the germline gene. TNV148(B) indicates that the
sequence shown pertains to both TNV148 and TNV148B. TNVs' indicates that the sequence
shown pertains to all TNV mAbs unless a different sequence is shown. Dashes in the germline
sequence (CDR3) indicate that the sequences are not known or do not exist in the germline
gene.
Figure 5 shows deduced amino acid sequences of the TNV mAb light chain variable
regions. The amino acid sequences shown (single letter abbreviations) were deduced from
DNA sequence determined from both uncloned PCR products and cloned PCR products. The
amino sequences are shown partitioned into the secretory signal sequence (signal), framework
(FW), and complementarity determining region (CDR) domains. The amino acid sequence for
the Vg/38K-type light chain germline gene is shown on the top line for each domain. Dots
indicate that the amino acid in the TNV mAb is identical to the germline gene. TNV148(B)
indicates that the sequence shown pertains to both TNV148 and TNV148B. 'All' indicates that
the sequence shown pertains to TNV14, TNV15, TNV148, TNV148B, and TNV186.
Figure 6 shows schematic illustrations of the heavy and light chain expression
plasmids used to make the rTNV148B-expressing C466 cells. pl783 is the heavy chain
plasmid and p1776 is the light chain plasmid. The rTNV148B variable and constant region
coding domains are shown as black boxes. The immunoglobulin enhancers in the J-C introns
are shown as gray boxes. Relevant restriction sites are shown. The plasmids are shown
oriented such that transcription of the Ab genes proceeds in a clockwise direction. Plasmid
pl783 is 19.53 kb in length and plasmid p1776 is 15.06 kb in length. The complete nucleotide
sequences of both plasmids are known. The variable region coding sequence in p1783 can be
easily replaced with another heavy chain variable region sequence by replacing the
BsiWI/BstBI restriction fragment. The variable region coding sequence in p1776 can be
replaced with another variable region sequence by replacing the Sall/Afin restriction fragment.
Figure 7 shows graphical representation of growth curve analyses of five rTNV148B-
producing cell lines. Cultures were initiated on day 0 by seeding cells into T75 flasks in
I5Q+MHX media to have a viable cell density of 1.0 X 105 cells/ml in a 30 ml volume. The
cell cultures used for these studies had been in continuous culture since transfections and
subclonings were performed. On subsequent days, cells in the T flasks were thoroughly
resuspended and a 0.3 ml aliquot of the culture was removed. The growth curve studies were
terminated when cell counts dropped below 1.5 X 105 cells/ml. The number of live cells in the
aliquot was determined by typan blue exclusion and the remainder of the aliquot stored for
later mAb concentration determination. An ELISA for human IgG was performed on all
sample aliquots at the same time.
Figure 8 shows a graphical representation of the comparison of cell growth rates in the
presence of varying concentrations of MHX selection. Cell subclones C466A and C466B were
thawed into MHX-free media (IMDM. 5% FBS, 2 mM glutamine) and cultured for two
additional days. Both cell cultures were then divided into three cultures that contained either
no MHX, 0.2X MHX, or IX MHX. One day later, fresh T75 flasks were seeded with the
cultures at a starting density of 1 X 10s cells/ml and cells counted at 24 hour intervals for one
week. Doubling times during the first 5 days were calculated using the formula in SOP
PD32.025 and are shown above the bars.
Figure 9 shows graphical representations of the stability of mAb production over time
from two rTNV148B-producing cell lines. Cell subclones that had been in continuous culture
since performing transfections and subclonings were used to start long-term serial cultures in
24-well culture dishes. Cells were cultured in I5Q media with and without MHX selection.
Cells were continually passaged by splitting the cultures every 4 to 6 days to maintain new
viable cultures while previous cultures were allowed to go spent. Aliquots of spent cell
supernatant were collected shortly after cultures were spent and stored until the mAb
concentrations were determined. An ELISA for human IgG was performed on all sample
aliquots at the same time.
Figure 10 shows arthritis mouse model mice Tg 197 weight changes in response to
anti-TNF antibodies of the present invention as compared to controls in Example 4. At
approximately 4 weeks of age the Tgl97 study mice were assigned, based on gender and body
weight, to one of 9 treatment groups and treated with a single intraperitoneal bolus dose of
Dulbecco's PBS (D-PBS) or an anti-TNF anatibody of the present invention (TNV14, TNV148
or TNV196) at either 1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg. When the weights were analyzed as a change from
pre-dose, the animals treated with 10 mg/kg cA2 showed consistently higher weight gain than
the D-PBS-treated animals throughout the study. This weight gain was significant at weeks 3-
7. The animals treated with 10 mg/kg TNV148 also achieved significant weight gain at week
7 of the study.
Figures 11A-C represent the progression of disease severity based on the arthritic
index as presented in Exanple 4. The 10 mg/kg cA2-treated group's arthritic index was lower
then the D-PBS control group starting at week 3 and continuing throughout the remainder of
the study (week 7). The animals treated with 1 mg/kg TNV14 and the animals treated with 1
mg/kg cA2 failed to show significant reduction in AI after week 3 when compared to the D-
PBS-treated Group. There were no significant differences between the 10 mg/kg treatment
groups when each was compared to the others of similar dose (10 mg/kg cA2 compared to 10
mg/kg TNV14, 148 and 196). When the 1 mg/kg treatment groups were compared, the 1
mg/kg TNV148 showed a significantly lower AI than I mg/kg cA2 at 3, 4 and 7 weeks. The I
mg/kg TNV148 was also significantly lower than the 1 mg/kg TNV14-treated Group at 3 and 4
weeks. Although TNV196 showed significant reduction in AI up to week 6 of the study (when
compared to the D-PBS-treated Group), TNV148 was the only 1 mg/kg treatment that
remained significant at the conclusion of the study.
Figure 12 shows arthritis mouse model mice Tg 197 weight changes in response to
anti-TNF antibodies of the present invention as compared to controls in Example 5. At
approximately 4 weeks of age the Tgl97 study mice were assigned, based on body weight, to
one of 8 treatment groups and treated with a intraperitoneal bolus dose of control article (D-
PBS) or antibody (TNV14, TNV148) at 3 mg/kg (week 0). Injections were repeated in all
animals at weeks 1, 2,3, and 4. Groups 1-6 were evaluated for test article efficacy. Serum
samples, obtained from animals in Groups 7 and 8 were evaluated for immune response
induction and pharmacokinetic clearance of TNV14 or TNV148 at weeks 2, 3 and 4.
Figures 13A-C are graphs representing the progression of disease severity in Example
S based on the arthritic index. The 10 mg/kg cA2-treated group's arthritic index was
significantly lower then the D-PBS control group starting at week 2 and continuing throughout
the remainder of the study (week 5). The animals treated with 1 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg of cA2 and
the animals treated with 3 mg/kg TNV14 failed to achieve any significant reduction in AI at
any time throughout the study when compared to the d-PBS control group. The animals treated
with 3 mg/kg TNV148 showed a significant reduction when compared to the d-PBS-treated
group starting at week 3 and continuing through week 5. The 10 mg/kg cA2-treated animals
showed a significant reduction in AI when compared to both the lower doses (1 mg/kg and 3
mg/kg) of cA2 at weeks 4 and 5 of the study and was also significantly lower than the TNV14-
trcated animals at weeks 3-5. Although mere appeared to be no significant differences between
any of the 3mg/kg treatment groups, the AI for the animals treated witH*3 mg/kg TNV14 were
significantly higher at some time points than the 10 mg/kg whereas the animals treated with
TNV148 were not significantly different from the animals treated with 10 mg/kg of cA2.
Figure 14 shows arthritis mouse model mice Tg 197 weight changes in response to
anti-TNF antibodies of the present invention as compared to controls in Example 6. At
approximately 4 weeks of age the Tgl97 study mice were assigned, based on gender and body
weight, to one of 6 treatment groups and treated with a single intraperitoneal bolus dose of
antibody (cA2, or TNV148) at either 3 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg. This study utilized the D-PBS and
10 mg/kg cA2 control Groups.
Figure 15 represents the progression of disease severity based on the arthritic index as
presented in Example 6. All treatment groups showed some protection at the earlier time
points, with the 5 mg/kg cA2 and the 5 mg/kg TNV148 showing significant reductions in AI at
weeks 1-3 and all treatment groups showing a significant reduction at week 2. Later in the
study the animals treated with 5 mg/kg cA2 showed some protection, with significant
reductions at weeks 4, 6 and 7. The low dose (3 mg/kg) of both the cA2 and the TNV148
showed significant reductions at 6 and all treatment groups showed significant reductions at
week 7. None of the treatment groups were able to maintain a significant reduction at the
conclusion of the study (week 8). There were no significant differences between any of the
treatment groups (excluding the saline control group) at any time point.
Figure 16 shows arthritis mouse model mice Tg 197 weight changes in response to
anti-TNF antibodies of the present invention as compared to controls in Example 7. To
compare the efficacy of a single intraperitoneal dose of TNV148 (derived from hybridoma
cells) and rTNVl48B (derived from transfected cells). At approximately 4 weeks of age the
Tgl97 study mice were assigned, based on gender and body weight, to one of 9 treatment
groups and treated with a single intraperitoneal bolus dose of Dulbecco's PBS (D-PBS) or
antibody (TNV148, rTNV148B) at 1 mg/kg.
Figure 17 represents the progression of disease severity based on the arthritic index as
presented in Example 7. The 10 mg/kg cA2-treated group's arthritic index was lower men the
D-PBS control group starting at week 4 and continuing throughout the remainder of the study
(week 8). Both of the TNV148-treated Groups and the 1 mg/kg cA2-treated'Group showed a
significant reduction in AI at week 4. Although a previous study (P-099-017) showed that
TNV148 was slightly more effective at reducing the Arthritic Index following a single 1 mg/kg
intraperitoneal bolus, this study showed that the AI from both versions of the TNV antibody-
treated groups was slightly higher. Although (with the exception of week 6) the 1 mg/kg cA2-
treated Group was not significantly increased when compared to the 10 mg/kg cA2 group and
the TNV148-treated Groups were significantly higher at weeks 7 and 8, there were no
significant differences in AI between the 1 mg/kg cA2,1 mg/kg TNV148 and 1 mg/kg
TNV148B at any point in the study.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides isolated, recombinant and/or synthetic anti-
TNF human, primate, rodent, mammalian, chimeric, humanized or CDR-grafted, antibodies
and TNF anti-idiotypc antibodies thereto, as well as compositions and encoding nucleic acid
molecules comprising at least one polynucleotide encoding at least one anti-TNF antibody or
anti-idiotype antibody. The present invention further includes, but is not limited to, methods
of making and using such nucleic acids and antibodies and anti-idiotype antibodies, including
diagnostic and therapeutic compositions, methods and devices.
As used herein, an "anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody," "anti-TNF
antibody," "anti-TNF antibody portion," or "anti-TNF antibody fragment" and/or "anti-TNF
antibody variant" and the like include any protein or peptide containing molecule that
comprises at least a portion of an immunoglobulin molecule, such as but not limited to at least
one complementarity determinng region (CDR) of a heavy or light chain or a ligand binding
portion thereof, a heavy chain or light chain variable region, a heavy chain or light chain
constant region, a framework region, or any portion thereof, or at least one portion of an TNF
receptor or binding protein, which can be incorporated into an antibody of the present
invention. Such antibody optionally further affects a specific ligand, such as but not limited to
where such antibody modulates, decreases, increases, antagonizes, angonizes, mitigates,
aleviates, blocks, inhibits, abrogates and/or interferes with at least one TNF activity or binding,
or with TNF receptor activity or binding, in vitro, in situ and/or in vivo. As a non-limiting
example, a suitable anti-TNF antibody, specified portion or variant of the present invention can
bind at least one TNF, or specified portions, variants or domains thereof. A suitable anti-TNF
antibody, specified portion, or variant can also optionally affect at least one of TNF activity or
function, such as but not limited to, RNA, DNA or protein synthesis, TNF release, TNF
receptor signaling, membrane TNF cleavage, TNF activity, TNF production and/or synthesis.
The term "antibody "is further intended to encompass antibodies, digestion fragments,
specified portions and variants thereof, including antibody mimetics or comprising portions of
antibodies that mimic the structure and/or function of an anitbody or specified fragment or
portion thereof, including single chain antibodies and fragments thereof. Functional fragments
include antigen-binding fragments that bind to a mammalian TNF. For example, antibody
fragments capable of binding to TNF or portions thereof, including, but not limited to Fab
(e.g., by papain digestion), Fab' (e.g., by pepsin digestion and partial reduction) and F(ab')2
(e.g., by pepsin digestion), facb (e.g., by plasmin digestion), pFc' (e.g., by pepsin or plasmin
digestion), Fd (e.g., by pepsin digestion, partial reduction and aggregation), Fv or scFv (e.g.,
by molecular biology techniques) fragments, are encompassed by the invention (see, e.g.,
Colligan, Immunology, supra).
Such fragments can be produced by enzymatic cleavage, synthetic or recombinant
techniques, as known in the art and/or as described herein, antibodies can also be produced in a
variety of truncated forms using antibody genes in which one or more stop codons have been
introduced upstream of the natural stop site. For example, a combination gene encoding a
F(ab')2 heavy chain portion can be designed to include DNA sequences encoding the CH,
domain and/or hinge region of the heavy chain. The various portions of antibodies can be
joined together chemically by conventional techniques, or can be prepared as a contiguous
protein using genetic engineering techniques.
As used herein, the term "human antibody" refers to an antibody in which substantially
every part of the protein (e.g., CDR, framework, CL, CH domains (e.g., CH1, CH2, CH3), hinge,
(VL, VH)) is substantially non-immunogenic in humans, with only minor sequence changes or
variations. Similarly, antibodies designated primate (monkey, babboon, chimpanzee, etc.),
rodent (mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pid, hamster, and the like) and other mammals designate
such species, sub-genus, genus, sub-family, family specific antibodies. Further, chimeric
antibodies include any combination of the above. Such changes or variations optionally and
preferably retain or reduce the immunogenicity in humans or other species relative to non-
modified antibodies. Thus, a human antibody is distinct from a chimeric or humanized
antibody. It is pointed out that a human antibody can be produced by a non-human animal or
prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell that is capable of expressing functionally rearranged human
immunoglobulin (e.g., heavy chain and/or light chain) genes. Further, when a human antibody
is a single chain antibody, it can comprise a linker peptide that is not found in native human
antibodies. For example, an Fv can comprise a linker peptide, such as two to about eight
glycine or other amino acid residues, which connects the variable region of the heavy chain
and the variable region of the light chain. Such linker peptides are considered to be of human
origin.
Bispecific, heterospecific, heteroconjugate or similar antibodies can also be used that
are monoclonal, preferably human or humanized, antibodies that have binding specificities for
at least two different antigens. In the present case, one of the binding specificities is for at least
one TNF protein, the other one is for any other antigen. Methods for making bispecific
antibodies are known in the art. Traditionally, the recombinant production of bispecific
antibodies is based on the co-expression of two immunoglobulin heavy chain-light chain pairs,
where the two heavy chains have different specificities (Milstein and Cuello, Nature 305:537
(1983)). Because of the random assortment of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains, these
hybridomas (quadromas) produce a potential mixture of 10 different antibody molecules, of
which only one has the correct bispecific structure. The purification of the correct molecule,
which is usually done by affinity chromatography steps, is rather cumbersome, and the product
yields are low. Similar procedures are disclosed, e.g., in WO 93/08829, US Patent Nos,
6210668, 6193967,6132992,6106833, 6060285, 6037453,6010902, 5989530, 5959084,
5959083, 5932448, 5833985, 5821333, 5807706, 5643759, 5601819, 5582996, 5496549,
4676980, WO 91/00360, WO 92/00373, EP 03089, Traunecker et al., EMBO J. 10:3655
(1991), Suresh et al., Methods in Enzymology 121:210 (1986), each entirely incorporated
herein by reference.
Anti-TNF antibodies (also termed TNF antibodies) useful in the methods and
compositions of the present invention can optionally be characterized by high affinity binding
to TNF and optionally and preferably having low toxicity. In particular, an antibody, specified
fragment or variant of the invention, where the individual components, such as the variable
region, constant region and framework, individually and/or collectively, optionally and
preferably possess low immunogenicity, is useful in the present invention. The antibodies that
can be used in the invention are optionally characterized by their ability to treat patients for
extended periods with measurable alleviation of symptoms and low and/or acceptable toxicity.
Low or acceptable immunogenicity and/or high affinity, as well as other suitable properties,
can contribute to the therapeutic results achieved. "Low immunogenicity" is defined herein as
raising significant HAHA, HACA or HAMA responses in less than about 75%, or preferably
less than about 50% of the patients treated and/or raising low titres in the patient treated (less
than about 300, preferably less than about 100 measured with a double antigen enzyme
immunoassay) (Elliott et al., Lancet 344:\ 125-1127 (1994), entirely incorporated herein by
reference).
Utility
The isolated nucleic acids of the present invention can be used for production of at least
one anti-TNF antibody or specified variant thereof, which can be used to measure or effect in
an cell, tissue, organ or animal (including mammals and humans), to diagnose, monitor,
modulate, treat, alleviate, help prevent the incidence of, or reduce the symptoms of, at least
one TNF condition, selected from, but not limited to, at least one of an immune disorder or
disease, a cardiovascular disorder or disease, an infectious, malignant, and/or neurologic
disorder or disease.
Such a method can comprise administering an effective amount of a composition or a
pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one anti-TNF antibody-to a cell, tissue, organ,
animal or patient in need of such modulation, treatment, alleviation, prevention, or reduction in
symptoms, effects or mechanisms. The effective amount can comprise an amount of about
0.001 to 500 mg/kg per single (e.g., bolus), multiple or continuous administration, or to
achieve a serum concentration of 0.01-5000 µg/ml serum concentration per single, multiple, or
continuous adminstration, or any effective range or value therein, as done and determined
using known methods, as described herein or known in the relevant arts.
Citations
All publications or patents cited herein are entirely incorporated herein by reference as
they show the state of the art at the time of the present invention and/or to provide description
and enablement of the present invention. Publications refer to any scientific or patent
publications, or any other information available in any media format, including all recorded,
electronic or printed formats. The following references are entirely incorporated herein by
reference: Ausubel, et al., ed., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., NY, NY (1987-2001); Sambrook, et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd
Edition, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1989); Harlow and Lane, antibodies, a Laboratory Manual,
Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1989); Colligan, et al., eds., Current Protocols in Immunology, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., NY (1994-2001); Colligan et al., Current Protocols in Protein Science,
John Wiley & Sons, NY, NY, (1997-2001).
Antibodies of the Present Invention
At least one anti-TNF antibody of the present invention can be optionally produced by
a cell line, a mixed cell line, an immortalized cell or clonal population of immortalized cells,
as well known in the art. See, e.g., Ausubel, et al., ed., Current Protocols in Molecular
Biology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., NY, NY (1987-2001); Sambrook, et al., Molecular Cloning:
A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1989); Harlow and Lane,
antibodies, a Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1989); Colligan, et al., eds.,
Current Protocols in Immunology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., NY (1994-2001); Colligan et al.,
Current Protocols in Protein Science, John Wiley & Sons, NY, NY, (1997-2001), each entirely
incorporated herein by reference.
Human antibodies that are specific for human TNF proteins or fragments thereof can
be raised against an appropriate immunogenic antigen, such as isolated and/or TNF protein or
a portion thereof (including synthetic molecules, such as synthetic peptidcs). Other specific or
general mammalian antibodies can be similarly raised. Preparation of immunogenic antigens,
and monoclonal antibody production can be performed using any suitable technique.
In one approach, a hybridoma is produced by fusing a suitable immortal cell line (e.g.,
a myeloma cell line such as, but not limited to, Sp2/0, Sp2/0-AG14, NSO, NS1, NS2, AB-1,
L.5, >243, P3X63Ag8.653, Sp2 SA3, Sp2 MAI, Sp2 SSI, Sp2 SA5, U937, MLA 144, ACT IV,
MOLT4, DA-1, JURKAT, WEHL K-562, COS, RAJI, NTH 3T3, HL-60, MLA 144,
NAMAIWA, NEURO 2A, or the like, or heteromylomas, fusion products thereof, or any cell
or fusion cell derived therefrom, or any other suitable cell line as known in the art See, e.g.,
www.atcc.org, www.lifetech.com., and the like, with antibody producing cells, such as, but not
limited to, isolated or cloned spleen, peripheral blood, lymph, tonsil, or other immune or B cell
containing cells, or any other cells expressing heavy or light chain constant or variable or
framework or CDR sequences, either as endogenous or heterologous nucleic acid, as
recombinant or endogenous, viral, bacterial, algal, prokaryotic, amphibian, insect, reptilian,
fish, mammalian, rodent, equine, ovine, goat, sheep, primate, eukaryotic, genomic DNA,
cDNA, rDNA, mitochondrial DNA or RNA, chloroplast DNA or RNA, hnRNA, mRNA,
tRNA, single, double or triple stranded, hybridized, and the like or any combination thereof.
See, e.g., Ausubel, supra, and Colligan, Immunology, supra, chapter 2, entirely incorporated
herein by reference.
antibody producing cells can also be obtained from the peripheral blood or, preferably
the spleen or lymph nodes, of humans or other suitable animals that have been immunized with
the antigen of interest. Any other suitable host cell can also be used for expressing
heterologous or endogenous nucleic acid encoding an antibody, specified fragment or variant
thereof, of the present invention. The fused cells (hybridomas) or recombinant cells can be
isolated using selective culture conditions or other suitable known methods, and cloned by
limiting dilution or cell sorting, or other known methods. Cells which produce antibodies with
the desired specificity can be selected by a suitable assay (e.g., ELISA).
Other suitable methods of producing or isolating antibodies of the requisite specificity
can be used, including, but not limited to, methods that select recombinant antibody from a
peptide or protein library (e.g., but not limited to, a bacteriophage, ribosome, oligonucleotide,
RNA, cDNA, or the like, display library; e.g., as available from Cambridge antibody
Technologies, Cambridgeshire, UK; MorphoSys, Martinsreid/Planegg, DE; Biovation,
Aberdeen, Scotland, UK; Biolnvent, Lund, Sweden; Dyax Corp., Enzon, Affymax/Biosite;
Xoma, Berkeley, CA; Ixsys. Sec, e.g., EP 368,684, PCT/GB91/01134; PCT/GB92/01755;
PCT/GB92/002240; PCT/GB92/00883; PCT/GB93/00605; US 08/350260(5/12/94);
PCT/GB94/01422; PCT/GB94/02662; PCT/GB97/01835; (CAT/MRC); WO90/14443;
WO90/14424; WO90/14430; PCT/US94/1234; WO92/18619; WO96/07754; (Scripps); EP 614
989 (MorphoSys); WO95/16027 (Biolnvent); WO88/06630; WO90/3809 (Dyax); US
4,704,692 (Enzon); PCT/US91/02989 (Affymax); WO89/06283; EP 371 998; EP 550 400;
(Xoma); EP 229 046; PCT/US91/07149 (Ixsys); or stochastically generated peptides or
proteins -US 5723323, 5763192, 5814476, 5817483, 5824514, 5976862, WO 86/05803, EP
590 689 (Ixsys, now Applied Molecular Evolution (AME), each entirely incorporated herein
by reference) or that rely upon immunization of transgenic animals (e.g., SCID mice, Nguyen
et al., Microbiol. Immunol. 41:901-907 (1997); Sandhu et al., Crit. Rev. Biotechnol. 16:95-118
(1996); Eren et al., Immunol. 93:154-161 (1998), each entirely incorporated by reference as
well as related patents and applications) that are capable of producing a repertoire of human
antibodies, as known in the art and/or as described herein. Such techniques, include, but are
not limited to, ribosome display (Hanes et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 94:4937-4942 (May
1997); Hanes et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 95:14130-14135 (Nov. 1998)); single cell
antibody producing technologies (e.g., selected lymphocyte antibody method ("SLAM") (US
pat No. 5,627,052, Wen et al., J. Immunol. 17:887-892 (1987); Babcook et al., Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA 93:7843-7848 (1996)); gel microdroplet and flow cytometry (Powell et al.,
Biotechnol. 8:333-337 (1990); One Cell Systems, Cambridge, MA; Gray et al., J. Imm. Meth.
182:155-163 (1995); Kenny et al., BioATechnol. 13:787-790 (1995)); B-cell selection
(Steenbakkers et al., Molec. Biol. Reports 19:125-134 (1994); Jonak et al.. Progress Biotech,
Vol. 5, In Vitro Immunization in Hybridoma Technology, Borrebaeck, ed., Elsevier Science
Publishers B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands (1988)).
Methods for engineering or humanizing non-human or human antibodies can also be
used and are well known in the art. Generally, a humanized or engineered antibody has one or
more amino acid residues from a source which is non-human, e.g., but not limited to mouse,
rat, rabbit, non-human primate or other mammal. These human amino acid residues are often
referred to as "import" residues, which are typically taken from an "import" variable, constant
or other domain of a known human sequence. Known human Ig sequences are disclosed, e.g.,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi; www.atcc.org/phage/hdb.htn1l; www.sciquest.com/;
www.abcam.com/; www.antibodyresource.com/onlinecomp.html;
www.public.iastate.edu/~pedro/research_tools.html; www.mgen.uni-
heidelberg.de/SD/IT/IT.html; www.whfreeman.com/immunology/CH05/kuby05.htm;
www.library.thinkquest.org/12429/Immune/Antibody.html;
www.hhmi.org/gnmts/lectocs/1996/vlab/jwww.pam.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/mikeimages.html;
www.antibodyresource.com/;
mcb.harvard.edu/BioLinks/mimunology.htmI.www.immunologylink.com/;
pathbox.wustl.edu/~hcenter/index.html; www.biotech.ufl.edu/~hcl/;
www.pebio.com/pa/340913/340913 .html; www.nal.usda. gov/awic/pubs/antibody/;
www.m.ehime-u.ac.jp/~yasuhito/Elisa.html; www.biodesign.com/table.asp;
www.icnet.uk/axp/facs/davies/links.html; www.biotech.ufl.edu/~fccl/protocol.html; www.isac-
net.org/sites_geo.html; aximtl .imt.uni-marburg.de/~rek/AEPStart.html;
baserv.uci.kun.nl/~jraats/linksl.html; www.recab.uni-hd.de/immuno.bme.nwu.edu/;
www.mrc-cpe.cam.ac.uk/imt-doc^public/INTRO.html; www.ibtunam.mix/vk/VjnMce.html;
imgt.cnusc.fr: 8104/; www.biochem.ucl.ac.uk/~martin/abs/index.html; antibody.bath.ac.uk/;
abgen.cvm.tamu.edu/lab/wwwabgen.html;
www.unizh.ch/~honegger/AHOseminar/SlideO 1 .html; www.cryst.bbk.ac.uk/~ubcgO7s/;
www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/CC/ccaewg/ccaewg.htm;
www.pam.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/humanisation/TAHHP.html;
www.ibt.unam.mx/vir/structure/stat_aim.html; www.biosci.missouri.edu/smithgp/index.html;
www.cryst.bioc.camAc.uk/~fmolina/Web-pages/Pept/spottech.html;
www.jerini.de/fr_products.htm; www.patents.ibm.com/ibm.html.Kabat et al., Sequences of
Proteins of Immunological Interest, U.S. Dept. Health (1983), each entirely incorporated
herein by reference.
Such imported sequences can be used to reduce immunogenicity or reduce, enhance or
modify binding, affinity, on-rate, off-rate, avidity, specificity, half-life, or any other suitable
characteristic, as known in the art. Generally part or all of the non-human or human CDR
sequences are maintained while the non-human sequences of the variable and constant regions
are replaced with human or other amino acids, antibodies can also optionally be humanized
with retention of high affinity for the antigen and other favorable biological properties. To
achieve this goal, humanized antibodies can be optionally prepared by a process of analysis of
the parental sequences and various conceptual humanized products using three-dimensional
models of the parental and humanized sequences. Three-dimensional immunoglobulin models
are commonly available and are familiar to those skilled in the art. Computer programs are
available which illustrate and display probable three-dimensional conformational structures of
selected candidate immunoglobulin sequences. Inspection of these displays permits analysis of
the likely role of the residues in the functioning of the candidate immunoglobulin sequence,
i.e., the analysis of residues that influence the ability of the candidate immunoglobulin to bind
its antigen. In this way, FR residues can be selected and combined from the consensus and
import sequences so that the desired antibody characteristic, such as increased affinity for the
target antigen(s), is achieved. In general, the CDR residues are directly and most substantially
involved in influencing antigen binding. Humanization or engineering of antibodies of the
present invention can be performed using any known method, such as but not limited to those
described in, Winter (Jones et al., Nature 321:522 (1986); Riechmann et al.,' Nature 332:323
(1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science 239:1534 (1988)), Sims et al., J. Immunol. 151:2296 (1993);
Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol. 196:901 (1987), Carter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
89:4285 (1992); Presta et al., J. Immunol. 151:2623 (1993), US patent Nos: 5723323,
5976862, 5824514,5817483,5814476, 5763192,5723323,5,766886,5714352, 6204023,
6180370, 5693762, 5530101, 5585089, 5225539; 4816567, PCT/: US98/16280, US96/18978,
US91/09630, US91/05939, US94/01234, GB89/01334, GB91/01134, GB92/01755;
WO90/14443, WO90/14424, WO90/14430, EP 229246, each entirely incorporated herein by
reference, included references cited therein.
The anti-TNF antibody can also be optionally generated by immunization of a
transgenic animal (e.g., mouse, rat, hamster, non-human primate, and the like) capable of
producing a repertoire of human antibodies, as described herein and/or as known in the art.
Cells that produce a human anti-TNF antibody can be isolated from such animals and
immortalized using suitable methods, such as the methods described herein.
Transgenic mice that can produce a repertoire of human antibodies that bind to human
antigens can be produced by known methods (e.g., but not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos: 5,770,428,
5,569,825, 5,545,806, 5,625,126, 5,625,825, 5,633,425, 5,661,016 and 5,789,650 issued to
Lonberg et ai; Jakobovits et al. WO 98/50433, Jakobovits el al. WO 98/24893, Lonberg et al.
WO 98/24884, Lonberg et al. WO 97/13852, Lonberg et al. WO 94/25585, Kucherlapate et al.
WO 96/34096, Kucherlapate et al. EP 0463 151 Bl, Kucherlapate et al. EP 0710 719 Al,
Surani et al. US. Pat. No. 5,545,807, Bruggemann et al. WO 90/04036, Bruggemann et al. EP
0438 474 Bl, Lonberg et al. EP 0814 259 A2, Lonberg et al. GB 2 272 440 A, Lonberg et al.
Nature 368:856-859 (1994), Taylor et al., Int. Immunol. 6(4)579-591 (1994), Green et al,
Nature Genetics 7:13-21 (1994), Mendez et al.. Nature Genetics 15:146-156 (1997), Taylor et
al., Nucleic Acids Research 20(23):6287-6295 (1992), Tuaillon et al.. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
90(8)3720-3724 (1993), Lonberg et al., Int Rev Invnunol l3(l):65-93 (1995) and Fishwald et
al., Nat Biotechnol 14(7):845-851 (1996), which are each entirely incorporated herein by
reference). Generally, these mice comprise at least one transgene comprising DNA from at
least one human immunoglobulin locus that is functionally rearranged, or which can undergo
functional rearrangement. The endogenous immunoglobulin loci in such mice can be
disrupted or deleted to eliminate the capacity of the animal to produce antibodies encoded by
endogenous genes.
Screening antibodies for specific binding to similar proteins or fragments can be
conveniently achieved using peptide display libraries. This method involves the screening of
large collections of peptides for individual members having the desired function or structure,
antibody screening of peptide display libraries is well known in the art The displayed peptide
sequences can be from 3 to 5000 or more amino acids in length, frequently from 5-100 amino
acids long, and often from about 8 to 25 amino acids long. In addition to direct chemical
synthetic methods for generating peptide libraries, several recombinant DNA methods have been
described. One type involves the display of a peptide sequence on the surface of a bacteriophage
or cell. Each bacteriophage or cell contains the nucleonde sequence encoding the particular
displayed peptide sequence. Such methods are described in PCT Patent Publication Nos.
91/17271,91/18980,91/19818, and 93/08278. Other systems for generating libraries of peptides
have aspects of both in vitro chemical synthesis and recombinant methods. See, PCT Patent
Publication Nos. 92/05258,92/14843, and 96/19256. See also, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,658,754; and
5,643,768. Peptide display libraries, vector, and screening kits are commercially available from
such suppliers as Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA), and Cambridge antibody Technologies
(Cambridgeshire, UK). See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4704692,4939666,4946778, 5260203,
5455030,5518889, 5534621,5656730,5763733, 5767260,5856456, assigned to Enzon;
5223409, 5403484, 5571698, 5837500, assigned to Dyax, 5427908,5580717, assigned to
Affymax; 5885793, assigned to Cambridge antibody Technologies; 5750373, assigned to
Genentech, 5618920, 5595898,5576195,5698435,5693493, 569841.7, assigned to Xoma,
Colligan, supra; Ausubel, supra: or Sambrook, supra, each of the above patents and publications
entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Antibodies of the present invention can also be prepared using at least one anti-TNF
antibody encoding nucleic acid to provide transgenic animals or mammals, such as goats,
cows, horses, sheep, and the like, that produce such antibodies in their milk. Such animals can
be provided using known methods. See, e.g., but not limited to, US patent nos. 5,827,690;
5,849,992; 4,873,316; 5,849,992; 5,994,616; 5,565,362; 5,304,489, and the like, each of which
is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Antibodies of the present invention can additionally be prepared using at least one
anti-TNF antibody encoding nucleic acid to provide transgenic plants and cultured plant cells
(e.g., but not limited to tobacco and maize) that produce such antibodies, specified portions or
variants in the plant parts or in cells cultured therefrom. As a non-limiting example, transgenic
tobacco leaves expressing recombinant proteins have been successfully used to provide large
amounts of recombinant proteins, e.g., using an inducible promoter. See, e.g., Cramer et al.,
Curr. Top. Microbol. Immunol. 240:95-118 (1999) and references cited therein. Also,
transgenic maize have been used to express mammalian proteins at commercial production
levels, with biological activities equivalent to those produced in other recombinant systems or
purified from natural sources. See, e.g., Hood et al., Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 464:127-147 (1999)
and references cited therein, antibodies have also been produced in large amounts from
transgenic plant seeds including antibody fragments, such as single chain antibodies (scFv's),
including tobacco seeds and potato tubers. See, e.g., Conrad et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 38:101-
109 (1998) and reference cited therein. Thus, antibodies of the present invention can also be
produced using transgenic plants, according to know methods. See also, e.g., Fischer et al.,
Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. 30:99-108 (Oct., 1999), Ma et al., Trends Biotechnol. 13:522-7
(1995); Ma et al., Plant Physiol. 109:341-6 (1995); Whitelam et al., Biochem. Soc. Trans.
22:940-944 (1994); and references cited therein. See, also generally for plant expression of
antibodies, but not limited to, Each of the above references is entirely incorporated herein by
reference.
The antibodies of the invention can bind human TNF with a wide range of affinities
(KD). In a preferred embodiment, at least one human mAb of the present invention can
optionally bind human TNF with high affinity. For example, a human mAb can bind human
TNF with a KD equal to or less than about 10-7 M, such as but not limited to, 0.1-9.9 (or any
range or value therein) X 10-7 10-8, 10-9,10-10, 10-11, 10-12 , 10-l3or any range or value therein.
The affinity or avidity of an antibody for an antigen can be determined experimentally
using any suitable method. (See, for example, Berzofsky, et al., "Antibody-Antigen
Interactions," In Fundamental Immunology, Paul, W. E., Ed., Raven Press: New York, NY
(1984); Kuby, Janis Immunology, W. H. Freeman and Company: New York, NY (1992); and
methods described herein). The measured affinity of a particular antibody-antigen interaction
can vary if measured under different conditions (e.g., salt concentration, pH). Thus,
measurements of affinity and other antigen-binding parameters (e.g., KD, K,, KJ are preferably
made with standardized solutions of antibody and antigen, and a standardized buffer, such as
the buffer described herein.
Nucleic Acid Molecules
Using the information provided herein, such as the nucleotide sequences encoding at
least 70-100% of the contiguous amino acids of at least one of SEQ ID NOS:1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6,7,
8, specified fragments, variants or consensus sequences thereof, or a deposited vector
comprising at least one of these sequences, a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention
encoding at least one anti-TNF antibody can be obtained using methods described herein or as
known in the art.
Nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be in the form of RNA, such as
mRNA, hnRNA, tRNA or any other form, or in the form of DNA, including, but not limited to,
cDNA and genomic DNA obtained by cloning or produced synthetically, or any combinations
thereof. The DNA can be triple-stranded, double-stranded or single-stranded, or any
combination thereof. Any portion of at least one strand of the DNA or RNA can be the coding
strand, also known as the sense strand, or it can be the non-coding strand, also referred to as
the anti-sense strand.
Isolated nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can include nucleic acid
molecules comprising an open reading frame (ORF), optionally with one or more introns, e.g.,
but not limited to, at least one specified portion of at least one CDR, as CDR1, CDR2 and/or
CDR3 of at least one heavy chain (e.g., SEQ ED NOS: 1-3) or light chain (e.g., SEQ ID NOS:
4-6); nucleic acid molecules comprising the coding sequence for an anti-TNF antibody or
variable region (e.g., SEQ ID NOS:7,8); and nucleic acid molecules which comprise a
nucleotide sequence substantially different from those described above but which, due to the
degeneracy of the genetic code, still encode at least one anti-TNF antibody as described herein
and/or as known in the art. Of course, the genetic code is well known in the art. Thus, it
would be routine for one skilled in the art to generate such degenerate nucleic acid variants
that code for specific anti-TNF antibodies of the present invention. See, e.g., Ausubel, et al.,
supra, and such nucleic acid variants are included in the present invention. Non-limiting
examples of isolated nucleic acid molecules of the present inveniton include SEQ ID NOS: 10,
11,12,13,14,15, corresponding to non-limiting examples of a nucleic acid encoding,
respectively, HC CDR1, HC CDR2, HC CDR3, LC CDR1, LC CDR2, LC CDR3, HC variable
region and LC variable region.
In another aspect, the invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a(n)
anti-TNF antibody having an amino acid sequence as encoded by the nucleic acid contained in
the plasmid deposited as designated clone names_____________________________and
ATCC Deposit Nos._____________________________________, respectively, deposited
i on____________________________.
As indicated herein, nucleic acid molecules of the present invention which comprise a
nucleic acid encoding an anti-TNF antibody can include, but are not limited to, those encoding
the amino acid sequence of an antibody fragment, by itself; the coding sequence for the entire
antibody or a portion thereof; the coding sequence for an antibody, fragment or portion, as well
I as additional sequences, such as the coding sequence of at least one signal leader or fusion
peptide, with or without the aforementioned additional coding sequences, such as at least one
intron, together with additional, non-coding sequences, including but not limited to, non-
coding 5' and 3' sequences, such as the transcribed, non-translated sequences that play a role
in transcription, mRNA processing, including splicing and polyadenylation signals (for
example - ribosome binding and stability of mRNA); an additional coding sequence that codes
for additional amino acids, such as those that provide additional functionalities. Thus, the
sequence encoding an antibody can be fused to a marker sequence, such as a sequence
encoding a peptide that facilitates purification of the fused antibody comprising an antibody
fragment or portion.
Polynucleotides Which Selectively Hybridize to a Polynucleotide as Described Herein
The present invention provides isolated nucleic acids that hybridize under selective
hybridization conditions to a polynucleotide disclosed herein. Thus, the polynucleotides of this
embodiment can be used for isolating, detecting, and/or quantifying nucleic acids comprising
such polynucleotides. For example, polynucleotides of the present invention can be used to
identify, isolate, or amplify partial or full-length clones in a deposited library. In some
embodiments, the polynucleotides are genomic or cDNA sequences isolated, or otherwise
complementary to, a cDNA from a human or mammalian nucleic acid library.
Preferably, the cDNA library comprises at least 80% full-length sequences, preferably at
least 85% or 90% full-length sequences, and more preferably at least 95% full-length sequences.
The cDNA libraries can be normalized to increase the representation of rare sequences. Low or
moderate stringency hybridization conditions are typically, but not exclusively, employed with
sequences having a reduced sequence identity relative to complementary sequences. Moderate
and high stringency conditions can optionally be employed for sequences of greater identity.
Low stringency conditions allow selective hybridization of sequences having about 70%
sequence identity and can be employed to identify orthologous or paralogous sequences.
Optionally, polynucleotides of this invention will encode at least a portion of an antibody
encoded by the polynucleotides described herein. The polynucleotides of this invention embrace
nucleic acid sequences that can be employed for selective hybridization to a polynucleotide
encoding an antibody of the present invention. See, e.g., Ausubel, supra; Colligan, supra, each
entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Construction of Nucleic Acids
The isolated nucleic acids of the present invention can be made using (a) recombinant
methods, (b) synthetic techniques, (c) purification techniques, or combinations thereof, as well-
known in the art.
The nucleic acids can conveniently comprise sequences in addition to a polynucleotide of
the present invention. For example, a multi-cloning site comprising one or more cndonuclease
restriction sites can be inserted into the nucleic acid to aid in isolation of the polynucleotide.
Also, translatable sequences can be inserted to aid in the isolation of the translated polynucleotide
of the present invention. For example, a hexa-histidine marker sequence provides a convenient
means to purify the proteins of the present invention. The nucleic acid of the present invention -
excluding the coding sequence - is optionally a vector, adapter, or linker for cloning and/or
expression of a polynucleotide of the present invention.
Additional sequences can be added to such cloning and/or expression sequences to
optimize their function in cloning and/or expression, to aid in isolation of the polynucleotide, or
to improve the introduction of the polynucleotide into a cell. Use of cloning vectors, expression
vectors, adapters, and linkers is well known in the art. (See, e.g., Ausubel, supra; or Sambrook,
supra)
Recombinant Methods for Constructing Nucleic Adds
The isolated nucleic acid compositions of this invention, such as RNA, cDNA, genomic
DNA, or any combination thereof, can be obtained from biological sources using any number of
cloning methodologies known to those of skill in the art In some embodiments, oiigonucleon'de
probes that selectively hybridize, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotides of the present
invention are used to identify the desired sequence in a cDNA or genomic DNA library. The
isolation of RNA, and construction of cDNA and genomic libraries, is well known to those of
ordinary skill in the art. (See, e.g., Ausubel, supra; or Sambrook, supra)
Nucleic Acid Screening and Isolation Methods
A cDNA or genomic library can be screened using a probe based upon the sequence of a
polynucleotide of the present invention, such as those disclosed herein. Probes can be used to
hybridize with genomic DNA or cDNA sequences to isolate homologous genes in the same or
different organisms. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various degrees of stringency of
hybridization can be employed in the assay; and either the hybridization or the wash medium can
be stringent. As the conditions for hybridization become more stringent, there must be a greater
degree of complementarity between the probe and the target for duplex formation to occur. The
degree of stringency can be controlled by one or more of temperature, ionic strength, pH and the
presence of a partially denaturing solvent such as formamide. For example, the stringency of
hybridization is conveniently varied by changing the polarity of the reactant solution through, for
example, manipulation of the concentration of formamide within the range of 0% to 50%. The
degree of complementarity (sequence identity) required for detectable binding will vary in
accordance with the stringency of the hybridization medium and/or wash medium. The degree of
complementarity will optimally be 100%, or 70-100%, or any range or value therein. However,
it should be understood that minor sequence variations in the probes and primers can be
compensated for by reducing the stringency of the hybridization and/or wash medium.
Methods of amplification of RNA or DNA are well known in the art and can be used
according to the present invention without undue experimentation, based on the teaching and
guidance presented herein.
Known methods of DNA or RNA amplification include, but are not limited to,
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and related amplification processes (see, e.g., U.S. Patent
Nos. 4,683,195, 4,683,202, 4,800,159,4,965,188, to Mullis, et al.; 4,795,699 and 4,921,794 to
Tabor, et al; 5,142,033 to Innis; 5,122,464 to Wilson, et al.; 5,091,310 to Innis; 5,066,584 to
Gyllensten, et al; 4,889,818 to Gelfand, et al; 4,994,370 to Silver, et al; 4,766,067 to Biswas;
4,656,134 to Ringold) and RNA mediated amplification that uses anti-sense'RNA to the target
sequence as a template for double-stranded DNA synthesis (U.S. Patent No. 5,130,238 to
Malek, et al, with the tradename NASBA), the entire contents of which references are
incorporated herein by reference. (See, e.g., Ausubel, supra; or Sambrook, supra.)
For instance, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology can be used to amplify the
sequences of polynucleotides of the present invention and related genes directly from genomic
DNA or cDNA libraries. PCR and other in vitro amplification methods can also be useful, for
example, to clone nucleic acid sequences that code for proteins to be expressed, to make nucleic
acids to use as probes for detecting the presence of the desired mRNA in samples, for nucleic
acid sequencing, or for other purposes. Examples of techniques sufficient to direct persons of
skill through in vitro amplification methods are found in Berger, supra, Sambrook, supra, and
Ausubel, supra, as well as Mullis, et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,683,202 (1987); and Innis, et al., PCR
Protocols A Guide to Methods and Applications, Eds., Academic Press Inc., San Diego, CA
(1990). Commercially available kits for genomic PCR amplification are known in the art See,
e.g., Advantage-GC Genomic PCR Kit (Clontech). Additionally, e.g., the T4 gene 32 protein
(Boehringer Mannheim) can be used to improve yield of long PCR products.
Synthetic Methods for Constructing Nucleic Acids
The isolated nucleic acids of the present invention can also be prepared by direct
chemical synthesis by known methods (see, e.g., Ausubel, et al., supra). Chemical synthesis
generally produces a single-stranded oligonucleotide, which can be converted into double-
stranded DNA by hybridization with a complementary sequence, or by polymerization with a
DNA polymerase using the single strand as a template. One of skill in the art will recognize that
while chemical synthesis of DNA can be limited to sequences of about 100 or more bases, longer
sequences can be obtained by the ligation of shorter sequences.
Recombinant Expression Cassettes
The present invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes comprising a
nucleic acid of the present invention. A nucleic acid sequence of the present invention, for
example a cDNA or a genomic sequence encoding an antibody of the present invention, can be
used to construct a recombinant expression cassette that can be introduced into at least one
desired host cell. A recombinant expression cassette will typically comprise a polynucleotide of
the present invention operably linked to transcriptional initiation regulatory sequences mat will
direct the transcription of the polynucleotide in the intended host cell. Both heterologous and
non-heterologous (i.e., endogenous) promoters can be employed to direct expression of the
nucleic acids of the present invention.
In some embodiments, isolated nucleic acids that serve as promoter, enhancer, or other
elements can be introduced in the appropriate position (upstream, downstream or in intron) of a
non-heterologous form of a polynucleotide of the present invention so as to up or down regulate
expression of a polynucleotide of the present invention. For example, endogenous promoters can
be altered in vivo or in vitro by mutation, deletion and/or substitution.
Vectors And Host Cells
The present invention also relates to vectors that include isolated nucleic acid
molecules of the present invention, host cells mat are genetically engineered with the
recombinant vectors, and the production of at least one anti-TNF antibody by recombinant
techniques, as is well known in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook, et al., supra; Ausubel, et al.,
supra, each entirely incorporated herein by reference.
The polynucleotides can optionally be joined to a vector containing a selectable
marker for propagation in a host. Generally, a plasmid vector is introduced in a precipitate,
such as a calcium phosphate precipitate, or in a complex with a charged lipid. If the vector is a
virus, it can be packaged in vitro using an appropriate packaging cell line and then transduced
into host cells.
The DNA insert should be operatively linked to an appropriate promoter. The
expression constructs will further contain sites for transcription initiation, termination and, in
the transcribed region, a ribosome binding site for translation. The coding portion of the
mature transcripts expressed by the constructs will preferably include a translation initiating at
the beginning and a termination codon (e.g., UAA, UGA or UAG) appropriately positioned at
the end of the mRNA to be translated, with UAA and UAG preferred for mammalian or
eukaryotic cell expression.
Expression vectors will preferably but optionally include at least one selectable
marker. Such markers include, e.g., but not limited to, methotrexate (MTX), dihydrofolate
reductase (DHFR, US Pat.Nos. 4,399,216; 4,634,665; 4,656,134; 4,956,288; 5,149,636;
5,179.017, ampicillin, neomycin (G418), mycophenolic acid, or glutamine synthetase (GS, US
Pat.Nos. 5,122,464; 5,770,359; 5,827,739) resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, and
tetracycline or ampicillin resistance genes for culturing in E. coli and other bacteria or
prokaryotics (the above patents are entirely incorporated hereby by reference). Appropriate
culture mediums and conditions for the above-described host cells are known in the art.
Suitable vectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan. Introduction of a vector
construct into a host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-dextran
mediated transfection, cationic lipid-mcdiated transfection, electroporation, transduction,
infection or other known methods. Such methods are described in the art, such as Sambrook,
supra, Chapters 1-4 and 16-18; Ausubel, supra, Chapters 1, 9,13, 15, 16.
At least one antibody of die present invention can be expressed in a modified form,
such as a fusion protein, and can include not only secretion signals, but also additional
heterologous functional regions. For instance, a region of additional amino'acids, particularly
charged amino acids, can be added to the N-terminus of an antibody to improve stability and
persistence in the host cell, during purification, or during subsequent handling and storage.
Also, peptide moieties can be added to an antibody of the present invention to facilitate
purification. Such regions can be removed prior to final preparation of an antibody or at least
one fragment thereof. Such methods are described in many standard laboratory manuals, such
as Sambrook, supra, Chapters 17.29-17.42 and 18.1-18.74; Ausubel, supra, Chapters 16,17
and 18.
Those of ordinary skill in the art are knowledgeable in the numerous expression systems
available for expression of a nucleic acid encoding a protein of the present invention.
Alternatively, nucleic acids of the present invention can be expressed in a host cell by
turning on (by manipulation) in a host cell that contains endogenous DNA encoding an antibody
of the present invention. Such methods are well known in the art, e.g., as described in US patent
Nos. 5,580,734, 5,641,670,5,733,746, and 5,733,761, entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Illustrative of cell cultures useful for the production of the antibodies, specified portions
or variants thereof, are mammalian cells. Mammalian cell systems often will be in the form of
monolayers of cells although mammalian cell suspensions or bioreactors can also be used. A
number of suitable host cell lines capable of expressing intact glycosylated proteins have been
developed in the art, and include the COS-1 (e.g., ATCC CRL 1650), COS-7 (e.g., ATCC CRL-
1651), HEK293, BHK21 (e.g., ATCC CRL-10), CHO (e.g., ATCC CRL 1610) and BSC-1 (e.g.,
ATCC CRL-26) cell lines, Cos-7 cells, CHO cells, hep G2 cells, P3X63Ag8.653, SP2/0-Agl4,
293 cells, HeLa cells and the like, which are readily available from, for example, American
Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va (www.atcc.org). Preferred host cells include cells of
lymphoid origin such as myeloma and lymphoma cells. Particularly preferred host cells are
P3X63Ag8.653 cells (ATCC Accession Number CRL-1580) and SP2/0-Agl4 cells (ATCC
Accession Number CRL-1851). In a particularly preferred embodiment, the recombinant cell
is a P3X63Ab8.653 or a SP2/0-Agl4 cell.
Expression vectors for these cells can include one or more of the following expression
control sequences, such as, but not limited to an origin of replication; a promoter (e.g., late or
early SV40 promoters, the CMV promoter (US PatNos. 5,168,062; 5,385,839), an HSV tk
promoter, a pgk (phosphoglycerate kinase) promoter, an EF-1 alpha promoter (US Pat.No.
5,266,491), at least one human immunoglobulin promoter; an enhancer, and/or processing
information sites, such as ribosome binding sites, RNA splice sites, polyadenylation sites (e.g., an
SV40 large T Ag poly A addition site), and transcriptional terminator sequences. See, e.g.,
Ausubel et al., supra; Sambrook, et al., supra. Other cells useful for production of nucleic acids
or proteins of the present invention are known and/or available, for instance, from the American
Type Culture Collection Catalogue of Cell Lines and Hybridomas (www.atcc.'org) or other
known or commercial sources.
When eukaryotic host cells are employed, polyadenlyation or transcription terminator
sequences are typically incorporated into the vector. An example of a terminator sequence is die
polyadenlyation sequence from the bovine growth hormone gene. Sequences for accurate
splicing of the transcript can also be included. An example of a splicing sequence is the VP1
intron from SV40 (Sprague, et al., J. Virol. 45:773-781 (1983)). Additionally, gene sequences to
control replication in the host cell can be incorporated into the vector, as known in the art.
Purification of an Antibody
An anti-TNF antibody can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by
well-known methods including, but not limited to, protein A purification, ammonium sulfate
or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography,
phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity
chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. High
performance liquid chromatography ("HPLC") can also be employed for purification. See,
e.g., Colligan, Current Protocols in Immunology, or Current Protocols in Protein Science, John
Wiley & Sons, NY, NY, (1997-2001), e.g., Chapters 1. 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, eacn entirely
incorporated herein by reference.
Antibodies of the present invention include naturally purified products, products
of chemical synthetic procedures, and products produced by recombinant techniques
from a eukaryotic host, including, for example, yeast, higher plant, insect and
mammalian cells. Depending upon the host employed in a recombinant production
procedure, the antibody of the present invention can be glycosylated or can be non-
glycosylated, with glycosylated preferred. Such methods are described in many
standard laboratory manuals, such as Sambrook, supra, Sections 17.37-17.42; Ausubel,
supra, Chapters 10, 12, 13,16, 18 and 20, Colligan, Protein Science, supra, Chapters
12-14, all entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Anti-TNF Antibodies
The isolated antibodies of the-present invention comprise an antibody amino acid
sequences disclosed herein encoded by any suitable polynucleohde, or any isolated or prepared
antibody. Preferably, the human antibody or antigen-binding fragment binds human TNF and,
thereby partially or substantially neutralizes at least one biological activity of the protein. An
antibody, or specified portion or variant thereof, that partially or preferably substantially
neutralizes at least one biological activity of at least one TNF protein or fragment can bind the
protein or fragment and thereby inhibit activitys mediated through the binding of TNF to the TNF
receptor or through other TNF-dependent or mediated mechanisms. As used herein, the term
"neutralizing antibody" refers to an antibody that can inhibit an TNF-dependent activity by about
20-120%, preferably by at least about 10,20, 30,40,50, 55,60,65, 70,75, 80, 85,90,91,92,93,
94,95,96,97,98,99,100% or more depending on the assay. The capacity of an anti-TNF
antibody to inhibit an TNF-dependent activity is preferably assessed by af least one suitable TNF
protein or receptor assay, as described herein and/or as known in the art. A human antibody of
the invention can be of any class (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, IgD, etc.) or isotype and can comprise a
kappa or lambda light chain. In one embodiment, the human antibody comprises an IgG heavy
chain or defined fragment, for example, at least one of isotypes, IgGl, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4.
Antibodies of this type can be prepared by employing a transgenic mouse or other trangenic non-
human mammal comprising at least one human light chain (e.g., IgG, IgA and IgM (e.g., yl, y2,
y3, y4) transgencs as described herein and/or as known in the art. In another embodiment, the
anti-human TNF human antibody comprises an IgGl heavy chain and a IgGl light chain.
At least one antibody of the invention binds at least one specified epitope specific to at
least one TNF protein, subunit, fragment, portion or any combination thereof. The at least one
epitope can comprise at least one antibody binding region that comprises at least one portion
of said protein, which epitope is preferably comprised of at least one extracellular, soluble,
hydrophillic, external or cytoplasmic portion of said protein. The at least one specified epitope
can comprise any combination of at least one amino acid sequence of at least 1-3 amino acids
to the entire specified portion of contiguous amino acids of the SEQ ED NO:9.
Generally, the human antibody or antigen-binding fragment of the present invention
will comprise an antigen-binding region that comprises at least one human complementarity
determining region (CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3) or variant of at least one heavy chain variable
region and at least one human complementarity determining region (CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3)
or variant of at least one light chain variable region. As a non-limiting example, the antibody
or antigen-binding portion or variant can comprise at least one of the heavy chain CDR3
having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, and/or a light chain CDR3 having the amino
acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6. In a particular embodiment, the antibody or antigen-binding
fragment can have an antigen-binding region that comprises at least a portion of at least one
heavy chain CDR (i.e., CDR1, CDR2 and/or CDR3) having the amino acid sequence of the
corresponding CDRs 1,2 and/or 3 (e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, and/or 3). In another particular
embodiment, the antibody or antigen-binding portion or variant can have an antigen-binding
region that comprises at least a portion of at least one light chain CDR (i.e., CDR1, CDR2
and/or CDR3) having the amino acid sequence of the corresponding CDRs 1,2 and/or 3 (e.g.,
SEQ ID NOS: 4, 5, and/or 6). In a preferred embodiment the three heavy chain CDRs and the
three light chain CDRs of the anitbody or antigen-binding fragment have the amino acid
sequence of the corresponding CDR of at least one of mAb TNV148, TNV14, TNV15,
TNV196, TNV15, TNV118, TNV32, TNV86, as described herein. Such antibodies can be
prepared by chemically joining together the various portions (e.g., CDRs, framework) of the
antibody using conventional techniques, by preparing and expressing a £i.e., one or more)
nucleic acid molecule that encodes the antibody using conventional techniques of recombinant
DNA technology or by using any other suitable method.
The anti-TNF antibody can comprise at least one of a heavy or light chain variable
region having a defined amino acid sequence. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the
anti-TNF antibody comprises at least one of at least one heavy chain variable region,
optionally having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 and/or at least one light chain
variable region, optionally having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ED NO:8. antibodies that
bind to human TNF and that comprise a defined heavy or light chain variable region can be
prepared using suitable methods, such as phage display (Katsube, Y., et al., int J Mol. Med,
l(5):863-868 (1998)) or methods that employ transgenic animals, as known in the art and/or as
described herein. For example, a transgenic mouse, comprising a functionally rearranged
human immunoglobulin heavy chain transgene and a transgene comprising DNA from a
human immunoglobulin light chain locus that can undergo functional rearrangement, can be
immunized with human TNF or a fragment thereof to elicit the production of antibodies. If
desired, the antibody producing cells can be isolated and hybridomas or other immortalized
antibody-producing cells can be prepared as described herein and/or as known in the art.
Alternatively, the antibody, specified portion or variant can be expressed using the encoding
nucleic acid or portion thereof in a suitable host cell.
The invention also relates to antibodies, antigen-binding fragments, immunoglobulin
chains and CDRs comprising amino acids in a sequence that is substantially the same as an
amino acid sequence described herein. Preferably, such antibodies or antigen-binding
fragments and antibodies comprising such chains or CDRs can bind human TNF with high
affinity (e.g., KD less than or equal to about 10' M). Amino acid sequences that are
substantially the same as the sequences described herein include sequences comprising
conservative amino acid substitutions, as well as amino acid deletions and/or insertions. A
conservative amino acid substitution refers to the replacement of a first amino acid by a second
amino acid that has chemical and/or physical properties (e.g, charge, structure, polarity,
hydrophobicity/ hydrophilicity) that are similar to those of the first amino acid. Conservative
substitutions include replacement of one amino acid by another within the following groups:
lysine (K), arginine (R) and histidine (H); aspartate (D) and glutamate (E); asparagine (N),
glutamine (Q), serine (S), threomne (T), tyrosine (Y), K, R, H, D and E; alanine (A), valine
(V), leucine (L), isoleucine (I), proline (P), phenylalanine (F), tryptophan (W), methionine
(M), cysteine (C) and glycine (G); F, W and Y; C, S and T.
Amino Acid Codes
The amino acids that make up anti-TNF antibodies of the present invention are often
abbreviated. The amino acid designations can be indicated by designating the amino acid by
its single letter code, its three letter code, name, or three nucleotide codon(s) as is well
understood in the art (see Alberts, B., et al., Molecular Biology of The Cell, Third Ed., Garland
Publishing, Inc.,New York, 1994):
An anti-TNF antibody of the present invention can include one or more amino acid
substitutions, deletions or additions, either from natural mutations or human manipulation, as
specified herein.
Of course, the number of amino acid substitutions a skilled artisan would make
depends on many factors, including those described above. Generally speaking, the number of
amino acid substitutions, insertions or deletions for any given anti-TNF antibody, fragment or
variant will not be more than 40,30,20, 19, 18, 17, 16,15, 14, 13, 12,11,10, 9, 8, 7,6,5,4,3,
2,1, such as 1-30 or any range or value therein, as specified herein.
Amino acids in an anti-TNF antibody of the present invention that are essential for
function can be identified by methods known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or
alaninc-scanning mutagenesis (e.g., Ausubel, supra, Chapters 8, 15; Cunningham and Wells,
Science 244:1081-1085 (1989)). The latter procedure introduces single alanine mutations at
every residue in the molecule. The resulting mutant molecules are then-tested for biological
activity, such as, but not limited to at least one TNF neutralizing activity. Sites that are critical
for antibody binding can also be identified by structural analysis such as crystallization,
nuclear magnetic resonance or photoaffinity labeling (Smith, et al., J. Mol. Biol. 224:899-904
(1992) and de Vos, et al., Science 255:306-312 (1992)).
Anti-TNF antibodies of the present invention can include, but are not limited to, at
least one portion, sequence or combination selected from 5 to all of the contiguous amino acids
of at least one of SEQ ED NOS:1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6.
A(n) anti-TNF antibody can further optionally comprise a polypeptide of at least one
of 70-100% of the contiguous amino acids of at least one of SEQ ID NOS:7, 8.
In one embodiment, the amino acid sequence of an immunoglobulin chain, or portion
thereof (e.g., variable region, CDR) has about 70-100% identity (e.g., 70, 71,72, 73,74,75,
76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100
or any range or value therein) to the amino acid sequence of the corresponding chain of at least
one of SEQ ID NOS:7, 8. For example, the amino acid sequence of a light chain variable
region can be compared with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, or the amino acid sequence of a
heavy chain CDR3 can be compared with SEQ ID NO:7. Preferably, 70-100% amino acid
identity (i.e., 90,91,92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100 or any range or value therein) is
determined using a suitable computer algorithm, as known in the art.
Exemplary heavy chain and light chain variable regions sequences are provided in SEQ
ED NOS: 7, 8. The antibodies of the present invention, or specified variants thereof, can
comprise any number of contiguous amino acid residues from an antibody of the present
invention, wherein mat number is selected from the group of integers consisting of from 10-
100% of the number of contiguous residues in an anti-TNF antibody. Optionally, this
subsequence of contiguous amino acids is at least about 10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100,
110,120,130,140,150,160,170,180,190,200,210,220,230,240,250 or more amino acids in
length, or any range or value therein. Further, the number of such subsequences can be any
integer selected from the group consisting of from 1 to 20, such as at least 2,3,4, or 5.
As those of skill will appreciate, the present invention includes at least one biologically
active antibody of the present invention. Biologically active antibodies have a specific activity at
least 20%, 30%, or 40%, and preferably at least 50%, 60%, or 70%, and most preferably at least
80%, 90%, or 95%-1000% of that of the native (non-synthetic), endogenous or related and
known antibody. Methods of assaying and quantifying measures of enzymatic activity and
substrate specificity, are well known to those of skill in the art
In another aspect, the invention relates to human antibodies and antigen-binding
fragments, as described herein, which are modified by the covalent attachment of an organic
moiety. Such modification can produce an antibody or antigen-binding fragment with
improved pharmacokinetic properties (e.g., increased in vivo.serum half-life). The organic
moiety can be a linear or branched hydrophilic polymeric group, fatty acid group, or fatty acid
ester group. In particular embodiments, the hydrophilic polymeric group can have a molecular
weight of about 800 to about 120,000 Daltons and can be a polyalkane glycol (e.g.,
polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG)), carbohydrate polymer, amino acid
polymer or polyvinyl pyrolidone, and the fatty acid or fatty acid ester group can comprise from
about eight to about forty carbon atoms.
The modified antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of the invention can comprise
one or more organic moieties that are covalently bonded, directly or indirectly, to the antibody.
Each organic moiety mat is bonded to an antibody or antigen-binding fragment of the
invention can independently be a hydrophilic polymeric group, a fatty acid group or a fatty
acid ester group. As used herein, the term "fatty acid" encompasses mono-carboxylic acids
and di-carboxylic acids. A "hydrophilic polymeric group," as the term is used herein, refers to
an organic polymer that is more soluble in water than in octane. For example, polylysine is
more soluble in water than in octane. Thus, an antibody modified by the covalent attachment
of polylysine is encompassed by the invention. Hydrophilic polymers suitable for modifying
antibodies of the invention can be linear or branched and include, for example, polyalkane
glycols (e.g., PEG, monomethoxy-polyethylene glycol (mPEG), PPG and the like),
carbohydrates (e.g., dextran, cellulose, oligosaccharides. polysaccharides and the like),
polymers of hydrophilic amino acids (e.g., polylysine, polyarginine, polyaspartate and the
like), polyalkane oxides (e.g., polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide and the like) and
polyvinyl pyrolidone. Preferably, the hydrophilic polymer that modifies the antibody of the
invention has a molecular weight of about 800 to about 150,000 Daltons as a separate
molecular entity. For example PEG5000 and PEG20,000, wherein the subscript is the average
molecular weight of the polymer in Daltons, can be used. The hydrophilic polymeric group
can be substituted with one to about six alkyl, fatty acid or fatty acid ester, groups. Hydrophilic
polymers that are substituted with a fatty acid or fatty acid ester group can be prepared by
employing suitable methods. For example, a polymer comprising an amine group can be
coupled to a carboxylate of the fatty acid or fatty acid ester, and an activated carboxylate (e.g.,
activated with N, N-carbonyl diimidazole) on a fatty acid or fatty acid ester can be coupled to a
hydroxyl group on a polymer.
Fatty acids and fatty acid esters suitable for modifying antibodies of the invention can
be saturated or can contain one or more units of unsaturation. Fatty acids that are suitable for
modifying antibodies of the invention include, for example, n-dodccanoate (C12, laurate), n-
tetradecanoate (C14, myristate), n-octadecanoate (C18, stearate), n-eicosanoate (C20, arachidate)
, n-docosanoate (C22, behenate), n-triacontanoate (C30), n-tetracontanoate (C30), cis-?9-
octadecanoate (Cl8, oleate), all cis-?5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoate (C20, arachidonate),
octanedioic acid, tetradecanedioic acid, octadecanedioic acid, docosanedioic acid, and the like.
Suitable fatty acid esters include mono-esters of dicarboxylic acids mat comprise a linear or
branched lower alkyl group. The lower alkyl group can comprise from one to about twelve,
preferably one to about six, carbon atoms.
The modified human antibodies and antigen-binding fragments can be prepared using
suitable methods, such as by reaction with one or more modifying agents. A "modifying
agent" as the term is used herein, refers to a suitable organic group (e.g., hydrophilic polymer,
a fatty acid, a fatty acid ester) that comprises an activating group. An "activating group" is a
chemical moiety or functional group that can, under appropriate conditions, react with a
second chemical group thereby forming a covalent bond between the modifying agent and the
second chemical group. For example, amine-reactive activating groups include electrophilic
groups such as tosylate, mesylate, halo (chloro, bromo, fluoro, iodo), N-hydroxysuccinimidyl
esters (NHS). and the like. Activating groups that can react with thiols include, for example,
maleimide. iodoacetyl, acrylolyl, pyridyl disulfides, 5-thiol-2-nitrobenzoic acid thiol (TNB-
thiol), and the like. An aldehyde functional group can be coupled to amine- or hydrazide-
containing molecules, and an azide group can react with a trivalent phosphorous group to form
phosphoramidate or phosphorimide linkages. Suitable methods to introduce activating groups
into molecules are known in the art (see for example, Hermanson, G. T., Bioconjugate
Techniques. Academic Press: San Diego, CA (1996)). An activating group can be bonded
directly to the organic group (e.g., hydrophilic polymer, fatty acid, fatty acid ester), or through
a linker moiety, for example a divalent C1-Cl2 group wherein one or more carbon atoms can be
replaced by a heteroatom such as oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur. Suitable linker moieties include,
for example, tetraethylene glycol, -(CH2)3-, -NH-(CH2)6-NH-, -(CH2)2-NH- and -CH2-O-CH2-
CH2-O-CH2-CH2-O-CH-NH-. Modifying agents that comprise a linker moiety can be
produced, for example, by reacting a mono-Boc-alkyldiamine (e.g., mono-Boc-
ethylenediamine, mono-Boc-diaminohexanc) with a fatty acid in the presence of l-ethyl-3-(3-
dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) to form an amide bond between the free amine and
the fatty acid carboxylate. The Boc protecting group can be removed from the product by
treatment with trifluoroacctic acid (TFA) to expose a primary amine that can be coupled to
another carboxylate as described, or can be reacted with maleic anhydride and the resulting
product cyclized to produce an activated maleimido derivative of the fatty acid. (See, for
example, Thompson, et al., WO 92/16221 the entire teachings of which are incorporated
herein by reference.)
The modified antibodies of the invention can be produced by reacting a human
antibody or antigen-binding fragment with a modifying agent. For example, the organic
moieties can be bonded to the antibody in a non-site specific manner by employing an amine-
reactive modifying agent, for example, an NHS ester of PEG. Modified human antibodies or
antigen-binding fragments can also be prepared by reducing disulfide bonds (e.g., intra-chain
disulfide bonds) of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment The reduced antibody or antigen-
binding fragment can then be reacted with a thiol-rcactive modifying agent to produce the
modified antibody of the invention. Modified human antibodies and antigen-binding
fragments comprising an organic moiety that is bonded to specific sites of an antibody of the
present invention can be prepared using suitable methods, such as reverse proteolysis (Fisch et
al., Bioconjugate Chem., 3:147-153 (1992); Werlen et al, Bioconjugate Chem., 5:411-417
(1994); Kumaran et al., Protein Sci. 6(10):2233-2241 (1997); Itoh et al., Bioorg. Chem., 24(1):
59-68 (1996): Capellas et al., Biotechnol. Bioeng., 56(4):456-463 (1997)), and the methods
described in Hermanson, G. T., Bioconjugate Techniques, Academic Press: San Diego, CA
(1996).
ANTI-IDIOTYPE ANTIBODIES TO ANTI-TNF ANTIBODY COMPOSITIONS
In addition to monoclonal or chimeric anti-TNF antibodies, the present
invention is also directed to an anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibody specific for such antibodies of
the invention. An anti-Id antibody is an antibody which recognizes unique determinants
generally associated with the antigen-binding region of another antibody. The anti-Id can be
prepared by immunizing an animal of the same species and genetic type (e.g. mouse strain) as
the source of the Id antibody with the antibody or a CDR containing region thereof. The
immunized animal will recognize and respond to the idiotypic determinants of the immunizing
antibody and produce an anti-Id antibody. The anti-Id antibody may also be used as an
"immunogen" to induce an immune response in yet another animal, producing a so-called
anti-anti-Id antibody.
ANTI-TNF ANTIBODY COMPOSITIONS
The present invention also provides at least one anti-TNF antibody composition
comprising at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six or
more anti-TNF antibodies thereof, as described herein and/or as known in the art that are
provided in a non-naturally occurring composition, mixture or form. Such compositions
comprise non-naturally occurring compositions comprising at least one or two full length, C-
and/or N-terminally deleted variants, domains, fragments, or specified variants, of the anti-
TNF antibody amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of 70-100% of the
contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NOS:1,2, 3,4,5, 6, 7, 8, or specified fragments, domains
or variants thereof. Preferred anti-TNF antibody compositions include at least one or two full
length, fragments, domains or variants as at least one CDR or LBR containing portions of the
anti-TNF antibody sequence of 70-100% of SEQ ID NOS.l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or specified
fragments, domains or variants thereof. Further preferred compositions comprise 40-99% of at
least one of 70-100% of SEQ ID NOS:1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, or specified fragments, domains or
variants thereof. Such composition percentages are by weight, volume, concentration,
molarity, or molality as liquid or dry solutions, mixtures, suspension, emulsions or colloids, as
known in the art or as described herein.
Anti-TNF antibody compositions of the present invention can further comprise at least
one of any suitable and effective amount of a composition or pharmaceutical composition
comprising at least one anti-TNF antibody to a cell, tissue, organ, animal or patient in need of
such modulation, treatment or therapy, optionally further comprising at least one selected from
at least one TNF antagonist (e.g., but not limited to a TNF antibody or fragment, a soluble
TNF receptor or fragment, fusion proteins thereof, or a small molecule TNF antagonist), an
antirheumatic (e.g., methotrexate. auranofin, aurothioglucose, azathioprine, etanercept, gold
sodium thiomalate, hydroxychloroquine sulfate, leflunomide, sulfasalzine), a muscle relaxant,
a narcotic, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), an analgesic, an anesthetic, a
sedative, a local anethetic, a neuromuscular blocker, an antimicrobial (e.g., aminoglycoside, an
antifungal, an antiparasitic, an antiviral, a carbapenem. cephalosporin, a flurorquinolorie, a
macrolide, a penicillin, a sulfonamide, a tetracycline, another antimicrobial), an antipsoriatic, a
corticosteriod, an anabolic steroid, a diabetes related agent, a mineral, a nutritional, a thyroid
agent, a vitamin, a calcium related hormone, an antidiarrheal, an antitussivc, an antiemetic, an
antiulcer, a laxative, an anticoagulant, an erythropieitin (e.g., epoetin alpha), a filgrastim (e.g.,
G-CSF, Neupogen), a sargramostim (GM-CSF, Leukine), an immunization, an
immunoglobulin, an immunosuppressive (e.g., basiliximab, cyclosporine, daclizumab), a
growth hormone, a hormone replacement drug, an estrogen receptor modulator, a mydriatic, a
cycloplegic, an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, a mitotic inhibitor, a radiopharmaceutical,
an antidepressant, antimanic agent, an antipsychotic, an anxiolytic, a hypnotic, a
sympathomimetic, a stimulant, donepezil, tacrine, an asthma medication, a beta agonist, an
inhaled steroid, a leukotriene inhibitor, a methylxanthine, a cromolyn, an epinephrine or
analog, dornase alpha (Pulmozyme), a cytokine or a cytokine antagonist Non-limiting
examples of such cytokines include, but are not limted to, any of EL-1 to IL-23. Suitable
dosages are well known in the art. See, e.g., Wells et al., eds., Pharmacotherapy Handbook, 2nd
Edition, Appleton and Lange, Stamford, CT (2000); PDR Pharmacopoeia,. Tarascon Pocket
Pharmacopoeia 2000, Deluxe Edition, Tarascon Publishing, Loma Linda, CA (2000), each of
which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Such anti-cancer or anti-infectives can also include toxin molecules that are
associated, bound, co-formulated or co-administered with at least one antibody of the present
invention. The toxin can optionally act to selectively kill the pathologic cell or tissue. The
pathologic cell can be a cancer or other cell. Such toxins can be, but are not limited to,
purified or recombinant toxin or toxin fragment comprising at least one functional cytotoxic
domain of toxin, e.g., selected from at least one of ricin. diphtheria toxin, a venom toxin, or a
bacterial toxin. The term toxin also includes both endotoxins and exotoxins produced by any
naturally occurring, mutant or recombinant bacteria or viruses which may cause any
pathological condition in humans and other mammals, including toxin shock, which can result
in death. Such toxins may include, but are not limited to, enterotoxigenic E. coli heat-labile
enterotoxin (LT), heat-stable enterotoxin (ST), Shigella cytotoxin, Aeromonas enterotoxins,
toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), B (SEB), or C
(SEC), Streptococcal enterotoxins and the like. Such bacteria include, but are not limited to,
strains of a species of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (e.g., strains
of serotype 0157:H7), Staphylococcus species (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus
pyogenes), Shigella species (e.g., Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, Shigella boydii, and
Shigella sonnei), Salmonella species (e.g., Salmonella typhi, Salmonella cholera-suis,
Salmonella enteritidis), Clostridium species (e.g., Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium
dificile, Clostridium botulinum), Camphlobacter species (e.g., Camphlobacter jejuni,
Camphlobacter fetus), Heliobacter species, (e.g., Heliobacterpylori), Aeromonas species (e.g.,
Aeromonas sobria, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas caviae), Pleisomonas shigelloides,
Yersina enterocolitica, Vibrios species (e.g., Vibrios cholerae. Vibrios parahemolyticus),
Klebsiella species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococci. See, e.g., Stein, ed.,
INTERNAL MEDICINE, 3rd ed, pp 1-13, Little, Brown and Co., Boston, (1990); Evans et al,
eds., Bacterial Infections of Humans: Epidemiology and Control, 2d. Ed., pp 239-254, Plenum
Medical Book Co., New York (1991); Mandell et al, grinciples and Practice of Infectious
Diseases, 3d. Ed., Churchill Livingstone, New York (1990); Berkow et aL eds., The Merck
Manual, 16th edition, Merck and Co., Rahway, NJ., 1992; Wood et aL FEMS Microbiology
Immunology, 76:121-134 (1991); Marrack et al, Science, 248:705-711 (1990), the contents of
which references are incorporated entirely herein by reference.
Anti-TNF antibody compounds, compositions or combinations of the present
invention can further comprise at least one of any suitable auxiliary, such as, but not limited to,
diluent, binder, stabilizer, buffers, salts, lipophilic solvents, preservative, adjuvant or the like.
Pharmaceutically acceptabie auxiliaries are preferred. Non-limiting examples of, and methods
of preparing such sterile solutions are well known in the art, such as, but limited to, Gennaro,
Ed., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Edition, Mack Publishing Co. (Easton, PA)
1990. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers can be routinely selected that are suitable for the
mode of administration, solubility and/or stability of the anti-TNF antibody, fragment or
variant composition as well known in the art or as described herein.
Pharmaceutical excipients and additives useful in the present composition include but
are not limited to proteins, peptides, amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates (e.g., sugars,
including monosaccharides, di-, tri-, tetra-, and oligosaccharides; derivatized sugars such as
alditols, aldonic acids, esterified sugars and the like; and polysaccharides or sugar polymers),
which can be present singly or in combination, comprising alone or in combination 1-99.99%
by weight or volume. Exemplary protein excipients include serum albumin such as human
serum albumin (HSA), recombihant human albumin (rHA), gelatin, casein, and the like.
Representative amino acid/antibody components, which can also function in a buffering
capacity, include alanine, glycine, arginine, betaine, histidine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid,
cysteine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, methionine, phenylalanine, aspartame, and the
like. One preferred amino acid is glycine.
Carbohydrate excipients suitable for use in the invention include, for example,
monosaccharides such as fructose, maltose, galactose, glucose, D-mannose, sorbose, and the
like; disaccharides, such as lactose, sucrose, trehalose, cellobiose, and the like;
polysaccharides, such as raffinose, melezitose, maltodextrins, dextrans, starches, and the like;
and alditols, such as mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol, xylitol sorbitol {glucitol), myoinositol
and the like. Preferred carbohydrate excipients for use in the present invention are mannitol,
trehalose, and raffinose.
Anti-TNF antibody compositions can also include a buffer or a pH adjusting agent;
typically, the buffer is a salt prepared from an organic acid or base. Representative buffers
include organic acid salts such as salts of citric acid, ascorbic acid, gluconic acid, carbonic
acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, or phthalic acid; Tris, tromethamine
hydrochloride, or phosphate buffers. Preferred buffers for use in the present compositions are
organic acid salts such as citrate.
Additionally, anti-TNF antibody compositions of the invention can include polymeric
excipients/additives such as polyvinylpyrrolidones, ficolls (a polymeric sugar), dextrates (e.g.,
cyclodextrins, such as 2-hydroxypropyl-P-cyclodextrin), polyethylene glycols, flavoring
agents, antimicrobial agents, sweeteners, antioxidants, antistatic agents, surfactants (e.g.,
polysorbates such as "TWEEN 20" and 'TWEEN 80"), lipids (e.g., phospholipids, fatty acids),
steroids (e.g., cholesterol), and chelating agents (e.g., EDTA).
These and additional known pharmaceutical excipients and/or additives suitable for
use in the anti-TNF antibody, portion or variant compositions according to the invention are
known in the art, e.g., as listed in "Remington: The Science & Practice of Pharmacy", 19th ed.,
Williams & Williams, (1995), and in the "Physician's Desk Reference", 52nd ed., Medical
Economics, Montvale, NJ (1998), the disclosures of which are entirely incorporated herein by
reference. Preferrred carrier or excipient materials are carbohydrates (e.g., saccharides and
alditols) and buffers (e.g., citrate) or polymeric agents.
Formulations
As noted above, the invention provides for stable formulations, which is
preferably a phosphate buffer with saline or a chosen salt, as well as preserved solutions and
formulations containing a preservative as well as multi-use preserved formulations suitable for
pharmaceutical or veterinary use, comprising at least one anti-TNF antibody in a
pharmaceutically acceptable formulation. Preserved formulations contain at least one known
preservative or optionally selected from the group consisting of at least one phenol, m-cresol,
p-cresol, o-cresol, chlorocresol, benzyl alcohol, phenylmercuric nitrite, phenoxyethanol,
formaldehyde, chlorobutanol, magnesium chloride (e.g., hexahydrate), alkylparaben (methyl,
ethyl, propyl, butyl and the like), benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, sodium
dehydroacetate and thimerosal, or mixtures thereof in an aqueous diluent. Any suitable
concentration or mixture can be used as known in the art, such as 0.001-5%, or any range or
value therein, such as, but not limited to 0.001,0.003,0.005,0.009,0.01,0.02, 0.03,0.05,
0.09,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4., 0.5,0.6,0.7,0.8,0.9, 1.0,1.1,1.2,1.3, 1.4,1.5,1.6,1.7, 1.8,1.9,2.0,
2.1,22,2.3,2.4,2.5,2.6,2.7, 2.8,2.9, 3.0, 3.1,3.2, 3.3,3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9,4.0,4.3, 4.5,
4.6,4.7,4.8,4.9, or any range or value therein. Non-limiting examples include, no
preservative, 0.1-2% m-cresol (e.g., 0.2, 0.3. 0.4, 0.5, 0.9, 1.0%), 0.1-3% benzyl alcohol (e.g.,
0.5,0.9,1.1., 1.5,1.9,2.0,2.5%), 0.001-0.5% thimerosal (e.g., 0.005,0.01), 0.001-2.0%
phenol (e.g., 0.05,0.25,0.28,0.5,0.9, 1.0%), 0.0005-1.0% alkylparaben(s) (e.g., 0.00075,
0.0009, 0.001,0.002,0.005, 0.0075, 0.009, 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.075, 0.09, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75,
0.9,1.0%), and the like.
As noted above, the invention provides an article of manufacture, comprising
packaging material and at least one vial comprising a solution of at least one anti-TNF
antibody with the prescribed buffers and/or preservatives, optionally in an aqueous diluent,
wherein said packaging material comprises a label that indicates that such solution can be held
over a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 18, 20, 24, 30, 36, 40,48, 54, 60, 66, 72 hours or greater.
The invention further comprises an article of manufacture, comprising packaging material, a
first vial comprising lyophilized at least one anti-TNF antibody, and a second vial comprising
an aqueous diluent of prescribed buffer or preservative, wherein said packaging material
comprises a label that instructs a patient to reconstitute the at least one anti-TNF antibody in
the aqueous diluent to form a solution that can be held over a period of twenty-four hours or
greater.
The at least one anti-TNFantibody used in accordance with the present invention can
be produced by recombinant means, including from mammalian cell or transgenic
preparations, or can be purified from other biological sources, as described herein or as known
in the art.
The range of at least one anti-TNF antibody in the product of the present invention
includes amounts yielding upon reconstitution, if in a wet/dry system, concentrations from
about 1.0 µg/ml to about 1000 mg/ml, although lower and higher concentrations are operable
and are dependent on the intended delivery vehicle, e.g., solution formulations will differ from
transdermal patch, pulmonary, transmucosal, or osmotic or micro pump methods.
Preferably, the aqueous diluent optionally further comprises a pharmaceutically
acceptable preservative. Preferred preservatives include those selected from the group
consisting of phenol, m-cresol, p-cresol, o-cresol, chlorocresol, benzyl alcohol, alkylparaben
(methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and the like), benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride,
sodium dehydroacetate and thimerosal, or mixtures thereof. The concentration of preservative
used in the formulation is a concentration sufficient to yield an anti-microbial effect. Such
concentrations are dependent on the preservative selected and are readily determined by the
skilled artisan.
Other excipients, e.g. isotonicity agents, buffers, antioxidants, preservative enhancers,
can be optionally and preferably added to the diluent. An isotonicity agent, such as glycerin, is
commonly used at known concentrations. A physiologically tolerated buffer is preferably
added to provide improved pH control. The formulations can cover a wide range of pHs, such
as from about pH 4 to about pH 10, and preferred ranges from about pH 5 to about pH 9, and a
most preferred range of about 6.0 to about 8.0. Preferably the formulations of the present
invention have pH between about 6.8 and about 7.8. Preferred buffers include phosphate
buffers, most preferably sodium phosphate, particularly phosphate buffered saline (PBS).
Other additives, such as a pharmaceutically acceptable solubilizers like Tween
20 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate), Tween 40 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan
monopalmitate), Tween 80 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate), Pluronic F68
(polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block copolymers), and PEG (polyethylene glycol) or
non-ionic surfactants such as polysorbate 20 or 80 or poloxamer 184 or 188, Pluronic® polyls,
other block co-polymers, and chelators such as EDTA and EGTA can optionally be added to
the formulations or compositions to reduce aggregation. These additives are particularly
useful if a pump or plastic container is used to administer the formulation. The presence of
pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant mitigates the propensity for the protein to aggregate.
The formulations of the present invention can be prepared by a process which
comprises mixing at least one anti-TNF antibody and a preservative selected from the group
consisting of phenol, m-cresol, p-cresol, o-cresol, chlorocresol, benzyl alcohol, alkylparaben,
(methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and the like), benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride,
sodium dehydroacetate and thimerosal or mixtures thereof in an aqueous diluent. Mixing the
at least one anti-TNF antibody and preservative in an aqueous diluent is carried out using
conventional dissolution and mixing procedures. To prepare a suitable formulation, for
example, a measured amount of at least one anti-TNF antibody in buffered solution is
combined with the desired preservative in a buffered solution in quantities sufficient to provide
the protein and preservative at the desired concentrations. Variations of this process would be
recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the order the components are
added, whether additional additives are used, the temperature and pH at which the formulation
is prepared, are all factors that can be optimized for the concentration and means of
administration used.
The claimed formulations can be provided to patients as clear solutions or as
dual vials comprising a vial of lyophilized at least one anti-TNF antibody that is reconstituted
with a second vial containing water, a preservative and/or excipients, preferably a phosphate
buffer and/or saline and a chosen salt, in an aqueous diluent. Either a single solution vial or
dual vial requiring reconstitution can be reused multiple times and can suffice for a single or
multiple cycles of patient treatment and thus can provide a more convenient treatment regimen
than currently available.
The present claimed articles of manufacture are useful for administration over
a period of immediately to twenty-four hours or greater. Accordingly, the presently claimed
articles of manufacture offer significant advantages to the patient Formulations of the
invention can optionally be safely stored at temperatures of from about 2 to about 40°C and
retain the biologically activity of the protein for extended periods of time, thus, allowing a
package label indicating that the solution can be held and/or used over a period of 6,12, 18,
24, 36,48, 72, or 96 hours or greater. If preserved diluent is used, such label can include use
up to 1-12 months, one-half, one and a half, and/or two years.
The solutions of at least one anti-TNF antibody in the invention can be
prepared by a process that comprises mixing at least one antibody in an aqueous diluent.
Mixing is carried out using conventional dissolution and mixing procedures. To prepare a
suitable diluent, for example, a measured amount of at least one antibody in water or buffer is
combined in quantities sufficient to provide the protein and optionally a preservative or buffer
at the desired concentrations. Variations of this process would be recognized by one of
ordinary skill in the art. For example, the order the components are added, whether additional
additives are used, the temperature and pH at which the formulation is prepared, are all factors
that can be optimized for the concentration and means of administration used.
The claimed products can be provided to patients as clear solutions or as dual
vials comprising a vial of lyophilized at least one anti-TNF antibody that is reconstituted with
a second vial containing the aqueous diluent. Either a single solution vial or dual vial
requiring reconstitution can be reused multiple times and can suffice for a single or multiple
cycles of patient treatment and thus provides a more convenient treatment regimen than
currently available.
The claimed products can be provided indirectly to patients by providing to
pharmacies, clinics, or other such institutions and facilities, clear solutions or dual vials
comprising a vial of lyophilized at least one anti-TNF antibody that is reconstituted with a
second vial containing the aqueous diluent. The clear solution in this case can be up to one
liter or even larger in size, providing a large reservoir from which smaller portions of the at
least one antibody solution can be retrieved one or multiple times for transfer into smaller vials
and provided by the pharmacy or clinic to their customers and/or patients..
Recognized devices comprising these single vial systems include those pen-
injector devices for delivery of a solution such as BD Pens, BD Autojector®, Humaject®'
NovoPen®. B-D®Pen, AutoPen®, and OptiPen®, GenotropinPen®, Genotronorm Pen®, Humatro
Pen®, Reco-Pen®. Roferon Pen®, Biojector®. iject®, J-tip Needle-Free Injector®, Intraject®,
Medi-Ject®, e.g., as made or developed by Becton Dickensen (Franklin,Lakes, NJ,
www.bectondickenson.com), Disetronic (Burgdorf, Switzerland, www.disetronic.com; Bioject,
Portland, Oregon (www.bioject.com); National Medical Products , Weston Medical
(Peterborough, UK, www.weston-medical.com), Medi-Ject Corp (Minneapolis, MN,
www.mediject.com). Recognized devices comprising a dual vial system include those pen-
injector systems for reconstituting a lyophilized drug in a cartridge for delivery of the
reconstituted solution such as the HumatroPen®.
The products presently claimed include packaging material. The packaging
material provides, in addition to the information required by the regulatory agencies, the
conditions under which the product can be used. The packaging material of the present
invention provides instructions to the patient to reconstitute the at least one anti-TNF antibody
in the aqueous diluent to form a solution and to use the solution over a period of 2-24 hours or
greater for the two vial, wet/dry, product. For the single vial, solution product, the label
indicates that such solution can be used over a period of 2-24 hours or greater. The presently
claimed products are useful for human pharmaceutical product use.
The formulations of the present invention can be prepared by a process that
comprises mixing at least one anti-TNF antibody and a selected buffer, preferably a phosphate
buffer containing saline or a chosen salt. Mixing the at least one antibody and buffer in an
aqueous diluent is carried out using conventional dissolution and mixing procedures. To
prepare a suitable formulation, for example, a measured amount of at least one antibody in
water or buffer is combined with the desired buffering agent in water in quantities sufficient to
provide the protein and buffer at the desired concentrations. Variations of this process would
be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the order the components are
added, whether additional additives are used, the temperature and pH at which the formulation
is prepared, are all factors that can be optimized for the concentration and means of
administration used.
The claimed stable or preserved formulations can be provided to patients as
clear solutions or as dual vials comprising a vial of lyophilized at least one anti-TNF antibody
that is reconstituted with a second vial containing a preservative or buffer and excipients in an
aqueous diluent Either a single solution vial or dual vial requiring reconstitution can be
reused multiple times and can suffice for a single or multiple cycles of patient treatment and
thus provides a more convenient treatment regimen than currently available'.
At least one anti-TNF antibody in either the stable or preserved formulations or
solutions described herein, can be administered to a patient in accordance with the present
invention via a variety of delivery methods including SC or IM injection; transdermal,
pulmonary, transmucosal, implant, osmotic pump, cartridge, micro pump, or other means
appreciated by the skilled artisan, as well-known in the art
Therapeutic Applications
The present invention also provides a method for modulating or treating at
least one TNF related disease, in a cell, tissue, organ, animal, or patient, as known in the art or
as described herein, using at least one dual integrin antibody of the present invention.
The present invention also provides a method for modulating or treating at least one
TNF related disease, in a cell, tissue, organ, animal, or patient including, but not limited to, at
least one of obesity, an immune related disease, a cardiovascular disease, an infectious disease,
a malignant disease or a neurologic disease.
The present invention also provides a method for modulating or treating at least one
immune related disease, in a cell, tissue, organ, animal, or patient including, but not limited to,
at least one of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic onset juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondilitis, gastric ulcer, seronegative
arthropathies, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus
erythematosis, antiphospholipid syndrome, iridocyclitis/uveitis/optic neuritis, idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis, systemic vasculitis/wegener's granulomatosis, sarcoidosis,
orchitis/vasectomy reversal procedures, allergic/atopic diseases, asthma, allergic rhinitis,
eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis,
transplants, organ transplant rejection, graft-versus-host disease, systemic inflammatory
response syndrome, sepsis syndrome, gram positive sepsis, gram negative sepsis, culture
negative sepsis, fungal sepsis, neutropenic fever, urosepsis, meningococcemia,
trauma/hemorrhage, bums, ionizing radiation exposure, acute pancreatitis, adult respiratory
distress syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, alcohol-induced hepatitis, chronic inflammatory
pathologies, sarcoidosis, Crohn's pathology, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, nephrosis, atopic
diseases, hypersensitity reactions, allergic rhinitis, hay fever, perennial rhinitis, conjunctivitis,
endometriosis, asthma, urticaria, systemic anaphalaxis, dermatitis, pernicious anemia,
hemolytic disesease, thrombocytopenia, graft rejection of any organ or tissue, kidney
translplant rejection, heart transplant rejection, liver transplant rejection, pancreas transplant
rejection, lung transplant rejection, bone marrow transplant (BMT) rejection, skin allograft
rejection, cartilage transplant rejection, bone graft rejection, small bowel transplant rejection,
fetal thymus implant rejection, parathyroid transplant rejection, xenograft rejection of any
organ or tissue, allograft rejection, anti-receptor hypersensitivity reactions, Graves disease,
Raynoud's disease, type B insulin-resistant diabetes, asthma, myasthenia gravis, antibody-
meditated cytotoxicity, type HI hypersensitivity reactions, systemic lupus etythematosus,
POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal
gammopathy, and skin changes syndrome), polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy,
monoclonal gammopathy, skin changes syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, pemphigus,
scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, idiopathic Addison's disease, diabetes mellitus,
chronic active hepatitis, primary billiary cirrhosis, vitiligo, vasculitis, post-MI cardiotomy
syndrome, type IV hypersensitivity, contact dermatitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allograft
rejection, granulomas due to intracellular organisms, drug sensitivity, metabolic/idiopathic,
Wilson's disease, hemachromatosis, alpha- 1-antitrypsin deficiency, diabetic retinopathy,
hashimoto's thyroiditis, osteoporosis, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis evaluation, primary
biliary cirrhosis, thyroiditis, encephalomyelitis, cachexia, cystic fibrosis, neonatal chronic lung
disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), familial hematophagocytic
lymphohistiocytosis, dermatologic conditions, psoriasis, alopecia, nephrotic syndrome,
nephritis, glomerular nephritis, acute renal failure, hemodialysis, uremia, toxicity,
preeclampsia, okt3 therapy, anti-cd3 therapy, cytokine therapy, chemotherapy, radiation
therapy (e.g., including but not limited toasthenia. anemia, cachexia, and the like), chronic
salicylate intoxication, and the like. See, e.g., the Merck Manual, 12th-17th Editions, Merck
& Company, Rahway, NJ(1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1999), Pharmacotherapy Handbook,
Wells et al., eds., Second Edition, Appleton and Lange, Stamford, Conn. (1998, 2000), each
entirely incorporated by reference.
The present invention also provides a method for modulating or treating at least one
cardiovascular disease in a cell, tissue, organ, animal, or patient, including, but not limited to,
at least one of cardiac stun syndrome, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke,
ischemic stroke, hemorrhage, arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, restenosis, diabetic
ateriosclerotic disease, hypertension, arterial hypertension, renovascular hypertension,
syncope, shock, syphilis of the cardiovascular system, heart failure, cor pulmonale, primary
pulmonary hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, atrial ectopic beats, atrial flutter, atrial
fibrillation (sustained or paroxysmal), post perfusion syndrome, cardiopulmonary bypass
inflammation response, chaotic or multifocal atrial tachycardia, regular narrow QRS
tachycardia, specific arrythmias, ventricular fibrillation, His bundle arrythmias,
atrioventricular block, bundle branch block, myocardial ischemic disorders, coronary artery
disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, dilated congestive
cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, valvular heart diseases, endocarditis, pericardial
disease, cardiac tumors, aordic and peripheral aneuryisms, aortic dissection, inflammation of
the aorta, occulsion of the abdominal aorta and its branches, peripheral vascular disorders,
occulsive arterial disorders, peripheral atherloscleron'c disease, thromboangitis oblitcrans,
functional peripheral arterial disorders, Raynaud's phenomenon and disease, acrocyanosis,
erythromelalgia, venous diseases, venous thrombosis, varicose veins, arteriovenous fistula,
lymphedcrma, lipedema, unstable angina, reperfusion injury, post pump syndrome, ischemia-
reperfusion injury, and the like. Such a method can optionally comprise administering an
effective amount of a composition or pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one anti-
TNF antibody to a cell, tissue, organ, animal or patient in need of such modulation, treatment
or therapy.
The present invention also provides a method for modulating or treating at least one
infectious disease in a cell, tissue, organ, animal or patient, including, but not limited to, at
least one of: acute or chronic bacterial infection, acute and chronic parasitic or infectious
processes, including bacterial, viral and fungal infections, HTV infection/HTV neuropathy,
meningitis, hepatitis (A3 or C, or the like), septic arthritis, peritonitis, pneumonia, epiglottitis,
e. coli 0157:h7, hemolytic uremic syndrome/thrombolytic thrombocytopenic purpura, malaria,
dengue hemorrhagic fever, leishmaniasis, leprosy, toxic shock syndrome, streptococcal
myositis, gas gangrene, mycobacterium tuberculosis, mycobacterium avium intracellulare,
pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, pelvic inflammatory disease, orchitis/epidydimitis,
legionella, lytne disease, influenza a, epstein-barr virus, vital-associated hemaphagocytic
syndrome, vital encephalitis/aseptic meningitis, and the like;
The present invention also provides a method for modulating or treating at least one
malignant disease in a cell, tissue, organ, animal or patient, including, but not limited to, at
least one of: leukemia, acute leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), B-cell, T-cell or
FAB ALL, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chromic myelocytic leukemia (CML), chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), hairy cell leukemia, myelodyplastic syndrome (MDS), a
lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, a malignamt lymphoma, non-hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's
lymphoma, multiple myeloma, Kaposi's sarcoma, colorectal carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma,
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, malignant hisn'ocytosis, paraneoplastic syndrome/hypercalcemia of
malignancy, solid tumors, adenocarcinomas, sarcomas, malignant melanoma, hemangioma,
metastatic disease, cancer related bone resorption, cancer related bone pain, and the like.
The present invention also provides a method for modulating or treating at least one
neurologic disease in a cell, tissue, organ, animal or patient, including, but not limited to, at
least one of: neurodegenerative diseases, multiple sclerosis, migraine headache, AIDS
dementia complex, demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and acute transverse
myelitis; extrapyramidal and cerebellar disorders' such as lesions of the corticospinal system;
disorders of the basal ganglia or cerebellar disorders; hyperkinetic movement disorders such as
Huntington's Chorea and senile chorea; drug-induced movement disorders, such as those
induced by drugs which block CNS dopamine receptors; hypokinetic movement disorders,
such as Parkinson's disease; Progressive supranucleo Palsy; structural lesions of the
cerebellum; spinocerebellar degenerations, such as spinal ataxia, Friedreich's ataxia, cerebellar
cortical degenerations, multiple systems degenerations (Mencel, Dejerine-Thomas, Shi-
Drager, and Machado-Joseph); systemic disorders (Rcfsum's disease, abetalipoprotemia,
ataxia, telangiectasia, and mitochondrial multi.system disorder); demyelinating core disorders,
such as multiple sclerosis, acute transverse myelitis; and disorders of the motor unit® such as
neurogenic muscular atrophies (anterior horn cell degeneration, such as amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, infantile spinal muscular atrophy and juvenile spinal muscular atrophy); Alzheimer's
disease; Down's Syndrome in middle age; Diffuse Lewy body disease; Senile Dementia of
Lewy body type; Wemicke-Korsakoff syndrome; chronic alcoholism; Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease; Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, Hallerrorden-Spatz disease; and Dementia
pugilistica, and the like. Such a method can optionally comprise administering an effective
amount of a composition or pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one TNF antibody
or specified portion or variant to a cell, tissue, organ, animal or patient in need of such
modulation, treatment or therapy. See, e.g., the Merck Manual, 16lh Edition, Merck &
Company, Rahway, NJ (1992)
Any method of the present invention can comprise administering an effective amount
of a composition or pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one anti-TNF antibody to
a cell, tissue, organ, animal or patient in need of such modulation, treatment or therapy. Such
a method can optionally further comprise co-administration or combination therapy for
treating such immune diseases, wherein the administering of said at least one anti-TNF
antibody, specified portion or variant thereof, further comprises administering, before
concurrently, and/or after, at least one selected from at least one TNF antagonist (e.g., but not
limited to a TNF antibody or fragment, a soluble TNF receptor or fragment, fusion proteins
thereof, or a small molecule TNF antagonist), an antirheumatic (e.g., methotrexate, auranofm,
aurothioglucose, azathioprine, etanercept, gold sodium thiomalate, hydroxychloroquine
sulfate, leflunomide, sulfasalzine), a muscle relaxant, a narcotic, a non-steroid anti-
inflammatory drug (NSAED), an analgesic, an anesthetic, a sedative, a local anethetic, a
neuromuscular blocker, an antimicrobial (e.g., aminoglycoside, an antifungal, an antiparasitic,
an antiviral, a carbapenem, cephalosporin, a flurorquinolone, a macrolide, a penicillin, a
sulfonamide, a tetracycline, another antimicrobial), an antipsoriatic, a corticosteriod, an
anabolic steroid, a diabetes related agent, a mineral, a nutritional, a thyroid agent, a vitamin, a
calcium related hormone, an antidiarrheal, an antitussive, an antiemetic, an antiulcer, a
laxative, an anticoagulant, an erythropieitin (e.g., epoetin alpha), a filgrastim (e.g., G-CSF,
Neupogcn), a sargramostim (GM-CSF, Leukine), an immunization, an immunoglobulin, an
immunosuppressive (e.g., basiliximab, cyclosporine, daclizumab), a growth hormone, a
hormone replacement drug, an estrogen receptor modulator, a mydriatic, a cycloplegic, an
alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, a mitotic inhibitor, a radiopharmaceutical, an
antidepressant, antimanic agent, an antipsychotic, an anxiolytic, a hypnotic, a
sympathomimetic, a stimulant, donepezil, tacrine, an asthma medication, a beta agonist, an
inhaled steroid, a leukotriene inhibitor, a methylxanthine, a cromolyn, an epinephrine or
analog, dornase alpha (Pulmozyme), a cytokine or a cytokine antagonist Suitable dosages are
well known in the art See, e.g., Wells et al., eds., Pharmacotherapy Handbook, 2nd Edition,
Appleton and Lange, Stamford, CT (2000); PDR Pharmacopoeia, Tarascon Pocket
Pharmacopoeia 2000, Deluxe Edition, Tarascon Publishing, Loma Linda, CA (2000), each of
which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference.
TNF antagonists suitable for compositions, combination therapy, co-administration,
devices and/or methods of the present invention (further comprising at least one anti body,
specified portion and variant thereof, of the present invention), include, but are not limited to,
anti-TNF antibothes, antigen-binding fragments thereof, and receptor molecules which bind
specifically to TNF; compounds which prevent and/or inhibit TNF synthesis, TNF release or
its action on target cells, such as thalidomide, tenidap, phosphothesterase inhibitors (e.g,
pentoxifylline and rolipram), A2b adenosine receptor agonists and A2b adenosine receptor
enhancers; compounds which prevent and/or inhibit TNF receptor signalling, such as mitogen
activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors; compounds which block and/or inhibit membrane
TNF cleavage, such as metalloproteinase inhibitors; compounds which block and/or inhibit
TNF activity, such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., captopril); and
compounds which block and/or inhibit TNF production and/or synthesis, such as MAP kinase
inhibitors.
As used herein, a "tumor necrosis factor antibody," "TNF antibody," "TNFa
antibody," or fragment and the like decreases, blocks, inhibits, abrogates or interferes with
TNFa activity in vitro, in situ and/or preferably in vivo. For example, a suitable TNF human
antibody of the present invention can bind TNFa and includes anti-TNF antibothes, antigen-
binding fragments thereof, and specified mutants or domains thereof that bind specifically to
TNFa. A suitable TNF anttibody or fragment can also decrease block, abrogate, interfere,
prevent and/or inhibit TNF RNA, DNA or protein synthesis, TNF release, TNF receptor
signaling, membrane TNF cleavage, TNF activity, TNF production and/or synthesis.
Chimeric antibody cA2 consists of the antigen binding variable region of the high-
affinity neutralizing mouse anti-human TNFa IgGl antibody, designated A2, and the constant
regions of a human IgGl, kappa immunoglobulin. The human IgGl Fc region improves
allogeneic antibody effector function, increases the circulating serum half-life and decreases
the immunogenicity of the antibody. The avidity and epitope specificity of the chimeric
antibody cA2 is derived from the variable region of the murine antibody A2. In a particular
embodiment, a preferred source for nucleic acids encoding the variable region of the murine
antibody A2 is the A2 hybridoma cell line. '
Chimeric A2 (cA2) neutralizes the cytotoxic effect of both natural and recombinant
human TNFa in a dose dependent manner. From binding assays of chimeric antibody cA2 and
recombinant human TNFa, the affinity constant of chimeric antibody cA2 was calculated to be
1.04xlO10M-1. Preferred methods for determining monoclonal antibody specificity and affinity
by competitive inhibition can be found in Harlow, et al., antibothes: A Laboratory Manual,
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, 1988; Colligan et al,
eds., Current Protocols in Immunology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley Intersciencc,
New York, (1992-2000); Kozbor et al, Immunol. Today, 4:12-79 (1983); Ausubel et al, eds.
Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley Interscience, New York (1987-2000); and
Muller, Meth. Enzymol., 92:589-601 (1983), which references are entirely incorporated herein
by reference.
In a particular embodiment, murine monoclonal antibody A2 is produced by a cell line
designated cl34A. Chimeric antibody cA2 is produced by a cell line designated c 168A.
Additional examples of monoclonal anti-TNF antibothes that can be used in the
present invention are described in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,231,024; Moller, A. et
al., Cytokine 2(3): 162-169 (1990); U.S. Application No. 07/943,852 (filed September 11,
1992); Rathjen et al., International Publication No. WO 91/02078 (published February 21,
1991); Rubin et al., EPO Patent Publication No. 0 218 868 (published April 22, 1987); Yone et
al., EPO Patent Publication No. 0 288 088 (October 26, 1988); Liang, et al., Biochem. Biophys.
Res. Comm. 737:847-854 (1986); Meager, et al., Hybridoma (5:305-311 (1987); Fendly et al,
Hybridoma 6:359-369 (1987); Bringman, et al., Hybridoma 6:489-507 (1987);. and Hirai, et
al., J. Immunol. Meth. 96:57-62 (1987), which references are entirely incorporated herein by
reference).
TNF Receptor Molecules
Preferred TNF receptor molecules useful in the present invention are those that bind
TNFa with high affinity (see, e.g., Feldmann et al., International Publication No. WO
92/07076 (published April 30,1992); Schall et al.t Cell 67:361-370 (1990); and Loetscher et
al., Cell 617:351-359 (1990), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference)
and optionally possess low inmunogenicity. In particular, the 55 kDa (p55 TNF-R) and the 75
kDa (p75 TNF-R) TNF cell surface receptors are useful in the present invention. Truncated
forms of these receptors, comprising the extracellular domains (ECD) of the receptors or
functional portions thereof (see, e.g., Corcoran et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 225:831-840 (1994)),
are also useful in the present invention. Truncated forms of the TNF receptors, comprising the
ECD, have been detected in urine and serum as 30 kDa and 40 kDa TNFa inhibitory binding
proteins (Engelmann, H. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265:1531-1536 (1990)). TNF receptor
multimeric molecules and TNF immunoreceptor fusion molecules, and derivatives and
fragments or portions thereof, are additional examples of TNF receptor molecules which are
useful in the methods and compositions of the present invention. The TNF receptor molecules
which can be used in the invention are characterized by their ability to treat patients for
extended periods with good to excellent alleviation of symptoms and low toxicity. Low
immunogenicity and/or high affinity, as well as other undefined properties, can contribute to
the therapeutic results achieved.
TNF receptor multimeric molecules useful in the present invention comprise all or a
functional portion of the ECD of two or more TNF receptors linked via one or more
polypeptide linkers or other nonpeptide linkers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). The
multimeric molecules can further comprise a signal peptide of a secreted protein to direct
expression of the multimeric molecule. These multimeric molecules and methods for their
production have been described in U.S. Application No. 08/437,533 (filed May 9, 1995), the
content of which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
TNF immunoreceptor fusion molecules useful in the methods and compositions of the
present invention comprise at least one portion of one or more immunoglobulin molecules and
all or a functional portion of one or more TNF receptors. These immunoreceptor fusion
molecules can be assembled as monomers, or hetero- or homo-multimers. The
immunoreceptor fusion molecules can also be monovalent or multivalent. An example of such
a TNF immunoreceptor fusion molecule is TNF receptor/IgG fusion protein. TNF
immunoreceptor fusion molecules and methods for their production have been described in the
art (Lesslauer et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 27:2883-2886 (1991); Ashkenazi et al., Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA 55:10535-10539 (1991); Peppel et al.,J. Exp. Med. 774:1483-1489 (1991);
Kolls et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:215-219 (1994); Butler et al., Cytokine 6(6):616-
623 (1994); Baker et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 24:2040-2048 (1994); Beutler et al., U.S. Patent No.
5,447,851; and U.S. Application No. 08/442,133 (filed May 16,1995), each of which
references are entirely incorporated herein by reference). Methods for producing
immunoreceptor fusion molecules can also be found in Capon et al., U.S. Patent No.
5,116,964; Capon et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,225,538; and Capon et al., Nature 337:525-531
(1989), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference.
A functional equivalent, derivative, fragment or region of TNF receptor molecule
refers to the portion of the TNF receptor molecule, or the portion of the TNF receptor molecule
sequence which encodes TNF receptor molecule, that is of sufficient size and sequences to
functionally resemble TNF receptor molecules that can be used in the present invention (e.g.,
bind TNF with high affinity and possess low immunogenicity). A functional equivalent of
TNF receptor molecule also includes modified TNF receptor molecules-that functionally
resemble TNF receptor molecules that can be used in the present invention (e.g., bind TNF
with high affinity and possess low immunogenicity). For example, a functional equivalent of
TNF receptor molecule can contain a "SILENT' codon or one or more ammo acid
substitutions, deletions or additions (e.g., substitution of one acidic amino acid for another
acidic amino acid; or substitution of one codon encoding the same or different hydrophobic
amino acid for another codon encoding a hydrophobic amino acid). See Ausubel et al.,
Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley-Interscience,
New York (1987-2000).
Cytokines include any known cytokine. See, e.g., CopewithCytokines.com. Cytokine
antagonists include, but are not limited to, any antibody, fragment or mimetic, any soluble
receptor, fragment or mimetic, any small molecule antagonist, or any combination thereof.
Therapeutic Treatments. Any method of the present invention can comprise a
method for treating a TNF mediated disorder, comprising administering an effective amount of
a composition or pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one anti-TNF antibody to a
cell, tissue, organ, animal or patient in need of such modulation, treatment or therapy. Such a
method can optionally further comprise co-administration or combination therapy for treating
such immune diseases, wherein the administering of said at least one anti-TNF antibody,
specified portion or variant thereof, further comprises administering, before concurrently,
and/or after, at least one selected from at least one at least one selected from at least one TNF
antagonist (e.g., but not limited to a TNF antibody or fragment, a soluble TNF receptor or
fragment, fusion proteins thereof, or a small molecule TNF antagonist), an antirheumatic (e.g.,
methotrexate, auranofin, aurothioglucose, azathioprine, etanercept, gold sodium thiomalate,
hydroxychloroquine sulfate, leflunomide, sulfasalzine), a muscle relaxant, a narcotic, a non-
steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), an analgesic, an anesthetic, a sedative, a local
anethetic, a neuromuscular blocker, an antimicrobial (e.g., aminoglycoside, an antifungal, an
antiparasitic, an antiviral, a carbapenem, cephalosporin, a flurorquinolone, a macrolide, a
penicillin, a sulfonamide, a tetracycline, another antimicrobial), an antipsoriatic, a
corticosteriod, an anabolic steroid, a diabetes related agent, a mineral, a nutritional, a thyroid
agent, a vitamin, a calcium related hormone, an antidiarrheal, an antitussive, an antiemetic, an
antiulcer, a laxative, an anticoagulant, an erythropieitin (e.g., epoetin alpha), a fllgrastim (e.g.,
G-CSF, Neupogen), a sargramostim (GM-CSF, Leukine), an inununization/an
immunoglobulin, an immunosuppressive (e.g., basiliximab, cyclosporine, daclizumab), a
growth hormone, a hormone replacement drug, an estrogen receptor modulator, a mydriatic, a
cycloplegic, an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, a mitotic inhibitor, a radiopharmaceutical,
an ana'depressant, antimanic agent, an antipsychotic, an anxiolytic, a hypnotic, a
sympathomimetic, a stimulant, donepezil, tacrine, an asthma medication®, a beta agonist, an
inhaled steroid, a leukotriene inhibitor, a methylxanthine, a cromolyn, an epinephrine or
analog, dornase alpha (Pulmozyme), a cytokine or a cytokine antagonist.
Typically, treatment of pathologic conditions is effected by administering an effective
amount or dosage of at least one anti-TNF antibody composition that total, on average, a range
from at least about 0.01 to 500 milligrams of at least one anti-TNFantibody per kilogram of
patient per dose, and preferably from at least about 0.1 to 100 milligrams antibody /kilogram of
patient per single or multiple administration, depending upon the specific activity of contained in
the composition. Alternatively, the effective serum concentration can comprise 0.1-5000 ug/ml
serum concentration per single or multiple adminstration. Suitable dosages are known to medical
practitioners and will, of course, depend upon the particular disease state, specific activity of the
composition being administered, and the particular patient undergoing treatment. In some
instances, to achieve the desired therapeutic amount, it can be necessary to provide for repeated
administration, i.e., repeated individual administrations of a particular monitored or metered
dose, where the individual administrations are repeated until the desired daily dose or effect is
achieved.
Alternatively, the dosage administered can vary depending upon known factors, such
as the pharmacodynamic characteristics of the particular agent, and its mode and route of
administration; age, health, and weight of the recipient; nature and extent of symptoms, kind of
concurrent treatment, frequency of treatment, and the effect desired. Usually a dosage of
active ingrethent can be about 0.1 to 100 milligrams per kilogram of body weight Ordinarily
0.1 to SO, and preferably 0.1 to 10 milligrams per kilogram per administration or in sustained
release form is effective to obtain desired results.
As a non-limiting example, treatment of humans or animals can be provided as a one-
time or periodic dosage of at least one antibody of the present invention 0.1 to 100 mg/kg, such
Dosage forms (composition) suitable for internal administration generally contain
from about 0.1 milligram to about 500 milligrams of active ingrethent per unit or container. In
these pharmaceutical compositions the active ingrethent will ordinarily be present in an
amount of about 0.5-99.999% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
For parenteral administration, the antibody can be formulated as a solution,
suspension, emulsion or lyophilized powder in association, or separately provided, with a
pharmaceutically acceptable parenteral vehicle. Examples of such vehicles are water, saline,
Ringer's solution, dextrose solution, and 1-10% human serum albumin. Liposomes and
nonaqueous vehicles such as fixed oils can also be used. The vehicle or lyophilized powder
can contain additives that maintain isotonicity (e.g., sodium chloride, mannitol) and chemical
stability (e.g., buffers and preservatives). The formulation is sterilized by known or suitable
techniques.
Suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in the most recent edition of
Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, A. Osol, a standard reference text in this field.
Alternative Administration
Many known and developed modes of can be used according to the present invention
for administering pharmaceutically effective amounts of at least one anti-TNF antibody
according to the present invention. While pulmonary administration is used in the following
description, other modes of administration can be used according to the present invention with
suitable results.
TNF antibothes of the present invention can be delivered in a carrier, as a solution,
emulsion, colloid, or suspension, or as a dry powder, using any of a variety of devices and
methods suitable for administration by inhalation or other modes described here within or
known in the art
Parenteral Formulations and Administration
Formulations for parenteral administration can contain as common excipients sterile
water or saline, polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol, oils of vegetable origin,
hydrogenated naphthalenes and the like. Aqueous or oily suspensions for injection can be
prepared by using an appropriate emulsifier or humidifier and a suspending agent, according to
known methods. Agents for injection can be a non-toxic, non-orally administrable diluting
agent such as aquous solution or a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a solvent. As the
usable vehicle or solvent, water, Ringer's solution, isotonic saline, etc. are allowed; as an
ordinary solvent, or suspending solvent, sterile involatile oil can be used. For these purposes,
any kind of involatile oil and fatty acid can be used, including natural or synthetic or
semisynthetic fatty oils or fatty acids; natural or synthetic or semisynthtetic mono- or di- or tri-
glycerides. Parental administration is known in the art and includes, but is not limited to,
conventional means of injections, a gas pressured needle-less injection device as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,198, and a laser perforator device as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,446
entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Alternative Delivery
The invention further relates to the administration of at least one anti-TNF antibody by
parenteral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intrarticular, intrabronchial,
intraabdominal, intracapsular, intracartilaginous, intracavitary, intracelial, intracelebellar,
intracerebroventricular, intracolic, intracervical, intragastric, intrahepatic, intramyocardial,
intraosteal, intrapelvic, intrapericardiac, intraperitoneal, intrapleural, intraprostatic,
intrapulmonary, intrarectal, intrarenal, intraretinal, intraspinal, intrasynovial, intrathoracic,
intrauterine, intravesical, bolus, vaginal, rectal, buccal, sublingual, intranasal, or transdermal
means. At least one anti-TNF antibody composition can be prepared for use for parenteral
(subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous) or any other administration particularly in the
form of liquid solutions or suspensions; for use in vaginal or rectal administration particularly
in semisolid forms such as, but not limited to, creams and suppositories; for buccal, or
sublingual administration such as, but not limited to, in the form of tablets or capsules; or
intranasally such as, but not limited to, the form of powders, nasal drops or aerosols or certain
agents; or transdermally such as not limited to a gel, ointment, lotion, suspension or patch
delivery system with chemical enhancers such as dimethyl sulfoxide to either modify the skin
structure or to increase the drug concentration in the transdermal patch (Junginger, et al. In
"Drug Permeation Enhancement"; Hsieh, D. S., Eds., pp. 59-90 (Marcel Dekker, Inc. New
York 1994, entirely incorporated herein by reference), or with oxidizing agents that enable the
application of formulations containing proteins and peptides onto the skin (WO 98/53847), or
applications of electric fields to create transient transport pathways such as electroporation, or
to increase the mobility of charged drugs through the skin such as iontophoresis, or application
of ultrasound such as sonophoresis (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,309,989 and 4,767,402) (the above
publications and patents being entirely incorporated herein by reference).
Pulmonary/Nasal Administration
For pulmonary administration, preferably at least one anti-TNF antibody composition
is delivered in a particle size effective for reaching the lower airways of the lung or sinuses.
According to the invention, at least one anti-TNF antibody can be delivered by any of a variety
of inhalation or nasal devices known in the art for administration of a therapeutic agent by
inhalation. These devices capable of depositing aerosolized formulations in the sinus cavity or
alveoli of a patient include metered dose inhalers, nebulizers, dry powder generators, sprayers,
and the like. Other devices suitable for directing the pulmonary or nasal administration of
antibothes are also known in the art. All such devices can use of formulations suitable for the
administration for the dispensing of antibody in an aerosol. Such aerosols can be comprised of
either solutions (both aqueous and non aqueous) or solid particles. Metered dose inhalers like
the Ventolin® metered dose inhaler, typically use a propellent gas and require actuation during
inspiration (See, e.g., WO 94/16970, WO 98/35888). Dry powder inhalers like Turbuhaler™
(Astra), Rotahaler® (Glaxo), Diskus® (Glaxo), Spiros™ inhaler (Dura), devices marketed by
Inhale Therapeutics, and the Spinhaler® powder inhaler (Fisons), use breath-actuation of a
mixed powder (US 4668218 Astra, EP 237507 Astra, WO 97/25086 Glaxo, WO 94/08552
Dura, US 5458135 Inhale, WO 94/06498 Fisons, entirely incorporated herein by reference).
Nebulizers like AERx™ Aradigm, the Ultravent® nebulizer (Mallinckrodt), and the Acorn II®
nebulizer (Marquest Medical Products) (US 5404871 Aradigm, WO 97/22376), the above
references entirely incorporated herein by reference, produce aerosols from solutions, while
metered dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, etc. generate small particle aerosols. These
specific examples of commercially available inhalation devices are intended to be a
representative of specific devices suitable for the practice of mis invention, and are not
intended as limiting the scope of the invention. Preferably, a composition comprising at least
one anti-TNF antibody is delivered by a dry powder inhaler or a sprayer. There are a several
desirable features of an inhalation device for administering at least one antibody of the present
invention. For example, delivery by the inhalation device is advantageously reliable,
reproducible, and accurate. The inhalation device can optionally deliver small dry particles,
e.g. less man about 10 urn, preferably about 1-5 urn, for good respirability
Administration of TNF antibody Compositions as a Spray
A spray including TNF antibody composition protein can be produced by forcing a
suspension or solution of at least one anti-TNF antibody through a nozzle under pressure. The
nozzle size and configuration, the applied pressure, and the liquid feed rate can be chosen to
achieve the desired output and particle size. An electrospray can be produced, for example, by
an electric field in connection with a capillary or nozzle feed. Advantageously, particles of at
least one anti-TNF antibody composition protein delivered by a sprayer have a particle size
less than about 10 urn, preferably in the range of about 1 pm to about 5 um, and most
preferably about 2 µm to about 3 µm.
Formulations of at least one anti-TNF antibody composition protein suitable for use
with a sprayer typically include antibody composition protein in an aqueous solution at a
concentration of about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg of at least one anti-TNF antibody composition
protein per ml of solution or mg/gm, or any range or value therein, e.g., but not lmited to, .1,
.2., .3, .4, .5, .6, .7, .8, .9, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27,28, 29, 30,40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 mg/ml or mg/gm. The
formulation can include agents such as an excipient, a buffer, an isotonicity agent, a
preservative, a surfactant, and, preferably, zinc. The formulation can also include an excipient
or agent for stabilization of the antibody composition protein, such as a buffer, a reducing
agent, a bulk protein, or a carbohydrate. Bulk proteins useful in formulating antibody
composition proteins include albumin, protamine, or the like. Typical carbohydrates useful in
formulating antibody composition proteins include sucrose, mannitol, lactose, trehalose,
glucose, or the like. The antibody composition protein formulation can also include a
surfactant, which can reduce or prevent surface-induced aggregation of the antibody
composition protein caused by atomization of the solution in forming an aerosol. Various
conventional surfactants can be employed, such as polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters and
alcohols, and polyoxyethylene sorbitol fatty acid esters. Amounts will generally range
between 0.001 and 14% by weight of the formulation. Especially preferred surfactants for
purposes of this invention are polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polysorbate 80,
polysorbate 20, or the like. Additional agents known in the art for formulation of a protein
such as TNF antibothes, or specified portions or variants, can also be included in the
formulation.
Administration of TNF antibody compositions by a Nebulizer
antibody composition protein can be administered by a nebulizer, such as jet nebulizer
or an ultrasonic nebulizer. Typically, in a jet nebulizer, a compressed air source is used to
create a high-velocity air jet through an orifice. As the gas expands beyond the nozzle, a low-
pressure region is created, which draws a solution of antibody composition protein through a
capillary tube connected to a liquid reservoir. The liquid stream from the capillary tube is
sheared into unstable filaments and droplets as it exits the tube, creating the aerosol. A range
of configurations, flow rates, and baffle types can be employed to achieve the desired
performance characteristics from a given jet nebulizer. In an ultrasonic nebulizer, high-
frequency electrical energy is used to create vibrational, mechanical energy, typically
employing a piezoelectric transducer. This energy is transmitted to the formulation of
antibody composition protein either directly or through a coupling fluid, creating an aerosol
including the antibody composition protein. Advantageously, particles of antibody
composition protein delivered by a nebulizer have a particle size less than about 10 µm,
preferably in the range of about 1 µm to about 5 µm, and most preferably about 2 µm to about
3 µm.
Formulations of at least one anti-TNF antibody suitable for use with a nebulizer, either
jet or ultrasonic, typically include a concentration of about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg of at least
one anti-TNF antibody protein per ml of solution. The formulation can include agents such as
an excipient, a buffer, an isotonicity agent, a preservative, a surfactant, and, preferably, zinc.
The formulation can also include an excipient or agent for stabilization of the at least one and-
TNF antibody composition protein, such as a buffer, a reducing agent, a bulk protein, or a
carbohydrate. Bulk proteins useful in formulating at least one anti-TNF antibody composition
proteins include albumin, protamine, or the like. Typical carbohydrates useful in formulating
at least one anti-TNF antibody include sucrose, mannitol, lactose, trehalose, glucose, or the
like. The at least one anti-TNF antibody formulation can also include a surfactant, which can
reduce or prevent surface-induced aggregation of the at least one anti-TNF antibody caused by
atomization of the solution in forming an aerosol. Various conventional surfactants can be
employed, such as polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters and alcohols, and polyoxyethylene
sorbital fatty acid esters. Amounts will generally range between 0.001 and 4% by weight of
the formulation. Especially preferred surfactants for purposes of this invention are
polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate, polysorbate 80, polysorbate 20, or the like. Additional
agents known in the art for formulation of a protein such as antibody protein can also be
included in the formulation.
Administration of TNF antibody compositions By A Metered Dose Inhaler
In a metered dose inhaler (MDI), a propellant, at least one anti-TNF antibody, and any
excipients or other additives are contained in a canister as a mixture including a liquefied
compressed gas. Actuation of the metering valve releases the mixture as an aerosol, preferably
containing particles in the size range of less than about 10 urn, preferably about 1 urn to about
5 urn, and most preferably about 2 urn to about 3 µm. The desired aerosol particle size can be
obtained by employing a formulation of antibody composition protein produced by various
methods known to those of skill in the art, including jet-milling, spray drying, critical point
condensation, or the like. Preferred metered dose inhalers include those manufactured by 3M
or Glaxo and employing a hydrofluorocarbon propellant.
Formulations of at least one anti-TNF antibody for use with a metered-dose inhaler
device will generally include a finely divided powder containing at least one anti-TNF
antibody as a suspension in a non-aqueous medium, for example, suspended in a propellant
with the aid of a surfactant. The propellant can be any conventional material employed for this
purpose, such as chlorofluorocarbon, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon, a hydrofluorocarbon, or a
hydrocarbon, including trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane,
dichlorotetrafluoroethanol and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, HFA-134a (hydroiluroalkane-134a),
HFA-227 (hydrofluroalkane-227), or the like. Preferably the propellant is a
hydrofluorocarbon. The surfactant can be chosen to stabilize the at least one anti-TNF
antibody as a suspension in the propellant, to protect the active agent against chemical
degradation, and the like. Suitable surfactants include sorbitan trioleate, soya lecithin, oleic
acid, or the like. In some cases solution aerosols are preferred using solvents such as ethanol.
Additional agents known in the art for formulation of a protein such as protein can also be
included in the formulation.
One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the methods of the current invention
can be achieved by pulmonary administration of at least one anti-TNF antibody compositions
via devices not described herein.
Oral Formulations and Administration
Formulations for oral rely on the co-administration of adjuvants (e.g., resorcinols and
nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene oleyl ether and n-hexadecylpolyethylene ether)
to increase artificially the permeability of the intestinal walls, as well as the co-administration
of enzymatic inhibitors (e.g., pancreatic trypsin inhibitors, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFF)
and trasylol) to inhibit enzymatic degradation. The active constituent compound of the solid-
type dosage form for oral administration can be mixed with at least one additive, including
sucrose, lactose, cellulose, mannitol, trehalose, raffinose, maltitol, dextran, starches, agar,
arginates, chitins, chitosans, pectins, gum tragacanth, gum arabic, gelatin, collagen, casein,
albumin, synthetic or semisynthetic polymer, and glyceride. These dosage forms can also
contain other type(s) of additives, e.g., inactive diluting agent, lubricant such as magnesium
stearate, paraben, preserving agent such as sorbic acid, ascorbic acid, .alpha.-tocopherol,
antioxidant such as cysteine, disintegrator, binder, thickener, buffering agent, sweetening
agent, flavoring agent, perfuming agent, etc.
Tablets and pills can be further processed into enteric-coated preparations. The liquid
preparations for oral administration include emulsion, syrup, elixir, suspension and solution
preparations allowable for medical use. These preparations can contain inactive diluting agents
ordinarily used in said field, e.g., water. Liposomes have also been described as drug delivery
systems for insulin and heparin (U.S. Pat No. 4,239,754). More recently, microspheres of
artificial polymers of mixed amino acids (proteinoids) have been used to deliver
Pharmaceuticals (U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,673). Furthermore, carrier compounds described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,879,681 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,5,871,753 are used to deliver biologically active agents
orally are known in the art.
Mucosal Formulations and Administration
For absorption through mucosal surfaces, compositions and methods of administering
at least one anti-TNF antibody include an emulsion comprising a plurality of submicron
particles, a mucoadhesive macromolecule, a bioactive peptide, and an aqueous continuous
phase, which promotes absorption through mucosal surfaces by achieving mucoadhesion of the
emulsion particles (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,514,670). Mucous surfaces suitable for application of the
emulsions of the present invention can include comeal, conjunctiva!, buccal, sublingual, nasal,
vaginal, pulmonary, stomachic, intestinal, and rectal routes of administration. Formulations
for vaginal or rectal administration, e.g. suppositories, can contain as excipients, for example,
polyalkyleneglycols, vaseline, cocoa butter, and the like. Formulations for intranasal
administration can be solid and contain as excipients, for example, lactose or can be aqueous
or oily solutions of nasal drops. For buccal administration excipients include sugars, calcium
stearate, magnesium stearate, pregelinatined starch, and the like (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,849,695).
Transdermal Formulations and Administration
For transdermal administration, the at least one anti-TNF antibody is encapsulated in a
delivery device such as a liposome or polymeric nanoparticles, microparticle, microcapsule, or
microspheres (referred to collectively as microparticles unless otherwise stated). A number of
suitable devices are known, including microparticles made of synthetic polymers such as
polyhydroxy acids such as polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and copolymers thereof,
polyorthoesters, polyanhydrides, and polyphosphazenes, and natural polymers such as
collagen, polyamino acids, albumin and other proteins, alginate and other polysaccharides, and
combinations thereof (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,814,599).
Prolonged Administration and Formulations
It can be sometimes desirable to deliver the compounds of the present invention to the
subject over prolonged periods of time, for example, for periods of one week to one year from
a single administration. Various slow release, depot or implant dosage forms can be utilized.
For example, a dosage form can contain a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic salt of the
compounds that has a low degree of solubility in body fluids, for example, (a) an acid addition
salt with a polybasic acid such as phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, tannic
acid, pamoic acid, alginic acid, polyglutamic acid, naphthalene mono- or di-sulfonic acids,
polygalacturonic acid, and the like; (b) a salt with a polyvalent metal cation such as zinc,
calcium, bismuth, barium, magnesium, aluminum, copper, cobalt, nickel, cadmium and the
like, or with an organic cation formed from e.g., N.N'-dibenzyl-ethylenediarnine or
ethylenediamine; or (c) combinations of (a) and (b) e.g. a zinc tannate salt Additionally, the
compounds of the present invention or, preferably, a relatively insoluble salt such as those just
described, can be formulated in a gel, for example, an aluminum monostearate gel with, e.g.
sesame oil, suitable for injection. Particularly preferred salts are zinc salts, zinc tannate salts,
pamoate salts, and the like. Another type of slow release depot formulation for injection would
contain the compound or salt dispersed for encapsulated in a slow degrading, non-toxic, non-
antigenic polymer such as a polylactic acid/polyglycolic acid polymer for example as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919. The compounds or, preferably, relatively insoluble salts
such as those described above can also be formulated in cholesterol matrix silastic pellets,
particularly for use in animals. Additional slow release, depot or implant formulations, e.g. gas
or liquid liposomes are known in the literature (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,770,222 and "Sustained and
Controlled Release Drug Delivery Systems", J. R. Robinson ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y.,
1978).
Having generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood by
reference to the following examples, which are provided by way of illustration and are not
intended as limiting.
Example 1: Cloning and Expression of TNF antibody in Mammalian Cells
A typical mammalian expression vector contains at least one promoter element, which
mediates the initiation of transcription of mRNA, the antibody coding sequence, and signals
required for the termination of transcription and polyadenylation of the transcript. Additional
elements include enhancers, Kozak sequences and intervening sequences flanked by donor and
acceptor sites for RNA splicing. Highly efficient transcription can be achieved with the early
and late promoters from SV40, the long terminal repeats (LTRS) from Retroviruses, e.g., RSV,
HTLVI, HTVI and the early promoter of the cytomegalovirus (CMV). However, cellular
elements can also be used (e.g., the human actin promoter). Suitable expression vectors for
use in practicing the present invention include, for example, vectors such as pIRESlneo,
pRetro-Off, pRetro-On, PLXSN, or pLNCX (Clonetech Labs, Palo Alto, CA), pcDNA3.1 (+/-),
pcDNA/Zeo (+/-) or pcDNA3.1/Hygro (+/-) (Invitrogen), PSVL and PMSG (Pharmacia,
Uppsala, Sweden), pRSVcat (ATCC 37152), pSV2dhfr (ATCC 37146) and pBC12MI (ATCC
67109). Mammalian host cells that could be used include human Hela 293.H9 and Jurkat
cells, mouse NIH3T3 and C127 cells, Cos 1, Cos 7 and CV 1, quail QC1-3 cells, mouse L cells
and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.
Alternatively, the gene can be expressed in stable cell lines that contain the gene
integrated into a chromosome. The co-transfection with a selectable marker such as dhfr, gpt,
neomycin, or hygromycin allows the identification and isolation of the transfected cells.
The transfected gene can also be amplified to express large amounts of the encoded
antibody. The DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase) marker is useful to develop cell lines that carry
several hundred or even several thousand copies of the gene of interest. Another useful
selection marker is the enzyme glutamine synthase (GS) (Murphy, ct al., Biochem. J. 227:277-
279 (1991); Bebbington, et al., Bio/Technology 10:169-175 (1992)). Using these markers, the
mammalian cells are grown in selective medium and the cells with the highest resistance are
selected. These cell lines contain the amplified gene(s) integrated into a chromosome. Chinese
hamster ovary (CHO) and NSO cells are often used for the production of antibothes.
The expression vectors pCl and pC4 contain the strong promoter (LTR) of the Rous
Sarcoma Virus (Cullen, et al., Molec. Cell. Biol. 5:438-447 (1985)) plus a fragment of the
CMV-enhancer (Boshart, et al., Cell 41:521-530 (1985)). Multiple cloning sites, e.g., with the
restriction enzyme cleavage sites BamHI, Xbal and Asp718, facilitate the cloning of the gene
of interest. The vectors contain in addition the 3' intron, the polyadenylation and termination
signal of the rat preproinsulin gene.
Cloning and Expression in CHO Cells
The vector pC4 is used for the expression of TNF antibody. Plasmid pC4 is a
derivative of the plasmid pSV2-dhfr (ATCC Accession No. 37146). The plasmid contains the
mouse DHFR gene under control of the SV40 early promoter. Chinese hamster ovary- or other
cells lacking dihydrofolate activity that are transfected with these plasmids can be selected by
growing the cells in a selective medium (e.g., alpha minus MEM, Life Technologies,
Gaithersburg, MD) supplemented with the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate. The
amplification of the DHFR genes in cells resistant to methotrexate (MTX) has been well
documented (see, e.g., F. W. Alt, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 253:1357-1370 (1978); J. L. Hamlin and
C. Ma, Biochem. et Biophys. Acta 1097:107-143 (1990); and M. J. Page and M. A. Sydenham,
Biotechnology 9:64-68 (1991)). Celis grown in increasing concentrations of MTX develop
resistance to the drug by overproducing the target enzyme, DHFR, as a result of amplification
of the DHFR gene. If a second gene is linked to the DHFR gene, it is usually co-amplified and
over-expressed. It is known in the art that this approach can be used to develop cell lines
carrying more than 1,000 copies of the amplified gene(s). Subsequently, when the
methotrexate is withdrawn, cell lines are obtained that contain the amplified gene integrated
into one or more chromosome(s) of the host cell.
Plasmid pC4 contains for expressing the gene of interest the strong promoter of the
long terminal repeat (LTR) of the Rous Sarcoma Virus (Cullen, et al., Molec. Cell. Biol.
5:438-447 (1985)) plus a fragment isolated from the enhancer of the immediate early gene of
human cytomegalovirus (CMV) (Boshart, et al., Cell 41:521-530 (1985)). Downstream of the
promoter are BamHI, Xbal, and Asp718 restriction enzyme cleavage sites that allow
integration of the genes. Behind these cloning sites the plasmid contains the 3' intron and
polyadenylation site of the rat preproinsulin gene. Other high efficiency promoters can also be
used for the expression, e.g., the human b-actin promoter, the S V40 early or late promoters or
the long terminal repeats from other retroviruses, e.g., HIV and HTLVI. Clontech's Tet-Off
and Tct-On gene expression systems and similar systems can be used to express the TNF in a
regulated way in mammalian cells (M. Gossen, and H. Bujard, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:
5547-5551 (1992)). For the polyadenylation of the mRNA other signals, e.g., from the human
growth hormone or globin genes can be used as well. Stable cell lines carrying a gene of
interest integrated into the chromosomes can also be selected upon co-transfection with a
selectable marker such as gpt, G418 or hygromycin. It is advantageous to use more than one
selectable marker in the beginning, e.g., G418 plus methotrexate.
The plasmid pC4 is digested with restriction enzymes and then dephosphorylated
using calf intestinal phosphatase by procedures known in the art. The vector is then isolated
from a 1% agarose gel.
The isolated variable and constant region encoding DNA and the dephosphorylated
vector are then ligated with T4 DNA ligase. E. coli HB101 or XL-1 Blue cells are then
transformed and bacteria are identified that contain the fragment inserted into plasmid pC4
using, for instance, restriction enzyme analysis.
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells lacking an active DHFR gene are used for
transfection. 5 g of the expression plasmid pC4 is cotransfected with 0.5 g of the plasmid
pSV2-neo using lipofectin. The plasmid pSV2neo contains a dominant selectable marker, the
neo gene from Tn5 encoding an enzyme that confers resistance to a group of antibiotics
including G418. The cells are seeded in alpha minus MEM supplemented with 1 g /ml
G418. After 2 days, the cells are trypsinized and seeded in hybridoma cloning plates (Greiner,
Germany) in alpha minus MEM supplemented with 10,25, or 50 ng/ml of methotrexate plus 1
g /ml G418. After about 10-14 days single clones are trypsinized and then seeded in 6-well
petri dishes or 10 ml flasks using different concentrations of methotrexate (50 nM, 100 nM,
200 nM, 400 nM, 800 nM). Clones growing at the highest concentrations of methotrexate are
then transferred to new 6-well plates containing even higher concentrations of methotrexate
(1 mM, 2 mM, 5 mM, 10 mM, 20 mM). The same procedure is repeated until clones are
obtained that grow at a concentration of 100 - 200 mM. Expression of the desired gene
product is analyzed, for instance, by SDS-PAGE and Western blot or by reverse phase HPLC
analysis.
Example 2: Generation of High Affinity Human IgG Monoclonal Antibothes Reactive
With Human TNF Using Transgenic Mice ^
Summary
Transgenic mice have been used that contain human heavy and light chain
immunoglobulin genes to generate high affinity, completely human, monoclonal antibothes
that can be used therapeutically to inhibit the action of TNF for the treatment of one or more
TNF-mediated disease. (CBA/J x C57/BL6/J) F2 hybrid mice containing human variable and
constant region antibody transgenes for both heavy and light chains are immunized with
human recombinant TNF (Taylor et al., Intl. Immunol. 6:579-591 (1993); Lonberg, et al.,
Nature 368:856-859 (1994); Neuberger, M., Nature Biotech. 14:826(1996); Fishwild, et al.,
Nature Biotechnology 14:845-851 (1996)). Several fusions yielded one or more panels of
completely human TNF reactive IgG monoclonal antibothes. The completely human anti-TNF
antibothes are further characterized. All are IgGl . Such antibothes are found to have
affinity constants somewhere between lxlO'and 9xlO12. The unexpectedly high affinities of
these fully human monoclonal antibothes make them suitable candidates for therapeutic
applications in TNF related diseases, pathologies or disorders.
Transgenic mice that can express human antibothes are known in the art (and are
commccially available (e.g., from GenPharm International, San Jose, CA; Abgenix, Freemont,
CA, and others) mat express human immunoglobulins but not mouse IgM or Ig . For
example, such transgenic mice contain human sequence transgenes that undergo V(D)J joining,
heavy-chain class switching, and somatic mutation to generate a repertoire of human sequence
immunoglobulins (Lonberg, et al., Nature 368:856-859 (1994)). The light chain transgene can
be derived, e.g., in part from a yeast artificial chromosome clone that includes nearly half of
the germline human V region. In addition, the heavy-chain transgene can encode both
human u and human 1 (Fishwild, et al., Nature Biotechnology 14:845-851 (1996)) and/or 3
constant regions. Mice derived from appropriate genotopic lineages can be used in the
immunization and fusion processes to generate fully human monoclonal antibothes to TNF.
Immunization
One or more immunization schedules can be used to generate the anti-TNF human
hybridomas. The first several fusions can be performed after the following exemplary
immunization protocol, but other similar known protocols can be used. Several 14-20 week
old female and/or surgically castrated transgenic male mice are immunized IP and/or ID with
1-1000 ug of recombinant human TNF emulsified with an equal volume of TITERMAX or
complete Freund's adjuvant in a final volume of 100-400µL (e.g., 200). Each mouse can also
optionally receive 1-10 ug in 100 µL physiological saline at each of 2 SQ sites. The mice can
then be immunized 1-7, 5-12, 10-18, 17-25 and/or 21-34 days later IP (1-400 µg) and SQ (1-
400 µg x 2) with TNF emulsified with an equal volume of TITERMAX or incomplete
Freund's adjuvant. Mice can be bled 12-25 and 25-40 days later by retro-orbital puncture
without anti-coagulant. The blood is then allowed to clot at RT for one hour and the serum is
collected and titered using an TNF EIA assay according to known methods. Fusions are
performed when repeated injections do not cause titers to increase. At that time, the mice can
be given a final IV booster injection of 1-400 µg TNF diluted in 100 µL physiological saline.
Three days later, the mice can be euthanized by cervical dislocation and the spleens removed
aseptically and immersed in 10 mL of cold phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 100
U/mL penicillin, 100 µg/mL streptomycin, and 0.25 µg/mL amphotericin B (PSA). The
splenocytes are harvested by sterilely perfusing the spleen with PSA-PBS. The cells are
washed once in cold PSA-PBS, counted using Trypan blue dye exclusion and resuspended in
RPMI1640 media containing 25 mM Hepes.
Cell Fusion
Fusion can be carried out at a 1:1 to 1:10 ratio of murine myeloma cells to viable
spleen cells according to known methods, e.g., as known in the art. As a non-limiting
example, spleen cells and myeloma cells can be pelleted together. The pellet can then be
slowly resuspended, over 30 seconds, in 1 mL of 50% (w/v) PEG/PBS solution (PEG
molecular weight 1,450, Sigma) at 37 C. The fusion can men be stopped by slowly adding
10.5 mL of RPMI 1640 medium containing 25 mM Hepes (37 C) over! minute. The fused
cells are centrifuged for 5 minutes at 500-1500 rpm. The cells are then resuspended in HAT
medium (RPMI 1640 medium containing 25 mM Hepes, 10% Fetal Clone I serum (Hyclone),
1 mM sodium pyruvate, 4 mM L-glutamine, 10 µg/mL gentamicin, 2.5% Origen culturing
supplement (Fisher), 10% 653-conditioned RPMI 1640/Hepes media, 50 uM
2-mercaptoethanol, 100 uM hypoxanthine, 0.4 uM aminopterin, and 16 uM thymidine) and
then plated at 200 µL/well in fifteen 96-well flat bottom tissue culture plates. The plates are
then placed in a humidified 37 C incubator containing 5% CO2 and 95% air for 7-10 days.
Detection of Human IgG Anti-TNF Antibothes in Mouse Serum
Solid phase EIA's can be used to screen mouse sera for human IgG antibothes specific
for human TNF. Briefly, plates can be coated with TNF at 2 µg/mL in PBS overnight. After
washing in 0.15M saline containing 0.02% (v/v) Tween 20, the wells can be blocked with 1%
(w/v) BSA in PBS, 200 |iL/well for 1 hour at RT. Plates are used immediately or frozen at -20
C for future use. Mouse serum dilutions are incubated on the TNF coated plates at 50 µL/well
at RT for 1 hour. The plates are washed and then probed with 50 µL/well HRP-labeled goat
anti-human IgG, Fc specific diluted 1:30,000 in 1% BSA-PBS for 1 hour at RT. The plates
can again be washed and 100 µL/well of the citrate-phosphate substrate solution (0.1M citric
acid and 0.2M sodium phosphate, 0.01% H2O2 and I mg/mL OPD) is added for 15 minutes at
RT. Stop solution (4N sulfuric acid) is then added at 25 µL/well and the OD's are read at 490
run via an automated plate spectrophotometer.
Detection of Completely Human Immunoglobulins in Hybridoma Supernates
Growth positive hybridomas secreting fully human immunoglobulins can be detected
using a suitable EIA. Briefly, 96 well pop-out plates (VWR, 610744) can be coated with 10
µg/mL goat anti-human IgG Fc in sodium carbonate buffer overnight at 4 C. The plates are
washed and blocked with 1% BSA-PBS for one hour at 37°C and used immediately or frozen
at -20 C. Undiluted hybridoma supematants are incubated on the plates for one hour at 37°C.
The plates are washed and probed with HRP labeled goat anti-human kappa diluted 1:10,000 in
1% BSA-PBS for one hour at 37°C. The plates are then incubated with substrate solution as
described above.
Determination of Folly Human Anti-TNF Reactivity
Hybridomas, as above, can be simultaneously assayed for reactivity to TNF using a
suitable RIA or other assay. For example, supematants are incubated on goat anti-human IgG
Fc plates as above, washed and then probed with radiolabled TNF with appropriate counts per
well for 1 hour at RT. The wells are washed twice with PBS and bound radiolabled TNF is
quantitated using a suitable counter.
Human IgGl anti-TNF secreting hybridomas can be expanded in cell culture and
serially subcloned by limiting dilution. The resulting clonal populationsrcan be expanded and
cryopreserved in freezing medium (95% FBS, 5% DMSO) and stored in liquid nitrogen.
Isotyping
Isotype determination of the antibothes can be accomplished using an EIA in a format
similar to that used to screen the mouse immune sera for specific titers. TNF can be coated on
96- well plates as described above and purified antibody at 2 µg/mL can be incubated on the
plate for one hour at RT. The plate is washed and probed with HRP labeled goat anti-human
IgG, or HRP labeled goat anti-human IgG3 diluted at 1:4000 in 1% BSA-PBS for one hour at
RT. The plate is again washed and incubated with substrate solution as described above.
Binding Kinetics of Human Anti-Human TNF Antibothes With Human TNF
Binding characteristics for antibothes can be suitably assessed using an TNF capture
EIA and BIAcore technology, for example. Graded concentrations of purified human TNF
antibothes can be assessed for binding to EIA plates coated with 2 µg/mL of TNF in assays as
described above. The OD's can be then presented as semi-log plots showing relative binding
efficiencies.
Quantitative binding constants can be obtained, e.g., as follows, or by any other known
suitable method. A BlAcore CM-5 (carboxymethyl) chip is placed in a BIAcore 2000 unit.
HBS buffer (0.01 M HEPES, 0.15 M NaCl, 3 mM EDTA, 0.005% v/v P20 surfactant, pH 7.4)
is flowed over a flow cell of the chip at 5 u-L/minute until a stable baseline is obtained. A
solution (100 uL) of 15 mgof EDC (N-ethyl-N'-(3-dimethyl-aminopropyl)-carbodiimide
hydrochloride) in 200 uL water is added to 100 uL of a solution of 2.3 mg of NHS
(N-hydroxysuccinimide) in 200 uL water. Forty (40) uL of the resulting solution is injected
onto the chip. Six uL of a solution of human TNF (15 µg/mL in 10 mM sodium acetate, pH
4.8) is injected onto the chip, resulting in an increase of ca. 500 RU. The buffer is changed to
TBS/Ca/Mg/BSA running buffer (20 mM Tris, 0.15 M sodium chloride, 2 mM calcium
chloride, 2 mM magnesium acetate, 0.5% Triton X-100,25 µg/mL BSA, pH 7.4) and flowed
over the chip overnight to equilibrate it and to hydrolyze or cap any unreacted succinimide
esters.
Antibothes are dissolved in the running buffer at 33.33,16.67, 8.33, and 4.17 nM. The
flow rate is adjusted to 30 µL/min and the instrument temperature to 25 C. Two flow cells are
used for the kinetic runs, one on which TNF had been immobilized (sample) and a second,
underivatized flow cell (blank). 120 uL of each antibody concentration is injected over the
flow cells at 30 µL/min (association phase) followed by an uninterrupted 360 seconds of buffer
flow (dissociation phase). The surface of the chip is regenerated (tissue necrosis factor alpha
/antibody complex dissociated) by two sequential injections of 30 uL each of 2 M guanidine
thiocyanate.
Analysis of the data is done using BIA evaluation 3.0 or CLAMP 2.0, as known in the
art. For each antibody concentration the blank sensogram is subtracted from the sample
sensogram. A global fit is done for both dissociation (kd sec-1) and association (k,. mol-1 sec-1)
and the dissociation constant (KD, mol) calculated (kd/ka). Where the antibody affinity is high
enough that the RUs of antibody captured are >100, additional dilutions of the antibody are
run.
Results and Discussion
Generation of Anti-Human TNF Monoclonal Antibothes
Several fusions are performed and each fusion is seeded in 15 plates (1440
wells/fusion) that yield several dozen antibothes specific for human TNF. Of these, some are
found to consist of a combination of human and mouse Ig chains. The remaining hybridomas
secret anti-TNF antibothes consisting solely of human heavy and light chains. Of the human
hybridomas all are expected to be IgGl
Binding Kinetics of Human Anti-Human TNF Antibothes
ELISA analysis confirms that purified antibody from most or all of these hybridomas
bind TNF in a concentration-dependent manner. Figures 1-2 show the results of the relative
binding efficiency of these antibothes. In this case, the avidity of the antibody for its cognate
antigen (epitope) is measured. It should be noted that binding TNF directly to the EIA plate
can cause denaturation of the protein and the apparent binding affinities cannot be reflective of
binding to undenatured protein. Fifty percent binding is found over a range of concentrations.
Quantitative binding constants are obtained using BIAcore analysis of the human
antibothes and reveals that several of the human monoclonal antibothes are very high affinity
with KDin the range of 1x10' to 7xl(T12.
Conclusions
Several fusions are performed utilizing splenocytes from hybrid mice containing
human variable and constant region antibody transgenes that are immunized with human TNF.
A set of several completely human TNF reactive IgG monoclonal antibothes of the IgGl
isotype are generated. The completely human anti-TNF antibothes are further characterized.
Several of generated antibothes have affinity constants between 1x109 and 9x1012. The
unexpectedly high affinities of these fully human monoclonal antibothes make them suitable
for therapeutic applications in TNF-dependent diseases, pathologies or related conditions.
Example 2: Generation of Human IgG Monoclonal Antibothes Reactive to Human TNFV
Summary
(CBA/J x C57BL/6J) F2 hybrid mice (1-4) containing human variable and
constant region antibody transgenes for both heavy and light chains were immunized with
recombinant human TNFV. One fusion, named GenTNV, yielded eight totally human IgGlik
monoclonal antibothes that bind to immobilized recombinant human TNFa. Shortly after
identification, the eight cell lines were transferred to Molecular Biology for further
characterization. As these Mabs are totally human in sequence, they are expected to be less
immunogenic than cA2 (Remicade) in humans.
Abbreviations
BSA - bovine serum albumin
CO, - carbon dioxide
DMSO - dimethyl sulfoxide
Transgenic mice that contain human heavy and light chain immunoglobulin genes
were utilized to generate totally human monoclonal antibothes that are specific to recombinant
human TNFV. It is hoped that these unique antibothes can be used, as cA2 (Remicade) is used
to therapeutically inhibit the inflammatory processes involved in TNFV-mediated disease with
the benefit of increased serum half-life and decreased side effects relating to immunogenicity.
Materials and Methods
Animals
Transgenic mice that express human immunoglobulins, but not mouse IgM or IgK,
have been developed by GenPharm International. These mice contain functional human
antibody transgcnes that undergo V(D)J joining, heavy-chain class switching and somatic
mutation to generate a repertoire of antigen-specific human immunoglobulins (1). The light
chain transgenes are derived in part from a yeast artificial chromosome clone that includes
nearly half of the germline human Vk locus. In addition to several VH genes, the heavy-chain
(HC) transgene encodes both human µ and human ?1 (2) and/or ?3 constant regions. A mouse
derived from the HCol2/KCo5 genotypic lineage was used in the immunization and fusion
process to generate the monoclonal antibothes described here.
Purification of Human TNFV
Human TNFV was purified from tissue culture supernatant from C237A cells by
affinity chromatography using a column packed with the TNFV receptor-Fc fusion protein
(p55-sf2) (5) coupled to Sepharose 4B (Pharmacia). The cell supernatant was mixed with one-
ninth its volume of 10x Dulbecco's PBS (D-PBS) and passed through the column at 4 ° C at 4
mL/min. The column was then washed with PBS and the TNFV was eluted with 0.1 M sodium
citrate, pH 3.5 and neutralized with 2 M Tris-HCl pH 8.5. The purified TNFV was buffer
exchanged into 10 mM Tris, 0.12 M sodium chloride pH 7.5 and filtered through a 0.2 urn
syringe filter.
Immunizations
A female GenPharm mouse, approximately 16 weeks old, was immunized IP (200 µL)
and ID (100 µL at the base of the tail) with a total of 100 µg of TNFV (lot JG102298 or
JG102098) emulsified with an equal volume of Titermax adjuvant on days 0,12 and 28. The
mouse was bled on days 21 and 35 by retro-orbital puncture without anti-coagulant The blood
was allowed to clot at RT for one hour and the serum was collected and titered using TNFV
solid phase EIA assay. The fusion, named GenTNV, was performed after the mouse was
allowed to rest for seven weeks following injection on day 28. The mouse, with a specific
human IgG titer of 1:160 against TNFV, was then given a final IV booster injection of 50 ug
TNFV diluted in 100 uL physiological saline. Three days later, the mouse was euthanized by
cervical dislocation and the spleen was removed aseptically and immersed in 10 mL of cold
phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 µg/mL streptomycin,
and 0.25 µg/mL amphotericin B (PSA). The splenocytes were harvested by sterilely perfusing
the spleen with PSA-PBS. The cells were washed once in cold PSA-PBS, counted using a
Coulter counter and resuspended in RPMI1640 media containing 25 mM Hepes.
Cell Lines
The non-secreting mouse myeloma fusion partner, 653 was received into Cell Biology
Services (CBS) group on 5-14-97 from Centocor's Product Development group. The cell line
was expanded in RPMI medium (JRH Biosciences) supplemented with 10% (v/v) FBS (Cell
Culture Labs), 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.1 mM NEAA, 2 mM L-glutamine (all from JRH
Biosciences) and cryopreserved in 95% FBS and 5% DMSO (Sigma), then stored in a vapor
phase liquid nitrogen freezer in CBS. The cell bank was sterile (Quality Control Centocor,
Malvem) and free of mycoplasma (Bionique Laboratories). Cells were maintained in log
phase culture until fusion. They were washed in PBS, counted, and viability determined
(>95%) via trypan blue dye exclusion prior to fusion.
Human TNFV was produced by a recombinant cell line, named C237A,
generated in Molecular Biology at Centocor. The cell line was expanded in IMDM medium
(JRH Biosciences) supplemented with 5% (v/v) FBS (Cell Culture Labs), 2 mM L-glutamine
(all from JRH Biosciences), and 0.5 :g/mL mycophenolic acid, and cryopreserved in 95% FBS
and 5% DMSO (Sigma), then stored in a vapor phase liquid nitrogen freezer in CBS (13). The
cell bank was sterile (Quality Control Centocor, Malvem) and free of mycoplasma (Bionique
Laboratories).
Cell Fusion
The cell fusion was carried out using a 1:1 ratio of 653 murine myeloma cells and
viable murine spleen cells. Briefly, spleen cells and myeloma cells were pelleted together.
The pellet was slowly resuspended over a 30 second period in 1 mL of 50% (w/v) PEG/PBS
solution (PEG molecular weight of 1,450 g/mole, Sigma) at 37°C. The fusion was stopped by
slowly adding 10.5 mL of RPMI media (no additives) (JRH) (37°C) over 1 minute. The fused
cells were centrifuged for 5 minutes at 750 rpm. The cells were then resuspended in HAT
medium (RPMI/HEPES medium containing 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (JRH), 1 mM sodium
pyruvate, 2 mM L-glutamine, 10 µg/mL gentamicin, 2.5% Origen culturing supplement
(Fisher), 50 uM 2-mercaptoethanol, 1% 653-conditioned RPMI media, 100 uM hypoxanthine,
0.4 uM aminopterin, and 16 uM thymidine) and then plated at 200 µL/well in five 96-well flat
bottom tissue culture plates. The plates were then placed in a humidified 37°C incubator
containing 5% CO2 and 95% air for 7-10 days.
Detection of Human IgG Anti-TNFV Antibothes in Mouse Serum
Solid phase EIAs were used to screen mouse sera for human IgG antibothes specific
for human TNFV. Briefly, plates were coated with TNFV at 1 µg/inL in PBS overnight. After
washing in 0.15 M saline containing 0.02% (v/v) Tween 20, the wells were blocked with 1%
(w/v) BSA in PBS, 200 µL/well for 1 hour at RT. Plates were either used immediately or
frozen at -20 °C for future use. Mouse sera were incubated in two-fold serial dilutions on the
human TNFV-coated plates at 50 µL/well at RT for 1 hour. The plates were washed and then
probed with 50 µL/well HRP-labeled goat anti-human IgG, Fc specific (Accurate) diluted
1:30,000 in 1% BSA-PBS for 1 hour at RT. The plates were again washed and 100 µL/well of
the citrate-phosphate substrate solution (0.1 M citric acid and 0.2 M sodium phosphate, 0.01%
H2O2 and 1 mg/mL OPD) was added for 15 minutes at RT. Stop solution (4N sulfuric acid)
was then added at 25 µL/well and the OD's were read at 490 nm using an automated plate
spectrophotometer.
Detection of Totally Human Immunoglobulins in Hybridoma Supernatants
Because the GenPharm mouse is capable of generating both mouse and human
immunoglobulin chains, two separate EIA assays were used to test growth-positive hybridoma
clones for the presence of both human light chains and human heavy chains. Plates were
coated as described above and undiluted hybridoma supernatants were incubated on the plates
for one hour at 37°C. The plates were washed and probed with either HRP-conjugated goat
anti-human kappa (Southern Biotech)-antibody diluted 1:10,000 in 1% BSA-HBSS or HRP-
conjugated goat anti-human IgG Fc specific antibody diluted to 1:30,000 in 1% BSA-HBSS
for one hour at 37°C. The plates were then incubated with substrate solution as described
above. Hybridoma clones that did not give a positive signal in both the anti-human kappa and
anti-human IgG Fc EIA formats were discarded.
Isotyping
Isotype determination of the antibothes was accomplished using an EIA in a format
similar to that used to screen the mouse immune sera for specific titers. EIA plates were
coated with goat anti-human IgG (H+L) at 10 :g/mL in sodium carbonate buffer overnight at
4EC and blocked as described above. Neat supernatants from 24 well cultures were incubated
on the plate for one hour at RT. The plate was washed and probed with HRP-labeled goat
anti-human IgG,, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4 (Binding Site) diluted at 1:4000 in 1% BSA-PBS for one
hour at RT. The plate was again washed and incubated with substrate solution as described
above.
Results and Discussion
Generation of Totally Human Anti-Human TNFV Monoclonal Antibothes
One fusion, named GenTNV, was performed from a GenPharm mouse immunized
with recombinant human TNFV protein. From this fusion, 196 growth-positive hybrids were
screened. Eight hybridoma cell lines were identified that secreted totally human IgG
antibothes reactive with human TNFV. These eight cell lines each secreted immunoglobulins
of the human IgGlK isotype and all were subcloned twice by limiting dilution to obtain stable
cell lines (>90% homogeneous). Cell line names and respective C code designations are listed
in Table 1. Each of the cell lines was frozen in 12-vial research cell banks stored in liquid
nitrogen.
Parental cells collected from wells of a 24-well culture dish for each of the eight cell
lines were handed over to Molecular Biology group on 2-18-99 for transfection and further
characterization.
Conclusion
The GenTNV fusion was performed utilizing splenocytes from a hybrid mouse
containing human variable and constant region antibody transgenes that was immunized with
recombmant human TNFV prepared at Centocor. Eight totally human, TNFV-reactive IgG
monoclonal antibothes of the IgG Ik isotype were generated. Parental cell lines were
transferred to Molecular Biology group for further characterization and development. One of
these new human antibothes may prove useful in anti-inflammatory with the.potential benefit
of decreased immunogenicity and allergic-type complications as compared with Remicade.
mAbs were shown to efficiently block huTNFV binding to a recombinant TNF receptor.
Sequence analysis of the DNA encoding the seven mAbs confirmed that all the mAbs had
human V regions. The DNA sequences also revealed that three pairs of the mAbs were
identical to each other, such that the original panel of eight mAbs contained only four distinct
mAbs, represented by TNV14, TNV15, TNV14S, and TNV196. Based on analyses of the
deduced amino acid sequences of the mAbs and results of in vitro TNFV neutralization data,
mAb TNV148 and TNV14 were selected for further study.
Because the proline residue at position 75 (framework 3) in the TNV148 heavy chain
was not found at that position in other human antibothes of the same subgroup during a
database search, site-directed DNA mutagenesis was performed to encode a serine residue at
that position in order to have it conform to known germline framework e sequences. The
serine modified mAb was designated TNV148B. PCR-amplified DNA encoding the heavy
and light chain variable regions of TNV148B and TNV14 was cloned into newly prepared
expression vectors that were based on.the recently cloned heavy and light chain genes of
another human mAb (12B75), disclosed in US patent application No.________________,
filed October 7, 2000, entitled IL-12 Antibothes, Compositions, Methods and Uses, which is
entirely incorporated herein by reference.
P3X63Ag8.653 (653) cells or Sp2/0-Agl4 (Sp2/0) mouse myeloma cells were
transfected with the respective heavy and light chain expression plasmids and screened
through two rounds of subcloning for cell lines producing high levels of recombinant
TNV148B and TNV14 (rTNV148B and rTNV14) mAbs. Evaluations of growth curves and
stability of mAb production over time indicated that 653-transfectant clones C466D and
C466C stably produced approximately 125 :g/ml of rTNV148B mAb in spent cultures whereas
Sp2/0 transfectant 1.73-12-122 (C467A) stably produced approximately 25 :g/ml of
rTNV148B mAb in spent cultures. Similar analyses indicated that Sp2/0-transfectant clone
C476A produced 18 :g/ml of rTNV14 in spent cultures.
Introduction
A panel of eight mAbs derived from human TNFV-immunized GenPharm/Medarex
mice (HCol2/KCo5 genotype) were previously shown to bind human TNFV and to have a
totally human IgGl, kappa isotype. A simple binding assay was used to determine whether
the exemplary mAbs of the invention were likely to have TNFV-neutralizing activity by
evaluating their ability to block TNFV from binding to recombinant TNF receptor. Based on
those results, DNA sequence results, and in vitro characterizations of several of the mAbs,
TNV148 was selected as the mAb to be further characterized.
DNA sequences encoding the TNV148 mAb were cloned, modified to fit into gene
expression vectors that encode suitable constant regions, introduced into the well-characterized
653 and Sp2/0 mouse myeloma cells, and resulting transfected cell lines screened until
subclones were identified that produced 40-fold more mAb than the original hybridoma cell
line.
Materials and Methods
Reagents and Cells
TRIZOL reagent was purchased from Gibco BRL. Proteinase K was obtained from
Sigma Chemical Company. Reverse Transcriptase was obtained from Life Sciences, Inc. Taq
DNA Polymerase was obtained from either Perkin Elmer Cetus or Gibco BRL. Restriction
enzymes were purchased from New England Biolabs. QIAquick PCR Purification Kit was
from Qiagen. A QuikChange Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit was purchased from Stratagene.
Wizard plasmid miniprep kits and RNasin were from Promega. Optiplates were obtained from
Packard. l2IIodine was purchased from Amersham. Custom oligonucleotides were purchased
from Keystone/Biosource International. The names, identification numbers, and sequences of
the oligonucleotides used in this work are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Oligonucleotides used to done, engineer, or sequence the TNV mAb
genes. The amino acids encoded by oligonucleotide 5'14s and HuH-J6 are shown above the
sequence. The 'M' amino acid residue represents the translation start codon. .The underlined
sequences in oligonucleotides 5'14s and HuH-J6 mark the BsiWI and BstBI restriction sites,
respectively. The slash in HuH-J6 corresponds to the exon/intron boundary. Note that
oligonucleotides whose sequence corresponds to the minus strand are written in a 3-5'
orientation.
date, pelleted by centrifugation, and resuspended in 95% FBS, 5% DMSO, aliquoted into 30
vials, frozen, and stored for future use. Similarly, a single frozen vial of Sp2/0 mouse
myeloma cells was obtained. The vial was thawed, a new freeze-down prepared as described
above, and the frozen vials stored in CBC freezer boxes AA and AB. These cells were thawed
and used for all Sp2/0 transfections described here.
Assay for Inhibition of TNF Binding to Receptor
Hybridoma cell supernatants containing the TNV mAbs were used to assay for the
ability of the mAbs to block binding of l25I-labeled TNFV to the recombinant TNF receptor
fusion protein, p55-sf2 (Scallon et al. (1995) Cytokine 7:759-770). 50 :l of p55-sf2 at 0.5
:g/ml in PBS was added to Optiplates to coat the wells during a one-hour incubation at 37°C.
Serial dilutions of the eight TNV cell supernatants were prepared in 96-well round-bottom
plates using PBS/ 0.1% BSA as diluent. Cell supernatant containing anti-EL-18 mAb was
included as a negative control and the same anti-EL-18 supernatant spiked with cA2 (anti-TNF
chimeric antibody, Remicade, US patent No. 5,770,198, entirely incorporated herein by
reference) was included as a positive control. IMI-labeled TNFV (58 :Ci/:g, D. Shealy) was
added to 100 :1 of cell supernatants to have a final TNFV concentration of 5 ng/ml. The
mixture was preincubated for one hour at RT. The coated Optiplates were washed to remove
unbound p55-sf2 and 50 :1 of the I25I-TNFV/cell supernatant mixture was transferred to the
Optiplates. After 2 hrs at RT, Optiplates were washed three times with PBS-Tween. 100:1 of
Microscint-20 was added and the cpm bound determined using the TopCount gamma counter.
Amplification of V Genes and DNA Sequence Analysis
Hybridoma cells were washed once in PBS before addition of TRIZOL reagent for
RNA preparation. Between 7 X 106 and 1.7 X 107 cells were resuspended in 1 ml TRIZOL.
Tubes were shaken vigorously after addition of 200 |il of chloroform. Samples were
centrifuged at 4°C for 10 minutes. The aqueous phase was transferred to a fresh microfuge
tube and an equal volume of isopropanol was added. Tubes were shaken vigorously and
allowed to incubate at room temperature for 10 minutes. Samples were then centrifuged at 4°C
for 10 minutes. The pellets were washed once with 1 ml of 70% ethanol and dried briefly in a
vacuum dryer. The RNA pellets were resuspended with 40 \x\ of DEPC-treated water. The
quality of the RNA preparations was determined by fractionating 0.5 ul in a 1% agarose gel.
The RNA was stored in a -80°C freezer until used.
To prepare heavy and light chain cDNAs, mixtures were prepared that included 3 ul of
RNA and 1 jig of either oligonucleotide 119 (heavy chain) or oligonucleotide 117 (light chain)
(see Table 1) in a volume of 11.5 µl. The mixture was incubated at 70°C for 10 minutes in a
water bath and then chilled on ice for 10 minutes. A separate mixture was prepared that was
made up of 2.5 ul of 10X reverse transcriptase buffer, 10 µl of 2.5 mM dNTPs, 1 µl of reverse
transcriptase (20 units), and 0.4 µl of ribonuclease inhibitor RNasin (I unit). 13.5 µl of this
mixture was added to the 11.5 µl of the chilled RNA/oligonucleotide mixture and the reaction
incubated for 40 minutes at 42°C. The cDNA synthesis reaction was then stored in a -20°C
freezer until used.
The unpurified heavy and light chain cDNAs were used as templates to PCR-amplify
the variable region coding sequences. Five oligonucleotide pairs (366/354, 367/354,368/354,
369/354, and 370/354, Table 1) were simultaneously tested for their ability to prime
amplification of the heavy chain DNA. Two oligonucleotide pairs (362/208 and 363/208)
were simultaneously tested for their ability to prime amplification of the light chain DNA.
PCR reactions were carried out using 2 units of PLATINUM ™ high fidelity (HIFI) Taq DNA
polymerase in a total volume of 50 ul: Each reaction included 2 ul of a cDNA reaction, 10
pmoles of each oligonucleotide, 0.2 mM dNTPs, 5 ul of 10 X HIFI Buffer, and 2 mM
magnesium sulfate. The thermal cycler program was 95°C for 5 minutes followed by 30 cycles
of (94°C for 30 seconds, 62°C for 30 seconds, 68°C for 1.5 minutes). There was then a final
incubation at 68°C for 10 minutes.
To prepare the PCR products for direct DNA sequencing, they were purified using the
QIAquick™ PCR Purification Kit according to the manufacturer's protocol. The DNA was
eluted from the spin column using 50 ul of sterile water and then dried down to a volume of 10
µl using a vacuum dryer. DNA sequencing reactions were then set up with 1 ul of purified
PCR product, 10 µM oligonucleotide primer, 4 ul BigDye Terminator™ ready reaction mix,
and 14 ul sterile water for a total volume of 20 ul. Heavy chain PCR products made with
oligonucleotide pair 367/354 were sequenced with oligonucleotide primers 159 and 360. Light
chain PCR products made with oligonucleotide pair 363/208 were sequenced with
oligonucleotides 34 and 163. The thermal cycler program for sequencing was 25 cycles of
(96°C for 30 seconds, 50°C for 15 seconds, 60°C for 4 minutes) followed by overnight at 4°C.
The reaction products were fractionated through a polyacrylamide gel and detected using an
ABI377 DNA Sequencer.
Site-directed Mutagenesis to Change an Amino Acid
A single nucleotide in the TNV148 heavy chain variable region DNA sequence was
changed in order to replace Pro75 with a Serine residue in the TNV148 mAb. Complimentary
oligonucleotides, 399 and 400 (Table 1), were designed and ordered to make this change using
unique BsiWI cloning site just upstream of the translation initiation site, following the
manufacturer's protocol. The resulting plasmid was termed p1747. To introduce a BstBI site
at the 3' end of the variable region, a 5' oligonucleotide primer was designed with Sall and
BstBI sites. This primer was used with the pUC reverse primer to amplify a 2.75 kb fragment
from pl747. This fragment was then cloned back into the naturally-occurring Sall site in the
12B75 variable region and a Hindm site, thereby introducing the unique BstBI site. The
resulting intermediate vector, designated pl750, could accept variable region fragments with
BsiWI and BstBI ends. To prepare a version of heavy chain vector in which the constant
region also derived from the 12B75 gene, the BamHI-HindIII insert in p1750 was transferred
to pBR322 in order to have an EcoRI site downstream of the HindIII site. The resulting
plasmid, pl768, was then digested with Hindm and EcoRI and ligated to a 5.7 kb HindIII-
EcoRI fragment from pl 744, a subclone derived by cloning the large BamHI-BamHI fragment
from plo560 into pBC. The resulting plasmid, p1784, was then used as vector for the TNV Ab
cDNA fragments with BsiWI and BstBI ends. Additional work was done to prepare
expression vectors, pl788 and pl798, which include the IgGl constant region from the 12B75
gene and differ from each other by how much of the 12B75 heavy chain J-C intron they
contain.
To modify the 12B75 light chain gene in plasmid pl558, a 5.7 kb Sall/AflII fragment
containing the 12B75 promoter and variable region was transferred from pl 558 into the
XhoI/AfiII sites of plasmid L28. This new plasmid, pl745, provided a smaller template for the
mutagenesis step. Oligonucleotides (C340salI and C340sal2) were used to introduce a unique
Sall restriction site at the 5' end of the variable region by QuikChange™ mutagenesis. The
resulting intermediate vector, pl 746, had unique Sall and AflII restriction sites into which
variable region fragments could be cloned. Any variable region fragment cloned into pl746
would preferably be joined with the 3' half of the light chain gene. To prepare a restriction
fragment from the 3' half of the 12B75 light chain gene that could be used for this purpose,
oligonucleotides BAHN-1 and BAHN-2 were annealed to each other to form a double-stranded
linker containing the restriction sites BsiWI, Afin, HindII, and NotI and which contained ends
that could be ligated into KpnI and SacI sites. This linker was cloned between the Kpnl and
Sad sites of pBC to give plasmid pl757. A 7.1 kb fragment containing the 12B75 light chain
constant region, generated by digesting pl558 with Afin, then partially digesting with Hindm,
was cloned between the Afin and HindII sites of pi 75 7 to yield pl 762. This new plasmid
contained unique sites for BsiWI and AfITT into which the BsiWI/AflII fragment containing the
promoter and variable regions could be transferred uniting the two halves of the gene.
cDNA Cloning and Assembly of Expression Plasmids
All RT-PCR reactions (see above) were treated with Klenow enzyme to further fill in
the DNA ends. Heavy chain PCR fragments were digested with restriction enzymes BsiWI
and BstBI and then cloned between the BsiWI and BstBI sites of plasmid L28 (L28 used
because the 12B75-based intermediate vector p1750 had not been prepared yet). DNA
sequence analysis of the cloned inserts showed that the resulting constructs were correct and
that there were no errors introduced during PCR amplifications. The assigned identification
numbers for these L28 plasmid constructs (for TNV14, TNV15, TNV148, TNV148B, and
TNV196) are shown in Table 2.
The BsiWI/BstBI inserts for TNV14, TNV148, and TNV148B heavy chains were
transferred from the L28 vector to the newly prepared intermediate vector, pl 750. The
assigned identification numbers for these intermediate plasmids are shown in Table 2. This
cloning step and subsequent steps were not done for TNV15 and TNV196. The variable
regions were then transferred into two different human IgGl expression vectors.
Restriction enzymes EcoRI and Hindm were used to transfer the variable regions into
Centocor's previously-used IgGl vector, pl04. The resulting expression plasmids, which
encode an IgGl of the Gm(f+) allotype, were designated pl781 (TNV14), pl782 (TNV148),
and pl783 (TNV148B) (see Table 2). The variable regions were also cloned upstream of the
IgGl constant region derived from the 12B75 (GenPharm) gene. Those expression plasmids,
which encode an IgGl of the Glm(z) allotype, are also listed in Table 2.
Table 2. Plasmid identification numbers for various heavy and light chain plasmids.
The L28 vector or pBC vector represents the initial Ab cDNA clone. The inserts in those
plasmids were transferred to an incomplete 12B75-based vector to make the intermediate
plasmids. One additional transfer step resulted in the final expression plasmids that were
either introduced into cells after being linearized or used to purify the mAb gene inserts prior
to cell transfection. (ND) = not done.
Light chain PCR products were digested with restriction enzymes Sall and SacII and
then cloned between the Sall and SacII sites of plasmid pBC. The two different light chain
versions, which differed by one amino acid, were designated p1748 and p1749 (Table 2). DNA
sequence analysis confirmed that these constructs had the correct sequences. The Sall/Aflll
fragments in p1748 and p1749 were men cloned between the Sall and Afin sites of
intermediate vector pl 746 to make pl755 and pl 756, respectively. These 51 halves of the light
chain genes were then joined to the 3' halves of the gene by transferring the BsiWI/Aflll
fragments from p1755 and p1756 to the newly prepared construct p1762 to make the final
expression plasmids p1775 and p1776, respectively (Table 2).
Cell Transfections, Screening, and Subcloning
A total of 15 transfections of mouse myeloma cells were performed with the various
TNV expression plasmids (see Table 3 in the Results and Discussion section). These
transfections were distinguished by whether (1) the host cells were Sp2/0 or 653; (2) the heavy
chain constant region was encoded by Centocor's previous IgGl vector or the 12B75 heavy
chain constant region; (3) the mAb was TNV148B, TNV148, TNV14, or a new HC/LC
combination; (4) whether the DNA was linearized plasmid or purified Ab gene insert; and (5)
the presence or absence of the complete J-C intron sequence in the heavy chain gene. In
addition, several of the transfections were repeated to increase the likelihood that a large
number of clones could be screened.
Sp2/0 cells and 653 cells were each transfected with a mixture of heavy and light chain
DNA (8-12 :g each) by electroporation under standard conditions as previously described
(Knight DM et al. (1993) Molecular Immunology 30:1443-1453). For transfection numbers 1,
2, 3, and 16, the appropriate expression plasmids were linearized by digestion with a restriction
enzyme prior to transfection. For example, Sall and NotI restriction enzymes were used to
linearize TNV148B heavy chain plasmid pl783 and light chain plasmid pl776, respectively.
For the remaining transfections, DNA inserts that contained only the mAb gene were
separated from the plasmid vector by digesting heavy chain plasmids with BamHI and light
chain plasmids with BsiWI and Notl. The mAb gene inserts were then purified by agarose gel
electrophoresis and Qiex purification resins. Cells transfected with purified gene inserts were
simultaneously transfected with 3-5 :g of Pstl-linearized pSV2gpt plasmid (pl3) as a source of
selectable marker. Following electroporation, cells were seeded in 96-well tissue culture
dishes in IMDM, 15% FBS, 2 mM glutamine and incubated at 37°C in a 5% CO2 incubator .
Two days later, an equal volume of IMDM, 5% FBS, 2mM glutamine, 2 X MHX selection (1
X MHX = 0.5 :g/ml mycophenolic acid, 2.5 :g/ml hypoxanthine, 50 :g/ml xanfhine) was added
and the plates incubated for an additional 2 to 3 weeks while colonies formed.
Cell supernatants collected from wells with colonies were assayed for human IgG by
ELISA as described. In brief, varying dilutions of the cell supernatants were incubated in 96-
well EIA plates coated with polyclonal goat anti-human IgG Fc fragment and then bound
human IgG was detected using Alkaline Pbosphatase-conjugated goat anti-human IgG(H+L)
and the appropriate color substrates. Standard curves, which used as standard the same
purified mAb that was being measured in the cell supernatants, were included on each EIA
plate to enable quantitation of the human IgG in the supernatants. Cells in those colonies that
appeared to be producing the most human IgG were passaged into 24-well plates for additional
production determinations in spent cultures and the highest-producing parental clones were
subsequently identified.
The highest-producing parental clones were subcloned to identify higher-producing
subclones and to prepare a more homogenous cell line. 96-well tissue culture plates were
seeded with one cell per well or four cells per well in of IMDM, 5% FBS, 2mM glutamine, 1 X
MHX and incubated at 37°C in a 5% CO2 incubator for 12 to 20 days until colonies were
apparent. Cell supernatants were collected from wells that contained one colony per well and
analyzed by ELISA as described above. Selected colonies were passaged to 24-well plates
and the cultures allowed to go spent before identifying the highest-producing subclones by
quantitating the human IgG levels in their supernatants. This process was repeated when
selected first-round subclones were subjected to a second round of subcloning. The best
second-round subclones were selected as the cell lines for development.
Characterization of Cell Subclones
The best second-round subclones were chosen and growth curves performed to
evaluate mAb production levels and cell growth characteristics. T75 flasks were seeded with 1
X 10® cells/ml in 30 ml IMDM, 5% FBS, 2 mM glutamine, and IX MHX (or serum-free
media). Aliquots of 300 µl were taken at 24 hr intervals and live cell density determined. The
analyses continued until the number of live cells was less than 1 X 105 cells/ml. The collected
aliquots of cell supernatants were assayed for the concentration of antibody present. ELISA
assays were performed using as standard rTNV148B or rTNV14 JG92399. Samples were
incubated for 1 hour on ELISA plates coated with polyclonal goat anti-human IgG Fc and
bound mAb detected with Alkaline Phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-human IgG(H+L) at a
1:1000 dilution.
A different growth curve analysis was also done for two cell lines for the purpose of
comparing growth rates in the presence of varying amounts of MHX selection. Cell lines
C466A and C466B were thawed into MHX-free media (IMDM, 5% FBS, 2 mM glutamine)
and cultured for two additional days. Both cell cultures were then divided into three cultures
that contained either no MHX, 0.2X MHX, or IX MHX (IX MHX = 0.5 :g/ml mycophenolic
acid, 2.5 :g/ml hypoxanthine, 50 :g/ml xanthine). One day later, fresh T75 flasks were seeded
with the cultures at a starting density of 1 X 10s cells/ml and cells counted at 24 hour intervals
for one week. Aliquots for mAb production were not collected. Doubling times were
calculated for these samples using the formula provided in SOP PD32.025.
Additional stuthes were performed to evaluate stability of mAb production over time.
Cultures were grown in 24-well plates in IMDM, 5% FBS, 2 mM glutamine, either with or
without MHX selection. Cultures were split into fresh cultures whenever they became
confluent and the older culture was then allowed to go spent. At this time, an aliquot of
supernatant was taken and stored at 4°C. Aliquots were taken over a 55-78 day period. At the
end of this period, supernatants were tested for amount of antibody present by the anti-human
IgG Fc ELISA as outlined above.
Results and Discussion
Inhibition of TNF binding to Recombinant Receptor
A simple binding assay was done to determine whether the eight TNV mAbs contained
in hybridoma cell supernatant were capable of blocking TNFV binding to receptor. The
concentrations of the TNV mAbs in their respective cell supernatants were first determined by
standard ELISA analysis for human IgG. A recombinant p55 TNF receptor/IgG fusion protein,
p55-sf2, was then coated on EIA plates and l25I-labeled TNFV allowed to bind to the p55
receptor in the presence of varying amounts of TNV mAbs. As shown in Figure 1, all but one
(TNV122) of the eight TNV mAbs efficiently blocked TNFV binding to p55 receptor. In fact,
the TNV mAbs appeared to be more effective at inhibiting TNFV binding than cA2 positive
control mAb that had been splked into negative control hybridoma supernatant. These results
were interpreted as indicating that it was highly likely that the TNV mAbs would block TNFV
bioactivity in cell-based assays and in vivo and therefore additional analyses were warranted.
DNA Sequence Analysis
Confirmation that the RNAs Encode Human mAbs
As a first step in characterizing the seven TNV mAbs (TNV14, TNV15, TNV32,
TNV86, TNV118, TNV148, and TNV196) that showed TNFV-blocking activity in the
receptor binding assay, total KNA was isolated from the seven hybridoma cell lines that
produce these mAbs. Each RNA sample was then used to prepare human antibody heavy or
light chain cDNA that included the complete signal sequence, the complete variable region
sequence, and part of the constant region sequence for each mAb. These cDNA products were
then amplified in PCR reactions and the PCR-amplified DNA was directly sequenced without
first cloning the fragments. The heavy chain cDNAs sequenced were >90% identical to one of
the five human germline genes present in the mice, DP-46 (Figure 2). Similarly, the light
chain cDNAs sequenced were either 100% or 98% identical to one of the human germline
genes present in the mice (Figure 3). These sequence results confirmed that the RNA
molecules that were transcribed into cDNA and sequenced encoded human antibody heavy
chains and human antibody light chains. It should be noted that, because the variable regions
were PCR-amplified using oligonucleotides that map to the 5' end of the signal sequence
coding sequence, the first few amino acids of the signal sequence may not be Hie actual
sequence of the original TNV translation products but they do represent the actual sequences
of the recombinant TNV mAbs.
Unique Neutralizing mAbs
Analyses of the cDNA sequences for the entire variable regions of both heavy and
light chains for each mAb revealed mat TNV32 is identical to TNV15, TNV118 is identical to
TNV14, and TNV86 is identical to TNV148. The results of the receptor binding assay were
consistent with the DNA sequence analyses, i.e. both TNV86 and TNV148 were
approximately 4-fold better than both TNV118 and TNV14 at blocking TNF binding.
Subsequent work was therefore focused on only the four unique TNV mAbs, TNV14, TNV15,
TNV148,andTNV196.
Relatedness of the Four mAbs
The DNA sequence results revealed that the genes encoding the heavy chains of the
four TNV mAbs were all highly homologous to each other and appear to have all derived from
the same germline gene, DP-46 (Figure 2). In addition, because each of the heavy chain CDR3
sequences are so similar and of the same length, and because they all use the J6 exon, they
apparently arose from a single VDJ gene rearrangement event that was then followed by
somatic changes that made each mAb unique. DNA sequence analyses revealed that there
were only two distinct light chain genes among the four mAbs (Figure 3). The light chain
variable region coding sequences in TNV14 and TNV15 are identical to each other and to a
representative germline sequence of the Vg/38K family of human kappa chains. The TNV148
and TNV196 light chain coding sequences are identical to each other but differ from the
germline sequence at two nucleotide positions (Figure 3).
The deduced amino acid sequences of the four mAbs revealed the relatedness of the
actual mAbs. The four mAbs contain four distinct heavy chains (Figure 4) but only two
distinct light chains (Figure 5). Differences between the TNV mAb sequences and the
germline sequences were mostly confined to CDR domains but three of the mAb heavy chains
also differed from the germline sequence in the framework regions (Figure 4). Compared to
the DP-46 germline-encoded Ab framework regions, TNV14 was identical, TNV15 differed by
one amino acid, TNV148 differed by two amino acids, and TNV196 differed by three amino
acids.
Cloning of cDNAs, Site-specific Mutagenesis, and Assembly of Final Expression Plasmids
Cloning of cDNAs
Based on the DNA sequence of the PCR-amplified variable regions, new
oligonucleotides were ordered to perform another round of PCR amplification for the purpose
of adapting the coding sequence to be cloned into expression vectors. In the case of the heavy
chains, the products of this second round of PCR were digested with restriction enzymes
BsiWI and BstBI and cloned into plasmid vector L28 (plasmid identification numbers shown
in Table 2). In the case of the light chains, the second-round PCR products were digested with
Sall and AflII and cloned into plasmid vector pBC. Individual clones were then sequenced to
confirm that their sequences were identical to the previous sequence obtained from direct
sequencing of PCR products, which reveals the most abundant nucleotide at each position in a
potentially heterogeneous population of molecules.
Site-specific Mutagenesis to Change TNV148
mAbs TNV148 and TNV196 were being consistently observed to be four-fold more
potent than the next best mAb (TNV14) at neutralizing TNFV bioactivity. However, as
described above, the TNV148 and TNV196 heavy chain framework sequences differed from
the germline framework sequences. A comparison of the TNV148 heavy chain sequence to
other human antibothes indicated that numerous other human mAbs contained an He residue at
position 28 in framework 1 (counting mature sequence only) whereas the Pro residue at
position 75 in framework 3 was an unusual amino acid at that position.
A similar comparison of the TNV196 heavy chain suggested that the three amino acids
by which it differs from the germline sequence in framework 3 may be rare in human mAbs.
There was a possibility that these differences may render TNV148 and TNV196 immunogenic
if administered to humans. Because TNV148 had only one amino acid residue of concern and
this residue was believed to be unimportant for TNFV binding, a site-specific mutagenesis
technique was used to change a single nucleotide in the TNV148 heavy chain coding sequence
(in plasmid pl753) so that a germline Ser residue would be encoded in place of the Pro residue
at position 75. The resulting plasmid was termed p1760 (see Table 2). The resulting gene and
mAb were termed TNV148B to distinguish it from the original TNV 148 gene and mAb (see
Figure 5).
Assembly of Final Expression Plasniids
New antibody expression vectors were prepared that were based on the 12B75 heavy
chain and light chain genes previously cloned as genomic fragments. Although different TNV
expression plasmids were prepared (see Table 2), in each case the 5' flanking sequences,
promoter, and intron enhancer derived from the respective 12B75 genes. For the light chain
expression plasniids, the complete J-C intron, constant region coding sequence and 3® flanking
sequence were also derived from the 12B75 light chain gene. For the heavy chain expression
plasmids that resulted in the final production cell lines (p1781 and p1783, see below), the
human IgGl constant region coding sequences derived from Centocor's previously-used
expression vector (p104). Importantly, the final production cell lines reported here express a .
different allotype (Gm(f+)) of the TNV mAbs than the original, hybridoma-derived TNV
mAbs (Glm(z)). This is because the 12B75 heavy chain gene derived from the GenPharm
mice encodes an Arg residue at the C-terminal end of the CHI domain whereas Centocor's
IgGl expression vector p104 encodes a Lys residue at that position. Other heavy chain
expression plasmids (e.g. pl786 and p1788) were prepared in which the J-C intron, complete
constant region coding sequence and 3' flanking sequence were derived from the 12B75 heavy
chain gene, but cell lines transfected with those genes were not selected as the production cell
lines. Vectors were carefully designed to permit one-step cloning of future PCR-amplified V
regions that would result in final expression plasmids.
PCR-amplified variable region cDNAs were transferred from L28 or pBC vectors to
intermediate-stage, 12B75-based vectors that provided the promoter region and part of the J-C
intron (see Table 2 for plasmid identification numbers). Restriction fragments that contained
the 51 half of the antibody genes were then transferred from these intermediate-stage vectors to
the final expression vectors that provided the 3' half of the respective genes to form the final
expression plasmids (see Table 2 for plasmid identification numbers).
Cell Transfections and Subcloning
Expression plasmids were either linearized by restriction digest or the antibody gene
inserts in each plasmid were purified away from the plasmid backbones. Sp2/0 and 653 mouse
myeloma cells were transfected with the heavy and light chain DNA by electroporation.
Fifteen different transfections were done, most of which were unique as defined by the Ab,
specific characteristics of the Ab genes, whether the genes were on linearized whole plasmids
or purified gene inserts, and the host cell line (summarized in Table 3). Cell supernatants from
clones resistant to mycophenolic acid were assayed for the presence of human IgG by ELISA
and quantitated using purified rTNV148B as a reference standard curve.
Highest-producing rTNV148B Cell Lines
Ten of the best-producing 653 parental lines from rTNV148B transfection 2 (produced
5-10 :g/ml in spent 24-well cultures) were subcloned to screen for higher-producing cell lines
and to prepare a more homogeneous cell population. Two of the subclones of the parental line
2.320,2.320-17 and 2.320-20, produced approximately 50 :g/ml in spent 24-well cultures,
which was a 5-fold increase over their parental line. A second round of subcloning of
subcloned lines 2.320-17 and 2.320-20 led
Table 3. Summary of Cell Transfections. The identification numbers of the heavy
and light chain plasmids that encode each mAb are shown. In the case of transfections done
with purified mAb gene inserts, plasmid pl3 (pSV2gpt) was included as a source of the gpt
selectable marker. The heavy chain constant regions were encoded either by the same human
IgGl expression vector used to encode Remicade ('old') or by the constant regions contained
within the 12B75 (GenPharm/Medarex) heavy chain gene ('new1). H1/L2' refers to a "novel"
mAb made up of the TNV14 heavy chain and the TNV148 light chain. Plasmids pl783 and
pl 801 differ only by how much of the J-C intron their heavy chain genes contain. The
transfection numbers, which define the first number of the generic names for cell clones, are
shown on the right. The rTNV148B-producing cell lines C466 (A, B, C, D) and C467A
described here derived from transfection number 2 and 1, respectively. The rTNV14-
producing cell line C476A derived from transfection number 3.
Characterization of Subcioned Cell Lines
To more carefully characterize cell line growth characteristics and determine mAb-
production levels on a larger scale, growth curves analyses were performed using T75 cultures.
The results showed that each of the four C466 series of cell lines reached peak cell density
between 1.0 X 106 and 1.25 X 106 cells/ml and maximal mAb accumulation levels of between
110 and 140 :g/ml (Figure 7). In contrast, the best-producing Sp2/0 subclone, C467A, reached.
peak cell density of 2.0 X 106 cells/ml and maximal mAb accumulation levels of 25 :g/ml
(Figure 7). A growth curve analysis was not done on the rTNV14-producing cell line, C476A.
An additional growth curve analysis was done to compare the growth rates in different
concentrations of MHX selection. This comparison was prompted by recent observations that
C466 cells cultured in the absence of MHX seemed to be growing faster than the same cells
cultured in the normal amount of MHX (IX). Because the cytotoxic concentrations of
compounds such as mycophcnolic acid tend
To be measured over orders of magnitude, it was considered possible that the use of a
lower concentration of MHX might result in significantly faster cell doubling times without
sacrificing stability of mAb production. Cell lines C466A and C466B were cultured either in:
no MHX, 0.2X MHX, or IX MHX. Live cell counts were taken at 24-hour intervals for 7
days. The results did reveal an MHX concentration-dependent rate of cell growth (Figure 8).
Cell line C466A showed a doubling time of 25.0 hours in IX MHX but only 20.7 hours in no
MHX. Similarly, cell line C466B showed a doubling time of 32.4 hoursin IX MHX but only
22.9 hours in no MHX. Importantly, the doubling times for both cell lines in 0.2X MHX were
more similar to what was observed in no MHX than in IX MHX (Figure 8). This observation
raises the possibility than enhanced cell performance in biorcactors, for which doubling times
are an important parameter, could be realized by using less MHX. However, although stability
test results (see below) suggest that cell line C466D is capable of stably producing rTNV148B
for at least 60 days even with no MHX present, the stability test also showed higher mAb
production levels when the cells were cultured in the presence of MHX compared to the
absence of MHX.
To evaluate mAb production from the various cell lines over a period of approximately
60 days, stability tests were performed on cultures that either contained, or did not contain,
MHX selection. Not all of the cell lines maintained high mAb production. After just two
weeks of culture, clone C466A was producing approximately 45% less than at the beginning of
the study. Production from clone C466B also appeared to drop significantly. However,
clones C466C and C466D maintained fairly stable production, with C466D showing the
highest absolute production levels (Figure 9).
Conclusion
From an initial panel of eight human mAbs against human TNFV, TNV148B was
selected as preferred based on several criteria that included protein sequence and TNF
neutralization potency, as well as TNV14. Cell lines were prepared that produce greater than
100 :g/ml of rTNV148B and 19 :g/ml rTNV14.
Example 4: Arthritic Mice Study using Anti-TNF Antibothes and Controls Using Single
Bolus Injection
At approximately 4 weeks of age the Tgl97 study mice were assigned, based on
gender and body weight, to one of 9 treatment groups and treated with a single intraperitoneal
bolus dose of Dulbccco's PBS (D-PBS) or an anti-TNF anatibody of the present invention
(TNV14, TNV148 or TNV196) at either 1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg.
RESULTS: When the weights were analyzed as a change from pre-dose, the animals
treated with 10 mg/kg cA2 showed consistently higher weight gain than the D-PBS-treated
animals throughout the study. This weight gain was significant at weeks 3-7. The animals
treated with 10 mg/kg TNV148 also achieved significant weight gain at week 7 of the study.
(See Figure 10).
Figures 11A-C represent the progression of disease severity based on the arthritic
index. The 10 mg/kg cA2-treated group's arthritic index was lower then the D-PBS control
group starting at week 3 and continuing throughout the remainder of the study (week 7). The
animals treated with 1 mg/kg TNV14 and the animals treated with 1 mg/kg cA2 failed to show
significant reduction in AI after week 3 when compared to the D-PBS-treated Group. There
were no significant differences between the 10 mg/kg treatment groups when each was
compared to the others of similar dose (10 mg/kg cA2 compared to 10 mg/kg TNV14, 148 and
196). When the 1 mg/kg treatment groups were compared, the 1 mg/kg TNV148 showed a
significantly lower AI than 1 mg/kg cA2 at 3, 4 and 7 weeks. The 1 mg/kg TNV148 was also
significantly lower than the 1 mg/kg TNV14-treated Group at 3 and 4 weeks. Although
TNV196 showed significant reduction in AI up to week 6 of the study (when compared to the
D-PBS-treated Group), TNV148 was the only 1 mg/kg treatment that remained significant at
the conclusion of the study.
Example 5: Arthritic Mice Study using Anti-TNF Antibothes and Controls as Multiple
Bolus Doses
At approximately 4 weeks of age the Tgl97 study mice were assigned, based on body
weight, to one of 8 treatment groups and treated with a intraperitoneal bolus dose of control
article (D-PBS) or antibody (TNV14, TNV148) at 3 mg/kg (week 0). Injections were repeated
in all animals at weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4. Groups 1-6 were evaluated for test article efficacy.
Serum samples, obtained from animals in Groups 7 and 8 were evaluated for immune response
induction and pharmacokinetic clearance of TNV14 or TNV148 at weeks 2, 3 and 4.
RESULTS: No significant differences were noted when the weights were analyzed as
a change from pre-dose. The animals treated with 10 mg/kg cA2 showed consistently higher
weight gain than the D-PBS-treated animals throughout the study. (See Figure 12).
Figures 13A-C represent the progression of disease severity based on the arthritic
index. The 10 mg/kg cA2-treated group's arthritic index was significantly lower then the D-
PBS control group starting at week 2 and continuing throughout the remainder of the study
(week 5). The animals treated with 1 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg of cA2 and the animals treated with 3
mg/kg TNV14 failed to achieve any significant reduction in AI at any time throughout the
study when compared to the d-PBS control group. The animals treated with 3 mg/kg TNV148
showed a significant reduction when compared to the d-PBS-treated group starting at week 3
and continuing through week 5. The 10 mg/kg cA2-treated animals showed a significant
reduction in AI when compared to both the lower doses (1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg) of cA2 at
weeks 4 and 5 of the study and was also significantly lower than the TNV14-treated animals at
weeks 3-5. Although there appeared to be no significant differences between any of the
3mg/kg treatment groups, the AI for the animals treated with 3 mg/kg TNV14 were
significantly higher at some time points than the 10 mg/kg whereas the animals treated with
TNV148 were not significantly different from the animals treated with 10 mg/kg of cA2.
Example 6: Arthritic Mice Study using Anti-TNF Antibothes and Controls as Single
Intraperitoneal Bolus Dose
At approximately 4 weeks of age the Tgl97 study mice were assigned, based on
gender and body weight, to one of 6 treatment groups and treated with a single intraperitoneal
bolus dose of antibody (cA2, or TNV148) at either 3 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg. This study utilized the
D-PBS and 10 mg/kg cA2 control Groups.
When the weights were analyzed as a change from pre-dose, all treatments achieved
similar weight gains. The animals treated with either 3 or 5 mg/kg TNV148 or 5 mg/kg cA2
gained a significant amount of weight early in the study (at weeks 2 and 3). Only the animals
treated with TNV148 maintained significant weight gain in the later time points. Both the 3
and 5 mg/kg TNV148-treated animals showed significance at 7 weeks and the 3 mg/kg
TNV148 animals were still significantly elevated at 8 weeks post injection. (See Figure 14).
Figure 15 represents the progression of disease severity based on the arthritic index.
All treatment groups showed some protection at the earlier time points, with the 5 mg/kg cA2
and the 5 mg/kg TNV148 showing significant reductions in AI at weeks 1-3 and all treatment
groups showing a significant reduction at week 2. Later in the study the animals treated with 5
mg/kg cA2 showed some protection, with significant reductions at weeks 4, 6 and 7. The low
dose (3 mg/kg) of both the cA2 and fee TNV148 showed significant reductions at 6 and all
treatment groups showed significant reductions at week 7. None of the treatment groups were
able to maintain a significant reduction at the conclusion of the study (week 8). There were no
significant differences between any of the treatment groups (excluding the saline control
group) at any time point.
Example 7: Arthritic Mice Study using Anti-TNF Antibothes and Controls as
Single Intraperitoneal Bolus Dose Between Anti-TNF Antibody and Modified Anti-TNF
Antibody
To compare the efficacy of a single intraperitoneal dose of TNV148 (derived from
hybridoma cells) and rTNV148B (derived from transfected cells). At approximately 4 weeks
of age the Tgl97 study mice were assigned, based on gender and body weight, to one of 9
treatment groups and treated with a single intraperitoneal bolus dose of Dulbecco S PBS (D-
PBS) or antibody (TNV148, rTNV148B) at 1 mg/kg.
When the weights were analyzed as a change from pre-dose, the animals treated with
10 mg/kg cA2 showed a consistently higher weight gain man the D-PBS-treated animals
throughout the study. This weight gain was significant at weeks 1 and weeks 3-8. The animals
treated with 1 mg/kg TNV148 also achieved significant weight gain at weeks 5, 6 and 8 of the
study. (See Figure 16).
Figure 17 represents the progression of disease severity based on the arthritic index.
The 10 mg/kg cA2-treated group's arthritic index was lower then the D-PBS control group
starting at week 4 and continuing throughout the remainder of the study (week 8). Both of the
TNV148-treated Groups and the 1 mg/kg cA2-treated Group showed a significant reduction in
AI at week 4. Although a previous study (P-099-017) showed that TNV148 was slightly more
effective at reducing the Arthritic Index following a single 1 mg/kg intraperitoneal bolus, this
study showed that the AI from both versions of the TNV antibody-treated groups was slightly
higher. Although (with the exception of week 6) the 1 mg/kg cA2-treated Group was not
significantly increased when compared to the 10 mg/kg cA2 group and the TNV148-treated
Groups were significantly higher at weeks 7 and 8, there were no significant differences in AI
between the 1 mg/kg cA2, 1 mg/kg TNV148 and 1 mg/kg TNV148B at any point in the study.
It will be clear that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as particularly
described in the foregoing description and examples.
Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of
the above teachings and, therefore, are within the scope of the appended claims.
We Claim;
1. At least one isolated mammalian anti-TNF antibody,
comprising the heavy and light chain antibody variable regions of SEQ ID
NOS;7and 8.
2. An TNF antibody as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
antibody binds TNF with an affinity of at least one selected from at least 10'9
M, at least 10-10 M, at least 10" M, or at least 10'12 M.
3. An TNF antibody as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
antibody substantially neutralizes at least one activity of at least one TNF
protein.
4. An isolated nucleic acid encoding at least one isolated
mammalian anti-TNF antibody having the heavy and light chain antibody
variable regions of SEQ ID NOS:7 and 8.
5. An isolated nucleic acid vector comprising an isolated
nucleic acid as claimed in claim 4.
6. A prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell comprising an isolated
nucleic acid as claimed in claim 5.
7. A host cell as claimed in claim 6, wherein said host cell is at
least one selected from COS-1, COS-7, HEK293, BHK21, CHO, BSC-1, Hep
G2, 653, SP2/0, 293, HeLa, myeloma, or lymphoma cells, or any derivative,
immortalized or transformed cell thereof.
3. A method for producing at least one anti-TNF antibody,
comprising translating a nucleic acid as claimed in claim 4 under conditions
in vitro, in vivo or in situ, such that the TNF antibody is expressed in
detectable or recoverable amounts.
9. A composition comprising at least one isolated mammalian
anti-TNF antibody having the heavy and light chain antibody variable
regions of SEQ ID NOS:7 and 8, and at least one pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier or diluent.
10. A composition as claimed in claim 9, further comprising
at least one composition comprising an effective amount of at least one
compound or protein selected from at least one of a detectable label or
reporter, a TNF antagonist, an antirheumatic, a muscle relaxant, a narcotic, a
non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), an analgesic, an anesthetic, a
sedative, a local anethetic, a neuromuscular blocker, an antimicrobial, an
antipsoriatic, a corticosteriod, an anabolic steroid, an erythropoietin, an
immunization, an immunoglobulin, an immunosuppressive, a growth
hormone, a hormone replacement drug, a radiophann aceutical, an
antidepressant, an an tipsy chotic, a stimulant, an asthma medication, a beta
agonist, an inhaled steroid, an eplnephrine or analog, a cytokine, or a
cytokine antagonist.
11. An anti-idiotype antibody or fragment that specifically
binds at least one isolated mammalian anti-TNF antibody having at least one
variable region comprising the heavy and light chain antibody variable
regions of SEQ ID NOS:7 and 8.
The present invention provides isolated human, primate, rodent, mammalian, chimeric,
humanized and/or CDR-grafted anti-TNF antibodies, irnmunoglobulins,/jcleavage products and
other specified portions and variants thereof, as well as anti-TNF antibody compositions,
encoding or complementary nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, compositions, formulations,
devices, transgenic animals, transgenic plants, and methods of making and using thereof, as
described and enabled herein, in combination with what is known in the art.
The present invention also provides at least one isolated anti-TNF antibody as
described herein. An antibody according to the present invention includes any protein or
peptide containing molecule that comprises at least a portion of an immunoglobulin molecule,
such as but not limited to at least one complementarity determinng region (CDR) of a heavy or
light chain or a ligand binding portion thereof, a heavy chain or light chain variable region, a
heavy chain or light chain constant region, a framework region, or any portion thereof, that can
be incorporated into an antibody of the present invention. An antibody of the invention can

Documents:

152-KOLNP-2003-FORM-27.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-abstract.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-assignment.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-claims.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-correspondence.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-description (complete).pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-drawings.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-examination report.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-form 1.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-form 18.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-form 2.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-form 26.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-form 3.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-form 5.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-sequence listing.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-specification.pdf

152-kolnp-2003-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 225434
Indian Patent Application Number 152/KOLNP/2003
PG Journal Number 46/2008
Publication Date 14-Nov-2008
Grant Date 12-Nov-2008
Date of Filing 07-Feb-2003
Name of Patentee CENTOCOR, INC.,
Applicant Address 200 GREAT VALLEY PARKWAY, MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 GILES-KOMAR, JILL 31 BLACKLY ROAD, DOWNINGTOWN PA 19355
2 KNIGHT, DAVID, M., 2430 WHITEHORSE ROAD, BERWYN, PA 19312
3 HEAVNER, GEORGE 6 OAK GLEN DRIVE, MALVERN, PA 19426
4 SCALLON, BERNARD 139 HEMLOCK DRIVE, COLLEGEVILLE PA 19426
5 SHEALY, DAVID 1351 PENNS RIDGE PLACE, DOWNINGTOWN, PA 19335
PCT International Classification Number C12N 15/13
PCT International Application Number PCT/US01/24785
PCT International Filing date 2001-08-07
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 60/223,360 2000-08-07 U.S.A.
2 09/920,137 2001-08-01 U.S.A.
3 60/236,826 2000-09-29 U.S.A.