Title of Invention

IMMUNOSTIMULATORY OLIGONUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE AND USES THEREOF

Abstract The present invention provides an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide having 24 to 100 nucleotides, comprising the nucleotide sequence TCATCATTTTGTCATTTTGTCATT, that has the ability to stimulate the immune response of animals including humans. The stmulation of the immune response is characterized by stimulation of proliferation, differentiation, cytokine production and antibody production in B-cells and cell differentiation and cytokine production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells. The present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising said immunostimulatory oligonucleotide.
Full Text IMMUNOSTIMULATORY OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AND USES THEREOF
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers especially to oligonucleotides containing the non-palindromic sequence motif:
(Sequance Removed)
wherein X1 is C or T, X2 is C, T, G or A, X3 is T or A, X4 is T, C or G, X5 is T, C or G, X5 is T or G, X7 is G and X3 is T and wherein at least two of X3, X4, X5 and X6 are Ts and wherein C-never precedes G. These oligonucleotides were shown to .be immunostimulatory in animals of the order Primate, including humans.
RELEVANT REFERENCES
PATENT DOCUMENTS
US 5,663,153; US 5,723,335; US 6.Q90.791; US 6,194,388; US 6,207,646; US 6,239,116; US 6,429,199; US 6,544,518; US 6,514,948; US 6,498,148; US 6,429,199; US 6,426,336; US 6,406,705; US 6455689; US 20010044416;
4
US 20020156033; US 20020165178; US 20020198165; US 2002137714; US 20030050268; US 2003040499; EP 0468520; WO 95/26204; WO 96/02555; WO 98/40100; WO 98/52962; WO 99/33488; WO 99/56755; WO 00/62802; WO 01/00231; WO 01/00232; WO 01/22972; WO 01/55370; WO 00/014217; WO 00/061151; WO 00/067023; WO 00/067787; WO 00/075304; WO 01/002007; WO 01/007055; WO 01/022990; WO 01/048018; WO 01/055341; WO 01/062909; WO 01/062910; WO 01/068077; WO 01/068116; WO 01/068143; WO 01/068144; WO 01/083503; WO 01/093905; WO
02/026757; WO 02/056909; WO 02/069369; WO 02/095027; WO 02/102825; WO 03/002065; WO 94/25588; WO 99/56755; WO 99/62923.
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Vollmer, et al. Antisense & Nucleic Acid Drug Development (2002), 12(3),
165-175
Zhao, et al. Biochemical Pharmacology (1996), 51(2), 173-82
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The immune system
. The major function of the immune system is to protect the host from invading pathogens. A number of different cell types, both antigen-independent and antigen-specific, have evolved to detect and neutralize these invading pathogens. Among them, lymphocytes have an important characteristic, which is their ability to specifically • recognize antigens, a feature not possessed by any other cell. This means that any lymphocyte function stimulated by an antigen is directed solely at that antigen. Lymphocytes may be divided into two major populations: T and B. T-lymphocytes have a central role in regulating the immune response and for
this they produce and secrete lymphokines (i.e.interieukins). On the other hand, B-lymphocytes are the only cells that produce antibodies, which are proteins that recognize and bind antigens.
Some T-lymphocytes are known as helpers (Th-lymphocytes) because they assist B-cells to produce antibodies. T-lymphocytes express a characteristic membrane molecule designated CD4. Other T-lymphocytes are known as cytotoxic (CTL) because they are capable of killing certain cells. They express a different characteristic membrane protein designated CD8. In mice, Th-lymphocytes have been subdivided in groups which are designated ThO, Th1 and Th2, according to the lymphokines they produce. In general, Th1 lymphocytes . produce lymphokines which ' stimulate macrophages and CTLS (1L2, lFN , TNF-ß); Th2 lymphocytes produce lymphokines which stimulate B-lymphocytes to proliferate and to produce . antibodies (IL 2, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL13); and ThO lymphocytes produce a mixture of lymphokines and are thought to be an intermediate stage from which Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes are derived. In humans, Th1- and Th2- like lymphocytes have been demonstrated, although they seem to show a less strict division with respect to their patterns of cytokine secretion. A third population of lymphocytes, which lack the major makers of T and B cells include the natural killer cells (NK cells), the killer cells (K cells) and the lymphokine-activated killer cells (L A K cells). NK cells can kill certain tumor cells and some virally infected cells, but unlike cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, they
are not capable of recognizing a specific antigen. First, they can bore a hole in a target cell by secreting perforin molecules to form a membrane attack-complex on the surface of the target. NK cells can then secrete enzymes that enter the target cell and cause it to commit suicide. As a second mechanism of destruction, Fas ligand, a protein present on NK cells can interact with Fas, another protein present on the surface of the target cell, inducing the target cell to commit suicide by apoptosis. NK cells are also able to bind to cells, which have antibody to them via their antigen-binding regions and kill them. L A K cells do not specifically recognize an antigen but they are capable of destroying a wider range of targets than NK cells.
Macrophages and dendritic cells play a critical role in initiating immune responses, helping T cells to respond to antigens.
There are several classes of antibody. The IgG class comprises most of the circulating antibodies and it has four subclasses designated lgG1, lgG2, lgG3 and lgG4. The IgM class comprises about 10 % of the circulating antibodies. These are the principal antibodies produced during the primary immunological response. The IgA class.comprises most of the antibodies secreted at mucous membranes and exerts its protective effect by blocking access of the antigen to the inner body. The IgD class comprises less than 1 % of serum antibodies and its biological role is largely unknown. The IgE class comprises antibodies that are mainly bound to the surface of most cells
and basophils. These antibodies are associated with reactions that occur in individuals who are undergoing allergic reactions.
Vaccines and vaccine adjuvants
Vaccines are preparations used to stimulate animals to mount an immune response against antigens included in the vaccine.
Vaccines often include adjuvants, which are substances that used in. combination with specific antigen produce more immunity than the antigen used alone. (Ramon, G.,1926. Procedes pour accroite la production des antitoxins. Ann. Inst. Pasteur. 40 ,1-10).
Many kinds of compounds function as vaccine adjuvants (Edelman, R., 2000. An overview of adjuvant use, in : Vaccine Adjuvants. Preparation Methods and Research Protocols. D.T. O' Hagan, Ed., Humana Press, Totowa, New . Jersey. References cited in this article are incorporated herein as background material).
However, currently, the only adjuvants approved for use in humans are aluminum salts (Gupta, R.K. and Rost, B.E., 2000. Aluminum compounds as vaccine adjuvants in: Vaccine Adjuvants. Preparation Methods and Research Protocols. D.T. O' Hagan, Ed., Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey) and the oil-in-water emulsion M F 59 (Ott, G. Radhakrishman, R. Fang, J. and Hora, M., 2000. The adjuvant M F 59: A 10- Year Perspective, in : Vaccine
Adjuvants. Preparation Methods and Research Protocols. D.T. O' Hagan, Ed., Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey).
Nucleic acids as immunostimulatorv compounds
Several polynucleotides have been demonstrated to have immunostimulatory properties. For example, poly (l,C) is an inducer of interferon (IFN) production, macrophage activation and NK cell activation (Talmadge, J.E., Adams, J., Phillips, H., Collins, M., Lenz, B., Schneider, M., Schlick, E., Ruffmann, R., Wiltrout, R.H., Chirigos, M.A.1985. Immunomodulatory effects in mice of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid complexed with poiy-L:-lysine and carboxymethylcellulose. Cancer Res. 45:1058; Wiltrout, R.H., Salup, R.R., Twilley, T.A., Talmage, J.E. 1985. Immunomodulation of natural killer activity by polyribonucleotides. J. Biol. Resp. Mod. 4:512), poly (dG.dC) is mitogenic for B cells (Messina, J.P., Giikerson, G.S., Pisetsky, D.S. 1993. The influence of DNA structure on the in vitro stimulation of murine lymphocytes by natural and synthetic polynucleotide antigens. Cell. Immunol. 147:148) and induces IFN and NK activity (Tocunaga.T., Yamamoto, S., Namba, K.1988. A synthetic single-stranded DNA, poiy(dG,dC), induces interferon-α/ß and -, augments natural killer activity, and suppresses tumor growth. Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 79:682).
Bacterial DNA has also been reported to have immunostimulatory properties. These properties include the induction of cytokines (interferon gamma (IFN 7),
alpha (IFN α ) and beta (IFN ß)), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α ), interleukin 6 (IL6), 12 (IL 12) and 18 (IL 18), as well as the direct stimulation of B cells (Yamamoto, S. et al. 1988. In vitro augmentation of natural killer cell activity of interferon α/ß and  with deoxyribonucleic acid fraction from Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Jpn. J. Cancer Res. (Gann) 79: 866-873; Yamamoto S. et al., 1992. DNA from bacteria, but not from vertebrates, induces interferons, activates natural killer cells and inhibits tumor growth. Microbiol. Immunol. 36: 983-997; Kiinman, D.M., Yi, A-K., Beaucage, S.L., Conover, J. and Krieg, A.M.,1996. CpG motifs present in bacterial DNA rapidly induce lymphocytes to secrete interleukin 6, interleukin 12 and interferon . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 2879-2883. Halpern, M. D., et al. 1996. Bacterial DNA induces murine interferon -y production by stimulation of interleukin -12 and tumor necrosis factor -a. Cell. Immunol. 167: 72-78. Sparwasser, T. et al.,1997. Macrophages sense pathogens via DNA motifs: induction of tumor necrosis factor -α- mediated shock. Eur. J. Immunol. 27: 1671-1679; Krieg, A.M. et al., 1995. CpG motifs in bacterial DNA trigger direct B-cell activation. Nature 374: 345-349).
In contrast, it has been reported that mammalian DNA has no significant immune effects (Pisetsky, D.S. 1996. The immunologic properties of DNA. J. Immunol. 156: 421-423; Messina et al. 1991. Stimulation of in vitro murine lymphocyte proliferation by bacterial DNA. J. Immunol. 147:1759).
Synthetic DNA has also been reported to be immunostimuiatory if it contains unmethylated CpG motifs. (Yamamoto, S et al.; 1992. Unique palindromic sequences in synthetic oligonucleotides are required to induce INF and augment INF-mediated natural killer activity. J. Immunol. 148: 4072-4076; Ballas, Z.K., et al.; 1996. Induction of NK activity in murine and human cells by CpG motifs in oligodeoxynucleotides and bacterial DNA. J. Immunol. 157: 1840-1845; Hartmann, G., Krieg, A.M. 2000. Mechanism and function of a newly identified CpG DNA motif in human primary B cells. J. Immunol. 164-944; Hartmann, G., Weeratna, R.D., Ballas, Z.K., Payette, P., Blackwell, S., Suparto, I., Rasmussen, W.L, Waldschmidt, M., Sajuthi, D., Purcell, R.H., Davis, H.L, Krieg, A.M. 2000. Delineation of a CpG phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide for activating primate immune responses in vitro and in vivo. J. Immunol. 164:1617; Verthelyi, D., Ishii, K.J., Gursel, M., Takeshita, F., • Klinman, D.M. 2001. Human peripheric blood cells differentially recognize and respond to two distinct CpG motifs. J. Immunol. 166:2372). However, one oligonucleotide containing phosphorothioate bonds that lack CpG motifs has been found to have some immunostimuiatory activity on human B cells (Liang, H., Nishioka, Y., Reich, C.F., Pisetsky, D.S., Lipsky, P.E. 1996. Activation of human B cells by phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. J. Clin. Invest. 98:1119). This particular non-CpG oligonucleotide containing phosphorothioate bonds is a poly-T chain, 20 nucleotides long. Also, Vollmer et al (Vollmer J, Janosch A, Laucht M, Ballas ZK, Schetter C, Krieg AM.
Highly immunostimulatory CpG-free oligodeoxynucleotides for activation of
human leukocytes. Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev. 12:165-175, 2002)
reported immunostimulation by phosphorothioate poly-T ODNs. These
authors pointed out that poly-T ODNs are only active as phosphorothioate
ODNs and have much lower activity than CpG ODNs.
It has now been discovered that non-CpG oligonucleotides containing the
following non-palindromic sequence motif:
(Sequance Removed)
wherein X1 is C or T, X2 is C, T, G or A, X3 is T or A, X4 is T, C or G, X5 is T, C or G, X6 is T or G, X7 is G and X8 is T.and wherein C never precedes G (in other terms, the nucleic acid motif does not consist of a CpG oligonucleotides) have potent immunostimulatory activity in animals of the order Primate including humans. Therefore, these oligonucleotides can be administered to subjects to treat "immune system deficiencies" or used as adjuvants, in conjunction with a vaccine, to boost the immune system in order to have a better response to the vaccine. They can also be administered to subjects to increase their responsiveness to tumors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been discovered that non-CpG oligonucleotides containing the
following non-palindromic sequence motif:
(Sequance Removed)
wherein X1 is C or T, X2 is C, T, G or A, X3 is T or A, X4 is T, C or G, X5 is T, C or G, X6 is T or G, X7 is G and X3 is T and wherein at least two of X3, X4, X5 and X6 are Ts and wherein C never precedes G (in other terms, the nucleic
acid motif does not consist of a CpG oligonucleotides), have the ability to
stimulate the immune response of animals of the order Primate, including
humans.
According to a preferred embodiment, X1 consists of a C. It is preferable if
X3,X4,X5,X6 X7 X8 of the immunostimulatory motif consists of TTTTGT,
ATTTGT or ATTGGT. It is even more advantageous if X1 is C; X3 is T or A; X4
is T; X5 is T; X6 is T or G; X7 is G and X8 is T.
The oligonucleotides of this invention are useful as adjuvants in a vaccine
formulation comprising one or more antigens. In embodiments of this aspect,
the vaccine formulation can be liquid or lyophilized in dosage form. Many
dosage forms are known in the art and can be applied herein. In
embodiments of this aspect the oligonucleotides of this invention are present
in the composition at a dose of from about 10 to 10,000 µg per dose. In these
preparations, the oligonucleotides of this invention may be combined with
other immunostimulant compounds. Examples of well-known
immunostimulants are: α-interferon, ß-interferon, -interferon, granulocyte
macrophage colony stimulator factor (GM-CSF), interleukin 2 (IL2), interleukin
12 (IL.12) and CpG oligonucleotide.
In preferred embodiments, .the antigenic component of the vaccine is one or
more antigens, either natural or recombinant, of viruses like: Human
immunodeficiency viruses, such as H1V-1 and HlV-2, polio viruses, hepatitis A
virus, human coxsackie viruses, rhinoviruses, echoviruses, equine
encephalitis viruses, rubella viruses, dengue viruses, encephalitis viruses,
yellow fever viruses, coronaviruses, vesicular stomatitis viruses, rabies viruses, ebola viruses, parainfluenza viruses, mumps virus, measles virus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza viruses, Hantaan viruses, bunga viruses, hemorrhagic fever viruses, reoviruses, orbiviuises, rotaviruses, Hepatitis B virus, parvoviruses, papilloma viruses, polyoma viruses, adenoviruses, herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus, cytomegalovirus. (CMV), variola viruses, vaccinia viruses, pox viruses, African swine fever, virus, the unclassified agent of delta hepatitis, the agents of non-A, non-B hepatitis; or one or more antigens of infectious bacteria like: Helicobacter pylori, Borrelia burgdorferi, Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis (BCG), Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Staphylococcus' aureus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptopoccus . pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catharralis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Clostridium perfringers, Clostridium tetani, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pasturella multocida, and Treponema pallidum; of infectious fungi like: Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans; of infectious protists like: Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani and Toxoplasma gondii, and; of human tumoral cells.
In embodiments of this aspect, one or more of the oligonucleotides of this
invention and the antigen are administered simultaneously locally (by oral,
rectal, intranasal or transdermal route) or systemically (by intradermic or
intramuscular injection).
An aspect of this invention is the use of the present oligonucleotides for the
manufacture of a medicament for vaccinating a person. The person can be
vaccinated prophylactically or therapeutically.
A prophylactic vaccine is designed to elicit protection from a disease caused
by an infectious agent through the induction of specific immunity.
A therapeutic vaccine is designed to induce remission of an illness (i.e. a
tumorand metastasis or illness associated with an infectious agent like the
human immunodeficiency virus).
The method of vaccination includes administering one or more of the
.oligonucleotides of this invention and one or more antigens - that is, the
vaccine can be designed against one disease target or a combination of
disease targets.
Another aspect of this invention is a method of treatment of a person with a
tumoral disease or an immunological disorder, namely the use of one or more
of the oligonucleotides of this invention for the manufacture of a medicament
to stimulate his/her endogenous immune response. Examples of tumoral
disease are: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Precursor B-lymphoblastic
lymphoma, B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Lymphoplasmacytic
lymphoma, Mantle cell lymphoma, Follicle center lymphoma, (follicular and diffuse), Marginal zone-B lymphoma, Extranodal lymphoma, Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, Hairy cell leukaemia, Plasmocytoma, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Burkitfs lymphoma, High grade B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt like, Melanoma, Kaposi's Sarcoma, Multiple Myeloma, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Bladder Cancer, Lung Cancer, Skin Cancer, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer and Uterus Cancer. Examples of immunological disorders are: Allergy, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, Chronic Granulomatous disease, and Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease.
In embodiments of this aspect,' one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention are present in a pharmaceutical formulation that can be liquid or lyophilized in dosage form. Many dosage forms are known in the art and can be applied herein.' In embodiments of this aspect one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention are present in the composition at a dose of from about 10 to 10,000 µg per dose. In these preparations one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention may be combined with other immunostimulant compounds. Examples of well-known immunostimufants are: α-interferon, ß-interferon, -interferon, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulator factor (GM-CSF), interleukin 2 (IL2), interleukin 12 (1L12), CpG oligonucleotides and Mycobacterium bovis BCG cells. Also, one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention may be combined with an antiinfective or
anticancer drug, or a surgical procedure. In all these cases, the oligonucleotides of this invention may be administered before, after or simultaneously with the alternative treatment.
Another aspect of this invention is that a person with a tumoral disease or an immunological disorder could be treated by contacting lymphocytes or plasmacytoid dendritic cells from the subject, with one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention "ex vivo" and readministering the activated cells to the subject. In embodiments of this aspect one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention are present in the incubation media in a concentration of about 0.10 to 100 µg per ml.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Fig. 1 is a graph plotting the proliferation index of human peripheral blood
mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) incubated with the phosphorothioate ODN
IMT 023 (Seq. ID N° 9) or the phosphorothioate CpG ODN.2006:
5' TCGTCGTTTTGTCGTTTTGTCGTT 3' or the phosphorothioate non-CpG
ODN IMT 021 (SEQ ID NO:1). Data represent the mean and standard
deviation of five independent assays.
Fig 2 shows the results from a flow-cytometric study using human peripheral
blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) to determine the comparative effect of
the phosphorothioate CpG ODN 2006:
5' TCGTCGTTTTGTCGTTTTGTCGTT 3'
or the phosphorothioate non-CpG ODN IMT 021 (SEQ ID NO:1) on activation of the B cell population. B cell activation was measured by the induction of CD86 on CD69 positive cells.
(a) Representative flow-cytometric diagrams comparing B cell activation by ODNs IMT023 (Seq. ID N° 9), 2006 or IMT021 (SEQ ID NO:1); b) Representative histograms of the flow-cytometric diagrams showed in
(a). Fig. 3 is a graph plotting the proliferation index of PBMC incubated with the
indicated phosphorothioate ODNs. Data represent the mean and standard deviation of five independent assays.
Fig. 4. shows the induction of CD86 in CD19+ (B) cells and CD69 in CD56 +
(NK) cells by non-CpG ODNs claimed in WO 01/22972 . Human PMBC were
cultured for 48 hr with indicated phosphodiester ODNs or controls and then
. stained with fluorescent anti-CD19/anti-CD86 (a) or, anti-CD19/anti-CD40 (b)
or, anti-CD19/anti-MHC I (c); Flow cytometric results are presented as
histograms corresponding to cells in the double positive gate. Open
histograms correspond to cells cultured in absence of ODN and shaded
histograms to cells cultured in presence of ODN. ODN (O): phosphodiester
ODN. ODN 2080, a CpG ODN of the following sequence: 5'-
TCGTCGTTCCCCCCCCCCCC-3' was used as positive control. Fig. 5 shows the influence of the position of the immunostimulatory sequence motif X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8 here disclosed on the immunostimulatory activity of
non-CpG ODNs measured in PMBC proliferation assays. Data represent the mean and standard deviation of three independent assays performed in quadruplicate.
Fig. 6 shows the induction of CD40, MHC I and MHC // in CD19+ cells (B cells) by non-CpG-ODNs bearing the immunostimulatory sequence motif X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8 here disclosed. Human PMBC were cultured for 24 hr with indicated ODNs and then stained with fluorescent anti-CD19/anti-CD40 (a) or, anti-CD19/ anti-MHC l (b) or, anti-CD! 9/ anti-MHC II (c). Flow-cytometric results are presented as histograms corresponding to CD19+ cells. Open histograms correspond to cells cultured in absence of ODN and shaded histograms to cells, cultured in presence of ODN. ODN (S) means phosphorothioate ODN.
Fig. 7 shows the induction of CD86, CD40 and MHC I in purified B cells by . non-CpG-ODNs bearing the immunostimulatory sequence motif X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8 here disclosed. Human purified B cells were cultured for 24 hr with indicated ODNs and then stained with fluorescent anti-CD 19/anti-CD86 (a) or, anti-CD19/anti-CD40 (b) or, anti-CD19/anti-MHC I (c). Flow-cytometric results are presented as histograms corresponding to CD19+ cells. Open histograms correspond to cells cultured in absence of ODN and shaded histograms to cells cultured in presence of ODN. ODN (S) means phosphorothioate ODN.
Fig. 8 shows induction of CD86, CD40 and MHC I in CD19+ cells (B cells) by phosphodiester non-CpG-ODNs bearing the immunostimulatory sequence motif X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8 here disclosed. Human PMBC were cultured for 48 hr with indicated phosphodiester ODNs and then stained with fluorescent anti-CD19/anti-CD86 (a) or, anti-CD 19/anti-CD40 (b) or, anti-CD19/anti-MHC I (c). Flow-cytometric results are presented as histograms corresponding to CD19+ cells. Open histograms correspond to cells cultured in absence of ODN and shaded histograms to cells cultured in presence of ODN. ODN (O) means phosphodiester ODN.
Fig. 9 shows stimulation of PMBC proliferation by non-CpG ODNs bearing the motif X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8 here disclosed in non-human primates. Cebus apella or Macacca fascicu/aris PMBC were cultured for 72 hr with indicated ODNs (6ug/ml). Data represent the mean and standard deviation of four replicates. Fig'. 10 shows the induction of CD86, CD40 and MHC I in CD 19+ (B cells) of a patient suffering B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) by non-CpG-ODNs bearing the motif X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8 here disclosed. PMBC were cultured for 24hr with indicated ODNs and then stained with fluorescent anti-CD19/anti-CD86 (a) or, anti-CD19/anti-CD40 (b) or, anti-CD19/anti-MHC I (c). Flow-cytometric results are presented as histograms corresponding to CD19+ cells. Open histograms correspond to cells cultured in absence of ODN and shaded histograms to cells cultured in presence of ODN. ODN (S) means phosphorothioate ODN.
Fig. 11 shows the stimulation of malignant B cell apoptosis by non-CpG-ODNs bearing the motif X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8 here disclosed. PMBC were cultured for 14 hr. or 5 days with indicated ODNs and then stained with propidium iodide and annexin V-FITC using the ANNEXIN V:FITC assay kit from Serotec (Raleigh, NC, USA). Flow-cytometric results are presented as a dot-plot of annexin V-FITC fluorescence versus propidium iodide (PI), fluorescence. This plot show three cell populations: a) low Pl-low annexin that are viable cells, b) low Pl-high annexin that are apoptotic cells and, c) high Pl-high annexin that are secondary necrotic cells.
Fig. 12 shows the induction of CD86, CD40 and MHC I in purified plasmacytoid dendritic cells by non-CpG-ODNs bearing the motif X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8 here disclosed. More than 95 % pure plasmacytoid dendritic cells were cultured for 24hr with indicated ODNs and then stained with fluorescent anti-CD4/anti-CD11c/anti-CD86 (a) or, anti-CD4/anti-CD11c /anti-CD40 (b) or, anti-CD4/anti-CD11c /anti-MHC I (c). Flow cytometric results are presented as histograms corresponding to CD4+CD11c- cells. Open histograms correspond to cells cultured in absence of ODN and shaded histograms to cells cultured in presence of ODN. ODN (S) means phosphorothioate ODN.
Fig. 13 is a graph plotting the IL-10 levels in supematants of five independent human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) cultured 72 hr with
the phosphorothioate non-CpG ODN IMT 504 (Seq. ID N° 2 .), the phosphorothioate CpG ODN 2006: 5' TCGTCGTTTTGTCGTTTTGTCGTT 3', or the phosphorothioate non-CpG ODN IMT 022 (SEQ ID NO: 175). Data represent the mean and standard deviation of five independent assays. Fig. 14 is a graph plotting the IL-5 levels in supernatants of five independent human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) cultured 96 hs with the phosphorothioate non-CpG ODN IMT 504 (Seq. ID N° 2 ), the phosphorothioate CpG ODN 2006: 5' TCGTCGTTTTGTCGTTTTGTCGTT 3', or the phosphorothioate non-CpG ODN IMT 022 (SEQ ID NO: 175), Data represent the mean and standard deviation of five independent assays.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions: • - An "allergy" refers to acquired hypersensitivity to a substance (allergen). Examples of allergies are eczema, allergic rhinitis, asthma and urticaria.
- An "immune system deficiency" refers to a disease in which the immune system is not functioning in normal capacity.
- As used herein, the term "oligonucleotide" or "oligo" shall mean multiple nucleotides (i.e. molecules comprising a sugar (e.g. ribose or deoxyribose) linked to a phosphate group and to an exchangeable organic base, which is either a substituted pyrimidine (e.g. cytosine (C), thymine (T) or uracil (U)) or a substituted purine (e.g. adenine (A) or guanine (G)). The term
"oligonucleotide" as used herein refers to both oligoribonucleotides (ORNs) and oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs). The term "oligonucleotide" shall also include oligonucleosides (i.e. an oligonucleotide minus the phosphate) and any other organic base containing polymer. Oligonucleotides can be obtained from existing nucleic acid sources (e.g. genomic or cDNA), but are preferably synthetic (e.g. produced by oligonucleotide synthesis). -An "oligonucleotide" refers to multiple nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds.
- An "immunostimulatory oligonucleotide" refers to an oligonucleotide which stimulates (i.e. has a mitogenic effect on, or induces or increases or decreases cytokine expression by) a cell of the immune system (i.e.: a lymphocyte,, a macrophage) in a statistically significant manner.
- A "Strong immunostimulatory oligonucleotide" refers to an oligonucleotide which stimulates "in vitro" cells- of the immune system of an animal of the order Primate with an activity of at least 60% of the immunostimulatory activity of the well known CpG ODN 2006, under the same experimental conditions and using identical chemical backbone (i.e. phosphorotioate backbone or phosphodiester backbone).
- A "CpG" refers to a cytosine-guanine dinucleotide.
- A "CpG oligonucleotide" refers to an oligonucleotide which stimulates a cell of the immune system and its immunostimulatory activity critically depends on the presence of at least one CpG in its sequence.
- A "non-CpG oligonucleotide" refers to an oligonucleotide which stimulates a cell of the immune system and its immunostimulatory activity does not critically depends on the presence of a CpG in its sequence.
- A "subject" refers to an animal of the order Primate, including humans.

- As used herein, the term "treating" refers to a process by which the symptoms of a disease, and more particularly, infectious diseases, tumoral diseases or immunological disorders are ameliorated or completely eliminated.
- As used herein, the term "preventing" refers to a process by which a disease, and more particularly infectious diseases or tumoral diseases or immunological disorders are obstructed or delayed.
- In a preferred embodiment, the immunostimulatory oligonucleotides of the invention are advantageously modified into stabilized oligonucleotides. Such
. stabilized immunostimulatory oligonucleotide may be particularly useful to obtain a prolonged immunostimulation. As used herein, a "stabilized oligonucleotide" refers to an oligonucleotide that is relatively resistant to in vivo degradation (e.g. via an exo- or endo-nuclease). Preferred stabilized oligonucleotides of the present invention comprise a phosphate backbone modification. More particularly, the phosphate backbone modification is preferably a 5' inter-nucleotide linkage modification, for instance, at the first
' two nucleotides of the 5' end of the oligonucleotide of the invention. Furthermore, the phosphate backbone modification may be a 3' inter-
nucleotide linkage modification. In such a case, the modification may occur, for instance, at the last two nucleotides of the 3' end of the oligonucleotide of the invention. Even more preferably, the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide of the invention may be stably modified so as to comprise a phosphorothioate-linked nucleotide (i.e. at least one of the phosphate oxygens is replaced by sulfur). In the most preferred embodiment, most if not all the nucleotides of the immunostimulatory oligonucleotides of the invention comprise a phosphorothioate-linked nucleotide.
Other stabilized oligonucleotides may alternatively include: nonionic DNA analogs, such as alkyl- and aryl- phosphonates (in which the charged phosphonate oxygen is replaced by an alkyl or aryl group), phosphodiester and alkylphosphotriesters, in which the charged oxygen moiety is alkylated. Oligonucleotides which contain a diol, such as tetraethyleneglycol or hexaethyleneglycol, at either or both termini have also been shown to be substantially resistant to nucfease degradation.
The present invention provides methods to augment the immune response of animals of the order Primate, including humans, adding one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention to vaccines, or performing a treatment based on the administration of one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention to a person with a tumoral disease or an immunological disorder, or contacting "ex vivo" white blood cells obtained from a person with a tumoral disease or an immunological disorder with one or more of the
oligonucleotides of this invention and readministering these activated white
blood cells to the same person.
Vaccine compositions containing one or more of the oligonucleotides of this
invention can present antigens directly (i.e. in the form of a defined protein or
polysaccharide) or as a part of a complex biological entity (i.e. complete
viruses; complete bacterial cells; bacterial membranes or artificial conjugates
like polysaccharide-protein conjugates). These antigens can be combined in
multiple vaccines.
A vaccine composition including at least one antigen is formulated to include
one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention.
For example the antigen can be Moraxella catharralis killed cells or
subcellular fractions of these cells or Hepatitis B virus surface antigen, either
natural or produced by means of the DNA recombinant technology.
One or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention may be formulated alone
or together with one or more antigens in a pharmaceutical composition, which
may also include carriers, thickeners, diluents, buffers, preservatives, surface
active agents, anti-microbial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, anesthetics
and the like.
The formulation can be liquid or lyophilized. The pharmaceutical composition
may be administered in a number of ways depending of whether local or
systemic treatment is desired, and on the area to be treated. Administration
topical administration may include ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, tablets and the like. Thickeners, flavorings, diluents, emulsifiers and the like may be necessary or desirable. Formulations for parenteral administration include sterile aqueous solutions, which may also contain buffers, diluents and other additives. A vaccine containing one or more antigens and one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention can be formulated and used for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes.
Common antigens used in viral prophylactic vaccines are from Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis A virus and Influenza virus. Common antigens used in • bacterial prophylactic vaccines are from Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catharralis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Mycobacterium bovis (BCG). Common antigens used in therapeutic vaccines are from Papilloma virus, HIV virus and melanoma cells. A further refinement of a vaccine formulation is to incorporate one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention as adjuvant/s and the antigen/s into a delivery vehicle to provide for delayed release of the active compounds of the vaccine over time. This can be accomplished by various means known in the art. Examples of these means are encapsulation into Poly (iactide-coglicolide)
micro particles (Kersten, G.F.A. and Gander, B. 1996. Biodegradable Micro Spheres as vehicles for antigens, in: S.H.E. Kaufmann, ed. Concepts in Vaccine Development. Walter de Gruyter. Berlin-New York), liposomes (Gregoriadis, G. et al. 2000. Liposomes as Immunological Adjuvants and Vaccine Carriers, in: S.H.E. Kaufmann, ed. Concepts in Vaccine Development. Walter de Gruyter. Berlin-New York) and poly (methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles (Kreuter, J. 2000. Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) nanoparticles as vaccine adjuvants, in: S.H.E. Kaufmann, ed. Concepts in Vaccine Development. Walter de Gruyter. Berlin-New York). Another refinement of the vaccine formulation is to conjugate the antigen/s and one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention, by chemical means (Mier W, Eritja R, Mohammed A, Haberkom U, Eisenhut M.2000. Preparation and evaluation of tumor-targeting peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates. • Bioconjug. Chem. 11:855).
Many vaccine formulations' are known in the art and can be used by substituting one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention for the adjuvant previously known or by simply adding one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention to the original formulation. Based on their immunostimulatory properties, one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention can also be administered to a subject in vivo to treat a tumoral disease or an immune system disorder.
Examples of common tumoral diseases are: Chrorfic Myelogenous Leukemia, Melanoma, Kaposi's Sarcoma, Multiple Myeloma, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Bladder Cancer, Lung Cancer, Skin Cancer, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer and Uterus Cancer. Examples of common immunological disorders are: Allergy, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, Chronic Granulomatous disease, and Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease.
The pharmaceutical composition for these treatments may include one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention together with carriers, thickeners, diluents, buffers, preservatives, surface active agents, antimicrobial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, anesthetics and the like. The formulation can be liquid or lyophilized.
The pharmaceutical composition may be administered in a number of ways
depending on whether local or systemic treatment is desired, and on the area
to be treated. Administration may be done topically, orally, by inhalation or
parenterally. Formulation for topical administration may
include ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, tablets and the like. Thickeners, flavorings, diluents, emulsifiers and the like may be necessary or desirable. Formulations for parenteral administration include sterile aqueous solutions, which may
also contain buffers, diluents and other additives. Alternatively, one or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention can be contacted "ex vivo" with immunocompetent cells (i.e. B cells or plasmacytoid dendritic cells) obtained from a subject having a tumoral disease or an immune system deficiency and activated cells can then be reintroduced in the subject.
As it will be apparent from the following examples the preferred oligonucleotides are those which stimulate "in vitro" cells of the immune system of an animal of the order Primate with an activity of at least 60% of the immunostimulatory activity of the well known CpG ODN 2006, under the same experimental conditions and using identical chemical backbone (i.e the strong immunostimulatory oligonucleotides).
Among these are preferred those having about 14 to 40 nucleotides and wherein X3X4X5X6X7X8 consists of TTTTGT, the most preferred strong immunostimulatory oligonucleotide being IMT 504, namely TCATCATTTTGTCATTTTGTCATT (SEQ ID N°2) .
EXAMPLE 1 Materials and Methods
The following materials and methods were generally used throughout the examples. 1) Oligonucleotides
Oligonucleotides having phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages were purchased, purified by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), from Operon Technologies (Alameda, California) or Annovis (Aston, Pennsylvania) or Oligos Etc (Bethel, Maine). ODNs were suspended in depyrogenated water, assayed for LPS contamination using the Limulus test and kept at -20 °C until used. Purity was assessed by HPLC and PAGE assays. ODN preparations were used if LPS levels were undetectable.
2) Antibodies
Antibodies used in assays were purchased from Serotec (Raleigh, NC).
3) Peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC)
Blood was obtained by venipuncture from healthy donors using heparin as anticoagulant. PMBC were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque (Sigma Diagnostics Inc., St. Louis, MO) density gradient centrifugation. Briefly, blood samples diluted 1:2 in RPMl-1640 medium (PAA laboratories GmbH, Linz, Austria) supplemented with 2.0 mM l-glutamine and 50.0 jig/ml gentamicin and 20 mM HEPES were centrifuged at 1000 x g for 40 minutes at 20 °C. PMBC were isolated, washed and suspended in medium supplemented with 10 % fetal calf serum.
4) Purification of cells
B lymphocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells were purified from human PMBC by positive sefection using the MACS magnetic cell separation systems (Miltenyi Biotec, Germany).
5) Cell Proliferation assays
Blood was obtained by venipuncture from healthy donors using heparin as anticoagulant. PMBC were isolated by Ficoil-Hypaque (Sigma Diagnostics Inc., St. Louis, MO) density gradient centrifugation. Briefly, blood samples diluted 1:2 in RPMI-1640 medium (PAA laboratories GmbH, Linz, Austria) supplemented with 2.0 mM L-glutamine and 50.0 jig/ml gentamicin and 20 mM HEPES were centrifuged at 1000 x g for 40 minutes at 20 °C. PMBC were isolated, washed and suspended in medium supplemented with 10 % fetal calf serum.
PBMC were cultured in RPMI-1640 media supplemented with 10% (v/v) heat inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS), 2.0 mM L-glutamine and 50.0 fig/ml gentamicin. 1x105 cells/well were incubated in 96 well microtiter plates (NUNC, Denmark) at 37 °C in a 5% C02 humidified atmosphere for 72 hr. PBMC were stimulated with ODNs at 0.375 ug/ml unless otherwise stated.
Eighteen hours prior to cell harvest, 1 µCi of 3H-Thym'idine (Amersham,
specific activity: 25 Ci/mmol) was added to each well. Cells were harvested
onto glass-fiber filters and 3H incorporation measured by scintillation counting.
Standard deviations of quadruplicate wells were 6)IL6 Assay
PBMC (3x105/well) were cultured as described above with ODNs (6 µg/ml) for
24 hr. After this, supernatants were collected and IL6 levels measured by
ELISA. Briefly, 96 well micro titer plates (NUNC, Denmark) were coated with anti-IL6 antibodies and blocked with RPMI 1640 media supplemented with 10% (v/v) heat inactivated FCS. IL6 was detected colorimetricaliy using biotin-labeled antibodies followed by peroxidase-conjugated strepto-avidin and then peroxidase-specific colorimetric substrate. Standard curves were generated using known amounts of recombinant IL6. The detection limit of these assays was 30 pg/ml. All assays were performed in duplicate. 7)IL-10Assav
PBMC (3x105/well) were cultured as described above with ODNs (1.5 µg/ml) for 72 hr. After this, supernatants were collected and IL-10 levels measured by ELISA. Briefly, 96 well micro titer plates (NUNC, Denmark) were coated with anti-IL-10 antibodies and blocked with RPMI 1640 media supplemented with 10% (v/v) heat inactivated FCS. IL-10 was detected colorimetricaliy using biotin-labeled antibodies followed by peroxidase-conjugated strepto-avidin and" then peroxidase-specific colorimetric substrate. Standard curves were generated using known amounts of recombinant IL-10. The detection limit of these assays was 20 pg/ml. All assays were performed in duplicate. 8) IL-5 Assay
PBMC (3x105/well) were cultured as described above with ODNs (1.5µg/ml) and IL-4 (5 ng/ml) for 72 hr. After this, supernatants were collected and IL-5 levels measured by ELISA. Briefly, 96 well micro titer plates (NUNC, Denmark) were coated with anti-lL-5 antibodies and blocked with RPMI 1640
media supplemented with 10% (v/v) heat inactivated FCS. IL-5 was detected colorimetrically using biotin-labeled antibodies followed by peroxidase-conjugated strepto-avidin and then peroxidase-specific colorimetric substrate. Standard curves were generated using known amounts of recombinant IL-5. The detection limit of these assays was 40 pg/ml. All assays were performed in duplicate.
9) IqM Secretion Assay
PBMC (3x105/well) were cultured as described above with ODNs (1.5 |ig/ml) for 72 hr. After this, supernatants were collected and IgM assayed by ELISA. Briefly, 96 microtiter plates (NUNC, Denmark) were coated with anti-IgM antibodies and blocked with RPMI 1640 media. IgM was detected colorimetrically using peroxidase-labeled antibodies followed by peroxidase-specific colorimetric substrate. Standard curves were generated using known amounts of purified IgM. The detection limit of these assays was 50 ng/ml. All assays were performed in duplicate.
10) Flow cytometry
Staining of surface antigens was performed as described (J. Flo and E. Massouh. Age-related changes of native and memory CD4 rat lymphocyte subsets in mucosal and systemic lymphoid organs. Developmental and comparative Immunology 21: 443-453,1997). Anti CD19 (Clone LT19), CD86 (Clone BU63), CD40 (clone LOB 7/6), CD4 (clone S 3.5), MHC class I (Clone W6/32), MHC class II (Clone WR 18), anti CD4 (Clone S3.5) and anti CD11c
(Clone BU15) antibodies were purchased from Serotec (Raleigh, NC, USA). Apoptosis was estimated using the ANNEXIN V:FITC assay kit from Serotec (Raleigh, NC, USA).
Flow cytometric data of 10,000 cells/sample were acquired on a FACScan (Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry Systems, San Jose, CA). Data were analyzed using the computer program Win MDI, 2.8 , Interface Flow Cytometry Application (Joseph Trotter Copyright 1993-1998).
11) Immunization of monkeys against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and evaluation of the humoral response
Twelve monkeys of the species Cebus Apella (2.5-3.5 Kg) were immunized with a pediatric dose of AgB (Pablo Cassara, Buenos Aires, Argentina) containing 10 ug of HBsAg adsorbed to alumina (25 mg of Al 3+/ mg of . HBsAg). This was administered alone (n= 3,1 female, 2 males) or combined with indicated phosphorothioate ODN (150 ug/dose) (n=3,1 female, 2 males). All vaccines were administered intramuscularly (i.m.) in the quadriceps muscle in a total volume of 1 ml. Monkeys were kept in the animal facility of the CEMIC (Centra Medico de Investigaciones Clinicas), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Animals were monitored daily by specialists and weighed once a week. Plasma was recovered by intravenous (i.v.) puncture before and at various times after immunization and immediately assayed for antibodies
using the commercial kit AUSAB (Abbot Laboratories, Illinois, USA). Titers are expressed in milliinternational units per ml.
EXAMPLE 2 Selection of oligonucleotide sequences
WO 96/02555 and US 6,239,116 patents teach that to be immunostimulatory, oligonucleotides require sequences containing unmethylated CpG motifs (WO 96/02555, col. 13 lines 19-20 and US 6,239,116, col. 6 lines 1-3). EP 0 468 520 teaches that to be immunostimulatory, oligonucleotides require a palindromic sequence of at least 6 nucleotides long to be satisfactory (EP 0 468 520, col. 11, lines 34-37). Therefore, several non-CpG oligonucleotides, without palindromic sequences of at least 6 nucleotides long were proved using proliferation . assays, cell differentiation assays, cytokine IL6 secretion assays and IgM secretion assays performed on human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC). As a positive control, the CpG oligonucleotide 2006 of composition:
5' TCGTCGTTTTGTCGTTTTGTCGTT 3' and phosphorothioate bonds described by Hartman and Krieg (Hartmann, G., Krieg, A.M. 2000. Mechanism and function of a newly identified CpG DNA motif in human primary B ceils.1 J. Immunol. 164:944.) was used. As a background control, either the phosphorothioate oligonucleotide IMT 023
(SEQ ID N°9) or IMT 022 (SEQ ID N°8) with very low activity on human cells was used.
Also as a "presumably" negative control an oligonucleotide with the same composition of the oligonucleotide 2006 but in which all the CpG dinucleotides have been replaced by GpC dinucleotides:
5' TGCTGCTTTTGTGCTTTTGTGCTT 3' was used. This oligonucleotide was named ODN IMT 021 (SEQ ID N° 1). Fig. 1 shows a proliferation assay performed with the above described oligonucleotides.
It was found, surprisingly, that the non CpG oligonucleotide IMT 021 was as active as the 2006 CpG oligonucleotide in proliferation assays (Fig. 1 and Table 1) if used at 1.5 µg/ml and approximately 40-60% active if used at 0.375 µg /ml.
TABLE 1 Induction of peripheral whtte blood cell proliferation by Phosphorothioate CpG (2006) and non-CpG oligonucleotides (IMT 021)
(Table Removed)
IMT 021 (SEQ. IDN°1)
Avg.: Average; N: Number of Data; SD: Standard Deviation; ODN(S): phosphorothioate ODN
Immunostimulation was also evaluated by Flow Cytometry using the CD 19
general marker for human B cells and the CD 86 activation marker for human
B cells.
Fig. 2 shows the activation of human B cells incubated with the non CpG
ODN (S) IMT 021 as compared to the activation induced by incubation with
the CpG ODN (S) 2006. As can be observed, both ODNs show similar
activation patterns as compared with the ODN(S) IMT 023 background
control when used at 1.5 µg/ml.
IL6 secretion was also evaluated in supernatants of PBMC incubated with
the CpG ODN (S) 2006 and the non CpG ODN (S) IMT 021 (Table 2).
TABLE 2
Induction of human IL-6 secretion by phosphorothioate CPG and non-CpG oligonucleotides 2006 and IMT 021
(Table Removed)
Results of this assay also indicate that the non-CpG ODN (S) IMT 021 is an effective immunostimulant when used at 1.5 µg/mi. Therefore, other non-CpG sequence variants of the 2006 oligonucleotide were investigated. Table 3 shows the results for six of these variants in which, the Cs or Gs of all the CpGs of this ODN were replaced by other nucleotides. As can be observed, the Gs of the CpGs in the ODN(S) 2006 are not necessary for B cell proliferation or IL6 secretion. However, modification of the Cs of the CpGs is detrimental if the replacement is for As or Gs but not if it is for Ts. These results clearly indicate that stimulation of the B cell proliferation and IL6 secretion by the ODN(S) 2006 is not at all associated with integrity of the CpG group.
TABLE 3
Induction of peripheral white blood cell proliferation and IL6 secretion by non-
CPG variants of the ODN(S) 2006 oligonucleotide
(Table Removed)
IMT504(SEQ ID N°2); IMT505(SEQ ID N°3); IMT 506 (SEQ ID N°4); IMT501 (SEQ ID N°5); IMT502 (SEQ ID N°6); IMT503(SEQ ID N°7)
EXAMPLE 3
Effect of structure modification on the immunostimulatory activity of
non-CpG oligonucleotides: definition of the active motif.
In order to study the 'influence of the primary structure on the
immunostjmulatory activity of the non-CpG ODNs, several variants of the
2006 and IMT 021
oligonucleotides were synthesized. Table 4 shows the primary structure of some of the IMT 021 variants and the results of a proliferation and IL-6 assays performed in order to evaluate its immunostimulatory activity. The ODN(S) IMT 021 contains T in positions 7,8,9,10,12,15,16,17,18,20,23 and 24. Replacement of these Ts with As (ODN IMT 022) or Cs (ODN IMT
023) results in a very' significant loss of activity (about 76% and 75% respectively) in the proliferation assay and also in Ihe IL-G secretion assay (84% and 88% respectively). These results indicate that some or all the Ts in positions 7,8,9,10,12,15,16,17,18,20,23 and 24 are critical for the ODN IMT 021 immunostimulatory activity.
TABLE 4
Induction of peripheral white blood celt proliferation and IL-6 secretion by
Phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides derived from the
inmunostimulatory IMT 021 oligonucleotide
(Table Removed)
In order to investigate the composition of the active center (motif) of the non-CpG oligonucleotides, several ODNs were assayed at 0.375 ug/ml(Fig. 3). It was found that:
a) The presence of TG groups in an oligonucleotide is not at all sufficient (in disagreement with WO 01-22972) for a strong immunostimulation.
For example, ODNs 1MT 028, 1MT 046, IMT 546, IMT 547 and IMT 550, all of which have two TGs, have very poor activity. On the other hand, ODN IMT 543 that does not possess a TG dinucleotide has the same (low) activity as ODN 1MT544, which is an ODN with the same general composition, but which contains two TG dinucleotides.
b) The presence of the tetranucleotide TTTT in an oligonucleotide is not at all sufficient (in disagreement with WO 01-22972) for a strong immunostimuiation. For example, ODNs IMT 034, IMT 057, IMT 028, IMT 543 and IMT 544, which have two TTTT motifs, have very poor activity.
c) The presence of more than 25% of Ts is not at all sufficient (in disagreement with WO 01-22972) for a strong immunostimuiation. For example, ODNs IMT 034(50% T), IMT 057 (71% T), IMT 028 (33% T), IMT 543(58% T), IMT 544 (50% T), IMT 059 (83% T), IMT 040 (42%
.. T), IMT 046 (33% T), IMT 545 (42% T), IMT 550 (33% T) and IMT 546(42% T), all of which have more than 25% of T, have very poor activity.
d) The presence of more than 25% of Ts plus the presence of TG
dinucleotides, is not at all sufficient fin disagreement with WO 01-
22972) for strong stimulation. For example, ODN IMT 028, IMT 046,
IMT 544 and IMT .546, which have more than 25% of Ts and two TGs,
have very poor activity.
e) The presence of more than 25% • of Ts plus the presence of the tetranucleotide TTTT, is not at all sufficient fin disagreement with WO 01-22972) for strong stimulation. For example, ODN IMT 059, IMT034, IMT 057, IMT 028, IMT 543 and IMT 544, which have more than 25% of Ts and two TTTT, have very poor activity.
f) The presence of TG dinucleotides plus the presence of the tetranucleotide TTTT is not at all sufficient (in disagreement with WO 01-22972) for strong stimulation. For example, ODN IMT 028 and IMT 544, which have two TGs and two TTTT, have very poor activity.
g) The presence of TG dinucleotides plus the presence of the tetranucleotide TTTT, plus the presence of more than 25% Ts, is not at all sufficient (in disagreement with WO 01-22972) for strong stimulation. For example, ODN IMT 028 and IMT 546, which have two TGs, two TTTT and more than 25% Ts, have very poor activity.
h) Some Ts may be relevant for the activity of non CpG ODNs, but they are not necessarily related to a TG dinucleotide or to a TTTT motif. For example, the replacement of 2 Ts in ODN IMT 540, which are not involved in any TG or TTTT motif, is strongly detrimental (ODN 545). It is worth noting that both, ODN IMT 540 and IMT 545 have more than 25% T and do not have any TTTT or TG motifs. It is also worth noting that the substitution, in the poorly immunostimulatory ODN IMT 545 of two Ts, that generates two TGs dinucleotides, two TTTT motifs and
increases the total content of Ts (ODN IMT 544) does not increase the activity (in disagreement with WO 01-22972).
i) The presence of the tetranucleotide CCCC and/or more than 50% of Cs is not at all sufficient (in disagreement with WO 01-22972) for a strong immunostimulation. For example, ODNs IMT 023, which have two CCCC and 63% of C, have very poor activity.
j) Replacement of some Ts for Cs or Gs in some T-rich oligonucleotides increases the activity (in disagreement with WO 01-22972). For example, replacement of 3 Ts in ODN IMT 059 by Cs (ODN IMT 037) increases the activity in a statistically significant manner. Therefore, the presence of Cs combined with some Ts may be relevant to achieve strong immunostimulation.
k) In general, T-rich oligonucleotides may have some inmunostimulatory activity in a phosphorothioate backbone, but are inactive in a
, phosphodiester backbone (in disagreement with WO 01-22972). For example, Table 5 shows that IMT 053, which consists of a polyT chain 24 nucleotides long, is able to stimulate the secretion of IL6 in a phosphothioate backbone, but not in a phosphodiester backbone. The same is true for ODN IMT 021, which contains more than 25% T and 6 TG dinucleotides. These two ODNs are also unable, in a phosphodiester backbone, to stimulate the expression of the
activation markers CD 86, CD 40 and MHC class 1 on CD 19 positive (B) cells (Fig. 4). I) In general, immunostimulatory oligonucleotides in a phosphodiester backbone are inactive as a double strand (in disagreement with WO 01-22972). For example, the strong stimulatory ODNs 2006 and IMT 504 are inactive as a double strand (not shown). Similar results were described in mice in the following publication: Zelenay, S., Elias, F. and Flo, J. Eur. J. Immunol. 33:1382-92 (2003).
Taking into account all these facts, it was investigated which one is the minimal sequence necessary and sufficient that should be present in an non-CpG oligonucleotide in order to obtain a strong immunostimulatory activity, in a phosphodieter (natural) as well as in modified backbones.
Table 5
Induction of IL6 secretion by phosphorothioate or phosphodiester
PvNTTTTGT ODNs
(Table Removed)
The analysis of hundreds of ODNs (not shown) allowed definition of a core sequence {motif) responsible for the strong immunostimulatory activity of non-CpG ODNs as measured by B cell proliferation and IL6 secretion. This motif is the following:
(Sequance Removed)
wherein X1 isCorT
wherein X2 is C.T.G or A;
wherein X3 is T or A;
wherein X4 is T, C or G;
wherein X5-is T, CorG;
wherein X6 isTorG;
wherein X7 is G;
wherein X8 is T
wherein at least two of X3, X4, X5 and X6 are Ts
Table 6 shows the effect of changes in each of the nucleotides of the two non-CpG motifs present in the ODN IMT 504 (motif: CATTTTGT). Replacement of the C in position 1 of the motif by A (ODN IMT 531) or G (ODN IMT 533) resulted in a loss of about 50% in the activity. However, replacement of this C by T (ODN IMT 532) did not change the activity. Thus, in order to obtain maximal activity the first position of the motif should be occupied by a pyrimidine nucleotide (C or T). In position 2 of the motif, A (ODN IMT 504) or T (ODN IMT 535) or C (ODN IMT 534) are equivalent options.
In order to study the influence of a G nucleotide in position 2 of the motif without introduction of a CpG dinucleotide, ODNs with a T in the first position of the motif were synthesized (Table 7). As can be observed, any nucleotide in the second position of the motif is equivalent.
• Replacement of the G in position 7 of the motif by A (ODN IMT 541), T (ODN IMT 542) or C (ODN IMT 543) is detrimental (Table 5). Thus, in order to obtain maximal activity position 7 of the motif should be preferably G. Regarding the positions of the motif occupied by Ts, the most sensitive is the one in position 8. 'Replacement of this T for A (ODN 1MT543) or C (ODN IMT599) or G (ODN IMT 604) is detrimental. Thus, in order to obtain maximal activity, position 8 of the motif should be preferably T. In position 3 of the motif the T could be replaced by A (ODN IMT IMT537) without activity loss. However, replacement of this T by C (ODN 1MT595) or G (ODN IMT600) is
detrimental. Thus, in order to obtain -maximal activity, position 3 of the motif should be preferably T or A. In position 4 of the motif the T could be replaced by C (ODN IMT IMT596) or G (ODN IMT601) without significant activity loss. However, replacement of this T by A (ODN IMT538) is detrimental. Thus, in order to obtain maximal activity, position 4 of the motif should be preferably T or C or G. In position 5 of the motif, the T could be replaced by C (ODN IMT IMT597) or G (ODN IMT6p2) without significant activity loss. However, replacement of this T by A (ODN IMT539) is detrimental. Thus, in order to obtain maximal activity, position 5 of the motif should be preferably T or C or G. In position 6 of the motif, the T could be replaced by G (ODN IMT IMT603) without significant activity loss. However, replacement of this T by A (ODN IMT540) is detrimental. Thus, in order to obtain maximal activity, position 6 of the motif should be preferably T or G.
. Simultaneous replacement of T by A in position 3 of the motif and T by G in position 6 of the motif did not result in any loss of activity (ODN IMT 608). However, in this case and in order to obtain maximal activity, positions 4 and 5 should be occupied by Ts (see ODNs 1MT609, 1MT610, IMT611, IMT612 and IMT614).
Replacement of two or more of the Ts by As within the motif results in more than 70% loss of activity (ODNs IMT 545, IMT 546, IMT 547, IMT 548, IMT 549, IMT 550, IMT 551 and IMT 552).
Taking these results into consideration, it can also be concluded that in order to obtain a strong fmmunostimulatory activity, two or more of the positions 3,4,5 and 6 of the motif should be occupied by Ts.
TABLE 6
Induction of peripheral white blood cell proliferation by phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention derived from ODN IMT 504 .
(Table Removed)
TABLE 7
Induction of peripheric white blood cell proliferation and IL-6 secretion by • Phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides with changes in the second position of the immunostimulatorv motif
(Table Removed)
To investigate the effect of changes in the position of the motif within the ODN chain, the non-CpG motif CATTTTGT present in ODN IMT504 was introduced into different locations in a 24-nucleotide long poly T chain (Fig. 5). As can be seen, the poly T ODN (S) by itself had a significant mitogenic activity. On the other hand, introduction of only one CATTTTGT motif resulted in an increment of 1.2 to 1.8 times (measured by proliferation assays), or 2.4 to 3.5 times (measured by lL-6 secretion assays) in the immunostimulatory activity of the polyT chain, depending on where the motif was located. A distance of at least two nucleotides from the 5' end or four from the 3' end seems to be necessary in order to reach maximal activity (ODNs IMT174 to IMT 179). Introduction of two motifs in optimal positions (ODN IMT182) resulted in an increment of 1.9 times (measured by proliferation assays), or 2.9 times (measured by IL-6 secretion assays) in the immunostimulatory activity of the polyT chain. This indicates that the contribution of the second motif is negligible. On the other hand, the activity of the most effective ODNs like ODN IMT504 is more than 3 times larger than the activity of the poly T as measured by proliferation assays, a fact which suggests that there is also a significant influence of the composition of at least some of the nucleotides surrounding the motif of this invention on the overall activity of the ODN.
EXAMPLE 4
Effect of structure modification on the immunostimulatory activity of
non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention: influence of the nucleotide composition outside of the active motif. Results shown in Fig. 5 indicate that composition of the oligonucleotide outside of the non-CpG core motif is important in order to reach optimal immunostimuiatory activity. Therefore, a number of oligonucleotides were synthesized with changes in the composition of the nucleotides surrounding the motifs. Table 8 shows the effect of changes in the composition of the first-four nucleotides of the 5' end and of the last four nucleotides of the 3' end in the immunostimuiatory activity of ODN IMT 504. As can be observed, the best choices are: C or G in position -1 respect to the two motifs, G, T or G in position -2, any nucleotide in positions -3 and -4, A or T in position +1, G in position +2, any nucleotide in positions +3 and G in position +4 . Of course, other nucleotide combinations not represented in this table may have equal or even better effect on the activity of the non-CpG immunostimuiatory oligonucleotides. One of ordinary skill in the art can empirically determine other effective combinations.
TABLE 8
Induction of peripheral white blood cell proliferation by non- CPG ODN(S) IMT 504 with variations in the composition outside of the two immunostimuiatory
motifs
EXAMPLE 5
(Table Removed)
Effect of structure modification on the immunostimulatory activity of non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention: influence of the size of the
oligonucleotide

Table 9 shows that ODNs with one immunostimulatory motif are active if the chain is 16 or more nucleotides long. Activity is maximal if the ODN is between 20 and 25 nucleotides long. All the ODNs of within this range bearing at least one non-CpG motif of this invention assayed during this study (more than hundred) were very active.
TABLE 9
Effect of the size of phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides on B cells
proliferation and IL6 secretion
(Table Removed)
EXAMPLE 6
Induction of peripheral white blood cell IqM secretion by phosphorothioate
non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention
Induction of IgM secretion in peripheral white blood cells is another important
marker of immunostimulatory activity of oligonucleotides. Table 10 shows the
stimulation of IgM secretion by several of the phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides described above. As can be observed, the most active non-CpG ODN(S)s in induction of proliferation and 1L6 secretion are also the best in induction of IgM secretion.
TABLE 10
Induction of peripheral white blood cell IgM secretion by phosphorothioate
non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention
(Table Removed)
EXAMPLE 7
Stimulation of the expression of CD40. MHC I and MHC II in B lymphocytes
by phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention
Human PMBC were incubated with ODN IMT 504, ODN 2006 as a positive control and ODN IMT 022 as a negative control (Fig 6). As can be observed, ODN IMT 504 is as -active as the CpG ODN 2006 for stimulation of the expression of CD40, MHC I and MHC II on B lymphocytes.
EXAMPLE 8
Stimulation of purified B lymphocytes by non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention
Human CD19+ (B) cells were purified to more than 95% purity. Table 11 and Fig. 7 show that the immunostimulatory activity on these purified cells is comparable to the one observed using human PMBC. These results Indicate that stimulation by the non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention on human cells is direct.
TABLE 11
Induction of proliferation, IL6 and IqM secretion on purified B cells bv
phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention
(Table Removed)
EXAMPLE 9
Immunostimulation by phosphodiester non-CpG oligonucleotides of this
invention Fig 8 and Table 12 show the effect of phosphodiester non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention on human PMBC. Since phosphodiester oligonucleotides are very sensitive to nucleases they were added to the culture three times (0, 4, and 16 hr) to a final concentration of 30 µg/m). A very potent phosphodiester CpG ODN (ODN 2080) was used as positive-control in cytometric assays (Hartmann G, Weeratna R, Ballas ZK, Payette P, Suparto, I, Rasmussen WL, Wadschmidt M, Sajuthi D, Purcells RH, Davis HL, Krieg AM. Delineation of a CpG phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide for activating primate immune responses in vitro and in vivo. J. Immunol.164, 1617-1624, (2000)). As can be observed, under these conditions, phosphodiester ODNs bearing non-CpG motifs of this invention have immunostimulatory activity. Regarding this, it is worth noting the differences of these non-CpG ODNs with those non-CpG ODNs claimed in WO 01/22972 (see table 5 and Fig 4).
TABLE 12
Immune-stimulation by phosphodiester non-CpG oligonucleotides of this
invention
EXAMPLE 10
Induction of cell proliferation in peripheral white blood cells of monkeys of the species Cebus apella and Macaca fascicularis by non-CpG ODN(S)s of this
invention Non-CpG ODN(S)s of this invention are not very effective immunostimulants in mice, pigs and sheep. However, they are effective in monkeys. For example, Fig.9 shows the immunostimulatory activity of non-CpG ODN(S)s on peripheral white blood cells of monkeys of the species Cebus apella and Macaca fascicularis. According to these results the most effective non-CpG ODNs in non human primates are those bearing the CATTTTGT motif. Therefore, monkeys can be used as animal models for research on clinical applications of these non-CpG ODN(S)s.
EXAMPLE 11
Vaccination of subjects
Vaccine formulations containing the non-CpG ODNs adjuvant of this invention can be used to vaccinate subjects against a variety of bacterial and viral disease agents and against tumor cells. Table 13 shows the effect of inoculation of monkeys of the species Cebus apella with a vaccine formulation that includes recombinant Hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) ,and alumina in presence or absence of ODN IMT 504 as adjuvant. '
TABLE 13
Anti-HBs responses in Cebus apella immunized against HBsAq with IMT
ODNs
(Table Removed)
As can be observed, there is a dramatic increment in the title of anti-HBsAg in animals vaccinated with HBsAg plus IMT ODN(S) 504 as compared with those vaccinated with HBsAg alone. CpG. ODN 2006 has a performance as adjuvant similar to the non-CpG ODNs of this invention. In particular, a human can be vaccinated against hepatitis B by administration of a vaccine formulation that includes recombinant Hepatitis B surface
antigen (rHBsAg) and alumina and one or more of the oligonucleotides of this
invention as adjuvants. The amount of
rHBsAg in each dose, and the administration schedule, can vary according to the age of the human. For example, for humans from about birth to about 12 years old, a three-dose schedule of about 2.5 µg to about 5 µg of rHBsAg can be administered at 0, 1-3 months afterward and 4-18 months afterward, preferably at 0, 2 and 6 months. One or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention can be present in the formulation from about 10 µg to about 1,000 p.g per dose.
For humans from about 12 to about 60 years old, a three-dose schedule of about 5 µg to about 40 µg of rHBsAg can be administered at 0, 1-3 months afterward and 4-18 months afterward, preferably at 0, 2 and 6 months. One or more of the oligonucleotides of this invention can be present in the formulation from about 10 jxg to about 1,000 ug per dose.
EXAMPLE 12
Stimulation of the expression of costimulatory molecules in malignant B-lymphocytes by phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides The stimulation of malignant B lymphocytes recovered from blood of patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) by phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention was examined by flow cytometric (FACS) analysis. The results of a typical FACS analysis are shown in Fig. 10.
As can be seen, the phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotide IMT 504 of this invention is able to stimulate expression of CD86, CD40 and MHC class I surface costimulatory molecules on malignant B lymphocytes so well as the CpG ODN 2006.
EXAMPLE 13
Stimulation of malignant B cell apoptosis by phosphorothioate non-CpG
oligonucleotides
The stimulation of apoptosis in malignant B lymphocytes recovered from blood of patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) by phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides of.this invention was examined by flow cytometric (FACS) analysis using as apoptosis markers propidium iodide and annexin V. The result of a tipical FACS analysis are shown in Fig 11. As can be observed, the non CpG oligonucleotide IMT 504 of this invention is able to increase the apoptosis of the leukemia cells so well as the CpG ODN 2006.
EXAMPLE 14
Stimulation of the expression of costimulatory molecules on plasmacytoid
dendritic cells by phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides of this
invention
The stimulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells recovered from blood of normal donors by phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention was examined by flow cytometric (FACS) analysis. The results of a
typical FACS analysis are shown in Fig. 12. As can be seen, the phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotide IMT 504 of this invention is able to stimulate expression of CD86, CD40 and MHC class I surface molecules on plasmacytoid dendritic cells so well as the CpG ODN 2006.
Table 14 shows that the non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention are also able to stimulate purified human plasmacytoid dendritic cells to secrete interferon alpha if the oligonucleotide backbone is phosphodiester.
TABLE 14
Interferon alpha secretion by purified plasmacytoid dendritic cells-incubated with phosphorothioate and phosphodiester non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention
EXAMPLE 15
(Table Removed)
Treatment of subjects with tumoral disease

Pharmaceutical formulations containing one or more of the immunostimulatory oligonucleotides of this invention, can be used to treat
subjects against a variety of tumoral diseases. In particular, a human with a Melanoma can be treated by administration of a pharmaceutical lormulation containing the oligonucleotide of this invention as the active component. The amount of oligonucleotide in each dose, and the administration schedule, can vary according to the corporal mass of the subject and stage in tumor progression. For example, for a human of about 70 kg who has an advanced, unresectable metastatic melanoma, a dose of about 1 mg of the oligonucleotide of this invention qan be administered 3 times per week for about 10 weeks.
EXAMPLE 16
Induction of peripheral white blood cell IL-10 secretion and inhibition of IL-5 secretion by phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotides of this invention IL-10 is a potent suppressor of IgE production and induction and maintenance of epitope-specific T cell anergy is associated with increased IL-10. Fig 13 shows the stimulation of IL-10 secretion by the phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotide IMT 504 and controls in PMBCs of several donors. As can be observed, IMT 504 is as active as the CpG positive control ODN 2006. Allergen-specific Th2 cells produce IL-5, which promotes the differentiation, activation and survival of eosinophils. Fig 14 shows that the phosphorothioate non-CpG oligonucleotide IMT 504 and the CpG positive control ODN 2006
are repressors of the production of IL-5 in several human PMBCs induced by. 1L-4 + Con A:
EXAMPLE 17
Treatment of subjects with allergic disease Pharmaceutical formulations containing one or more of the immunostimulatory oligonucleotides of this invention, can be used to treat subjects against a variety of allergic diseases.
In particular, a human with asthma can be treated by administration in the . respiratory tract of an aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation containing the oligonucleotide of this invention as the active component. The amount of oligonucleotide in each dose, and the administration schedule, can vary according to the subject.
Oligonucleotide sequences which are outside the scope of the invention The.following oligonucleotide sequences (disclosed in the above listed prior art publications) are excluded from the scope of the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide claims; the might however be comprised within the scope of the composition and use claims:
(Sequance Removed)









We Claim:
1. An immunostimulatory oligonucleotide having 24 to 100 nucleotides,
comprising the nucleotide sequence
(Sequance Removed)
2. The immunostimulatory oligonucleotide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
immunostimulatory oligonucleotide is encapsulated in a slow release delivery
vehicle.
3. The immunostimulatory oligonucleotide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
immunostimulatory oligonucleotide is included in a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier.
4. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunostimulatory
oligonucleotide in the range of 0.5 to 10 mg/ml as claimed in claim 1 along with a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
5. A vaccine composition comprising combination of immunostimulatory
oligonucleotide in the range of 0.5 to 10 mg/ml as claimed in claim 1 and antigen
selected from the group consisting of viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, tumor cells,
toxins, allergens, proteins, glycolipids, and polysaccharides.
6. A vaccine composition as claimed in claim 5, wherein the antigen is a viral antigen, a bacterial antigen, a human or animal tumor cell antigen, and/or a fungal antigen.

Documents:

3773-DELNP-2004-Abstract-(21-06-2011).pdf

3773-delnp-2004-abstract.pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Claims-(20-03-2012).pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Claims-(21-06-2011).pdf

3773-delnp-2004-claims.pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Correspondence Others-(13-03-2012).pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Correspondence Others-(20-03-2012).pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Correspondence Others-(21-06-2011)..pdf

3773-delnp-2004-correspondence-others.pdf

3773-delnp-2004-description (complete).pdf

3773-delnp-2004-drawings.pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Form-1-(21-06-2011).pdf

3773-delnp-2004-form-1.pdf

3773-delnp-2004-form-18.pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Form-2-(21-06-2011).pdf

3773-delnp-2004-form-2.pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Form-3-(21-06-2011).pdf

3773-delnp-2004-form-3.pdf

3773-delnp-2004-form-5.pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-GPA-(21-06-2011).pdf

3773-delnp-2004-pct-409.pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Petition-137-(13-03-2012).pdf

3773-DELNP-2004-Petition-137-(21-06-2011).pdf


Patent Number 252038
Indian Patent Application Number 3773/DELNP/2004
PG Journal Number 17/2012
Publication Date 27-Apr-2012
Grant Date 23-Apr-2012
Date of Filing 30-Nov-2004
Name of Patentee IMMUNOTECH S.A
Applicant Address FLORIDA 1, 10TH FLOOR, OFFICE 36 CIUDAD AUTONOMA DE BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 LOPEZ, RICARDO, AUGUSTIN CAMARONES 2664 CIUDAD AUTONOMA DE BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA
PCT International Classification Number A61K
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2003/05691
PCT International Filing date 2003-05-30
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2,388,049 2002-05-30 Canada