U.S. patent application number 16/904463 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-01 for anti-sez6 antibody drug conjugates and methods of use.
The applicant listed for this patent is ABBVIE STEMCENTRX LLC. Invention is credited to Julia GAVRILYUK, David LIU, Alexander SCHAMMEL.
Application Number | 20210196834 16/904463 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005465272 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210196834 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIU; David ; et al. |
July 1, 2021 |
ANTI-SEZ6 ANTIBODY DRUG CONJUGATES AND METHODS OF USE
Abstract
Provided are novel anti-SEZ6 antibodies and antibody drug
conjugates, and methods of using such anti-SEZ6 antibodies and
antibody drug conjugates to treat cancer.
Inventors: |
LIU; David; (Pacifica,
CA) ; GAVRILYUK; Julia; (South San Francisco, CA)
; SCHAMMEL; Alexander; (San Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ABBVIE STEMCENTRX LLC |
North Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005465272 |
Appl. No.: |
16/904463 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
May 30, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2019/034701 |
371 Date: |
June 17, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62678061 |
May 30, 2018 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 47/6809 20170801;
A61K 2039/505 20130101; A61K 47/6835 20170801; A61P 35/00 20180101;
C07K 16/18 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61K 47/68 20060101
A61K047/68; C07K 16/18 20060101 C07K016/18; A61P 35/00 20060101
A61P035/00 |
Claims
1.-19. (canceled)
20. A calicheamicin drug linker, or a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt or solvate thereof, comprising the structure: ##STR00015##
Description
1. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/678,061, filed May
30, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its
entirety by reference thereto.
2. REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING
[0002] The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which
has been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created
on May 30, 2019, is named 381493-703WO(167862)_SL.txt and is 28,992
bytes in size.
3. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
[0003] The present application pertains to a novel anti-SEZ6
antibody drug conjugate, components thereof and compositions
comprising the same for the treatment, diagnosis or prophylaxis of
cancer and any recurrence or metastasis thereof.
4. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Differentiation and proliferation of stem cells and
progenitor cells are normal ongoing processes that act in concert
to support tissue growth during organogenesis, cell repair and cell
replacement. The system is tightly regulated to ensure that only
appropriate signals are generated based on the needs of the
organism. Cell proliferation and differentiation normally occur
only as necessary for the replacement of damaged or dying cells or
for growth. However, disruption of these processes can be triggered
by many factors including the under- or overabundance of various
signaling chemicals, the presence of altered microenvironments,
genetic mutations or a combination thereof. Disruption of normal
cellular proliferation and/or differentiation can lead to various
disorders including proliferative diseases such as cancer.
[0005] Conventional therapeutic treatments for cancer include
chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Often these
treatments are ineffective and surgical resection may not provide a
viable clinical alternative. Limitations in the current standard of
care are particularly evident in those cases where patients undergo
first line treatments and subsequently relapse. In such cases
refractory tumors, often aggressive and incurable, frequently
arise. The overall survival rates for many tumors have remained
largely unchanged over the years due, at least in part, to the
failure of existing therapies to prevent relapse, tumor recurrence
and metastasis. There remains therefore a great need to develop
more targeted and potent therapies for proliferative disorders. The
current invention addresses this need.
5. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In a broad aspect the present invention provides an antibody
drug conjugate, or compositions thereof, which specifically binds
to human SEZ6 determinants. In certain embodiments the SEZ6
determinant is a SEZ6 protein expressed on tumor cells while in
other embodiments the SEZ6 determinant is expressed on tumor
initiating cells. In a preferred embodiment the SEZ6 antibody drug
conjugate will comprise:
##STR00001##
wherein Ab comprises an anti-SEZ6 antibody having a heavy chain of
SEQ ID NO:3 and a light chain of SEQ ID NO:4 and wherein n is 2.
For the purposes of the instant disclosure this antibody drug
conjugate shall be termed "hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1" unless otherwise
indicated.
[0007] In selected embodiments the present invention comprises an
antibody comprising a heavy chain of SEQ ID NO:3 and a light chain
of SEQ ID NO:4. In certain aspects the invention comprises a
nucleic acid encoding a heavy chain (SEQ ID NO:3) or light chain
(SEQ ID NO:4) of the anti-SEZ6 antibody of the invention or a
fragment thereof. In other embodiments the invention comprises a
vector comprising one or more of the above described nucleic acids
or a host cell comprising said nucleic acids or vectors.
[0008] In yet another embodiment the invention comprises a
calicheamicin drug linker, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or
solvate thereof, comprising the structure set forth in Formula
II.
##STR00002##
[0009] As set forth above the present invention provides an
anti-SEZ6 antibody drug conjugate wherein the antibody is
conjugated to one or more non-cleavable calicheamicin payloads of
Formula II. Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions
comprising an anti-SEZ6 ADC as disclosed herein. In certain
embodiments the compositions will comprise a selected drug-antibody
ratio (DAR) where the predominant ADC species (e.g., comprising 2
calicheamicin warheads) comprises greater than about 50%, greater
than about 60%, greater than about 70%, greater than about 80%,
greater than about 90% or greater than about 95% of the species
present. Preferably the drug loading of the predominant species
will be 2.
[0010] Another aspect of the invention is a method of treating
cancer comprising administering an antibody drug conjugate or a
pharmaceutical composition such as those described herein to a
subject in need thereof. In certain embodiments the subject will be
suffering from lung cancer and, in selected embodiments, small cell
lung cancer (SCLC).
[0011] In other embodiments the disclosed ADC will comprise a
safety margin (derived as described herein) greater than 6. In
other embodiments the safety margin will be greater than 7 and in
yet other embodiments the safety margin will be greater than 8 or
greater than 9. In still other embodiments the safety margin will
be about 10.
[0012] In still another embodiment the invention comprises a method
of reducing tumor initiating cells in a tumor cell population,
wherein the method comprises contacting (e.g. in vitro or in vivo)
a tumor initiating cell population with an antibody drug conjugate
as described herein whereby the frequency of the tumor initiating
cells is reduced.
[0013] In one aspect, the invention comprises a method of
delivering a cytotoxin to a cell comprising contacting the cell
with the disclosed antibody drug conjugate.
[0014] In another aspect the present invention also provides kits
or devices and associated methods that are useful in the treatment
of lung cancer. To this end the present invention preferably
provides an article of manufacture useful for treating lung cancer
comprising a receptacle containing the SEZ6 ADC and instructional
materials for using the ADC to treat lung cancer (e.g., small cell
lung cancer) or provide a dosing regimen for the same. In other
embodiments the disclosed kits will comprise instructions, labels,
inserts, readers or the like indicating that the kit or device is
used for the treatment of lung cancer or provide a dosing regimen
for the same.
[0015] The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity,
simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail;
consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way
limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the methods,
compositions and/or devices and/or other subject matter described
herein will become apparent in the teachings set forth herein. The
summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed
Description.
6. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of hSEZ6-1.ss1
ADC1;
[0017] FIG. 2 provides binding curves demonstrating that a SEZ6
antibody comprising the S60N mutation has an affinity profile that
is substantially the same as a SEZ6 antibody without the S60N
mutation;
[0018] FIG. 3 demonstrates that the disclosed SEZ6 ADCs effectively
kill cells expressing hSEZ6 in a dose dependent manner while not
depleting naive control cells that do not express hSEZ6;
[0019] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict the ability of the disclosed SEZ6
ADCs to retard small cell lung cancer tumor growth in
immunocompromised mice implanted with the SCLC LU 95 (FIG. 4A) and
SCLC LU 149 (FIG. 4B); and
[0020] FIGS. 5A-5D demonstrate that SCLC tumors are particularly
susceptible to treatment with ADCs comprising a non-cleavable
calicheamicin linker drug wherein FIGS. 5A and 5B show,
respectively, relative expression levels of SEZ6 and a positive
control antigen in various tumor cell lines, FIG. 5C shows that a
PBD toxin uniformly kills different type of cancer cells and FIG.
5D shows that calicheamicin is particularly active in killing SCLC
cells.
7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Disclosed herein are non-limiting, illustrative embodiments
of the invention that exemplify the principles thereof. Any section
headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are
not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. For
the purposes of the instant disclosure all identifying sequence
accession numbers may be found in the NCBI Reference Sequence
(RefSeq) database and/or the NCBI GenBank.RTM. archival sequence
database unless otherwise noted.
[0022] The present invention provides novel anti-SEZ6 ADCs and
components thereof (including the hSEZ6-1.ss1 antibody and the
calicheamicin drug linker of Formula II) comprising a site-specific
anti-SEZ6 antibody targeting agent and calicheamicin cytotoxic
payload. As discussed in more detail below and set forth in the
appended Examples, the disclosed anti-SEZ6 ADC is particularly
efficacious in suppressing tumor growth when compared with other
anti-SEZ6 ADCs.
[0023] The ability to effectively reduce or eliminate tumor and/or
cancer stem cells through use of the SEZ6 ADC disclosed herein is
due to the relative lack of off-site toxicity which allows for
increased dosing. This, in turn provides for higher calicheamicin
levels at the tumor site than other calicheamicin ADCs and results
in increased cell killing. As shown in the appended Examples the
increased toxin concentration at the tumor-site provides for
extended tumor suppression in immunocompromised mice. Thus, the
SEZ6 ADC disclosed herein will likely exhibit a favorable
therapeutic index and may be used in the treatment and/or
prevention of selected proliferative disorders such as small cell
lung cancer or progression or recurrence thereof.
SEZ6 Cancer Stem Cells
[0024] It has been postulated that SCLC is bronchogenic in origin,
arising in part from pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (Galluzzo and
Bocchetta, 2011; PMID: 21504320). Whatever the cellular source of
origin for these tumors, it is clear that they show a poorly
differentiated endocrine phenotype, often are highly proliferative
and aggressive, and frequently over-express neural proteins. The
resultant elevation of neural expression markers in these tumors
that otherwise may be primarily restricted to the nervous system or
show limited expression during development, of which SEZ6 may be an
exemplar, may therefore offer a unique therapeutic target for
tumors with the neuroendocrine phenotype.
[0025] SEZ6 expression is associated with various tumorigenic cell
subpopulations in a manner which renders them susceptible to
treatment as set forth herein. In this regard the invention
provides hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1 which may be particularly useful for
targeting tumorigenic cells thereby facilitating the treatment,
management and/or prevention of cancer. Whether by inhibition or
elimination of the tumorigenic cells, modification of their
potential (for example, by induced differentiation or niche
disruption) or otherwise interfering with the ability of
tumorigenic cells to influence the tumor environment or other
cells, the present invention allows for more effective treatment of
cancer by inhibiting tumorigenesis, tumor maintenance and/or
metastasis and recurrence. It will further be appreciated that the
same characteristics of the disclosed antibodies make them
particularly effective at treating recurrent tumors which have
proved resistant or refractory to standard treatment regimens.
[0026] Methods that can be used to assess a reduction in the
frequency of tumorigenic cells include, but are not limited to,
cytometric or immunohistochemical analysis, preferably by in vitro
or in vivo limiting dilution analysis (Dylla et al. 2008, PMID:
PMC2413402 and Hoey et al. 2009, PMID: 19664991).
[0027] The ability of the antibodies of the current invention to
reduce the frequency of tumorigenic cells can therefore be
determined using the techniques and markers known in the art. In
some instances, the anti-SEZ6 ADCs may reduce the frequency of
tumorigenic cells by 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% or even by 35%. In
other embodiments, the reduction in frequency of tumorigenic cells
may be in the order of 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60% or 65%. In certain
embodiments, the disclosed compounds may reduce the frequency of
tumorigenic cells by 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or even 95%. It will
be appreciated that any reduction of the frequency of tumorigenic
cells is likely to result in a corresponding reduction in the
tumorigenicity, persistence, recurrence and aggressiveness of the
neoplasia.
Antibody Structure
[0028] Antibodies and variants and derivatives thereof, including
accepted nomenclature and numbering systems, have been extensively
described, for example, in Abbas et al. (2010), Cellular and
Molecular Immunology (6.sup.th Ed.), W.B. Saunders Company; or
Murphey et al. (2011), Janeway's Immunobiology (8.sup.th Ed.),
Garland Science.
[0029] An "antibody" or "intact antibody" typically refers to a
Y-shaped tetrameric protein comprising two heavy (H) and two light
(L) polypeptide chains held together by covalent disulfide bonds
and non-covalent interactions. Each light chain is composed of one
variable domain (VL) and one constant domain (CL). Each heavy chain
comprises one variable domain (VH) and a constant region, which in
the case of IgG, IgA, and IgD antibodies, comprises three domains
termed CH1, CH2, and CH3 (IgM and IgE have a fourth domain, CH4).
In IgG, IgA, and IgD classes the CH1 and CH2 domains are separated
by a flexible hinge region, which is a proline and cysteine rich
segment of variable length (from about 10 to about 60 amino acids
in various IgG subclasses). The variable domains in both the light
and heavy chains are joined to the constant domains by a "J" region
of about 12 or more amino acids and the heavy chain also has a "D"
region of about 10 additional amino acids. Each class of antibody
further comprises inter-chain and intra-chain disulfide bonds
formed by paired cysteine residues.
[0030] As used herein the term "antibody" specifically includes
humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibodies comprising kappa (.kappa.)
light chains.
[0031] The variable domains of antibodies show considerable
variation in amino acid composition from one antibody to another
and are primarily responsible for antigen recognition and binding.
Variable regions of each light/heavy chain pair form the antibody
binding site such that an intact IgG antibody has two binding sites
(i.e. it is bivalent). VH and VL domains comprise three regions of
extreme variability, which are termed hypervariable regions, or
more commonly, complementarity-determining regions (CDRs), framed
and separated by four less variable regions known as framework
regions (FRs). Non-covalent association between the VH and the VL
region forms the Fv fragment (for "fragment variable") which
contains one of the two antigen-binding sites of the antibody.
[0032] As used herein, the assignment of amino acids to each
domain, framework region and CDR will be in accordance with one of
the schemes provided by Kabat et al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins
of Immunological Interest (5.sup.th Ed.), US Dept. of Health and
Human Services, PHS, NIH, NIH Publication no. 91-3242; Chothia et
al., 1987, PMID: 3681981; Chothia et al., 1989, PMID: 2687698;
MacCallum et al., 1996, PMID: 8876650; or Dubel, Ed. (2007)
Handbook of Therapeutic Antibodies, 3rd Ed., Wily-VCH Verlag GmbH
and Co or AbM (Oxford Molecular/MSI Pharmacopia) unless otherwise
noted. As is well known in the art variable region residue
numbering is typically as set forth in Chothia or Kabat. Amino acid
residues which comprise CDRs as defined by Kabat, Chothia,
MacCallum (also known as Contact) and AbM as obtained from the
Abysis website database (infra.) are set out below in Table 1. Note
that MacCallum uses the Chothia numbering system.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Rabat Chothia MacCallum AbM VH CDR1 31-35
26-32 30-35 26-35 VH CDR2 50-65 52-56 47-58 50-58 VH CDR3 95-102
95-102 93-101 95-102 VL CDR1 24-34 24-34 30-36 24-34 VL CDR2 50-56
50-56 46-55 50-56 VL CDR3 89-97 89-97 89-96 89-97
[0033] Variable regions and CDRs in an antibody sequence can be
identified according to general rules that have been developed in
the art (e.g., as set forth above) or by aligning the sequences
against a database of known variable regions. Methods for
identifying these regions are described in Kontermann and Dubel,
eds., Antibody Engineering, Springer, New York, N.Y., 2001 and
Dinarello et al., Current Protocols in Immunology, John Wiley and
Sons Inc., Hoboken, N.J., 2000. Exemplary databases of antibody
sequences are described in, and can be accessed through, the
"Abysis" website at www.bioinf.org.uk/abs (maintained by A. C.
Martin in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
University College London, London, England) and the VBASE2 website
at www.vbase2.org, as described in Retter et al., Nucl. Acids Res.,
33 (Database issue): D671-D674 (2005).
[0034] Preferably sequences are analyzed using the Abysis database,
which integrates sequence data from Kabat, IMGT and the Protein
Data Bank (PDB) with structural data from the PDB. See Dr. Andrew
C. R. Martin's book chapter Protein Sequence and Structure Analysis
of Antibody Variable Domains. In: Antibody Engineering Lab Manual
(Ed.: Duebel, S. and Kontermann, R., Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg,
ISBN-13: 978-3540413547, also available on the website
bioinforg.uk/abs). The Abysis database website further includes
general rules that have been developed for identifying CDRs which
can be used in accordance with the teachings herein. Unless
otherwise indicated, all CDRs set forth herein are derived
according to the Abysis database website as per Kabat et al.
[0035] For heavy chain constant region amino acid positions
discussed in the invention, numbering is according to the Eu index
first described in Edelman et al., 1969, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
63(1): 78-85 describing the amino acid sequence of the myeloma
protein Eu, which reportedly was the first human IgG1 sequenced.
The Eu index of Edelman is also set forth in Kabat et al., 1991
(supra.). Thus, the terms "Eu index as set forth in Kabat" or "Eu
index of Kabat" or "Eu index" or "Eu numbering" in the context of
the heavy chain refers to the residue numbering system based on the
human IgG1 Eu antibody of Edelman et al. as set forth in Kabat et
al., 1991 (supra.) The numbering system used for the light chain
constant region amino acid sequence is similarly set forth in Kabat
et al., (supra.).
[0036] Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the heavy and
light chain constant region sequences of the hSEZ6-1.ss1 antibody
have been engineered as disclosed herein to provide unpaired
cysteines. These constant regions are then operably associated with
the disclosed heavy and light chain variable regions using standard
molecular biology techniques to provide the full-length antibody
chains that are incorporated in the disclosed hSEZ6-1.ss1.
Antibody Generation and Production
[0037] The humanized antibody hSEZ6-1.ss1 is produced as set forth
in Examples 1 and 2 appended hereto and the resulting amino acid
sequences of the full length heavy chain and full length light
chain are set forth immediately below as SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID
NO:4. As discussed below the heavy chain of the humanized antibody
comprises a S60N mutation designed to inactivate a glycosylation
site and a C220S mutation (numbered according to the EU index of
Kabat) that provides the free cysteine on the light chain. Note
that in the heavy chain the S60N and the C220S mutations are
underlined while the resulting free cysteine at position 214 is
underlined in the light chain. The variable region of both chains
is depicted in bold type.
TABLE-US-00002 (SEQ ID NO: 3)
EVQLVQSGAEVKKPGESLKISCKGSGYSFTSSWINWVRQMPGKGLEWMGR
IYPGEGDTNYNGNFEGQVTISADKSISTAYLQWSSLKASDTAMYYCTRGL
VMDYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPE
PVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNV
NHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSSDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLM
ISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRV
VSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLP
PSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDG
SFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG (SEQ ID NO: 4)
EIVLTQSPATLSLSPGERATLSCRASQSVDYNGISYMHWYQQKPGQAPRL
LIYAASNVQSGIPARFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLEPEDFAVYYCQQSIEDPP
TFGGGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKV
QWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEV
THQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC
[0038] In addition, compatible nucleic acid sequences encoding the
aforementioned full length heavy and light chains are set forth
immediately below as SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6 respectively.
TABLE-US-00003 HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEIC ACID SEQUENCE (with introns)
(SEQ ID NO: 5) gaagtccaactcgtccaatccggtgccgaagtgaaaaagcctggggaat
ccctgaagatcagctgcaagggatccggttactcgttcacctcctcctg
gattaactgggtccggcagatgcccggaaagggactggagtggatgggc
agaatctatccgggcgaaggggacactaattacaacggaaacttcgagg
gccaggtcaccatttcggccgataagagcatctcaaccgcgtacttgca
gtggtcaagcctgaaggcttccgacaccgccatgtactactgtactcgc
ggccttgtgatggactactggggacagggaactctcgtgaccgtgtcgt
ccgcctctaccaagggcccttccgtgttccctctggccccctcgagcaa
gagcacctctgggggcacagcggccctgggctgcctggtcaaggactac
ttccccgagccggtgacggtgtcgtggaactcaggcgccctgaccagcg
gcgtgcacaccttcccggctgtcctacagtcctcaggactctactccct
cagcagcgtggtgaccgtgccctccagcagcttgggcacccagacctac
atctgcaacgtgaatcacaagcccagcaacaccaaggtggacaagaaag
ttggtgagaggccagcacagggagggagggtgtctgctggaagccaggc
tcagcgctcctgcctggacgcatcccggctatgcagccccagtccaggg
cagcaaggcaggccccgtctgcctcttcacccggaggcctctgcccgcc
ccactcatgctcagggagagggtcttctggctttttccccaggctctgg
gcaggcacaggctaggtgcccctaacccaggccctgcacacaaaggggc
aggtgctgggctcagacctgccaagagccatatccgggaggaccctgcc
cctgacctaagcccaccccaaaggccaaactctccactccctcagctcg
gacaccttctctcctcccagattccagtaactcccaatcttctctctgc
agagcccaaatctagtgacaaaactcacacatgcccaccgtgcccaggt
aagccagcccaggcctcgccctccagctcaaggcgggacaggtgcccta
gagtagcctgcatccagggacaggccccagccgggtgctgacacgtcca
cctccatctcttcctcagcacctgaactcctggggggaccgtcagtctt
cctcttccccccaaaacccaaggacaccctcatgatctcccggacccct
gaggtcacatgcgtggtggtggacgtgagccacgaagaccctgaggtca
agttcaactggtacgtggacggcgtggaggtgcataatgccaagacaaa
gccgcgggaggagcagtacaacagcacgtaccgtgtggtcagcgtcctc
accgtcctgcaccaggactggctgaatggcaaggagtacaagtgcaagg
tctccaacaaagccctcccagcccccatcgagaaaaccatctccaaagc
caaaggtgggacccgtggggtgcgagggccacatggacagaggccggct
cggcccaccctctgccctgagagtgaccgctgtaccaacctctgtccct
acagggcagccccgagaaccacaggtgtacaccctgcccccatcccggg
atgagctgaccaagaaccaggtcagcctgacctgcctggtcaaaggctt
ctatcccagcgacatcgccgtggagtgggagagcaatgggcagccggag
aacaactacaagaccacgcctcccgtgctggactccgacggctccttct
tcctctacagcaagctcaccgtggacaagagcaggtggcagcaggggaa
cgtcttctcatgctccgtgatgcatgaggctctgcacaaccactacacg
cagaagagcctctccctgtctccgggt LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEIC ACID SEQUENCE (SEQ
ID NO: 6) gaaatcgtgttgacccagtcccccgctaccctgtcactgagccccggag
aacgcgcgactctgtcctgccgggcatcccagtccgtggactacaacgg
aatctcctacatgcactggtatcagcaaaagccaggccaagccccgaga
ctgctcatctacgccgcctcgaacgtgcagagcggtattccggcgcggt
tctccggctcgggcagcggaaccgattttaccctcactatctcgtcact
tgaacctgaggacttcgccgtgtactactgccagcagtccattgaggac
ccgcctactttcggggggggaaccaaagtcgagatcaagcggactgtgg
ctgcaccaagtgtcttcatcttcccgccatctgatgagcagttgaaatc
tggaactgcctctgttgtgtgcctgctgaataacttctatcccagagag
gccaaagtacagtggaaggtggataacgccctccaatcgggtaactccc
aggagagtgtcacagagcaggacagcaaggacagcacctacagcctcag
cagcaccctgacgctgagcaaagcagactacgagaaacacaaagtctac
gcctgcgaagtcacccatcagggcctgagctcgcccgtcacaaagagct
tcaacaggggagagtgt
[0039] The SEZ6 antibody component of the instant invention has
been engineered to facilitate efficient conjugation of the
calicheamicin toxin. In this regard antibody drug conjugate (ADC)
preparations of the invention comprise a relatively homogenous
population of ADC molecules both in terms of the position of the
cytotoxin on the antibody and the drug to antibody ratio (DAR).
Based on the instant disclosure one skilled in the art could
readily fabricate the disclosed site-specific engineered construct
comprising SEQ ID NOS:3 and 4. As used herein a "site-specific
antibody" or "site-specific construct" means an antibody wherein at
least one amino acid in either the heavy or light chain is deleted,
altered or substituted (preferably with another amino acid) to
provide at least one free cysteine. Similarly, a "site-specific
conjugate" shall be held to mean an ADC comprising a site-specific
antibody and at least one cytotoxin conjugated to the unpaired or
free cysteine(s). In the present invention the cysteine at position
220 of the heavy chain (Eu numbering of Kabat) has been mutated to
a serine thereby disrupting the disulfide bridge that naturally
forms with the terminal cysteine at position 214 of the kappa light
chain constant region. This renders the cysteine at position 214 a
free or unpaired cysteine in accordance with the teachings herein
that is then conjugated to the disclosed calicheamicin drug
linker.
[0040] As used herein, the terms "free cysteine" or "unpaired
cysteine" may be used interchangeably unless otherwise dictated by
context and shall mean a cysteine (or thiol containing) constituent
(e.g., a cysteine residue) of an antibody, whether naturally
present or specifically incorporated in a selected residue position
using molecular engineering techniques, that is not part of a
naturally occurring (or "native") disulfide bond under
physiological conditions. In selected embodiments the free cysteine
may comprise a naturally occurring cysteine whose native interchain
or intrachain disulfide bridge partner has been substituted,
eliminated or otherwise altered to disrupt the naturally occurring
disulfide bridge under physiological conditions thereby rendering
the unpaired cysteine suitable for site-specific conjugation. It
will be appreciated that, prior to conjugation, free or unpaired
cysteines may be present as a thiol (reduced cysteine), as a capped
cysteine (oxidized) or as part of a non-native intra- or
intermolecular disulfide bond (oxidized) with another cysteine or
thiol group on the same or different molecule depending on the
oxidation state of the system. As discussed in more detail below,
mild reduction of the appropriately engineered antibody construct
will provide thiols available for site-specific conjugation.
Accordingly, in particularly preferred embodiments the free or
unpaired cysteines will be subject to selective reduction and
subsequent conjugation to provide homogenous DAR compositions. No
longer "free" or "unpaired" such residue positions may be termed
"engineered sites of conjugation" once they are covalently bound to
the drug linker.
[0041] Antibodies and fragments thereof may be produced or modified
using genetic material obtained from antibody producing cells and
recombinant technology (see, for example; Dubel and Reichert (Eds.)
(2014) Handbook of Therapeutic Antibodies, 2.sup.nd Edition,
Wiley-Blackwell GmbH; Sambrook and Russell (Eds.) (2000) Molecular
Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (3.sup.rd Ed.), NY, Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory Press; Ausubel et al. (2002) Short Protocols in
Molecular Biology: A Compendium of Methods from Current Protocols
in Molecular Biology, Wiley, John & Sons, Inc.; and U.S. Pat.
No. 7,709,611).
[0042] Another aspect of the invention pertains to nucleic acid
molecules that encode the antibody of the invention. The nucleic
acids may be present in whole cells, in a cell lysate, or in a
partially purified or substantially pure form. A nucleic acid is
"isolated" or rendered substantially pure when separated from other
cellular components or other contaminants, e.g., other cellular
nucleic acids or proteins, by standard techniques, including
alkaline/SDS treatment, CsCl banding, column chromatography,
agarose gel electrophoresis and others well known in the art. A
nucleic acid of the invention can be, for example, DNA (e.g.
genomic DNA, cDNA), RNA and artificial variants thereof (e.g.,
peptide nucleic acids), whether single-stranded or double-stranded
or RNA, RNA and may or may not contain introns. In selected
embodiments the nucleic acid is a cDNA molecule.
[0043] Nucleic acids of the invention can be obtained using
standard molecular biology techniques. For antibodies expressed by
hybridomas (e.g., hybridomas prepared as described in the Examples
below), cDNAs encoding the light and heavy chains of the antibody
can be obtained by standard PCR amplification or cDNA cloning
techniques. For antibodies obtained from an immunoglobulin gene
library (e.g., using phage display techniques), nucleic acid
molecules encoding the antibody can be recovered from the
library.
[0044] DNA fragments encoding VH and VL segments can be further
manipulated by standard recombinant DNA techniques, for example to
convert the variable region genes to full-length antibody chain
genes, to Fab fragment genes or to a scFv gene. In these
manipulations, a VL- or VH-encoding DNA fragment is operably linked
to another DNA fragment encoding another protein, such as an
antibody constant region or a flexible linker. The term "operably
linked", as used in this context, means that the two DNA fragments
are joined such that the amino acid sequences encoded by the two
DNA fragments remain in-frame.
[0045] The isolated DNA encoding the VH region can be converted to
a full-length heavy chain gene by operably linking the VH-encoding
DNA to another DNA molecule encoding heavy chain constant regions
(CH1, CH2 and CH3 in the case of IgG1). The sequences of human
heavy chain constant region genes are known in the art (see e.g.,
Kabat, et al. (1991) (supra)) and DNA fragments encompassing these
regions can be obtained by standard PCR amplification.
[0046] Isolated DNA encoding the VL region can be converted to a
full-length light chain gene by operably linking the VL-encoding
DNA to another DNA molecule encoding the light chain constant
region, CL. The sequences of human light chain constant region
genes are known in the art (see e.g., Kabat, et al. (1991) (supra))
and DNA fragments encompassing these regions can be obtained by
standard PCR amplification. The light chain constant region can be
a kappa or lambda constant region, but most preferably is a kappa
constant region.
[0047] In each case the VH or VL domains may be operably linked to
their respective constant regions (CH or CL) where the constant
regions are site-specific constant regions and provide a
site-specific antibody. In selected embodiments the resulting
site-specific antibody will comprise two unpaired cysteines in the
CL domain.
[0048] For long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins
stable expression is preferred. Accordingly, cell lines that stably
express the selected antibody may be engineered using standard art
recognized techniques and form part of the invention. Rather than
using expression vectors that contain viral origins of replication,
host cells can be transformed with DNA controlled by appropriate
expression control elements (e.g., promoter or enhancer sequences,
transcription terminators, polyadenylation sites, etc.), and a
selectable marker. Any of the selection systems well known in the
art may be used, including the glutamine synthetase gene expression
system (the GS system) which provides an efficient approach for
enhancing expression under selected conditions. The GS system is
discussed in whole or part in connection with EP 0 216 846, EP 0
256 055, EP 0 323 997 and EP 0 338 841 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,639
and 5,879,936. Another compatible expression system for the
development of stable cell lines is the Freedom.TM. CHO-S Kit (Life
Technologies).
[0049] Once an antibody of the invention has been produced by
recombinant expression or any other of the disclosed techniques, it
may be purified or isolated by methods known in the art in that it
is identified and separated and/or recovered from its natural
environment and separated from contaminants that would interfere
with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the antibody or related
ADC. Isolated antibodies include antibodies in situ within
recombinant cells.
[0050] These isolated preparations may be purified using various
art-recognized techniques, such as, for example, ion exchange and
size exclusion chromatography, dialysis, diafiltration, and
affinity chromatography, particularly Protein A or Protein G
affinity chromatography.
Antibody Conjugates
[0051] As discussed above the antibody of the invention is
conjugated with two calicheamicin toxins to form an "antibody drug
conjugate" (ADC) or "antibody conjugate". The term "conjugate" is
used broadly and means the covalent association of a calicheamicin
with the antibody of the instant invention. Herein the association
is effected through cysteine residues at position 214 of the light
chain constant regions.
[0052] It will be appreciated that the ADCs of the instant
invention may be used to selectively deliver predetermined
calicheamicin warheads to tumorigenic cells and/or cells expressing
SEZ6. As set forth herein the terms "drug" or "warhead" may be used
interchangeably and will mean a calicheamicin molecule. A "payload"
comprises the calicheamicin in combination with a non-cleavable
linker compound that provides a stable pharmaceutical complex until
the ADC reaches the target. Formula II (set forth above) is an
exemplary payload with a calicheamicin warhead.
[0053] In preferred embodiments the disclosed ADC will direct the
bound payload (e.g., Formula II) to the target site in a relatively
unreactive, non-toxic state before releasing and activating the
calicheamicin toxin. This targeted release of the warhead is
preferably achieved through stable conjugation of the payloads and
relatively homogeneous composition of the ADC preparations which
minimize over-conjugated toxic ADC species. Coupled with a
particularly stable non-cleavable drug linker that is designed to
release the warhead upon delivery to the tumor site, the conjugates
of the instant invention can substantially reduce undesirable
non-specific toxicity. This advantageously provides for relatively
high levels of the active cytotoxin at the tumor site while
minimizing exposure of non-targeted cells and tissue thereby
providing enhanced efficacy.
[0054] The conjugate of the instant invention may be generally
represented by Formula III:
[0055] Ab-[L-D]n
[0056] wherein:
[0057] a) Ab comprises an anti-SEZ6 antibody having a heavy chain
of SEQ ID NO:3 and a light chain of SEQ ID NO:4;
[0058] b) [L-D] comprises the linker drug of Formula II covalently
attached to Ab; and
[0059] c) n is 2.
[0060] In some preferred embodiments the instant invention
comprises selective conjugation of the calicheamicin payload to
free cysteines using stabilization agents in combination with mild
reducing agents as described herein. Such reaction conditions tend
to provide more homogeneous preparations with less non-specific
conjugation and contaminants and correspondingly less toxicity.
[0061] Calicheamicin Warhead
[0062] As discussed herein the antibodies of the invention are
conjugated to a calicheamicin toxin. That is, the disclosed SEZ6
ADC of the invention may comprise the formula Ab-[L-D]n (Formula
III) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein D is
calicheamicin or analog thereof in any of the molecular structures
provided herein. As known in the art the calicheamicins are a class
of enediyne antitumor antibiotics derived from the bacterium
Micromonospora echinospora, including calicheamicin
.gamma..sub.1.sup.I, calicheamicin .beta..sub.1.sup.Br,
calicheamicin .gamma..sub.1.sup.Br, calicheamicin
.alpha..sub.2.sup.I, calicheamicin .alpha..sub.3.sup.I,
calicheamicin .beta..sub.1.sup.i and calicheamicin
.delta..sub.1.sup.i were isolated and characterized. The structures
of each of the foregoing calicheamicin analogs are well known in
the art (e.g., see Lee et al., Journal of Antibiotics, July 1989
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) and are
compatible with the calicheamicin drug linker constructs and
antibody drug conjugates disclosed herein.
[0063] In general, calicheamicin .gamma..sup.1 contains two
distinct structural regions, each playing a specific role in the
compound's biological activity. The larger of the two consists of
an extended sugar residue, comprising four monosaccharide units and
one hexasubstituted benzene ring; these are joined together through
a highly unusual series of glycosidic, thioester, and hydroxylamine
linkages. The second structural region, the aglycon (known as
calicheamicinone), contains a compact, highly functionalized
bicyclic core, housing a strained enediyne unit within a bridging
10-member ring. This aglycon subunit further comprises an allylic
trisulfide which, as described below, functions as an activator to
generate the cytotoxic form of the molecule.
[0064] By way of example the structure for trisulfide calicheamicin
.gamma..sub.1.sup.I is shown immediately below in Formula IV:
##STR00003##
[0065] As used herein the term "calicheamicin" shall be held to
mean any one of calicheamicin .gamma..sub.1.sup.I, calicheamicin
.beta..sub.1.sup.Br, calicheamicin .gamma..sub.1.sup.Br,
calicheamicin .alpha..sub.2.sup.I, calicheamicin
.alpha..sub.3.sup.I, calicheamicin .beta..sub.1.sup.i and
calicheamicin .delta..sub.1.sup.i along with N-acetyl derivatives,
sulfide analogs and analogs thereof. Accordingly, as used herein,
the term "calicheamicin" will be understood to encompass any
calicheamicin found in nature as well as calicheamicin molecules
with a disulfide moiety having a point of attachment to another
molecule (e.g., an antibody drug conjugate) and analogs thereof. By
way of example, as used herein, calicheamicin .gamma..sup.I is to
be understood to be construed as comprising the following
molecules:
##STR00004##
wherein R.sup.1 is defined as below.
[0066] It will be appreciated that any of the aforementioned
compounds are compatible with the teachings herein and may be used
to fabricate the disclosed calicheamicin drug linker constructs and
antibody drug conjugates. In certain embodiments, such as shown in
Formula II, the calicheamicin component of the disclosed antibody
drug conjugates will comprise N-acetyl Calicheamicin
.gamma..sub.1.sup.I (N-Ac calicheamicin).
[0067] Calicheamicins target nucleic acids and cause strand
scission thereby killing the target cell. More specifically,
calicheamicins have been found to bind the minor groove of DNA,
where they then undergo a reaction analogous to Bergman cyclization
to generate a diradical species. In this regard the aryl
tetrasaccharide subunit serves to deliver the drug to its target,
tightly binding to the minor groove of double helical DNA as
demonstrated by Crothers et al. (1999). When a nucleophile (e.g.
glutathione) attacks the central sulfur atom of the trisulfide
group, it causes a significant change in structural geometry and
imposes a great deal of strain on the 10-member enediyne ring. This
strain is completely relieved by the enediyne undergoing a
cycloaromatization reaction, generating a highly-reactive
1,4-benzenoid diradical and leading, eventually, to DNA cleavage by
attracting hydrogen atoms from the deoxyribose DNA backbone which
results in strand scission. Note that in the calicheamicin
disulfide analog constructs of the instant invention the
nucleophile cleaves the protected disulfide bond to produce the
desired diradical.
[0068] More particularly it is understood that D expressly
comprises any member of the class of calicheamicin as known in the
art wherein the terminal --S--S--S--CH.sub.3 moiety may be replaced
with --S--Si, wherein the symbol represents the point of attachment
to a linker.
[0069] Thus, in certain embodiments, D is of the Formula V,
##STR00005##
[0070] wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, halogen, substituted or
unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl,
substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or
unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl,
or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, --CF.sub.3,
--CCl.sub.3, --CBr.sub.3, --CI.sub.3, --CN, --C(O)R.sup.1E,
--NR.sup.1AR.sup.1C, --C(O)OR.sup.1A, --C(O)NR.sup.1BR.sup.1C,
--SR.sup.1D, --SO.sub.n1R.sup.1B or --SO.sub.v1NR.sup.1BR.sup.1C.
In certain selected embodiments R.sup.1 will comprise H. In other
selected embodiments R.sup.1 will comprise --C(O)CH.sub.3.
[0071] R.sup.1A, R.sup.1B, R.sup.1C, R.sup.1D and R.sup.1E are
independently hydrogen, halogen, --CF.sub.3, --CCl.sub.3,
--CBr.sub.3, --CI.sub.3, --OH, --NH.sub.2, --COOH, --CONH.sub.2,
--N(O).sub.2, --SH, --S(O).sub.3H, --S(O).sub.4H,
--S(O).sub.2NH.sub.2, --NHNH.sub.2, --ONH.sub.2,
--NHC(O)NHNH.sub.2, --NHC(O)NH.sub.2, --NHS(O).sub.2H, --NHC(O)H,
--NHC(O)--OH, --NHOH, --OCF.sub.3, --OCCl.sub.3, --OCBr.sub.3,
--OCI.sub.3, --OCHF.sub.2, --OCHCl.sub.2, --OCHBr.sub.2,
--OCHI.sub.2, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or
unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl,
substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or
unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl.
[0072] In some embodiments, R.sup.1B and R.sup.1C substituents
bonded to the same nitrogen atom may optionally be joined to form a
substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl or substituted or
unsubstituted heteroaryl. The symbol n1 is independently an integer
from 0 to 4, the symbol v1 is independently 1 or 2 and the symbol
represents the point of attachment to a linker.
[0073] With regard to Formula V it will be appreciated that the
illustrated compound comprises a disulfide calicheamicin analog
(e.g., an N-acetyl calicheamicin analog such as shown in Formula
II) preferably bound to a disulfide protective group (at the point
of attachment represented by ) that is covalently bound to the
remainder of the linker. The disulfide protective group improves
stability of the disulfide bond in the bloodstream and allows for
effective synthesis of the disclosed calicheamicin-linker
constructs. In certain embodiments the calicheamicin disulfide
group is preferably protected by a short chain substituted or
unsubstituted bifunctional aliphatic or aryl group ("disulfide
protective group") that provides stability (e.g., plasma stability)
until the ADC reaches the target cell. More specifically the
configuration of the disulfide protective group provides a degree
of steric hindrance for the disulfide bond thereby reducing its
susceptibility to cleavage via thiol-disulfide exchange reactions.
In this position the disulfide protective group covalently links
the calicheamicin disulfide group with the remainder of the
non-cleavable linker.
[0074] Upon reaching the target (e.g., a cancer cell) the linker
will preferably be severed or degraded to release the calicheamicin
attached to part of the linker through the disulfide protective
group. In certain embodiments once the linker has been initially
cleaved beyond the disulfide protective group (i.e. distal from the
calicheamicin) the remainder of the linker attached to the
calicheamicin will be degraded under physiological conditions to
the point where the disulfide bond is severed (preferably
intracellularly) followed by rearrangement and formation of the
active biradical calicheamicin species. It is this form of the
calicheamicin warhead that binds to the minor groove of the
cellular DNA and induces the desired cytotoxic effects (See Walker
et al., Biochemistry 89: 4608-4612, 5/92 which is incorporated
herein in its entirety by reference).
Linker Compounds
[0075] As indicated above payloads compatible with the instant
invention comprise one or more warheads and a non-cleavable linker
associating the warheads with the antibody targeting agent.
Compatible non-cleavable linkers covalently bind with the reactive
residue on the antibody (preferably a cysteine or lysine) and
calicheamicin through the disulfide moiety.
[0076] In particularly preferred embodiments the linker will
comprise selected non-cleavable linkers. In certain embodiments the
ADCs will comprise compatible non-cleavable linkers containing
amide linked polyethylene glycol or alkyl spacers that liberate the
calicheamicin payload during lysosomal degradation of the ADC
within the target cell. A particularly compatible non-cleavable
linker used in Formula II is shown immediately below in Formula VII
wherein the wavy line indicates the point of attachment to the
disulfide group of the calicheamicin.
##STR00006##
Synthesis of Formula II, including the linker component, is shown
in Example 3 below with attendant conditions.
Conjugation
[0077] Various methods are known in the art for conjugating a
therapeutic compound to a cysteine residue and will be apparent to
the skilled artisan. Under basic conditions the cysteine residues
will be deprotonated to generate a thiolate nucleophile which may
be reacted with soft electrophiles such as maleimides and
iodoacetamides. Generally, reagents for such conjugations may react
directly with a cysteine thiol to form the conjugated protein or
with a linker drug to form a linker drug intermediate. In the case
of a linker, several routes, employing organic chemistry reactions,
conditions, and reagents are known to those skilled in the art,
including: (1) reaction of a cysteine group of the protein of the
invention with a linker reagent, to form a protein-linker
intermediate, via a covalent bond, followed by reaction with an
activated compound; and (2) reaction of a nucleophilic group of a
compound with a linker reagent, to form a drug linker intermediate,
via a covalent bond, followed by reaction with a cysteine group of
a protein of the invention.
[0078] Prior to conjugation, antibodies may be made reactive for
conjugation with linker reagents by treatment with a reducing agent
such as dithiothreitol (DTT) or (tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine
(TCEP). In other embodiments additional nucleophilic groups can be
introduced into antibodies through the reaction of lysines with
reagents, including but not limited to, 2-iminothiolane (Traut's
reagent), SATA, SATP or SAT(PEG)4, resulting in conversion of an
amine into a thiol.
[0079] Conjugation reagents commonly include maleimide, haloacetyl,
iodoacetamide succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate, sulfonyl
chloride, 2,6-dichlorotriazinyl, pentafluorophenyl ester, and
phosphoramidite, although other functional groups can also be used.
In certain embodiments methods include, for example, the use of
maleimides, iodoacetimides or haloacetyl/alkyl halides, aziridine,
acryloyl derivatives to react with the thiol of a cysteine to
produce a thioether that is reactive with a compound. Disulphide
exchange of a free thiol with an activated piridyldisulphide is
also useful for producing a conjugate (e.g., use of
5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic (TNB) acid). Preferably, a maleimide is
used.
[0080] As discussed above site-specific antibodies or engineered
antibodies allow for conjugate preparations that exhibit enhanced
stability and substantial homogeneity due, at least in part, to the
provision of engineered free cysteine site(s) and/or the novel
conjugation procedures set forth herein. Unlike conventional
conjugation methodology that fully or partially reduces each of the
intrachain or interchain antibody disulfide bonds to provide
conjugation sites (and is fully compatible with the instant
invention), the present invention additionally provides for the
selective reduction of certain prepared free cysteine sites and
attachment of the drug linker to the same.
[0081] In this regard it will be appreciated that the conjugation
specificity promoted by the engineered sites and the selective
reduction allows for a high percentage of site directed conjugation
at the desired positions. Significantly some of these conjugation
sites, such as those present in the terminal region of the light
chain constant region, are typically difficult to conjugate
effectively as they tend to cross-react with other free cysteines.
However, through molecular engineering and selective reduction of
the resulting free cysteines, efficient conjugation rates may be
obtained which considerably reduces unwanted high-DAR contaminants
and non-specific toxicity. More generally the engineered constructs
and disclosed novel conjugation methods comprising selective
reduction provide ADC preparations having improved pharmacokinetics
and/or pharmacodynamics and, potentially, an improved therapeutic
index.
[0082] In certain embodiments site-specific constructs present free
cysteine(s) which, when reduced, comprise thiol groups that are
nucleophilic and capable of reacting to form covalent bonds with
electrophilic groups on linker moieties such as those disclosed
above. As discussed above antibodies of the instant invention
preferably have reducible unpaired interchain cysteines, i.e.
cysteines providing such nucleophilic groups. Thus, in certain
embodiments the reaction of free sulfhydryl groups of the reduced
free cysteines and the terminal maleimido or haloacetamide groups
of compatible drug linkers will provide the desired conjugation. In
such cases free cysteines of the antibodies may be made reactive
for conjugation with linker reagents by treatment with a reducing
agent such as dithiothreitol (DTT) or (tris (2-carboxyethyl)
phosphine (TCEP). Each free cysteine will thus present,
theoretically, a reactive thiol nucleophile. While such reagents
are particularly compatible with the instant invention it will be
appreciated that conjugation of site-specific antibodies may be
achieved using various reactions, conditions and reagents generally
known to those skilled in the art.
[0083] In addition, it has been found that the free cysteines of
engineered antibodies may be selectively reduced to provide
enhanced site-directed conjugation and a reduction in unwanted,
potentially toxic contaminants. More specifically "stabilizing
agents" such as arginine have been found to modulate intra- and
inter-molecular interactions in proteins and may be used, in
conjunction with selected reducing agents (preferably relatively
mild), to selectively reduce the free cysteines and to facilitate
site-specific conjugation as set forth herein. As used herein the
terms "selective reduction" or "selectively reducing" may be used
interchangeably and shall mean the reduction of free cysteine(s)
without substantially disrupting native disulfide bonds present in
the engineered antibody. In selected embodiments this selective
reduction may be effected by the use of certain reducing agents or
certain reducing agent concentrations. In other embodiments
selective reduction of an engineered construct will comprise the
use of stabilization agents in combination with reducing agents
(including mild reducing agents). It will be appreciated that the
term "selective conjugation" shall mean the conjugation of an
engineered antibody that has been selectively reduced in the
presence of a cytotoxin as described herein. In this respect the
use of such stabilizing agents (e.g., arginine) in combination with
selected reducing agents can markedly improve the efficiency of
site-specific conjugation as determined by extent of conjugation on
the heavy and light antibody chains and DAR distribution of the
preparation. Compatible antibody constructs and selective
conjugation techniques and reagents are extensively disclosed in
WO2015/031698 which is incorporated herein specifically as to such
methodology and constructs.
[0084] While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, such
stabilizing agents may act to modulate the electrostatic
microenvironment and/or modulate conformational changes at the
desired conjugation site, thereby allowing relatively mild reducing
agents (which do not materially reduce intact native disulfide
bonds) to facilitate conjugation at the desired free cysteine
site(s). Such agents (e.g., certain amino acids) are known to form
salt bridges (via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions)
and can modulate protein-protein interactions in such a way as to
impart a stabilizing effect that may cause favorable conformational
changes and/or reduce unfavorable protein-protein interactions.
Moreover, such agents may act to inhibit the formation of undesired
intramolecular (and intermolecular) cysteine-cysteine bonds after
reduction thus facilitating the desired conjugation reaction
wherein the engineered site-specific cysteine is bound to the drug
(preferably via a linker). Since selective reduction conditions do
not provide for the significant reduction of intact native
disulfide bonds, the subsequent conjugation reaction is naturally
driven to the relatively few reactive thiols on the free cysteines
(e.g., preferably 2 free thiols per antibody). As previously
alluded to, such techniques may be used to considerably reduce
levels of non-specific conjugation and corresponding unwanted DAR
species in conjugate preparations fabricated in accordance with the
instant disclosure.
[0085] In selected embodiments stabilizing agents compatible with
the present invention will generally comprise compounds with at
least one moiety having a basic pKa. In certain embodiments the
moiety will comprise a primary amine while in other embodiments the
amine moiety will comprise a secondary amine. In still other
embodiments the amine moiety will comprise a tertiary amine or a
guanidinium group. In other selected embodiments the amine moiety
will comprise an amino acid while in other compatible embodiments
the amine moiety will comprise an amino acid side chain. In yet
other embodiments the amine moiety will comprise a proteinogenic
amino acid. In still other embodiments the amine moiety comprises a
non-proteinogenic amino acid. In some embodiments, compatible
stabilizing agents may comprise arginine, lysine, proline and
cysteine. In certain preferred embodiments the stabilizing agent
will comprise arginine. In addition, compatible stabilizing agents
may include guanidine and nitrogen containing heterocycles with
basic pKa.
[0086] In certain embodiments compatible stabilizing agents
comprise compounds with at least one amine moiety having a pKa of
greater than about 7.5, in other embodiments the subject amine
moiety will have a pKa of greater than about 8.0, in yet other
embodiments the amine moiety will have a pKa greater than about 8.5
and in still other embodiments the stabilizing agent will comprise
an amine moiety having a pKa of greater than about 9.0. Other
embodiments will comprise stabilizing agents where the amine moiety
will have a pKa of greater than about 9.5 while certain other
embodiments will comprise stabilizing agents exhibiting at least
one amine moiety having a pKa of greater than about 10.0. In still
other embodiments the stabilizing agent will comprise a compound
having the amine moiety with a pKa of greater than about 10.5, in
other embodiments the stabilizing agent will comprise a compound
having an amine moiety with a pKa greater than about 11.0, while in
still other embodiments the stabilizing agent will comprise an
amine moiety with a pKa greater than about 11.5. In yet other
embodiments the stabilizing agent will comprise a compound having
an amine moiety with a pKa greater than about 12.0, while in still
other embodiments the stabilizing agent will comprise an amine
moiety with a pKa greater than about 12.5. Those of skill in the
art will understand that relevant pKa's may readily be calculated
or determined using standard techniques and used to determine the
applicability of using a selected compound as a stabilizing
agent.
[0087] The disclosed stabilizing agents are shown to be
particularly effective at targeting conjugation to free
site-specific cysteines when combined with certain reducing agents.
For the purposes of the instant invention, compatible reducing
agents may include any compound that produces a reduced free
site-specific cysteine for conjugation without significantly
disrupting the native disulfide bonds of the engineered antibody.
Under such conditions, preferably provided by the combination of
selected stabilizing and reducing agents, the activated drug linker
is largely limited to binding to the desired free site-specific
cysteine site(s). Relatively mild reducing agents or reducing
agents used at relatively low concentrations to provide mild
conditions are particularly preferred. As used herein the terms
"mild reducing agent" or "mild reducing conditions" shall be held
to mean any agent or state brought about by a reducing agent
(optionally in the presence of stabilizing agents) that provides
thiols at the free cysteine site(s) without substantially
disrupting native disulfide bonds present in the engineered
antibody. That is, mild reducing agents or conditions (preferably
in combination with a stabilizing agent) are able to effectively
reduce free cysteine(s) (provide a thiol) without significantly
disrupting the protein's native disulfide bonds. The desired
reducing conditions may be provided by a number of sulfhydryl-based
compounds that establish the appropriate environment for selective
conjugation. In embodiments mild reducing agents may comprise
compounds having one or more free thiols while in some embodiments
mild reducing agents will comprise compounds having a single free
thiol. Non-limiting examples of reducing agents compatible with the
selective reduction techniques of the instant invention comprise
glutathione, n-acetyl cysteine, cysteine, 2-aminoethane-1-thiol and
2-hydroxyethane-1-thiol.
[0088] It will further be appreciated that engineered antibodies
capable of conjugation may contain free cysteine residues that
comprise sulfhydryl groups that are blocked or capped as the
antibody is produced or stored. Such caps include small molecules,
proteins, peptides, ions and other materials that interact with the
sulfhydryl group and prevent or inhibit conjugate formation. In
some cases the unconjugated engineered antibody may comprise free
cysteines that bind other free cysteines on the same or different
antibodies. As discussed herein such cross-reactivity may lead to
various contaminants during the fabrication procedure. In some
embodiments, the engineered antibodies may require uncapping prior
to a conjugation reaction. In specific embodiments, antibodies
herein are uncapped and display a free sulfhydryl group capable of
conjugation. In specific embodiments, antibodies herein are
subjected to an uncapping reaction that does not disturb or
rearrange the naturally occurring disulfide bonds. It will be
appreciated that in most cases the uncapping reactions will occur
during the normal reduction reactions (reduction or selective
reduction).
DAR Distribution and Purification
[0089] In selected embodiments conjugation and purification
methodology compatible with the present invention advantageously
provides the ability to generate relatively homogeneous ADC
preparations comprising a narrow DAR distribution. In this regard
the disclosed constructs (e.g., site-specific constructs) and/or
selective conjugation provides for homogeneity of the ADC species
within a sample in terms of the stoichiometric ratio between the
drug and the engineered antibody and with respect to the toxin
location. As briefly discussed above the term "drug to antibody
ratio" or "DAR" refers to the molar ratio of drug to antibody in an
ADC preparation. In certain embodiments a conjugate preparation may
be substantially homogeneous with respect to its DAR distribution,
meaning that within the ADC preparation is a predominant species of
site-specific ADC with a particular drug loading (e.g., a drug
loading of 2) that is also uniform with respect to the site of
loading (i.e., on the free cysteines). In other certain embodiments
of the invention it is possible to achieve the desired homogeneity
through the use of site-specific antibodies and/or selective
reduction and conjugation. In other embodiments the desired
homogeneity may be achieved through the use of site-specific
constructs in combination with selective reduction. In yet other
embodiments compatible preparations may be purified using
analytical or preparative chromatography techniques to provide the
desired homogeneity. In each of these embodiments the homogeneity
of the ADC sample can be analyzed using various techniques known in
the art including but not limited to mass spectrometry, HPLC (e.g.
size exclusion HPLC, RP-HPLC, HIC-HPLC etc.) or capillary
electrophoresis.
[0090] With regard to the purification of ADC preparations it will
be appreciated that standard pharmaceutical preparative methods may
be employed to obtain the desired purity. As discussed herein
liquid chromatography methods such as reverse phase (RP) and
hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) may separate compounds
in the mixture by drug loading value. In some cases, ion-exchange
(IEC) or mixed-mode chromatography (MMC) may also be used to
isolate species with a specific drug load.
[0091] In any event the disclosed ADCs and preparations thereof may
comprise drug and antibody moieties in various stoichiometric molar
ratios depending on the configuration of the antibody and, at least
in part, on the method used to effect conjugation. In certain
preferred embodiments the drug loading per ADC may comprise 2
calicheamicin warheads.
[0092] Despite the relatively high level of homogeneity provided by
the instant invention the disclosed compositions actually comprise
a mixture of conjugates with a range of drug compounds. As such,
the disclosed ADC compositions include mixtures of conjugates where
most of the constituent antibodies are covalently linked to one or
more drug moieties and (despite the relative conjugate specificity
provided by engineered constructs and selective reduction) where
the drug moieties may be attached to the antibody by various thiol
groups. That is, following conjugation, compositions of the
invention will comprise a mixture of ADCs with different drug loads
at various concentrations (along with certain reaction contaminants
primarily caused by free cysteine cross reactivity). However, using
selective reduction and post-fabrication purification the conjugate
compositions may be driven to the point where they largely contain
a single predominant desired ADC species (e.g., with a drug loading
of 2) with relatively low levels of other ADC species (e.g., with a
drug loading of 1, 4, 6, etc.). The average DAR value represents
the weighted average of drug loading for the composition as a whole
(i.e., all the ADC species taken together). Those of skill in the
art will appreciate that acceptable DAR values or specifications
are often presented as an average, a range or distribution (i.e.,
an average DAR of 2+/-0.5). Preferably compositions comprising a
measured average DAR within the range (i.e., 1.5 to 2.5) would be
used in a pharmaceutical setting.
[0093] Thus, in some embodiments the present invention will
comprise compositions having an average DAR of 2+/-0.5. In other
embodiments the present invention will comprise an average DAR of
2+/-0.4 or a DAR of 2+/-0.3 or a DAR of 2+/-0.2. In other
embodiments IgG1 conjugate compositions will preferably comprise a
composition with relatively low levels (i.e., less than 30%) of
non-predominant ADC species (e.g., ADCs with a drug loading of 0,
1, 3, 4, 5, etc.). In some embodiments the ADC composition will
comprise an average DAR of 2+/-0.4 with relatively low levels
(<30%) of non-predominant ADC species. In some embodiments the
ADC composition will comprise an average DAR of 2+/-0.3 with
relatively low levels (<30%) of non-predominant ADC species. In
yet other embodiments the predominant ADC species (e.g., with a
drug loading of 2) will be present at a concentration of greater
than 50%, at a concentration of greater than 55%, at a
concentration of greater than 60%, at a concentration of greater
than 65%, at a concentration of greater than 70%, at a
concentration of greater than 75%, at a concentration of greater
that 80%, at a concentration of greater than 85%, at a
concentration of greater than 90%, at a concentration of greater
than 93%, at a concentration of greater than 95% or even at a
concentration of greater than 97% when measured against all other
DAR species present in the composition.
[0094] As detailed in the Examples below the distribution of drugs
per antibody in preparations of ADC from conjugation reactions may
be characterized by conventional means such as UV-Vis
spectrophotometry, reverse phase HPLC, HIC, mass spectroscopy,
ELISA, and electrophoresis. The quantitative distribution of ADC in
terms of drugs per antibody may also be determined.
Pharmaceutical Preparations and Therapeutic Uses
[0095] The antibodies or ADCs of the invention can be formulated in
various ways using art recognized techniques. In some embodiments,
the therapeutic compositions of the invention can be administered
neat or with a minimum of additional components while others may
optionally be formulated to contain suitable pharmaceutically
acceptable carriers. As used herein, "pharmaceutically acceptable
carriers" comprise excipients, vehicles, adjuvants and diluents
that are well known in the art.
Dosages and Dosing Regimens
[0096] The particular dosage regimen, i.e., dose, timing and
repetition, will depend on the particular individual, as well as
empirical considerations such as pharmacokinetics (e.g., half-life,
clearance rate, etc.). Determination of the frequency of
administration may be made by persons skilled in the art, such as
an attending physician based on considerations of the condition and
severity of the condition being treated, age and general state of
health of the subject being treated and the like. Frequency of
administration may be adjusted over the course of therapy based on
assessment of the efficacy of the selected composition and the
dosing regimen. Such assessment can be made on the basis of markers
of the specific disease, disorder or condition. In embodiments
where the individual has cancer, these include direct measurements
of tumor size via palpation or visual observation; indirect
measurement of tumor size by x-ray or other imaging techniques; an
improvement as assessed by direct tumor biopsy and microscopic
examination of a tumor sample; the measurement of an indirect tumor
marker or an antigen identified according to art-recognized
techniques; reduction in the number of proliferative or tumorigenic
cells, maintenance of the reduction of such neoplastic cells;
reduction of the proliferation of neoplastic cells; or delay in the
development of metastasis.
[0097] Indications
[0098] The invention provides for the use of an ADC of the
invention for the treatment of various neoplastic disorders. In
certain embodiments the diseases to be treated are neoplastic
conditions comprising solid tumors. In selected embodiments the ADC
of the invention will be used to treat tumors or tumorigenic cells
expressing a SEZ6 determinant. In certain other embodiments the
disclosed ADC will be used to treat a subject suffering from small
cell lung cancer (SCLC). Preferably the "subject" or "patient" to
be treated will be human although, as used herein, the terms are
expressly held to comprise any mammalian species.
[0099] In selected embodiments the ADC can be administered to small
cell lung cancer patients exhibiting limited stage disease or
extensive stage disease. In other embodiments the disclosed ADC
will be administered to refractory patients (i.e., those whose
disease recurs during or shortly after completing a course of
initial therapy); sensitive patients (i.e., those whose relapse is
longer than 2-3 months after primary therapy); or patients
exhibiting resistance to a platinum based agent (e.g. carboplatin,
cisplatin, oxaliplatin) and/or a taxane (e.g. docetaxel,
paclitaxel, larotaxel or cabazitaxel). In certain preferred
embodiments the SEZ6 ADC of the instant invention may be
administered to frontline patients. In other embodiments the SEZ6
ADC of the instant invention may be administered to second line
patients. In still other embodiments the SEZ6 ADC of the instant
invention may be administered to third line patients or to fourth
line patients.
Articles of Manufacture
[0100] The invention includes pharmaceutical packs and kits
comprising one or more containers or receptacles, wherein a
container can comprise one or more doses of the ADC of the
invention. In certain embodiments, the pack or kit contains a unit
dosage, meaning a predetermined amount of a composition comprising,
for example, the ADC of the invention, with or without one or more
additional agents and optionally, one or more anti-cancer
agents.
[0101] When the components of the kit are provided in one or more
liquid solutions, aqueous or non-aqueous though typically an
aqueous solution is preferred, with a sterile aqueous solution
being particularly preferred. The formulation in the kit can also
be provided as dried powder(s) or in lyophilized form that can be
reconstituted upon addition of an appropriate liquid. The liquid
used for reconstitution can be contained in a separate container.
Such liquids can comprise sterile, pharmaceutically acceptable
buffer(s) or other diluent(s) such as bacteriostatic water for
injection. Where the kit comprises the ADC of the invention in
combination with additional therapeutics or agents, the solution
may be pre-mixed, either in a molar equivalent combination, or with
one component in excess of the other. Alternatively, the ADC of the
invention and any optional anti-cancer agent or other agent can be
maintained separately within distinct containers prior to
administration to a patient.
[0102] In certain preferred embodiments the aforementioned kits,
incorporating compositions of the invention will comprise a label,
marker, package insert, bar code and/or reader indicating that the
kit contents may be used for the treatment of cancer. In other
preferred embodiments the kit may comprise a label, marker, package
insert, bar code and/or reader indicating that the kit contents may
be administered in accordance with a certain dosage or dosing
regimen to treat a subject suffering from cancer. In other
particularly preferred aspects the label, marker, package insert,
bar code and/or reader indicates that the kit contents may be used
for the treatment of small cell lung cancer or a dosing regimen for
treatment of the same.
[0103] Suitable containers or receptacles include, for example,
bottles, vials, syringes, infusion bags (i.v. bags), etc. The
containers can be formed from a variety of materials such as glass
or pharmaceutically compatible plastics. In certain embodiments the
receptacle(s) can comprise a sterile access port. For example, the
container may be an intravenous solution bag or a vial having a
stopper that can be pierced by a hypodermic injection needle.
[0104] In some embodiments the kit can contain a means by which to
administer the ADC and any optional components to a patient, e.g.,
one or more needles or syringes (pre-filled or empty), or other
such like apparatus, from which the formulation may be injected or
introduced into the subject or applied to a diseased area of the
body. The kits of the invention will also typically include a means
for containing the vials, or such like, and other components in
close confinement for commercial sale, such as, e.g., blow-molded
plastic containers into which the desired vials and other apparatus
are placed and retained.
Miscellaneous
[0105] Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical
terms used in connection with the invention shall have the meanings
that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.
Further, unless otherwise required by context, singular terms shall
include pluralities and plural terms shall include the singular. In
addition, ranges provided in the specification and appended claims
include both end points and all points between the end points.
Therefore, a range of 2.0 to 3.0 includes 2.0, 3.0, and all points
between 2.0 and 3.0.
[0106] Generally, techniques of cell and tissue culture, molecular
biology, immunology, microbiology, genetics and chemistry described
herein are those well-known and commonly used in the art. The
nomenclature used herein, in association with such techniques, is
also commonly used in the art. The methods and techniques of the
invention are generally performed according to conventional methods
well known in the art and as described in various references that
are cited throughout the present specification unless otherwise
indicated.
REFERENCES
[0107] The complete disclosure of all patents, patent applications,
and publications, and electronically available material (including,
for example, nucleotide sequence submissions in, e.g., GenBank and
RefSeq, and amino acid sequence submissions in, e.g., SwissProt,
PIR, PRF, PDB, and translations from annotated coding regions in
GenBank and RefSeq) cited herein are incorporated by reference,
regardless of whether the phrase "incorporated by reference" is or
is not used in relation to the particular reference. The foregoing
detailed description and the examples that follow have been given
for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are
to be understood therefrom. The invention is not limited to the
exact details shown and described. Variations obvious to one
skilled in the art are included in the invention defined by the
claims. Any section headings used herein are for organizational
purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject
matter described.
8. EXAMPLES
[0108] The invention, generally described above, will be understood
more readily by reference to the following examples, which are
provided by way of illustration and are not intended to be limiting
of the instant invention. The examples are not intended to
represent that the experiments below are all or the only
experiments performed. Unless indicated otherwise, parts are parts
by weight, molecular weight is weight average molecular weight,
temperature is in degrees Centigrade, and pressure is at or near
atmospheric.
Sequence Listing Summary
[0109] TABLE 2 provides a summary of amino acid and nucleic acid
sequences included herein.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2 SEQ ID NO Description 1 Seizure protein 6
homolog isoform 1 precursor (NP_849191) 2 Seizure protein 6 homolog
isoform 2 precursor (NP_001092105) 3 hSEZ6-1.ss1 heavy chain
protein sequence 4 hSEZ6-1.ss1 light chain protein sequence 5
Nucleic acid sequence encoding hSEZ6-1.ss1 heavy chain protein
sequence including introns 6 Nucleic acid sequence encoding
hSEZ6-1.ss1 light chain protein sequence
Example 1: Generation of a SEZ6 Antibody
[0110] SEZ6 murine antibodies were produced in accordance with the
teachings herein through inoculation with human SEZ6-Fc. In this
regard three strains of mice were used to generate high affinity,
murine, monoclonal antibody modulators that can be used to
associate with and/or inhibit the action of human SEZ6 (e.g.,
NP_849191: Seizure protein 6 homolog isoform 1 precursor; NP
001092105: Seizure protein 6 homolog isoform 2 precursor) for the
prevention and/or treatment of various proliferative disorders.
Specifically, Balb/c, CD-1 and FVB mouse strains were immunized
with human recombinant SEZ6-Fc and used to produce Hybridomas.
[0111] The SEZ6-Fc antigen was purified from supernatant from CHO-S
cells over expressing a SEZ6-Fc construct. 10 .mu.g of SEZ6-Fc
immunogen was used for the first immunization, followed by 5 .mu.g
and 2.5 .mu.g of SEZ6-Fc immunogen for the subsequent three
immunizations and five immunizations, respectively. All
immunizations were performed with the immunogen emulsified with an
equal volume of TITERMAX.RTM. Gold (CytRx Corporation) or alum
adjuvant. Murine antibodies were generated by immunizing six female
mice (two each of: Balb/c, CD-1, FVB) via footpad route for all
injections.
[0112] Solid-phase ELISA assays were used to screen mouse sera for
mouse IgG antibodies specific for human SEZ6. A positive signal
above background was indicative of antibodies specific for SEZ6.
Briefly, 96 well plates (VWR International, Cat. #610744) were
coated with recombinant SEZ6-His at 0.5 .mu.g/ml in ELISA coating
buffer overnight. After washing with PBS containing 0.02% (v/v)
Tween 20, the wells were blocked with 3% (w/v) BSA in PBS, 200
.mu.L/well for 1 hour at room temperature (RT). Mouse serum was
titrated (1:100, 1:200, 1:400, and 1:800) and added to the SEZ6
coated plates at 50 .mu.L/well and incubated at RT for 1 hour. The
plates are washed and then incubated with 50 .mu.L/well HRP-labeled
goat anti-mouse IgG diluted 1:10,000 in 3% BSA-PBS or 2% FCS in PBS
for 1 hour at RT. Again the plates were washed and 40 .mu.L/well of
a TMB substrate solution (Thermo Scientific 34028) was added for 15
minutes at RT. After developing, an equal volume of 2N
H.sub.2SO.sub.4 was added to stop substrate development and the
plates were analyzed by spectrophotometer at OD 450.
[0113] Sera-positive immunized mice were sacrificed and draining
lymph nodes (popliteal and inguinal, and medial iliac if enlarged)
were dissected out and used as a source for antibody producing
cells. A single cell suspension of B cells (228.9.times.10.sup.6
cells) was fused with non-secreting P3x63Ag8.653 myeloma cells
(ATCC #CRL-1580) at a ratio of 1:1 by electrofusion. Electrofusion
was performed using the BTX Hybrimmune.TM. System, (BTX Harvard
Apparatus) as per the manufacturer's directions. After the fusion
procedure the cells were resuspended in hybridoma selection medium
supplemented with Azaserine (Sigma #A9666), high glucose DMEM
medium with sodium pyruvate (Cellgro cat #15-017-CM) containing 15%
Fetal Clone I serum (Hyclone), 10% BM Condimed (Roche Applied
Sciences), 4 mM L-glutamine, 100 IU Penicillin-Streptomycin and 50
.mu.M 2-mercaptoethanol and then plated in three T225 flasks in 90
mL selection medium per flask. The flasks were then placed in a
humidified 37.degree. C. incubator containing 5% CO.sub.2 and 95%
air for 6-7 days.
[0114] After six to seven days of growth the library consisting of
the cells grown in bulk in the T225s was plated at 1 cell per well
in Falcon 96 well U-bottom plates using the Aria I cell sorter. The
selected hybridomas were then grown in 200 .mu.L of culture medium
containing 15% Fetal Clone I serum (Hyclone), 10% BM-Condimed
(Roche Applied Sciences), 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 4 mM L-glutamine,
100 IU Penicillin-Streptomycin, 50 .mu.M 2-mercaptoethanol, and 100
.mu.M hypoxanthine Any remaining unused hybridoma library cells
were frozen for future library testing. After ten to eleven days of
growth supernatants from each well of the plated cells were assayed
for antibodies reactive for SEZ6 by ELISA and FACS assays.
[0115] For screening by ELISA 96 well plates were coated with
SEZ6-Fc at 0.3 .mu.g/mL in PBS overnight at 4.degree. C. The plates
were washed and blocked with 3% BSA in PBS/Tween for one hour at
37.degree. C. and used immediately or kept at 4.degree. C.
Undiluted hybridoma supernatants were incubated on the plates for
one hour at RT. The plates were washed and probed with HRP labeled
goat anti-mouse IgG diluted 1:10,000 in 3% BSA-PBS for one hour at
RT. The plates were then incubated with substrate solution as
described above and read at OD 450. Wells containing immunoglobulin
that preferentially bound human SEZ6, as determined by a signal
above background, were transferred and expanded.
[0116] Selected growth positive hybridoma wells secreting murine
immunoglobulin were also screened for human SEZ6 specificity and
cynomolgus, rat and murine SEZ6 cross reactivity using a flow
cytometry based assay with 293 cells engineered to over-express the
selected species specific antigen.
[0117] For the flow cytometry assays, 50.times.10.sup.4 h293 cells
transduced respectively with human, cynomolgus, rat or murine SEZ6
were incubated for 30 minutes with 25-100 .mu.L hybridoma
supernatant. Cells were washed with PBS, 2% FCS, twice and then
incubated with 50 .mu.L of a goat-anti-mouse IgG Fc fragment
specific secondary conjugated to DyLight 649 diluted 1:200 in
PBS/2% FCS. After 15 minutes of incubation, cells were washed twice
with PBS, 2% FCS, and re-suspended in the same buffer with DAPI and
analyzed by flow cytometry using a FACSCanto II as per the
manufacturer's instructions. Wells containing immunoglobulin that
preferentially bound the SEZ6.sup.+ GFP.sup.+ cells were
transferred and expanded. The resulting hSEZ6 specific clonal
hybridomas were cryopreserved in CS-10 freezing medium (Biolife
Solutions) and stored in liquid nitrogen. Antibodies that bound
with human, cynomolgus, rat or murine SEZ6 cells were noted as
cross-reactive.
[0118] ELISA and flow cytometry analysis confirmed that purified
antibody from most or all of these hybridomas bound SEZ6 in a
concentration-dependent manner. Wells containing immunoglobulin
that bound SEZ6 GFP cells were transferred and expanded. The
resulting clonal hybridomas were cryopreserved in CS-10 freezing
medium (Biolife Solutions) and stored in liquid nitrogen.
[0119] One fusion was performed and seeded in 48 plates (4608 wells
at approximately 40% cloning efficiency). The initial screen
yielded sixty-three murine antibodies that associated with human
SEZ6. A second screen was subsequently performed and yielded 134
antibodies that associated with human SEZ6.
Example 2: Fabrication of a Humanized Site-Specific SEZ6
Antibody
[0120] An antibody from Example 1 was chosen for further processing
and humanization. RNA from the hybridoma expressing the selected
antibody was isolated, amplified and sequenced using standard
art-recognized techniques. From the nucleotide sequence
information, data regarding V, D and J gene segments of the heavy
and light chains of subject murine antibodies were obtained. The
V-(D)-J sequences were aligned with mouse Ig germ line sequences
and acceptor human variable framework regions were selected based
on their highest sequence homology to the subject mouse framework
sequence and its canonical structure for CDR grafting. The
resulting genetic arrangement for the humanized variable regions of
the antibody are shown in Table 3A immediately below.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 3A human human FW human human FW mAb VH JH
changes VK JK changes SEZ6-1 IGHV5-51 JH4 none IGKV-L6 JK4 none
[0121] The engineered variable regions were then used to generate a
human IgG1/kappa anti-SEZ6 site-specific antibody comprising a
native kappa light chain (LC) constant region and a heavy chain
(HC) constant region mutated to provide an unpaired cysteine. In
this regard cysteine 220 (C220) in the upper hinge region of the HC
was substituted with serine (C220S) to provide the hSEZ6-1.ss1
antibody. When assembled, the HC and LC form an antibody comprising
two free cysteines at the c-terminal ends of the light chain
constant regions (e.g., C214) that are suitable for conjugation to
a therapeutic agent. Unless otherwise noted all numbering of
constant region residues is in accordance with the EU numbering
scheme as set forth in Kabat et al.
[0122] To generate the site-specific constructs a VH nucleic acid
was cloned onto an expression vector containing a C220S mutated HC
constant region. Resulting vectors encoding the mutant C220S HC
were co-transfected in CHO-S cells with a vector encoding the
selected light chain variable region operably associated with a
wild-type IgG1 kappa LC and expressed using a mammalian transient
expression system.
[0123] In addition to the C220S mutation to provide the free
cysteines in the constant region, two additional modifications were
made on the heavy chain. First, the C-terminal lysine was deleted
in order to reduce heterogeneity in expression. Second, a
conservative mutation was made in the heavy chain variable region
to improve molecular stability and facilitate antibody production.
More specifically, a conservative mutation was incorporated in the
heavy chain CDR2 (as defined by Kabat) to eliminate a canonical
glycosylation site. Glycosylation at this site could potentially
impart heterogeneity in the expressed protein which may result in a
reduction in binding affinity. Accordingly, a substitution of
serine to asparagine at Kabat position 60 (S60N) was incorporated
into the heavy chain to eliminate the glycosylation site. The
resulting humanized antibody with these mutations was termed
hSEZ6-1.ss1. As discussed in more detail below, substantial
equivalency of hSEZ6-1.ss1 to the parental humanized antibody and
murine source antibody was confirmed as to affinity.
[0124] The resulting genetic arrangement for the humanized variable
regions of the mutated antibody are shown in Table 3B immediately
below.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 3B human human FW CDR Changes human human FW
CDR Changes mAb VH JH changes (VH) VK JK changes (VK) SEZ6-1.ss1
IGHV5-51 JH4 none S60N IGKV-L6 JK4 none none
[0125] The amino acid sequence of the full-length hSEZ6-1.ss1
site-specific antibody heavy chain is SEQ ID NO:3, having the
variable region mutation site S60N and constant region mutation
site C220S. The amino acid sequence of the heavy chain variable
region is shown below as SEQ ID NO:7, having the S60N mutation
underlined.
TABLE-US-00007 (SEQ ID NO: 7)
EVQLVQSGAEVKKPGESLKISCKGSGYSFTSSWINWVRQMPGKGLEWMG
RIYPGEGDTNYNGNFEGQVTISADKSISTAYLQWSSLKASDTAMYYCTR
GLVMDYWGQGTLVTVSS
The amino acid sequence of the full-length hSEZ6-1.ss1
site-specific antibody light chain is SEQ ID NO:4, having the toxin
conjugation residue at C214. The amino acid sequence of the light
chain variable region is shown below as SEQ ID NO:8
TABLE-US-00008 (SEQ ID NO: 8)
EIVLTQSPATLSLSPGERATLSCRASQSVDYNGISYMHVVYQQKPGQAP
RLLIYAASNVQSGIPARFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLEPEDFAVYYCQQSIE
DPPTFGGGTKVEIK
Example 3: Preparation of hSEZ6-1.ss1 Drug Linker
[0126] A drug linker compound according to Formula II
##STR00007##
was synthesized as set forth immediately below.
##STR00008##
Step 1. tert-butyl
[34-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-4,32-dioxo-7,10,13,16,19,
22,25,28-octaoxa-3,31-diazatetratriacontan-1-yl]carbamate
[0127]
3-(2,5-Dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-N-{27-[(2,5-dioxopyrrolidi-
n-1-yl)oxy]-27-oxo-3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24-octaoxaheptacosan-1-yl}propanamide
(434 mg) was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) and treated
with tert-butyl (2-aminoethyl)carbamate (108.1 mg). After 6 hours
the reaction mixture was concentrated, and the residue purified by
silica gel chromatography eluted with 0% CH3OH/CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2 to
10% CH3OH/CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2 to give the titled compound (154.2 mg).
LC/MS (Analytical method A): Rt=1.65 min, m/z 735.46
[M+H].sup.+.
##STR00009##
Step 2.
N-(2-aminoethyl)-31-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-29-oxo-
-4,7,10,13, 16,19,22,25-octaoxa-28-azahentriacontan-1-amide
[0128] The tert-butoxycarbonyl protected amine (Step 1, 154.2 mg)
was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL), trifluoroacetic acid
(500 .mu.L) was added over 30 seconds, and the resultant mixture
was stirred for 30 minutes. After reaction completion, the reaction
mixture was concentrated and used without further purification.
LC/MS (Analytical method A): Rt=1.29 min, m/z 635.39
[M+H].sup.+.
##STR00010##
Step 3.
4-{[(2E)-2-{(1R,4Z,8S)-8-({(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3-({(2S,4S,5S)-5-[ace-
tyl(ethyl)amino]-4-methoxyoxan-2-yl}oxy)-5-[({(2S,4S,5S,6R)-5-[(4-{[(2S,3R-
,4R,5S,6S)-3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy}-3-iodo-5,6-dimet-
hoxy-2-methylbenzoyl)sulfanyl]-4-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl}oxy)amino]-4-hy-
droxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl}oxy)-1-hydroxy-10-[(methoxycarbonyl)amino]-11-oxob-
icyclo[7.3.1]trideca-4,9-diene-2,6-diyn-13-ylidene}ethyl]disulfanyl}-4-met-
hylpentanoic acid
[0129] N-Acetyl calicheamicin .gamma. 1 (0.2 g, 0.142 mmol, 1 eq)
was dissolved in acetonitrile (30 mL), and the resultant solution
was chilled to -15.degree. C. 4-Mercapto-4-methylpentanoic acid
(0.420 mL, 2.837 mmol, 20 eq) was dissolved in acetonitrile (10 mL)
and added slowly to the cooled solution of N-acetyl calicheamicin
.gamma. 1. Triethylamine (0.377 mL, 2.837 mmol, 20 eq) was added to
the reaction mixture, and then the reaction mixture was allowed to
warm up to room temperature over 3-18 hours. Upon completion of the
reaction, the mixture was concentrated, and the residue was dry
loaded onto silica gel for flash chromatography purification eluted
with 2-20% methanol/dichloromethane to give the titled compound.
The titled compound was precipitated out of cold diethyl ether.
LC/MS (analytical method A): Rt=1.92 min, m/z 1478.64
[M+H].sup.+.
##STR00011##
Step 4.
S-[(2R,3S,4S,6S)-6-({[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6R)-5-({(2S,4S,5S)-5-[acetyl(e-
thyl)amino]-4-methoxyoxan-2-yl}oxy)-6-{[(2S,5Z,9R,13E)-13-[43-(2,5-dioxo-2-
,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-5,5-dimethyl-8,13,41-trioxo-16,19,22,25,28,31,3-
4,37-octaoxa-3,4-dithia-9,12,40-triazatritetracontan-1-ylidene]-9-hydroxy--
12-[(methoxycarbonyl)amino]-11-oxobicyclo[7.3.1]trideca-1(12),5-diene-3,7--
diyn-2-yl]oxy}-4-hydroxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl]amino}oxy)-4-hydroxy-2-methylox-
an-3-yl]
4-{[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]ox-
y}-3-iodo-5,6-dimethoxy-2-methylbenzene-1-carbothioate
[0130] N-Acetyl calicheamicin acid (Step 3, 100 mg, 0.068 mmol, 1
eq) was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (3.4 mL) and cooled to
0.degree. C. N,N-Diisopropylethylamine (176 .mu.L, 1.01 mmol, 15
eq) and
(1-cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethylidenaminooxy)dimethylamino-morpholino-carbeni-
um hexafluorophosphate (COMU, 43 mg, 0.1 mmol, 1.5 eq) were then
sequentially added. After 2 minutes, the
N-(2-aminoethyl)-31-(2,5-di
oxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-29-oxo-4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25-octaoxa-28-a-
zahentriacontan-1-amide (Step 2, 51.4 mg, 0.08 mmol, 1.2 eq) in
N,N-dimethylformamide (200 .mu.L) was added. After 1 hour, the
reaction mixture was concentrated, and the residue was purified by
preparative HPLC (method pA) to give the titled compound (16.8 mg,
12% yield). LC/MS (Analytical method B or C): Rt=8.18 min. HRMS
calculated [M+H]+=2094.7049, Observed [M+H].sup.+=2094.6902.
.sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. 9.03 (s, 1H), 8.01 (t,
J=5.5 Hz, 1H), 7.86 (s, 2H), 7.01 (s, 3H), 6.80 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H),
6.30-6.18 (m, 1H), 6.13 (dd, J=9.5, 7.1 Hz, 1H), 6.09-5.99 (m, 2H),
5.56 (d, J=4.0 Hz, 1H), 5.45 (s, 1H), 5.43-5.37 (m, 2H), 5.12 (dd,
J=13.4, 5.1 Hz, 2H), 4.94 (d, J=9.9 Hz, 1H), 4.63-4.47 (m, 2H),
4.27-4.13 (m, 2H), 4.11 (s, 1H), 4.08-3.97 (m, 1H), 3.91 (dd,
J=10.8, 6.1 Hz, 1H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 3.78-3.81 (m, 1H), 3.77 (s, 3H),
3.73-3.63 (m, 1H), 3.63-3.55 (m, 7H), 3.55-3.46 (m, 30H), 3.41 (s,
3H), 3.25 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 3H), 3.15 (q, J=5.8 Hz, 2H), 3.07 (s, 5H),
2.93 (d, J=17.7 Hz, 1H), 2.47-2.38 (m, 1H), 2.36-2.26 (m, 7H),
2.15-2.06 (m, 2H), 2.01 (d, J=2.7 Hz, 3H), 1.87 (d, J=12.3 Hz, 1H),
1.80-1.62 (m, 3H), 1.26 (dd, J=6.1, 3.3 Hz, 4H), 1.24-1.19 (m, 2H),
1.19-1.12 (m, 7H), 1.09 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 0.95 (t, J=6.9 Hz,
1H).
General Information on analytical and preparative HPLC methods.
[0131] Analytical Method A:
[0132] MS: Waters.RTM. Acuity.RTM. Ultra SQ Detector ESI, Scan
range 120-2040 Da.
[0133] Column: Waters Acuity UPLC.RTM. BEH C18, 1.7 .mu.m,
2.1.times.50 mm
[0134] Column temperature: 50.degree. C.
[0135] Flow rate: 0.6 mL/min
[0136] Mobile phase A: 0.1% formic acid in water.
[0137] Mobile phase B: 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile.
[0138] Gradient:
TABLE-US-00009 Time, minutes % A % B 0 95 5 0.25 95 5 2 0 100 2.5 0
100 3 95 5 4 95 5
[0139] Analytical Method B:
[0140] MS: Waters.RTM. Acuity.RTM. Ultra SQ Detector ESI, Scan
range 120-2040 Da,
[0141] Column: Waters Acuity UPLC.RTM. BEH C18, 1.7 .mu.m,
2.1.times.50 mm
[0142] Column temperature: 60.degree. C.
[0143] Flow rate: 0.4 mL/min
[0144] Mobile phase A: 0.1% formic acid in water.
[0145] Mobile phase B: 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile.
[0146] Gradient:
TABLE-US-00010 Time, minutes % A % B 0 95 5 2 95 5 3 80 20 13 20 80
14 20 80 14.10 5 95 15 5 95 15.10 95 5 20 95 5
[0147] Analytical Method C:
[0148] HRMS: AB Sciex 5600 Plus Triple Time-of-Flight (TOF), scan
range 250-2500 Da
[0149] Column: Waters Acuity UPLC.RTM. BEH C18, 1.7 .mu.m,
2.1.times.50 mm
[0150] Column temperature: 60.degree. C.
[0151] Flow rate: 0.4 mL/min
[0152] Mobile phase A: 0.1% formic acid in water.
[0153] Mobile phase B: 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile.
[0154] Gradient:
TABLE-US-00011 Time, minutes % A % B 0 95 5 2 95 5 3 80 20 13 20 80
14 20 80 14.10 5 95 15 5 95 15.10 95 5 20 95 5
[0155] Analytical Method D
[0156] Column: EMD Millipore Chromolith.RTM. Flash RP-18 endcapped
25-2 mm.
[0157] Column temperature: 40.degree. C.
[0158] Wavelength: 220 nm
[0159] Flow rate: 1.5 mL/minute
[0160] Mobile phase A: H.sub.2O (4 L with 1.5 mL trifluoroacetic
acid)
[0161] Mobile phase B: acetonitrile (4 L with 0.75 mL
trifluoroacetic acid)
[0162] Gradient:
TABLE-US-00012 Time, minutes % A % B 0 95 5 0.01 95 5 0.70 5 95
1.15 5 95 1.16 95 5 1.60 95 5
[0163] Analytical Method E
[0164] Column: Halo C18 2.1.times.30 mm, 2.7 .mu.m
[0165] Detection: diode array and positive/negative electrospray
ionization
[0166] Flow rate: 1.0 mL/minute
[0167] Mobile phase A: 0.0375% trifluoroacetic acid in water
[0168] Mobile phase B: 0.018% trifluoroacetic acid in
acetonitrile
[0169] Gradient:
TABLE-US-00013 Time, minutes % A % B 0 90 10 2.00 20 80 2.48 20 80
2.50 90 10 3.00 90 10
[0170] Analytical Method F
[0171] Column: Venusil XBP-C18, 2.1.times.50 mm, 5 .mu.m
[0172] Detection: diode array and positive/negative electrospray
ionization
[0173] Flow rate: 0.8 mL/minute
[0174] Mobile phase A: 0.0375% trifluoroacetic acid in water
[0175] Mobile phase B: 0.018% trifluoroacetic acid in
acetonitrile
[0176] Gradient:
TABLE-US-00014 Time, minutes % A % B 0 99 1 3.40 10 90 3.85 0 100
3.86 99 1 4.51 99 1
[0177] Preparative HPLC Method pA:
[0178] Column: Waters XBridge.TM. prep C18 5 .mu.m OBD,
19.times.100 mm
[0179] Column temperature: ambient
[0180] Flow rate: 15 mL/min
[0181] Mobile phase A: 0.1% formic acid in water.
[0182] Mobile phase B: 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile.
[0183] Gradient:
TABLE-US-00015 Time, min % A % B 0 95 5 5 95 5 8 80 20 50 20 80
52.59 20 80 52.92 5 95 55.87 5 95 56.20 95 5 60 95 5
[0184] Preparative HPLC Method pB:
[0185] Column: Phenomenex Luna.RTM. C18(2), 250.times.50 mm i.d.,
10 .mu.m
[0186] Wavelengths: 220 and 254 nm
[0187] Flow rate: 80 mL/minute
[0188] Mobile phase A: 0.01 M NH.sub.4HCO.sub.3 in H.sub.2O.
[0189] Mobile phase B: acetonitrile
[0190] Gradient: 30-50% mobile phase B over 20 minutes
[0191] Preparative HPLC Method pC
[0192] Column: Phenomenex Luna.RTM. C18(2), 250.times.50 mm i.d.,
10 .mu.m
[0193] Wavelengths: 220 and 254 nm
[0194] Flow rate: 80 mL/minute
[0195] Mobile phase A: 0.075% v/v trifluoroacetic acid in water
[0196] Mobile phase B: acetonitrile
[0197] Gradient: 10-40% mobile phase B over 20 minutes
[0198] Preparative HLC Method pD
[0199] Column: Phenomenex Luna.RTM. C18(2), 250.times.50 mm i.d.,
10 .mu.m
[0200] Wavelengths: 220 and 254 nm
[0201] Flow rate: 80 mL/minute
[0202] Mobile phase A: 0.09% v/v trifluoroacetic acid in water
[0203] Mobile phase B: acetonitrile
[0204] Gradient: 15-43% mobile phase B over 20 minutes
Example 4: Preparation of hSEZ6-1.ss1 Antibody Drug Conjugates
[0205] Anti-hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADCs were prepared according to the
teachings herein for further in vitro and in vivo testing.
[0206] In this regard hSEZ6-1.ss1 from Example 2 was conjugated to
a non-cleavable calicheamicin drug linker (Formula II prepared as
in Example 3) via a terminal maleimido moiety with a free
sulfhydryl group to create the disclosed SEZ6 ADC which is termed
hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1 herein. In addition, three control SEZ6 ADCs were
fabricated by conjugating hSEZ6-1.ss1 to the same calicheamicin
payloads but comprising cleavable linkers (ADC2, ADC3 and ADC4).
Finally, the control ADCs were made comprising hSEZ6-1.ss1 without
the S6ON mutation.
[0207] The site-specific humanized SEZ6 ADC (hSEZ6-1.ss1) was
conjugated using a modified partial reduction process. The desired
product is an ADC that is maximally conjugated on the unpaired
cysteine (C214) on each LC constant region and that minimizes ADCs
having a drug loading which is greater than 2 while maximizing ADCs
having a drug loading of 2. In order to further improve the
specificity of the conjugation, the antibodies were selectively
reduced using a process comprising a stabilizing agent (e.g.
L-arginine) and a mild reducing agent (e.g. glutathione) prior to
conjugation with the linker drug, followed by a diafiltration and
formulation step.
[0208] More specifically a preparation of each antibody was
partially reduced in a buffer containing 1M L-arginine/5 mM EDTA
with a pre-determined concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH),
pH 8.0 for a minimum of 20 hours at room temperature. All
preparations were then buffer exchanged into a 20 mM Tris/3.2 mM
EDTA, pH 7.0 buffer using a 30 kDa membrane (Millipore Amicon
Ultra) to remove the reducing buffer. The resulting partially
reduced preparations were then conjugated to the respective
calicheamicin drug linker via a maleimide group for a minimum of 60
mins. at room temperature. The pH was then adjusted to 6.0 with the
addition of 0.5 M acetic acid. Preparations of the ADCs were buffer
exchanged into diafiltration buffer by diafiltration using a 30 kDa
membrane. The dialfiltered SEZ6 ADC was then formulated with
sucrose and polysorbate-20 to the target final concentration.
[0209] The resulting formulation was then analyzed for protein
concentration (by measuring UV), aggregation (SEC), drug to
antibody ratio (DAR) by reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) and activity
(in vitro cytotoxicity). It was then frozen and stored until
use.
[0210] A schematic representation of hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1 is presented
in FIG. 1 appended hereto.
Example 5: In Vitro Characteristics of hSEZ6-1.Ss1 Antibody
[0211] Experiments were run to test whether the S6ON mutation
affected the interaction between the hSEZ6-1.ss1 mAb and the SEZ6
antigen. In this regard the binding of soluble SEZ6-his antigen to
surface-immobilized SEZ6 antibodies and SEZ6 ADCs, with and without
the S6ON mutation, were measured on a Biacore T200 (anti-human
capture chip).
[0212] More specifically 5 .mu.g/mL IgG were flowed for 12 sec at 5
.mu.L/min, yielding 115-124 RU immobilization response. 22, 66 and
200 nM hSEZ6-his was injected for 90 sec at 30 .mu.L/min, followed
by 300 sec dissociation. Surfaces were regenerated by flowing 2M
Magnesium Chloride (30 .mu.L/min, 30 sec) at the end of each cycle.
Sensorgrams were double referenced (buffer injection and control
flow cell) and are set forth in FIG. 2 where the antibody with the
mutation is labeled hSEZ6-1.ss1 and the source antibody, without
the mutation, is labeled hSEZ6-1.ss1 parent.
[0213] Additionally, affinity measurements were made using a
Biacore T200 to determine the binding characteristics of
hSEZ6-1.ss1 comprising S60N. In this regard Fab constructs of the
hSEZ6-1.ss1 antibody, with and without the S60N mutation, were
fabricated and purified. The binding of the Fab constructs to
soluble surface immobilized human SEZ6-His ligand was then compared
on a Biacore T200 (anti-His capture chip). More specifically of 2
.mu.g/mL human SEZ6-His were flowed across the chip for 12 sec at 5
.mu.L/min, yielding 45-66 RU immobilization response. 22, 66 and
200 nM injections of Fab occurred for 90 sec at 30 .mu.L/min,
followed by 400-450 second dissociation. Surfaces were regenerated
by flowing 10 mM Glycine, pH 1.5 for 60 seconds at 30 uL/min.
Sensorgrams were double referenced (buffer injection and control
flow cell). The results are shown in Table 4 immediately below.
TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 4 ka kd hSEZ6-His Rmax Analyte (1/Ms) (1/s) KD
(nM) (RU) Wild Type Fab 1.1E+06 0.006 5.8 35.2 MutA (S60N) Fab
1.3E+06 0.006 4.8 4.0
[0214] A review of FIG. 2 shows that the S60N mutation and removal
of the glycosylation site in the heavy chain variable region does
not materially alter the binding properties of hSEZ6-1.ss1
antibodies when compared with the parent antibody lacking the
mutation. Similarly, the affinity measurements shown in Table 4
demonstrate that the introduced mutation does not adversely impact
the binding of the antibody used in the disclosed ADC. As such, the
potentially destabilizing position may be modified without
compromising the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the molecule.
Example 6: hSEZ6 ADCs Effectively Kill hSEZ6 Expressing Cells In
Vitro
[0215] To determine whether anti-SEZ6 ADCs of the invention can
efficiently mediate the delivery of conjugated cytotoxic agents to
live cells, an in vitro cell killing assay was performed using the
anti-SEZ6 ADCs produced in Example 4 above.
[0216] Single cell suspensions of HEK293T cells overexpressing
hSEZ6 or naive HEK293T cells were plated at 500 cells per well into
BD Tissue Culture plates (BD Biosciences). One day later, various
concentrations of purified ADC conjugated to calicheamicin were
added to the cultures. The cells were incubated for 96 hours. After
the incubation viable cells were enumerated using CellTiterGlo.RTM.
(Promega) as per the manufacturer's instructions. Raw luminescence
counts using cultures containing non-treated cells were set as 100%
reference values and all other counts were calculated as a
percentage of the reference value.
[0217] FIG. 3 shows that all hSEZ6 expressing cells treated were
much more sensitive to the anti-SEZ6 ADCs as compared to the naive
HET293T cells, demonstrating the specificity of the ADCs to the
SEZ6 antigen.
[0218] The above results demonstrate the ability of anti-SEZ6 ADCs
to specifically mediate internalization and delivery of directly
conjugated cytotoxic payloads to cells expressing SEZ6.
Example 7: ADC Pharmacokinetics in Immunocompromised Mice
[0219] Pharmacokinetics (PK) of hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1, hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC2,
and hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC3 were evaluated in NOD SCID mice. Mice (n=4
females per group) were randomized into treatment groups having
equal average body weight, and then treated with the same amount of
ADCs via a single intravenous injection (100 .mu.L volume). The
ADCs were each co-administered with 10 mg/kg unconjugated HuIgG1
antibody in order to saturate the Fc.gamma.R-mediated clearance and
provide suitable ADC exposure. Serum samples were collected at 5
min, 4, 24, 72, 120, 168, 216, and 336 hours after each dose, and
total antibody (TAb) and ADC concentrations were assessed by MSD
immunoassay. Pharmacokinetics parameters including maximum
concentrations (Cmax), exposure (area under the curve or AUC)
evaluated from time=0 to 14 days post-dosing) and half-life, were
evaluated using non-compartmental analysis methods.
[0220] ADC and TAb serum pharmacokinetics declined bi-exponentially
for all the ADCs and peak concentrations (Cmax) were observed at 5
minutes post dose. There was no significant difference in ADC
exposure (AUC 0-14 Days) between the tested SEZ6 ADCs. ADC serum
terminal half-life was similar between the ADCs. ADC stability was
measured by the ratio of TAb to ADC exposures, and was similar for
the tested compounds, ranging from 1.4 to 1.6. Taken together,
these data demonstrate that the pharmacokinetics of hSEZ6-1.ss1
ADC1, hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC2, and hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC3 are comparable in NOD
SCID mice.
Example 8: hSEZ6-1.ss1 Antibody Drug Conjugates Suppress Tumor
Growth In Vivo
[0221] In vivo experiments were conducted to confirm the cell
killing ability of the hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1, hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC2, and
hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC3 demonstrated in Example 6. To this end,
site-specific SEZ6-targeted ADCs prepared as set forth in the
previous Examples were tested for in vivo therapeutic effects in
immunocompromised NOD SCID mice bearing subcutaneous
patient-derived xenograft (PDX) small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
tumors having endogenous SEZ6 cell surface protein expression.
Anti-SEZ6 conjugates hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1, hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC2, and
hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC3 were each tested in two different SCLC models.
[0222] SCLC-PDX lines, LU95 and LU149 were each injected as a
dissociated cell inoculum under the skin near the mammary fat pad
region and measured weekly with calipers (ellipsoid
volume=a.times.b.sup.2/2, where a is the long diameter, and b is
the short diameter of an ellipse). After tumors grew to an average
size of 130-200 mm.sup.3 (range, 100-300 mm.sup.3) the mice were
randomized into treatment groups (n=5 mice per group) of equal
tumor volume averages. Mice (5 per group) were treated with
identical single doses of either vehicle (5% glucose in sterile
water), or HuIgG1- or SEZ6-ADC preparations via an intraperitoneal
injection (100 .mu.L volume). SEZ6-ADC was co-administered with 10
mg/kg naked, HuIgG1 antibody in order to linearize the
pharmacokinetics.
[0223] Therapeutic effects assessed by weekly tumor volume (with
calipers as above) and weight measurements. Endpoint criteria for
individual mice or treatment groups included health assessment (any
sign of sickness), weight loss (more than 20% weight loss from
study start), and tumor burden (tumor volumes>1000 mm.sup.3).
Efficacy was monitored by weekly tumor volume measurements
(mm.sup.3) until groups reached an average of approximately
800-1000 mm.sup.3. Tumor volumes were calculated as an average with
standard error of the mean for all mice in treatment group and were
plotted versus time (days) since initial treatment. The results of
the treatments are depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B where mean tumor
volumes with standard error of the mean (SEM) in 5 mice per
treatment group are shown.
[0224] SEZ6-binding ADCs conjugated to calicheamicin (hSEZ6-1.ss1
ADC1, hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC2, and hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC3) were evaluated in
mice bearing SCLC PDX-LU95 (FIG. 4A) or PDX-LU149 (FIG. 4B).
Non-cleavable linker ADC1 had similar or greater efficacy compared
to cleavable linker ADC2 while cleavable linker ADC3 had greater
efficacy compared to ADC1 at 2 mg/kg. In any event, hSEZ6-1.ss1
ADC1 and hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC3 can achieve durable responses for 50 days
or longer in SCLC PDX. The response was SEZ6-ADC specific, as there
was no response observed following treatment with non-binding ADCs
(HuIgG1) conjugated to the same calicheamicin drug linkers (data
not shown).
[0225] Such results demonstrate that hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1, fabricated
as set forth herein, has the potential to be pharmaceutically
effective in retarding the growth of small cell lung cancer
cells.
Example 9: hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1 Exhibits a Robust Safety Margin
[0226] An analysis was conducted to determine the safety margin
provided by hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1.
[0227] In this regard hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1, hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC2 and
hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC3 comprise an identical targeted mAb (hSEZ6-1.ss1)
and warhead (N-acetyl gamma calicheamicin), with differences in the
linker drug attachment. hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1 is unique in that it
comprises a non-cleavable linker as compared to the other cathepsin
B-susceptible di-peptide based linker drugs. The SEZ6 ADCs were
evaluated in four discrete high-expressing SEZ6 SCLC mouse PDX
models (LU64, LU86, LU95 and LU149), and in an exploratory
repeat-dose toxicity study in cynomolgus monkeys.
[0228] A semi-mechanistic PK/PD model based on untreated tumor
growth and SEZ6 ADC-treated tumor response data in mouse was used
to predict the tumor-static concentrations (TSC) that correspond to
an ADC concentration resulting in tumor stasis in patients.
Subsequently, human PK was simulated based on cynomolgus monkey PK
data. Predictions of human PK were then used to estimate the dose
required to achieve a plasma trough concentration at the dose
interval in patients that is equivalent to the TSC. Safety margins
were estimated by comparing the ADC exposures at the maximum
tolerated dose (MTD) in cynomolgus monkey with the exposure at the
predicted human efficacious dose. This analysis was repeated for
each lung PDX models evaluated (LU64, LU86, LU95 and LU149).
[0229] Table 5 provides the predicted safety margin for each of the
SEZ6 ADCs. Based on this analysis, hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1 was predicted
to be more tolerable than the other SEZ6 ADCs (hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC2,
hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC3) conjugated to the same payload but with cleavable
linkers. This analysis predicted a safety margin of approximately
10 for hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1 which is considerably higher than the two
constructs with cleavable linkers.
TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 5 Compound Estimated Safety Margin hSEZ6-1.ss1
ADC1 10 hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC2 0.3 hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC3 5.5
[0230] The predicted higher safety margin in humans based on data
obtained in cynomolgus monkeys, and corresponding dosing
flexibility indicates that hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1 is a strong therapeutic
candidate.
Example 10: hSEZ6-1.ss1 ADC1 is Particularly Active in SCLC
[0231] To further demonstrate the potential efficacy of the
disclosed ADC, toxin specific assays were conducted using various
tumor xenograft cell lines. Initially SCLC, BR, CR, GA, NSCLC and
PA PDX cell lines were interrogated via microarray analysis to
determine the respective expression level of SEZ6 antigen (FIG. 5A)
and CD46, a known positive control antigen (FIG. 5B). The
microarray analysis was conducted using the Affymetrix ClariomD
assay on purified RNA samples derived from human PDX. A review of
FIGS. 5A and 5B shows that, while SEZ6 expression is upregulated in
SCLC tumors compared to other tumor types, the positive antigen
control CD46 exhibited consistently high mRNA expression levels
across the panel of patient derived xenografts (PDX). Accordingly,
the CD46 antigen was used as a surrogate ADC target to gauge the
impact of the disclosed novel calicheamicin drug linker (Formula
II) on various tumor types.
[0232] In this respect N149, a humanized CD46 antibody (U.S. Pat.
No. 10,017,565 B2) was conjugated to the calicheamicin drug linker
set forth herein or to a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) drug linker
control. The ADCs were generated substantially as set forth in
Example 4 above. Following preparation, the CD46 ADCs were frozen
and stored until use.
[0233] PDX cells were inoculated into the flank of NOD-SCID mice.
When tumors reached between 100-300 mm3, PBD ADC preparations were
introduced as a single 1.6 mg/kg dose (FIG. 5C) while the
calicheamicin ADC preparations were administered as a single 8
mg/kg dose for all tumor types other than the SCLC PDX (FIG. 5D).
For the SCLC PDX the calicheamicin ADC preparation was administered
as a 2 mg/kg or a 4 mg/kg dose (FIG. 5D). The tumors were then
monitored for changes compared to non-targeting ADC preparation
with the same warhead. Delta Time to Tumor progression (dTTP) were
calculated by subtracting the progression time for nontargeting ADC
from the progression time for targeting agent. Tumor progression
was defined as the time pint where the observed measurement regrows
at least 100 mm.sup.3 greater than the nadir volume post-treatment.
Each data point in FIGS. 5C and 5D represents an individual PDX
cell line of the respective tumor type.
[0234] As shown in FIG. 5C the PBD ADC preparations provided a
relatively uniform tumor response regardless of the PDX tumor type.
In particular, susceptibility of the SCLC PDX to killing by the PBD
toxin was largely equivalent to that of the other tumor cell lines.
In sharp contrast the SCLC PDX cell lines proved far more
susceptible to killing by the calicheamicin ADCs than the other PDX
cell lines (FIG. 5D). More specifically, after a single, 8 mg/kg
dose of the calicheamicin ADC the majority of patient derived
xenografts from BR, CR, GA and NSCLC tumors exhibited minimal to no
response. There was a mixture of responses in pancreatic tumors but
even the pancreatic tumors showed minimal responses (<25 days
dTTP) in the majority of cell lines tested. Conversely, the lower 2
mg/kg (black circles) or 4 mg/kg (white circles) doses of the
calicheamicin ADC consistently reduced SCLC tumor growth
substantially more than higher doses of the calicheamicin ADC
achieved on other PDX tumors. Moreover, the majority of the SCLC
tumors exhibited growth delays of greater than 40 days as compared
to a nontargeting antibody carrying the same warhead (data not
shown).
[0235] These data suggest that SCLC tumors are more sensitive to a
calicheamicin warhead than other DNA damaging warheads. This result
was unexpected, as the expectation was that the calicheamicin
warhead would provide similar results to those observed with the
PBD warhead.
EMBODIMENTS
[0236] 1. An isolated antibody that specifically binds human SEZ6
wherein the antibody comprises a heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID
NO:3 and a light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:4. [0237] 2. The
antibody of embodiment 1 wherein the antibody is conjugated to a
calicheamicin payload. [0238] 3. The antibody of embodiment 2
wherein the calicheamicin payload comprises N-Ac calicheamicin.
[0239] 4. The antibody of embodiment 3 wherein the calicheamicin
payload comprises Formula II. [0240] 5. A method of treating small
cell lung cancer comprising administering an antibody of any one of
embodiments 1-4 to a subject in need thereof [0241] 6. A kit
comprising one or more containers containing an antibody of any one
of embodiments 1-4. [0242] 7. The kit of embodiment 6 further
comprising a label or package insert associated with the one or
more containers indicating that the antibody is for treating a
subject having small cell lung cancer. [0243] 8. A pharmaceutical
composition comprising an antibody of any one of embodiments 1-4.
[0244] 9. A kit comprising one or more containers containing a
pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 8. [0245] 10. The kit of
embodiment 9 further comprising a label or package insert
associated with the one or more containers indicating that the
pharmaceutical composition is for treating a subject having small
cell lung cancer. [0246] 11. A nucleic acid encoding all or part of
an antibody of any one of embodiments 1-4. [0247] 12. A vector
comprising the nucleic acid of embodiment 11. [0248] 13. A host
cell comprising the nucleic acid of claim 11 or the vector of
embodiments 12. [0249] 14. A SEZ6 ADC of the structure:
##STR00012##
[0249] wherein Ab comprises an anti-SEZ6 antibody having a heavy
chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and a light chain sequence of SEQ ID
NO:4 and wherein n is 2. [0250] 15. A method of treating small cell
lung cancer comprising administering a SEZ6 ADC of embodiment 14 to
a subject in need thereof [0251] 16. A kit comprising one or more
containers containing the SEZ6 ADC of embodiment 14. [0252] 17. The
kit of embodiment 16 further comprising a label or package insert
associated with the one or more containers indicating that the SEZ6
ADC is for treating a subject having small cell lung cancer. [0253]
18. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the SEZ6 ADC of
embodiment 14. [0254] 19. The pharmaceutical composition of
embodiment 18 wherein the SEZ6 ADC of claim 14 is the predominant
ADC species. [0255] 20. The pharmaceutical composition of
embodiment 19 wherein the predominant ADC species comprises greater
than about 70% of the ADC species present in the composition.
[0256] 21. The pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 19 wherein
the predominant ADC species comprises greater than about 80% of the
ADC species present in the composition. [0257] 22. The
pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 19 wherein the predominant
ADC species comprises greater than about 90% of the ADC species
present in the composition. [0258] 23. A kit comprising one or more
containers containing any one of the pharmaceutical compositions of
embodiments 18-22. [0259] 24. The kit of embodiment 23 further
comprising a label or package insert associated with the one or
more containers indicating that the pharmaceutical composition is
for treating a subject having small cell lung cancer. [0260] 25. A
method of treating small cell lung cancer comprising administering
any one of the pharmaceutical compositions of embodiments 18-22.
[0261] 26. A method of reducing tumor initiating cells in a tumor
cell population, wherein the method comprises contacting a tumor
cell population comprising tumor initiating cells and tumor cells
other than tumor initiating cells, with a SEZ6 ADC of embodiment 14
whereby the frequency of tumor initiating cells is reduced. [0262]
27. The method of embodiment 26, wherein the contacting is
performed in vivo. [0263] 28. The method of embodiment 26, wherein
the contacting is performed in vitro. [0264] 29. A method of
delivering a cytotoxin to a cell comprising contacting the cell
with a SEZ6 ADC of embodiment 14. [0265] 30. A method of producing
an ADC of embodiment 14 comprising the step of conjugating a
hSEZ6-1.ss1 antibody having a heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:3
and a light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 with a drug linker
comprising Formula II. [0266] 31. The method of embodiment 30
further comprising the step of lyophilizing the ADC. [0267] 32. A
method of treating small cell lung cancer in a subject in need
thereof comprising administering a SEZ6 ADC having a safety margin
greater than 6 wherein the SEZ6 ADC comprises the structure:
##STR00013##
[0267] wherein Ab comprises an anti-SEZ6 antibody having a heavy
chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and a light chain sequence of SEQ ID
NO:4 and wherein n is 2. [0268] 33. The method of embodiment 32
wherein the safety margin is about 10. [0269] 34. A calicheamicin
drug linker, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate
thereof, comprising the structure:
##STR00014##
[0270] Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the
present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or central attributes thereof. In that
the foregoing description of the present invention discloses only
exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that other
variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the
present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not
limited to the particular embodiments that have been described in
detail herein. Rather, reference should be made to the appended
claims as indicative of the scope and content of the invention.
Sequence CWU 1
1
81994PRTHomo sapiens 1Met Arg Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Ser
Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu1 5 10 15Ala His Gly Leu Ser Leu Glu Ala Pro Thr
Val Gly Lys Gly Gln Ala 20 25 30Pro Gly Ile Glu Glu Thr Asp Gly Glu
Leu Thr Ala Ala Pro Thr Pro 35 40 45Glu Gln Pro Glu Arg Gly Val His
Phe Val Thr Thr Ala Pro Thr Leu 50 55 60Lys Leu Leu Asn His His Pro
Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Leu Gln Glu Gly65 70 75 80Leu Glu Lys Gly Asp
Glu Glu Leu Arg Pro Ala Leu Pro Phe Gln Pro 85 90 95Asp Pro Pro Ala
Pro Phe Thr Pro Ser Pro Leu Pro Arg Leu Ala Asn 100 105 110Gln Asp
Ser Arg Pro Val Phe Thr Ser Pro Thr Pro Ala Met Ala Ala 115 120
125Val Pro Thr Gln Pro Gln Ser Lys Glu Gly Pro Trp Ser Pro Glu Ser
130 135 140Glu Ser Pro Met Leu Arg Ile Thr Ala Pro Leu Pro Pro Gly
Pro Ser145 150 155 160Met Ala Val Pro Thr Leu Gly Pro Gly Glu Ile
Ala Ser Thr Thr Pro 165 170 175Pro Ser Arg Ala Trp Thr Pro Thr Gln
Glu Gly Pro Gly Asp Met Gly 180 185 190Arg Pro Trp Val Ala Glu Val
Val Ser Gln Gly Ala Gly Ile Gly Ile 195 200 205Gln Gly Thr Ile Thr
Ser Ser Thr Ala Ser Gly Asp Asp Glu Glu Thr 210 215 220Thr Thr Thr
Thr Thr Ile Ile Thr Thr Thr Ile Thr Thr Val Gln Thr225 230 235
240Pro Gly Pro Cys Ser Trp Asn Phe Ser Gly Pro Glu Gly Ser Leu Asp
245 250 255Ser Pro Thr Asp Leu Ser Ser Pro Thr Asp Val Gly Leu Asp
Cys Phe 260 265 270Phe Tyr Ile Ser Val Tyr Pro Gly Tyr Gly Val Glu
Ile Lys Val Gln 275 280 285Asn Ile Ser Leu Arg Glu Gly Glu Thr Val
Thr Val Glu Gly Leu Gly 290 295 300Gly Pro Asp Pro Leu Pro Leu Ala
Asn Gln Ser Phe Leu Leu Arg Gly305 310 315 320Gln Val Ile Arg Ser
Pro Thr His Gln Ala Ala Leu Arg Phe Gln Ser 325 330 335Leu Pro Pro
Pro Ala Gly Pro Gly Thr Phe His Phe His Tyr Gln Ala 340 345 350Tyr
Leu Leu Ser Cys His Phe Pro Arg Arg Pro Ala Tyr Gly Asp Val 355 360
365Thr Val Thr Ser Leu His Pro Gly Gly Ser Ala Arg Phe His Cys Ala
370 375 380Thr Gly Tyr Gln Leu Lys Gly Ala Arg His Leu Thr Cys Leu
Asn Ala385 390 395 400Thr Gln Pro Phe Trp Asp Ser Lys Glu Pro Val
Cys Ile Ala Ala Cys 405 410 415Gly Gly Val Ile Arg Asn Ala Thr Thr
Gly Arg Ile Val Ser Pro Gly 420 425 430Phe Pro Gly Asn Tyr Ser Asn
Asn Leu Thr Cys His Trp Leu Leu Glu 435 440 445Ala Pro Glu Gly Gln
Arg Leu His Leu His Phe Glu Lys Val Ser Leu 450 455 460Ala Glu Asp
Asp Asp Arg Leu Ile Ile Arg Asn Gly Asp Asn Val Glu465 470 475
480Ala Pro Pro Val Tyr Asp Ser Tyr Glu Val Glu Tyr Leu Pro Ile Glu
485 490 495Gly Leu Leu Ser Ser Gly Lys His Phe Phe Val Glu Leu Ser
Thr Asp 500 505 510Ser Ser Gly Ala Ala Ala Gly Met Ala Leu Arg Tyr
Glu Ala Phe Gln 515 520 525Gln Gly His Cys Tyr Glu Pro Phe Val Lys
Tyr Gly Asn Phe Ser Ser 530 535 540Ser Thr Pro Thr Tyr Pro Val Gly
Thr Thr Val Glu Phe Ser Cys Asp545 550 555 560Pro Gly Tyr Thr Leu
Glu Gln Gly Ser Ile Ile Ile Glu Cys Val Asp 565 570 575Pro His Asp
Pro Gln Trp Asn Glu Thr Glu Pro Ala Cys Arg Ala Val 580 585 590Cys
Ser Gly Glu Ile Thr Asp Ser Ala Gly Val Val Leu Ser Pro Asn 595 600
605Trp Pro Glu Pro Tyr Gly Arg Gly Gln Asp Cys Ile Trp Gly Val His
610 615 620Val Glu Glu Asp Lys Arg Ile Met Leu Asp Ile Arg Val Leu
Arg Ile625 630 635 640Gly Pro Gly Asp Val Leu Thr Phe Tyr Asp Gly
Asp Asp Leu Thr Ala 645 650 655Arg Val Leu Gly Gln Tyr Ser Gly Pro
Arg Ser His Phe Lys Leu Phe 660 665 670Thr Ser Met Ala Asp Val Thr
Ile Gln Phe Gln Ser Asp Pro Gly Thr 675 680 685Ser Val Leu Gly Tyr
Gln Gln Gly Phe Val Ile His Phe Phe Glu Val 690 695 700Pro Arg Asn
Asp Thr Cys Pro Glu Leu Pro Glu Ile Pro Asn Gly Trp705 710 715
720Lys Ser Pro Ser Gln Pro Glu Leu Val His Gly Thr Val Val Thr Tyr
725 730 735Gln Cys Tyr Pro Gly Tyr Gln Val Val Gly Ser Ser Val Leu
Met Cys 740 745 750Gln Trp Asp Leu Thr Trp Ser Glu Asp Leu Pro Ser
Cys Gln Arg Val 755 760 765Thr Ser Cys His Asp Pro Gly Asp Val Glu
His Ser Arg Arg Leu Ile 770 775 780Ser Ser Pro Lys Phe Pro Val Gly
Ala Thr Val Gln Tyr Ile Cys Asp785 790 795 800Gln Gly Phe Val Leu
Met Gly Ser Ser Ile Leu Thr Cys His Asp Arg 805 810 815Gln Ala Gly
Ser Pro Lys Trp Ser Asp Arg Ala Pro Lys Cys Leu Leu 820 825 830Glu
Gln Leu Lys Pro Cys His Gly Leu Ser Ala Pro Glu Asn Gly Ala 835 840
845Arg Ser Pro Glu Lys Gln Leu His Pro Ala Gly Ala Thr Ile His Phe
850 855 860Ser Cys Ala Pro Gly Tyr Val Leu Lys Gly Gln Ala Ser Ile
Lys Cys865 870 875 880Val Pro Gly His Pro Ser His Trp Ser Asp Pro
Pro Pro Ile Cys Arg 885 890 895Ala Ala Ser Leu Asp Gly Phe Tyr Asn
Ser Arg Ser Leu Asp Val Ala 900 905 910Lys Ala Pro Ala Ala Ser Ser
Thr Leu Asp Ala Ala His Ile Ala Ala 915 920 925Ala Ile Phe Leu Pro
Leu Val Ala Met Val Leu Leu Val Gly Gly Val 930 935 940Tyr Phe Tyr
Phe Ser Arg Leu Gln Gly Lys Ser Ser Leu Gln Leu Pro945 950 955
960Arg Pro Arg Pro Arg Pro Tyr Asn Arg Ile Thr Ile Glu Ser Ala Phe
965 970 975Asp Asn Pro Thr Tyr Glu Thr Gly Ser Leu Ser Phe Ala Gly
Asp Glu 980 985 990Arg Ile2993PRTHomo sapiens 2Met Arg Pro Val Ala
Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Ser Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu1 5 10 15Ala His Gly Leu
Ser Leu Glu Ala Pro Thr Val Gly Lys Gly Gln Ala 20 25 30Pro Gly Ile
Glu Glu Thr Asp Gly Glu Leu Thr Ala Ala Pro Thr Pro 35 40 45Glu Gln
Pro Glu Arg Gly Val His Phe Val Thr Thr Ala Pro Thr Leu 50 55 60Lys
Leu Leu Asn His His Pro Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Leu Gln Glu Gly65 70 75
80Leu Glu Lys Gly Asp Glu Glu Leu Arg Pro Ala Leu Pro Phe Gln Pro
85 90 95Asp Pro Pro Ala Pro Phe Thr Pro Ser Pro Leu Pro Arg Leu Ala
Asn 100 105 110Gln Asp Ser Arg Pro Val Phe Thr Ser Pro Thr Pro Ala
Met Ala Ala 115 120 125Val Pro Thr Gln Pro Gln Ser Lys Glu Gly Pro
Trp Ser Pro Glu Ser 130 135 140Glu Ser Pro Met Leu Arg Ile Thr Ala
Pro Leu Pro Pro Gly Pro Ser145 150 155 160Met Ala Val Pro Thr Leu
Gly Pro Gly Glu Ile Ala Ser Thr Thr Pro 165 170 175Pro Ser Arg Ala
Trp Thr Pro Thr Gln Glu Gly Pro Gly Asp Met Gly 180 185 190Arg Pro
Trp Val Ala Glu Val Val Ser Gln Gly Ala Gly Ile Gly Ile 195 200
205Gln Gly Thr Ile Thr Ser Ser Thr Ala Ser Gly Asp Asp Glu Glu Thr
210 215 220Thr Thr Thr Thr Thr Ile Ile Thr Thr Thr Ile Thr Thr Val
Gln Thr225 230 235 240Pro Gly Pro Cys Ser Trp Asn Phe Ser Gly Pro
Glu Gly Ser Leu Asp 245 250 255Ser Pro Thr Asp Leu Ser Ser Pro Thr
Asp Val Gly Leu Asp Cys Phe 260 265 270Phe Tyr Ile Ser Val Tyr Pro
Gly Tyr Gly Val Glu Ile Lys Val Gln 275 280 285Asn Ile Ser Leu Arg
Glu Gly Glu Thr Val Thr Val Glu Gly Leu Gly 290 295 300Gly Pro Asp
Pro Leu Pro Leu Ala Asn Gln Ser Phe Leu Leu Arg Gly305 310 315
320Gln Val Ile Arg Ser Pro Thr His Gln Ala Ala Leu Arg Phe Gln Ser
325 330 335Leu Pro Pro Pro Ala Gly Pro Gly Thr Phe His Phe His Tyr
Gln Ala 340 345 350Tyr Leu Leu Ser Cys His Phe Pro Arg Arg Pro Ala
Tyr Gly Asp Val 355 360 365Thr Val Thr Ser Leu His Pro Gly Gly Ser
Ala Arg Phe His Cys Ala 370 375 380Thr Gly Tyr Gln Leu Lys Gly Ala
Arg His Leu Thr Cys Leu Asn Ala385 390 395 400Thr Gln Pro Phe Trp
Asp Ser Lys Glu Pro Val Cys Ile Ala Ala Cys 405 410 415Gly Gly Val
Ile Arg Asn Ala Thr Thr Gly Arg Ile Val Ser Pro Gly 420 425 430Phe
Pro Gly Asn Tyr Ser Asn Asn Leu Thr Cys His Trp Leu Leu Glu 435 440
445Ala Pro Glu Gly Gln Arg Leu His Leu His Phe Glu Lys Val Ser Leu
450 455 460Ala Glu Asp Asp Asp Arg Leu Ile Ile Arg Asn Gly Asp Asn
Val Glu465 470 475 480Ala Pro Pro Val Tyr Asp Ser Tyr Glu Val Glu
Tyr Leu Pro Ile Glu 485 490 495Gly Leu Leu Ser Ser Gly Lys His Phe
Phe Val Glu Leu Ser Thr Asp 500 505 510Ser Ser Gly Ala Ala Ala Gly
Met Ala Leu Arg Tyr Glu Ala Phe Gln 515 520 525Gln Gly His Cys Tyr
Glu Pro Phe Val Lys Tyr Gly Asn Phe Ser Ser 530 535 540Ser Thr Pro
Thr Tyr Pro Val Gly Thr Thr Val Glu Phe Ser Cys Asp545 550 555
560Pro Gly Tyr Thr Leu Glu Gln Gly Ser Ile Ile Ile Glu Cys Val Asp
565 570 575Pro His Asp Pro Gln Trp Asn Glu Thr Glu Pro Ala Cys Arg
Ala Val 580 585 590Cys Ser Gly Glu Ile Thr Asp Ser Ala Gly Val Val
Leu Ser Pro Asn 595 600 605Trp Pro Glu Pro Tyr Gly Arg Gly Gln Asp
Cys Ile Trp Gly Val His 610 615 620Val Glu Glu Asp Lys Arg Ile Met
Leu Asp Ile Arg Val Leu Arg Ile625 630 635 640Gly Pro Gly Asp Val
Leu Thr Phe Tyr Asp Gly Asp Asp Leu Thr Ala 645 650 655Arg Val Leu
Gly Gln Tyr Ser Gly Pro Arg Ser His Phe Lys Leu Phe 660 665 670Thr
Ser Met Ala Asp Val Thr Ile Gln Phe Gln Ser Asp Pro Gly Thr 675 680
685Ser Val Leu Gly Tyr Gln Gln Gly Phe Val Ile His Phe Phe Glu Val
690 695 700Pro Arg Asn Asp Thr Cys Pro Glu Leu Pro Glu Ile Pro Asn
Gly Trp705 710 715 720Lys Ser Pro Ser Gln Pro Glu Leu Val His Gly
Thr Val Val Thr Tyr 725 730 735Gln Cys Tyr Pro Gly Tyr Gln Val Val
Gly Ser Ser Val Leu Met Cys 740 745 750Gln Trp Asp Leu Thr Trp Ser
Glu Asp Leu Pro Ser Cys Gln Arg Val 755 760 765Thr Ser Cys His Asp
Pro Gly Asp Val Glu His Ser Arg Arg Leu Ile 770 775 780Ser Ser Pro
Lys Phe Pro Val Gly Ala Thr Val Gln Tyr Ile Cys Asp785 790 795
800Gln Gly Phe Val Leu Met Gly Ser Ser Ile Leu Thr Cys His Asp Arg
805 810 815Gln Ala Gly Ser Pro Lys Trp Ser Asp Arg Ala Pro Lys Cys
Leu Leu 820 825 830Glu Gln Leu Lys Pro Cys His Gly Leu Ser Ala Pro
Glu Asn Gly Ala 835 840 845Arg Ser Pro Glu Lys Gln Leu His Pro Ala
Gly Ala Thr Ile His Phe 850 855 860Ser Cys Ala Pro Gly Tyr Val Leu
Lys Gly Gln Ala Ser Ile Lys Cys865 870 875 880Val Pro Gly His Pro
Ser His Trp Ser Asp Pro Pro Pro Ile Cys Arg 885 890 895Ala Ala Ser
Leu Asp Gly Phe Tyr Asn Ser Arg Ser Leu Asp Val Ala 900 905 910Lys
Ala Pro Ala Ala Ser Ser Thr Leu Asp Ala Ala His Ile Ala Ala 915 920
925Ala Ile Phe Leu Pro Leu Val Ala Met Val Leu Leu Val Gly Gly Val
930 935 940Tyr Phe Tyr Phe Ser Arg Leu Gln Gly Lys Ser Ser Leu Gln
Leu Pro945 950 955 960Arg Pro Arg Pro Arg Pro Tyr Asn Arg Ile Thr
Ile Glu Ser Ala Phe 965 970 975Asp Asn Pro Thr Tyr Glu Thr Gly Glu
Thr Arg Glu Tyr Glu Val Ser 980 985 990Ile3444PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic polypeptide 3Glu Val Gln Leu Val Gln Ser Gly Ala
Glu Val Lys Lys Pro Gly Glu1 5 10 15Ser Leu Lys Ile Ser Cys Lys Gly
Ser Gly Tyr Ser Phe Thr Ser Ser 20 25 30Trp Ile Asn Trp Val Arg Gln
Met Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Met 35 40 45Gly Arg Ile Tyr Pro Gly
Glu Gly Asp Thr Asn Tyr Asn Gly Asn Phe 50 55 60Glu Gly Gln Val Thr
Ile Ser Ala Asp Lys Ser Ile Ser Thr Ala Tyr65 70 75 80Leu Gln Trp
Ser Ser Leu Lys Ala Ser Asp Thr Ala Met Tyr Tyr Cys 85 90 95Thr Arg
Gly Leu Val Met Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr Leu Val Thr 100 105
110Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro
115 120 125Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly Cys
Leu Val 130 135 140Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp
Asn Ser Gly Ala145 150 155 160Leu Thr Ser Gly Val His Thr Phe Pro
Ala Val Leu Gln Ser Ser Gly 165 170 175Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Val
Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser Ser Leu Gly 180 185 190Thr Gln Thr Tyr Ile
Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser Asn Thr Lys 195 200 205Val Asp Lys
Lys Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Ser Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys 210 215 220Pro
Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Leu225 230
235 240Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met Ile Ser Arg Thr Pro
Glu 245 250 255Val Thr Cys Val Val Val Asp Val Ser His Glu Asp Pro
Glu Val Lys 260 265 270Phe Asn Trp Tyr Val Asp Gly Val Glu Val His
Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys 275 280 285Pro Arg Glu Glu Gln Tyr Asn Ser Thr
Tyr Arg Val Val Ser Val Leu 290 295 300Thr Val Leu His Gln Asp Trp
Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Tyr Lys Cys Lys305 310 315 320Val Ser Asn Lys
Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Ile Glu Lys Thr Ile Ser Lys 325 330 335Ala Lys
Gly Gln Pro Arg Glu Pro Gln Val Tyr Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser 340 345
350Arg Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gln Val Ser Leu Thr Cys Leu Val Lys
355 360 365Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp Ile Ala Val Glu Trp Glu Ser Asn
Gly Gln 370 375 380Pro Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Val Leu
Asp Ser Asp Gly385 390 395 400Ser Phe Phe Leu Tyr Ser Lys Leu Thr
Val Asp Lys Ser Arg Trp Gln 405 410 415Gln Gly Asn Val Phe Ser Cys
Ser Val Met His Glu Ala Leu His Asn 420 425 430His Tyr Thr Gln Lys
Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly 435 4404218PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic polypeptide 4Glu Ile Val Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Ala
Thr Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly1 5 10 15Glu Arg Ala Thr Leu Ser Cys Arg
Ala Ser Gln Ser Val Asp Tyr Asn 20
25 30Gly Ile Ser Tyr Met His Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Ala
Pro 35 40 45Arg Leu Leu Ile Tyr Ala Ala Ser Asn Val Gln Ser Gly Ile
Pro Ala 50 55 60Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu
Thr Ile Ser65 70 75 80Ser Leu Glu Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Val Tyr Tyr
Cys Gln Gln Ser Ile 85 90 95Glu Asp Pro Pro Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr
Lys Val Glu Ile Lys Arg 100 105 110Thr Val Ala Ala Pro Ser Val Phe
Ile Phe Pro Pro Ser Asp Glu Gln 115 120 125Leu Lys Ser Gly Thr Ala
Ser Val Val Cys Leu Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr 130 135 140Pro Arg Glu Ala
Lys Val Gln Trp Lys Val Asp Asn Ala Leu Gln Ser145 150 155 160Gly
Asn Ser Gln Glu Ser Val Thr Glu Gln Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr 165 170
175Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Ser Lys Ala Asp Tyr Glu Lys
180 185 190His Lys Val Tyr Ala Cys Glu Val Thr His Gln Gly Leu Ser
Ser Pro 195 200 205Val Thr Lys Ser Phe Asn Arg Gly Glu Cys 210
21551938DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic polynucleotide 5gaagtccaac
tcgtccaatc cggtgccgaa gtgaaaaagc ctggggaatc cctgaagatc 60agctgcaagg
gatccggtta ctcgttcacc tcctcctgga ttaactgggt ccggcagatg
120cccggaaagg gactggagtg gatgggcaga atctatccgg gcgaagggga
cactaattac 180aacggaaact tcgagggcca ggtcaccatt tcggccgata
agagcatctc aaccgcgtac 240ttgcagtggt caagcctgaa ggcttccgac
accgccatgt actactgtac tcgcggcctt 300gtgatggact actggggaca
gggaactctc gtgaccgtgt cgtccgcctc taccaagggc 360ccttccgtgt
tccctctggc cccctcgagc aagagcacct ctgggggcac agcggccctg
420ggctgcctgg tcaaggacta cttccccgag ccggtgacgg tgtcgtggaa
ctcaggcgcc 480ctgaccagcg gcgtgcacac cttcccggct gtcctacagt
cctcaggact ctactccctc 540agcagcgtgg tgaccgtgcc ctccagcagc
ttgggcaccc agacctacat ctgcaacgtg 600aatcacaagc ccagcaacac
caaggtggac aagaaagttg gtgagaggcc agcacaggga 660gggagggtgt
ctgctggaag ccaggctcag cgctcctgcc tggacgcatc ccggctatgc
720agccccagtc cagggcagca aggcaggccc cgtctgcctc ttcacccgga
ggcctctgcc 780cgccccactc atgctcaggg agagggtctt ctggcttttt
ccccaggctc tgggcaggca 840caggctaggt gcccctaacc caggccctgc
acacaaaggg gcaggtgctg ggctcagacc 900tgccaagagc catatccggg
aggaccctgc ccctgaccta agcccacccc aaaggccaaa 960ctctccactc
cctcagctcg gacaccttct ctcctcccag attccagtaa ctcccaatct
1020tctctctgca gagcccaaat ctagtgacaa aactcacaca tgcccaccgt
gcccaggtaa 1080gccagcccag gcctcgccct ccagctcaag gcgggacagg
tgccctagag tagcctgcat 1140ccagggacag gccccagccg ggtgctgaca
cgtccacctc catctcttcc tcagcacctg 1200aactcctggg gggaccgtca
gtcttcctct tccccccaaa acccaaggac accctcatga 1260tctcccggac
ccctgaggtc acatgcgtgg tggtggacgt gagccacgaa gaccctgagg
1320tcaagttcaa ctggtacgtg gacggcgtgg aggtgcataa tgccaagaca
aagccgcggg 1380aggagcagta caacagcacg taccgtgtgg tcagcgtcct
caccgtcctg caccaggact 1440ggctgaatgg caaggagtac aagtgcaagg
tctccaacaa agccctccca gcccccatcg 1500agaaaaccat ctccaaagcc
aaaggtggga cccgtggggt gcgagggcca catggacaga 1560ggccggctcg
gcccaccctc tgccctgaga gtgaccgctg taccaacctc tgtccctaca
1620gggcagcccc gagaaccaca ggtgtacacc ctgcccccat cccgggatga
gctgaccaag 1680aaccaggtca gcctgacctg cctggtcaaa ggcttctatc
ccagcgacat cgccgtggag 1740tgggagagca atgggcagcc ggagaacaac
tacaagacca cgcctcccgt gctggactcc 1800gacggctcct tcttcctcta
cagcaagctc accgtggaca agagcaggtg gcagcagggg 1860aacgtcttct
catgctccgt gatgcatgag gctctgcaca accactacac gcagaagagc
1920ctctccctgt ctccgggt 19386654DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic
polynucleotide 6gaaatcgtgt tgacccagtc ccccgctacc ctgtcactga
gccccggaga acgcgcgact 60ctgtcctgcc gggcatccca gtccgtggac tacaacggaa
tctcctacat gcactggtat 120cagcaaaagc caggccaagc cccgagactg
ctcatctacg ccgcctcgaa cgtgcagagc 180ggtattccgg cgcggttctc
cggctcgggc agcggaaccg attttaccct cactatctcg 240tcacttgaac
ctgaggactt cgccgtgtac tactgccagc agtccattga ggacccgcct
300actttcgggg ggggaaccaa agtcgagatc aagcggactg tggctgcacc
aagtgtcttc 360atcttcccgc catctgatga gcagttgaaa tctggaactg
cctctgttgt gtgcctgctg 420aataacttct atcccagaga ggccaaagta
cagtggaagg tggataacgc cctccaatcg 480ggtaactccc aggagagtgt
cacagagcag gacagcaagg acagcaccta cagcctcagc 540agcaccctga
cgctgagcaa agcagactac gagaaacaca aagtctacgc ctgcgaagtc
600acccatcagg gcctgagctc gcccgtcaca aagagcttca acaggggaga gtgt
6547115PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic polypeptide 7Glu Val Gln Leu
Val Gln Ser Gly Ala Glu Val Lys Lys Pro Gly Glu1 5 10 15Ser Leu Lys
Ile Ser Cys Lys Gly Ser Gly Tyr Ser Phe Thr Ser Ser 20 25 30Trp Ile
Asn Trp Val Arg Gln Met Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Met 35 40 45Gly
Arg Ile Tyr Pro Gly Glu Gly Asp Thr Asn Tyr Asn Gly Asn Phe 50 55
60Glu Gly Gln Val Thr Ile Ser Ala Asp Lys Ser Ile Ser Thr Ala Tyr65
70 75 80Leu Gln Trp Ser Ser Leu Lys Ala Ser Asp Thr Ala Met Tyr Tyr
Cys 85 90 95Thr Arg Gly Leu Val Met Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr Leu
Val Thr 100 105 110Val Ser Ser 1158111PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic polypeptide 8Glu Ile Val Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Ala
Thr Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly1 5 10 15Glu Arg Ala Thr Leu Ser Cys Arg
Ala Ser Gln Ser Val Asp Tyr Asn 20 25 30Gly Ile Ser Tyr Met His Trp
Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Ala Pro 35 40 45Arg Leu Leu Ile Tyr Ala
Ala Ser Asn Val Gln Ser Gly Ile Pro Ala 50 55 60Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser
Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser65 70 75 80Ser Leu Glu
Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Gln Gln Ser Ile 85 90 95Glu Asp
Pro Pro Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Val Glu Ile Lys 100 105 110
* * * * *
References