METHODS OF QUALITATIVELY AND/OR QUANTITATIVELY ANALYZING PROPERTIES OF ACTIVATABLE ANTIBODIES AND USES THEREOF

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF SEQUENCE LISTING

The contents of the text file named CY™ -053_001US_SeqList_ST25 which was created on Apr. 16, 2020, and is 115 kilobytes in size, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to methods for qualitatively and/or quantitatively analyzing activation and other properties of activatable antibody therapeutic in biological samples, including tissues and/or biofluid samples. The invention also relates to methods of using a capillary-based immunoassay platform to qualitatively and/or quantitatively analyze levels of activation in biological samples, including tissues and/or biofluid samples.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Antibody-based therapies have proven effective treatments for several diseases but in some cases, toxicities due to broad target expression have limited their therapeutic effectiveness. In addition, antibody-based therapeutics have exhibited other limitations such as rapid clearance from the circulation following administration. In the realm of small molecule therapeutics, strategies have been developed to provide prodrugs of an active chemical entity. Such prodrugs are administered in a relatively inactive (or significantly less active) form. Once administered, the prodrug is metabolized in vivo into the active compound. Such prodrug strategies can provide for increased selectivity of the drug for its intended target and for a reduction of adverse effects.

To overcome the limitations of antibody-based therapeutics, activatable antibody-based therapeutics have been designed.

There exists a need to be able to monitor and quantitatively analyze activation of such activatable antibody-based therapeutics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method of quantitating a level of activation of an activatable antibody, the method comprising:

i) contacting a loaded capillary or population of loaded capillaries with a biological sample comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of an activatable antibody, an activated activatable antibody, and a combination thereof;

wherein the loaded capillary or population of loaded capillaries is/are pre-loaded with a stacking matrix and a separation matrix;

ii) separating one or more high molecular weight (MW) components of the biological sample from one or more low molecular weight (MW) components of the biological sample within each capillary;

iii) immobilizing the high MW components and the low MW components within each capillary;

iv) immunoprobing each capillary with at least a first reagent that is specific for at least one activatable antibody; and

v) detecting and quantitating a level of the first reagent in each capillary or population of capillaries.

In one embodiment, step ii) comprises separating high molecular weight components of the biological sample from low molecular weight components of the biological sample within each capillary by capillary electrophoresis.

In a further embodiment, the activatable antibody is selected from the group consisting of a conjugated activatable antibody, a multispecific activatable antibody, and a conjugated multispecific activatable antibody.

In some embodiments, the first reagent comprises an anti-idiotypic antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

In another embodiment, step iv) further comprises loading each capillary with a second reagent that specifically binds to the first reagent. In some embodiments, the second reagent is detectably labelled. In other embodiments, the second reagent is not detectably labelled and step iv) further comprises loading each capillary with a third reagent that specifically binds to the second reagent.

In a still further embodiment, the present invention provides a kit comprising:

(i) an activatable antibody standard curve reagent;

(ii) an activated activatable antibody standard curve reagent; and

(iii) an anti-id primary antibody having binding specificity for the activatable antibody.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a series of graphs depicting screening of PL07-2001-C5H9v2 anti-idiotypic (anti-id) clones against 37% one-armed activated activatable antibody at 0.11, 0.33 and 1 ug/ml in human plasma at 1:100. FIG. 1A is an electropherogram showing 17G1 detection of decreasing concentration of one arm activated PL07-2001-C5H9v2 (1, 0.33, and 0.11 ug/ml, referred to in the FIG. as AA MIX). FIG. 1B demonstrates relative activation percent for the top 6 clones of one arm activated activatable antibody. The relative activation rate is preserved at different concentrations. 21H10 and 27C1 clones have lower affinity resulting in no data for the 0.11 ug/ml concentration.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are a series of graphs depicting that the antibody referred to herein as 17G1 has high specificity to the activatable antibody (AA) PL07-2001-C5H9v2. 17G1 was assessed on the Wes for specificity by spiking 160 ng/ml of one arm activated PL07-2001-C5H9v2 (activated AA) into either human plasma (FIG. 2C) or lung tumor lysates (FIG. 2D).

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a series of graphs depicting specific detection of activatable antibody (AA) therapeutics by selective anti-idiotypic antibodies. FIG. 3A demonstrates detection of the anti-PDL1 activatable antibody referred to herein as PL07-2001-C5H9v2 in plasma of mice treated with 10 mg/kg of PL07-2001-C5H9v2 using a commercial Al 10UK (Goat Anti-Human IgG (H&L) adsorbed against monkey unlabeled) from American Qualex (available on the web at aqsp.com/). FIG. 3B demonstrates detection of PL07-2001-C5H9v2 in plasma of mice treated with 0.1 mg/kg of PL07-2001-C5H9v2 using an anti-idiotypic 17G1 antibody.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are a series of graphs depicting preferential activation of activatable antibody (AA) therapeutics in tumor versus plasma detected in xenograft tumor model. MDA-MB-231 xenograft mice were treated with 1 mg/ml of the anti-PDL1 activatable antibody referred to herein as PL07-2001-C5H9v2. Tumor and plasma samples were collected on day 4. FIGS. 4A and 4B demonstrate the analysis of tumor homogenate and plasma samples by the capillary electrophoresis immunoassay method of the present invention.

FIG. 5A and 5B are a series of graphs depicting preferential activation of activatable antibody therapeutics in tumor versus plasma detected in another xenograft tumor model. SAS xenograft mice were treated with 0.1 mg/kg of the anti-PDL1 activatable antibody referred to herein as PL07-2001-C5H9v2. FIGS. 5A and 5B demonstrate the analysis of tumor homogenate and plasma samples by the capillary electrophoresis immunoassay method of the present invention.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are a series of graphs depicting preferential activation of activatable antibody therapeutics in tumor versus plasma detected in xenograft tumor model using the anti-CD166 activatable antibody referred to herein as 7614.6-3001-HuCD166. H292 xenograft mice were treated with 5 mg/kg of 7614.6-3001-HuCD166. Tumor and plasma samples were collected on day 1. FIGS. 6A and 6B demonstrate the analysis of tumor homogenate and plasma samples by the capillary electrophoresis immunoassay method of the present invention.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are a series of graphs depicting preferential activation of activatable antibody therapeutics in tumor versus plasma detected in xenograft tumor model using EGFR activatable antibodies containing different substrates. H292 xenograft mice were treated with 25 mg/kg of either C225-3954-2001 or C225-3954-3001 activatable antibody therapeutics. Tumor and plasma samples were collected on day 4. FIGS. 7A and 7B demonstrate the analysis of tumor homogenate and plasma samples by the capillary electrophoresis immunoassay method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph of results obtained from the capillary electrophoresis immunoassay method of the present invention to assess the ratio between activated and non-activated anti-CD71 activatable antibody referred to herein as TF02.13-2011-21.12 in biological samples. The method was used to separate pre-activated activatable antibody mixed with non-activated, i.e., intact, activatable antibody in the presence of human plasma.

FIG. 9 is a graph depicting the results obtained using the capillary electrophoresis immunoassay method of the disclosure to assess the ratio between activated and non-activated anti-PD1 activatable antibody referred to herein as PD34-2011-A1.5 hIgG4 S228P in biological samples. The method was used to separate pre-activated activatable antibody mixed with non-activated, i.e., intact, activatable antibody in the presence of human plasma.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are a series of graphs depicting the results obtained using a capillary electrophoresis immunoassay method of the disclosure to assess activated and intact (i.e., non-activated) activatable antibody (AA) therapeutics (AA Tx) using the anti-CD166 activatable antibody referred to herein as 7614.6-3001-HuCD166. The capillary immunoassay method of the present invention was used to separate 7614.6-3001-HuCD166 activatable antibodies that have been partially activated with matriptase (FIG. 10A) or MMP-14 (FIG. 10B) from intact 7614.6-3001-HuCD166 activatable antibodies.

FIGS. 11A and 11B depict chemiluminescence signal for activated activatable antibody (cleavage product of 7614.6-3001-HuCD166) and intact/activated activatable antibody (intact 7614.6-3001-HuCD166), using a two step detection protocol and a tertiary detection protocol, respectively, as described in Example 11.

FIG. 12 depicts the chemiluminscence signals detected for anti-Jagged (intact) activatable antibody 5342-3001-4D11 and the corresponding activated activatable antibody in tumor tissue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure provides methods and kits for qualitatively and/or quantitatively analyzing activation and other properties of activatable antibody activation in biological samples, including tissues and/or biofluid samples, using a capillary-based immunoassay platform.

It is useful to be able to qualitatively and/or quantitatively measure properties of activatable antibodies in biological samples, such as, for example, the level of activation of the activatable antibodies in a biological sample, the total amount of activated, i.e., cleaved, activatable antibodies and/or intact, i.e., inactivated, activatable in a biological sample, or any combination or correlation thereof. Such methods are useful in monitoring efficacy of activatable antibodies and activatable antibody-based therapeutics at any stage of development and/or therapeutic treatment. For example, in some embodiments, the methods and kits provided herein are useful for testing efficacy of activatable antibodies and activatable antibody-based therapeutics prior to administration to a subject in need thereof and/or during the treatment regimen to monitor efficacy of the activatable antibodies and activatable antibody-based therapeutics throughout the entire administration period and/or after the administration period. In some embodiments, the methods and kits provided herein are useful to provide retrospective analysis of activatable antibodies and activatable antibody-based therapeutics.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of quantitating a level of activation of an activatable antibody, the method comprising:

wherein the loaded capillary or population of loaded capillaries is/are pre-loaded with a stacking matrix and a separation matrix;

ii) separating one or more high molecular weight (MW) components of the biological sample from one or more low molecular weight (MW) components of the biological sample within each capillary;

iii) immobilizing the high MW components and the low MW components within each capillary;

iv) immunoprobing each capillary with at least a first (primary) reagent that is specific for at least one activatable antibody; and

v) detecting and quantitating a level of the first (primary) reagent in each capillary or population of capillaries.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, prior to step i), loading at least one capillary or a population of capillaries with a stacking matrix and a separation matrix to generate the at least one loaded capillary or a population of loaded capillaries.

As used herein, the term “stacking matrix” refers to a highly porous (relative to the separation matrix) material that functions to concentrate proteins present in the biological sample and “stack” them at the interface with the separation matrix so that the proteins start migration under electrophoresis conditions from the same physical starting point. Suitable stacking matrices employed in the practice of the present invention may be prepared from the same materials and compositions used to prepare stacking gels for Western blotting methods (e.g., acrylamide, 0.5 M Tris-HCl (pH 6.8), SDS, water, ammonium persulfate, and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED); and the like). The term “separation matrix” refers herein to a material that facilitates the separation of proteins based on their molecular weight under electrphoretic conditions. Suitable separation matrices employed in the practice of the present invention may be prepared from the same materials and compositions used to prepare separation gels for Western blotting methods (e.g, water, acrylamide, Tris-HCl (pH 8.8), SDS, TMED, ammonium persulfate; and the like). Capillaries pre-loaded with stacking matrix and separation matrix may be obtained commercially, for example, from ProteinSimple (supplier of the Wes™ Separation Module capillary cartridges and related reagents for use on the Wes™ capillary electrophoresis immunoassay system).

The loaded capillary or population of loaded capillaries are then contacted with a biological sample to initiate the loading of the biological sample into each loaded capillary. The biological sample typically comprises at least one relatively high molecular weight component that is an (intact or uncleaved) activatable antibody (including, for example, a conjugated activatable antibody, a multispecific activatable antibody, a conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, and the like) and at least one relatively low molecular weight component that is a (cleaved) activated activatable antibody. Often, the biological sample comprises both an (intact or uncleaved) activatable antibody and an (cleaved) activated activatable antibody species. In some embodiments, the biological sample comprises a bodily fluid from a subject. In some embodiments, the bodily fluid is isolated from anywhere in the body of the subject. In some embodiments, the bodily fluid is blood or a blood component such as plasma or serum. In some embodiments, the biological sample comprises cell culture supernatant. In some embodiments, the biological sample comprises a tissue sample from a subject. The tissue sample can be isolated from anywhere in the body of the subject. In some embodiments, the tissue sample is a tumor sample.

In some embodiments, the biological sample is from a mammal, such as a human, non-human primate, companion animal (e.g., cat, dog, horse), farm animal, work animal, or zoo animal. In some embodiments, the subject is a human. In some embodiments, the subject is a companion animal. In some embodiments, the subject is an animal in the care of a veterinarian.

In some embodiments, step i) comprises loading approximately 1-500 ng of biological sample or any value and/or range in between approximately 1-500 ng of biological sample. In some embodiments, step i) comprises loading approximately 5-40 ng of biological sample. In some embodiments, the biological sample is prepared using one or more buffers in an amount sufficient to result in molecular weight separation. In some embodiments, the biological sample is prepared using one or more SDS-containing buffers in an amount sufficient to result in molecular weight separation.

Separating the one or more high molecular weight component(s) (e.g., (intact activatable antibody) from the one or more low molecular weight component(s) (e.g., (cleaved) activated activatable antibody) of the biological sample in each capillary may be achieved by subjecting each capillary to electrophoresis. Electrophoresis causes the compounds in the biological sample to migrate through the separation gel at differential rates according to molecular size (e.g., molecular weight). In some embodiments, separation is carried out for a time period (i.e., “separation time”) of less than about 35 minutes. Often, the separation time is at least about 35 minutes, or at least about 36 minutes, or at least about 37 minutes, or at least about 38 minutes.

Any suitable immobilization method and reagents may be used to immobilize high and low molecular weight components within each capillary (e.g., to the internal surfaces of each capillary). In some embodiments, step iii) comprises using UV light to immobilize the high MW components (e.g., (intact) activatable antibody) and the low MW components (e.g., (cleaved) activated activatable antibody) of the biological sample. This step results in the immobilization of any (intact) activatable antibody and (cleaved) activated activatable antibody present in the biological sample. A suitable system for performing capillary electrophoresis and immobilization steps is the Wes™ capillary electrophoresis immunoassay system (ProteinSimple).

In carrying out the method of the invention, a first reagent, having a binding specificity for at least one activatable antibody is used to immunoprobe each capillary. Typically, the first reagent is a primary antibody. Often, the first reagent comprises an anti-idiotypic (id) antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. When the MM and CM of the activatable antibody are conjugated to a light chain of the activatable antibody, an anti-idiotypic antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof will typically be employed that binds to the variable light chain (VL) region of the activatable antibody. Often in these embodiments, the anti-idiotypic antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof has a binding specificity for a VL CDR selected from the group consisting of VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3. When the MM and CM of the activatable antibody are conjugated to a heavy chain of the activatable antibody, an anti-idiotypic antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof will typically be employed that binds to the variable heavy chain (VH) region of the activatable antibody. In these embodiments, the anti-idiotypic antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof often has a binding specificity for a VH CDR selected from the group consisting of VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to use a combination of two or more anti-idiotypic antibody species (or antigen-binding fragments thereof). Exemplary anti-id antibodies and their uses in the methods of the present invention are described in the Examples hereinbelow.

Detection of the first reagent may be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, in one embodiment, step v) further comprises immunoprobing each capillary with a further second reagent that specifically binds to or recognizes the first reagent. In this embodiment, each capillary is loaded with the second reagent. Typically, the second reagent comprises a secondary antibody that specifically binds to the first reagent.

In some embodiments, the first and/or second reagent is detectably labeled. As used herein, the term “detectable label” refers to a moiety that may be directly or indirectly detected, such as, for example, a fluorescent label, a reporter enzyme (used in combination with, for example, a chemiluminescent substrate, a colorimetric substrate, and the like), and the like. Exemplary reporter enzymes include, for example, a peroxidase (e.g., horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and the like), alkaline phosphatase, and the like. Exemplary detectably labeled second reagents that are suitable for use in the practice of the invention include HRP-conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibody, HRP-conjugated anti-goat secondary antibody, HRP-conjugated anti-human secondary antibody, and the like. Often, a chemiluminescent substrate is added to provide the signal that is ultimately detected. Suitable chemiluminescent substrate systems are known in the art and include, for example luminol+peroxide, and the like.

In other embodiments, the second reagent is not detectably labeled (e.g., is not conjugated to any detectable label, such as, for example, a reporter enzyme). In this embodiment, the second reagent is typically a secondary antibody that usually is conjugated to a first binding tag of a set of first and second binding tags, wherein the first binding tag is capable of binding to the second binding tag. The method is carried out wherein step v) further comprises loading each capillary with a third (tertiary) reagent that specifically binds to the second reagent. The third reagent typically comprises the second binding tag and a detectable label, such as, for example a reporter enzyme or a fluorescent label. Exemplary first and second binding tags include biotin and streptavidin; streptavidin and biotin; biotin and avidin; and avidin and biotin; and the like, respectively. This “tertiary detection method” appears to enhance the signal associated with activatable antibody and activatable antibody species, thus making facile the detection and quantitation steps. Illustrative second and third reagents employed in this embodiment include a second reagent that is a secondary antibody conjugated to streptavidin and third reagent that is a reporter enzyme conjugated to biotin (e.g., HRP-conjugated biotin). A chemiluminescence system is typically used to generate the signal that is ultimately detected (e.g., luminol+peroxide). This method is illustrated in Example 11 herein.

In some embodiments, the at least one detectable reagent in step v) comprises at least a first reagent that is specific for at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof and a second reagent that specifically binds to or recognizes the first reagent, wherein the second reagent comprises a detectable label.

In some embodiments, step v) comprises quantitating a level of detectable label in each capillary or population of capillaries.

In some embodiments, the first reagent in step iv) is an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the second reagent in step iv) is a detectably labeled secondary antibody that specifically binds to the first reagent. In some embodiments, the first reagent in step iv) is a primary antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof, and the second reagent in step iv) is a detectably labeled secondary antibody that specifically binds to the primary antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the detectable label is conjugated to the second reagent. In some embodiments, the detectable label is horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

In some embodiments, the primary reagent, the secondary reagent, and/or the tertiary reagent, or each of the primary reagent, the secondary reagent, and the tertiary reagent is an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a target is a monoclonal antibody, a domain antibody, a single chain antibody, a Fab fragment, a F(ab′)₂fragment, a scFv, a scAb, a dAb, a single domain heavy chain antibody, or a single domain light chain antibody. In some embodiments, such an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a target is a mouse, other rodent, chimeric, humanized or fully human monoclonal antibody.

In some embodiments, the primary antibody that specifically binds to at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof comprises a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRH1) comprising the amino acid sequence SYGMS (SEQ ID NO: 438); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRH2) comprising the amino acid sequence TISPSGIYTYYPVTVKG (SEQ ID NO: 439); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) comprising the amino acid sequence HHPNYGSTYLYYIDY (SEQ ID NO: 440); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRL1) comprising the amino acid sequence KSSQSVFSSSNQKNYLA (SEQ ID NO: 441); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRL2) comprising the amino acid sequence WAFTRES (SEQ ID NO: 442); and a variable light chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3) comprising the amino acid sequence YQYLSSLT (SEQ ID NO: 443).

In some embodiments, the detectable label is conjugated to the second reagent. In some embodiments, the detectable label is a fluorescent label, such, as for example, HRP, and step v) comprises detecting a level of chemiluminescence in each capillary or population of capillaries.

In some embodiments, the methods provided herein are used to quantitate activation of one or more activatable antibodies in a biological sample. For example, activation may be computed as a percentage on the basis of the sum of activatable antibody and activated activatable antibody species detected. In some embodiments, the methods provided herein are used to compare amounts of activated and intact activatable antibody or activatable antibody-based therapeutics in a biological sample. In some embodiments, the methods provided herein are used to profile, stratify, or otherwise categorize protease activity in vivo in a biological sample. Attributes of the signal peaks resulting from the detection step (i.e., corresponding to the detected signal as a function of molecular weight) can be used as the basis for quantitating the level of first reagent (i.e., detected either directly, or indirectly via detectably labeled secondary or detectably labeled tertiary reagents). For example, peak height or area under the curve and other like methods may be utilized. Typically, step v) comprises quantitating a level of the first reagent in each capillary or population of capillaries comprises comparing the level of first reagent, detected either directly or indirectly, with standard curves for activatable antibody and for activated activatable antibody. Preparation of the standard curves is illustrated in Example 13, hereinbelow.

As described herein, in some embodiments, the activatable antibody-based therapeutic is a conjugated activatable antibody, a multispecific activatable antibody, a conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the primary reagent, the secondary reagent, or both the primary reagent and the secondary reagent is an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a target is a monoclonal antibody, a domain antibody, a single chain antibody, a Fab fragment, a F(ab′)₂fragment, a scFv, a scAb, a dAb, a single domain heavy chain antibody, or a single domain light chain antibody. In some embodiments, such an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a target is a mouse, other rodent, chimeric, humanized or fully human monoclonal antibody.

The methods of the present invention can be used to detect and quantify activation of activatable antibodies having any of a variety of structures. The general difference between the structure of the intact activatable antibody structure and the structure of the activated/cleaved activatable antibody structure is a relatively small difference in molecular weight. Detection and quantitation can be achieved from even the most complex biological samples. For example, in some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for qualitatively and/or quantitatively analyzing activatable antibody therapeutic activation in biological samples, including tissues and/or plasma samples, using a capillary-based immunoassay platform. The methods provided herein are useful with any activatable antibody-based therapeutic including, for example, activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or any combination thereof. Unless otherwise specifically defined, all disclosure regarding suitable activatable antibodies for use in the methods provided herein is also applicable and suitable for other activatable anybody-based therapeutics, including, by way of non-limiting examples, activatable antibodies, conjugated activatable antibodies, multispecific activatable antibodies, conjugated multispecific activatable antibodies, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the AB of an activatable antibody and/or conjugated activatable antibody that specifically binds a target is an antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a target is a monoclonal antibody, a domain antibody, a single chain antibody, a Fab fragment, a F(ab′)₂fragment, a scFv, a scAb, a dAb, a single domain heavy chain antibody, or a single domain light chain antibody. In some embodiments, such an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a target is a mouse, other rodent, chimeric, humanized or fully human monoclonal antibody.

The activatable antibodies in an activated state binds the target and include (i) an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof (AB) that specifically binds a target; (ii) a masking moiety (MM) coupled to the AB such that, when the activatable antibody is in an uncleaved state, inhibits the binding of the AB to the target; and (iii) a cleavable moiety (CM) coupled to the AB, wherein the CM is a polypeptide that functions as a substrate for a protease.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody in the uncleaved state has the structural arrangement from N-terminus to C-terminus as follows: MM-CM-AB or AB-CM-MM.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody comprises a linking peptide between the MM and the CM.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody comprises a linking peptide between the CM and the AB.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody comprises a first linking peptide (LP1) and a second linking peptide (LP2), and wherein the activatable antibody in the uncleaved state has the structural arrangement from N-terminus to C-terminus as follows: MM-LP1-CM-LP2-AB or AB-LP2-CM-LP1-MM. In some embodiments, the two linking peptides need not be identical to each other.

In some embodiments, at least one of LP1 or LP2 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (GS)_n, (GGS)_n, (GSGGS)_n(SEQ ID NO: 339) and (GGGS)_n(SEQ ID NO: 340), where n is an integer of at least one, and in some embodiments, not greater than twenty.

In some embodiments, at least one of LP1 or LP2 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of GGSG (SEQ ID NO: 341), GGSGG (SEQ ID NO: 342), GSGSG (SEQ ID NO: 343), GSGGG (SEQ ID NO: 344), GGGSG (SEQ ID NO: 345), GSSSG (SEQ ID NO: 346), and GGGSSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 449).

In some embodiments, LP1 comprises the amino acid sequence GSSGGSGGSGGSG (SEQ ID NO: 347), GSSGGSGGSGG (SEQ ID NO: 348), GSSGGSGGSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 349), GSSGGSGGSGGSGGGS (SEQ ID NO: 350), GSSGGSGGSG (SEQ ID NO: 351), GGGSSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 449), or GSSGGSGGSGS (SEQ ID NO: 352).

In some embodiments, LP2 comprises the amino acid sequence GSS, GGS, GGGS (SEQ ID NO: 353), GSSGT (SEQ ID NO: 354) or GSSG (SEQ ID NO: 355).

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody includes an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB) that specifically binds a target. In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a target is a monoclonal antibody, domain antibody, single chain, Fab fragment, a F(ab′)₂fragment, a scFv, a scAb, a dAb, a single domain heavy chain antibody, or a single domain light chain antibody. In some embodiments, such an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a target is a mouse, other rodent, chimeric, humanized or fully human monoclonal antibody.

In some embodiments, the MM has a dissociation constant for binding to the AB which is greater than the dissociation constant of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has a dissociation constant for binding to the AB which is no more than the dissociation constant of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has a dissociation constant for binding to the AB is equivalent to the dissociation constant of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has a dissociation constant for binding to the AB which is less than the dissociation constant of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the dissociation constant (K_d) of the MM towards the AB is no more than 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, 1,000,000, 5,000,000, 10,000,000, 50,000,000 times or greater, or between 1-5, 5-10, 10-100, 10-1,000, 10-10,000, 10-100,000, 10-1,000,000, 10-10,000,000, 100-1,000, 100-10,000, 100-100,000, 100-1,000,000, 100-10,000,000, 1,000-10,000, 1,000-100,000, 1,000-1,000,000, 1000-10,000,000, 10,000-100,000, 10,000-1,000,000, 10,000-10,000,000, 100,000-1,000,000, or 100,000-10,000,000 times or greater than the dissociation constant of the AB towards the target.

In some embodiments, the MM does not interfere or compete with the AB for binding to the target when the activatable antibody is in a cleaved state.

In some embodiments, the MM is a polypeptide of about 2 to 40 amino acids in length. In some embodiments, the MM is a polypeptide of up to about 40 amino acids in length.

In some embodiments, the MM polypeptide sequence is different from that of the target. In some embodiments, the MM polypeptide sequence is no more than 50% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM polypeptide sequence is different from that of the target and is no more than 40%, 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, or 10% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB.

In some embodiments, the coupling of the MM to the AB reduces the ability of the AB to binds the target such that the dissociation constant (K_d) of the AB when coupled to the MM towards the target is at least two times greater than the K_dof the AB when not coupled to the MM towards the target.

In some embodiments, the coupling of the MM to the AB reduces the ability of the AB to binds the target such that the dissociation constant (K_d) of the AB when coupled to the MM towards the target is at least five times greater than the K_dof the AB when not coupled to the MM towards the target.

In some embodiments, the coupling of the MM to the AB reduces the ability of the AB to binds the target such that the dissociation constant (K_d) of the AB when coupled to the MM towards the target is at least 10 times greater than the K_dof the AB when not coupled to the MM towards the target.

In some embodiments, the coupling of the MM to the AB reduces the ability of the AB to binds the target such that the dissociation constant (K_d) of the AB when coupled to the MM towards the target is at least 20 times greater than the K_dof the AB when not coupled to the MM towards the target.

In some embodiments, the coupling of the MM to the AB reduces the ability of the AB to binds the target such that the dissociation constant (K_d) of the AB when coupled to the MM towards the target is at least 40 times greater than the K_dof the AB when not coupled to the MM towards the target.

In some embodiments, the coupling of the MM to the AB reduces the ability of the AB to binds the target such that the dissociation constant (K_d) of the AB when coupled to the MM towards the target is at least 100 times greater than the K_dof the AB when not coupled to the MM towards the target.

In some embodiments, the coupling of the MM to the AB reduces the ability of the AB to binds the target such that the dissociation constant (K_d) of the AB when coupled to the MM towards the target is at least 1000 times greater than the K_dof the AB when not coupled to the MM towards the target.

In some embodiments, the coupling of the MM to the AB reduces the ability of the AB to binds the target such that the dissociation constant (K_d) of the AB when coupled to the MM towards the target is at least 10,000 times greater than the K_dof the AB when not coupled to the MM towards the target.

In some embodiments, in the presence of the target, the MM reduces the ability of the AB to binds the target by at least 90% when the CM is uncleaved, as compared to when the CM is cleaved when assayed in vitro using a target displacement assay such as, for example, the assay described in PCT Publication No. WO 2010/081173, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In some embodiments, the protease that cleaves the CM is active, e.g., up-regulated or otherwise unregulated, in diseased tissue, and the protease cleaves the CM in the activatable antibody when the activatable antibody is exposed to the protease.

In some embodiments, the protease is co-localized with the target in a tissue, and the protease cleaves the CM in the activatable antibody when the activatable antibody is exposed to the protease.

In some embodiments, the CM is positioned in the activatable antibody such that when the activatable antibody is in the uncleaved state, binding of the activatable antibody to the target is reduced to occur with a dissociation constant that is at least twofold greater than the dissociation constant of an unmodified AB binding to the target, whereas in the cleaved state (i.e., when the activatable antibody is in the cleaved state), the AB binds a target.

In some embodiments, the CM is positioned in the activatable antibody such that when the activatable antibody is in the uncleaved state, binding of the activatable antibody to the target is reduced to occur with a dissociation constant that is at least fivefold greater than the dissociation constant of an unmodified AB binding to the target, whereas in the cleaved state (i.e., when the activatable antibody is in the cleaved state), the AB binds a target.

In some embodiments, the CM is positioned in the activatable antibody such that when the activatable antibody is in the uncleaved state, binding of the activatable antibody to the target is reduced to occur with a dissociation constant that is at least 10-fold greater than the dissociation constant of an unmodified AB binding to the target, whereas in the cleaved state (i.e., when the activatable antibody is in the cleaved state), the AB binds a target.

In some embodiments, the CM is positioned in the activatable antibody such that when the activatable antibody is in the uncleaved state, binding of the activatable antibody to the target is reduced to occur with a dissociation constant that is at least 20-fold greater than the dissociation constant of an unmodified AB binding to the target, whereas in the cleaved state (i.e., when the activatable antibody is in the cleaved state), the AB binds a target.

In some embodiments, the CM is positioned in the activatable antibody such that when the activatable antibody is in the uncleaved state, binding of the activatable antibody to the target is reduced to occur with a dissociation constant that is at least 40-fold greater than the dissociation constant of an unmodified AB binding to the target, whereas in the cleaved state, the AB binds a target.

In some embodiments, the CM is positioned in the activatable antibody such that when the activatable antibody is in the uncleaved state, binding of the activatable antibody to the target is reduced to occur with a dissociation constant that is at least 50-fold greater than the dissociation constant of an unmodified AB binding to the target, whereas in the cleaved state, the AB binds a target.

In some embodiments, the CM is positioned in the activatable antibody such that when the activatable antibody is in the uncleaved state, binding of the activatable antibody to the target is reduced to occur with a dissociation constant that is at least 100-fold greater than the dissociation constant of an unmodified AB binding to the target, whereas in the cleaved state, the AB binds a target.

In some embodiments, the CM is positioned in the activatable antibody such that when the activatable antibody is in the uncleaved state, binding of the activatable antibody to the target is reduced to occur with a dissociation constant that is at least 200-fold greater than the dissociation constant of an unmodified AB binding to the target, whereas in the cleaved state, the AB binds a target.

In some embodiments, the CM is a polypeptide of up to 15 amino acids in length.

In some embodiments, the CM is a polypeptide that includes a first cleavable moiety (CM1) that is a substrate for at least one matrix metalloprotease (MMP) and a second cleavable moiety (CM2) that is a substrate for at least one serine protease (SP). In some embodiments, each of the CM1 substrate sequence and the CM2 substrate sequence of the CM1-CM2 substrate is independently a polypeptide of up to 15 amino acids in length.

In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for at least one protease that is or is believed to be up-regulated or otherwise unregulated in cancer.

In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for at least one protease selected from the group consisting of a matrix metalloprotease (MMP), thrombin, a neutrophil elastase, a cysteine protease, legumain, and a serine protease, such as matriptase (MT-SP1), and urokinase (uPA). Without being bound by theory, it is believed that these proteases are up-regulated or otherwise unregulated in at least one of cancer.

Exemplary substrates include but are not limited to substrates cleavable by one or more of the following enzymes or proteases listed in Table 4.

In some embodiments, the CM is selected for use with a specific protease, for example a protease that is known to be co-localized with the target of the activatable antibody.

In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for at least one MMP. Examples of MMPs include the MMPs listed in the Table 4. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for a protease selected from the group consisting of MMP 9, MMP14, MMP1, MMP3, MMP13, MMP17, MMP11, and MMP19. In some embodiments the CM is a substrate for MMP9. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for MMP14.

In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate that includes the sequence TGRGPSWV (SEQ ID NO: 356); SARGPSRW (SEQ ID NO: 357); TARGPSFK (SEQ ID NO: 358); LSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 359); GGWHTGRN (SEQ ID NO: 360); HTGRSGAL (SEQ ID NO: 361); PLTGRSGG (SEQ ID NO: 362); AARGPAIH (SEQ ID NO: 363); RGPAFNPM (SEQ ID NO: 364); SSRGPAYL (SEQ ID NO: 365); RGPATPIM (SEQ ID NO: 366); RGPA (SEQ ID NO: 367); GGQPSGMWGW (SEQ ID NO: 368); FPRPLGITGL (SEQ ID NO: 369); VHMPLGFLGP (SEQ ID NO: 370); SPLTGRSG (SEQ ID NO: 371); SAGFSLPA (SEQ ID NO: 372); LAPLGLQRR (SEQ ID NO: 373); SGGPLGVR (SEQ ID NO: 374); PLGL (SEQ ID NO: 375); LSGRSGNH (SEQ ID NO: 789); SGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 790); LSGRSDDH (SEQ ID NO: 791); LSGRSDIH (SEQ ID NO: 792); LSGRSDQH (SEQ ID NO: 793); LSGRSDTH (SEQ ID NO: 794); LSGRSDYH (SEQ ID NO: 795); LSGRSDNP (SEQ ID NO: 796); LSGRSANP (SEQ ID NO: 797); LSGRSANI (SEQ ID NO: 798); LSGRSDNI (SEQ ID NO: 799); MIAPVAYR (SEQ ID NO: 800); RPSPMWAY (SEQ ID NO: 801); WATPRPMR (SEQ ID NO: 802); FRLLDWQW (SEQ ID NO: 803); ISSGL (SEQ ID NO: 804); ISSGLLS (SEQ ID NO: 805); and/or ISSGLL (SEQ ID NO: 806).

In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 359). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence TGRGPSWV (SEQ ID NO: 356). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence PLTGRSGG (SEQ ID NO: 362). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence GGQPSGMWGW (SEQ ID NO: 368). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence FPRPLGITGL (SEQ ID NO: 369). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence VHMPLGFLGP (SEQ ID NO: 370). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence PLGL (SEQ ID NO: 375). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence SARGPSRW (SEQ ID NO: 357). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence TARGPSFK (SEQ ID NO: 358). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence GGWHTGRN (SEQ ID NO: 360). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence HTGRSGAL (SEQ ID NO: 361). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence AARGPAIH (SEQ ID NO: 363). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence RGPAFNPM (SEQ ID NO: 364). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence SSRGPAYL (SEQ ID NO: 365). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence RGPATPIM (SEQ ID NO: 366). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence RGPA (SEQ ID NO: 367). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSGNH (SEQ ID NO: 789). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence SGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 790). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSDDH (SEQ ID NO: 791). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSDIH (SEQ ID NO: 792). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSDQH (SEQ ID NO: 793). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSDTH (SEQ ID NO: 794). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSDYH (SEQ ID NO: 795). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSDNP (SEQ ID NO: 796). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSANP (SEQ ID NO: 797). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSANI (SEQ ID NO: 798). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LSGRSDNI (SEQ ID NO: 799). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence MIAPVAYR (SEQ ID NO: 800). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence RPSPMWAY (SEQ ID NO: 801). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence WATPRPMR (SEQ ID NO: 802). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence FRLLDWQW (SEQ ID NO: 803). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence ISSGL (SEQ ID NO: 804). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence ISSGLLS (SEQ ID NO: 805). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence and/or ISSGLL (SEQ ID NO: 806).

In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for an MMP and includes the sequence ISSGLSS (SEQ ID NO: 376); QNQALRMA (SEQ ID NO: 377); AQNLLGMV (SEQ ID NO: 378); STFPFGMF (SEQ ID NO: 379); PVGYTSSL (SEQ ID NO: 380); DWLYWPGI (SEQ ID NO: 381), ISSGLLSS (SEQ ID NO: 382), LKAAPRWA (SEQ ID NO: 383); GPSHLVLT (SEQ ID NO: 384); LPGGLSPW (SEQ ID NO: 385); MGLFSEAG (SEQ ID NO: 386); SPLPLRVP (SEQ ID NO: 387); RMHLRSLG (SEQ ID NO: 388); LAAPLGLL (SEQ ID NO: 389); AVGLLAPP (SEQ ID NO: 390); LLAPSHRA (SEQ ID NO: 391); and/or PAGLWLDP (SEQ ID NO: 392).

In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence ISSGLSS (SEQ ID NO: 376). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence QNQALRMA (SEQ ID NO: 377). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence AQNLLGMV (SEQ ID NO: 378). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence STFPFGMF (SEQ ID NO: 379). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence PVGYTSSL (SEQ ID NO: 380). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence DWLYWPGI (SEQ ID NO: 381). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence ISSGLLSS (SEQ ID NO: 382). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LKAAPRWA (SEQ ID NO: 383). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence GPSHLVLT (SEQ ID NO: 384). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LPGGLSPW (SEQ ID NO: 385). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence MGLFSEAG (SEQ ID NO: 386). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence SPLPLRVP (SEQ ID NO: 387). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence RMHLRSLG (SEQ ID NO: 388). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LAAPLGLL (SEQ ID NO: 389). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence AVGLLAPP (SEQ ID NO: 390). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence LLAPSHRA (SEQ ID NO: 391). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence PAGLWLDP (SEQ ID NO: 392).

In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for thrombin. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for thrombin and includes the sequence GPRSFGL (SEQ ID NO: 393) or GPRSFG (SEQ ID NO: 394). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence GPRSFGL (SEQ ID NO: 393). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence GPRSFG (SEQ ID NO: 394).

In some embodiments, the CM comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of NTLSGRSENHSG (SEQ ID NO: 395); NTLSGRSGNHGS (SEQ ID NO: 396); TSTSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 397); TSGRSANP (SEQ ID NO: 398); VAGRSMRP (SEQ ID NO: 399); VVPEGRRS (SEQ ID NO: 400); ILPRSPAF (SEQ ID NO: 401); MVLGRSLL (SEQ ID NO: 402); QGRAITFI (SEQ ID NO: 403); SPRSIMLA (SEQ ID NO: 404); and SMLRSMPL (SEQ ID NO: 405).

In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence NTLSGRSENHSG (SEQ ID NO: 395). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence NTLSGRSGNHGS (SEQ ID NO: 396). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence TSTSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 397). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence TSGRSANP (SEQ ID NO: 398). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence VAGRSMRP (SEQ ID NO: 399). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence VVPEGRRS (SEQ ID NO: 400). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence ILPRSPAF (SEQ ID NO: 401). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence MVLGRSLL (SEQ ID NO: 402). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence QGRAITFI (SEQ ID NO: 403). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence SPRSIMLA (SEQ ID NO: 404). In some embodiments, the CM comprises the amino acid sequence SMLRSMPL (SEQ ID NO: 405).

In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for a neutrophil elastase. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for a serine protease. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for uPA. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for legumain. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for matriptase. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for a cysteine protease. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for a cysteine protease, such as a cathepsin.

In some embodiments, the CM is a CM1-CM2 substrate and includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 406); ISSGLLSSGGSGGSLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 407); AVGLLAPPGGTSTSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 408); TSTSGRSANPRGGGAVGLLAPP (SEQ ID NO: 409); VHMPLGFLGPGGTSTSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 410); TSTSGRSANPRGGGVHMPLGFLGP (SEQ ID NO: 411); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 412); LSGRSDNHGGAVGLLAPP (SEQ ID NO: 413); VHMPLGFLGPGGLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 414); LSGRSDNHGGVHMPLGFLGP (SEQ ID NO: 415); LSGRSDNHGGSGGSISSGLLSS (SEQ ID NO: 416); LSGRSGNHGGSGGSISSGLLSS (SEQ ID NO: 417); ISSGLLSSGGSGGSLSGRSGNH (SEQ ID NO: 418); LSGRSDNHGGSGGSQNQALRMA (SEQ ID NO: 419); QNQALRMAGGSGGSLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 420); LSGRSGNHGGSGGSQNQALRMA (SEQ ID NO: 421); QNQALRMAGGSGGSLSGRSGNH (SEQ ID NO: 422); ISSGLLSGRSGNH (SEQ ID NO: 423); ISSGLLSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 680); AVGLLAPPTSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 681); AVGLLAPPSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 682); ISSGLLSGRSDDH (SEQ ID NO: 683); ISSGLLSGRSDIH (SEQ ID NO: 684); ISSGLLSGRSDQH (SEQ ID NO: 685); ISSGLLSGRSDTH (SEQ ID NO: 686); ISSGLLSGRSDYH (SEQ ID NO: 687); ISSGLLSGRSDNP (SEQ ID NO: 688); ISSGLLSGRSANP (SEQ ID NO: 689); ISSGLLSGRSANI (SEQ ID NO: 690); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDDH (SEQ ID NO: 691); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDIH (SEQ ID NO: 692); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDQH (SEQ ID NO: 693); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDTH (SEQ ID NO: 694); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDYH (SEQ ID NO: 695); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDNP (SEQ ID NO: 696); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSANP (SEQ ID NO: 697); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSANI (SEQ ID NO: 698), ISSGLLSGRSDNI (SEQ ID NO: 713); AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDNI (SEQ ID NO: 714); GLSGRSDNHGGAVGLLAPP (SEQ ID NO: 807); and/or GLSGRSDNHGGVHMPLGFLGP (SEQ ID NO: 808).

In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 406), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2001. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSSGGSGGSLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 407), which is also referred to herein as substrate 1001/LP′/0001, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GGSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 1037). In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGTSTSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 408), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2015 and/or substrate 1004/LP′/0003, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence TSTSGRSANPRGGGAVGLLAPP (SEQ ID NO: 409), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0003/LP′/1004, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence VHMPLGFLGPGGTSTSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 410), which is also referred to herein as substrate 1003/LP′/0003, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence TSTSGRSANPRGGGVHMPLGFLGP (SEQ ID NO: 411), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0003/LP′/1003, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 412), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3001 and/or substrate 1004/LP′/0001, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence LSGRSDNHGGAVGLLAPP (SEQ ID NO: 413), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0001/LP′/1004, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence VHMPLGFLGPGGLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 414), which is also referred to herein as substrate 1003/LP′/0001, wherein LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence LSGRSDNHGGVHMPLGFLGP (SEQ ID NO: 415), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0001/LP′/1003, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence LSGRSDNHGGSGGSISSGLLSS (SEQ ID NO: 416), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0001/LP′/1001, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GGSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 1037). In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence LSGRSGNHGGSGGSISSGLLSS (SEQ ID NO: 417), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0002/LP′/1001, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GGSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 1037). In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSSGGSGGSLSGRSGNH (SEQ ID NO: 418), which is also referred to herein as substrate 1001/LP′/0002, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GGSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 1037). In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence LSGRSDNHGGSGGSQNQALRMA (SEQ ID NO: 419), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0001/LP′/1002, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GGSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 1037). In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence QNQALRMAGGSGGSLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 420), which is also referred to herein as substrate 1002/LP′/0001, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GGSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 1037). In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence LSGRSGNHGGSGGSQNQALRMA (SEQ ID NO: 421), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0002/LP′/1002, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GGSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 1037). In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence QNQALRMAGGSGGSLSGRSGNH (SEQ ID NO: 422), which is also referred to herein as substrate 1002/LP′/0002, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GGSGGS (SEQ ID NO: 1037). In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSGNH (SEQ ID NO: 423), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2002. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 680), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2003. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPTSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 681), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2004. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPSGRSANPRG (SEQ ID NO: 682), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2005. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSDDH (SEQ ID NO: 683), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2006. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSDIH (SEQ ID NO: 684), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2007. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSDQH (SEQ ID NO: 685), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2008. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSDTH (SEQ ID NO: 686), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2009. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSDYH (SEQ ID NO: 687), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2010. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSDNP (SEQ ID NO: 688), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2011. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSANP (SEQ ID NO: 689), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2012. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSANI (SEQ ID NO: 690), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2013. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDDH (SEQ ID NO: 691), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3006. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDIH (SEQ ID NO: 692), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3007. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDQH (SEQ ID NO: 693), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3008. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDTH (SEQ ID NO: 694), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3009. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDYH (SEQ ID NO: 695), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3010. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDNP (SEQ ID NO: 696), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3011. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSANP (SEQ ID NO: 697), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3012. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSANI (SEQ ID NO: 698), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3013. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence ISSGLLSGRSDNI (SEQ ID NO: 713), which is also referred to herein as substrate 2014. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDNI (SEQ ID NO: 714), which is also referred to herein as substrate 3014. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence GLSGRSDNHGGAVGLLAPP (SEQ ID NO: 807), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0001/LP′/1004, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG. In some embodiments, the CM1-CM2 substrate includes the sequence GLSGRSDNHGGVHMPLGFLGP (SEQ ID NO: 808), which is also referred to herein as substrate 0001/LP′/1003, where LP′ as used in this CM1-CM2 substrate is the amino acid sequence GG.

In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for at least two proteases. In some embodiments, each protease is selected from the group consisting of those shown in Table 4. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for at least two proteases, wherein one of the proteases is selected from the group consisting of a MMP, thrombin, a neutrophil elastase, a cysteine protease, uPA, legumain and matriptase and the other protease is selected from the group consisting of those shown in Table 4. In some embodiments, the CM is a substrate for at least two proteases selected from the group consisting of a MMP, thrombin, a neutrophil elastase, a cysteine protease, uPA, legumain and matriptase.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody includes at least a first CM and a second CM. In some embodiments, the first CM and the second CM are each polypeptides of no more than 15 amino acids long. In some embodiments, the first CM and the second CM in the activatable antibody in the uncleaved state have the structural arrangement from N-terminus to C-terminus as follows: MM-CM1-CM2-AB or AB-CM2-CM1-MM. In some embodiments, at least one of the first CM and the second CM is a polypeptide that functions as a substrate for a protease selected from the group consisting of a MMP, thrombin, a neutrophil elastase, a cysteine protease, uPA, legumain, and matriptase. In some embodiments, the first CM is cleaved by a first cleaving agent selected from the group consisting of a MMP, thrombin, a neutrophil elastase, a cysteine protease, uPA, legumain, and matriptase in a target tissue and the second CM is cleaved by a second cleaving agent in a target tissue. In some embodiments, the other protease is selected from the group consisting of those shown in Table 4. In some embodiments, the first cleaving agent and the second cleaving agent are the same protease selected from the group consisting of a MMP, thrombin, a neutrophil elastase, a cysteine protease, uPA, legumain, and matriptase, and the first CM and the second CM are different substrates for the enzyme. In some embodiments, the first cleaving agent and the second cleaving agent are the same protease selected from the group consisting of those shown in Table 4. In some embodiments, the first cleaving agent and the second cleaving agent are different proteases. In some embodiments, the first cleaving agent and the second cleaving agent are co-localized in the target tissue. In some embodiments, the first CM and the second CM are cleaved by at least one cleaving agent in the target tissue.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is exposed to and cleaved by a protease such that, in the activated or cleaved state, the activated antibody includes a light chain amino acid sequence that includes at least a portion of LP2 and/or CM sequence after the protease has cleaved the CM.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is conjugated to one or more agents.

In some embodiments, the agent is a toxin or fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is a microtubule inhibitor. In some embodiments, the agent is a nucleic acid damaging agent. In some embodiments, the agent is selected from the group consisting of a dolastatin or a derivative thereof, an auristatin or a derivative thereof, a maytansinoid or a derivative thereof, a duocarmycin or a derivative thereof, a calicheamicin or a derivative thereof, and a pyrrolobenzodiazepine or a derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is auristatin E or a derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin D (MMAD). In some embodiments, the agent is a maytansinoid selected from the group consisting of DM1 and DM4. In some embodiments, the agent is maytansinoid DM4. In some embodiments, the agent is duocarmycin. In some embodiments, the agent is conjugated to the AB via a linker. In some embodiments, the linker with which the agent is conjugated to the AB comprises an SPDB moiety, a vc moiety, or a PEG2-vc moiety. In some embodiments, the linker and toxin conjugated to the AB comprises an SPDB-DM4 moiety, a vc-MMAD moiety, a vc-MMAE moiety, vc-duocarmycin, or a PEG2-vc-MMAD moiety. In some embodiments, the linker is a cleavable linker. In some embodiments, the linker is a non-cleavable linker. In some embodiments, the agent is a detectable moiety. In some embodiments, the detectable moiety is a diagnostic agent.

In some embodiments, the agent conjugated to the AB or the AB of an activatable antibody is a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the agent is an antineoplastic agent. In some embodiments, the agent is a toxin or fragment thereof. As used herein, a fragment of a toxin is a fragment that retains toxic activity. In some embodiments, the agent is conjugated to the AB via a cleavable linker. In some embodiments, the agent is conjugated to the AB via a linker that includes at least one CM1-CM2 substrate sequence. In some embodiments, the agent is conjugated to the AB via a noncleavable linker. In some embodiments, the agent is conjugated to the AB via a linker that is cleavable in an intracellular or lysosomal environment. In some embodiments, the agent is a microtubule inhibitor. In some embodiments, the agent is a nucleic acid damaging agent, such as a DNA alkylator, a DNA cleaving agent, a DNA cross-linker, a DNA intercalator, or other DNA damaging agent. In some embodiments, the agent is an agent selected from the group listed in Table 5. In some embodiments, the agent is a dolastatin. In some embodiments, the agent is an auristatin or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is auristatin E or a derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin D (MMAD). In some embodiments, the agent is a maytansinoid or maytansinoid derivative. In some embodiments, the agent is DM1 or DM4. In some embodiments, the agent is a duocarmycin or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is a calicheamicin or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine. In some embodiments, the agent is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is conjugated to one or more equivalents of an agent. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is conjugated to one equivalent of the agent. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is conjugated to two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or greater than ten equivalents of the agent. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is part of a mixture of activatable antibodies having a homogeneous number of equivalents of conjugated agents. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is part of a mixture of activatable antibodies having a heterogeneous number of equivalents of conjugated agents. In some embodiments, the mixture of activatable antibodies is such that the average number of agents conjugated to each activatable antibody is between zero to one, between one to two, between two and three, between three and four, between four and five, between five and six, between six and seven, between seven and eight, between eight and nine, between nine and ten, and ten and greater. In some embodiments, the mixture of activatable antibodies is such that the average number of agents conjugated to each activatable antibody is one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or greater.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody comprises one or more site-specific amino acid sequence modifications such that the number of lysine and/or cysteine residues is increased or decreased with respect to the original amino acid sequence of the activatable antibody, thus in some embodiments correspondingly increasing or decreasing the number of agents that can be conjugated to the activatable antibody, or in some embodiments limiting the conjugation of the agents to the activatable antibody in a site-specific manner. In some embodiments, the modified activatable antibody is modified with one or more non-natural amino acids in a site-specific manner, thus in some embodiments limiting the conjugation of the agents to only the sites of the non-natural amino acids.

In some embodiments, the agent is an anti-inflammatory agent.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody also includes a detectable moiety. In some embodiments, the detectable moiety is a diagnostic agent.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is an activatable antibody to which a therapeutic agent is conjugated. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is not conjugated to an agent. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody comprises a detectable label. In some embodiments, the detectable label is positioned on the AB. In some embodiments, measuring the level of activatable antibody in the subject or sample is accomplished using a secondary reagent that specifically binds to the activated antibody, wherein the reagent comprises a detectable label. In some embodiments, the secondary reagent is an antibody comprising a detectable label.

In some embodiments, the detectable label includes an imaging agent, a contrasting agent, an enzyme, a fluorescent label, a chromophore, a dye, one or more metal ions, or a ligand-based label. In some embodiments, the imaging agent comprises a radioisotope. In some embodiments, the radioisotope is indium or technetium. In some embodiments, the contrasting agent comprises iodine, gadolinium or iron oxide. In some embodiments, the enzyme comprises horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, or (3-galactosidase. In some embodiments, the fluorescent label comprises yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), green fluorescent protein (GFP), modified red fluorescent protein (mRFP), red fluorescent protein tdimer2 (RFP tdimer2), HCRED, or a europium derivative. In some embodiments, the luminescent label comprises an N-methylacrydium derivative. In some embodiments of these methods, the label comprises an Alexa Fluor® label, such as Alex Fluor® 680 or Alexa Fluor® 750. In some embodiments, the ligand-based label comprises biotin, avidin, streptavidin or one or more haptens.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody also includes a signal peptide. In some embodiments, the signal peptide is conjugated to the activatable antibody via a spacer. In some embodiments, the spacer is conjugated to the activatable antibody in the absence of a signal peptide. In some embodiments, the spacer is joined directly to the MM of the activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the spacer is joined directly to the MM of the activatable antibody in the structural arrangement from N-terminus to C-terminus of spacer-MM-CM-AB. An example of a spacer joined directly to the N-terminus of MM of the activatable antibody is QGQSGQ (SEQ ID NO: 424). Other examples of a spacer joined directly to the N-terminus of MM of the activatable antibody include QGQSGQG (SEQ ID NO: 645), QGQSG (SEQ ID NO: 646), QGQS (SEQ ID NO: 647), QGQ (SEQ ID NO: 648), QG (SEQ ID NO: 649), and Q. Other examples of a spacer joined directly to the N-terminus of MM of the activatable antibody include GQSGQG (SEQ ID NO: 666), QSGQG (SEQ ID NO: 667), SGQG (SEQ ID NO: 668), GQG (SEQ ID NO: 669), and G. In some embodiments, no spacer is joined to the N-terminus of the MM. In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence QGQSGQ (SEQ ID NO: 424). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence QGQSGQG (SEQ ID NO: 645). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence QGQSG (SEQ ID NO: 646). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence QGQS (SEQ ID NO: 647). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence QGQ (SEQ ID NO: 648). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence QG (SEQ ID NO: 649). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid residue Q. In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence GQSGQG (SEQ ID NO: 666). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence QSGQG (SEQ ID NO: 667). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence SGQG (SEQ ID NO: 668). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence GQG (SEQ ID NO: 669). In some embodiments, the spacer includes at least the amino acid sequence G. In some embodiments, the spacer is absent.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody and/or conjugated activatable antibody is monospecific. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody and/or conjugated activatable antibody is multispecific, e.g., by way of non-limiting example, bispecific or trifunctional. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody and/or conjugated activatable antibody is formulated as part of a pro-Bispecific T Cell Engager (BITE) molecule. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody and/or conjugated activatable antibody is formulated as part of a pro-Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) modified T cell or other engineered receptor.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is incorporated in a multispecific activatable antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, where at least one arm of the multispecific activatable antibody specifically binds a target. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is incorporated in a bispecific antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, where at least one arm of the bispecific activatable antibody specifically binds a target.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody is a multispecific activatable antibody and/or a conjugated multispecific activatable antibody. The multispecific activatable antibodies and/or conjugated multispecific activatable antibodies include at least (i) a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1) that specifically binds a first target coupled to a first masking moiety (MM1), such that coupling of the MM1 reduces the ability of the AB1 to bind the first target, and (ii) a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB2) that specifically binds a second target coupled to a second masking moiety (MM2), such that coupling of the MM2 reduces the ability of the AB2 to bind the second target. In some embodiments, the MM1 and/or MM2 is coupled to the respective antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1 or AB2) via a sequence that includes a substrate for a protease, for example, a protease that is co-localized with the first target, the second target, or both the first target and the second target at a treatment site in a subject. In some embodiments, the first target, the second target, or both the first target and the second target is a mammalian target, such as for example, a human target. Suitable MM1, MM2, CM1, and/or CM2 include any of the MM and/or CM described above in connection with the activatable antibodies and/or conjugated activatable antibodies used in the compositions and methods of the disclosure.

As a non-limiting example, the AB of an activatable antibody is a binding partner for any target listed in Table 1. As a non-limiting example, AB1, AB2, or both AB1 and AB2 of a multispecific activatable antibody is a binding partner for any target listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1

Exemplary Targets

1-92-LFA-3
CD52
DL44
HVEM
LIF-R
STEAP1

Alpha-4
CD56
DLK1
Hyaluronidase
Lewis X
STEAP2

integrin

Alpha-V
CD64
DLL4
ICOS
LIGHT
TAG-72

integrin

alpha4beta1
CD70
DPP-4
IFNalpha
LRP4
TAPA1

integrin

alpha4beta7
the target
DSG1
IFNbeta
LRRC26
TGFbeta

integrin

AGR2
CD74
EGFR
IFNgamma
MCSP
TIGIT

Anti-Lewis-Y

EGFRviii
IgE
Mesothelin
TIM-3

Apelin J
CD80
Endothelin B
IgE Receptor
MRP4
TLR2

receptor

receptor
(FceRI)

(ETBR)

APRIL
CD81
ENPP3
IGF
MUC1
TLR4

B7-H4
CD86
EpCAM
IGF1R
Mucin-16
TLR6

(MUC16,

CA-125)

BAFF
CD95
EPHA2
IL1B
Na/K ATPase
TLR7

BTLA
CD117
EPHB2
IL1R
Neutrophil
TLR8

elastase

C5
CD125
ERBB3
IL2
NGF
TLR9

complement

C-242
CD132
F protein of
IL11
Nicastrin
TMEM31

(IL-2RG)
RSV

CA9
CD133
FAP
IL12
Notch
TNFalpha

Receptors

CA19-9
CD137
FGF-2
IL12p40
Notch 1
TNFR

(Lewis a)

Carbonic
CD138
FGF8
IL-12R,
Notch 2
TNFRS12

anhydrase 9

IL-12Rbeta1

A

CD2
CD166
FGFR1
IL13
Notch 3
TRAIL-R1

CD3
CD172A
FGFR2
IL13R
Notch 4
TRAIL-R2

CD6
CD248
FGFR3
IL15
NOV
Transferrin

CD9
CDH6
FGFR4
IL17
OSM-R
Transferrin

receptor

CD11a
CEACAM5
Folate
IL18
OX-40
TRK-A

(CEA)
receptor

CD19
CEACAM6
GAL3ST1
IL21
PAR2
TRK-B

(NCA-90)

CD20
CLAUDIN-3
G-CSF
IL23
PDGF-AA
uPAR

CD22
CLAUDIN-4
G-CSFR
IL23R
PDGF-BB
VAP1

CD24
cMet
GD2
IL27/IL27R
PDGFRalpha
VCAM-1

(wsx1)

CD25
Collagen
GITR
IL29
PDGFRbeta
VEGF

CD27
Cripto
GLUT1
IL-31R
PD-1
VEGF-A

CD28
CSFR
GLUT4
IL31/IL31R
PD-L1
VEGF-B

CD30
CSFR-1
GM-CSF
IL2R
PD-L2
VEGF-C

CD33
CTLA-4
GM-CSFR
IL4
Phosphatidyl-
VEGF-D

serine

CD38
CTGF
GP IIb/IIIa
IL4R
P1GF
VEGFR1

receptors

CD40
CXCL10
Gp130
IL6, IL6R
PSCA
VEGFR2

CD40L
CXCL13
GPIIB/IIIA
Insulin
PSMA
VEGFR3

Receptor

CD41
CXCR1
GPNMB
Jagged
RAAG12
VISTA

Ligands

CD44
CXCR2
GRP78
Jagged 1
RAGE
WISP-1

CD44v6

HER2/neu
Jagged 2
SLC44A4
WISP-2

CD47
CXCR4
HGF
LAG-3
Sphingosine 1
WISP-3

Phosphate

CD51
CYR61
hGH

As a non-limiting example, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment and/or the AB of an activatable antibody is or is derived from an antibody listed in Table 2. As a non-limiting example, the AB of an activatable antibody, the AB1 of a multispecific activatable antibody, and/or the AB2 of a multispecific activatable antibody is or is derived from an antibody listed in Table 2.

TABLE 2

Exemplary sources for Abs

Antibody Trade Name (antibody name)
Target

Avastin ™ (bevacizumab)
VEGF

Lucentis ™ (ranibizumab)
VEGF

Erbitux ™ (cetuximab)
EGFR

Vectibix ™ (panitumumab)
EGFR

Remicade ™ (infliximab)
TNFα

Humira ™ (adalimumab)
TNFα

Tysabri ™ (natalizumab)
Integrinα4

Simulect ™ (basiliximab)
IL2R

Soliris ™ (eculizumab)
Complement C5

Raptiva ™ (efalizumab)
CD11a

Bexxar ™ (tositumomab)
CD20

Zevalin ™ (ibritumomab tiuxetan)
CD20

Rituxan ™ (rituximab)
CD20

Ocrelizumab
CD20

Arzerra ™ (ofatumumab)
CD20

Gazyva ™ (obinutuzumab)
CD20

Zenapax ™ (daclizumab)
CD25

Adcetris ™ (brentuximab vedotin)
CD30

Myelotarg ™ (gemtuzumab)
CD33

Mylotarg ™ (gemtuzumab ozogamicin)
CD33

Campath ™ (alemtuzumab)
CD52

ReoPro ™ (abiciximab)
Glycoprotein receptor IIb/IIIa

Xolair ™ (omalizumab)
IgE

Herceptin ™ (trastuzumab)
Her2

Kadcyla ™ (trastuzumab emtansine)
Her2

Synagis ™ (palivizumab)
F protein of RSV

(ipilimumab)
CTLA-4

(tremelimumab)
CTLA-4

Hu5c8
CD40L

(pertuzumab)
Her2-neu

(ertumaxomab)
CD3/Her2-neu

Orencia ™ (abatacept)
CTLA-4

(tanezumab)
NGF

(bavituximab)
Phosphatidylserine

(zalutumumab)
EGFR

(mapatumumab)
EGFR

(matuzumab)
EGFR

(nimotuzumab)
EGFR

ICR62
EGFR

mAb 528
EGFR

CH806
EGFR

MDX-447
EGFR/CD64

(edrecolomab)
EpCAM

RAV12
RAAG12

huJ591
PSMA

Enbrel ™ (etanercept)
TNF-R

Amevive ™ (alefacept)
1-92-LFA-3

Antril ™, Kineret ™ (ankinra)
IL-1Ra

GC1008
TGFbeta

Notch, e.g., Notch 1

Jagged 1 or Jagged 2

(adecatumumab)
EpCAM

(figitumumab)
IGF1R

(tocilizumab)
IL-6 receptor

Stelara ™ (ustekinumab)
IL-12/IL-23

Prolia ™ (denosumab)
RANKL

The disclosure also provides an isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRH1) comprising the amino acid sequence SYGMS (SEQ ID NO: 438); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRH2) comprising the amino acid sequence TISPSGIYTYYPVTVKG (SEQ ID NO: 439); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) comprising the amino acid sequence HHPNYGSTYLYYIDY (SEQ ID NO: 440); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRL1) comprising the amino acid sequence KSSQSVFSSSNQKNYLA (SEQ ID NO: 441); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRL2) comprising the amino acid sequence WAFTRES (SEQ ID NO: 442); and a variable light chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3) comprising the amino acid sequence YQYLSSLT (SEQ ID NO: 443).

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a variable heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 429.

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a variable light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 431.

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a variable heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 429, and a variable light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 431.

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical to a variable heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 429; and an amino acid sequence that is at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical to a variable light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 431.

The disclosure also provides kits for practicing any of the methods provided herein.

The disclosure provides methods and kits for qualitatively and/or quantitatively analyzing activation and other properties of activatable antibody therapeutic activation in biological samples, including tissues and/or biofluid samples. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a kit comprising:

(i) an activatable antibody standard curve reagent;

(ii) an activated activatable antibody standard curve reagent; and

(iii) an anti-id primary antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof having binding specificity for the activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the anti-idiotypic (id) antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof has a binding specificity for a VL CDR selected from the group consisting of VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3. In other embodiments, the anti-iodiotypic antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof has a binding specificity for a VH CDR selected from the group consisting of VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3. In some embodiments, the kit comprises a combination of two or more anti-iodiotypic antibody species (or antigen-binding fragments thereof). The standard curve reagents are relatively pure activatable antibody and activated activatable antibody in solution, ready for dilution, or in solid form.

Activatable antibodies typically include at least the following: (i) an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof (AB) that specifically binds a target; (ii) a masking moiety (MM) coupled to the AB such that, when the activatable antibody is in an uncleaved state, inhibits the binding of the AB to the target; and (iii) a cleavable moiety (CM) coupled to the AB, wherein the CM is a polypeptide that functions as a substrate for a protease. Activatable antibodies are generally activated when the substrate of the CM is in the presence of the protease for which it functions as a substrate, and the protease cleaves the substrate of the CM. It is useful to be able to qualitatively and/or quantitatively measure properties of activatable antibodies in biological samples, such as, for example, the level of activation of the activatable antibodies in a biological sample, the total amount of activated, i.e., cleaved, activatable antibodies and/or intact, i.e., inactivated, activatable in a biological samples, or any combination or correlation thereof. Such methods are useful in monitoring efficacy of activatable antibodies and activatable antibody-based therapeutics at any stage of development and/or therapeutic treatment. For example, in some embodiments, the methods and kits provided herein are useful for testing efficacy of activatable antibodies and activatable antibody-based therapeutics prior to administration to a subject in need thereof and/or during the treatment regimen to monitor efficacy of the activatable antibodies and activatable antibody-based therapeutics throughout the entire administration period and/or after the administration period. In some embodiments, the methods and kits provided herein are useful to provide retrospective analysis of activatable antibodies and activatable antibody-based therapeutics.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for qualitatively and/or quantitatively analyzing activatable antibody therapeutic activation in biological samples, including tissues and/or plasma samples, using a capillary-based immunoassay platform. In some embodiments, the methods provided herein are used to quantitate activation of one or more activatable antibodies in a biological sample. In some embodiments, the methods provided herein are used to profile, stratify, or otherwise categorize protease activity in vivo in a biological sample.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for qualitatively and/or quantitatively analyzing activation of activatable antibody therapeutics having an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof (AB) that specifically binds a target; a first masking moiety (MM1) coupled to the light chain of the AB, such that, when the activatable antibody is in an uncleaved state, MM1 inhibits the binding of the AB to the target; a first cleavable moiety (CM1) coupled to the light chain AB, wherein the CM1 is a polypeptide that functions as a substrate for a protease, a second masking moiety (MM2) coupled to the heavy chain of the AB, such that, when the activatable antibody is in an uncleaved state, MM2 inhibits the binding of the AB to the target; and a second cleavable moiety (CM2) coupled to the light chain AB, wherein the CM2 is a polypeptide that functions as a substrate for a protease. In some embodiments, the methods are used to quantitate or otherwise compare at least (i) the level of activated activatable antibodies in which at least one of CM1 and/or CM2 has been cleaved such that at least one of MM1 and/or MM2 is not coupled to the AB; and (ii) the level of intact activatable antibodies in which at least one of MM1 and CM1 and/or MM2 and CM2 are coupled to the AB.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of quantitating a level of activation of an activatable antibody-based therapeutic, the method comprising: i) loading at least one capillary or a population of capillaries with a stacking matrix and a separation matrix; ii) contacting the loaded capillary or population of loaded capillaries with a biological sample; iii) separating intact activatable antibodies or intact activatable antibody-based therapeutics from activated activatable antibodies or activated activatable antibody-based therapeutics in the biological sample within each capillary; iv) immobilizing the intact activatable antibodies or intact activatable antibody-based therapeutics and the activated activatable antibodies or intact activatable antibody-based therapeutics within each capillary; v) immunoprobing each capillary with at least one detectable reagent that is specific for at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof; and vi) quantitating a level of detectable reagent in each capillary or population of capillaries.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of quantitating a level of activation of an activatable antibody-based therapeutic, the method comprising: i) loading at least one capillary or a population of capillaries with a stacking matrix and a separation matrix; ii) contacting the loaded capillary or population of loaded capillaries with a biological sample; iii) separating high molecular weight (MW) components of the biological sample from low molecular weight (MW) components of the biological sample within each capillary; iv) immobilizing the high MW components and the low MW components within each capillary; v) immunoprobing each capillary with at least one detectable reagent that is specific for at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof; and vi) quantitating a level of detectable reagent in each capillary or population of capillaries.

In some embodiments, step vi) comprises quantitating a level of detectable label in each capillary or population of capillaries.

In some embodiments, step ii) comprises loading approximately 1-500 ng of biological sample or any value and/or range in between approximately 1-500 ng of biological sample. In some embodiments, step ii) comprises loading approximately 5-40 ng of biological sample. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the loading dose of biological sample can vary depending on the affinity of the detectable reagent or first reagent used in the methods, wherein the higher the affinity of the detectable reagent or first reagent is, the lower the loading dose of biological sample can be.

In some embodiments, the biological sample is prepared using one or more buffers in an amount sufficient to result in molecular weight separation. In some embodiments, the biological sample is prepared using one or more SDS-containing buffers in an amount sufficient to result in molecular weight separation. In some embodiments, the biological sample is prepared using one or more buffers in an amount sufficient to result in separation of native proteins, including activatable antibodies and/or activatable antibody-based therapeutics in biological samples. In some embodiments, the biological sample is prepared using one or more buffers in an amount sufficient to result in separation of reduced samples using any suitable reagent for separation.

In some embodiments, step iii) comprises using UV light to immobilize the high MW components and the low MW components of the biological sample. In some embodiments, any suitable immobilizing agent is used in step iii) of the methods provided herein.

In some embodiments, the second reagent in step iv) is a detectably labeled secondary antibody that specifically binds to the first reagent.

In some embodiments, the first reagent in step iv) is a primary antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof, and the second reagent in step v) is a detectably labeled secondary antibody that specifically binds to the primary antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

In some embodiments, the detectable label is conjugated to the second reagent.

In some embodiments, the detectable label is a fluorescent label, and step vi) comprises detecting a level of chemiluminescence in each capillary or population of capillaries.

In some embodiments, the detectable label is horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

In some embodiments, the biological sample is a bodily fluid. In some embodiments, the bodily fluid is blood, plasma, or serum. In some embodiments, the biological sample is a diseased tissue. In some embodiments, the diseased tissue is a lysate. In some embodiments, the disease tissue is tumor tissue.

In some embodiments, the methods provided herein are used to compare amounts of activated and intact activatable antibody or activatable antibody-based therapeutics in a biological sample. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody-based therapeutic is a conjugated activatable antibody, a multispecific activatable antibody, a conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or any combination thereof.

The disclosure also provides antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to an activatable antibody and/or activatable antibody-based therapeutic, such as, for example, is a conjugated activatable antibody, a multispecific activatable antibody, a conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRH1) comprising the amino acid sequence SYGMS (SEQ ID NO: 438); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRH2) comprising the amino acid sequence TISPSGIYTYYPVTVKG (SEQ ID NO: 439); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) comprising the amino acid sequence HHPNYGSTYLYYIDY (SEQ ID NO: 440); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRL1) comprising the amino acid sequence KSSQSVFSSSNQKNYLA (SEQ ID NO: 441); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRL2) comprising the amino acid sequence WAFTRES (SEQ ID NO: 442); and a variable light chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3) comprising the amino acid sequence YQYLSSLT (SEQ ID NO: 443).

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a variable heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 429.

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a variable light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 431.

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 444.

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 445.

In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 444, and a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 445.

The methods provided herein are useful for quantifying activatable antibodies, conjugated activatable antibodies, multispecific activatable antibodies, and/or conjugated multispecific activatable antibodies.

The activatable antibodies and/or conjugated activatable antibodies include an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB) that specifically binds a target coupled to a masking moiety (MM), such that coupling of the MM reduces the ability of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof to bind the target. In some embodiments, the MM is coupled via a sequence that includes a substrate for a protease, for example, a protease that is co-localized with the target at a treatment site in a subject. In some embodiments, the target is a mammalian target, such as for example, a human target.

The multispecific activatable antibodies and/or conjugated multispecific activatable antibodies include at least (i) a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1) that specifically binds a first target coupled to a first masking moiety (MM1), such that coupling of the MM1 reduces the ability of the AB1 to bind the first target, and (ii) a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB2) that specifically binds a second target coupled to a second masking moiety (MM2), such that coupling of the MM2 reduces the ability of the AB2 to bind the second target. In some embodiments, the MM1 and/or MM2 is coupled to the respective antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1 or AB2) via a sequence that includes a substrate for a protease, for example, a protease that is co-localized with the first target, the second target, or both the first target and the second target at a treatment site in a subject. In some embodiments, the first target, the second target, or both the first target and the second target is a mammalian target, such as for example, a human target.

The activatable antibodies provided herein include a masking moiety. In some embodiments, the masking moiety is an amino acid sequence that is coupled or otherwise attached to the antibody and is positioned within the activatable antibody construct such that the masking moiety reduces the ability of the antibody to specifically binds the target. Suitable masking moieties are identified using any of a variety of known techniques. For example, peptide masking moieties are identified using the methods described in PCT Publication No. WO 2009/025846 by Daugherty et al., the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The activatable antibodies provided herein include a cleavable moiety. In some embodiments, the cleavable moiety includes an amino acid sequence that is a substrate for a protease, usually an extracellular protease. Suitable substrates are identified using any of a variety of known techniques. For example, peptide substrates are identified using the methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,666,817 by Daugherty et al.; in U.S. Pat. No. 8,563,269 by Stagliano et al.; and in PCT Publication No. WO 2014/026136 by La Porte et al., the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. (See also Boulware et al. “Evolutionary optimization of peptide substrates for proteases that exhibit rapid hydrolysis kinetics.” Biotechnol Bioeng. 106.3 (2010): 339-46).

Exemplary substrates include but are not limited to substrates cleavable by one or more of the following enzymes or proteases listed in Table 4.

TABLE 4

Exemplary Proteases and/or Enzymes

ADAMS, ADAMTS, e.g.

ADAM8

ADAM9

ADAM10

ADAM12

ADAM15

ADAM17/TACE

ADAMDEC1

ADAMTS1

ADAMTS4

ADAMTS5

Aspartate proteases, e.g.,

BACE

Renin

Aspartic cathepsins, e.g.,

Cathepsin D

Cathepsin E

Caspases, e.g.,

Caspase 1

Caspase 2

Caspase 3

Caspase 4

Caspase 5

Caspase 6

Caspase 7

Caspase 8

Caspase 9

Caspase 10

Caspase 14

Cysteine cathepsins, e.g.,

Cathepsin B

Cathepsin C

Cathepsin K

Cathepsin L

Cathepsin S

Cathepsin V/L2

Cathepsin X/Z/P

Cysteine proteinases, e.g.,

Cruzipain

Legumain

Otubain-2

KLKs, e.g.,

KLK4

KLK5

KLK6

KLK7

KLK8

KLK9

KLK10

KLK11

KLK13

KLK14

Metallo proteinases, e.g.,

Meprin

Neprilysin

PSMA

BMP-1

MMPs, e.g.,

MMP1

MMP2

MMP3

MMP7

MMP8

MMP9

MMP10

MMP11

MMP12

MMP13

MMP14

MMP15

MMP16

MMP17

MMP19

MMP20

MMP23

MMP24

MMP26

MMP27

Serine proteases, e.g.,

activated protein C

Cathepsin A

Cathepsin G

Chymase

coagulation factor proteases

(e.g., FVIIa, FIXa, FXa, FXIa,

FXIIa)

Elastase

Granzyme B

Guanidinobenzoatase

HtrA1

Human Neutrophil Elastase

Lactoferrin

Marapsin

NS3/4A

PACE4

Plasmin

PSA

tPA

Thrombin

Tryptase

uPA

Type II Transmembrane

Serine Proteases (TTSPs), e.g.,

DESC1

DPP-4

FAP

Hepsin

Matriptase-2

MT-S Pl/Matriptase

TMPRSS2

TMPRSS3

TMPRSS4

The methods provided herein are useful to quantitate activation of activatable antibodies, which include a cleavable moiety that functions as a substrate for a protease. Activatable antibodies described herein have been designed to overcome a limitation of antibody therapeutics, particularly antibody therapeutics that are known to be toxic to at least some degree in vivo. Target-mediated toxicity constitutes a major limitation for the development of therapeutic antibodies. The activatable antibodies provided herein are designed to address the toxicity associated with the inhibition of the target in normal tissues by traditional therapeutic antibodies. These activatable antibodies remain masked until proteolytically activated at the site of disease. Starting with an antibody as a parental therapeutic antibody, the activatable antibodies of the invention were engineered by coupling the antibody to an inhibitory mask through a linker that incorporates a protease substrate.

When the AB is modified with a MM and is in the presence of the target, specific binding of the AB to its target is reduced or inhibited, as compared to the specific binding of the AB not modified with an MM or the specific binding of the parental AB to the target.

The K_dof the AB modified with a MM towards the target is at least 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, 1,000,000, 5,000,000, 10,000,000, 50,000,000 or greater, or between 5-10, 10-100, 10-1,000, 10-10,000, 10-100,000, 10-1,000,000, 10-10,000,000, 100-1,000, 100-10,000, 100-100,000, 100-1,000,000, 100-10,000,000, 1,000-10,000, 1,000-100,000, 1,000-1,000,000, 1000-10,000,000, 10,000-100,000, 10,000-1,000,000, 10,000-10,000,000, 100,000-1,000,000, or 100,000-10,000,000 times greater than the K_dof the AB not modified with an MM or of the parental AB towards the target. Conversely, the binding affinity of the AB modified with a MM towards the target is at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, 1,000,000, 5,000,000, 10,000,000, 50,000,000 or greater, or between 5-10, 10-100, 10-1,000, 10-10,000, 10-100,000, 10-1,000,000, 10-10,000,000, 100-1,000, 100-10,000, 100-100,000, 100-1,000,000, 100-10,000,000, 1,000-10,000, 1,000-100,000, 1,000-1,000,000, 1000-10,000,000, 10,000-100,000, 10,000-1,000,000, 10,000-10,000,000, 100,000-1,000,000, or 100,000-10,000,000 times lower than the binding affinity of the AB not modified with an MM or of the parental AB towards the target.

The dissociation constant (K_d) of the MM towards the AB is generally greater than the K_dof the AB towards the target. The K_dof the MM towards the AB can be at least 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 100,000, 1,000,000 or even 10,000,000 times greater than the K_dof the AB towards the target. Conversely, the binding affinity of the MM towards the AB is generally lower than the binding affinity of the AB towards the target. The binding affinity of MM towards the AB can be at least 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 100,000, 1,000,000 or even 10,000,000 times lower than the binding affinity of the AB towards the target.

In some embodiments, the dissociation constant (K_d) of the MM towards the AB is approximately equal to the K_dof the AB towards the target. In some embodiments, the dissociation constant (K_d) of the MM towards the AB is no more than the dissociation constant of the AB towards the target. In some embodiments, the dissociation constant (K_d) of the MM towards the AB is equivalent to the dissociation constant of the AB towards the target.

In some embodiments, the dissociation constant (K_d) of the MM towards the AB is less than the dissociation constant of the AB towards the target.

In some embodiments, the dissociation constant (K_d) of the MM towards the AB is greater than the dissociation constant of the AB towards the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has a K_dfor binding to the AB that is no more than the K_dfor binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has a K_dfor binding to the AB that is no less than the K_dfor binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has a K_dfor binding to the AB that is approximately equal to the K_dfor binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has a K_dfor binding to the AB that is less than the K_dfor binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has a K_dfor binding to the AB that is greater than the K_dfor binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has a K_dfor binding to the AB that is no more than 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, or 1,000 fold greater than the K_dfor binding of the AB to the target. In some embodiments, the MM has a K_dfor binding to the AB that is between 1-5, 2-5, 2-10, 5-10, 5-20, 5-50, 5-100, 10-100, 10-1,000, 20-100, 20-1000, or 100-1,000 fold greater than the K_dfor binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has an affinity for binding to the AB that is less than the affinity of binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has an affinity for binding to the AB that is no more than the affinity of binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has an affinity for binding to the AB that is approximately equal of the affinity of binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has an affinity for binding to the AB that is no less than the affinity of binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has an affinity for binding to the AB that is greater than the affinity of binding of the AB to the target.

In some embodiments, the MM has an affinity for binding to the AB that is 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, or 1,000 less than the affinity of binding of the AB to the target. I In some embodiments, the MM has an affinity for binding to the AB that is between 1-5, 2-5, 2-10, 5-10, 5-20, 5-50, 5-100, 10-100, 10-1,000, 20-100, 20-1000, or 100-1,000 fold less than the affinity of binding of the AB to the target. In some embodiments, the MM has an affinity for binding to the AB that is 2 to 20 fold less than the affinity of binding of the AB to the target. In some embodiments, a MM not covalently linked to the AB and at equimolar concentration to the AB does not inhibit the binding of the AB to the target.

When the AB is modified with a MM and is in the presence of the target specific binding of the AB to its target is reduced or inhibited, as compared to the specific binding of the AB not modified with an MM or the specific binding of the parental AB to the target. When compared to the binding of the AB not modified with an MM or the binding of the parental AB to the target the AB's ability to bind the target when modified with an MM can be reduced by at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% and even 100% for at least 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 28, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, or 96 hours, or 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, or 180 days, or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 months or more when measured in vivo or in an in vitro assay.

The MM inhibits the binding of the AB to the target. The MM binds the antigen binding domain of the AB and inhibits binding of the AB to the target. The MM can sterically inhibit the binding of the AB to the target. The MM can allosterically inhibit the binding of the AB to its target. In these embodiments when the AB is modified or coupled to a MM and in the presence of target there is no binding or substantially no binding of the AB to the target, or no more than 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, or 50% binding of the AB to the target, as compared to the binding of the AB not modified with an MM, the parental AB, or the AB not coupled to an MM to the target, for at least 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 28, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, or 96 hours, or 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, or 180 days, or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 months or longer when measured in vivo or in an in vitro assay.

When an AB is coupled to or modified by a MM, the MM ‘masks’ or reduces or otherwise inhibits the specific binding of the AB to the target. When an AB is coupled to or modified by a MM, such coupling or modification can effect a structural change that reduces or inhibits the ability of the AB to specifically bind its target.

An AB coupled to or modified with an MM can be represented by the following formulae (in order from an amino (N) terminal region to carboxyl (C) terminal region:

- (MM)-(AB)
- (AB)-(MM)
- (MM)-L-(AB)
- (AB)-L-(MM)
  
  where MM is a masking moiety, the AB is an antibody or antibody fragment thereof, and the L is a linker. In many embodiments, it can be desirable to insert one or more linkers, e.g., flexible linkers, into the composition so as to provide for flexibility.

In certain embodiments, the MM is not a natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM contains no or substantially no homology to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, or 80% similar to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, or 80% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 25% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 50% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 20% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 10% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibodies include an AB that is modified by an MM and also includes one or more cleavable moieties (CM). Such activatable antibodies exhibit activatable/switchable binding, to the AB's target. Activatable antibodies generally include an antibody or antibody fragment (AB), modified by or coupled to a masking moiety (MM) and a modifiable or cleavable moiety (CM). In some embodiments, the CM contains an amino acid sequence that serves as a substrate for at least one protease.

The elements of the activatable antibodies are arranged so that the MM and CM are positioned such that in a cleaved (or relatively active) state and in the presence of a target, the AB binds a target while the activatable antibody is in an uncleaved (or relatively inactive) state in the presence of the target, specific binding of the AB to its target is reduced or inhibited. The specific binding of the AB to its target can be reduced due to the inhibition or masking of the AB's ability to specifically bind its target by the MM.

The K_dof the AB modified with a MM and a CM towards the target is at least 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, 1,000,000, 5,000,000, 10,000,000, 50,000,000 or greater, or between 5-10, 10-100, 10-1,000, 10-10,000, 10-100,000, 10-1,000,000, 10-10,000,000, 100-1,000, 100-10,000, 100-100,000, 100-1,000,000, 100-10,000,000, 1,000-10,000, 1,000-100,000, 1,000-1,000,000, 1000-10,000,000, 10,000-100,000, 10,000-1,000,000, 10,000-10,000,000, 100,000-1,000,000, or 100,000-10,000,000 times greater than the K_dof the AB not modified with an MM and a CM or of the parental AB towards the target. Conversely, the binding affinity of the AB modified with a MM and a CM towards the target is at least 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, 1,000,000, 5,000,000, 10,000,000, 50,000,000 or greater, or between 5-10, 10-100, 10-1,000, 10-10,000, 10-100,000, 10-1,000,000, 10-10,000,000, 100-1,000, 100-10,000, 100-100,000, 100-1,000,000, 100-10,000,000, 1,000-10,000, 1,000-100,000, 1,000-1,000,000, 1000-10,000,000, 10,000-100,000, 10,000-1,000,000, 10,000-10,000,000, 100,000-1,000,000, or 100,000-10,000,000 times lower than the binding affinity of the AB not modified with an MM and a CM or of the parental AB towards the target.

When the AB is modified with a MM and a CM and is in the presence of the target but not in the presence of a modifying agent (for example at least one protease), specific binding of the AB to its target is reduced or inhibited, as compared to the specific binding of the AB not modified with an MM and a CM or of the parental AB to the target. When compared to the binding of the parental AB or the binding of an AB not modified with an MM and a CM to its target, the AB's ability to bind the target when modified with an MM and a CM can be reduced by at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% and even 100% for at least 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 28, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, or 96 hours or 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, or 180 days, or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 months or longer when measured in vivo or in an in vitro assay.

As used herein, the term cleaved state refers to the condition of the activatable antibodies following modification of the CM by at least one protease. The term uncleaved state, as used herein, refers to the condition of the activatable antibodies in the absence of cleavage of the CM by a protease. As discussed above, the term “activatable antibodies” is used herein to refer to an activatable antibody in both its uncleaved (native) state, as well as in its cleaved state. It will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan that in some embodiments a cleaved activatable antibody may lack an MM due to cleavage of the CM by protease, resulting in release of at least the MM (e.g., where the MM is not joined to the activatable antibodies by a covalent bond (e.g., a disulfide bond between cysteine residues).

By activatable or switchable is meant that the activatable antibody exhibits a first level of binding to a target when the activatable antibody is in a inhibited, masked or uncleaved state (i.e., a first conformation), and a second level of binding to the target in the uninhibited, unmasked and/or cleaved state (i.e., a second conformation), where the second level of target binding is greater than the first level of binding. In general, the access of target to the AB of the activatable antibody is greater in the presence of a cleaving agent capable of cleaving the CM, i.e., a protease, than in the absence of such a cleaving agent. Thus, when the activatable antibody is in the uncleaved state, the AB is inhibited from target binding and can be masked from target binding (i.e., the first conformation is such the AB cannot bind the target), and in the cleaved state the AB is not inhibited or is unmasked to target binding.

The CM and AB of the activatable antibodies are selected so that the AB represents a binding moiety for a given target, and the CM represents a substrate for a protease. In some embodiments, the protease is co-localized with the target at a treatment site or diagnostic site in a subject. As used herein, co-localized refers to being at the same site or relatively close nearby. In some embodiments, a protease cleaves a CM yielding an activated antibody that binds to a target located nearby the cleavage site. The activatable antibodies disclosed herein find particular use where, for example, a protease capable of cleaving a site in the CM, i.e., a protease, is present at relatively higher levels in target-containing tissue of a treatment site or diagnostic site than in tissue of non-treatment sites (for example in healthy tissue). In some embodiments, a CM of the disclosure is also cleaved by one or more other proteases. In some embodiments, it is the one or more other proteases that is co-localized with the target and that is responsible for cleavage of the CM in vivo.

In some embodiments, activatable antibodies provide for reduced toxicity and/or adverse side effects that could otherwise result from binding of the AB at non-treatment sites if the AB were not masked or otherwise inhibited from binding to the target.

In general, an activatable antibody can be designed by selecting an AB of interest and constructing the remainder of the activatable antibody so that, when conformationally constrained, the MM provides for masking of the AB or reduction of binding of the AB to its target. Structural design criteria can be to be taken into account to provide for this functional feature.

Activatable antibodies exhibiting a switchable phenotype of a desired dynamic range for target binding in an inhibited versus an uninhibited conformation are provided. Dynamic range generally refers to a ratio of (a) a maximum detected level of a parameter under a first set of conditions to (b) a minimum detected value of that parameter under a second set of conditions. For example, in the context of an activatable antibody, the dynamic range refers to the ratio of (a) a maximum detected level of target protein binding to an activatable antibody in the presence of at least one protease capable of cleaving the CM of the activatable antibodies to (b) a minimum detected level of target protein binding to an activatable antibody in the absence of the protease. The dynamic range of an activatable antibody can be calculated as the ratio of the dissociation constant of an activatable antibody cleaving agent (e.g., enzyme) treatment to the dissociation constant of the activatable antibodies cleaving agent treatment. The greater the dynamic range of an activatable antibody, the better the switchable phenotype of the activatable antibody. Activatable antibodies having relatively higher dynamic range values (e.g., greater than 1) exhibit more desirable switching phenotypes such that target protein binding by the activatable antibodies occurs to a greater extent (e.g., predominantly occurs) in the presence of a cleaving agent (e.g., enzyme) capable of cleaving the CM of the activatable antibodies than in the absence of a cleaving agent.

Activatable antibodies can be provided in a variety of structural configurations. Exemplary formulae for activatable antibodies are provided below. It is specifically contemplated that the N- to C-terminal order of the AB, MM and CM can be reversed within an activatable antibody. It is also specifically contemplated that the CM and MM may overlap in amino acid sequence, e.g., such that the CM is contained within the MM.

For example, activatable antibodies can be represented by the following formula (in order from an amino (N) terminal region to carboxyl (C) terminal region:

- (MM)-(CM)-(AB)
- (AB)-(CM)-(MM)
  
  where MM is a masking moiety, CM is a cleavable moiety, and AB is an antibody or fragment thereof. It should be noted that although MM and CM are indicated as distinct components in the formulae above, in all exemplary embodiments (including formulae) disclosed herein it is contemplated that the amino acid sequences of the MM and the CM could overlap, e.g., such that the CM is completely or partially contained within the MM. In addition, the formulae above provide for additional amino acid sequences that can be positioned N-terminal or C-terminal to the activatable antibodies elements.

In certain embodiments, the MM is not a natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM contains no or substantially no homology to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, or 80% similar to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, or 80% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 50% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 25% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 20% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB. In some embodiments, the MM is no more than 10% identical to any natural binding partner of the AB.

In some embodiments, the activatable antibody includes one or more linkers, e.g., flexible linkers, into the activatable antibody construct so as to provide for flexibility at one or more of the MM-CM junction, the CM-AB junction, or both. For example, the AB, MM, and/or CM may not contain a sufficient number of residues (e.g., Gly, Ser, Asp, Asn, especially Gly and Ser, particularly Gly) to provide the desired flexibility. As such, the switchable phenotype of such activatable antibody constructs may benefit from introduction of one or more amino acids to provide for a flexible linker. In addition, as described below, where the activatable antibody is provided as a conformationally constrained construct, a flexible linker can be operably inserted to facilitate formation and maintenance of a cyclic structure in the uncleaved activatable antibody.

For example, in certain embodiments, an activatable antibody comprises one of the following formulae (where the formula below represent an amino acid sequence in either N- to C-terminal direction or C- to N-terminal direction):

- (MM)-L1-(CM)-(AB)
- (MM)-(CM)-L2-(AB)
- (MM)-L1-(CM)-L2-(AB)
  
  wherein MM, CM, and AB are as defined above; wherein L1 and L2 are each independently and optionally present or absent, are the same or different flexible linkers that include at least 1 flexible amino acid (e.g., Gly). In addition, the formulae above provide for additional amino acid sequences that can be positioned N-terminal or C-terminal to the activatable antibodies elements. Examples include, but are not limited to, targeting moieties (e.g., a ligand for a receptor of a cell present in a target tissue) and serum half-life extending moieties (e.g., polypeptides that bind serum proteins, such as immunoglobulin (e.g., IgG) or serum albumin (e.g., human serum albumin (HAS)).

The CM is specifically cleaved by at least one protease at a rate of about 0.001-1500×10⁴M⁻¹S⁻¹or at least 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, or 1500×10⁴M⁻¹S⁻¹. In some embodiments, the CM is specifically cleaved at a rate of about 100,000 M⁻¹S⁻¹. In some embodiments, the CM is specifically cleaved at a rate from about 1×10²to about 1×10⁶M⁻¹S⁻¹(i.e., from about 1×10²to about 1×10⁶M⁻¹S⁻¹).

For specific cleavage by an enzyme, contact between the enzyme and CM is made. When the activatable antibody comprising an AB coupled to a MM and a CM is in the presence of target and sufficient enzyme activity, the CM can be cleaved. Sufficient enzyme activity can refer to the ability of the enzyme to make contact with the CM and effect cleavage. It can readily be envisioned that an enzyme may be in the vicinity of the CM but unable to cleave because of other cellular factors or protein modification of the enzyme.

Linkers suitable for use in compositions described herein are generally ones that provide flexibility of the modified AB or the activatable antibodies to facilitate the inhibition of the binding of the AB to the target. Such linkers are generally referred to as flexible linkers. Suitable linkers can be readily selected and can be of any of a suitable of different lengths, such as from 1 amino acid (e.g., Gly) to 20 amino acids, from 2 amino acids to 15 amino acids, from 3 amino acids to 12 amino acids, including 4 amino acids to 10 amino acids, 5 amino acids to 9 amino acids, 6 amino acids to 8 amino acids, or 7 amino acids to 8 amino acids, and can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 amino acids in length.

Exemplary flexible linkers include glycine polymers (G)n, glycine-serine polymers (including, for example, (GS)n, (GSGGS)n (SEQ ID NO: 339) and (GGGS)n (SEQ ID NO: 340), where n is an integer of at least one, and in some embodiments, not greater than twenty, glycine-alanine polymers, alanine-serine polymers, and other flexible linkers known in the art. Glycine and glycine-serine polymers are relatively unstructured, and therefore may be able to serve as a neutral tether between components. Glycine accesses significantly more phi-psi space than even alanine, and is much less restricted than residues with longer side chains (see Scheraga, Rev. Computational Chem. 11173-142 (1992)). Exemplary flexible linkers include, but are not limited to Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly (SEQ ID NO: 341), Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly (SEQ ID NO: 342), Gly-Ser-Gly-Ser-Gly (SEQ ID NO: 343), Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly (SEQ ID NO: 344), Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly (SEQ ID NO: 345), Gly-Ser-Ser-Ser-Gly (SEQ ID NO: 346), and the like. The ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize that design of an activatable antibodies can include linkers that are all or partially flexible, such that the linker can include a flexible linker as well as one or more portions that confer less flexible structure to provide for a desired activatable antibodies structure.

The disclosure also provides compositions and methods for quantifying an activatable antibody that has been modified to enable the attachment of one or more agents to one or more cysteine residues in the AB without compromising the activity (e.g., the masking, activating or binding activity) of the activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody that has been modified to enable the attachment of one or more agents to one or more cysteine residues in the AB without reducing or otherwise disturbing one or more disulfide bonds within the MM. The compositions and methods provided herein can be run using an activatable antibody that is conjugated to one or more agents, e.g., any of a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and/or prophylactic agents, for example, in some embodiments, without any of the agent(s) being conjugated to the MM of the activatable antibody. The compositions and methods provided herein are used with conjugated activatable antibodies in which the MM retains the ability to effectively and efficiently mask the AB of the activatable antibody in an uncleaved state. The compositions and methods provided herein are used with conjugated activatable antibodies in which the activatable antibody is still activated, i.e., cleaved, in the presence of a protease that can cleave the CM.

The activatable antibodies have at least one point of conjugation for an agent, but in the methods and compositions provided herein, less than all possible points of conjugation are available for conjugation to an agent. In some embodiments, the one or more points of conjugation are sulfur atoms involved in disulfide bonds. In some embodiments, the one or more points of conjugation are sulfur atoms involved in interchain disulfide bonds. In some embodiments, the one or more points of conjugation are sulfur atoms involved in interchain sulfide bonds, but not sulfur atoms involved in intrachain disulfide bonds. In some embodiments, the one or more points of conjugation are sulfur atoms of cysteine or other amino acid residues containing a sulfur atom. Such residues may occur naturally in the antibody structure or can be incorporated into the antibody by site-directed mutagenesis, chemical conversion, or mis-incorporation of non-natural amino acids.

The composition and methods provided herein can also use a conjugate of an activatable antibody having one or more interchain disulfide bonds in the AB and one or more intrachain disulfide bonds in the MM, wherein a drug reactive with free thiols is provided. In these embodiments, the method generally includes partially reducing interchain disulfide bonds in the activatable antibody with a reducing agent, such as, for example, TCEP; and conjugating the drug reactive with free thiols to the partially reduced activatable antibody. As used herein, the term partial reduction refers to situations where an activatable antibody is contacted with a reducing agent and less than all disulfide bonds, e.g., less than all possible sites of conjugation are reduced. In some embodiments, less than 99%, 98%, 97%, 96%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, 45%, 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10% or less than 5% of all possible sites of conjugation are reduced.

[000226] In yet other embodiments, the compositions and methods provided herein are used in conjunction with a method of reducing and conjugating an agent, e.g., a drug, to an activatable antibody resulting in selectivity in the placement of the agent is provided. In these embodiments, the method generally includes partially reducing the activatable antibody with a reducing agent such that any conjugation sites in the masking moiety or other non-AB portion of the activatable antibody are not reduced, and conjugating the agent to interchain thiols in the AB. The conjugation site(s) are selected so as to allow desired placement of an agent to allow conjugation to occur at a desired site. The reducing agent is, for example, TCEP. The reduction reaction conditions such as, for example, the ratio of reducing agent to activatable antibody, the length of incubation, the temperature during the incubation, the pH of the reducing reaction solution, etc., are determined by identifying the conditions that produce a conjugated activatable antibody in which the MM retains the ability to effectively and efficiently mask the AB of the activatable antibody in an uncleaved state. The ratio of reduction agent to activatable antibody will vary depending on the activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the ratio of reducing agent to activatable antibody will be in a range from about 20:1 to 1:1, from about 10:1 to 1:1, from about 9:1 to 1:1, from about 8:1 to 1:1, from about 7:1 to 1:1, from about 6:1 to 1:1, from about 5:1 to 1:1, from about 4:1 to 1:1, from about 3:1 to 1:1, from about 2:1 to 1:1, from about 20:1 to 1:1.5, from about 10:1 to 1:1.5, from about 9:1 to 1:1.5, from about 8:1 to 1:1.5, from about 7:1 to 1:1.5, from about 6:1 to 1:1.5, from about 5:1 to 1:1.5, from about 4:1 to 1:1.5, from about 3:1 to 1:1.5, from about 2:1 to 1:1.5, from about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, or from about 1:1 to 1:1.5. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range of from about 5:1 to 1:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range of from about 5:1 to 1.5:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range of from about 4:1 to 1:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range from about 4:1 to 1.5:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range from about 8:1 to about 1:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range of from about 2.5:1 to 1:1.

In some embodiments, the compositions and methods provided herein are used in conjunction with a method of reducing interchain disulfide bonds in the AB of an activatable antibody and conjugating an agent, e.g., a thiol-containing agent such as a drug, to the resulting interchain thiols to selectively locate agent(s) on the AB is provided. In these embodiments, the method generally includes partially reducing the AB with a reducing agent to form at least two interchain thiols without forming all possible interchain thiols in the activatable antibody; and conjugating the agent to the interchain thiols of the partially reduced AB. For example, the AB of the activatable antibody is partially reduced for about 1 hour at about 37° C. at a desired ratio of reducing agent:activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the ratio of reducing agent to activatable antibody will be in a range from about 20:1 to 1:1, from about 10:1 to 1:1, from about 9:1 to 1:1, from about 8:1 to 1:1, from about 7:1 to 1:1, from about 6:1 to 1:1, from about 5:1 to 1:1, from about 4:1 to 1:1, from about 3:1 to 1:1, from about 2:1 to 1:1, from about 20:1 to 1:1.5, from about 10:1 to 1:1.5, from about 9:1 to 1:1.5, from about 8:1 to 1:1.5, from about 7:1 to 1:1.5, from about 6:1 to 1:1.5, from about 5:1 to 1:1.5, from about 4:1 to 1:1.5, from about 3:1 to 1:1.5, from about 2:1 to 1:1.5, from about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, or from about 1:1 to 1:1.5. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range of from about 5:1 to 1:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range of from about 5:1 to 1.5:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range of from about 4:1 to 1:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range from about 4:1 to 1.5:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range from about 8:1 to about 1:1. In some embodiments, the ratio is in a range of from about 2.5:1 to 1:1.

The thiol-containing reagent can be, for example, cysteine or N-acetyl cysteine. The reducing agent can be, for example, TCEP. In some embodiments, the reduced activatable antibody can be purified prior to conjugation, using for example, column chromatography, dialysis, or diafiltration. Alternatively, the reduced antibody is not purified after partial reduction and prior to conjugation.

In some embodiments, the compositions and methods provided herein are used with partially reduced activatable antibodies in which at least one interchain disulfide bond in the activatable antibody has been reduced with a reducing agent without disturbing any intrachain disulfide bonds in the activatable antibody, wherein the activatable antibody includes an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof (AB) that specifically binds a target, a masking moiety (MM) that inhibits the binding of the AB of the activatable antibody in an uncleaved state to the target, and a cleavable moiety (CM) coupled to the AB, wherein the CM is a polypeptide that functions as a substrate for a protease. In some embodiments the MM is coupled to the AB via the CM. In some embodiments, one or more intrachain disulfide bond(s) of the activatable antibody is not disturbed by the reducing agent. In some embodiments, one or more intrachain disulfide bond(s) of the MM within the activatable antibody is not disturbed by the reducing agent. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody in the uncleaved state has the structural arrangement from N-terminus to C-terminus as follows: MM-CM-AB or AB-CM-MM. In some embodiments, reducing agent is TCEP.

In yet other embodiments, the compositions and methods provided herein are used in conjunction with a method of reducing and conjugating an agent, e.g., a drug, to an activatable antibody resulting in selectivity in the placement of the agent by providing an activatable antibody with a defined number and positions of lysine and/or cysteine residues. In some embodiments, the defined number of lysine and/or cysteine residues is higher or lower than the number of corresponding residues in the amino acid sequence of the parent antibody or activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the defined number of lysine and/or cysteine residues may result in a defined number of agent equivalents that can be conjugated to the antibody or activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the defined number of lysine and/or cysteine residues may result in a defined number of agent equivalents that can be conjugated to the antibody or activatable antibody in a site-specific manner. In some embodiments, the modified activatable antibody is modified with one or more non-natural amino acids in a site-specific manner, thus in some embodiments limiting the conjugation of the agents to only the sites of the non-natural amino acids. In some embodiments, the antibody or activatable antibody with a defined number and positions of lysine and/or cysteine residues can be partially reduced with a reducing agent as discussed herein such that any conjugation sites in the masking moiety or other non-AB portion of the activatable antibody are not reduced, and conjugating the agent to interchain thiols in the AB.

In some embodiments, the compositions and methods provided herein are used with partially reduced activatable antibodies in which at least one interchain disulfide bond in the activatable antibody has been reduced with a reducing agent without disturbing any intrachain disulfide bonds in the activatable antibody, wherein the activatable antibody includes an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof (AB) that specifically binds to the target, a masking moiety (MM) that inhibits the binding of the AB of the activatable antibody in an uncleaved state to the target, and a cleavable moiety (CM) coupled to the AB, wherein the CM is a polypeptide that functions as a substrate for at least one protease. In some embodiments, the MM is coupled to the AB via the CM. In some embodiments, one or more intrachain disulfide bond(s) of the activatable antibody is not disturbed by the reducing agent. In some embodiments, one or more intrachain disulfide bond(s) of the MM within the activatable antibody is not disturbed by the reducing agent. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody in the uncleaved state has the structural arrangement from N-terminus to C-terminus as follows: MM-CM-AB or AB-CM-MM. In some embodiments, reducing agent is TCEP.

In some embodiments, the compositions and methods provided herein are used with activatable antibodies that also include an agent conjugated to the activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the conjugated agent is a therapeutic agent, such as an anti-inflammatory and/or an antineoplastic agent. In such embodiments, the agent is conjugated to a carbohydrate moiety of the activatable antibody, for example, in some embodiments, where the carbohydrate moiety is located outside the antigen-binding region of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment in the activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the agent is conjugated to a sulfhydryl group of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment in the activatable antibody.

In some embodiments, the agent is a cytotoxic agent such as a toxin (e.g., an enzymatically active toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant, or animal origin, or fragments thereof), or a radioactive isotope (i.e., a radioconjugate).

In some embodiments, the agent is a detectable moiety such as, for example, a label or other marker. For example, the agent is or includes a radiolabeled amino acid, one or more biotinyl moieties that can be detected by marked avidin (e.g., streptavidin containing a fluorescent marker or enzymatic activity that can be detected by optical or calorimetric methods), one or more radioisotopes or radionuclides, one or more fluorescent labels, one or more enzymatic labels, and/or one or more chemiluminescent agents. In some embodiments, detectable moieties are attached by spacer molecules.

In some embodiments, the compositions and methods provided herein are used with immunoconjugates comprising an antibody conjugated to a cytotoxic agent such as a toxin (e.g., an enzymatically active toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant, or animal origin, or fragments thereof), or a radioactive isotope (i.e., a radioconjugate). Suitable cytotoxic agents include, for example, dolastatins and derivatives thereof (e.g. auristatin E, AFP, MMAF, MMAE, MMAD, DMAF, DMAE). For example, the agent is monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) or monomethyl auristatin D (MMAD). In some embodiments, the agent is an agent selected from the group listed in Table 5. In some embodiments, the agent is a dolastatin. In some embodiments, the agent is an auristatin or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is auristatin E or a derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin D (MMAD). In some embodiments, the agent is a maytansinoid or maytansinoid derivative. In some embodiments, the agent is DM1 or DM4. In some embodiments, the agent is a duocarmycin or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is a calicheamicin or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine. In some embodiments, the agent is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer.

In some embodiments, the agent is linked to the AB using a maleimide caproyl-valine-citrulline linker or a maleimide PEG-valine-citrulline linker. In some embodiments, the agent is linked to the AB using a maleimide caproyl-valine-citrulline linker. In some embodiments, the agent is linked to the AB using a maleimide PEG-valine-citrulline linker In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin D (MMAD) linked to the AB using a maleimide PEG-valine-citrulline-para-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl linker, and this linker payload construct is referred to herein as “vc-MMAD.” In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) linked to the AB using a maleimide PEG-valine-citrulline-para-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl linker, and this linker payload construct is referred to herein as “vc-MMAE.” In some embodiments, the agent is linked to the AB using a maleimide PEG-valine-citrulline linker In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin D (MMAD) linked to the AB using a maleimide bis-PEG-valine-citrulline-para-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl linker, and this linker payload construct is referred to herein as “PEG2-vc-MMAD.” The structures of vc-MMAD, vc-MMAE, and PEG2-vc-MMAD are shown below:

embedded image

In some embodiments, the compositions and methods provided herein are used with conjugated activatable antibodies that include an activatable antibody linked to monomethyl auristatin D (MMAD) payload, wherein the activatable antibody includes an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof (AB) that specifically binds to a target, a masking moiety (MM) that inhibits the binding of the AB of the activatable antibody in an uncleaved state to the target, and cleavable moiety (CM) coupled to the AB, and the CM is a polypeptide that functions as a substrate for at least one MMP protease.

In some embodiments, the MMAD-conjugated activatable antibody can be conjugated using any of several methods for attaching agents to ABs: (a) attachment to the carbohydrate moieties of the AB, or (b) attachment to sulfhydryl groups of the AB, or (c) attachment to amino groups of the AB, or (d) attachment to carboxylate groups of the AB.

In some embodiments, the MMAD payload is conjugated to the AB via a linker. In some embodiments, the MMAD payload is conjugated to a cysteine in the AB via a linker. In some embodiments, the MMAD payload is conjugated to a lysine in the AB via a linker. In some embodiments, the MMAD payload is conjugated to another residue of the AB via a linker, such as those residues disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the linker is a thiol-containing linker. In some embodiments, the linker is a cleavable linker. In some embodiments, the linker is a non-cleavable linker. In some embodiments, the linker is selected from the group consisting of the linkers shown in Tables 6 and 7. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody and the MMAD payload are linked via a maleimide caproyl-valine-citrulline linker. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody and the MMAD payload are linked via a maleimide PEG-valine-citrulline linker. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody and the MMAD payload are linked via a maleimide caproyl-valine-citrulline-para-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl linker. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody and the MMAD payload are linked via a maleimide PEG-valine-citrulline-para-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl linker. In some embodiments, the MMAD payload is conjugated to the AB using the partial reduction and conjugation technology disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) component of a linker of the present disclosure is formed from 2 ethylene glycol monomers, 3 ethylene glycol monomers, 4 ethylene glycol monomers, 5 ethylene glycol monomers, 6 ethylene glycol monomers, 7 ethylene glycol monomers 8 ethylene glycol monomers, 9 ethylene glycol monomers, or at least 10 ethylene glycol monomers. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the PEG component is a branched polymer. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the PEG component is an unbranched polymer. In some embodiments, the PEG polymer component is functionalized with an amino group or derivative thereof, a carboxyl group or derivative thereof, or both an amino group or derivative thereof and a carboxyl group or derivative thereof.

In some embodiments, the PEG component of a linker of the present disclosure is an amino-tetra-ethylene glycol-carboxyl group or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the PEG component of a linker of the present disclosure is an amino-tri-ethylene glycol-carboxyl group or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the PEG component of a linker of the present disclosure is an amino-di-ethylene glycol-carboxyl group or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, an amino derivative is the formation of an amide bond between the amino group and a carboxyl group to which it is conjugated. In some embodiments, a carboxyl derivative is the formation of an amide bond between the carboxyl group and an amino group to which it is conjugated. In some embodiments, a carboxyl derivative is the formation of an ester bond between the carboxyl group and a hydroxyl group to which it is conjugated.

Enzymatically active toxins and fragments thereof that can be used include diphtheria A chain, nonbinding active fragments of diphtheria toxin, exotoxin A chain (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa), ricin A chain, abrin A chain, modeccin A chain, alpha-sarcin, Aleurites fordii proteins, dianthin proteins, Phytolaca americana proteins (PAPI, PAPII, and PAP-S), momordica charantia inhibitor, curcin, crotin, sapaonaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin, mitogellin, restrictocin, phenomycin, enomycin, and the tricothecenes. A variety of radionuclides are available for the production of radioconjugated antibodies. Examples include ²¹²Bi, ¹³¹I, ¹³¹In, ⁹⁰Y, and ¹⁸⁶Re.

Conjugates of the antibody and cytotoxic agent are made using a variety of bifunctional protein-coupling agents such as N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithiol) propionate (SPDP), iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such as dimethyl adipimidate HCl), active esters (such as disuccinimidyl suberate), aldehydes (such as glutareldehyde), bis-azido compounds (such as bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis-diazonium derivatives (such as bis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (such as tolyene 2,6-diisocyanate), and bis-active fluorine compounds (such as 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). For example, a ricin immunotoxin can be prepared as described in Vitetta et al., Science 238: 1098 (1987). Carbon-14-labeled 1-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylene triaminepentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelating agent for conjugation of radionucleotide to the antibody. (See WO94/11026).

Table 5 lists some of the exemplary pharmaceutical agents that can be employed in the herein described disclosure but in no way is meant to be an exhaustive list.

TABLE 5

Exemplary Pharmaceutical Agents for Conjugation

CYTOTOXIC AGENTS

Auristatins

Auristatin E

Monomethyl auristatin D (MMAD)

Monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE)

Desmethyl auristatin E (DMAE)

Auristatin F

Monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF)

Desmethyl auristatin F (DMAF)

Auristatin derivatives, e.g., amides thereof

Auristatin tyramine

Auristatin quinoline

Dolastatins

Dolastatin derivatives

Dolastatin 16 DmJ

Dolastatin 16 Dpv

Maytansinoids, e.g. DM-1; DM-4

Maytansinoid derivatives

Duocarmycin

Duocarmycin derivatives

Alpha-amanitin

Anthracyclines

Doxorubicin

Daunorubicin

Bryostatins

Camptothecin

Camptothecin derivatives

7-substituted Camptothecin

10,11-

Difluoromethylenedioxycamptothecin

Combretastatins

Debromoaplysiatoxin

Kahalalide-F

Discodermolide

Ecteinascidins

ANTIVIRALS

Acyclovir

Vira A

Symmetrel

ANTIFUNGALS

Nystatin

ADDITIONAL ANTI-NEOPLASTICS

Adriamycin

Cerubidine

Bleomycin

Alkeran

Velban

Oncovin

Fluorouracil

Methotrexate

Thiotepa

Bisantrene

Novantrone

Thioguanine

Procarabizine

Cytarabine

ANTI-BACTERIALS

Aminoglycosides

Streptomycin

Neomycin

Kanamycin

Amikacin

Gentamicin

Tobramycin

Streptomycin B

Spectinomycin

Ampicillin

Sulfanilamide

Polymyxin

Chloramphenicol

Turbostatin

Phenstatins

Hydroxyphenstatin

Spongistatin 5

Spongistatin 7

Halistatin 1

Halistatin 2

Halistatin 3

Modified Bryostatins

Halocomstatins

Pyrrolobenzimidazoles (PBI)

Cibrostatin6

Doxaliform

Anthracyclins analogues

Cemadotin analogue (CemCH2-SH)

Pseudomonas toxin A (PE38) variant

Pseudomonas toxin A (ZZ-PE38) variant

ZJ-101

OSW-1

4-Nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl Derivatives of

O6-Benzylguanine

Topoisomerase inhibitors

Hemiasterlin

Cephalotaxine

Homoharringtonine

Pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers (PBDs)

Pyrrolobenzodiazepenes

Functionalized pyrrolobenzodiazepenes

Functionalized pyrrolobenzodiazepene

dimers

Calicheamicins

Podophyllotoxins

Taxanes

Vinca alkaloids

CONJUGATABLE DETECTION REAGENTS

Fluorescein and derivatives thereof

Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)

RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS

¹²⁵I

¹³¹I

⁸⁹Zr

¹¹¹In

¹²³I

¹³¹I

⁹⁹mTc

²⁰¹Tl

¹³³Xe

¹¹C

⁶²Cu

¹⁸F

⁶⁸Ga

¹³N

¹⁵O

³⁸K

⁸²Rb

⁹⁹mTc (Technetium)

HEAVY METALS

Barium

Gold

Platinum

ANTI-MYCOPLASMALS

Tylosine

Spectinomycin

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a large variety of possible moieties can be coupled to the resultant antibodies of the disclosure. (See, for example, “Conjugate Vaccines”, Contributions to Microbiology and Immunology, J. M. Cruse and R. E. Lewis, Jr (eds), Carger Press, N.Y., (1989), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference).

Coupling can be accomplished by any chemical reaction that will bind the two molecules so long as the antibody and the other moiety retain their respective activities. This linkage can include many chemical mechanisms, for instance covalent binding, affinity binding, intercalation, coordinate binding and complexation. In some embodiments, the binding is, however, covalent binding. Covalent binding can be achieved either by direct condensation of existing side chains or by the incorporation of external bridging molecules. Many bivalent or polyvalent linking agents are useful in coupling protein molecules, such as the antibodies of the present disclosure, to other molecules. For example, representative coupling agents can include organic compounds such as thioesters, carbodiimides, succinimide esters, diisocyanates, glutaraldehyde, diazobenzenes and hexamethylene diamines. This listing is not intended to be exhaustive of the various classes of coupling agents known in the art but, rather, is exemplary of the more common coupling agents. (See Killen and Lindstrom, Jour. Immun. 133:1335-2549 (1984); Jansen et al., Immunological Reviews 62:185-216 (1982); and Vitetta et al., Science 238:1098 (1987).

In some embodiments, the compositions and methods provided herein are used with a conjugated activatable antibody that has been modified for site-specific conjugation through modified amino acid sequences inserted or otherwise included in the activatable antibody sequence. These modified amino acid sequences are designed to allow for controlled placement and/or dosage of the conjugated agent within a conjugated activatable antibody. For example, the activatable antibody can be engineered to include cysteine substitutions at positions on light and heavy chains that provide reactive thiol groups and do not negatively impact protein folding and assembly, nor alter antigen binding. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody can be engineered to include or otherwise introduce one or more non-natural amino acid residues within the activatable antibody to provide suitable sites for conjugation. In some embodiments, the activatable antibody can be engineered to include or otherwise introduce enzymatically activatable peptide sequences within the activatable antibody sequence.

Suitable linkers are described in the literature. (See, for example, Ramakrishnan, S. et al., Cancer Res. 44:201-208 (1984) describing use of MBS (M-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester). See also, U .S . Pat. No. 5,030,719, describing use of halogenated acetyl hydrazide derivative coupled to an antibody by way of an oligopeptide linker. In some embodiments, suitable linkers include: (i) EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride; (ii) SMPT (4-succinimidyloxycarbonyl-alpha-methyl-alpha-(2-pridyl-dithio)-toluene (Pierce Chem. Co., Cat. (21558G); (iii) SPDP (succinimidyl-6 [3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionamido]hexanoate (Pierce Chem. Co., Cat #21651G); (iv) Sulfo-LC-SPDP (sulfosuccinimidyl 6 [3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propianamide] hexanoate (Pierce Chem. Co. Cat. #2165-G); and (v) sulfo-NHS (N-hydroxysulfo-succinimide: Pierce Chem. Co., Cat. #24510) conjugated to EDC. Additional linkers include, but are not limited to, SMCC ((succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate), sulfo-SMCC (sulfosuccinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate), SPDB (N-succinimidyl-4-(2-pyridyldithio) butanoate), or sulfo-SPDB (N-succinimidyl-4-(2-pyridyldithio)-2-sulfo butanoate).

The linkers described above contain components that have different attributes, thus leading to conjugates with differing physio-chemical properties. For example, sulfo-NHS esters of alkyl carboxylates are more stable than sulfo-NHS esters of aromatic carboxylates. NHS-ester containing linkers are less soluble than sulfo-NHS esters. Further, the linker SMPT contains a sterically hindered disulfide bond, and can form conjugates with increased stability. Disulfide linkages, are in general, less stable than other linkages because the disulfide linkage is cleaved in vitro, resulting in less conjugate available. Sulfo-NHS, in particular, can enhance the stability of carbodimide couplings. Carbodimide couplings (such as EDC) when used in conjunction with sulfo-NHS, forms esters that are more resistant to hydrolysis than the carbodimide coupling reaction alone.

In some embodiments, the linkers are cleavable. In some embodiments, the linkers are non-cleavable. In some embodiments, two or more linkers are present. The two or more linkers are all the same, i.e., cleavable or non-cleavable, or the two or more linkers are different, i.e., at least one cleavable and at least one non-cleavable.

The agents can be attached to the Abs using any of several methods for attaching agents to ABs: (a) attachment to the carbohydrate moieties of the AB, or (b) attachment to sulfhydryl groups of the AB, or (c) attachment to amino groups of the AB, or (d) attachment to carboxylate groups of the AB. In some embodiments, ABs can be covalently attached to an agent through an intermediate linker having at least two reactive groups, one to react with AB and one to react with the agent. The linker, which may include any compatible organic compound, can be chosen such that the reaction with AB (or agent) does not adversely affect AB reactivity and selectivity. Furthermore, the attachment of linker to agent might not destroy the activity of the agent. Suitable linkers for reaction with oxidized antibodies or oxidized antibody fragments include those containing an amine selected from the group consisting of primary amine, secondary amine, hydrazine, hydrazide, hydroxylamine, phenylhydrazine, semicarbazide and thiosemicarbazide groups. Such reactive functional groups may exist as part of the structure of the linker, or can be introduced by suitable chemical modification of linkers not containing such groups.

According to the present disclosure, suitable linkers for attachment to reduced ABs include those having certain reactive groups capable of reaction with a sulfhydryl group of a reduced antibody or fragment. Such reactive groups include, but are not limited to: reactive haloalkyl groups (including, for example, haloacetyl groups), p-mercuribenzoate groups and groups capable of Michael-type addition reactions (including, for example, maleimides and groups of the type described by Mitra and Lawton, 1979, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 101: 3097-3110).

According to the present disclosure, suitable linkers for attachment to neither oxidized nor reduced Abs include those having certain functional groups capable of reaction with the primary amino groups present in unmodified lysine residues in the Ab. Such reactive groups include, but are not limited to, NHS carboxylic or carbonic esters, sulfo-NHS carboxylic or carbonic esters, 4-nitrophenyl carboxylic or carbonic esters, pentafluorophenyl carboxylic or carbonic esters, acyl imidazoles, isocyanates, and isothiocyanates.

According to the present disclosure, suitable linkers for attachment to neither oxidized nor reduced Abs include those having certain functional groups capable of reaction with the carboxylic acid groups present in aspartate or glutamate residues in the Ab, which have been activated with suitable reagents. Suitable activating reagents include EDC, with or without added NHS or sulfo-NHS, and other dehydrating agents utilized for carboxamide formation. In these instances, the functional groups present in the suitable linkers would include primary and secondary amines, hydrazines, hydroxylamines, and hydrazides.

The agent can be attached to the linker before or after the linker is attached to the AB. In certain applications it may be desirable to first produce an AB-linker intermediate in which the linker is free of an associated agent. Depending upon the particular application, a specific agent may then be covalently attached to the linker. In some embodiments, the AB is first attached to the MM, CM and associated linkers and then attached to the linker for conjugation purposes.

Branched Linkers: In specific embodiments, branched linkers that have multiple sites for attachment of agents are utilized. For multiple site linkers, a single covalent attachment to an AB would result in an AB-linker intermediate capable of binding an agent at a number of sites. The sites can be aldehyde or sulfhydryl groups or any chemical site to which agents can be attached.

In some embodiments, higher specific activity (or higher ratio of agents to AB) can be achieved by attachment of a single site linker at a plurality of sites on the AB. This plurality of sites can be introduced into the AB by either of two methods. First, one may generate multiple aldehyde groups and/or sulfhydryl groups in the same AB. Second, one may attach to an aldehyde or sulfhydryl of the AB a “branched linker” having multiple functional sites for subsequent attachment to linkers. The functional sites of the branched linker or multiple site linker can be aldehyde or sulfhydryl groups, or can be any chemical site to which linkers can be attached. Still higher specific activities can be obtained by combining these two approaches, that is, attaching multiple site linkers at several sites on the AB.

Cleavable Linkers: Peptide linkers that are susceptible to cleavage by enzymes of the complement system, such as but not limited to u-plasminogen activator, tissue plasminogen activator, trypsin, plasmin, or another enzyme having proteolytic activity can be used in one embodiment of the present disclosure. According to one method of the present disclosure, an agent is attached via a linker susceptible to cleavage by complement. The antibody is selected from a class that can activate complement. The antibody-agent conjugate, thus, activates the complement cascade and releases the agent at the target site. According to another method of the present disclosure, an agent is attached via a linker susceptible to cleavage by enzymes having a proteolytic activity such as a u-plasminogen activator, a tissue plasminogen activator, plasmin, or trypsin. These cleavable linkers are useful in conjugated activatable antibodies that include an extracellular toxin, e.g., by way of non-limiting example, any of the extracellular toxins shown in Table 5.

Non-limiting examples of cleavable linker sequences are provided in Table 6.

TABLE 6

Exemplary Linker Sequences for Conjugation

Types of Cleavable Sequences
Amino Acid Sequence

Plasmin cleavable sequences

Pro-urokinase
PRFKIIGG (SEQ ID NO: 615)

PRFRIIGG (SEQ ID NO: 616)

TGFβ
SSRHRRALD (SEQ ID NO: 617)

Plasminogen
RKSSIIIRMRDVVL (SEQ ID NO: 618)

Staphylokinase
SSSFDKGKYKKGDDA (SEQ ID NO: 619)

SSSFDKGKYKRGDDA (SEQ ID NO: 620)

Factor Xa cleavable sequences

IEGR (SEQ ID NO: 621)

IDGR (SEQ ID NO: 622)

GGSIDGR (SEQ ID NO: 623)

MMP cleavable sequences

Gelatinase A
PLGLWA (SEQ ID NO: 624)

Collagenase cleavable sequences

Calf skin collagen (α1(I) chain)
GPQGIAGQ (SEQ ID NO: 625)

Calf skin collagen (α2(I) chain)
GPQGLLGA (SEQ ID NO: 626)

Bovine cartilage collagen
GIAGQ (SEQ ID NO: 627)

(α1(II) chain)

Human liver collagen (α1(III) chain)
GPLGIAGI (SEQ ID NO: 628)

Human α₂M
GPEGLRVG (SEQ ID NO: 629)

Human PZP
YGAGLGVV (SEQ ID NO: 630)

AGLGVVER (SEQ ID NO: 631)

AGLGISST (SEQ ID NO: 632)

Rat α1M
EPQALAMS (SEQ ID NO: 633)

QALAMSAI (SEQ ID NO: 634)

Rat α2M
AAYHLVSQ (SEQ ID NO: 635)

MDAFLESS (SEQ ID NO: 636)

Rat α₁I₃(2J)
ESLPVVAV (SEQ ID NO: 637)

Rat a₁I₃(27J)
SAPAVESE (SEQ ID NO: 638)

Human fibroblast collagenase
DVAQFVLT (SEQ ID NO: 639)

(autolytic cleavages)
VAQFVLTE (SEQ ID NO: 640)

AQFVLTEG (SEQ ID NO: 641)

PVQPIGPQ (SEQ ID NO: 642)

In addition, agents can be attached via disulfide bonds (for example, the disulfide bonds on a cysteine molecule) to the AB. Since many tumors naturally release high levels of glutathione (a reducing agent) this can reduce the disulfide bonds with subsequent release of the agent at the site of delivery. In some embodiments, the reducing agent that would modify a CM would also modify the linker of the conjugated activatable antibody.

Spacers and Cleavable Elements: In some embodiments, it may be necessary to construct the linker in such a way as to optimize the spacing between the agent and the AB of the activatable antibody. This can be accomplished by use of a linker of the general structure:

W—(CH₂)n−Q

wherein
W is either —NH—CH₂— or —CH₂—;
Q is an amino acid, peptide; and
n is an integer from 0 to 20.

In some embodiments, the linker may comprise a spacer element and a cleavable element. The spacer element serves to position the cleavable element away from the core of the AB such that the cleavable element is more accessible to the enzyme responsible for cleavage. Certain of the branched linkers described above may serve as spacer elements.

Throughout this discussion, it should be understood that the attachment of linker to agent (or of spacer element to cleavable element, or cleavable element to agent) need not be particular mode of attachment or reaction. Any reaction providing a product of suitable stability and biological compatibility is acceptable.

Serum Complement and Selection of Linkers: According to one method of the present disclosure, when release of an agent is desired, an AB that is an antibody of a class that can activate complement is used. The resulting conjugate retains both the ability to bind antigen and activate the complement cascade. Thus, according to this embodiment of the present disclosure, an agent is joined to one end of the cleavable linker or cleavable element and the other end of the linker group is attached to a specific site on the AB. For example, if the agent has an hydroxy group or an amino group, it can be attached to the carboxy terminus of a peptide, amino acid or other suitably chosen linker via an ester or amide bond, respectively. For example, such agents can be attached to the linker peptide via a carbodimide reaction. If the agent contains functional groups that would interfere with attachment to the linker, these interfering functional groups can be blocked before attachment and deblocked once the product conjugate or intermediate is made. The opposite or amino terminus of the linker is then used either directly or after further modification for binding to an AB that is capable of activating complement.

Linkers (or spacer elements of linkers) can be of any desired length, one end of which can be covalently attached to specific sites on the AB of the activatable antibody. The other end of the linker or spacer element can be attached to an amino acid or peptide linker.

Thus when these conjugates bind to antigen in the presence of complement the amide or ester bond that attaches the agent to the linker will be cleaved, resulting in release of the agent in its active form. These conjugates, when administered to a subject, will accomplish delivery and release of the agent at the target site, and are particularly effective for the in vivo delivery of pharmaceutical agents, antibiotics, antimetabolites, antiproliferative agents and the like as presented in but not limited to those in Table 5.

Linkers for Release without Complement Activation: In yet another application of targeted delivery, release of the agent without complement activation is desired since activation of the complement cascade will ultimately lyse the target cell. Hence, this approach is useful when delivery and release of the agent should be accomplished without killing the target cell. Such is the goal when delivery of cell mediators such as hormones, enzymes, corticosteroids, neurotransmitters, genes or enzymes to target cells is desired. These conjugates can be prepared by attaching the agent to an AB that is not capable of activating complement via a linker that is mildly susceptible to cleavage by serum proteases. When this conjugate is administered to an individual, antigen-antibody complexes will form quickly whereas cleavage of the agent will occur slowly, thus resulting in release of the compound at the target site.

Biochemical Cross Linkers: In some embodiments, the activatable antibody can be conjugated to one or more therapeutic agents using certain biochemical cross-linkers. Cross-linking reagents form molecular bridges that tie together functional groups of two different molecules. To link two different proteins in a step-wise manner, hetero-bifunctional cross-linkers can be used that eliminate unwanted homopolymer formation.

Peptidyl linkers cleavable by lysosomal proteases are also useful, for example, Val-Cit, Val-Ala or other dipeptides. In addition, acid-labile linkers cleavable in the low-pH environment of the lysosome can be used, for example: bis-sialyl ether. Other suitable linkers include cathepsin-labile substrates, particularly those that show optimal function at an acidic pH.

Exemplary hetero-bifunctional cross-linkers are referenced in Table 7.

TABLE 7

Exemplary Hetero-Bifunctional Cross Linkers

HETERO-BIFUNCTIONAL CROSS-LINKERS

Spacer Arm

Length after

Advantages and
cross-linking

Linker
Reactive Toward
Applications
(Angstroms)

SMPT
Primary amines
Greater stability
11.2 Å

Sulfhydryls

SPDP
Primary amines
Thiolation
6.8 Å

Sulfhydryls
Cleavable cross-linking

LC-SPDP
Primary amines
Extended spacer arm
15.6 Å

Sulfhydryls

Sulfo-LC-
Primary amines
Extender spacer arm
15.6 Å

SPDP
Sulfhydryls
Water-soluble

SMCC
Primary amines
Stable maleimide
11.6 Å

reactive group

Sulfhydryls
Enzyme-antibody

conjugation

Hapten-carrier protein

conjugation

Sulfo-SMCC
Primary amines
Stable maleimide
11.6 Å

reactive group

Sulfhydryls
Water-soluble

Enzyme-antibody

conjugation

MBS
Primary amines
Enzyme-antibody
9.9 Å

conjugation

Sulfhydryls
Hapten-carrier protein

conjugation

Sulfo-MBS
Primary amines
Water-soluble
9.9 Å

Sulfhydryls

SIAB
Primary amines
Enzyme-antibody
10.6 Å

Sulfhydryls
conjugation

Sulfo-SIAB
Primary amines
Water-soluble
10.6 Å

Sulfhydryls

SMPB
Primary amines
Extended spacer arm
14.5 Å

Sulfhydryls
Enzyme-antibody

conjugation

Sulfo-SMPB
Primary amines
Extended spacer arm
14.5 Å

Sulfhydryls
Water-soluble

EDE/
Primary amines
Hapten-Carrier
0

Sulfo-NHS
Carboxyl groups
conjugation

ABH
Carbohydrates
Reacts with sugar
11.9 Å

Nonselective
groups

Non-Cleavable Linkers or Direct Attachment: In some embodiments of the disclosure, the conjugate can be designed so that the agent is delivered to the target but not released. This can be accomplished by attaching an agent to an AB either directly or via a non-cleavable linker.

These non-cleavable linkers may include amino acids, peptides, D-amino acids or other organic compounds that can be modified to include functional groups that can subsequently be utilized in attachment to ABs by the methods described herein. A-general formula for such an organic linker could be

W—(CH₂)n−Q

wherein
W is either —NH—CH₂— or —CH₂—;
Q is an amino acid, peptide; and
n is an integer from 0 to 20.

Non-Cleavable Conjugates: In some embodiments, a compound can be attached to ABs that do not activate complement. When using ABs that are incapable of complement activation, this attachment can be accomplished using linkers that are susceptible to cleavage by activated complement or using linkers that are not susceptible to cleavage by activated complement.

The antibodies disclosed herein can also be formulated as immunoliposomes. Liposomes containing the antibody are prepared by methods known in the art, such as described in Epstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82: 3688 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 77: 4030 (1980); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545. Liposomes with enhanced circulation time are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,556.

Particularly useful liposomes can be generated by the reverse-phase evaporation method with a lipid composition comprising phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and PEG-derivatized phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE). Liposomes are extruded through filters of defined pore size to yield liposomes with the desired diameter. Fab′ fragments of the antibody of the present disclosure can be conjugated to the liposomes as described in Martin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 257: 286-288 (1982) via a disulfide-interchange reaction.

Definitions:

Unless otherwise defined, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the present disclosure shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The term “a” entity or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. For example, a compound refers to one or more compounds. As such, the terms “a”, “an”, “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably. Further, unless otherwise required by context, singular terms shall include pluralities and plural terms shall include the singular. Generally, nomenclatures utilized in connection with, and techniques of, cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, and protein and oligo- or polynucleotide chemistry and hybridization described herein are those well-known and commonly used in the art. Standard techniques are used for recombinant DNA, oligonucleotide synthesis, and tissue culture and transformation (e.g., electroporation, lipofection). Enzymatic reactions and purification techniques are performed according to manufacturer's specifications or as commonly accomplished in the art or as described herein. The foregoing techniques and procedures are generally performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that are cited and discussed throughout the present specification. See e.g., Sambrook et al. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989)). The nomenclatures utilized in connection with, and the laboratory procedures and techniques of, analytical chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, and medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry described herein are those well-known and commonly used in the art. Standard techniques are used for chemical syntheses, chemical analyses, pharmaceutical preparation, formulation, and delivery, and treatment of patients.

As utilized in accordance with the present disclosure, the following terms, unless otherwise indicated, shall be understood to have the following meanings:

As used herein, the term “antibody” refers to immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules, i.e., molecules that contain an antigen binding site that specifically binds (immunoreacts with) an antigen. By “specifically bind” or “immunoreacts with” or “immunospecifically bind” is meant that the antibody reacts with one or more antigenic determinants of the desired antigen and does not react with other polypeptides or binds at much lower affinity (K_d>10⁻⁶). Antibodies include, but are not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, domain antibody, single chain, Fab, and F(ab′)₂fragments, scFvs, and an Fab expression library.

The basic antibody structural unit is known to comprise a tetramer. Each tetramer is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one “light” (about 25 kDa) and one “heavy” chain (about 50-70 kDa). The amino-terminal portion of each chain includes a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids primarily responsible for antigen recognition. The carboxy-terminal portion of each chain defines a constant region primarily responsible for effector function. In general, antibody molecules obtained from humans relate to any of the classes IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE and IgD, which differ from one another by the nature of the heavy chain present in the molecule. Certain classes have subclasses as well, such as IgG₁, IgG2, and others. Furthermore, in humans, the light chain can be a kappa chain or a lambda chain.

The term “monoclonal antibody” (mAb) or “monoclonal antibody composition”, as used herein, refers to a population of antibody molecules that contain only one molecular species of antibody molecule consisting of a unique light chain gene product and a unique heavy chain gene product. In particular, the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the monoclonal antibody are identical in all the molecules of the population. MAbs contain an antigen binding site capable of immunoreacting with a particular epitope of the antigen characterized by a unique binding affinity for it.

The term “antigen-binding site” or “binding portion” refers to the part of the immunoglobulin molecule that participates in antigen binding. The antigen binding site is formed by amino acid residues of the N-terminal variable (“V”) regions of the heavy (“H”) and light (“L”) chains. Three highly divergent stretches within the V regions of the heavy and light chains, referred to as “hypervariable regions,” are interposed between more conserved flanking stretches known as “framework regions,” or “FRs”. Thus, the term “FR” refers to amino acid sequences that are naturally found between, and adjacent to, hypervariable regions in immunoglobulins. In an antibody molecule, the three hypervariable regions of a light chain and the three hypervariable regions of a heavy chain are disposed relative to each other in three dimensional space to form an antigen-binding surface. The antigen-binding surface is complementary to the three-dimensional surface of a bound antigen, and the three hypervariable regions of each of the heavy and light chains are referred to as “complementarity-determining regions,” or “CDRs.” The assignment of amino acids to each domain is in accordance with the definitions of Kabat Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1987 and 1991)), or Chothia & Lesk J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987), Chothia et al. Nature 342:878-883 (1989).

As used herein, the term “epitope” includes any protein determinant capable of specific binding to an immunoglobulin, an scFv, or a T-cell receptor. The term “epitope” includes any protein determinant capable of specific binding to an immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor. Epitopic determinants usually consist of chemically active surface groupings of molecules such as amino acids or sugar side chains and usually have specific three dimensional structural characteristics, as well as specific charge characteristics. For example, antibodies can be raised against N-terminal or C-terminal peptides of a polypeptide. An antibody is said to specifically bind an antigen when the dissociation constant is ≤1 μM; in some embodiments, ≤100 nM and in some embodiments, ≤10 nM.

As used herein, the terms “specific binding,” “immunological binding,” and “immunological binding properties” refer to the non-covalent interactions of the type which occur between an immunoglobulin molecule and an antigen for which the immunoglobulin is specific. The strength, or affinity of immunological binding interactions can be expressed in terms of the dissociation constant (K_d) of the interaction, wherein a smaller K_drepresents a greater affinity. Immunological binding properties of selected polypeptides can be quantified using methods well known in the art. One such method entails measuring the rates of antigen-binding site/antigen complex formation and dissociation, wherein those rates depend on the concentrations of the complex partners, the affinity of the interaction, and geometric parameters that equally influence the rate in both directions. Thus, both the “on rate constant” (K_on) and the “off rate constant” (K_off) can be determined by calculation of the concentrations and the actual rates of association and dissociation. (See Nature 361:185-87 (1993)). The ratio of K_off/K_onenables the cancellation of all parameters not related to affinity, and is equal to the dissociation constant K_d. (See, generally, Davies et al. (1990) Annual Rev Biochem 59:439-473). An antibody of the present disclosure is said to specifically bind to the target, when the binding constant (K_d) is ≤1 μM, in some embodiments ≤100 nM, in some embodiments ≤10 nM, and in some embodiments ≤100 μM to about 1 pM, as measured by assays such as radioligand binding assays or similar assays known to those skilled in the art.

The term “isolated polynucleotide” as used herein shall mean a polynucleotide of genomic, cDNA, or synthetic origin or some combination thereof, which by virtue of its origin the “isolated polynucleotide” (1) is not associated with all or a portion of a polynucleotide in which the “isolated polynucleotide” is found in nature, (2) is operably linked to a polynucleotide which it is not linked to in nature, or (3) does not occur in nature as part of a larger sequence. Polynucleotides in accordance with the disclosure include the nucleic acid molecules encoding the heavy chain immunoglobulin molecules shown herein, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the light chain immunoglobulin molecules shown herein.

The term “isolated protein” referred to herein means a protein of cDNA, recombinant RNA, or synthetic origin or some combination thereof, which by virtue of its origin, or source of derivation, the “isolated protein” (1) is not associated with proteins found in nature, (2) is free of other proteins from the same source, e.g., free of murine proteins, (3) is expressed by a cell from a different species, or (4) does not occur in nature.

The term “polypeptide” is used herein as a generic term to refer to native protein, fragments, or analogs of a polypeptide sequence. Hence, native protein fragments, and analogs are species of the polypeptide genus. Polypeptides in accordance with the disclosure comprise the heavy chain immunoglobulin molecules shown herein, and the light chain immunoglobulin molecules shown herein, as well as antibody molecules formed by combinations comprising the heavy chain immunoglobulin molecules with light chain immunoglobulin molecules, such as kappa light chain immunoglobulin molecules, and vice versa, as well as fragments and analogs thereof.

The term “naturally-occurring” as used herein as applied to an object refers to the fact that an object can be found in nature. For example, a polypeptide or polynucleotide sequence that is present in an organism (including viruses) that can be isolated from a source in nature and that has not been intentionally modified by man in the laboratory or otherwise is naturally-occurring.

The term “operably linked” as used herein refers to positions of components so described are in a relationship permitting them to function in their intended manner. A control sequence “operably linked” to a coding sequence is ligated in such a way that expression of the coding sequence is achieved under conditions compatible with the control sequences.

The term “control sequence” as used herein refers to polynucleotide sequences that are necessary to effect the expression and processing of coding sequences to which they are ligated. The nature of such control sequences differs depending upon the host organism in prokaryotes, such control sequences generally include promoter, ribosomal binding site, and transcription termination sequence in eukaryotes, generally, such control sequences include promoters and transcription termination sequence. The term “control sequences” is intended to include, at a minimum, all components whose presence is essential for expression and processing, and can also include additional components whose presence is advantageous, for example, leader sequences and fusion partner sequences. The term “polynucleotide” as referred to herein means nucleotides of at least 10 bases in length, either ribonucleotides or deoxynucleotides or a modified form of either type of nucleotide. The term includes single and double stranded forms of DNA.

The term oligonucleotide referred to herein includes naturally occurring, and modified nucleotides linked together by naturally occurring, and non-naturally occurring oligonucleotide linkages. Oligonucleotides are a polynucleotide subset generally comprising a length of 200 bases or fewer. In some embodiments, oligonucleotides are 10 to 60 bases in length and in some embodiments, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 to 40 bases in length. Oligonucleotides are usually single stranded, e.g., for probes, although oligonucleotides may be double stranded, e.g., for use in the construction of a gene mutant. Oligonucleotides of the disclosure are either sense or antisense oligonucleotides.

The term “naturally occurring nucleotides” referred to herein includes deoxyribonucleotides and ribonucleotides. The term “modified nucleotides” referred to herein includes nucleotides with modified or substituted sugar groups and the like. The term “oligonucleotide linkages” referred to herein includes oligonucleotide linkages such as phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, phosphoroselerloate, phosphorodiselenoate, phosphoroanilothioate, phoshoraniladate, phosphoronmidate, and the like. See e.g., LaPlanche et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 14:9081 (1986); Stec et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106:6077 (1984), Stein et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 16:3209 (1988), Zon et al. Anti Cancer Drug Design 6:539 (1991); Zon et al. Oligonucleotides and Analogues: A Practical Approach, pp. 87-108 (F. Eckstein, Ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford England (1991)); Stec et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,510; Uhlmann and Peyman Chemical Reviews 90:543 (1990). An oligonucleotide can include a label for detection, if desired.

As used herein, the twenty conventional amino acids and their abbreviations follow conventional usage. See Immunology—A Synthesis (2nd Edition, E. S. Golub and D. R. Green, Eds., Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Mass. (1991)). Stereoisomers (e.g., D-amino acids) of the twenty conventional amino acids, unnatural amino acids such as α-, α-disubstituted amino acids, N-alkyl amino acids, lactic acid, and other unconventional amino acids may also be suitable components for polypeptides of the present disclosure. Examples of unconventional amino acids include: 4 hydroxyproline, γ-carboxyglutamate, ε-N,N,N-trimethyllysine, ε-N-acetyllysine, O-phosphoserine, N-acetylserine, N-formylmethionine, 3-methylhistidine, 5-hydroxylysine, σ-N-methylarginine, and other similar amino acids and imino acids (e.g., 4-hydroxyproline). In the polypeptide notation used herein, the left-hand direction is the amino terminal direction and the right-hand direction is the carboxy-terminal direction, in accordance with standard usage and convention.

Similarly, unless specified otherwise, the left-hand end of single-stranded polynucleotide sequences is the 5′ end the left-hand direction of double-stranded polynucleotide sequences is referred to as the 5′ direction. The direction of 5′ to 3′ addition of nascent RNA transcripts is referred to as the transcription direction sequence regions on the DNA strand having the same sequence as the RNA and that are 5′ to the 5′ end of the RNA transcript are referred to as “upstream sequences”, sequence regions on the DNA strand having the same sequence as the RNA and that are 3′ to the 3′ end of the RNA transcript are referred to as “downstream sequences”.

As applied to polypeptides, the term “substantial identity” means that two peptide sequences, when optimally aligned, such as by the programs GAP or BESTFIT using default gap weights, share at least 80 percent sequence identity, in some embodiments, at least 90 percent sequence identity, in some embodiments, at least 95 percent sequence identity, and in some embodiments, at least 99 percent sequence identity.

In some embodiments, residue positions that are not identical differ by conservative amino acid substitutions.

As discussed herein, minor variations in the amino acid sequences of antibodies or immunoglobulin molecules are contemplated as being encompassed by the present disclosure, providing that the variations in the amino acid sequence maintain at least 75%, in some embodiments, at least 80%, 90%, 95%, and in some embodiments, 99%. In particular, conservative amino acid replacements are contemplated. Conservative replacements are those that take place within a family of amino acids that are related in their side chains. Genetically encoded amino acids are generally divided into families: (1) acidic amino acids are aspartate, glutamate; (2) basic amino acids are lysine, arginine, histidine; (3) non-polar amino acids are alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan, and (4) uncharged polar amino acids are glycine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, serine, threonine, tyrosine. The hydrophilic amino acids include arginine, asparagine, aspartate, glutamine, glutamate, histidine, lysine, serine, and threonine. The hydrophobic amino acids include alanine, cysteine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine. Other families of amino acids include (i) serine and threonine, which are the aliphatic-hydroxy family; (ii) asparagine and glutamine, which are the amide containing family; (iii) alanine, valine, leucine and isoleucine, which are the aliphatic family; and (iv) phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine, which are the aromatic family. For example, it is reasonable to expect that an isolated replacement of a leucine with an isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, a threonine with a serine, or a similar replacement of an amino acid with a structurally related amino acid will not have a major effect on the binding or properties of the resulting molecule, especially if the replacement does not involve an amino acid within a framework site. Whether an amino acid change results in a functional peptide can readily be determined by assaying the specific activity of the polypeptide derivative. Assays are described in detail herein. Fragments or analogs of antibodies or immunoglobulin molecules can be readily prepared by those of ordinary skill in the art. Suitable amino- and carboxy-termini of fragments or analogs occur near boundaries of functional domains. Structural and functional domains can be identified by comparison of the nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence data to public or proprietary sequence databases. In some embodiments, computerized comparison methods are used to identify sequence motifs or predicted protein conformation domains that occur in other proteins of known structure and/or function. Methods to identify protein sequences that fold into a known three-dimensional structure are known. Bowie et al. Science 253:164 (1991). Thus, the foregoing examples demonstrate that those of skill in the art can recognize sequence motifs and structural conformations that can be used to define structural and functional domains in accordance with the disclosure.

Suitable amino acid substitutions are those that: (1) reduce susceptibility to proteolysis, (2) reduce susceptibility to oxidation, (3) alter binding affinity for forming protein complexes, (4) alter binding affinities, and (5) confer or modify other physicochemical or functional properties of such analogs. Analogs can include various muteins of a sequence other than the naturally-occurring peptide sequence. For example, single or multiple amino acid substitutions (for example, conservative amino acid substitutions) can be made in the naturally-occurring sequence (for example, in the portion of the polypeptide outside the domain(s) forming intermolecular contacts. A conservative amino acid substitution should not substantially change the structural characteristics of the parent sequence (e.g., a replacement amino acid should not tend to break a helix that occurs in the parent sequence, or disrupt other types of secondary structure that characterizes the parent sequence). Examples of art-recognized polypeptide secondary and tertiary structures are described in Proteins, Structures and Molecular Principles (Creighton, Ed., W. H. Freeman and Company, New York (1984)); Introduction to Protein Structure (C. Branden and J. Tooze, eds., Garland Publishing, New York, N.Y. (1991)); and Thornton et at. Nature 354:105 (1991).

The term “polypeptide fragment” as used herein refers to a polypeptide that has an amino terminal and/or carboxy-terminal deletion and/or one or more internal deletion(s), but where the remaining amino acid sequence is identical to the corresponding positions in the naturally-occurring sequence deduced, for example, from a full length cDNA sequence. Fragments typically are at least 5, 6, 8 or 10 amino acids long, in some embodiments, at least 14 amino acids long, in some embodiments, at least 20 amino acids long, usually at least 50 amino acids long, and in some embodiments, at least 70 amino acids long. The term “analog” as used herein refers to polypeptides that are comprised of a segment of at least 25 amino acids that has substantial identity to a portion of a deduced amino acid sequence and that has specific binding to the target, under suitable binding conditions. Typically, polypeptide analogs comprise a conservative amino acid substitution (or addition or deletion) with respect to the naturally-occurring sequence. Analogs typically are at least 20 amino acids long, in some embodiments, at least 50 amino acids long or longer, and can often be as long as a full-length naturally-occurring polypeptide.

The term “agent” is used herein to denote a chemical compound, a mixture of chemical compounds, a biological macromolecule, or an extract made from biological materials.

As used herein, the terms “label” or “labeled” refers to incorporation of a detectable marker, e.g., by incorporation of a radiolabeled amino acid or attachment to a polypeptide of biotinyl moieties that can be detected by marked avidin (e.g., streptavidin containing a fluorescent marker or enzymatic activity that can be detected by optical or calorimetric methods). In certain situations, the label or marker can also be therapeutic. Various methods of labeling polypeptides and glycoproteins are known in the art and can be used. Examples of labels for polypeptides include, but are not limited to, the following:

radioisotopes or radionuclides (e.g., ³H, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ³⁵S, ⁹⁰Y, ⁹⁹Tc, ¹¹¹In, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I) fluorescent labels (e.g., FITC, rhodamine, lanthanide phosphors), enzymatic labels (e.g., horseradish peroxidase, p-galactosidase, luciferase, alkaline phosphatase), chemiluminescent, biotinyl groups, predetermined polypeptide epitopes recognized by a secondary reporter (e.g., leucine zipper pair sequences, binding sites for secondary antibodies, metal binding domains, epitope tags). In some embodiments, labels are attached by spacer arms of various lengths to reduce potential steric hindrance. The term “pharmaceutical agent or drug” as used herein refers to a chemical compound or composition capable of inducing a desired therapeutic effect when properly administered to a patient.

Other chemistry terms herein are used according to conventional usage in the art, as exemplified by The McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Chemical Terms (Parker, S., Ed., McGraw-Hill, San Francisco (1985)).

As used herein, “substantially pure” means an object species is the predominant species present (i.e., on a molar basis it is more abundant than any other individual species in the composition), and in some embodiments, a substantially purified fraction is a composition wherein the object species comprises at least about 50 percent (on a molar basis) of all macromolecular species present.

Generally, a substantially pure composition will comprise more than about 80 percent of all macromolecular species present in the composition, in some embodiments, more than about 85%, 90%, 95%, and 99%. In some embodiments, the object species is purified to essential homogeneity (contaminant species cannot be detected in the composition by conventional detection methods) wherein the composition consists essentially of a single macromolecular species.

The term patient includes human and veterinary subjects.

Antibodies and/or activatable antibodies of the disclosure specifically bind a given target, e.g., a human target protein. Also included in the disclosure are antibodies and/or activatable antibodies that bind to the same epitope as the antibodies and/or activatable antibodies described herein. Also included in the disclosure are antibodies and/or antibodies activatable antibodies that compete with an antibody and/or an activatable antibody described herein for binding to a target. Also included in the disclosure are antibodies and/or antibodies activatable antibodies that cross-compete with an antibody and/or an activatable antibody described herein for binding to a target.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is possible to determine, without undue experimentation, if a monoclonal antibody (e.g., a murine monoclonal or humanized antibody) has the same specificity as a monoclonal antibody used in the methods described herein by ascertaining whether the former prevents the latter from binding to the target. If the monoclonal antibody being tested competes with the monoclonal antibody of the disclosure, as shown by a decrease in binding by the monoclonal antibody of the disclosure, then the two monoclonal antibodies bind to the same, or a closely related, epitope. An alternative method for determining whether a monoclonal antibody has the specificity of a monoclonal antibody of the disclosure is to pre-incubate the monoclonal antibody of the disclosure with the target and then add the monoclonal antibody being tested to determine if the monoclonal antibody being tested is inhibited in its ability to bind the target. If the monoclonal antibody being tested is inhibited then, in all likelihood, it has the same, or functionally equivalent, epitopic specificity as the monoclonal antibody of the disclosure.

Multispecific Activatable Antibodies

The disclosure also provides methods and compositions using multispecific activatable antibodies. The multispecific activatable antibodies provided herein are multispecific antibodies that recognize a target and at least one or more different antigens or epitopes and that include at least one masking moiety (MM) linked to at least one antigen- or epitope-binding domain of the multispecific antibody such that coupling of the MM reduces the ability of the antigen- or epitope-binding domain to bind its target. In some embodiments, the MM is coupled to the antigen- or epitope-binding domain of the multispecific antibody via a cleavable moiety (CM) that functions as a substrate for at least one protease. The activatable multispecific antibodies provided herein are stable in circulation, activated at intended sites of therapy and/or diagnosis but not in normal, i.e. , healthy tissue, and, when activated, exhibit binding to a target that is at least comparable to the corresponding, unmodified multispecific antibody.

In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibodies are designed to engage immune effector cells, also referred to herein as immune-effector cell engaging multispecific activatable antibodies. In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibodies are designed to engage leukocytes, also referred to herein as leukocyte engaging multispecific activatable antibodies. In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibodies are designed to engage T cells, also referred to herein as T-cell engaging multispecific activatable antibodies. In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibodies engage a surface antigen on a leukocyte, such as on a T cell, on a natural killer (NK) cell, on a myeloid mononuclear cell, on a macrophage, and/or on another immune effector cell. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell is a leukocyte. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell is a T cell. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell is a NK cell. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell is a mononuclear cell, such as a myeloid mononuclear cell. In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibodies are designed to bind or otherwise interact with more than one target and/or more than one epitope, also referred to herein as multi-antigen targeting activatable antibodies. As used herein, the terms “target” and “antigen” are used interchangeably.

In some embodiments, immune effector cell engaging multispecific activatable antibodies of the disclosure include a targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a target and an immune effector cell engaging antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, where at least one of the targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and/or the immune effector cell engaging antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof is masked. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell engaging antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof includes a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1) that binds a first, immune effector cell engaging target, where the AB1 is attached to a masking moiety (MM1) such that coupling of the MM1 reduces the ability of the AB1 to bind the first target. In some embodiments, the targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof includes a second antibody or fragment thereof that includes a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB2) that binds a target, where the AB2 is attached to a masking moiety (MM2) such that coupling of the MM2 reduces the ability of the AB2 to binds the target. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell engaging antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof includes a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1) that binds a first, immune effector cell engaging target, where the AB1 is attached to a masking moiety (MM1) such that coupling of the MM1 reduces the ability of the AB1 to bind the first target, and the targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof includes a second antibody or fragment thereof that includes a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB2) that binds a target, where the AB2 is attached to a masking moiety (MM2) such that coupling of the MM2 reduces the ability of the AB2 to binds the target. In some embodiments, the non-immune effector cell engaging antibody is a cancer targeting antibody. In some embodiments the non-immune cell effector antibody is an IgG. In some embodiments the immune effector cell engaging antibody is a scFv. In some embodiments the targeting antibody (e.g., non-immune cell effector antibody) is an IgG and the immune effector cell engaging antibody is a scFv. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell is a leukocyte. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell is a T cell. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell is a NK cell. In some embodiments, the immune effector cell is a myeloid mononuclear cell.

In some embodiments, T-cell engaging multispecific activatable antibodies of the disclosure include a targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and a T-cell engaging antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, where at least one of the targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and/or the T-cell engaging antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof is masked. In some embodiments, the T-cell engaging antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof includes a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1) that binds a first, T-cell engaging target, where the AB1 is attached to a masking moiety (MM1) such that coupling of the MM1 reduces the ability of the AB1 to bind the first target. In some embodiments, the targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof includes a second antibody or fragment thereof that includes a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB2) that binds a target, where the AB2 is attached to a masking moiety (MM2) such that coupling of the MM2 reduces the ability of the AB2 to binds the target. In some embodiments, the T-cell engaging antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof includes a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1) that binds a first, T-cell engaging target, where the AB1 is attached to a masking moiety (MM1) such that coupling of the MM1 reduces the ability of the AB1 to bind the first target, and the targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof includes a second antibody or fragment thereof that includes a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB2) that binds a target, where the AB2 is attached to a masking moiety (MM2) such that coupling of the MM2 reduces the ability of the AB2 to binds the target.

In some embodiments of an immune effector cell engaging multispecific activatable antibody, one antigen is the target, and another antigen is typically a stimulatory or inhibitory receptor present on the surface of a T-cell, natural killer (NK) cell, myeloid mononuclear cell, macrophage, and/or other immune effector cell, such as, but not limited to, B7-H4, BTLA, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16a, CD25, CD27, CD28, CD32, CD56, CD137, CTLA-4, GITR, HVEM, ICOS, LAG3, NKG2D, OX40, PD-1, TIGIT, TIM3, or VISTA. In some embodiments, the antigen is a stimulatory receptor present on the surface of a T cell or NK cell; examples of such stimulatory receptors include, but are not limited to, CD3, CD27, CD28, CD137 (also referred to as 4-1BB), GITR, HVEM, ICOS, NKG2D, and OX40. In some embodiments, the antigen is an inhibitory receptor present on the surface of a T-cell; examples of such inhibitory receptors include, but are not limited to, BTLA, CTLA-4, LAG3, PD-1, TIGIT, TIM3, and NK-expressed KIRs. The antibody domain conferring specificity to the T-cell surface antigen may also be substituted by a ligand or ligand domain that binds to a T-cell receptor, a NK-cell receptor, a macrophage receptor, and/or other immune effector cell receptor, such as, but not limited to, B7-1, B7-2, B7H3, PDL1, PDL2, or TNFSF9.

In some embodiments, the T-cell engaging multispecific activatable antibody includes an anti-CD3 epsilon (CD3ε, also referred to herein as CD3e and CD3) scFv and a targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, where at least one of the anti-CD3ε scFv and/or the targeting antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof is masked. In some embodiments, the CD3ε scFv includes a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1) that binds CD3ε, where the AB1 is attached to a masking moiety (MM1) such that coupling of the MM1 reduces the ability of the AB1 to bind CD3ε. In some embodiments, the targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof includes a second antibody or fragment thereof that includes a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB2) that binds a target, where the AB2 is attached to a masking moiety (MM2) such that coupling of the MM2 reduces the ability of the AB2 to binds the target. In some embodiments, the CD3ε scFv includes a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1) that binds CD3ε, where the AB1 is attached to a masking moiety (MM1) such that coupling of the MM1 reduces the ability of the AB1 to bind CD3ε, and the targeting antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof includes a second antibody or fragment thereof that includes a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB2) that binds a target, where the AB2 is attached to a masking moiety (MM2) such that coupling of the MM2 reduces the ability of the AB2 to binds the target.

In some embodiments, the multi-antigen targeting antibodies and/or multi-antigen targeting activatable antibodies include at least a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a first target and/or first epitope and a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds a second target and/or a second epitope. In some embodiments, the multi-antigen targeting antibodies and/or multi-antigen targeting activatable antibodies bind two or more different targets. In some embodiments, the multi-antigen targeting antibodies and/or multi-antigen targeting activatable antibodies bind two or more different epitopes on the same target. In some embodiments, the multi-antigen targeting antibodies and/or multi-antigen targeting activatable antibodies bind a combination of two or more different targets and two or more different epitopes on the same target.

In some embodiments, a multispecific activatable antibody comprising an IgG has the IgG variable domains masked. In some embodiments, a multispecific activatable antibody comprising a scFv has the scFv domains masked. In some embodiments, a multispecific activatable antibody has both IgG variable domains and scFv domains, where at least one of the IgG variable domains is coupled to a masking moiety. In some embodiments, a multispecific activatable antibody has both IgG variable domains and scFv domains, where at least one of the scFv domains is coupled to a masking moiety. In some embodiments, a multispecific activatable antibody has both IgG variable domains and scFv domains, where at least one of the IgG variable domains is coupled to a masking moiety and at least one of the scFv domains is coupled to a masking moiety. In some embodiments, a multispecific activatable antibody has both IgG variable domains and scFv domains, where each of the IgG variable domains and the scFv domains is coupled to its own masking moiety. In some embodiments, one antibody domain of a multispecific activatable antibody has specificity for a target antigen and another antibody domain has specificity for a T-cell surface antigen. In some embodiments, one antibody domain of a multispecific activatable antibody has specificity for a target antigen and another antibody domain has specificity for another target antigen. In some embodiments, one antibody domain of a multispecific activatable antibody has specificity for an epitope of a target antigen and another antibody domain has specificity for another epitope of the target antigen.

In a multispecific activatable antibody, a scFv can be fused to the carboxyl terminus of the heavy chain of an IgG activatable antibody, to the carboxyl terminus of the light chain of an IgG activatable antibody, or to the carboxyl termini of both the heavy and light chains of an IgG activatable antibody. In a multispecific activatable antibody, a scFv can be fused to the amino terminus of the heavy chain of an IgG activatable antibody, to the amino terminus of the light chain of an IgG activatable antibody, or to the amino termini of both the heavy and light chains of an IgG activatable antibody. In a multispecific activatable antibody, a scFv can be fused to any combination of one or more carboxyl termini and one or more amino termini of an IgG activatable antibody. In some embodiments, a masking moiety (MM) linked to a cleavable moiety (CM) is attached to and masks an antigen binding domain of the IgG. In some embodiments, a masking moiety (MM) linked to a cleavable moiety (CM) is attached to and masks an antigen binding domain of at least one scFv. In some embodiments, a masking moiety (MM) linked to a cleavable moiety (CM) is attached to and masks an antigen binding domain of an IgG and a masking moiety (MM) linked to a cleavable moiety (CM) is attached to and masks an antigen binding domain of at least one scFv.

The disclosure provides examples of multispecific activatable antibody structures which include, but are not limited to, the following: (VL-CL)₂:(VH-CH1-CH2-CH3-L4-VH*-L3-VL*-L2-CM-L 1-MM)₂; (VL-CL)₂: (VH-CH1-CH2-CH3-L4-VL*-L3-VH*-L2-CM-L 1-MM)₂; (MM-L 1-CM-L2-VL-CL)₂: (VH-CH1-CH2-CH3-L4-VH*-L3-VL*)₂; (MM-L 1-CM-L2-VL-CL)₂: (VH-CH1-CH2-CH3-L4-VL*-L3-VH*)₂; (VL-CL)₂: (MM-L 1-CM-L2-VL*-L3-VH*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL)₂: (MM-L 1-CM-L2-VH*-L3-VL*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (MM-L 1-CM-L2-VL-CL)₂: (VL*-L3-VH*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (MM-L1-CM-L2-VL-CL)₂:(VH*-L3-VL*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VH*-L3-VL*-L2-CM-L 1-MM)₂: (VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VL*-L3-VH*-L2-CM-L 1-MM)₂:(VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (MM-L 1-CM-L2-VL*-L3-VH*-L4-VL-CL)₂: (VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (MM-L 1-CM-L2-VH*-L3-VL*-L4-VL-CL)₂: (VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VH*-L3-VL*-L2-CM-L 1-MM)₂: (MM-L 1-CM-L2-VL*-L3-VH*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VH*-L3-VL*-L2-CM-L1-MM)₂: (MM-L1-CM-L2-VH*-L3-VL*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VL*-L3-VH*-L2-CM-L 1-MM)₂: (MM-L 1-CM-L2-VL*-L3-VH*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VL*-L3-VH*-L2-CM-L 1-MM)₂: (MM-L1-CM-L2-VH*-L3-VL*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VH*-L3-VL*)₂: (MM-L1-CM-L2-VL*-L3-VH*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VH*-L3-VL*)₂: (MM-L1-CM-L2-VH*-L3-VL*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VL*-L3-VH*)₂: (MM-L1-CM-L2-VL*-L3-VH*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VL*-L3-VH*)₂: (MM-L1-CM-L2-VH*-L3-VL*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VH*-L3-VL*-L2-CM-L1-MM)₂: (VL*-L3-VH*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VH*-L3-VL*-L2-CM-L1-MM)₂: (VH*-L3-VL*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; (VL-CL-L4-VL*-L3-VH*-L2-CM-L1-MM)₂: (VL*-L3-VH*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂; or (VL-CL-L4-VL*-L3-VH*-L2-CM-L1-MM)₂: (VH*-L3-VL*-L4-VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)₂, wherein: VL and VH represent the light and heavy variable domains of the first specificity, contained in the IgG; VL* and VH* represent the variable domains of the second specificity, contained in the scFv; L1 is a linker peptide connecting the masking moiety (MM) and the cleavable moiety (CM); L2 is a linker peptide connecting the cleavable moiety (CM), and the antibody; L3 is a linker peptide connecting the variable domains of the scFv; L4 is a linker peptide connecting the antibody of the first specificity to the antibody of the second specificity; CL is the light-chain constant domain; and CH1, CH2, CH3 are the heavy chain constant domains. The first and second specificities can be toward any antigen or epitope.

In some embodiments of a T-cell engaging multispecific activatable antibody, one antigen is the target, and another antigen is typically a stimulatory (also referred to herein as activating) or inhibitory receptor present on the surface of a T-cell, natural killer (NK) cell, myeloid mononuclear cell, macrophage, and/or other immune effector cell, such as, but not limited to, B7-H4, BTLA, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16a, CD25, CD27, CD28, CD32, CD56, CD137 (also referred to as TNFRSF9), CTLA-4, GITR, HVEM, ICOS, LAG3, NKG2D, OX40, PD-1, TIGIT, TIM3, or VISTA. The antibody domain conferring specificity to the T-cell surface antigen may also be substituted by a ligand or ligand domain that binds to a T-cell receptor, a NK-cell receptor, a macrophage receptor, and/or other immune effector cell receptor.

In some embodiments, the targeting antibody is an antibody disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the targeting antibody can be in the form an activatable antibody. In some embodiments, the scFv(s) can be in the form of a Pro-scFv (see, e.g., WO 2009/025846, WO 2010/081173).

In some embodiments, the scFv is specific for binding CD3c, and comprises or is derived from an antibody or fragment thereof that binds CD3E, e.g., CH2527, FN18, H2C, OKT3, 2C11, UCHT1, or V9. In some embodiments, the scFv is specific for binding CTLA-4 (also referred to herein as CTLA and CTLA4).

In some embodiments, the anti-CTLA-4 scFv includes the amino acid sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 643)

GGGSGGGGSGSGGGSGGGGSGGGEIVLTQSPGTLSLSPGERATLSCRASQ

SVSSSYLAWYQQKPGQAPRLLIYGASSRATGIPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLTIS

RLEPEDFAVYYCQQYGSSPLTFGGGTKVEIKRSGGSTITSYNVYYTKLSS

SGTQVQLVQTGGGVVQPGRSLRLSCAASGSTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEW

VSAISGSGGSTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCA

TNSLYWYFDLWGRGTLVTVSSAS

In some embodiments, the anti-CTLA-4 scFv includes the amino acid sequence that is at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 643.

In some embodiments, the anti-CD3ε scFv includes the amino acid sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 644)

GGGSGGGGSGSGGGSGGGGSGGGQVQLQQSGAELARPGASVKMSCKASGY

TFTRYTMHWVKQRPGQGLEWIGYINPSRGYTNYNQKFKDKATLTTDKSSS

TAYMQLSSLTSEDSAVYYCARYYDDHYCLDYWGQGTTLTVSSGGGGSGGG

GSGGGGSQIVLTQSPAIMSASPGEKVTMTCSASSSVSYMNWYQQKSGTSP

KRWIYDTSKLASGVPAHFRGSGSGTSYSLTISGMEAEDAATYYCQQWSSN

PFTFGSGTKLEINR

In some embodiments, the anti-CD3ε scFv includes the amino acid sequence that is at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 644.

In some embodiments, the scFv is specific for binding one or more T-cells, one or more NK-cells and/or one or more macrophages. In some embodiments, the scFv is specific for binding a target selected from the group consisting of B7-H4, BTLA, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16a, CD25, CD27, CD28, CD32, CD56, CD137, CTLA-4, GITR, HVEM, ICOS, LAG3, NKG2D, OX40, PD-1, TIGIT, TIM3, or VISTA.

In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibody also includes an agent conjugated to the AB. In some embodiments, the agent is a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the agent is an antineoplastic agent. In some embodiments, the agent is a toxin or fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is conjugated to the multispecific activatable antibody via a linker. In some embodiments, the agent is conjugated to the AB via a cleavable linker. In some embodiments, the linker is a non-cleavable linker. In some embodiments, the agent is a microtubule inhibitor. In some embodiments, the agent is a nucleic acid damaging agent, such as a DNA alkylator or DNA intercalator, or other DNA damaging agent. In some embodiments, the linker is a cleavable linker. In some embodiments, the agent is an agent selected from the group listed in Table 5. In some embodiments, the agent is a dolastatin. In some embodiments, the agent is an auristatin or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is auristatin E or a derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). In some embodiments, the agent is monomethyl auristatin D (MMAD). In some embodiments, the agent is a maytansinoid or maytansinoid derivative. In some embodiments, the agent is DM1 or DM4. In some embodiments, the agent is a duocarmycin or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is a calicheamicin or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the agent is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine. In some embodiments, the agent is a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer.

In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibody also includes a detectable moiety. In some embodiments, the detectable moiety is a diagnostic agent.

In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibody naturally contains one or more disulfide bonds. In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibody can be engineered to include one or more disulfide bonds.

The disclosure also provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a multispecific activatable antibody described herein, as well as vectors that include these isolated nucleic acid sequences. The disclosure provides methods of producing a multispecific activatable antibody by culturing a cell under conditions that lead to expression of the activatable antibody, wherein the cell comprises such a nucleic acid molecule. In some embodiments, the cell comprises such a vector.

The disclosure also provides a method of manufacturing multispecific activatable antibodies of the disclosure by (a) culturing a cell comprising a nucleic acid construct that encodes the multispecific activatable antibody under conditions that lead to expression of the multispecific activatable, and (b) recovering the multispecific activatable antibody. Suitable AB, MM, and/or CM include any of the AB, MM, and/or CM disclosed herein.

The disclosure also provides multispecific activatable antibodies and/or multispecific activatable antibody compositions that include at least a first antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (AB1) that specifically binds a first target or first epitope and a second antibody or antigen-biding fragment thereof (AB2) that binds a second target or a second epitope, where at least AB1 is coupled or otherwise attached to a masking moiety (MM1), such that coupling of the MM1 reduces the ability of AB1 to bind its target. In some embodiments, the MM1 is coupled to AB1 via a first cleavable moiety (CM1) sequence that includes a substrate for a protease, for example, a protease that is co-localized with the target of AB1 at a treatment site or a diagnostic site in a subject. The multispecific activatable antibodies provided herein are stable in circulation, activated at intended sites of therapy and/or diagnosis but not in normal, i.e., healthy tissue, and, when activated, exhibit binding to the target of AB1 that is at least comparable to the corresponding, unmodified multispecific antibody. Suitable AB, MM, and/or CM include any of the AB, MM, and/or CM disclosed herein.

The disclosure also provides compositions and methods that include a multispecific activatable antibody that includes at least a first antibody or antibody fragment (AB1) that specifically binds a target and a second antibody or antibody fragment (AB2), where at least the first AB in the multispecific activatable antibody is coupled to a masking moiety (MM1) that decreases the ability of AB1 to bind its target. In some embodiments, each AB is coupled to a MM that decreases the ability of its corresponding AB to each target. For example, in bispecific activatable antibody embodiments, AB1 is coupled to a first masking moiety (MM1) that decreases the ability of AB1 to bind its target, and AB2 is coupled to a second masking moiety (MM2) that decreases the ability of AB2 to bind its target. In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibody comprises more than two AB regions; in such embodiments, AB1 is coupled to a first masking moiety (MM1) that decreases the ability of AB1 to bind its target, AB2 is coupled to a second masking moiety (MM2) that decreases the ability of AB2 to bind its target, AB3 is coupled to a third masking moiety (MM3) that decreases the ability of AB3 to bind its target, and so on for each AB in the multispecific activatable antibody. Suitable AB, MM, and/or CM include any of the AB, MM, and/or CM disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibody further includes at least one cleavable moiety (CM) that is a substrate for a protease, where the CM links a MM to an AB. For example, in some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibody includes at least a first antibody or antibody fragment (AB1) that specifically binds a target and a second antibody or antibody fragment (AB2), where at least the first AB in the multispecific activatable antibody is coupled via a first cleavable moiety (CM1) to a masking moiety (MM1) that decreases the ability of AB1 to bind its target. In some bispecific activatable antibody embodiments, AB1 is coupled via CM1 to MM1, and AB2 is coupled via a second cleavable moiety (CM2) to a second masking moiety (MM2) that decreases the ability of AB2 to bind its target. In some embodiments, the multispecific activatable antibody comprises more than two AB regions; in some of these embodiments, AB1 is coupled via CM1 to MM1, AB2 is coupled via CM2 to MM2, and AB3 is coupled via a third cleavable moiety (CM3) to a third masking moiety (MM3) that decreases the ability of AB3 to bind its target, and so on for each AB in the multispecific activatable antibody. Suitable AB, MM, and/or CM include any of the AB, MM, and/or CM disclosed herein.

Activatable antibodies Having Non-Binding Steric Moieties or Binding Partners for Non-Binding Steric Moieties

In some embodiment, the compositions and methods provided herein are used with activatable antibodies that include non-binding steric moieties (NB) or binding partners (BP) for non-binding steric moieties, where the BP recruits or otherwise attracts the NB to the activatable antibody. The activatable antibodies provided herein include, for example, an activatable antibody that includes a non-binding steric moiety (NB), a cleavable linker (CL) and antibody or antibody fragment (AB) that binds a target; an activatable antibody that includes a binding partner for a non-binding steric moiety (BP), a CL and an AB; and an activatable antibody that includes a BP to which an NB has been recruited, a CL and an AB that binds the target. Activatable antibodies in which the NB is covalently linked to the CL and AB of the activatable antibody or is associated by interaction with a BP that is covalently linked to the CL and AB of the activatable antibody are referred to herein as “NB-containing activatable antibodies.” By activatable or switchable is meant that the activatable antibody exhibits a first level of binding to a target when the activatable antibody is in an inhibited, masked or uncleaved state (i.e., a first conformation), and a second level of binding to the target when the activatable antibody is in an uninhibited, unmasked and/or cleaved state (i.e., a second conformation, i.e., activated antibody), where the second level of target binding is greater than the first level of target binding. The activatable antibody compositions can exhibit increased bioavailability and more favorable biodistribution compared to conventional antibody therapeutics.

In some embodiments, activatable antibodies provide for reduced toxicity and/or adverse side effects that could otherwise result from binding of the at non-treatment sites and/or non-diagnostic sites if the AB were not masked or otherwise inhibited from binding to such a site.

Activatable antibodies that include a non-binding steric moiety (NB) can be made using the methods set forth in PCT Publication No. WO 2013/192546, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Embodiments of the invention include the following:

1. A method of quantitating a level of activation of an activatable antibody-based therapeutic, the method comprising:

i) loading at least one capillary or a population of capillaries with a stacking matrix and a separation matrix;

ii) contacting the loaded capillary or population of loaded capillaries with a biological sample;

iii) separating high molecular weight (MW) components of the biological sample from low molecular weight (MW) components of the biological sample within each capillary;

iv) immobilizing the high MW components and the low MW components within each capillary;

v) immunoprobing each capillary with at least one detectable reagent that is specific for at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof; and

vi) quantitating a level of detectable reagent in each capillary or population of capillaries.

2. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the at least one detectable reagent in step v) comprises at least a first reagent that is specific for at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof and a second reagent that specifically binds to or recognizes the first reagent, wherein the second reagent comprises a detectable label.
3. The method of embodiment 2, wherein step vi) comprises quantitating a level of detectable label in each capillary or population of capillaries.
4. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein step ii) comprises loading approximately 1-500 ng of biological sample.
5. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein step ii) comprises loading approximately 5-40 ng of biological sample.
6. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the biological sample is prepared using one or more SDS-containing buffers in an amount sufficient to result in molecular weight separation.
7. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein step iv) comprises using UV light to immobilize the high MW components and the low MW components of the biological sample.
8. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the first reagent in step v) is an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof.
9. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the second reagent in step v) is a detectably labeled secondary antibody that specifically binds to the first reagent.
10. The method of any one of embodiments to 1 to 7, wherein the first reagent in step v) is a primary antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to at least one activatable antibody, conjugated activatable antibody, multispecific activatable antibody, conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or combination thereof, and the second reagent in step v) is a detectably labeled secondary antibody that specifically binds to the primary antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.
11. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the detectable label is conjugated to the second reagent.
12. The method of embodiment 11, wherein the detectable label is a fluorescent label, and step vi) comprises detecting a level of chemiluminescence in each capillary or population of capillaries.
13. The method of embodiment 12, wherein the detectable label is horseradish peroxidase (HRP).
14. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein the biological sample is a bodily fluid.
15. The method of embodiment 14, wherein the bodily fluid is blood, plasma, or serum.
16. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein the biological sample is a diseased tissue.
17. The method of embodiment 16, wherein the diseased tissue is a lysate.
18. The method of embodiment 16 or embodiment 17, wherein the disease tissue is tumor tissue.
19. The method of any of embodiments 1-18, wherein the method compares amounts of activated and intact activatable antibody or activatable antibody-based therapeutics.
20. The method of embodiment 19, wherein the activatable antibody-based therapeutic is a conjugated activatable antibody, a multispecific activatable antibody, a conjugated multispecific activatable antibody, or any combination thereof.
21. An isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRH1) comprising the amino acid sequence SYGMS (SEQ ID NO: 438); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRH2) comprising the amino acid sequence TISPSGIYTYYPVTVKG (SEQ ID NO: 439); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) comprising the amino acid sequence HHPNYGSTYLYYIDY (SEQ ID NO: 440); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRL1) comprising the amino acid sequence KSSQSVFSSSNQKNYLA (SEQ ID NO: 441); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRL2) comprising the amino acid sequence WAFTRES (SEQ ID NO: 442); and a variable light chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3) comprising the amino acid sequence YQYLSSLT (SEQ ID NO: 443).
22. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of embodiment 21, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a variable heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 429.
23. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of embodiment 21 or embodiment 22, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a variable light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 431.
24. An isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising a variable heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 429.
25. The isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of embodiment 24 comprising a variable light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 431.
26. An isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising a variable light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 431.
27. The isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of embodiment 26 comprising a variable heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 429.

The invention will be further described in the following examples, which do not limit the scope of the invention described in the claims.

EXAMPLES
Example 1. Generation of Antibodies that Bind Activated and Intact anti-PDL1 Activatable Antibodies

The studies provided herein were designed to generate and evaluate antibodies that bind anti-PDL1 activatable antibodies of the disclosure.

The studies presented herein used the anti-PDL1 activatable antibody referred to herein as PL07-2001-C5H9v2, which comprises the heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 425 and the light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 426, as shown below.

PL07-2001-C5H9v2 Heavy Chain Amino Acid Sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 425)

EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSS

IWRNGIVTVYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKWS

AAFDYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFP

EPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCN

VDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKYGPPCPPCPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMIS

RTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVS

VLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPS

QEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSF

FLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLG

PL07-2001-C5H9v2 Light Chain Amino Acid Sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 426)

QGQSGSGIALCPSHFCQLPQTGGGSSGGSGGSGGISSGLLSGRSDNHGGS

DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQSISSYLNWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYA

ASSLQSGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQDNGYPSTFGG

GTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKV

DNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQG

LSSPVTKSFNRGEC

Mice were immunized by GenScript Biotech Corporation with peptide antigen CQQDNGYPSTFGGGT (SEQ ID NO: 427), comprising the VL CDR3 of anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2, that was conjugated to the carrier protein Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) using the procedure shown below in Table 3. Six three-month old (3 Balb/c and 3 C56) mice were immunized according to the protocol listed below. At the time of each injection, the antigen aliquot was thawed and combined with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) for the first injection or with incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA) for subsequent injections.

TABLE 3

Immunization Schedule

Procedure
Schedule
Dosage and route

Pre-Immune Bleed
T = −4 days

Primary immunization
T = 0 days
50 μg/animal, s.c

Boost 1
T = 14 days
25 μg/animal, s.c

Test Bleed 1
T = 21 days

Boost 2
T = 28 days
25 μg/animal, s.c

Test Bleed 2
T = 35 days

Final Boost
T = 50 ± 7 days
25 μg/animal, i.v.

Cell Fusion
4 days after final boost

Serum titers against the free peptide as well as counter screen antigen (human IgG) were evaluated in test bleeds using a standard ELISA procedure. Leads were evaluated against full length activatable antibody in human plasma by Western blot. The results indicated that all mice had comparable titers against the respective immunogen. Antisera were tested against activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 on the Wes™ system (ProteinSimple), and two mice were chosen for cell fusion.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies were generated as follows: Lymphocytes from the two mice were used for hybridoma fusion and plated on forty 96-well plates (400 million lymphocytes per mouse). The plates were kept in tissue culture incubators under standard conditions.

Example 2. Screening of Hybridoma Clones and Antibody Characterization

This Example describes the screening and characterization of hybridoma clones and resultant antibodies generated against anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2.

Hybridoma supernatant from parental clones were screened by GenScript against a short peptide containing the VL CDR3 of activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 by indirect ELISA. Briefly, GenScript high binding plates were coated with peptide-BSA at 1 ug/mL concentration, 100 uL/well. Supernatant was used without dilution. Anti-serum at 1:1000 dilution was used as positive control. Peroxidase-AffiniPure Goat Anti-Mouse IgG, Fcy Fragment Specific (minimum cross-reactive with human, bovine or horse serum albumin, also referred to as min X Hu,Bov,Hrs Sr Prot) was used as secondary. Twenty clones with positive signals were further screened against anti-PDL1 antibody C5H9v2, the parental antibody of activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2, and 5 ug/mL of human IgG. Anti-PDL1 antibody C5H9v2 was coated onto high binding plates at 1 ug/mL concentration, 100 uL/well. Human IgG was coated onto high-binding plates at 5 ug/mL concentration, 100 uL/well. Western blot analysis was also performed on these 20 clones using 200 ng of denatured and reduced anti-PDL1 antibody C5H9v2 as target. As a final screen, supernatants from the 20 clones were also assessed on the Wes™ system (ProteinSimple). Briefly, all 20 clones were tested against 1 ug/mL of one-arm activated activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 in 0.1× sample buffer and 1 ug/mL of one-arm activated activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 in 1:100 human plasma. The top 6 clones as assessed by intensity and specificity of binding to activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2, referred to as 17G1, 18F1, 19H12, and 23H6, 21H10 and 27C1, were further screened against one-arm activated activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 at 0.11 and 0.33 ug/mL concentrations in 1:100 human plasma. Results are shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, which shows screening of activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 anti-idiotypic (anti-id) clones against 37% one-arm activated activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 at 0.11, 0.33 and 1 ug/ml in human plasma at 1:100. FIG. 1A is an electropherogram showing 17G1 detection of decreasing concentrations of one-arm activated activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 (1, 0.33, and 0.11 ug/ml). FIG. 1B portrays the relative activation percent for the top 6 clones of one-arm activated activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2. The relative activation rate is preserved at different concentrations. Clones 21H10 and 27C1 have lower affinity resulting in no data for the 0.11 ug/ml concentration.

Clones 17G1, 18F1, 19H12, and 23H6 were selected for subcloning and characterization. Molecular cloning was performed using the following method. Total RNA was isolated from the fresh hybridoma cells recovered by GenScript following the techniques described in the TRIzol® Reagent technical manual (ThermoFisher). Total RNA was then reverse-transcribed into cDNA using either isotype-specific anti-sense primers or universal primers following the techniques described in the PrimeScript™ 1st Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit (Clontech). Variable heavy (VH), variable light (VL), heavy chain (HC) and light chain (LC) antibody fragments were amplified according to GenScript's rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) protocol. Each of the amplified antibody fragments were cloned into separate standard cloning vectors. Colony PCR was performed to screen for clones with inserts of correct sizes. No less than five colonies with inserts of correct sizes were sequenced for each fragment. The sequences of different clones were aligned and the consensus sequence was determined.

The nucleic and amino acid sequences of antibody 17G1 are provided below. The 17G1 antibody includes a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRH1) comprising the amino acid sequence SYGMS (SEQ ID NO: 438); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRH2) comprising the amino acid sequence TISPSGIYTYYPVTVKG (SEQ ID NO: 439); a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) comprising the amino acid sequence HHPNYGSTYLYYIDY (SEQ ID NO: 440); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRL1) comprising the amino acid sequence KSSQSVFSSSNQKNYLA (SEQ ID NO: 441); a variable light chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRL2) comprising the amino acid sequence WAFTRES (SEQ ID NO: 442); and a variable light chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3) comprising the amino acid sequence YQYLSSLT (SEQ ID NO: 443).

Mature Variable Heavy Region: DNA sequence

[FR1]-[CDR1]-[FR2]-[CDR2]-[FR3]-[CDR3]-[FR4]

(SEQ ID NO: 428)

[GAGGTGCAGTTGGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGACTTAGTGAAGCCTGGAGGG

TCCCTGAAAGTCTCCTGTGCAGCCTCTGGATTCACTTTCAGT][AGTTA

TGGCATGTCT][TGGGTTCGCCAGACTCCAGACAAAAGGCTGGAGTGGG

TCGCA][ACCATTAGTCCTAGTGGTATATACACCTACTATCCAGTCACT

GTGAAGGGG][CGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAATGCCAAGAACACCCT

GTACCTGCAAATGAGCAGTCTGAAGTCTGAGGACACAGCCATGTATTTC

TGTGCAAGA][CACCATCCAAACTATGGTAGTACGTACCTGTATTATAT

TGATTAC][TGGGGCCAAGGCACCGCTCTCACAGTCTCCTCA]

Mature Variable Heavy Region: Amino acid sequence

[FR1]-[CDR1]-[FR2]-[CDR2]-[FR3]-[CDR3]-[FR4]

(SEQ ID NO: 429)

[EVQLVESGGDLVKPGGSLKVSCAASGFTFS][SYGMS][WVRQTPDKR

LEWVA][TISPSGIYTYYPVTVKG][RFTISRDNAKNTLYLQMSSLKSE

DTAMYFCAR]

Mature Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence: 17G1_

Hc mIgG2a

(SEQ ID NO: 444)

EVQLVESGGDLVKPGGSLKVSCAASGFTFSSYGMSWVRQTPDKRLEWVA

TISPSGIYTYYPVTVKGRFTISRDNAKNTLYLQMSSLKSEDTAMYFCAR

HHPNYGSTYLYYIDYWGQGTALTVSSAKTTAPSVYPLAPVCGDTTGSSV

TLGCLVKGYFPEPVTLTWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVTS

STWPSQSITCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIEPRGPTIKPCPPCKCPAPNLLGGP

SVFIFPPKIKDVLMISLSPIVTCVVVDVSEDDPDVQISWFVNNVEVHTA

QTQTHREDYNSTLRVVSALPIQHQDWMSGKEFKCKVNNKDLPAPIERTI

SKPKGSVRAPQVYVLPPPEEEMTKKQVTLTCMVTDFMPEDIYVEWTNNG

KTELNYKNTEPVLDSDGSYFMYSKLRVEKKNWVERNSYSCSVVHEGLHN

HHTTKSFSRTPGK

Mature Variable Light Region: DNA sequence

[FR1]-[CDR1]-[FR2]-[CDR2]-[FR3]-[CDR3]-[FR4]

(SEQ ID NO: 430)

[AACATTATGATGACACAGTCGCCATCATCTCTGGCTGTGTCTGCAGGA

GAAAAGGTCACTATGGCCTGT][AAGTCCAGTCAAAGTGTTTTTTCCAG

TTCAAATCAGAAGAACTACTTGGCC][TGGTACCAGCAGAAACCAGGGC

AGTCTCCTAAAATACTGATCTAC][TGGGCTTTCACTAGGGAATCT][G

GTGTCCCTGACCGCTTCTCAGGCAGTGGATCTGGGACAGATTTTACTCT

TACCATCAGCAGTGTGCAAGCTGAAGACCTGGCAGTTTATTACTGT][T

ATCAATACCTCTCCTCACTCACG][TTCGGTGCTGGGACCAAGCTGGAG

GTGAAA]

Mature Variable Light Region: Amino acid sequence

[FR1]-[CDR1]-[FR2]-[CDR2]-[FR3]-[CDR3]-[FR4]

(SEQ ID NO: 431)

[NIMMTQSPSSLAVSAGEKVTMAC][KSSQSVFSSSNQKNYLA][WYQQ

KPGQSPKILIY][WAFTRES][GVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSVQAEDL

AVYYC][YQYLSSLT][FGAGTKLEVK]

Mature Light chain: Amino acid sequence: 17G1_

Lc mk

(SEQ ID NO: 445)

NIMMTQSPSSLAVSAGEKVTMACKSSQSVFSSSNQKNYLAWYQQKPGQS

PKILIYWAFTRESGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSVQAEDLAVYYCYQYL

SSLTFGAGTKLEVKADAAPTVSIFPPSSEQLTSGGASVVCFLNNFYPKD

INVKWKIDGSERQNGVLNSWTDQDSKDSTYSMSSTLTLTKDEYERHNSY

TCEATHKTSTSPIVKSFNRNEC

Example 3. Binding Specificity of Antibodies that Bind anti-PDL1 Activatable Antibody

This Example describes the ability of antibodies of the disclosure to bind anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2.

To test for specificity of antibody 17G1 binding to anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2, 160 ng/mL of one-arm activated anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 were spiked into either human plasma (1 to 100 dilution in PBS) or lung tumor lysate. Briefly, tumor homogenates were prepared in Thermo Scientific Pierce™ IP Lysis Buffer (Catalog #87788) with added Thermo Scientific Halt™ Protease Inhibitor Single Use Cocktail Kit (Catalog #78430) using Barocycler (Pressure Biosciences). Anti-id antibody 17G1 was also tested against the same plasma and tumor that were not spiked with one-arm activated anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2. An HRP-conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibody was used in conjunction with luminol and peroxide and chemiluminescence was measured. The test samples were then analyzed on the Wes™ capillary electrophoresis immunoassay system (ProteinSimple), wherein separation was effected by SDS-based electrophoresis, also referred to as the Wes™ system. FIGS. 2A-2D demonstrate high binding specificity of antibody 17G1 to anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 spiked into human plasma (FIG. 2C) and lung tumor lysate samples (FIG. 2D). FIGS. 2A and 2B demonstrate background binding of antibody 17G1 in human plasma and lung tumor lysate samples, respectively, in the absence of anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2.

Example 4. Quantification of Activated and Intact anti-PDL1 Activatable Antibodies in Biological Samples

This Example describes the ability of anti-id antibody 17G1 to detect activated and intact anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 in plasma and xenograft tumor samples of mice administered anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2.

Anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 is designed to be cleaved (i.e., activated) by a number of serine proteases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which are generally associated with human tumors (LeBeau et al, Imaging a functional tumorigenic biomarker in the transformed epithelium. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2013 ;110: 93-98; Overall & Kleifeld, 2006, Validating Matrix Metalloproteinases as Drug Targets and Anti-Targets for Cancer Therapy. Nature Review Cancer, 6, 227-239), and which have low activity in blood or in normal tissues. To evaluate and measure activatable antibody activation in tumor and plasma samples, samples were analyzed by the Wes™ system that enables detection of intact and activated anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 in the methods described herein. Using this system, it was shown that the activatable antibodies remain mostly intact (i.e., inactivated) in circulation, but are activated in mouse xenograft tumors.

In general, the following protocol was used: a mouse xenograft tumor model was developed by SC implantation of 3×10⁶MDA-MB-231-1uc2-4D3LN cells in 30 uL serum-free medium containing matrigel (1:1) to 7-8 weeks old female nude mice. Body weights and tumor measurements were measured and recorded twice weekly for the duration of the study. After tumors achieved volume of 200-500 mm³, mice were randomized into 3 groups of equivalent average tumor volume and dosed with anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2. Four days after treatment, tumor and plasma (heparin) were collected and stored at -80° C. prior to analysis. Tumor homogenates (i.e., lysates) were prepared in Thermo Scientific Pierce™ IP Lysis Buffer (Catalog #87788) with added Thermo Scientific Halt™ Protease Inhibitor Single Use Cocktail Kit (Catalog #78430) using Barocycler (Pressure Biosciences). Approximately 0.8 mg/mL of protein lysate in IP lysis buffer with HALT protease inhibitor/EDTA and plasma samples diluted 1 in 100 in PBS were analyzed by the Wes™ system as described herein.

Sample analysis was carried out in accordance with the methods described herein using the Wes™ capillary electrophoresis platform (ProteinSimple). See, the Simple Western Size Assay Development Guide (the world wide web at proteinsimple.com/documents/042-889_Rev1_Size_Assay_Development_Guide.pdf In some embodiments, varying any one more of the following using the methods can be used to facilitate separate of intact and activated species: varying, e.g., increasing or decreasing, stacking time, varying, e.g., increasing or decreasing, sample time, and/or varying, e.g., increasing or decreasing, separation time.

In general, one part (e.g., 1 μL) 5× Fluorescent Master Mix (ProteinSimple) was combined with 4 parts (e.g., 4 μL) lysate to be tested in a microcentrifuge tube. A 1 ng to 5 ug range of anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 was used for antibody screening and characterization. For biological samples comprising tumor tissue, 0.8 mg/mL of protein lysate in IP lysis buffer with HALT protease inhibitor/EDTA was used. Plasma samples were diluted 1 in 100 in PBS. Primary antibodies were used at a concentration of 1.7 ng/mL (diluted in Antibody diluent 2 (ProteinSimple Cat# 042-203). HRP-conjugated mouse secondary antibody (ProteinSimple) was used neat, in conjunction with luminol and peroxide and chemiluminescence was measured. Plates with samples prepared according to the Simple Western Size Assay Development Guide were centrifuged for 5 minutes at 2500 rpm (˜1000 × g) at room temperature before analyzing on the Wes™ system (ProteinSimple).

FIGS. 3A and 3B compare specific detection of intact and activated anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 by anti-idiotypic antibody 17G1 of the disclosure and commercial anti-human IgG A110IJK (cynomolgus monkey adsorbed goat anti-human IgG) from American Qualex. Anti-id antibody 17G1 of the disclosure was able to detect anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 in plasma of mice treated with only 0.1 mg/kg of anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 (FIG. 3B) as compared to the commercial human IgG antibody only being able to minimally detect anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 in plasma of mice treated with 10 mg/kg anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 (FIG. 3A).

FIGS. 4A and 4B show preferential activation of anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 in tumor versus plasma samples. In this study, MDA-MD-231 xenograft mice were treated with 1 mg/kg of anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2. Tumor and plasma samples were collected on day 4 (96 hours). Tumor homogenate and plasma samples were analyzed in the Wes™ system using the anti-id 17G1 antibody for detection. Plasma samples exhibited intact anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 (FIG. 4B) whereas the tumor microenvironment activated at least a portion of the anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 (FIG. 4A).

Example 5. Quantification of Activated and Intact Anti-PDL1 Activatable Antibodies in Biological Samples

This Example demonstrates that the method of the present invention can be applied to different xenograph tumor types and different dosing concentrations.

Briefly, a mouse xenograft tumor model was developed by SC implantation of 5×10⁶SAS cells in 100 uL serum-free medium to 7-8 week old female nude mice. Body weights and tumor measurements were measured and recorded twice weekly for the duration of the study. After tumors achieved volume of 450-550 mm³, mice were randomized into 3 groups of equivalent average tumor volume and dosed with 0.1 mg/kg of anti-PDL1 activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2. Four days after treatment, tumor and plasma (heparin) samples were collected and stored at −80° C. prior to analysis. Tumor homogenates (i.e., lysates) were prepared in Thermo Scientific Pierce™ IP Lysis Buffer (Catalog #87788) with added Thermo Scientific Halt™ Protease Inhibitor Single Use Cocktail Kit (Catalog #78430) using Barocycler (Pressure Biosciences). Approximately 0.8 mg/mL of protein lysate in IP lysis buffer with HALT protease inhibitor/EDTA and plasma samples diluted 1 in 250 in PBS were analyzed in accordance with the methods of the present invention using the Wes™ system and the 17G1 antibody for detection. An HRP-conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibody was used in conjunction with luminol and peroxide and chemiluminescence was measured. FIGS. 5A and 5B indicate the preferential activation of activatable antibody therapeutics in tumor versus plasma samples.

Example 6. Quantification of Activated and Intact Anti-CD166 Activatable Antibodies in Biological Samples

This Example describes the ability to detect activated and intact anti-CD166 activatable antibody 7614.6-3001-HuCD166 in plasma and xenograft tumor samples of mice administered 7614.6-3001-HuCD166.

The studies presented herein used the anti-CD166 activatable antibody referred to herein as 7614.6-3001-HuCD166, also referred to as HuCD166-7614.6-3001, which comprises the heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 432 and the light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 433, as shown below.

Anti-CD166 Activatable Antibody Sequences:

Heavy chain amino acid sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 432)

QITLKESGPTLVKPTQTLTLTCTFSGFSLSTYGMGVGWIRQPPGKALEWL

ANIWWSEDKHYSPSLKSRLTITKDTSKNQVVLTITNVDPVDTATYYCVQI

DYGNDYAFTYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLV

KDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQ

TYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPK

PKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQY

NSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREP

QVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPP

VLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG

K

Light chain amino acid sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 433)

LCHPAVLSAWESCSSGGGSSGGSAVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDNHGGSDIVMTQ

SPLSLPVTPGEPASISCRSSKSLLHSNGITYLYWYLQKPGQSPQLLIYQM

SNLASGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKISRVEAEDVGVYYCAQNLELPYTFGQG

TKLEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVD

NALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGL

SSPVTKSFNRGEC

Quantification of activated and intact anti-CD166 activatable antibody 7614.6-3001-HuCD166 was assessed by the Wes™ system using anti-human IgG antibodies (anti-human IgG(H&L), American Qualex Catalog #A110UK). Nude mice were implanted subcutaneously with 5×10e6 H292 cells in serum-free medium mixed 1:1 with Matrigel™. Mice harboring 200-500 mm2 H292 xenographs were dosed with 5 mpk of anti-CD166 activatable antibody 7614.6-3001-HuCD166. One day after treatment, tumor and plasma (heparin) were collected and stored at −80° C. prior to analysis. Tumor homogenates were prepared in Thermo Scientific Pierce™ IP Lysis Buffer (Catalog #87788) with added Thermo Scientific Halt™ Protease Inhibitor Single Use Cocktail Kit (Catalog #78430) using Barocycler (Pressure Biosciences). One mg/mL of protein lysate in IP lysis buffer with HALT protease inhibitor/EDTA and plasma samples diluted 1 in 20 in PBS were analyzed by the Wes™, as described herein. An HRP-conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibody was used in conjunction with luminol and peroxide and chemiluminescence was measured. FIGS. 6A and 6B demonstrate preferential activation in tumor (FIG. 6B) as compared to plasma (FIG. 6A).

Example 7. Quantification of Activated and Intact Anti-EGFR Activatable Antibodies in Biological Samples

This Example describes the ability to detect activated and intact anti-EGFR activatable antibodies 3954-2001-C225v5 and 3954-3001-C225v5 in plasma and xenograft tumor samples of mice administered anti-EGFR activatable antibodies 3954-2001-C225v5 or 3954-3001-C225v5.

The studies presented herein used the anti-EGFR activatable antibodies referred to herein as 3954-2001-C225v5 and 3954-3001-C225v5. Anti-EGFR activatable antibody 3954-2001-C225v5 comprises the C225v5 heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 446, shown below, and a light chain that comprises a masking moiety comprising the amino acid sequence CISPRGCPDGPYVMY (SEQ ID NO: 448), a cleavable moiety comprising the amino acid sequence ISSGLLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 406), and the C225v5 light chain antibody sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 447, shown below. Anti-EGFR activatable antibody 3954-3001-C225v5 comprises the heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 446, shown below, and a light chain that comprises a masking moiety comprising the amino acid sequence CISPRGCPDGPYVMY (SEQ ID NO: 448), a cleavable moiety comprising the amino acid sequence AVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDNH (SEQ ID NO: 412), and the light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 447, shown below.

C225v5 Heavy Chain Antibody Amino Acid Sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 446)

QVQLKQSGPGLVQPSQSLSITCTVSGFSLTNYGVHWVRQSPGKGLEWLG

VIWSGGNTDYNTPFTSRLSINKDNSKSQVFFKMNSLQSQDTAIYYCARA

LTYYDYEFAYWGQGTLVTVSAASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCL

VKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLG

TQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLF

PPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPR

EEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKG

QPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENN

YKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQK

SLSLSPGK

C225v5 Light Chain Antibody Amino Acid Sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 447)

QILLTQSPVILSVSPGERVSFSCRASQSIGTNIHWYQQRTNGSPRLLIK

YASESISGIPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLSINSVESEDIADYYCQQNNNWPTTF

GAGTKLELKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQ

WKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEV

THQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC

Quantification of activated and intact anti-EGFR activatable antibodies 3954-2001-C225v5 and 3954-3001-C225v5 was assessed by the Wes™ system using anti-human IgG antibodies (anti-human IgG(H&L), American Qualex Catalog #A110UK). Nude mice were implanted subcutaneously with 5×10e6 H292 cells in serum-free medium mixed 1:1 with Matrigel™. Mice harboring 200-500 mm2 H292 xenographs were dosed with 25 mg/kg of 3954-2001-C225v5 or 3954-3001-C225v5. Tumor and plasma (heparin) were collected 4 days after treatment and stored at -80° C. prior to analysis. Tumor homogenates were prepared in Thermo Scientific Pierce' IP Lysis Buffer (Catalog #87788) with added Thermo Scientific Halt™ Protease Inhibitor Single Use Cocktail Kit (Catalog #78430) using Barocycler (Pressure Biosciences). 0.4 mg/mL of protein lysate in IP lysis buffer with HALT protease inhibitor/EDTA and plasma samples diluted 1 in 500 in PBS were analyzed by the Wes™ system as described herein. An HRP-conjugated anti-goat secondary antibody was used in conjunction with luminol and peroxide and chemiluminescence was measured. FIGS. 7A and 7B demonstrate preferential activation in tumor (FIG. 7B) as compared to plasma (FIG. 7A).

Example 8. Quantification of Activated and Intact Anti-CD71 Activatable Antibodies in Biological Samples

This Example describes the ability to detect activated and intact anti-CD71 activatable antibody TF02.13-2011-21.12.

The studies presented herein used the anti-CD71 activatable antibody referred to herein as TF02.13-2011-21.12, also referred to as 21.12-TF02.13-2011 and huCD71-TF02.13-2011, which comprises the heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 434 and the light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 435, as shown below.

Anti-CD71 Activatable Antibody Sequences:

Heavy chain amino acid sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 434)

QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKMSCKASGYTFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWIG

AIYPGNSETGYAQKFQGRATLTADTSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCTR

ENWDPGFAFWGQGTLITVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLV

KDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGT

QTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFP

PKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPRE

EQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQ

PREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNY

KTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKS

LSLSPGK

Light chain amino acid sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 435)

NLCTEHSAALDCRSYGGGSSGGSISSGLLSGRSDNPGGGSDIQMTQSPS

SLSASVGDRVTITCSASSSVYYMYWFQQKPGKAPKLWIYSTSNLASGVP

SRFSGSGSGTDYTLTISSMQPEDFATYYCQQRRNYPYTFGQGTKLEIKR

TVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSG

NSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVT

KSFNRGEC

Anti-CD71 activatable antibody TF02.13-2011-21.12 was activated with 200 nM matriptase (R&D Systems Catalog # 3946-SE) overnight at 37° C. and mixed with intact anti-CD71 activatable antibody TF02.13-2011-21.12 in human plasma (Bioreclaimation). The mixture was then analyzed by the Wes™ system as described herein using a supernatant from a hybridoma clone derived from mice immunized with peptides comprising CDR1 and CDR3 of the light chain of anti-CD71 activatable antibody TF02.13-2011-21.12, and that supernatant specifically recognizes anti-CD71 activatable antibody TF02.13-2011-21.12. An HRP-conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibody was used in conjunction with luminol and peroxide and chemiluminescence was measured. FIG. 8 shows the ability to separate pre-activated from intact anti-CD71 activatable antibody TF02.13-2011-21.12 in plasma.

Example 9. Quantification of Activated and Intact anti-PD1 Activatable Antibodies

This Example describes the ability to detect activated and intact anti-PD1 activatable antibody PD34-2011-A1.5 hIgG4 S228P.

The studies presented herein used the anti-PD1 activatable antibody referred to herein as PD34-2011-A1.5 hIgG4 S228P, also referred to as A1.5-PD34-2011 and 1.5-PD34-2011, which comprises the heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 436 and the light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 437, as shown below.

Anti-CD71 Activatable Antibody Sequences:

Heavy chain amino acid sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 436)

EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSGYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVAY

ISNSGGNAHYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCTRED

YGTSPFVYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKD

YFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTY

TCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKYGPPCPPCPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTL

MISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYR

VVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTL

PPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSD

GSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK

Light chain amino acid sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 437)

TSYCSIEHYPCNTHHGGGSSGGSISSGLLSGRSDNPGGGSDIQLTQSPSS

LSASVGDRVTITCRASESVDAYGISFMNWFQQKPGKAPKLLIYAASNQGS

GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSMQPEDFATYYCQQSKDVPWTFGQGTKLEI

KRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQS

GNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVT

KSFNRGEC

Anti-PD1 activatable antibody PD34-2011-A1.5 hIgG4 S228P was activated with 200 nM MMP14 (R&D Systems Catalog # 918-MP) overnight at 37° C. and mixed with intact anti-PD1 activatable antibody PD34-2011-A1.5 hIgG4 S228P. The mixture was then analyzed by Wes™ system (ProteinSimple) as described herein using anti-human IgG (H&L) (American Qualex Catalog #A110UK). An HRP-conjugated anti-goat secondary antibody was used in conjunction with luminol and peroxide and chemiluminescence was measured. FIG. 9 shows the ability to separate intact anti-PD1 activatable antibody PD34-2011-A1.5 hIgG4 S228P from the corresponding activated (cleaved) activatable antibody.

Example 10. Quantification of Activated and Intact anti-CD166 Conjugated Activatable Antibodies

This Example describes the ability to detect activated and intact anti-CD166 activatable antibody 7614.6-3001-HuCD166 conjugated to maytansinoid toxin DM4 through an SPDB linker.

The studies presented herein used a DM4-conjugated activatable antibody of the anti-CD166 activatable antibody referred to herein as 7614.6-3001-HuCD166, also referred to as HuCD166-7614.6-3001, which comprises the heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 432 and the light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 433, as shown below.

The anti-CD166 conjugated activatable antibody was activated with either 80 ug/ml of matriptase (R&D Systems Catalog # 3946-SE) or 80 ug/ml of MMP14 (R&D Systems Catalog # 918-MP) for 2 hours at 37° C. and mixed with intact conjugated activatable antibody. The mixture was then analyzed by the Wes™ system as described above using anti-human IgG (H&L) (American Qualex Catalog #A110UK). An HRP-conjugated anti-goat secondary antibody was used in conjunction with luminol and peroxide and chemiluminescence was measured. FIGS. 10A and 10B show the ability to separate matriptase-activated (FIG. 10A) or MMP14-activated (FIG. 10B) conjugated activatable antibodies from intact conjugated activatable antibodies.

Example 11. Tertiary Detection Protocol

The signal associated with (intact) activatable antibody and/or activated (cleaved) activatable antibody can be amplified using an additional antibody detection step. In this protocol, a secondary antibody that is not conjugated to horse radish peroxidase (HRP) is used to detect the primary antibody, a tertiary detection antibody conjugated with HRP is then used to amplify the signal. In this example, activatable anti-CD166, 7614.6-3001-HuCD166 was detected by probing with anti-id antibody clone 22B8 (not conjugated to HRP) followed by biotinlyated anti-rat IgG FCgamma (Jackson Immunology 112-035-008), and then streptavidin HRP (043-459-2) (i.e., an example of the tertiary detection protocol) or clone 22B8 followed by HRP conjugated anti-rat IgG FCgamma (Jackson Immunology 112-065-008) (i.e., an example of the two step protocol). Luminol and peroxide reagents were used, and chemiluminescence was measured. Nude mice were implanted subcutaneously with H292 cells in serum-free medium mixed 1:1 with Matrigel™. Mice bearing H292 xenografts were treated with 5 mg/kg of 7614.6-3001-HuCD166. Tissues were collected at 4 day post-dose. Tumor homogenates were prepared in Thermo Scientific Pierce™ IP Lysis Buffer (Catalog #87788) with added Thermo Scientific Halt™ Protease Inhibitor Single Use Cocktail Kit (Catalog #78430) using Barocycler (Pressure Biosciences). 1.5 mg/mL of proteins were analyzed on the Wes™ capillary electrophoresis immunoassay system, as described herein.

FIG. 11A depicts the magnitude of chemiluminescence signal associated with molecular species having different molecular weights in the biological sample using the two step detection protocol. The plot shows the peaks detected for activated activatable antibody (cleavage product of 7614.6-3001-HuCD166) and for intact/activated activatable antibody (intact 7614.6-3001-HuCD166). FIG. 11B depicts the magnitude of chemiluminescence signal associated with molecular species having different molecular weights in the biological sample using the tertiary detection protocol. Use of the tertiary detection protocol resulted in a much greater signal for both 7614.6-3001-HuCD166 (intact activatable antibody) and its cleavage product (activated activatable antibody). The results illustrate the amplification of signal obtained using the tertiary protocol as compared to the signal obtained using the two step protocol, thus facilitating detection of each species.

Example 12. Quantification of Activated and Intact Anti-Jagged Activatable Antibodies in Biological Samples

This Example describes the ability to detect activated and intact anti-Jagged activatable antibodies 5342-3001-4D11 tumor samples of mice administered anti-Jagged activatable antibodies 5342-3001-4D11

The studies presented herein used the anti-Jagged activatable antibodies referred to herein as 5342-3001-4D11. Anti-Jagged activatable antibody 5342-3001-4D11 comprises the heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:950 and the light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:951. Both sets of sequences are shown below:

4D11-Heavy Chain:

(SEQ ID NO: 950)

EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSS

IDPEGRQTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKDI

GGRSAFDYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKD

YFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTY

ICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPK

DTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNS

TYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQV

YTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVL

DSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK*

4D11-5342-8504-Light Chain

(SEQ ID NO: 951)

QGQSGQCNIWLVGGDCRGWQGGSSGGSGGSGGAVGLLAPPGGLSGRSDNH

GGGSDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQSISSYLNWYQQKPGKAPKL

LIYAASSLQSGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQTVVAPP

LFGQGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKV

QWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEV

THQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC*

Quantification of activated and intact anti-Jagged activatable antibodies 5342-3001-4D11 was assessed in accordance with the methods of the present invention using the Wes™ system (Protein Simple, and anti-human IgG antibodies (anti-human IgG (H&L), American Qualex Catalog #A110UK). Nude mice were implanted subcutaneously with BxPC3 cells in serum-free medium mixed 1:1 with Matrigel™. Mice harboring 200-500 mm2 BxPC3 xenographs were dosed with 10 mg/kg of 5342-3001-4D11. Tumor tissues were collected 4 days after treatment and stored at −80° C. prior to analysis. Tumor homogenates were prepared in Thermo Scientific Pierce™ IP Lysis Buffer (Catalog #87788) with added Thermo Scientific Halt™ Protease Inhibitor Single Use Cocktail Kit (Catalog #78430) using Barocycler (Pressure Biosciences). 1.5 mg/mL of protein lysate in IP lysis buffer with HALT protease inhibitor/EDTA and plasma samples diluted 1 in 100 in PBS were analyzed on the Wes™ system. An HRP-conjugated anti-goat secondary antibody was used in conjunction with luminol and peroxide and chemiluminescence was measured. FIG. 12 depicts the chemiluminscence signal detected for each species, thus demonstrating detection of activation of 5342-3001-4D11 anti-Jagged activatable antibody in tumor tissue.

Example 13. Quantification of Activated and Intact Anti-PDL1 Activatable Antibodies in Biological Samples using Standard Curves

This example illustrates the protocol for quantifying intact activatable antibody and activated activatable antibody in a biological sample by generating and using standard curves.

Tumor lysate or plasma samples believed to contain activatable antibody and/or activated activatable antibody are prepared. The samples are evaluated on the Wes™ system (ProteinSimple), as described herein, and the results are compared to standard curves of purified recombinant intact activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 and the corresponding activated antibody. Concentrations of activatable antibody and activated activatable antibody are determined using the standard curves.

Plasma is diluted in the 1:10 to 1:100 range, and tumor lysate is diluted in the 1:1 to 1:10 range. Capillaries are reserved for standard curve materials and undergo electrophoresis and immunoblotting in parallel with samples loaded with the biological samples. Samples for the standard curves are prepared using (1) pooled normal K2-EDTA plasma for the plasma samples (see below) or (2) Pierce IP lysis buffer (see below). The set of capillaries used for the standard curves contain intact activatable antibody and activated activatable antibody at the same dilution used to test the samples. A pool of normal-donor K2-EDTA plasma (Bioreclamation) is used for standard curve preparation for plasma samples.

K2-EDTA plasma from 7 human donors was collected and combined in equal volumes to make a normal-donor pool. A sample from one subject was not included in the pool because of the milky appearance of the plasma. Tumor lysate was prepared.

Materials: 10.7 mg/ml intact activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2, buffer: 8% sucrose, 30 mM NaCl, 0.02% Tween 80, 25 mM succinate pH 6; 11.35 mg/ml of corresponding activated activatable antibody, PBS buffer, pH 7.2.

Dilution series were prepared in a full-skirt PCR plate (Axygen PCR96FSC; ˜100 ul wells) or a 450 ul V-bottom plate (Axygen P-96-450V-C-S; ˜500 ul wells)), depending on the volume, starting at 17,500 ng/ml down to 8 ng/ml (in 3-fold increments), with one zero/blank sample per curve. Dilutions were stored on ice prior to loading into Wes™ system capillary cartridges (ProteinSimple). Anti-id antibody 17G1 (1.3 mg/ml) (see Example 2) was used as the primary antibody at a dilution of 1:1200. Anti-mouse secondary antibody-HRP conjugate (neat, ProteinSimple), 10 ul/well, as specified in the vendor's plate layout (part # 042-205).

Once samples were prepared and the Wes™ cartridge (ProteinSimple) was loaded with the reagents needed for the assay, the samples (biological samples (4 replicates) and the samples for the standard curves (2 replicates, including 2 zero/blanks), as well as biotinylated molecular weight standards reagent from the Wes™ kit (ProteinSimple)) were loaded into the Wes™ cartridge (ProteinSimple).

Operation of the Wes™ system was conducted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The results showed that the sample separated into intact (˜38kD) or “activated” (-35 kD) peaks on the Wes™ platform. The intact and active peaks were then quantified against the standard curves prepared for intact activatable antibody PL07-2001-C5H9v2 and the corresponding activated antibody, and the concentrations for each were determined in ng/ml.

Other Embodiments

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following.

METHODS OF QUALITATIVELY AND/OR QUANTITATIVELY ANALYZING PROPERTIES OF ACTIVATABLE ANTIBODIES AND USES THEREOF

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