Patent Application
20210395398
The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Dec. 15, 2020, is named A0848.70180US03-SEQ-JRV, and is 572,050 bytes in size.
The present invention provides multispecific T cell recruiting polypeptides binding the constant domain of TCR on a T cell and at least one antigen on a target cell. The present invention also relates to the monovalent T cell recruiting polypeptides for use in these multispecific polypeptides. The invention also provides methods for treatment and kits providing the same.
Cancer takes an enormous human toll around the world. It is nowadays the world's leading cause of death, followed by heart disease and stroke. Cancers figure among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012. The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades (source: WHO Cancer). The total economic impact of premature death and disability from cancer worldwide was about $900 billion in 2008, representing 1.5% of the world's gross domestic product.
Available treatment regimens for solid tumours typically include a combination of surgical resection chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In 40 years of clinical experience little progress has been achieved, especially in advanced stages of cancer.
New therapies combatting cancer are eagerly awaited.
Antibody therapy is now an important part of the physician's armamentarium to battle diseases and especially cancer. Monoclonal antibodies have been established as a key therapeutic approach for a range of diseases already for several years. All of the contemporaneously approved antibody therapies rely on monospecific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Until today, most of the targets of the mAbs require either an agonistic or an antagonistic approach. Whereas targeting of cell-surface antigens themselves can mediate antitumour activity through the induction of apoptosis, most mAb-based activity against hematologic malignancies is reliant on either Fc-mediated effector functions such as complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
Immunotherapy has emerged as a rapidly growing area of cancer research. Immunotherapy is directing the body's immune surveillance system, and in particular T cells, to cancer cells.
Cytotoxic T cells (CTL) are T lymphocytes that kill cancer cells, cells that are infected (particularly with viruses), or cells that are damaged in other ways. T lymphocytes (or T cells) express the T cell receptor or TCR molecule and the CD3 receptor on the cell surface. The αβ TCR-CD3 complex (or “TCR complex”) is composed of six different type I single-spanning transmembrane proteins: the TCRα and TCRβ chains that form the TCR heterodimer responsible for ligand recognition, and the non-covalently associated CD3γ, CD3δ, CD3ε and ζ chains, which bear cytoplasmic sequence motifs that are phosphorylated upon receptor activation and recruit a large number of signalling components (Call et al. 2004, Molecular Immunology 40: 1295-1305).
Both α and β chains of the T cell receptor consist of a constant domain and a variable domain. Physiologically, the αβ chains of the T cell receptor recognize the peptide loaded MHC complex and couple upon engagement to the CD3 chains. These CD3 chains subsequently transduce the engagement signal to the intracellular environment.
Considering the potential of naturally occurring cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to mediate cell lysis, various strategies have been explored to recruit immune cells to mediate tumour cell killing. Since T lymphocytes lack the expression of Fc receptors, they are not recruited to a tumour site through the Fc tail of an anti-tumour monoclonal. As an alternative, the patient's T cells were modified with a second TCR of known specificity for a defined tumour antigen. This adoptive cell transfer is by nature highly personalized and labour intensive. However, the main problem of T cell therapies remains the large number of immune escape mechanisms known to occur in cancer patients (Nagorsen et al. 2012, Pharmacology & Therapeutics 136: 334-342).
Rather than eliciting specific T cell responses, which rely on expression by cancer cells of MHC molecules and the presence, generation, transport and display of specific peptide antigens, more recent developments have attempted to combine the advantages of immunotherapy with antibody therapy by engaging all T cells of a patient in a polyclonal fashion via recombinant antibody based technologies: “bispecifics”.
Bispecific antibodies have been engineered that have a tumour recognition part on the one arm (target-binding arm) whereas the other arm of the molecule has specificity for a T cell antigen (effector-binding arm), mostly CD3. Through the simultaneous binding of the two arms to their respective antigens, T lymphocytes are directed towards and activated at the tumour cell where they can exert their cytolytic function.
The concept of using bispecific antibodies to activate T cells against tumour cells was described more than 20 years ago, but manufacturing problems and clinical failures sent the field into stagnation. Smaller format bispecifics were developed, which more easily penetrate tissues and tumours than conventional antibodies. In addition, the smaller format is better at creating the cytolytic synapses, which kill the target cell. It was thought that the smaller format bispecifics would be easier to manufacture and less immunogenic than conventional antibodies. However, the smaller bispecific BiTE molecules, consisting of two single chain variable fragments (scFvs) joined by a 5 amino acid peptide linker, presented a lack of stability (scFvs tend to aggregate), low expression titres and poor solubility. Moreover, the first clinical trials of Blinatumomab (a BiTE molecule), which recognizes CD3 chains, were prematurely stopped due to neurologic adverse events, cytokine release syndrome and infections on the one hand and the absence of objective clinical responses or robust signs of biological activity on the other hand. Efficacy aside, BiTEs must be continuously infused—probably due to the lack of an Fc domain—which does not contribute to patient compliance. The same problem holds true for DARTs (dual affinity retargeting molecules developed by MacroGenics), in which the heavy chain variable domain from one antibody (Ab) is linked with the light chain variable domain of another Ab. MacroGenics now attempts to solve this problem by fusing an Fc domain onto its next generation DARTs, which makes the molecule not only bigger, but also results in manufacturing problems and importation of other Fc functions. The larger format with Fc is expected to have a better PK, but re-introduces the risk of off-target activity. (Garber 2014, Nature reviews 13: 799-801)
Hence, there remains a need for alternative bispecific formats.
The invention solves this problem by providing multispecific polypeptides comprising a first and at least one further immunoglobulin single variable domain (ISV), wherein said first ISV has a high affinity for/binds to a constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR); said at least one second ISV has a high affinity for/binds to an antigen present on a target cell. In a particular aspect, the binding of the first ISV will activate the inherent cytolytic potential of the T cell against a target cell independently of MHC.
Thus, in a first aspect the present invention provides a polypeptide comprising a first and a second immunoglobulin single variable domain (ISV), wherein
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said polypeptide directs the T cell to the target cell.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said polypeptide induces T cell activation.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said T cell activation is independent from MHC recognition.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said T cell activation depends on presenting said polypeptide bound to said first antigen on a target cell to a T cell.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said T cell activation causes one or more cellular response of said T cell, wherein said cellular response is selected from the group consisting of proliferation, differentiation, cytokine secretion, cytotoxic effector molecule release, cytotoxic activity, expression of activation markers and redirected target cell lysis.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said T cell activation causes inhibition of an activity of said target cell by more than about 10%, such as 20%, 30%, or 40% or even more than 50%, such as more than 60%, such as 70%, 80%, or even more than 90%, such as 100%.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV binds to the constant domain of a T cell receptor α (TCR-α) (SEQ ID NO: 348) and/or the constant domain of the T cell receptor β (TCR-β) (SEQ ID NO: 349), or polymorphic variants or isoforms thereof.
Alternatively, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV binds to the constant domain of a T cell receptor α (TCR-α) (SEQ ID NO: 484) and/or the constant domain of the T cell receptor β (TCR-β) (SEQ ID NO: 485), or polymorphic variants or isoforms thereof.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said polypeptide and/or first ISV has an on rate constant (Kon) for binding to said TCR selected from the group consisting of at least about 102 M−1s−1, at least about 103 M−1s−1, at least about 104 M−1s−1, at least about 105 M−1s−1, at least about 106 M−1s−1, 107 M−1s−1, at least about 108 M−1s−1, at least about 109 M−1s−1, and at least about 1010 M−1s−1, preferably as measured by surface plasmon resonance or BLI.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said polypeptide and/or first ISV has an off rate constant (Koff) for binding to said TCR selected from the group consisting of at most about 10−3 s−1, at most about 10−4 s−1, at most about 10−5 s−1, at most about 10−6 s−1, at most about 10−7 s−1, at most about 10−8 s−1, at most about 10−9 s−1, and at most about 10−10 s−1, preferably as measured by surface plasmon resonance or BLI.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV binds to said TCR with an EC50 value of between 100 nM and 1 pM, such as at an average EC50 value of 100 nM or less, even more preferably at an average EC50 value of 90 nM or less, such as less than 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 nM or even less, such as less than 4, 3, 2, or 1 nM or even less, such as less than 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 pM, or even less, such as less than 4 pM, preferably as measured by flow cytometry.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV binds to said TCR with an average KD value of between 100 nM and 10 pM, such as at an average KD value of 90 nM or less, even more preferably at an average KD value of 80 nM or less, such as less than 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 nM or even less, such as less than 4, 3, 2, or 1 nM, such as less than 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20 pM, or even less, such as less than 10 pM. Preferably, the KD is determined by Kinexa, BLI or SPR, for instance as determined by Proteon.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of:
(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of:
(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
Preferably, the polypeptide comprising the one or more CDRs with 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 amino acid(s) difference binds TCR with about the same or a higher affinity compared to the binding by the polypeptide comprising the CDRs without the 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 amino acid(s) difference, said affinity as measured by surface plasmon resonance.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which
(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
and in which
(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
and in which
(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
Preferably, the polypeptide comprising the one or more CDRs with 2 or 1 amino acid(s) difference binds TCR with about the same or a higher affinity compared to the binding by the polypeptide comprising the CDRs without the 2, or 1 amino acid(s) difference, said affinity as measured by surface plasmon resonance.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which
(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
and in which
(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
and in which
(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 130.
In a further, aspect the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 172.
Preferably, the polypeptide comprising the CDR with 1 amino acid difference binds TCR with about the same or a higher affinity compared to the binding by the polypeptide comprising the CDRs without the 1 amino acid difference, said affinity as measured by surface plasmon resonance.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which
(i) CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 130;
and in which
(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
and in which
(iii) CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 172.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which: CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 123, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 153, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 170.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-104.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV cross-blocks the binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 1-104.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV is cross-blocked from binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 1-104.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which: CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 124, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 145, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 167.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 105-115.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV cross-blocks the binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 105-115.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which the first ISV is cross-blocked from binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 105-115.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which: CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 130, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 157, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 172.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 116-118.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV cross-blocks the binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 116-118.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein in which said first ISV is cross-blocked from binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 116-118.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, further comprising a third ISV, which has high affinity for/binds to a second antigen on a target cell, wherein said second antigen is different from said first antigen.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first antigen on a target cell is a tumour antigen, preferably a tumour associated antigen (TAA).
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said second antigen on a target cell is a tumour antigen, preferably a tumour associated antigen (TAA).
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first antigen and said second antigen are present on the same target cell.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first antigen and said second antigen are present on different target cells.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said TAA's are independently chosen from the group consisting of Melanoma-associated Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan (MCSP), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP), MART-1, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), gp100, MAGE-1, HER-2, LewisY antigens, CD123, CD44, CLL-1, CD96, CD47, CD32, CXCR4, Tim-3, CD25, TAG-72, Ep-CAM, PSMA, PSA, GD2, GD3, CD4, CD5, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD33, CD36, CD45, CD52, CD147, growth factor receptors including ErbB3 and ErbB4, Cytokine receptors including Interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain (CD132 antigen), Interleukin-10 receptor alpha chain (IL-10R-A), Interleukin-10 receptor beta chain (IL-10R-B), Interleukin-12 receptor beta-1 chain (IL-12R-beta1), Interleukin-12 receptor beta-2 chain (IL-12 receptor beta-2), Interleukin-13 receptor alpha-1 chain (IL-13R-alpha-1) (CD213a1 antigen), Interleukin-13 receptor alpha-2 chain (Interleukin-13 binding protein), Interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17 receptor), Interleukin-17B receptor (IL-17B receptor), Interleukin 21 receptor precursor (IL-21R), Interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1R-1) (CD121a); Interleukin-1 receptor type II (IL-1R-beta) (CDw121b), Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra), Interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (CD25 antigen, Interleukin-2 receptor beta chain (CD122 antigen), Interleukin-3 receptor alpha chain (IL-3R-alpha) (CD123 antigen), CD30, IL23R, IGF-1R, IL5R, IgE, CD248 (endosialin), CD44v6, gpA33, Ron, Trop2, PSCA, claudin 6, claudin 18.2, CLEC12A, CD38, ephA2, c-Met, CD56, MUC16, EGFRvIII, AGS-16, CD27L, Nectin-4, SLITRK6, mesothelin, folate receptor, tissue factor, axl, glypican-3, CA9, Cripto, CD138, CD37, MUC1, CD70, gastrin releasing peptide receptor, PAP, CEACAM5, CEACAM6, CXCR7, N-cadherin, FXYD2 gamma a, CD21, CD133, Na/K-ATPase, mlgM (membrane-bound IgM), mIgA (membrane-bound IgA), Mer, Tyro2, CD120, CD95, CA 195, DR5, DR6, DcR3 and CAIX, including related polymorphic variants and isoforms.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said TAA is CD20 (UniProt 11836), HER2 (Uniprot P04626), EGFR, CEA, polymorphic variants or isoforms thereof.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first antigen and said second antigen are chosen from the group consisting of:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, further comprising a serum protein binding moiety.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said serum protein binding moiety binds serum albumin.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said serum protein binding moiety is an ISV binding serum albumin.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISV binding serum albumin essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3 respectively), in which CDR1 is SFGMS (SEQ ID NO: 481), CDR2 is SISGSGSDTLYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO: 482) and CDR3 is GGSLSR (SEQ ID NO: 475), CDR determined according to Kabat definition; and/or in which CDR1 is GFTFSSFGMS (SEQ ID NO: 472) or GFTFRSFGMS (SEQ ID NO: 473), CDR2 is SISGSGSDTL (SEQ ID NO: 474) and CDR3 is GGSLSR (SEQ ID NO: 475), CDR determined according to Kontermann 2010.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISV binding serum albumin is selected from Alb8, Alb23, Alb129, Alb132, Alb11, Alb11 (S112K)-A, Alb82, Alb82-A, Alb82-AA, Alb82-AAA, Alb82-G, Alb82-GG and Alb82-GGG (SEQ ID NOs: 400 to 412).
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISVs are directly linked to each other or are linked via a linker.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV and/or said second ISV and/or possibly said third ISV and/or possibly said ISV binding serum albumin are linked via a linker.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said linker is chosen from the group consisting of linkers of 5GS, 7GS, 9GS, 10GS, 15GS, 18GS, 20GS, 25GS, 30GS and 35GS (SEQ ID NOs: 376 to 385).
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said serum protein binding moiety is a non-antibody based polypeptide.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, further comprising PEG.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISV is a Nanobody, a VHH, a humanized VHH, or a camelized VH.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide wherein said first ISV is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 118.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 118, and wherein said second ISV is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 350-358.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 292, 295-296, 299-300, 303, 306-343, 387-388, 390, 414, 417-418, 421-422, 425, 428-464, 467-468, 470-471 and 486-487.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide that specifically binds the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) and that comprises or essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
The present invention also provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 123, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 153, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 170.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 124, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 145, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 167.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR1 is chosen from SEQ ID NO: 130.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR3 is chosen from SEQ ID NO: 172.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 130, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 157, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 172.
In another aspect, the invention provides a polypeptide that specifically binds carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and that comprises or essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 361, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 363, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 365.
In another aspect, the invention provides a polypeptide that specifically binds CD20 and that comprises or essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 362, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 364, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 366.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, which is a Nanobody, a VHH, a humanized VHH, or a camelized VH.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, further comprising a serum protein binding moiety.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said serum protein binding moiety binds serum albumin.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said serum protein binding moiety is an ISV that binds serum albumin.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISV that binds serum albumin essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3 respectively), in which CDR1 is SFGMS (SEQ ID NO: 481), CDR2 is SISGSGSDTLYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO: 482) and CDR3 is GGSLSR (SEQ ID NO: 475), CDR as determined according to Kabat definition; and/or in which CDR1 is GFTFSSFGMS (SEQ ID NO: 472) or GFTFRSFGMS (SEQ ID NO: 473), CDR2 is SISGSGSDTL (SEQ ID NO: 474) and CDR3 is GGSLSR (SEQ ID NO: 475); CDR as determined according to Kontermann 2010.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISV that binds serum albumin is selected from Alb8, Alb23, Alb129, Alb132, Alb11, Alb11 (S112K)-A, Alb82, Alb82-A, Alb82-AA, Alb82-AAA, Alb82-G, Alb82-GG, and Alb82-GGG (SEQ ID NOs: 400 to 412).
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISV is directly linked or is linked via a linker.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said linker is chosen from the group consisting of linkers of 5GS, 7GS, 9GS, 10GS, 15GS, 18GS, 20GS, 25GS, 30GS and 35GS (SEQ ID NOs:376 to 385).
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, further comprising a PEG moiety.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a nucleic acid or nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide as defined herein.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a vector comprising a nucleic acid or nucleic acid sequence as defined herein.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a host cell transformed or transfected with the nucleic acid or nucleic acid sequence as defined herein or with the vector as defined herein.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a process for the production of the polypeptide as described herein, said process comprising culturing a host cell as defined herein under conditions allowing the expression of the polypeptide as defined herein and recovering the produced polypeptide from the culture.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide as described herein, or, the polypeptide produced according to the process as described herein.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, or produced according to the process as described herein, for use in treating a subject in need thereof.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for delivering a prophylactic or therapeutic polypeptide to a specific location, tissue or cell type in the body, the method comprising the steps of administering to a subject a polypeptide as described herein, or produced according to the process as described herein.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide as described herein, or produced according to the process as described herein, for use in the prevention, treatment or amelioration of a disease selected from the group consisting of a proliferative disease, an inflammatory disease, an infectious disease and an autoimmune disease.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for the prevention, treatment or amelioration of a disease selected from the group consisting of a proliferative disease, an inflammatory disease, an infectious disease and an autoimmune disease, comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof the polypeptide as described herein, or produced according to a process as described herein.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide for use in or a method for the prevention, treatment or amelioration of a disease as described herein, wherein said proliferative disease is cancer.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide for use in or a method for the prevention, treatment or amelioration of a disease as described herein, wherein said cancer is chosen from the group consisting of carcinomas, gliomas, mesotheliomas, melanomas, lymphomas, leukemias, adenocarcinomas: breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, glioblastoma, multiple myeloma (including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, asymptomatic and symptomatic myeloma), prostate cancer, and Burkitt's lymphoma, head and neck cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, cancer of the esophagus, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatobiliary cancer, cancer of the gallbladder, cancer of the small intestine, rectal cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, penile cancer, urethral cancer, testicular cancer, vaginal cancer, uterine cancer, thyroid cancer, parathyroid cancer, adrenal cancer, pancreatic endocrine cancer, carcinoid cancer, bone cancer, skin cancer, retinoblastomas, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, multicentric Castleman's disease or AIDS-associated primary effusion lymphoma, neuroectodermal tumors, rhabdomyosarcoma; as well as any metastasis of any of the above cancers, as well as non-cancer indications such as nasal polyposis.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide for use in or a method for the prevention, treatment or amelioration of a disease as described herein, wherein the treatment is a combination treatment.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a polypeptide as defined herein, a nucleic acid or nucleic acid sequence as defined herein, a vector as defined herein, or a host cell as defined herein.
The present inventors realized that formats bringing T cells and tumour cells together to induce an immune response should comply with various and frequently opposing requirements. The format should be broadly applicable. In particular, the format should preferably be useful in a broad range of patients and preferably also against a broad range of tumours. The format should preferably be safe and only target the intended cells. In addition, the format should preferably be small enough to easily penetrate tissues and tumours, while on the other hand the format should be patient friendly. For instance, the format should have an extended half-life, such that the format is not removed instantaneous upon administration by renal clearance. However, extending the half-life should preferably not introduce off-target activity and side effects or limit the penetration into tissues and tumours. Additionally, it was recognized that tumour cells often create escape mechanisms by the down-regulation of targeted antigens within a therapy. Accordingly, in a further preferred version, the format should simultaneously target multiple antigens.
The present invention realizes at least one of these requirements.
In particular, it was hypothesized that immunoglobulin single variable domains (ISVs) would in principle be ideal candidates, since they are small enough to easily penetrate (tumour) tissue and can be combined with other ISVs as building blocks. Next, ISVs directed against the constant TCR domains should have broad applicability. In contrast to the variable TCR domains, these constant TCR domains display less sequence variability, and consequently should be useful in a broad range of patients.
Unexpectedly, it turned out to be extremely difficult to generate ISVs via immunization in llamas against the constant domains of TCR. Either no significant immune response was mounted, or the generated ISVs were directed against the variable TCR domains. Only by implementing a rigorously carried out immunization and screening method using different cells and sequences for immunization and boosting as well as using different screening proteins, the inventors were able to isolate ISVs against the constant TCR domains. Although only three clusters of related ISVs were identified, these ISVs had an unexpected range of advantageous features. First, the ISVs were unexpectedly broadly applicable, i.e. the TCR ISVs were able to bind to T cells from different donors with high affinity. Formatted in a multispecific polypeptide, the TCR ISVs enabled tumour cell killing with different tumour associated antigens. Hence, the TCR ISVs can be used against a multitude of cancers. In addition, the multispecific polypeptides comprising the TCR ISVs remained active when bound to albumin. This contributes to a favourable PK profile and patient compliance, while minimizing side effects. The polypeptides of the invention only showed effects when bound both to the T cell and the target cell, which is indicative of its safety.
The present inventors considered that the simultaneous targeting of multiple antigens reduces the probability of generating tumour escape variants, because of which the therapeutic activity of T cell engaging strategy is improved. Multispecific polypeptides are provided which comprise a TCR ISV combined with immunoglobulin single variable domains against different target antigens and/or different epitopes on a particular antigen (biparatopic).
Immunoglobulin sequences, such as antibodies and antigen binding fragments derived there from (e.g., immunoglobulin single variable domains or ISVs) are used to specifically target their respective antigens in research and therapeutic applications. The generation of immunoglobulin single variable domains such as e.g., VHHs or Nanobodies may involve the immunization of an experimental animal such as a Llama, construction of phage libraries from immune tissue, selection of phage displaying antigen binding immunoglobulin single variable domains and screening of said domains and engineered constructs thereof for the desired specificities (WO 94/04678). Alternatively, similar immunoglobulin single variable domains such as e.g., dAbs can be generated by selecting phage displaying antigen binding immunoglobulin single variable domains directly from naive or synthetic libraries and subsequent screening of said domains and engineered constructs thereof for the desired specificities (Ward et al., Nature, 1989, 341: 544-546; Holt et al., Trends Biotechnol., 2003, 21(11):484-490; as well as for example WO 06/030220, WO 06/003388 and other published patent applications of Domantis Ltd.). Unfortunately, the use of monoclonal and/or heavily engineered antibodies also carries a high manufacturing cost and may result in suboptimal tumor penetration compared to other strategies.
The present invention provides multispecific polypeptides that specifically bind to the T cell receptor (TCR), with an unexpected range of advantageous features. First, the polypeptides are easy to manufacture. Moreover, the ISVs are unexpectedly broadly applicable, i.e. the TCR ISVs were able to bind to T cells from different donors with high affinity. Formatted in a multispecific polypeptide, the TCR ISVs enabled tumour cell killing with different tumour associated antigens. In contrast, no killing was observed when the polypeptides were not bound to T cells and target cell which underscores the safety of the polypeptides of the invention. Hence, the TCR ISVs can be used against a multitude of cancers. Moreover, the TCR ISVs can be considered as safe. In addition, the multispecific polypeptides comprising the TCR ISVs remained active when bound to albumin. This will contribute to a favourable PK profile and patient compliance, while minimizing side effects.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a first and a second immunoglobulin single variable domain (ISV), wherein the first ISV has high affinity for/binds to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) and the second ISV has high affinity for/binds to an antigen on a cell (target cell), preferably a tumour cell. The antigen is preferably specific for said target cell, such as e.g. a tumour associated antigen (TAA). The multispecific polypeptide of the invention directs the T cell to the cell, e.g. a tumour cell and induces T cell activation in order to allow said T cell to inhibit or kill said target cell, e.g. said tumour cell.
The KD for biological interactions which are considered meaningful (e.g. specific) are typically in the range of 10−10M (0.1 nM) to 10−5M (10000 nM). The stronger an interaction is, the lower is its KD.
The KD can also be expressed as the ratio of the dissociation rate constant of a complex, denoted as koff, to the rate of its association, denoted kon(so that KD=koff/kon and KA=kon/koff). The off-rate koff has units s−1 (where s is the SI unit notation of second). The on-rate kon has units M−1s−1. The on-rate may vary between 102 M−1s−1 to about 107 M−1s−1, approaching the diffusion-limited association rate constant for biomolecular interactions. The off-rate is related to the half-life of a given molecular interaction by the relation t1/2=ln(2)/koff. The off-rate may vary between 10−6 s−1 (near irreversible complex with a t1/2 of multiple days) to 1 s−1 (t1/2=0.69 s).
The affinity of a molecular interaction between two molecules can be measured via different techniques known per se, such as the well-known surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor technique (see for example Ober et al. 2001, Intern. Immunology, 13: 1551-1559). The term “surface plasmon resonance”, as used herein, refers to an optical phenomenon that allows for the analysis of real-time biospecific interactions by detection of alterations in protein concentrations within a biosensor matrix, where one molecule is immobilized on the biosensor chip and the other molecule is passed over the immobilized molecule under flow conditions yielding kon, koff measurements and hence KD (or KA) values. This can for example be performed using the well-known BIAcore® system (BIAcore International AB, a GE Healthcare company, Uppsala, Sweden and Piscataway, N.J.). For further descriptions, see Jonsson et al. 1993 (Ann. Biol. Clin. 51: 19-26), Jonsson et al. 1991 (Biotechniques 11: 620-627), Johnsson, et al. 1995 (J. Mol. Recognit. 8: 125-131), and Johnnson, et al. 1991 (Anal. Biochem. 198: 268-277).
Another well-known biosensor technique to determine affinities of biomolecular interactions is bio-layer interferometry (BLI) (see for example Abdiche et al. 2008, Anal. Biochem. 377: 209-217). The term “bio-layer Interferometry” or “BLI”, as used herein, refers to a label-free optical technique that analyzes the interference pattern of light reflected from two surfaces: an internal reference layer (reference beam) and a layer of immobilized protein on the biosensor tip (signal beam). A change in the number of molecules bound to the tip of the biosensor causes a shift in the interference pattern, reported as a wavelength shift (nm), the magnitude of which is a direct measure of the number of molecules bound to the biosensor tip surface. Since the interactions can be measured in real-time, association and dissociation rates and affinities can be determined. BLI can for example be performed using the well-known Octet® Systems (ForteBio, a division of Pall Life Sciences, Menlo Park, USA).
Alternatively, affinities can be measured in Kinetic Exclusion Assay (KinExA) (see for example Drake et al. 2004, Anal. Biochem., 328: 35-43), using the KinExA® platform (Sapidyne Instruments Inc, Boise, USA). The term “KinExA”, as used herein, refers to a solution-based method to measure true equilibrium binding affinity and kinetics of unmodified molecules. Equilibrated solutions of an antibody/antigen complex are passed over a column with beads precoated with antigen (or antibody), allowing the free antibody (or antigen) to bind to the coated molecule. Detection of the antibody (or antigen) thus captured is accomplished with a fluorescently labeled protein binding the antibody (or antigen).
It will also be clear to the skilled person that the measured KD may correspond to the apparent KD if the measuring process somehow influences the intrinsic binding affinity of the implied molecules for example by artefacts related to the coating on the biosensor of one molecule. Also, an apparent KD may be measured if one molecule contains more than one recognition site for the other molecule. In such situation the measured affinity may be affected by the avidity of the interaction by the two molecules.
Another approach that may be used to assess affinity is the 2-step ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) procedure of Friguet et al. 1985 (J. Immunol. Methods, 77: 305-19). This method establishes a solution phase binding equilibrium measurement and avoids possible artefacts relating to adsorption of one of the molecules on a support such as plastic.
However, the accurate measurement of KD may be quite labour-intensive, and as consequence, often apparent KD values are determined to assess the binding strength of two molecules. It should be noted that as long as all measurements are made in a consistent way (e.g. keeping the assay conditions unchanged) apparent KD measurements can be used as an approximation of the true KD and hence, in the present document, KD and apparent KD should be treated with equal importance or relevance.
Finally, it should be noted that in many situations the experienced scientist may judge it to be convenient to determine the binding affinity relative to some reference molecule. For example, to assess the binding strength between molecules A and B, one may e.g. use a reference molecule C that is known to bind to B and that is suitably labelled with a fluorophore or chromophore group or other chemical moiety, such as biotin for easy detection in an ELISA or FACS (Fluorescent activated cell sorting) or other format (the fluorophore for fluorescence detection, the chromophore for light absorption detection, the biotin for streptavidin-mediated ELISA detection). Typically, the reference molecule C is kept at a fixed concentration and the concentration of A is varied for a given concentration or amount of B. As a result an IC50 value is obtained corresponding to the concentration of A at which the signal measured for C in absence of A is halved. Provided KD ref, the KD of the reference molecule, is known, as well as the total concentration cref of the reference molecule, the apparent KD for the interaction A-B can be obtained from following formula: KD=IC50/(1+cref/KD ref). Note that if cref<<KD ref, KD≈IC50. Provided the measurement of the IC50 is performed in a consistent way (e.g. keeping cref fixed) for the binders that are compared, the strength or stability of a molecular interaction can be assessed by the IC50 and this measurement is judged as equivalent to KD or to apparent KD throughout this text.
The present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising at least a first and at least one further immunoglobulin single variable domain (ISV), wherein said at least first ISV has high affinity for/binds to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) and said at least one further ISV has high affinity for/binds to an antigen on a target cell.
Typically, the multispecific polypeptides of the invention combine high affinity antigen recognition on the target cell with T cell activation, resulting in an activation that is independent of the T cells' natural specificity. The mode of action of the binding molecules that bind both to a cell surface molecule on a target cell such as a tumour antigen and to the T cell TCR is commonly known. Bringing a T cell in close vicinity to a target cell, i.e., engaging said T cell and clustering of the TCR complex results in killing of the target cell by the T cell. In the present invention this process is exploited in fighting against proliferative disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease and autoimmune disease. Generally T cells are equipped with granules containing a deadly combination of pore-forming proteins, called perforins, and cell death-inducing proteases, called granzymes. Preferably, these proteins are delivered into target cells via a cytolytic synapse that forms if T cells are in close vicinity with a target cell that is aimed to be killed. Normally, close vicinity between a T cell and a target cell is achieved by the T cell binding to an MHC/peptide complex using its matching T cell receptor. The polypeptides of the invention bring a T cell into such close vicinity to a target cell in the absence of T cell receptor/MHC interaction.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said polypeptide directs the T cell to the target cell.
With one arm (first ISV), the multispecific polypeptide has high affinity for/binds to the constant domain of the TCR subunit, a protein component of the signal-transducing complex of the T cell receptor on T cells. With another arm (second ISV and/or third ISV, etc.), the multispecific polypeptide recognizes, has high affinity for/binds an antigen(s) on target cells. Preferably, T cell activation is only seen when the multispecific polypeptides are presented to T cells on the surface of target cells. Antigen dependence on target cells for activation results in a favourable safety profile. In an embodiment, the multispecific polypeptides transiently tether T cells and target cells. Preferably, the multispecific polypeptide can induce resting polyclonal T cells, such as CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells into activation, for highly potent redirected lysis of target cells. Preferably, the T cell is directed to a next target cell after lysis of the first target cell.
Proteins and polypeptides that comprise or essentially consist of two or more immunoglobulin single variable domains (such as at least two immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention) will be referred to herein as “multivalent” proteins or polypeptides or as “multivalent constructs”. Some non-limiting examples of such multivalent constructs will become clear from the further description herein. The polypeptides of the invention are “multivalent”, i.e. comprising two or more building blocks or ISVs of which at least the first building block, ISV or Nanobody and the second building block, ISV or Nanobody are different, and directed against different targets, such as antigens or antigenic determinants. Polypeptides of the invention that contain at least two building blocks, ISVs or Nanobodies, in which at least one building block, ISV or Nanobody is directed against a first antigen (i.e., against the first target, such as e.g. the constant domain of a TCR) and at least one building block, ISV or Nanobody is directed against a second antigen (i.e., against the second target which is different from the first target, such as e.g. a TAA, such as CD20 or HER2), will also be referred to as “multispecific” polypeptides of the invention, and the building blocks, ISVs or Nanobodies present in such polypeptides will also be referred to herein as being in a “multivalent format” or “multispecifc format”. Thus, for example, a “bispecific” polypeptide of the invention is a polypeptide that comprises at least one building block, ISV or Nanobody directed against a first target (e.g. TCR) and at least one further building block, ISV or Nanobody directed against a second target (i.e., directed against a second target different from said first target, such as e.g. a TAA, e.g. CD20 or HER2), whereas a “trispecific” polypeptide of the invention is a polypeptide that comprises at least one building block, ISV or Nanobody directed against a first target (e.g., TCR), a second building block, ISV or Nanobody directed against a second target different from said first target (e.g. a TAA, e.g. CD20 or HER2) and at least one further building block, ISV or Nanobody directed against a third antigen (i.e., different from both the first and the second target, such as another TAA); etc. As will be clear from the description, the invention is not limited to bispecific polypeptides, in the sense that a multispecific polypeptide of the invention may comprise at least a first building block, ISV or Nanobody against a first target, a second building block, ISV or Nanobody against a second target and any number of building blocks, ISVs or Nanobodies directed against one or more targets, which may be the same or different from the first and/or second target, respectively. The building blocks, ISVs or Nanobodies can optionally be linked via linker sequences.
The terms bispecific polypeptide, bispecific format, bispecific construct, bispecific Nanobody construct, bispecific and bispecific antibody are used interchangeably herein.
As will be clear from the further description above and herein, the immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention can be used as “building blocks” to form polypeptides of the invention, e.g., by suitably combining them with other groups, residues, moieties or binding units, in order to form compounds or constructs as described herein (such as, without limitations, the bi-/tri-/tetra-/multivalent and bi-/tri-/tetra-/multispecific polypeptides of the invention described herein) which combine within one molecule one or more desired properties or biological functions.
It will be appreciated (as is also demonstrated in the Example section) that the ISV binding TCR and the ISV binding the antigen on a target cell can be positioned in any order in the polypeptide of the invention. More particularly, in one embodiment, the ISV binding TCR is positioned N-terminally and the ISV binding the antigen on a target cell is positioned C-terminally. In another embodiment, the ISV binding the antigen on a target cell is positioned N-terminally and the ISV binding TCR is positioned C-terminally.
In a preferred aspect, the polypeptide of the invention comprises at least a first, at least a second and at least a third immunoglobulin single variable domain (ISV), wherein said at least a first ISV has high affinity for/binds to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR); said at least a second ISV has high affinity for/binds to a first antigen on a target cell, and said at least a third ISV has high affinity for/binds to a second antigen on a target cell, wherein said second antigen is different from said first antigen. Said first antigen and said second antigen can be on the same or on different target cells.
It will be appreciated (as is also demonstrated in the Example section) that the ISV binding TCR and the ISVs binding the first and second antigen on a target cell can be positioned in any order in the polypeptide of the invention. More particularly, in one embodiment, the ISV binding TCR is positioned N-terminally, the ISV binding the first antigen on a target cell is positioned centrally and the ISV binding the second antigen on a target cell is positioned C-terminally. In another embodiment, the ISV binding TCR is positioned N-terminally, the ISV binding the second antigen on a target cell is positioned centrally and the ISV binding the first antigen on a target cell is positioned C-terminally. In another embodiment, the ISV binding the first antigen on a target cell is positioned N-terminally, the ISV binding the second antigen on a target cell is positioned centrally and the ISV binding the TCR is positioned C-terminally. In another embodiment, the ISV binding the first antigen on a target cell is positioned N-terminally, the ISV binding the TCR is positioned centrally and the ISV binding the second antigen on a target cell is positioned C-terminally. In another embodiment, the ISV binding the second antigen on a target cell is positioned N-terminally, the ISV binding the TCR is positioned centrally and the ISV binding the first antigen on a target cell is positioned C-terminally. In another embodiment, the ISV binding the second antigen on a target cell is positioned N-terminally, the ISV binding the first antigen on a target cell is positioned centrally and the ISV binding the TCR is positioned C-terminally.
The invention further relates to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins or polypeptides that comprise or essentially consist of one or more ISVs or polypeptides of the invention, and optionally further comprise one or more other groups, residues, moieties or binding units. As will become clear to the skilled person from the further disclosure herein, such further groups, residues, moieties, binding units or amino acid sequences may or may not provide further functionality to the polypeptide of the invention (and/or to the compound or construct in which it is present) and may or may not modify the properties of the polypeptide of the invention.
The compounds, constructs or polypeptides of the invention can generally be prepared by a method which comprises at least one step of suitably linking the one or more immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention to the one or more further groups, residues, moieties or binding units, optionally via one or more suitable linkers, so as to provide the compound, construct or polypeptide of the invention. Polypeptides of the invention can also be prepared by a method which generally comprises at least the steps of providing a nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide of the invention, expressing said nucleic acid in a suitable manner, and recovering the expressed polypeptide of the invention. Such methods can be performed in a manner known per se, which will be clear to the skilled person, for example on the basis of the methods and techniques further described herein.
The process of designing/selecting and/or preparing a compound, construct or polypeptide of the invention, starting from an amino acid sequence of the invention, is also referred to herein as “formatting” said amino acid sequence of the invention; and an amino acid of the invention that is made part of a compound, construct or polypeptide of the invention is said to be “formatted” or to be “in the format of” said compound, construct or polypeptide of the invention. Examples of ways in which an amino acid sequence of the invention can be formatted and examples of such formats will be clear to the skilled person based on the disclosure herein; and such formatted immunoglobulin single variable domains or polypeptides form a further aspect of the invention.
For example, such further groups, residues, moieties or binding units may be one or more additional immunoglobulin single variable domains, such that the compound or construct is a (fusion) protein or (fusion) polypeptide. In a preferred but non-limiting aspect, said one or more other groups, residues, moieties or binding units are immunoglobulin sequences. Even more preferably, said one or more other groups, residues, moieties or binding units are chosen from the group consisting of domain antibodies, immunoglobulin single variable domains that are suitable for use as a domain antibody, single domain antibodies, immunoglobulin single variable domains (ISVs) that are suitable for use as a single domain antibody, “dAb” 's, immunoglobulin single variable domains that are suitable for use as a dAb, or Nanobodies. Alternatively, such groups, residues, moieties or binding units may for example be chemical groups, residues, moieties, which may or may not by themselves be biologically and/or pharmacologically active. For example, and without limitation, such groups may be linked to the one or more immunoglobulin single variable domains or polypeptides of the invention so as to provide a “derivative” of an ISV or polypeptide of the invention, as further described herein.
Also within the scope of the present invention are compounds or constructs, which comprise or essentially consist of one or more derivatives as described herein, and optionally further comprise one or more other groups, residues, moieties or binding units, optionally linked via one or more linkers. Preferably, said one or more other groups, residues, moieties or binding units are immunoglobulin single variable domains. In the compounds or constructs described above, the one or more immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention and the one or more groups, residues, moieties or binding units may be linked directly to each other and/or via one or more suitable linkers or spacers. For example, when the one or more groups, residues, moieties or binding units are immunoglobulin single variable domains, the linkers may also be immunoglobulin single variable domains, so that the resulting compound or construct is a fusion protein or fusion polypeptide.
In some embodiments, the polypeptides comprise at least two or more immunoglobulin single variable domains disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the polypeptides essentially consist of two or more immunoglobulin single variable domains disclosed herein. A polypeptide that “essentially consists of” two or more immunoglobulin single variable domains, is a polypeptide that in addition to the two or more immunoglobulin single variable domains disclosed herein does not have additional immunoglobulin single variable domains. For instance, a polypeptide that essentially consists of two immunoglobulin single variable domains does not include any additional immunoglobulin single variable domains. However, it should be appreciated that a polypeptide that essentially consists of two or more immunoglobulin single variable domains may include additional functionalities, such as a label, a toxin, one or more linkers, a binding sequence, etc. These additional functionalities include both amino acid based and non-amino acid based groups. In some embodiments, the polypeptides consist of one or more immunoglobulin single variable domains disclosed herein. It should be appreciated that the terms “polypeptide construct” and “polypeptide” can be used interchangeably herein (unless the context clearly dictates otherwise).
In some embodiments, the polypeptides include multivalent or multispecific constructs comprising immunoglobulin single variable domains disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the polypeptides comprise one or more antibody based-scaffolds and/or non-antibody based scaffolds disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the polypeptides comprise a serum binding protein moiety. In some embodiments, the serum binding protein moiety is an immunoglobulin single variable domain. In some embodiments, the immunoglobulin single variable domain is a Nanobody.
It will be appreciated that the order of the building blocks, such as e.g. a first building block, a second building block, a third building block etc., on the polypeptide (orientation) can be chosen according to the needs of the person skilled in the art, as well as the relative affinities which may depend on the location of these building blocks in the polypeptide. Whether the polypeptide comprises a linker, is a matter of design choice. However, some orientations, with or without linkers, may provide preferred binding characteristics in comparison to other orientations. For instance, the order of a first and a second building block in the polypeptide of the invention can be (from N-terminus to C-terminus): (i) first building block (e.g. a first ISV such as a first Nanobody)-[linker]-second building block (e.g. a second ISV such as a second Nanobody); or (ii) second building block (e.g. a second ISV such as a second Nanobody)-[linker]-first building block (e.g. a first ISV such as a first Nanobody); (wherein the linker is optional). All orientations are encompassed by the invention. Polypeptides that contain an orientation of building blocks that provides desired (binding) characteristics can be easily identified by routine screening, for instance as exemplified in the experimental section.
The first immunoglobulin single variable domain (ISV) of the polypeptide of the invention has high affinity for/binds to an effector cell, preferably the TCR of said effector cell, and even more preferably the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR).
An effector cell is a cell comprising a TCR complex, preferably an immune cell, such as a T cell, preferably a CD4+ T-helper cell (also known as CD4 cell, T-helper cell or T4 cell), more preferably a Cytotoxic T cell (also known as Tc cell, CTL or CD8+ T cells) or Natural Killer T cells (NKT cells). In some embodiments, the cell is present in vivo. In some embodiments, the cell is present in vitro. The effector cell of the invention relates in particular to mammalian cells, preferably to primate cells, and even more preferably to human cells.
As used herein, the terms “TCR complex” or “a TCR-CD3 complex” refers to the T cell receptor complex presented on the surface of T cells (see Kuhns et al. 2006, Immunity 24: 133-139). The TCR complex is composed of six different type I single-spanning transmembrane proteins: the TCRα and TCRβ chains that form the TCR heterodimer responsible for ligand recognition, and the non-covalently associated CD3γ, CD3δ, CD3ε and ζ chains, which bear cytoplasmic sequence motifs that are phosphorylated upon receptor activation and recruit a large number of signalling components. Both α and β chains of the T cell receptor consist of a constant domain and a variable domain. The sequences for the human CD3 and the human TCRα/β constant domains are provided in Table A-6 (SEQ ID NOs: 344-349; cf. UniProt identifiers: CD3 delta: P04234, CD3 gamma: P09693, CD3 epsilon: P07766, CD3 zeta: P20963, TCR alpha: P01848 and TCR beta: related to P01850).
In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV binds to the constant domain of a T cell receptor α (TCR-α) (SEQ ID NO: 348) and/or the constant domain of the T cell receptor β (TCR-β) (SEQ ID NO: 349), or polymorphic variants or isoforms thereof.
Alternatively, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV binds to the constant domain of a T cell receptor α (TCR-α) (SEQ ID NO: 484) and/or the constant domain of the T cell receptor β (TCR-β) (SEQ ID NO: 485), or polymorphic variants or isoforms thereof.
Isoforms are alternative protein sequences that can be generated from the same gene by a single or by the combination of biological events such as alternative promoter usage, alternative splicing, alternative initiation and ribosomal frameshifting, all as known in the art.
“T cell activation” as used herein refers to one or more cellular response(s) of a T cell, e.g. a cytotoxic T cell, such as selected from: proliferation, differentiation, cytokine secretion, cytotoxic effector molecule release, cytotoxic activity, expression of activation markers, and redirected target cell lysis. The polypeptides of the invention are capable of inducing T cell activation. Suitable assays to measure T cell activation are known in the art described herein, for instance as described in WO 99/54440 or by Schlereth et al. 2005 (Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 20: 1-12), or as exemplified in the examples or below.
In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said polypeptide induces T cell activation. Preferably, the polypeptide of the invention induces T cell activation only when said second and/or further ISV is bound to an antigen on a target cell.
In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said T cell activation depends on presenting said polypeptide bound to said first antigen on a target cell to a T cell.
T cell activation by the polypeptides of the invention can be monitored by upregulation of CD69, CD25 and various cell adhesion molecules, de novo expression and/or release of cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10), upregulation of granzyme and perforin expression, and/or cell proliferation, membrane blebbing, activation of procaspases 3 and/or 7, fragmentation of nuclear DNA and/or cleavage of caspase substrate poly (ADPribose) polymerase. Preferably, redirected lysis of target cells by multispecific polypeptides is independent of T cell receptor specificity, presence of MHC class I and/or 32 microglobulin, and/or of any co-stimulatory stimuli.
In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said T cell activation is independent from MHC recognition.
The polypeptides of the invention show redirected lysis in vitro with previously unstimulated peripheral polyclonal CD8+- and CD4+-positive T cells. The redirected lysis of target cells via the recruitment of T cells by the polypeptides of the invention involves cytolytic synapse formation and delivery of perforin and granzymes. Cell lysis by T cells has been described, e.g. by Atkinson and Bleackley 1995 (Crit. Rev. Immunol 15(3-4):359-384). Preferably, the engaged T cells are capable of serial target cell lysis, and are not affected by immune escape mechanisms interfering with peptide antigen processing and presentation, or clonal T cell differentiation (see, for example, WO 2007/042261). In vitro, redirected lysis is seen at low picomolar concentrations, suggesting that very low numbers of the polypeptides of the invention need to be bound to target cells for triggering T cells. As demonstrated in the examples, the low effector to target ratio might be indicative for serial target cell lysis. Accordingly, the present invention relates to potent polypeptides. Preferably, the polypeptide of the invention mediates killing of target cells, e.g. cancer cells, such as stimulating T cells in pore formation and delivering pro-apoptotic components of cytotoxic T cell granules.
In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said T cell activation causes one or more cellular response of said T cell, wherein said cellular response is selected from the group consisting of proliferation, differentiation, cytokine secretion, cytotoxic effector molecule release, cytotoxic activity, expression of activation markers and redirected target cell lysis.
As used herein, the term “potency” is a measure of the biological activity of an agent, such as a polypeptide, ISV or Nanobody. Potency of an agent can be determined by any suitable method known in the art, such as for instance as described in the experimental section. Cell culture based potency assays are often the preferred format for determining biological activity since they measure the physiological response elicited by the agent and can generate results within a relatively short period of time. Various types of cell based assays, based on the mechanism of action of the product, can be used, including but not limited to proliferation assays, cytotoxicity assays, cell killing assays, reporter gene assays, cell surface receptor binding assays, and assays to measure induction/inhibition of functionally essential proteins or other signal molecules (such as phosphorylated proteins, enzymes, cytokines, cAMP and the like), Ramos B cell depletion model, T cell mediated tumour cell killing assay (for instance as set out in the Examples section), all well known in the art. Results from cell based potency assays can be expressed as “relative potency” as determined by comparison of the multispecific polypeptide of the invention to the response obtained for the corresponding reference monovalent ISV, e.g. a polypeptide comprising only one ISV or one Nanobody, optionally further comprising an irrelevant Nanobody (cf. experimental section).
In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said T cell activation causes inhibition of an activity of said target cell, such as to delay or minimize the spread of the target cell, to inhibit or delay growth and/or proliferation of the target cell, and/or to kill the target cell (e.g., cause regression of the disorder and/or symptoms) by more than about 10%, such as 20%, 30%, or 40% or even more than 50%, such as more than 60%, such as 70%, 80%, or even more than 90%, such as 100%.
The first building block, ISV, Nanobody or VHH of the invention has a high affinity for its—the constant domain of TCR—target. The first building block, ISV or Nanobody of the invention may for example be directed against an antigenic determinant, epitope, part, domain, subunit or confirmation (where applicable) of said first target. The first building block, e.g. the first ISV, Nanobody or VHH, is preferably chosen for its high affinity for its target per se, disregarding the influence of any avidity effects.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV binds to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) with an average KD value of between 100 nM and 10 μM, such as at an average KD value of 90 nM or less, even more preferably at an average KD value of 80 nM or less, such as less than 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 nM or even less, such as less than 4, 3, 2, or 1 nM, such as less than 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20 μM, or even less, such as less than 10 μM. Preferably, the KD is determined by Kinexa, BLI or SPR, for instance as determined by Proteon. For instance, said KD is determined as set out in the Examples section.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV has a high affinity when measured as a monovalent. Preferably said average KD is measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) on recombinant protein.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said polypeptide has a dissociation constant (KD) to (or for binding) said TCR selected from the group consisting of: at most about 10−5 M, at most about 10−6 M, at most about 10−7 M, at most about 10−8 M, at most about 10−9 M, at most about 10−10 M, at most about 10−11 M, and at most about 10−12 M, preferably as measured by surface plasmon resonance.
The present invention also relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV binds to said TCR with an EC50 value of between 100 nM and 1 μM, such as at an average EC50 value of 100 nM or less, even more preferably at an average EC50 value of 90 nM or less, such as less than 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 nM or even less, such as less than 4, 3, 2, or 1 nM or even less, such as less than 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 μM, or even less, such as less than 4 μM.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said average KD is determined by FACS, Biacore, ELISA, on a monovalent first ISV, such as a Nanobody, or a polypeptide comprising a monovalent first ISV, such as a Nanobody, for instance said EC50 is determined as set out in the Examples section.
It has been shown in the examples that the KD correlates well with the EC50.
In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said polypeptide has an on rate constant (Kon) to (or for binding) said TCR selected from the group consisting of at least about 102 M−1s−1, at least about 103 M−1s−1, at least about 104 M−1s−1, at least about 105 M−1s−1, at least about 106 M−1s−1, 107 M−1s−1, at least about 108 M−1s−1, at least about 109 M−1s−1, and at least about 1010 M−1s−1, preferably as measured by surface plasmon resonance or as performed in the examples section.
In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said polypeptide has an off rate constant (Koff) to (or for binding) said TCR selected from the group consisting of at most about 10−3 s−1, at most about 10−4 s−1, at most about 10−5 s−1, at most about 10−6 s−1, at most about 10−7 s−1, at most about 10−8 s−1, at most about 10−9 s−1, and at most about 10−10 s−1, preferably as measured by surface plasmon resonance or as performed in the examples section.
Amino acid sequence modifications of the binding molecules, ISVs, or polypeptides described herein are contemplated. For example, it may be desirable to improve the binding affinity and/or other biological properties of the antibody or ISV. Amino acid sequence variants of the binding molecules, ISVs, or polypeptides are prepared by introducing appropriate nucleotide changes into the binding molecules, ISVs, or polypeptides nucleic acid, or by peptide synthesis.
Such modifications include, for example, deletions from, and/or insertions into, and/or substitutions of, residues within the amino acid sequences of the binding molecules, ISVs or polypeptides. Any combination of deletion, insertion, and substitution is made to arrive at the final construct, provided that the final construct possesses the desired characteristics. The amino acid changes also may alter post-translational processes of the binding molecules, such as changing the number or position of glycosylation sites. Preferably, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 amino acids may be substituted in a CDR, while 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or 25 amino acids may be substituted in the framework regions (FRs). The substitutions are preferably conservative substitutions as described herein. Additionally or alternatively, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 amino acids may be inserted or deleted in each of the CDRs (of course, dependent on their length), while 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or 25 amino acids may be inserted or deleted in each of the FRs.
A useful method for identification of certain residues or regions of the binding molecules, ISVs or polypeptides, that are preferred locations for mutagenesis is called “alanine scanning mutagenesis” as described by Cunningham and Wells 1989 (Science 244: 1081-1085). Here, a residue or group of target residues within the binding molecule is/are identified (e.g. charged residues such as Arg, Asp, His, Lys, and Glu) and replaced by a neutral or negatively charged amino acid (most preferably alanine or polyalanine) to affect the interaction of the amino acids with the epitope. Those amino acid locations demonstrating functional sensitivity to the substitutions then are refined by introducing further or other variants at, or for, the sites of substitution. Thus, while the site for introducing an amino acid sequence variation is predetermined, the nature of the mutation per se needs not to be predetermined. For example, to analyze the performance of a mutation at a given site, ala scanning or random mutagenesis is conducted at a target codon or region and the expressed binding molecule variants are screened for the desired activity.
Preferably, amino acid sequence insertions include amino- and/or carboxyl-terminal fusions ranging in length from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 residues to polypeptides containing a hundred or more residues.
Another type of variant is an amino acid substitution variant. These variants have preferably at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino acid residues in the binding molecule, ISV or polypeptide replaced by a different residue. The sites of greatest interest for substitution mutagenesis include the CDRs, in particular the hypervariable regions, but FR alterations are also contemplated. For example, if a CDR sequence encompasses 6 amino acids, it is envisaged that one, two or three of these amino acids are substituted. Similarly, if a CDR sequence encompasses 15 amino acids it is envisaged that one, two, three, four, five or six of these amino acids are substituted.
Generally, if amino acids are substituted in one or more or all of the CDRs, it is preferred that the then-obtained “substituted” sequence is at least 60%, more preferably 65%, even more preferably 70%, particularly preferably 75%, more particularly preferably 80% or even more than 90% identical to the “original” CDR sequence. This means that it is dependent of the length of the CDR to which degree it is identical to the “substituted” sequence. For example, a CDR having 5 amino acids is preferably 80% identical to its substituted sequence in order to have at least one amino acid substituted. Accordingly, the CDRs of the binding molecule may have different degrees of identity to their substituted sequences, e.g., CDR1 may have 80%, while CDR3 may have 90%.
Preferred substitutions (or replacements) are conservative substitutions. However, any substitution (including non-conservative substitution or one or more from the “exemplary substitutions” listed in Table B-1 below) is envisaged as long as the polypeptide retains its capability to bind to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) present on a T cell via the first ISV and to a first antigen on a target cell via the second ISV and/or its CDRs have an identity to the then substituted sequence (at least 60%, more preferably 65%, even more preferably 70%, particularly preferably 75%, more particularly preferably 80% identical to the “original” CDR sequence).
Conservative substitutions are shown in Table B-1 below.
As indicated before, only after rigorous immunization and screening and selection methods, the present inventors were able to identify ISVs binding to the constant domains of TCR. Accordingly, the present invention relates to polypeptides comprising a first ISV chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-118 (cf. Table A-4). Sequence analysis further demonstrated that all ISVs binding to TCR comprised a very similar CDR3. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide according to the invention in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR3 has the amino acid sequence X1SR X2X3PYX4Y, in which X1 is F, Y, G, L or K, X2 is I or L, X3 is Y or W, and X4 is D, N or S.
Sequence analysis further revealed that there are only a limited number of sequence variations in the CDRs (cf. Example 4.2 and Tables A-1 to A-3).
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
Further preferred CDR sequences are depicted in Table A-4.
Generally, the combinations of CDR's listed in Table A-4 (i.e. those mentioned on the same line in Table A-4) are preferred. Thus, it is generally preferred that, when a CDR in an ISV is a CDR sequence mentioned in Table A-4 or suitably chosen from the group consisting of CDR sequences that have 4, 3, 2 or only 1 amino acid difference(s) with a CDR sequence listed in Table A-4, that at least one and preferably both of the other CDR's are suitably chosen from the CDR sequences that belong to the same combination in Table A-4 (i.e. mentioned on the same line in Table A-4) or are suitably chosen from the group consisting of CDR sequences that have 4, 3, 2 or only 1 amino acid difference(s) with the CDR sequence(s) belonging to the same combination.
Sequence analysis of the resulting binders further resulted in the identification of 3 distinct clusters. Corresponding alignments are provided (see Table A-1, Table A-2 and Table A-3). Clustering was based on sequence similarities and differences in CDR2 and CDR3. Cluster A is the most prominent comprising 104 clones (SEQ ID NOs: 1-104), cluster B comprises 11 clones (SEQ ID NOs: 105-115), and cluster C is represented by only 3 clones (SEQ ID NOs: 116-118). The clustering based on the structural similarities and differences in the amino acid sequence translated into functional similarities and differences as revealed by the examples. Representatives of all clusters were isolated based on high affinity binding to the constant domain of the TCR (Examples 3 & 4) and human T cell activation (Example 4.2). In general cluster A representatives demonstrated the best EC50 values. In addition, cluster A representatives were cross-reactive with the constant domain of cynomolgus TCR (cf. Example 18). Although cluster C representatives had somewhat less favourable EC50 values than cluster B representatives, cluster C representatives had lower IC50 values in a flow cytometry based T cell mediated Ramos killing assay (cf. Example 10).
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
In an embodiment, the invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In an embodiment, the invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which: CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 123, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 153, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 170.
Nanobodies of cluster B show relatively limited sequence variability in the CDRs.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which: CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 124, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 145, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 167.
In Cluster C, the sequence variation is even more limited than within the other clusters.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In an aspect, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, in which said first ISV essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which: CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 130, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 157, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 172.
The second immunoglobulin single variable domain (ISV) of the polypeptide of the invention has a high affinity for/binds to an antigen on a target cell, preferably a cancer cell. A “target cell” as referred to herein, is a cell that presents a particular antigen on its surface. In a preferred aspect, the “target cell” is a cancer cell.
The membrane (also called plasma membrane or phospholipid bilayer) surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell, which is the outer boundary of the cell, i.e. the membrane is the surface of the cell. This membrane serves to separate and protect a cell from its surrounding environment and is made mostly from a double layer of phospholipids. Embedded within this membrane is a variety of protein molecules, such as channels, pumps and cellular receptors. Since the membrane is fluid, the protein molecules can travel within the membrane. The term “antigen on a target cell” as used herein denotes a molecule, which is displayed on the surface of a cell. In most cases, this molecule will be located in or on the plasma membrane of the cell such that at least part of this molecule remains accessible from outside the cell in tertiary form. A non-limiting example of a cell surface molecule, which is located in the plasma membrane, is a transmembrane protein comprising, in its tertiary conformation, regions of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. Here, at least one hydrophobic region allows the cell surface molecule to be embedded, or inserted in the hydrophobic plasma membrane of the cell while the hydrophilic regions extend on either side of the plasma membrane into the cytoplasm and extracellular space, respectively.
Said antigen can be any target on a cell, e.g. a tumour antigen. In a preferred embodiment, said antigen is specific for said target cell, e.g. cancer cell, such as a tumour associated antigen (TAA) on said cancer cell.
The term “tumour antigen” as used herein may be understood as those antigens that are presented on tumour cells. These antigens can be presented on the cell surface with an extracellular part, which is often combined with a transmembrane and cytoplasmic part of the molecule. These antigens can sometimes be presented only by tumour cells and never by a normal or healthy cell. Tumour antigens can be exclusively expressed on tumour cells or might represent a tumour specific mutation compared to normal cells. In this case, they are called tumour-specific antigens. However, this will not be the case generally. More common are antigens that are presented by tumour cells and normal cells, and they are called “tumour-associated antigens (TAA)”. These tumour-associated antigens can be overexpressed on tumour cells compared to normal cells or are better accessible for antibody binding in tumour cells due to the less compact structure of the tumour tissue compared to normal tissue. TAA are preferably antigens that are expressed on cells of particular tumours, but that are preferably not expressed in normal cells. Often, TAA are antigens that are normally expressed in cells only at particular points in an organism's development (such as during fetal development) and that are being inappropriately expressed in the organism at the present point of development, or are antigens not expressed in normal tissues or cells of an organ now expressing the antigen.
In an embodiment, said first antigen on a target cell is a tumour antigen, preferably a tumour associated antigen (TAA).
In an embodiment, said second antigen on a target cell is a tumour antigen, preferably a tumour associated antigen (TAA).
In an embodiment, said antigen is present more abundantly on a cancer cell than on a normal cell.
The antigen on a target cell is preferably a tumor-associated antigen (TAA). Preferred TAAs include MART-1, carcinoembryonic antigen (“CEA”), gp100, MAGE-1, HER-2, CD20, Lewis' antigens, Melanoma-associated Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan (MCSP), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP), CD19 and CD33.
Cell surface antigens that are preferentially expressed on AML LSC compared with normal hematopoietic stem cells, and thus preferred as TAA, include CD123, CD44, CLL-1, CD96, CD47, CD32, CXCR4, Tim-3 and CD25.
Other tumor-associated antigens suitable as an antigen on a target cell for binding by the second ISV within the polypeptides of the invention include: TAG-72, Ep-CAM, PSMA, PSA, glycolipids such as GD2 and GD3.
The TAA of the invention include also hematopoietic differentiation antigens, i.e. glycoproteins usually associated with cluster differentiation (CD) grouping, such as CD4, CD5, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD33, CD36, CD45, CD52, CD69 and CD147; growth factor receptors, including HER2, ErbB3 and ErbB4; Cytokine receptors, including Interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain (CD132 antigen), Interleukin-10 receptor alpha chain (IL-10R-A), Interleukin-10 receptor beta chain (IL-10R-B), Interleukin-12 receptor beta-1 chain (IL-12R-beta1), Interleukin-12 receptor beta-2 chain (IL-12 receptor beta-2), Interleukin-13 receptor alpha-1 chain (IL-13R-alpha-1) (CD213a1 antigen), Interleukin-13 receptor alpha-2 chain (Interleukin-13 binding protein), Interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17 receptor), Interleukin-17B receptor (IL-17B receptor), Interleukin 21 receptor precursor (IL-21R), Interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1R-1) (CD121a), Interleukin-1 receptor type II (IL-1R-beta) (CDw121b), Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra), Interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (CD25 antigen), Interleukin-2 receptor beta chain (CD122 antigen), Interleukin-3 receptor alpha chain (IL-3R-alpha) (CD123 antigen); as well as others, such as CD30, IL23R, IGF-1R, IL5R, IgE, CD248 (endosialin), CD44v6, gpA33, Ron, Trop2, PSCA, claudin 6, claudin 18.2, CLEC12A, CD38, ephA2, c-Met, CD56, MUC16, EGFRvIII, AGS-16, CD27L, Nectin-4, SLITRK6, mesothelin, folate receptor, tissue factor, axl, glypican-3, CA9, Cripto, CD138, CD37, MUC1, CD70, gastrin releasing peptide receptor, PAP, CEACAM5, CEACAM6, CXCR7, N-cadherin, FXYD2 gamma a, CD21, CD133, Na/K-ATPase, mlgM (membrane-bound IgM), mIgA (membrane-bound IgA), Mer, Tyro2, CD120, CD95, CA 195, DR5, DR6, DcR3 and CAIX.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said TAA is chosen from the group consisting of Melanoma-associated Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan (MCSP), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP), MART-1, carcinoembryonic antigen (“CEA”), gp100, MAGE-1, HER-2, Lewis' antigens, CD123, CD44, CLL-1, CD96, CD47, CD32, CXCR4, Tim-3, CD25, TAG-72, Ep-CAM, PSMA, PSA, GD2, GD3, CD4, CD5, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD33, CD36, CD45, CD52, CD147; growth factor receptors, including ErbB3 and ErbB4; Cytokine receptors, including Interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain (CD132 antigen), Interleukin-10 receptor alpha chain (IL-10R-A), Interleukin-10 receptor beta chain (IL-10R-B), Interleukin-12 receptor beta-1 chain (IL-12R-beta1), Interleukin-12 receptor beta-2 chain (IL-12 receptor beta-2), Interleukin-13 receptor alpha-1 chain (IL-13R-alpha-1) (CD213a1 antigen), Interleukin-13 receptor alpha-2 chain (Interleukin-13 binding protein), Interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17 receptor), Interleukin-17B receptor (IL-17B receptor), Interleukin 21 receptor precursor (IL-21R), Interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1R-1) (CD121a), Interleukin-1 receptor type II (IL-1R-beta) (CDw121b), Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra), Interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (CD25 antigen), Interleukin-2 receptor beta chain (CD122 antigen), Interleukin-3 receptor alpha chain (IL-3R-alpha) (CD123 antigen), CD30, IL23R, IGF-1R, IL5R, IgE, CD248 (endosialin), CD44v6, gpA33, Ron, Trop2, PSCA, claudin 6, claudin 18.2, CLEC12A, CD38, ephA2, c-Met, CD56, MUC16, EGFRvIII, AGS-16, CD27L, Nectin-4, SLITRK6, mesothelin, folate receptor, tissue factor, axl, glypican-3, CA9, Cripto, CD138, CD37, MUC1, CD70, gastrin releasing peptide receptor, PAP, CEACAM5, CEACAM6, CXCR7, N-cadherin, FXYD2 gamma a, CD21, CD133, Na/K-ATPase, mlgM (membrane-bound IgM), mIgA (membrane-bound IgA), Mer, Tyro2, CD120, CD95, CA 195, DR5, DR6, DcR3 and CAIX, and related polymorphic variants and isoforms, preferably said TAA is CD20 (UniProt 11836), HER2 (Uniprot P04626), EGFR, or CEACAM, polymorphic variants and/or isoforms thereof.
The second building block, ISV, Nanobody or VHH of the invention has a high affinity for its antigen. The second building block, ISV or Nanobody of the invention may, for example, be directed against an antigenic determinant, epitope, part, domain, subunit or confirmation (where applicable) of said antigen on a target cell.
The target cell of the invention relates in particular to mammalian cells, preferably to primate cells, and even more preferably to human cells. The target cell is preferably a hyperproliferative cell such as e.g. a cancer cell.
The present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said second or further ISV binds to an antigen on a target cell with an average KD value of between 100 nM and 10 μM, such as at an average KD value of 90 nM or less, even more preferably at an average KD value of 80 nM or less, such as less than 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 nM or even less, such as less than 4, 3, 2, or 1 nM, such as less than 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20 μM, or even less, such as less than 10 μM. Preferably, the KD is determined by Kinexa, BLI or SPR, for instance as determined by a Proteon.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said second or further ISV has a high affinity for its antigen when measured as a monovalent.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said average KD is measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and/or KinExA or Proteon, for instance on recombinant protein, such as described in the Examples section.
The present invention also relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said second or further ISV binds to an antigen on a target cell with an EC50 value of between 100 nM and 1 μM, such as at an average EC50 value of 100 nM or less, even more preferably at an average EC50 value of 90 nM or less, such as less than 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 nM or even less, such as less than 4, 3, 2, or 1 nM or even less, such as less than 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 μM, or even less, such as less than 4 μM.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said average EC50 is determined by FACS or ELISA, on a monovalent second ISV, such as a Nanobody, or a polypeptide comprising a monovalent second ISV, such as a Nanobody.
It has been shown in the examples that the KD correlates well with the EC50.
Simultaneous targeting of multiple antigens can reduce the probability of generating tumour escape variants, because of which the therapeutic activity of T cell engaging strategy is improved. The present invention provides multispecific polypeptides which comprise a TCR ISV combined with immunoglobulin single variable domains against different (target) antigens (on a target cell).
Preferred combinations of first and second antigens are provided below (it will be appreciated that the ISVs binding said antigens can be positioned in any order in the polypeptide of the invention):
Similarly, simultaneous targeting of multiple epitopes, antigenic determinants, parts, domains, subunits or conformations of a protein or antigen on a target cell can reduce the probability of generating tumour escape variants, because of which the therapeutic activity of T cell engaging strategy is improved (cf. Example 22). The present invention provides polypeptides which comprise an anti-TCR ISV combined with immunoglobulin single variable domains against different epitopes, antigenic determinants, parts, domains, subunits or conformations of an antigen on a target cell (also referred to as biparatopic constructs). Preferred combinations of first and second TAA ISVs are provided below (it will be appreciated that the ISVs binding said antigens can be positioned in any order in the polypeptide of the invention):
The polypeptides and compositions of the present invention can be used for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases and disorders of the present invention (herein also “diseases and disorders of the present invention”) which include, but are not limited to cancer. The term “cancer” refers to the pathological condition in mammals that is typically characterized by dysregulated cellular proliferation or survival. Examples of cancer include, but are not limited to, carcinomas, gliomas, mesotheliomas, melanomas, lymphomas, leukemias, adenocarcinomas: breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, glioblastoma, multiple myeloma (including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, asymptomatic and symptomatic myeloma), prostate cancer, and Burkitt's lymphoma, head and neck cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, cancer of the esophagus, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatobiliary cancer, cancer of the gallbladder, cancer of the small intestine, rectal cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, penile cancer, urethral cancer, testicular cancer, vaginal cancer, uterine cancer, thyroid cancer, parathyroid cancer, adrenal cancer, pancreatic endocrine cancer, carcinoid cancer, bone cancer, skin cancer, retinoblastomas, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, multicentric Castleman's disease or AIDS-associated primary effusion lymphoma, neuroectodermal tumors, rhabdomyosarcoma (see e.g., Cancer, Principles and practice (DeVita et al. eds 1997) for additional cancers); as well as any metastasis of any of the above cancers, as well as non-cancer indications such as nasal polyposis, as well as other disorders and diseases described herein.
For a general description of immunoglobulin single variable domains, reference is made to the further description below, as well as to the prior art cited herein. In this respect, it should however be noted that this description and the prior art mainly describes immunoglobulin single variable domains of the so-called “VH3 class” (i.e., immunoglobulin single variable domains with a high degree of sequence homology to human germline sequences of the VH3 class such as DP-47, DP-51 or DP-29), which form a preferred aspect of this invention. It should, however, be noted that the invention in its broadest sense generally covers any type of immunoglobulin single variable domains and for example also covers the immunoglobulin single variable domains belonging to the so-called “VH4 class” (i.e., immunoglobulin single variable domains with a high degree of sequence homology to human germline sequences of the VH4 class such as DP-78), as for example described in WO 07/118670.
Generally, immunoglobulin single variable domains (in particular VHH sequences and sequence optimized immunoglobulin single variable domains) can in particular be characterized by the presence of one or more “Hallmark residues” (as described for example in Table B2) in one or more of the framework sequences (again as further described herein).
(1)In particular, but not exclusively, in combination with KERE or KQRE at positions 43-46.
(2)Usually as GLEW at positions 44-47.
(3)Usually as KERE or KQRE at positions 43-46, e.g. as KEREL, KEREF, KQREL, KQREF, KEREG, KQREW or KQREG at positions 43-47. Alternatively, also sequences such as TERE (for example TEREL), TQRE (for example TQREL), KECE (for example KECEL or KECER), KQCE (for example KQCEL), RERE (for example REREG), RQRE (for example RQREL, RQREF or RQREW), QERE (for example QEREG), QQRE, (for example QQREW, QQREL or QQREF), KGRE (for example KGREG), KDRE (for example KDREV) are possible. Some other possible, but less preferred sequences include for example DECKL and NVCEL.
(4)With both GLEW at positions 44-47 and KERE or KQRE at positions 43-46.
(5)Often as KP or EP at positions 83-84 of naturally occurring VHH domains.
(6)In particular, but not exclusively, in combination with GLEW at positions 44-47.
(7)With the proviso that when positions 44-47 are GLEW, position 108 is always Q in (non- humanized) VHH sequences that also contain a W at 103.
(8)The GLEW group also contains GLEW-like sequences at positions 44-47, such as for example GVEW, EPEW, GLER, DQ.EW, DLEW, GIEW, ELEW, GPEW, EWLP, and GPER.
The immunoglobulins of the invention may also contain a C-terminal extension (X)n (in which n is 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 5, such as 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (and preferably 1 or 2, such as 1); and each X is an (preferably naturally occurring) amino acid residue that is independently chosen, and preferably independently chosen from the group consisting of alanine (A), glycine (G), valine (V), leucine (L) or isoleucine (I)), for which reference is made to WO 12/175741 and WO 15/060643.
Apart from this and/or in addition, the immunoglobulin of the invention may have certain preferred amino acid residues at positions 11, 89, 110 and/or 112 as is described in further detail in WO 15/060643 (which is incorporated herein as reference).
Again, such immunoglobulin single variable domains may be derived in any suitable manner and from any suitable source, and may for example be naturally occurring VHH sequences (i.e., from a suitable species of Camelid, e.g., llama) or synthetic or semi-synthetic VHs or VLs (e.g., from human). Such immunoglobulin single variable domains may include “humanized” or otherwise “sequence optimized” VHHs, “camelized” immunoglobulin sequences (and in particular camelized heavy chain variable domain sequences, i.e., camelized VHs), as well as human VHs, human VLs, camelid VHHs that have been altered by techniques such as affinity maturation (for example, starting from synthetic, random or naturally occurring immunoglobulin sequences), CDR grafting, veneering, combining fragments derived from different immunoglobulin sequences, PCR assembly using overlapping primers, and similar techniques for engineering immunoglobulin sequences well known to the skilled person; or any suitable combination of any of the foregoing as further described herein. As mentioned herein, a particularly preferred class of immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention comprises immunoglobulin single variable domains with an amino acid sequence that corresponds to the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring VHH domain, but that has been “humanized”, i.e. by replacing one or more amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of said naturally occurring VHH sequence (and in particular in the framework sequences) by one or more of the amino acid residues that occur at the corresponding position(s) in a VH domain from a conventional 4-chain antibody from a human being (e.g. indicated above). This can be performed in a manner known per se, which will be clear to the skilled person, for example on the basis of the further description herein and the prior art on humanization referred to herein. Again, it should be noted that such humanized immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention can be obtained in any suitable manner known per se and thus are not strictly limited to polypeptides that have been obtained using a polypeptide that comprises a naturally occurring VHH domain as a starting material.
Another particularly preferred class of immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention comprises immunoglobulin single variable domains with an amino acid sequence that corresponds to the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring VH domain, but that has been “camelized”, i.e. by replacing one or more amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring VH domain from a conventional 4-chain antibody by one or more of the amino acid residues that occur at the corresponding position(s) in a VHH domain of a heavy chain antibody. This can be performed in a manner known per se, which will be clear to the skilled person, for example on the basis of the description herein. Such “camelizing” substitutions are preferably inserted at amino acid positions that form and/or are present at the VH—VL interface, and/or at the so-called Camelidae hallmark residues, as defined herein (see also for example WO 94/04678 and Davies and Riechmann 1994 (FEBS letters 339: 285-290) and 1996 (Protein Engineering 9: 531-537)). Preferably, the VH sequence that is used as a starting material or starting point for generating or designing the camelized immunoglobulin single variable domains is preferably a VH sequence from a mammal, more preferably the VH sequence of a human being, such as a VH3 sequence. However, it should be noted that such camelized immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention can be obtained in any suitable manner known per se and thus are not strictly limited to polypeptides that have been obtained using a polypeptide that comprises a naturally occurring VH domain as a starting material.
For example, again as further described herein, both “humanization” and “camelization” can be performed by providing a nucleotide sequence that encodes a naturally occurring VHH domain or VH domain, respectively, and then changing, in a manner known per se, one or more codons in said nucleotide sequence in such a way that the new nucleotide sequence encodes a “humanized” or “camelized” immunoglobulin single variable domain of the invention, respectively. This nucleic acid can then be expressed in a manner known per se, so as to provide the desired immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention. Alternatively, based on the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring VHH domain or VH domain, respectively, the amino acid sequence of the desired humanized or camelized immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention, respectively, can be designed and then synthesized de novo using techniques for peptide synthesis known per se. Also, based on the amino acid sequence or nucleotide sequence of a naturally occurring VHH domain or VH domain, respectively, a nucleotide sequence encoding the desired humanized or camelized immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention, respectively, can be designed and then synthesized de novo using techniques for nucleic acid synthesis known per se, after which the nucleic acid thus obtained can be expressed in a manner known per se, so as to provide the desired immunoglobulin single variable domains of the invention.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISV is a Nanobody, a VHH, a humanized VHH, or a camelized VH.
Generally, proteins or polypeptides that comprise or essentially consist of a single building block, single immunoglobulin single variable domain or single Nanobody will be referred to herein as “monovalent” proteins or polypeptides, as “monovalent constructs”, as “monovalent building block”, as “monovalent immunoglobulin single variable domain”, or as “monovalent Nanobody”, respectively.
In this respect, the present invention also relates to the monovalent building blocks that make up the polypeptides of the invention.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an ISV or polypeptide that specifically binds the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) and that comprises or essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
As discussed above, ISVs were isolated that belong to different clusters, based on structural similarities and differences in CDR2 and CDR3.
Immunoglobulin single variable domains belonging to cluster A are represented by polypeptides according in which:
and/or
and/or
In another aspect, in the polypeptides belonging to cluster A, CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
In another aspect, in the polypeptides belonging to cluster A, CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
In another aspect, in the polypeptides belonging to cluster A, CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an ISV or polypeptide that specifically binds the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) and that comprises or essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In another aspect, the invention relates to a polypeptide in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 123, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 153, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 170. Preferably the polypeptide is selected from any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 104.
Immunoglobulin single variable domains belonging to cluster B are represented by polypeptides according in which:
In another aspect, in the polypeptides belonging to cluster B, CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of
In another aspect, in the polypeptides belonging to cluster B, CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
In another aspect, in the polypeptides belonging to cluster B, CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an ISV or polypeptide that specifically binds the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) and that comprises or essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In another aspect, the invention relates to a polypeptide in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 124, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 145, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 167. Preferably the polypeptide is selected from any of SEQ ID NOs: 105-115.
Immunoglobulin single variable domains belonging to cluster C are represented by polypeptides according in which:
In another aspect, in the polypeptides belonging to cluster C, CDR1 is chosen from SEQ ID NO: 130.
In another aspect, in the polypeptides belonging to cluster C, CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of
In another aspect, in the polypeptides belonging to cluster C, CDR3 is chosen from SEQ ID NO: 172.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an ISV or polypeptide that specifically binds the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) and that comprises or essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In another aspect, the invention relates to a polypeptide in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 130, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 157, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 172. Preferably the polypeptide is selected from any of SEQ ID NOs: 116-118.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to polypeptides that cross-block the binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides belonging to Cluster A, B or C.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to polypeptides that cross-block the binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 1-104.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to ISVs or polypeptides that cross-block the binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 105-115.
In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to ISVs or polypeptides that cross-block the binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 116-118.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to polypeptides that are cross-blocked from binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides belonging to Cluster A, B or C.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to polypeptides that are cross-blocked from binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides belonging to SEQ ID NOs: 1-104.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to polypeptides that are cross-blocked from binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides belonging to SEQ ID NOs: 105-115.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to polypeptides that are cross-blocked from binding to the constant domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides belonging to SEQ ID NOs: 116-118.
The present invention also relates to an ISV or polypeptide that specifically binds carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and that comprises or essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In another aspect, the invention relates to a polypeptide in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 361, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 363, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 365. Preferred polypeptides include SEQ ID NOs: 353 and 354.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to polypeptides that cross-block the binding to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 353 or 354.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to polypeptides that are cross-blocked from binding to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by at least one of the ISVs or polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 353 or 354.
The present invention also relates to an ISV or polypeptide that specifically binds CD20 and that comprises or essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3, respectively), in which:
In another aspect, the invention relates to a polypeptide in which CDR1 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 362, CDR2 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 364, and CDR3 is represented by SEQ ID NO: 366. A preferred polypeptide includes SEQ ID NO: 357.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to polypeptides that cross-block the binding to CD20 by the ISV or polypeptide with SEQ ID NO: 357.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to polypeptides that are cross-blocked from binding to CD20 by the ISV or polypeptide with SEQ ID NO: 357.
The invention further relates to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins or polypeptides that comprise or essentially consist of one or more ISVs or polypeptides of the invention, and optionally further comprise one or more other groups, residues, moieties or binding units. As will become clear to the skilled person from the further disclosure herein, such further groups, residues, moieties, binding units or amino acid sequences may or may not provide further functionality to the polypeptide of the invention (and/or to the compound or construct in which it is present) and may or may not modify the properties of the polypeptide of the invention.
In a specific, but non-limiting aspect of the invention, which will be further described herein, the ISVs and polypeptides of the invention may have an increased half-life in serum (as further described herein) compared to the immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide from which they have been derived. For example, an immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide of the invention may be linked (chemically or otherwise) to one or more groups or moieties that extend the half-life (such as PEG), so as to provide a derivative of the ISV or polypeptide of the invention with increased half-life.
In a specific aspect of the invention, a compound or construct of the invention or a polypeptide of the invention may have an increased half-life, compared to the corresponding ISV or polypeptide of the invention. Some preferred, but non-limiting examples of such compounds, constructs and polypeptides will become clear to the skilled person based on the further disclosure herein, and for example comprise immunoglobulin single variable domains or polypeptides of the invention that have been chemically modified to increase the half-life thereof (for example, by means of pegylation); immunoglobulin single variable domains or polypeptides of the invention that comprise at least one additional binding site for binding to a serum protein (such as serum albumin); or constructs or polypeptides of the invention which comprise at least ISV or polypeptide of the invention that is linked to at least one moiety (and in particular at least one amino acid sequence) which increases the half-life of the ISV or polypeptide of the invention. Examples of ISVs or polypeptides of the invention which comprise such half-life extending moieties or immunoglobulin single variable domains will become clear to the skilled person based on the further disclosure herein; and for example include, without limitation, polypeptides in which the one or more immunoglobulin single variable domains or polypeptide of the invention are suitably linked to one or more serum proteins or fragments thereof (such as (human) serum albumin or suitable fragments thereof) or to one or more binding units that can bind to serum proteins (such as, for example, domain antibodies, immunoglobulin single variable domains that are suitable for use as a domain antibody, single domain antibodies, immunoglobulin single variable domains that are suitable for use as a single domain antibody, “dAb” 's, immunoglobulin single variable domains that are suitable for use as a dAb, or Nanobodies that can bind to serum proteins such as serum albumin (such as human serum albumin), serum immunoglobulins such as IgG, or transferrin; reference is made to the further description and references mentioned herein); ISVs or polypeptides in which an ISV or polypeptide of the invention is linked to an Fc portion (such as a human Fc) or a suitable part or fragment thereof; or polypeptides in which the one or more immunoglobulin single variable domains or polypeptide of the invention are suitable linked to one or more small proteins or peptides that can bind to serum proteins, such as, without limitation, the proteins and peptides described in WO 91/01743, WO 01/45746, WO 02/076489, WO 08/068280, WO 09/127691 and WO 11/095545.
Generally, the compounds, constructs or polypeptides of the invention with increased half-life preferably have a half-life that is at least 1.5 times, preferably at least 2 times, such as at least 5 times, for example at least 10 times or more than 20 times, greater than the half-life of the corresponding ISV or polypeptide of the invention per se. For example, the compounds, constructs or polypeptides of the invention with increased half-life may have a half-life e.g., in humans that is increased with more than 1 hours, preferably more than 2 hours, more preferably more than 6 hours, such as more than 12 hours, or even more than 24, 48 or 72 hours, compared to the corresponding ISV or polypeptide of the invention per se.
In a preferred, but non-limiting aspect of the invention, such compounds, constructs or polypeptides of the invention have a serum half-life e.g. in humans that is increased with more than 1 hours, preferably more than 2 hours, more preferably more than 6 hours, such as more than 12 hours, or even more than 24, 48 or 72 hours, compared to the corresponding ISV or polypeptide of the invention per se.
In another preferred, but non-limiting aspect of the invention, such compounds, constructs or polypeptides of the invention exhibit a serum half-life in human of at least about 12 hours, preferably at least 24 hours, more preferably at least 48 hours, even more preferably at least 72 hours or more. For example, compounds, constructs or polypeptides of the invention may have a half-life of at least 5 days (such as about 5 to 10 days), preferably at least 9 days (such as about 9 to 14 days), more preferably at least about 10 days (such as about 10 to 15 days), or at least about 11 days (such as about 11 to 16 days), more preferably at least about 12 days (such as about 12 to 18 days or more), or more than 14 days (such as about 14 to 19 days).
In the present invention, it was demonstrated that the inclusion of an albumin targeting binding unit in the construct as such did not have an essential impact on the obtained potency or efficacy. Although a minor loss of efficacy/potency was observed in the presence of HSA, the half-life extended TCR binding multispecific polypeptides were still potent in tumour cell killing. Albumin-based drug delivery has been demonstrated to be useful for achieving improved cancer therapy, largely due to its passive target toward tumour via the enhanced permeability and retention effect and the increased demand for albumin by tumour cells as source of energy and amino acids. However, albumin lacks not only the active mechanism to overcome the cell membrane barrier, but also the ability to penetrate into tumour tissues (Qianqian Guo et al. 2013, Polym. Chem. 4: 4584-4587).
In a particularly preferred but non-limiting aspect of the invention, the invention provides a polypeptide of the invention comprising a first and a second immunoglobulin single variable domain (ISV); and further comprising one or more (preferably one) serum albumin binding immunoglobulin single variable domain as described herein, e.g. the serum albumin binding immunoglobulin single variable domain referred to as Alb8, Alb23, Alb129, Alb132, Alb11, Alb11 (S112K)-A, Alb82, Alb82-A, Alb82-AA, Alb82-AAA, Alb82-G, Alb82-GG, Alb82-GGG (Table B-3).
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, further comprising a serum protein binding moiety.
The present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said serum protein binding moiety binds serum albumin.
The present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said serum protein binding moiety is an immunoglobulin single variable domain binding serum albumin.
The present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISV binding serum albumin essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and 3 complementarity determining regions (CDR1 to CDR3 respectively), in which CDR1 is SFGMS (SEQ ID NO: 481), CDR2 is SISGSGSDTLYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO: 482), and in which CDR3 is GGSLSR (SEQ ID NO: 475), CDR determined according to Kabat definition; and/or in which CDR1 is GFTFSSFGMS (SEQ ID NO: 472) or GFTFRSFGMS (SEQ ID NO: 473), CDR2 is SISGSGSDTL (SEQ ID NO: 474) and CDR3 is GGSLSR (SEQ ID NO: 475), CDR determined according to Kontermann 2010.
The present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said ISV binding serum albumin comprises AMb, Alb23, Alb129, Alb132, Alb11, Alb11 (S112K)-A, Alb82, Alb82-A, Alb82-AA, Alb82-AAA, Alb82-G, Alb82-GG, Alb82-GGG (Table-1B3).
In the polypeptides of the invention, the two or more building blocks, ISVs or Nanobodies and the optionally one or more polypeptides, one or more other groups, drugs, agents, residues, moieties or binding units may be directly linked to each other (as for example described in WO 99/23221) and/or may be linked to each other via one or more suitable spacers or linkers, or any combination thereof.
Suitable spacers or linkers for use in multivalent and multispecific polypeptides will be clear to the skilled person, and may generally be any linker or spacer used in the art to link amino acid sequences. Preferably, said linker or spacer is suitable for use in constructing proteins or polypeptides that are intended for pharmaceutical use.
Some particularly preferred spacers include the spacers and linkers that are used in the art to link antibody fragments or antibody domains. These include the linkers mentioned in the general background art cited above, as well as for example linkers that are used in the art to construct diabodies or ScFv fragments (in this respect, however, it should be noted that, whereas in diabodies and in ScFv fragments, the linker sequence used should have a length, a degree of flexibility and other properties that allow the pertinent VH and VL domains to come together to form the complete antigen-binding site, there is no particular limitation on the length or the flexibility of the linker used in the polypeptide of the invention, since each ISV or Nanobody by itself forms a complete antigen-binding site).
For example, a linker may be a suitable amino acid sequence, and in particular amino acid sequences of between 1 and 50, preferably between 1 and 30, such as between 1 and 10 amino acid residues.
Some preferred examples of such amino acid sequences include gly-ser linkers, for example of the type (glyxsery)z, such as (for example (gly4ser)3 or (gly3ser2)3, as described in WO 99/42077, and the GS30, GS15, GS9 and GS7 linkers described in the applications by Ablynx mentioned herein (see for example WO 06/040153 and WO 06/122825), as well as hinge-like regions, such as the hinge regions of naturally occurring heavy chain antibodies or similar sequences (such as described in WO 94/04678). Preferred linkers are depicted in Table B-4.
Some other particularly preferred linkers are poly-alanine (such as AAA), as well as the linkers GS30 (SEQ ID NO: 85 in WO 06/122825) and GS9 (SEQ ID NO: 84 in WO 06/122825).
Other suitable linkers generally comprise organic compounds or polymers, in particular those suitable for use in proteins for pharmaceutical use. For instance, poly(ethyleneglycol) moieties have been used to link antibody domains, see for example WO 04/081026.
It is encompassed within the scope of the invention that the length, the degree of flexibility and/or other properties of the linker(s) used (although not critical, as it usually is for linkers used in ScFv fragments) may have some influence on the properties of the final polypeptide of the invention, including but not limited to the affinity, specificity or avidity for the TCR, or for one or more of the other antigens. Based on the disclosure herein, the skilled person will be able to determine the optimal linker(s) for use in a specific polypeptide of the invention, optionally after some limited routine experiments.
For example, in multivalent polypeptides of the invention that comprise building blocks, ISVs or Nanobodies directed against a first and second target, the length and flexibility of the linker are preferably such that it allows each building block, ISV or Nanobody of the invention present in the polypeptide to bind to its cognate target, e.g. the antigenic determinant on each of the targets. Again, based on the disclosure herein, the skilled person will be able to determine the optimal linker(s) for use in a specific polypeptide of the invention, optionally after some limited routine experiments.
It is also within the scope of the invention that the linker(s) used confer one or more other favourable properties or functionality to the polypeptides of the invention, and/or provide one or more sites for the formation of derivatives and/or for the attachment of functional groups (e.g. as described herein for the derivatives of the ISVs, Nanobodies, or polypeptides of the invention). For example, linkers containing one or more charged amino acid residues can provide improved hydrophilic properties, whereas linkers that form or contain small epitopes or tags can be used for the purposes of detection, identification and/or purification. Again, based on the disclosure herein, the skilled person will be able to determine the optimal linkers for use in a specific polypeptide of the invention, optionally after some limited routine experiments.
Finally, when two or more linkers are used in the polypeptides of the invention, these linkers may be the same or different. Again, based on the disclosure herein, the skilled person will be able to determine the optimal linkers for use in a specific polypeptide of the invention, optionally after some limited routine experiments.
Usually, for ease of expression and production, a polypeptide of the invention will be a linear polypeptide. However, the invention in its broadest sense is not limited thereto. For example, when a polypeptide of the invention comprises three or more building blocks, ISVs or Nanobodies, it is possible to link them by use of a linker with three or more “arms”, with each “arm” being linked to a building block, ISV or Nanobody, so as to provide a “star-shaped” construct. It is also possible, although usually less preferred, to use circular constructs.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said first ISV and said second ISV and possibly said third ISV and/or said ISV binding serum albumin are directly linked to each other or are linked via a linker.
The present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said linker is chosen from the group consisting of linkers of 5GS, 7GS, 9GS, 10GS, 15GS, 18GS, 20GS, 25GS, 30GS and 35GS.
The present invention relates to a polypeptide as described herein, wherein said serum protein binding moiety is a non-antibody based polypeptide (e.g. PEG).
The invention also relates to methods for preparing the ISVs, polypeptides and constructs described herein. The ISVs, polypeptides and constructs of the invention can be prepared in a manner known per se, as will be clear to the skilled person from the further description herein. For example, the ISVs, polypeptides and constructs of the invention can be prepared in any manner known per se for the preparation of antibodies and in particular for the preparation of antibody fragments (including but not limited to (single) domain antibodies and ScFv fragments). Some preferred, but non-limiting methods for preparing the polypeptides and constructs include the methods and techniques described herein.
The method for producing an ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention may comprise the following steps:
In particular, such a method may comprise the steps of:
Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a nucleic acid or nucleotide sequence that encodes an ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention (also referred to as “nucleic acid of the invention” or “nucleotide sequence of the invention”). A nucleic acid of the invention can be in the form of single or double stranded DNA or RNA, and is preferably in the form of double stranded DNA. For example, the nucleotide sequences of the invention may be genomic DNA, cDNA or synthetic DNA (such as DNA with a codon usage that has been specifically adapted for expression in the intended host cell or host organism).
According to one embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acid of the invention is in essentially isolated from, as defined herein. The nucleic acid of the invention may also be in the form of, be present in and/or be part of a vector, such as for example a plasmid, cosmid or YAC, which again may be in essentially isolated form.
The nucleic acids of the invention can be prepared or obtained in a manner known per se, based on the information on the polypeptides or protein constructs of the invention given herein, and/or can be isolated from a suitable natural source. Also, as will be clear to the skilled person, to prepare a nucleic acid of the invention, also several nucleotide sequences, such as at least one nucleotide sequence encoding an immunoglobulin single variable domain of the invention and for example nucleic acids encoding one or more linkers can be linked together in a suitable manner.
Techniques for generating the nucleic acids of the invention will be clear to the skilled person and may for instance include, but are not limited to, automated DNA synthesis; site-directed mutagenesis; combining two or more naturally occurring and/or synthetic sequences (or two or more parts thereof), introduction of mutations that lead to the expression of a truncated expression product; introduction of one or more restriction sites (e.g. to create cassettes and/or regions that may easily be digested and/or ligated using suitable restriction enzymes), and/or the introduction of mutations by means of a PCR reaction using one or more “mismatched” primers. These and other techniques will be clear to the skilled person, and reference is again made to the standard handbooks, such as Sambrook et al. and Ausubel et al., mentioned herein, as well as the Examples below.
The nucleic acid of the invention may also be in the form of, be present in and/or be part of a genetic construct, as will be clear to the person skilled in the art. Such genetic constructs generally comprise at least one nucleic acid of the invention that is optionally linked to one or more elements of genetic constructs known per se, such as for example one or more suitable regulatory elements (such as a suitable promoter(s), enhancer(s), terminator(s), etc.) and the further elements of genetic constructs referred to herein. Such genetic constructs comprising at least one nucleic acid of the invention will also be referred to herein as “genetic constructs of the invention”.
The genetic constructs of the invention may be DNA or RNA, and are preferably double-stranded DNA. The genetic constructs of the invention may also be in a form suitable for transformation of the intended host cell or host organism, in a form suitable for integration into the genomic DNA of the intended host cell or in a form suitable for independent replication, maintenance and/or inheritance in the intended host organism. For instance, the genetic constructs of the invention may be in the form of a vector, such as for example a plasmid, cosmid, YAC, a viral vector or transposon. In particular, the vector may be an expression vector, i.e. a vector that can provide for expression in vitro and/or in vivo (e.g. in a suitable host cell, host organism and/or expression system).
In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, a genetic construct of the invention comprises
and optionally also
Preferably, in the genetic constructs of the invention, said at least one nucleic acid of the invention and said regulatory elements, and optionally said one or more further elements, are “operably linked” to each other, by which is generally meant that they are in a functional relationship with each other. For instance, a promoter is considered “operably linked” to a coding sequence if said promoter is able to initiate or otherwise control/regulate the transcription and/or the expression of a coding sequence (in which said coding sequence should be understood as being “under the control of” said promoter). Generally, when two nucleotide sequences are operably linked, they will be in the same orientation and usually also in the same reading frame. They will usually also be essentially contiguous, although this may also not be required.
The nucleic acids of the invention and/or the genetic constructs of the invention may be used to transform a host cell or host organism, i.e. for expression and/or production of the polypeptide or protein construct of the invention. The host is preferably a non-human host. Suitable hosts or host cells will be clear to the skilled person, and may for example be any suitable fungal, prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell or cell line or any suitable fungal, prokaryotic or eukaryotic organism, for example:
as well as all other hosts or host cells known per se for the expression and production of antibodies and antibody fragments (including but not limited to (single) domain antibodies and ScFv fragments), which will be clear to the skilled person. Reference is also made to the general background art cited hereinabove, as well as to for example WO 94/29457; WO 96/34103; WO 99/42077; Frenken et al. 1998 (Res. Immunol. 149: 589-99); Riechmann and Muyldermans 1999 (J. Immunol. Met. 231: 25-38); van der Linden 2000 (J. Biotechnol. 80: 261-70); Joosten et al. 2003 (Microb. Cell Fact. 2: 1); Joosten et al. 2005 (Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 66: 384-92); and the further references cited herein.
For expression of the ISVs, polypeptides or constructs in a cell, they may also be expressed as so-called “intrabodies”, as for example described in WO 94/02610, WO 95/22618 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,940; WO 03/014960; in Cattaneo and Biocca 1997 (Intracellular Antibodies: Development and Applications. Landes and Springer-Verlag); and in Kontermann 2004 (Methods 34: 163-170).
According to one preferred, but non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention is produced in a bacterial cell, in particular a bacterial cell suitable for large scale pharmaceutical production, such as cells of the strains mentioned above.
According to another preferred, but non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention is produced in a yeast cell, in particular a yeast cell suitable for large scale pharmaceutical production, such as cells of the species mentioned above.
According to yet another preferred, but non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the ISV, polypeptide or construct of the invention is produced in a mammalian cell, in particular in a human cell or in a cell of a human cell line, and more in particular in a human cell or in a cell of a human cell line that is suitable for large scale pharmaceutical production, such as the cell lines mentioned hereinabove.
Suitable techniques for transforming a host or host cell of the invention will be clear to the skilled person and may depend on the intended host cell/host organism and the genetic construct to be used. Reference is again made to the handbooks and patent applications mentioned above.
After transformation, a step for detecting and selecting those host cells or host organisms that have been successfully transformed with the nucleotide sequence/genetic construct of the invention may be performed. This may for instance be a selection step based on a selectable marker present in the genetic construct of the invention or a step involving the detection of the polypeptide of the invention, e.g. using specific antibodies.
The transformed host cell (which may be in the form or a stable cell line) or host organisms (which may be in the form of a stable mutant line or strain) form further aspects of the present invention.
Preferably, these host cells or host organisms are such that they express, or are (at least) capable of expressing (e.g. under suitable conditions), an ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention (and in case of a host organism: in at least one cell, part, tissue or organ thereof). The invention also includes further generations, progeny and/or offspring of the host cell or host organism of the invention, for instance obtained by cell division or by sexual or asexual reproduction.
Accordingly, in another aspect, the invention relates to a host or host cell that expresses (or that under suitable circumstances is capable of expressing) an ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention; and/or that contains a nucleic acid encoding the same. Some preferred but non-limiting examples of such hosts or host cells can be as generally described in WO 04/041867, WO 04/041865 or WO 09/068627. For example, ISVs, polypeptides and protein constructs of the invention may with advantage be expressed, produced or manufactured in a yeast strain, such as a strain of Pichia pastoris. Reference is also made to WO 04/25591, WO 10/125187, WO 11/003622, and WO 12/056000 which also describes the expression/production in Pichia and other hosts/host cells of immunoglobulin single variable domains and polypeptides comprising the same.
To produce/obtain expression of the ISVs, polypeptides or protein constructs of the invention, the transformed host cell or transformed host organism may generally be kept, maintained and/or cultured under conditions such that the (desired) ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention is expressed/produced. Suitable conditions will be clear to the skilled person and will usually depend upon the host cell/host organism used, as well as on the regulatory elements that control the expression of the (relevant) nucleotide sequence of the invention. Again, reference is made to the handbooks and patent applications mentioned above in the paragraphs on the genetic constructs of the invention.
Generally, suitable conditions may include the use of a suitable medium, the presence of a suitable source of food and/or suitable nutrients, the use of a suitable temperature, and optionally the presence of a suitable inducing factor or compound (e.g. when the nucleotide sequences of the invention are under the control of an inducible promoter); all of which may be selected by the skilled person. Again, under such conditions, the ISVs, polypeptides or protein constructs of the invention may be expressed in a constitutive manner, in a transient manner, or only when suitably induced.
It will also be clear to the skilled person that the ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention may (first) be generated in an immature form (as mentioned above), which may then be subjected to post-translational modification, depending on the host cell/host organism used. Also, the ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention may be glycosylated, again depending on the host cell/host organism used.
The ISV, polypeptide or protein construct of the invention may then be isolated from the host cell/host organism and/or from the medium in which said host cell or host organism was cultivated, using protein isolation and/or purification techniques known per se, such as (preparative) chromatography and/or electrophoresis techniques, differential precipitation techniques, affinity techniques (e.g. using a specific, cleavable amino acid sequence fused with the polypeptide or construct of the invention) and/or preparative immunological techniques (i.e. using antibodies against the amino acid sequence to be isolated).
The constructs of the invention can generally be prepared by a method which comprises at least the step of suitably linking ISVs or polypeptides of the invention to the one or more further groups, residues, moieties or binding units, optionally via the one or more suitable linkers, so as to provide the constructs of the invention. The ISVs, polypeptides and constructs of the invention can then further be modified, and in particular by chemical and/or biological (e.g. enzymatical) modification, of one or more of the amino acid residues that form the polypeptides or constructs of the invention, to obtain derivatives of the polypeptides or constructs of the invention.
The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the ISV, polypeptide, compound or construct of the invention.
In the above methods, the amino acid sequences, ISVs, Nanobodies, polypeptides, compounds or constructs of the invention and/or the compositions comprising the same can be administered in any suitable manner, depending on the specific pharmaceutical formulation or composition to be used. Thus, the amino acid sequences, ISVs, Nanobodies, polypeptides, compounds or constructs of the invention and/or the compositions comprising the same can for example be administered orally, intraperitoneally (e.g. intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or via any other route of administration that circumvents the gastrointestinal tract), intranasally, transdermally, topically, by means of a suppository, by inhalation, again depending on the specific pharmaceutical formulation or composition to be used. The clinician will be able to select a suitable route of administration and a suitable pharmaceutical formulation or composition to be used in such administration, depending on the disease or disorder to be prevented or treated and other factors well known to the clinician.
As used herein, the term “therapeutic agent” refers to any agent that can be used in the treatment and/or management of a hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, or one or more symptoms thereof. In certain embodiments, the term “therapeutic agent” refers to a multispecific polypeptide of the invention. Preferably, a therapeutic agent is an agent which is known to be useful for, or has been or is currently being used for the treatment, prevention and/or management of a hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, or one or more symptoms thereof.
As used herein, a “therapeutically effective amount” in the context of cancer refers to the amount of a therapy alone, or in combination with other therapies, that provides a therapeutic benefit in the treatment and/or management of cancers. In one aspect, a therapeutically effective amount refers to the amount of a therapy sufficient to destroy, modify, control or remove primary, regional or metastatic cancer tissue. In another aspect, a therapeutically effective amount refers to the amount of a therapy sufficient to reduce the symptoms of a cancer. In another aspect, a therapeutically effective amount refers to the amount of a therapy sufficient to delay or minimize the spread of cancer. In a specific embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of a therapy is an amount of a therapy sufficient to inhibit growth or proliferation of cancer cells, kill existing cancer cells (e.g., cause regression of the cancer), and/or prevent the spread of cancer cells to other tissues or areas (e.g., prevent metastasis). In another specific embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of a therapy is the amount of a therapy sufficient to inhibit the growth of a tumor by at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% as measured by a standard method known in the art. Used in connection with an amount of a multispecific polypeptide of the invention, the term can encompass an amount that improves overall therapy, reduces or avoids unwanted effects, or enhances the therapeutic efficacy of or synergies with another therapy. In one embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of a therapy reduces or avoids unwanted effects, or enhances the therapeutic efficacy of or synergies with another therapy by at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% relative to a control (e.g., a negative control such as phosphate buffered saline) in an assay known in the art or described herein.
As used herein, a “therapeutically effective amount” in the context of a non-cancer hyperproliferative cell disorder refers to the amount of a therapy alone, or in combination with other therapies, that provides a therapeutic benefit in the treatment and/or management of said disorder. In one aspect, a therapeutically effective amount refers to the amount of a therapy sufficient to destroy, modify, control or remove cells affected by a non-cancer hyperproliferative cell disorder. In another aspect, a therapeutically effective amount refers to the amount of a therapy sufficient to reduce the symptoms of a non-cancer hyperproliferative cell disorder. In another aspect, a therapeutically effective amount refers to the amount of a therapy sufficient to delay or minimize the spread of the non-cancer hyperproliferative cell disorder. In a specific embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of a therapy is an amount of a therapy sufficient to inhibit growth or proliferation of the non-cancer hyperproliferative cell disorder, kill existing non-cancer hyperproliferative cells (e.g., cause regression of the disorder). In another specific embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of a therapy is the amount of a therapy sufficient to inhibit the growth of the non-cancer hyperproliferative cells by at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% as measured by a standard method known in the art. Used in connection with an amount of a multispecific polypeptide of the invention, the term can encompass an amount that improves overall therapy, reduces or avoids unwanted effects, or enhances the therapeutic efficacy of or synergies with another therapy. In one embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of a therapy reduces or avoids unwanted effects, or enhances the therapeutic efficacy of or synergies with another therapy by at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% relative to a control (e.g., a negative control such as phosphate buffered saline) in an assay known in the art.
As used herein, the term “therapy” refers to any protocol, method and/or agent that can be used in the treatment, prevention and/or management of a hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer. In certain embodiments, the terms “therapies” and “therapy” refer to a biological therapy, supportive therapy, and/or other therapies useful in the treatment, prevention and/or management of a hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, or one or more symptoms thereof known to one of skill in the art such as medical personnel.
As used herein, the terms “treat”, “treatment” and “treating” in the context of administering (a) therapy(ies) to a subject refer to the reduction or amelioration of the progression, severity, and/or duration of a disorder associated with a hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, and/or the amelioration of one or more symptoms thereof resulting from the administration of one or more therapies (including, but not limited to, the administration of one or more prophylactic or therapeutic agents). In specific embodiments, the terms “treat”, “treatment” and “treating” in the context of administering (a) therapy(ies) to a subject refer to the reduction or amelioration of the progression, severity, and/or duration of a hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, refers to a reduction in cancer cells by at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% relative to a control (e.g., a negative control such as phosphate buffered saline). In other embodiments, the terms “treat”, “treatment” and “treating” in the context of administering (a) therapy(ies) to a subject refer to the reduction or amelioration of the progression, severity, and/or duration of a hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, refers to no change in cancer cell number, a reduction in hospitalization time, a reduction in mortality, or an increase in survival time of the subject with cancer.
The amino acid sequences, ISVs, Nanobodies, polypeptides, compounds and/or constructs of the invention and/or the compositions comprising the same are administered according to a regime of treatment that is suitable for preventing and/or treating the hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, to be prevented or treated. The clinician will generally be able to determine a suitable treatment regimen, depending on factors such as the stage of the hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, to be treated, the severity of the hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, to be treated and/or the severity of the symptoms thereof, the specific amino acid sequence, ISV, Nanobody, polypeptide, compound and/or construct of the invention to be used, the specific route of administration and pharmaceutical formulation or composition to be used, the age, gender, weight, diet, general condition of the patient, and similar factors well known to the clinician.
Generally, the treatment regimen will comprise the administration of one or more amino acid sequences, ISVs, Nanobodies, polypeptides, compounds and/or constructs of the invention, or of one or more compositions comprising the same, in one or more pharmaceutically effective amounts or doses. The specific amount(s) or doses to be administered can be determined by the clinician, again based on the factors cited above.
Generally, for the prevention and/or treatment of a hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, mentioned herein and depending on the type of hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, and stage of the disease to be treated, the potency of the specific amino acid sequence, ISV, Nanobody, polypeptide, compound or construct of the invention to be used, the specific route of administration and the specific pharmaceutical formulation or composition used, the amino acid sequences, ISVs, Nanobodies, polypeptides, compounds or constructs of the invention will generally be administered in an amount between 1 gram and 0.01 milligram per kg body weight per day, preferably between 0.1 gram and 0.01 milligram per kg body weight per day, such as about 0.1, 1, 10, 100 or 1000 milligram per kg body weight per day, e.g. from 0.1 mg per kg to 25 mg per kg of the subject's body weight; either continuously (e.g. by infusion), as a single daily dose or as multiple divided doses during the day. The clinician will generally be able to determine a suitable daily dose, depending on the factors mentioned herein. It will also be clear that in specific cases, the clinician may choose to deviate from these amounts, for example on the basis of the factors cited above and his expert judgment. Generally, some guidance on the amounts to be administered can be obtained from the amounts usually administered for comparable conventional antibodies or antibody fragments against the same target administered via essentially the same route, taking into account however differences in affinity/avidity, efficacy, biodistribution, half-life and similar factors well known to the skilled person.
Usually, in the above method, a single amino acid sequence, ISV, Nanobody, polypeptide, compound or construct of the invention will be used. It is however within the scope of the invention to use two or more amino acid sequences, ISVs, Nanobodies, polypeptides compounds and/or constructs of the invention in combination.
The ISVs, Nanobodies, amino acid sequences, polypeptides, compounds and/or constructs of the invention may also be used in combination with one or more further pharmaceutically active compounds or principles, i.e. as a combined treatment regimen, which may or may not lead to a synergistic effect. Again, the clinician will be able to select such further compounds or principles, as well as a suitable combined treatment regimen, based on the factors cited above and his expert judgement.
In particular, the amino acid sequences, ISVs, Nanobodies, polypeptides, compounds and/or constructs of the invention may be used in combination with other pharmaceutically active compounds or principles that are or can be used for the prevention and/or treatment of the hyperproliferative cell disorder, e.g., cancer, disease and/or disorder cited herein, as a result of which a synergistic effect may or may not be obtained. Examples of such compounds and principles, as well as routes, methods and pharmaceutical formulations or compositions for administering them will be clear to the clinician.
When two or more substances or principles are to be used as part of a combined treatment regimen, they can be administered via the same route of administration or via different routes of administration, at essentially the same time or at different times (e.g. essentially simultaneously, consecutively, or according to an alternating regime). When the substances or principles are to be administered simultaneously via the same route of administration, they may be administered as different pharmaceutical formulations or compositions or part of a combined pharmaceutical formulation or composition, as will be clear to the skilled person.
In one aspect, the disclosure provides methods for the administration of immunoglobulin single variable domains and polypeptide constructs thereof comprising one or more immunoglobulin single variable domains, polypeptides, compounds and/or constructs. In some embodiments, the immunoglobulin single variable domain, polypeptide, compound and/or construct is administered as a pharmaceutical composition. The pharmaceutical composition, in addition to the immunoglobulin single variable domains and polypeptide constructs thereof includes a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.
As described in detail, the pharmaceutical compositions of the disclosure may be specially formulated for administration in solid or liquid form, including those adapted for the following: oral administration, for example, drenches (aqueous or non-aqueous solutions or suspensions), tablets, e.g., those targeted for buccal, sublingual, and systemic absorption, boluses, powders, granules, pastes for application to the tongue; parenteral administration, for example, by subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or epidural injection as, for example, a sterile solution or suspension, or sustained-release formulation; topical application, for example, as a cream, ointment, or a controlled-release patch or spray applied to the skin, lungs, or oral cavity; intravaginally or intrarectally, for example, as a pessary, cream or foam; sublingually; ocularly; transdermally; or nasally, pulmonary and to other mucosal surfaces.
The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” is employed herein to refer to those compounds, materials, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.
The phrase “pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier” as used herein means a pharmaceutically-acceptable material, composition or vehicle, such as a liquid or solid filler, diluent, excipient, or solvent encapsulating material, involved in carrying or transporting the subject compound from one organ, or portion of the body, to another organ, or portion of the body. Each carrier must be “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not injurious to the patient. Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers include: sugars, such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches, such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose, and its derivatives, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipients, such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils, such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; glycols, such as propylene glycol; polyols, such as glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; esters, such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents, such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol; pH buffered solutions; polyesters, polycarbonates and/or polyanhydrides; and other non-toxic compatible substances employed in pharmaceutical formulations.
Formulations of the disclosure include those suitable for oral, nasal, topical (including buccal and sublingual), rectal, vaginal and/or parenteral administration. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any methods well known in the art of pharmacy. The amount of active ingredient (e.g., immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide constructs thereof) which can be combined with a carrier material to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host being treated, and the particular mode of administration. The amount of active ingredient that can be combined with a carrier material to produce a single dosage form will generally be that amount of the compound which produces a therapeutic effect. Generally, this amount will range from about 1% to about 99% of active ingredient, preferably from about 5% to about 70%, most preferably from about 10% to about 30%.
In certain embodiments, a formulation comprises an excipient selected from the group consisting of cyclodextrins, liposomes, micelle forming agents, e.g., bile acids, and polymeric carriers, e.g., polyesters and polyanhydrides. In certain embodiments, an aforementioned formulation renders orally bioavailable an immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide construct.
Methods of preparing these formulations or compositions include the step of bringing into association an immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide construct with the carrier and, optionally, one or more accessory ingredients. In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association an immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide construct with liquid carriers, or finely divided solid carriers, or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.
Formulations suitable for oral administration may be in the form of capsules, cachets, pills, tablets, lozenges (using a flavored basis, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth), powders, granules, or as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid, or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil liquid emulsion, or as an elixir or syrup, or as pastilles (using an inert base, such as gelatin and glycerin, or sucrose and acacia) and/or as mouth washes and the like, each containing a predetermined amount of an immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide construct as an active ingredient. An immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide construct invention may also be administered as a bolus, electuary or paste.
In solid dosage forms for oral administration (capsules, tablets, pills, dragees, powders, granules and the like), the active ingredient is mixed with one or more pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate, and/or any of the following: fillers or extenders, such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and/or silicic acid; binders, such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sucrose and/or acacia; humectants, such as glycerol; disintegrating agents, such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate; solution retarding agents, such as paraffin; absorption accelerators, such as quaternary ammonium compounds; wetting agents, such as, for example, cetyl alcohol, glycerol monostearate, and non-ionic surfactants; absorbents, such as kaolin and bentonite clay; lubricants, such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof; and coloring agents. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise buffering agents. Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard-shelled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugars, as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.
A tablet may be made by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared using binder (for example, gelatin or hydroxy-propylmethyl cellulose), lubricant, inert diluent, preservative, disintegrant (for example, sodium starch glycolate or cross-linked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), surface-active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets may be made in a suitable machine in which a mixture of the powdered compound is moistened with an inert liquid diluent.
The tablets, and other solid dosage forms of the pharmaceutical compositions, such as dragees, capsules, pills and granules, may optionally be scored or prepared with coatings and shells, such as enteric coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical-formulating art. They may also be formulated so as to provide slow or controlled release of the active ingredient therein using, for example, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose in varying proportions to provide the desired release profile, other polymer matrices, liposomes and/or microspheres. They may be formulated for rapid release, e.g., freeze-dried. They may be sterilized by, for example, filtration through a bacteria-retaining filter, or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions that can be dissolved in sterile water, or some other sterile injectable medium immediately before use. These compositions may also optionally contain opacifying agents and may be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain portion of the gastrointestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions that can be used include polymeric substances and waxes. The active ingredient can also be in micro-encapsulated form, if appropriate, with one or more of the above-described excipients.
Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active ingredient, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art, such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers, such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof.
Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions can also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring, coloring, perfuming and preservative agents.
Suspensions, in addition to the active compounds, may contain suspending agents as, for example, ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols, polyoxyethylene sorbitol and sorbitan esters, microcrystalline cellulose, aluminum metahydroxide, bentonite, agar-agar and tragacanth, and mixtures thereof.
Formulations of the pharmaceutical compositions for rectal or vaginal administration may be presented as a suppository, which may be prepared by mixing an immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide construct with one or more suitable nonirritating excipients or carriers comprising, for example, cocoa butter, polyethylene glycol, a suppository wax or a salicylate, and which is solid at room temperature, but liquid at body temperature and, therefore, will melt in the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound.
Formulations suitable for vaginal administration also include pessaries, tampons, creams, gels, pastes, foams or spray formulations containing such carriers as are known in the art to be appropriate.
Dosage forms for the topical or transdermal administration of an immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide construct include powders, sprays, ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels, solutions, patches and inhalants. The active compound may be mixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, and with any preservatives, buffers, or propellants which may be required.
The ointments, pastes, creams and gels may contain, excipients, such as animal and vegetable fats, oils, waxes, paraffins, starch, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene glycols, silicones, bentonites, silicic acid, talc and zinc oxide, or mixtures thereof.
Powders and sprays can contain excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminum hydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of these substances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants, such as chlorofluorohydrocarbons and volatile unsubstituted hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane.
Transdermal patches have the added advantage of providing controlled delivery of an immunoglobulin single variable domain or polypeptide construct to the body. Dissolving or dispersing the compound in the proper medium can make such dosage forms. Absorption enhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the compound across the skin. Either providing a rate controlling membrane or dispersing the compound in a polymer matrix or gel can control the rate of such flux.
Ophthalmic formulations, eye ointments, powders, solutions and the like, are also contemplated as being within the scope of this disclosure.
Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for parenteral administration comprise one or more an immunoglobulin single variable domains or polypeptide constructs in combination with one or more pharmaceutically-acceptable sterile isotonic aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions, or sterile powders which may be reconstituted into sterile injectable solutions or dispersions just prior to use, which may contain sugars, alcohols, antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient or suspending or thickening agents.
Examples of suitable aqueous and non-aqueous carriers, which may be employed in the pharmaceutical compositions include water, ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils, such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters, such as ethyl oleate. Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of coating materials, such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions, and by the use of surfactants.
These compositions may also contain adjuvants such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersing agents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms upon the subject compounds may be ensured by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, paraben, chlorobutanol, phenol sorbic acid, and the like. It may also be desirable to include isotonic agents, such as sugars, sodium chloride, and the like into the compositions. In addition, prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form may be brought about by the inclusion of agents which delay absorption such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.
In some cases, in order to prolong the effect of a drug, it is desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material having poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution, which in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally-administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle.
Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of the subject compounds in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending on the ratio of drug to polymer, and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly-(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions, which are compatible with body tissue.
In another aspect, kits are provided comprising a binding molecule of the invention, a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, a vector of the invention, or a host cell of the invention. The kit may comprise one or more vials containing the binding molecule and instructions for use. The kit may also contain means for administering the binding molecule of the present invention such as a syringe, pump, infuser or the like.
The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Modifications and variation of the above-described embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
The invention will now be further described by means of the following non-limiting preferred aspects, examples and figures.
The entire contents of all of the references (including literature references, issued patents, published patent applications, and co-pending patent applications) cited throughout this application are hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in particular for the teaching that is referenced hereinabove.
1.1 TCR αα/CD3 Transfected Cell Lines
Transient and stable CHO-K1 (ATCC: CCL-61), HEK293H (Life technologies 11631-017), Llana (Fibroblast cells from llama Navel cord cells) cell lines with recombinant overexpression of all 6 chains of the full human T cell Receptor complex were generated. For this, the coding sequences of the TCR alpha (a) and TCR beta (P) chain were cloned in a pcDNA3.1-derived vector, downstream of a CMV promotor and a 2A-like viral peptide sequence was inserted between both chains to induce ribosomal skipping during translation of the polyprotein. In the same vector, the coding sequences of the epsilon, delta, gamma and zeta chains of the CD3 complex were cloned downstream of an additional CMV promotor, also using 2A-like viral peptide sequences between the respective chains. In addition, a stable HEK293H clone with recombinant overexpression of the 4 chains of the human CD3 was generated as described above using a single gene vector.
The used sequences for the human CD3 and the human TCRα/β constant domains were derived from UniProtKB (CD3 delta: P04234, CD3 gamma: P09693, CD3 epsilon: P07766, CD3 zeta: P20963, TCR α: P01848 and TCR β: P01850; SEQ ID NOs: 344 to 349, respectively). The sequences for the human TCRα/β variable domains were derived from crystal structure sequences (PDB codes: 2IAN, 2XN9 and 3TOE) (human TCR α variable domains derived from 2IAN, 2XN9 and 3TOE with SEQ ID NOs: 393 to 395, respectively; human TCR 1 variable domains derived from 2IAN, 2XN9 and 3TOE with SEQ ID NOs: 476 to 478, respectively).
The cell surface expression of the human T cell receptor complex was confirmed by flow cytometry using a functional mouse IgG2b anti-human TCRα/β antibody, clone BW242/412 (Miltenyi 130-098-219) and a functional mouse IgG2a anti-CD3 PE labelled antibody, clone OKT-3 (eBioscience 12-0037) (
1.2 Soluble Recombinant TCR α/β Proteins
Soluble human and cynomolgus/rhesus monkey TCR α/β proteins were generated in house. The sequences for the extracellular part of the human TCRα/β constant domain were derived from UniProtKB (TCR α: P01848 and TCR 1: P01850; SEQ ID NOs: 479 and 480, respectively). The human TCR α/β variable domains were derived from crystal structure sequence (PDB code: 2XN9, SEQ ID NOs: 394 and 477, respectively for α and β chain).
The sequences for the extracellular part of the cynomolgus/rhesus monkey TCR α/β constant domains were derived from GenBank files EHH63463 and AEA41868 respectively (SEQ ID NOs: 396 and 397). The sequences for the cynomolgus/rhesus monkey TCR α/β variable domains were derived from AEA41865 and AEA41866 (SEQ ID NOs: 398 and 399, respectively for α and β chain).
The extracellular domains of human TCR α/β (2XN9) or cynomolgus/rhesus monkey TCR α/β were fused to a zipper protein coding sequence (O'Shea et al. 1993 Curr. Biol. 3(10): 658-667), produced by CHOK1SV cells (Lonza) using Lonza's GS Gene Expression System™ and subsequently purified.
Quality of the TCR α/β zipper proteins was assessed in an ELISA binding assay. Maxisorp 96-well ELISA plates (Nunc) were coated with 2 μg/mL soluble recombinant human TCR α/β (2XN9)-zipper protein or soluble recombinant cynomolgus TCR α/β-zipper protein. After an overnight incubation, plates were washed and blocked with PBS+1% casein for 1 h at room temperature. Next, plates were incubated with serial dilutions of either a functional flag tagged Nanobody or the functional mouse IgG anti-non-human primate/Rat TCRα/β antibody, clone R73 (eBioscience 16-5960) for 1 h at room temperature while shaking, washed again and incubated with mouse anti-flag-HRP (Sigma, #A8592) respectively rabbit anti-mouse-HRP (Dako, #P0260). After 1 h, TMB One Solution (Promega #G7431) was added. The reaction was stopped with 2M H2SO4 and the dose dependent binding was determined by measuring the OD at 450 nm using the Tecan sunrise 4 (
2.1 Immunization
It was set out to generate heavy chain only antibodies in camelidae (e.g. llama and alpaca) against T cell receptor (TCR) α and/or β constant chains. Although the native T cell receptor complex consists of both CD3 (gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta) chains, as well as TCR α- and β-chains, it was hypothesized that the absence of CD3 chains would facilitate access to the constant domains of the TCR. Especially since the CD3 chains laterally surround, and limit access to the constant domains of the TCR α- and β-chains. Contrary to our experience with other targets, the obtaining of an immune response against TCR α- or β-chains was not as straight forward as expected.
In a final approach, after approval of the Ethical Committee (CRIA, LA1400575, Belgium—EC2012#1), the inventors attempted a complex immunization protocol with DNA encoding for T cell complex. In short, 3 additional llamas were immunized with a pVAX1-human TCR(2IAN)/CD3 (described in Example 1.2) plasmid vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) and with a pVAX1-human TCR(2XN9)/CD3 (described in Example 1.2) plasmid vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) according to standard protocols. Two llamas received additionally 1 subcutaneous injection of primary human T cells. Human T cells were collected from Buffy Coat blood, from healthy volunteers (Blood bank Gent) using RosetteSep (StemCell Technologies, #15061) followed by enriching on Ficoll-Paque™ PLUS (GE Healthcare #17-1440-03) according to manufactures instructions and stored in liquid nitrogen. After thawing, cells were washed, and re-suspended in D-PBS from Gibco and kept on ice prior to injection.
2.2 Cloning of the Heavy Chain-Only Antibody Fragment Repertoires and Preparation of Phages
Per animal, blood samples were collected after the injection of one type of immunization antigen. From these blood samples, PBMC were prepared using Ficoll-Hypaque according to the manufacturer's instructions (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, N.J., USA). For each immunized llama, libraries were constructed by pooling the total RNA isolated from samples originating from a certain subset of the immunization schedule, i.e. after one type of immunization antigen.
In short, the PCR-amplified VHH repertoire was cloned via specific restriction sites into a vector designed to facilitate phage display of the VHH library. The vector was derived from pUC119. In frame with the VHH coding sequence, the vector encodes a C-terminal 3×FLAG and His6 tag. Phages were prepared according to standard protocols (see for example WO 04/041865, WO 04/041863, WO 04/062551, WO 05/044858 and other prior art and applications filed by Ablynx N.V. cited herein).
The vast majority of selected VHHs were directed against the variable regions of either the TCR α or TCR β chain. Therefore different selection and counter-selection strategies had to be devised by the inventors.
In short, VHH repertoires obtained from all llamas and cloned as phage library were used in different selection strategies, applying a multiplicity of selection conditions. Selections using human TCR/CD3 transfected cell lines with the same variable domain as used during immunization resulted in only variable domain binders. Therefore, tools containing a different variable TCRα/β domain (transfected cells (described in Example 1.1), soluble protein (described in Example 1.2), or human primary T cells (isolated as described in Example 2.1)) were used during selections and proved to be crucial in identification of constant domain binders. Additional variables during selections included the antigen presentation method (in solution when using cells or coated onto plates when proteins), the antigen concentration, the orthologue used (human or cynomolgus recombinant TCR α/P protein), and the number of selection rounds. All solid coated phase selections were done in Maxisorp 96-well plates (Nunc, Wiesbaden, Germany).
Selections were performed as follows: TCRα/β-CD3 antigen preparations for solid and solution phase selection formats were presented as described above at multiple concentrations. After 2 h incubation with the phage libraries, followed by extensive washing, bound phages were eluted with trypsin (1 mg/mL) for 15 minutes. The trypsin protease activity was immediately neutralized by applying 0.8 mM protease inhibitor ABSF. As control, selections without antigen were performed in parallel.
Phage outputs were used to infect E. coli for analysis of individual VHH clones. Periplasmic extracts were prepared according to standard protocols (see for example WO 03/035694, WO 04/041865, WO 04/041863, WO 04/062551 and other prior art and applications filed by Ablynx N.V. cited herein).
4.1 Screening for TCR/CD3 Binding Nanobodies in a Flow Cytometry Assay
Periplasmic extracts were screened for cell expressed TCR/CD3 binding using human TCR/CD3 transfected CHO-K1 or HEK293H cells and the respective CHO-K1 or HEK293H reference cell line in a mixed cell line setup. To this end, a large batch of the reference cell lines were labelled with 8 μM PKH26 and frozen. 5×104 PKH labelled reference cells were mixed with 5×104 target cells and incubated with periplasmic extracts for 30 min at 4° C., and washed 3 times. Next, cells were incubated with 1 μg/ml monoclonal ANTI-FLAG® M2 antibody (Sigma-Aldrich, cat #F1804) for 30 min at 4° C., washed again, and incubated for 30 min at 4° C. with goat anti-mouse APC labelled antibody (Jackson Immunoresearch 115-135-164, 1:100). Samples were washed, resuspended in FACS Buffer (D-PBS from Gibco, with 10% FBS from Sigma and 0.05% sodium azide from Merck) and then analysed via a BD FACSArray. First a P1 population which represented more than 80% of the total cell population was selected based on FSC-SSC distribution. In this gate, 20,000 cells were counted during acquisition. Based on PKH26-SSC distribution, the PKH labelled parental population and the human TCR/CD3 unlabeled target population was selected. For these 2 populations the mean APC value was calculated.
4.2 Screening for TCR/CD3 Binding Nanobodies in a Human T Cell Activation Assay
After several attempts, it turned out that activation of purified human T cells by antibodies or Nanobodies according to standard protocols, i.e. coated onto a 96 well plate, was not sensitive enough (data not shown).
In order to assess activity, a different assay was developed, based on bead coupled T cell activation. In short, goat anti-mouse IgG dynabeads (Life technologies #11033) were coated with mouse anti-flag IgG antibodies (Sigma F1804), (15 μg/1E7 beads). After an incubation period of 2 h at 4° C., beads were washed and incubated with 80 μl periplasmic extract for 20 min at 4° C. while shaking. Non-coupled Nanobodies were washed away before adding the bead complex together with soluble mouse anti-CD28 antibody (Pelicluster CD28—Sanquin #M1650) to purified primary human T cells (isolated as described in Example 2.1). As control condition, non-stimulated human T cells were used. In brief, goat anti-mouse IgG dynabeads coupled to mouse anti-flag IgG were incubated in 80 μl periplasmic extract containing irrelevant Nanobodies. After removal of the non-coupled Nanobodies during a wash step, the irrelevant Nanobody-bead complex was added to purified primary human T cells.
After an incubation of 24 h at 37° and 5% CO2 the activation status of the human T cells was determined by measuring the CD69 expression level in flow cytometry using monoclonal mouse anti-human CD69PE (BD Biosciences #557050).
4.3 Sequence Analysis of the Obtained Nanobodies
Nanobodies which scored positive in the flow cytometric binding screen and the T cell activation assay were sequenced.
The sequence analysis demonstrated that all anti-TCR ISVs comprised a very similar CDR3. In particular, the CDR3 has the amino acid sequence X1SR X2X3PYX4Y, in which X1 is F, Y, G, L or K, X2 is I or L, X3 is Y or W, and X4 is D, N or S.
The sequence analysis further resulted in the identification of 3 distinct clusters. Corresponding alignments are provided (Table A-1, Table A-2, Table A-3). Clustering was based on sequence similarities and differences in CDR2 and CDR3. Cluster A is the most prominent comprising 104 clones (SEQ ID NOs: 1-104), cluster B comprises 11 clones (SEQ ID NOs: 105-115), and cluster C is represented by only 3 clones (SEQ ID NOs: 116-118).
Sequence variability of the CDRs was determined for the different clusters. For cluster A, the amino acid sequence of the CDRs of clone 56G05 was used as a reference, against which the CDRs of all other cluster A clones were compared. The sequence variability against 56G05 is depicted in the tables below.
For cluster B, the amino acid sequence of the CDRs of clone 55C07 was used as a reference, against which the CDRs of all other cluster B clones were compared. The sequence variability against 55C07 is depicted in the tables below.
For cluster C, the amino acid sequence of the CDRs of clone 61G01 was used as a reference, against which the CDRs of all other cluster C clones were compared. The sequence variability against 61G01 is depicted in the tables below.
The clustering based on the sequence transmuted into functional differences (see infra).
4.4 Purification of Monovalent Nanobodies
Representative Nanobodies for each cluster were selected and expressed in E. coli TG1 as triple Flag, His6-tagged proteins. Expression was induced by addition of 1 mM IPTG and allowed to continue for 4 hours at 37° C. After spinning the cell cultures, periplasmic extracts were prepared by freeze-thawing the pellets. These extracts were used as starting material and Nanobodies were purified via IMAC and size exclusion chromatography (SEC).
The Nanobodies were purified to 95% purity as assessed via SDS-PAGE (data not shown).
Binding of purified monovalent anti-TCR Nanobodies to human TCR(2XN9)/CD3 expressed on CHO-K1 cells and to purified primary human T cells was evaluated in flow cytometry as outlined in Example 4.1. Dilution series of Nanobodies 55A02 (cluster A), 56G05 (cluster A), 68G05 (cluster B) and 61G01 (cluster C) starting from 1 μM were applied to the cells.
The results are shown in
Nanobodies clearly bound to human TCR/CD3 expressed on CHO-K1 cells. The cluster A representatives showed the best affinity, followed by the cluster B representative and the cluster C representative. Nanobodies bound to purified primary human T cells, although with slightly lower potency compared to the CHO-K1 human TCR(2XN9)/CD3 cells. The representatives of cluster A showed the best affinity for binding human primary T cells, in line with the data on the CHO-K1 (2XN9)/CD3. The EC50 values obtained from the dose response curve are represented in Table C-1.
Binding of purified monovalent anti-TCR Nanobodies to human TCR(2IAN)/CD3 expressed on HEK293H cells was evaluated and compared with the binding to HEK293H cells transfected with human CD3 in flow cytometry, as outlined in Example 5. Dilution series of anti-TCR Nanobodies starting from 1 μM were applied to the cells. The parental HEK293H cell line was included as TCR/CD3 negative cell line.
The results are shown in
Nanobodies clearly bound to human TCR(2IAN)/CD3 expressed on HEK293H but not to the HEK293H cells transfected with human CD3 only, nor to the HEK293H parental cell line. The EC50 values obtained from the dose response curve are depicted in Table C-2.
In conclusion, the clones were specific for binding to human TCR α/p. No binding was observed to human CD3.
7.1 Binding of Anti-TCR Nanobodies to Human T Cell Receptor Protein in ELISA
Binding of purified monovalent TCR Nanobodies to soluble recombinant human TCR α/β protein was evaluated in ELISA (as described in Example 1.2) using 2 μg/ml directly coated soluble recombinant human TCR α/P protein.
The results are shown in
In conclusion, representative clones of all clusters bind to soluble recombinant human TCR α/P protein.
7.2 Binding of Anti-TCR Nanobodies to Human T Cell Receptor Protein in BLI
Binding affinities were measured using Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) on an Octet RED384 instrument (Pall ForteBio Corp.). Recombinant human soluble TCR(2XN9)-zipper protein was covalently immobilized on amine-reactive sensors (ForteBio) via NHS/EDC coupling chemistry. For kinetic analysis, sensors were first dipped into running buffer (10 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, 0.05% p20, pH7.4 from GE Healthcare Life Sciences) to determine baseline setting. Subsequently, sensors were dipped into wells containing different concentrations of purified Nanobodies (range between 1.4 nM and 1 mM) for the association step (180 s) and transferred to wells containing running buffer for the dissociation (15 min) step. Affinity constants (KD) were calculated applying a 1:1 interaction model using the ForteBio Data Analysis software.
The results are depicted in
In conclusion, the binding affinity for cluster A representatives determined using BLI on human soluble 2XN9 showed correlation with the affinities determined on CHO-K1(2XN9)/CD3 cells in flow cytometry (cf. Example 5).
Functionality of purified monovalent anti-TCR Nanobodies was evaluated in the human T cell activation assay. Goat anti-mouse IgG dynabeads (Life technologies #11033) were coated with mouse anti-Flag IgG antibodies (Sigma F1804), (15 μg/1E7 beads). After an incubation period of 2 h at 4° C., beads were washed and incubated with a fixed (1 μg) amount of purified Flag tagged Nanobody for 20 min at 4° C. while shaking. Non-coupled Nanobodies were washed away before adding the bead complex together with soluble mouse anti-CD28 antibody (Pelicluster CD28—Sanquin #M1650) to purified primary human T cells isolated (isolated as described in Example 2.1) from distinct healthy donors.
In addition, the effect of monovalent TCR binding by the Nanobodies was evaluated by the incubation of the Nanobody with the purified primary human T cells without prior capture onto anti-mouse IgG dynabeads, in the presence of anti-CD28 antibody.
The activation status of the purified primary human T cells was monitored by measuring the CD69 expression in flow cytometry using monoclonal mouse anti-human CD69PE (BD Biosciences #557050) after an incubation of 24 h at 37° C. and 5% CO2, as described in Example 4.2.
In conclusion, anti-TCR Nanobodies of all clusters showed clear CD69 upregulation after capturing onto anti-mouse IgG dynabeads. The irrelevant Nanobody did not show any CD69 upregulation (
To demonstrate that redirection of engaged T cells to tumour cells is possible by the Nanobodies, the CD20 antigen was chosen as exemplary tumour target.
Different TCR binding building blocks (i.e. Nanobodies) were formatted into a multispecific construct with a human CD20 targeting Nanobody (see Table C-5). The effector and tumour Nanobodies were genetically linked with a 35GS linker and subsequently expressed in the yeast Pichia according to standard protocols (multispecific polypeptides).
Irrelevant constructs were generated by replacing the effector or tumour Nanobody with an irrelevant anti-egg lysozyme (cAblys) Nanobody (Table C-5)
Binding of the multispecific constructs to human TCR/CD3 expressed on CHO-K1 cells, purified primary human T cells and CD20 positive Ramos cells (ATCC: CRL-1596) was evaluated in flow cytometry as outlined in Example 5. The results are presented in
The EC50 values obtained from the dose response curve are depicted in Table C-6.
The data indicate similar binding of the TCRxCD20 multispecific polypeptides compared to their monovalent counterparts. However, a reduced binding of the CD20XTCR multispecific polypeptides to CHO-K1 human TCR(2XN9)/CD3 cells and purified primary human T cells was detected compared to their monovalent counterparts. On the human CD20 positive Ramos cell line, the multispecific polypeptide with the CD20 at the C terminus showed reduced binding in comparison to the polypeptides with the CD20 at the N terminus.
In order to assess whether multispecific polypeptides were able to kill tumour cells, cytotoxicity assays were performed with isolated human T cells as effector cells.
Human T cells were isolated as described in Example 2.1. The quality and purity of the purified human T cells was checked with anti-CD3 (eBioscience #12-0037-73), anti-CD8 (BD Biosciences #345775), anti-CD4 (BD Biosciences #345771), anti-CD45RO (BD Biosciences #555493), anti-CD45RA (BD Biosciences #550855), anti-CD19 (BD Biosciences #555413), anti-CD25 (BD Pharmigen #557138) and anti-CD69 (BD Pharmigen #557050) fluorescently labelled antibodies in a flow cytometric assay. Human CD20 expressing Ramos cells and human CD20 expressing Raji cells (ECACC: 85011429), labelled with the PKH-26 membrane dye as described above were used as target cells. 2.5×105 effector and 2.5×104 target cells were co-incubated in 96-well V-bottom plates at an effector versus target ratio of 10:1. For measurement of the concentration-dependent cell lysis, serial dilutions of multispecific polypeptides (Table C-5) were added to the samples and incubated for 18 h in a 5% CO2 atmosphere at 37° C. After incubation, cells were pelleted by centrifugation and washed with FACS buffer. Subsequently, cells were resuspended in FACS buffer supplemented with 5 nM TOPRO3 (Molecular Probes cat #T3605) to distinguish live from dead cells. Cells were analysed using a FACS Array flow cytometer (BD Biosciences). Per sample, a total sample volume of 80 μl was acquired. Gating was set on PKH26 positive cells, and within this population the TOPRO3 positive cells were determined.
The CD20xTCR binding multispecific polypeptides showed dose dependent killing of the Ramos cells (
The IC50 values and the % lysis obtained from the dose response curve are depicted in Table C-7 (% lysis=% death cells at 500 nM of Nanobody minus % dead cells of the no Nanobody control).
These results demonstrate that the TCR multispecific polypeptides can induce T cell mediated killing of tumour target positive cell lines. When either the targeting Nanobody or the effector Nanobody was replaced by an irrelevant Nanobody, no effect on the viability of the Ramos cells could be observed. There was no clear preference of the orientation between the individual binding blocks in the multispecific polypeptide.
The TCR binding multispecific polypeptides were also tested for their cell toxicity on human CD20 transfected adherent target cells in the presence of human effector T cells using real-time electrical impedance based technique. Here, fluctuations in impedance induced by the adherence of cells to the surface of an electrode were measured. T cells are non-adherent and therefore do not impact the impedance measurements.
In brief, the xCELLigence station was placed in a 37° C. incubator at 5% CO2. 50 μl of assay medium was added to each well of E-plate 96 (ACEA Biosciences; cat #05 232 368 001) and a blank reading on the xCELLigence system was performed to measure background impedance in absence of cells. Subsequently, human CD20 transfected CHO-K1 or CHO-K1 reference cells (1×104) were seeded onto the E-plates 96, and 50 μl of a serial dilution of multispecific polypeptide was added. After 30 min at RT, 50 μl of human T cells were added per well (3×105) to have an effector to target ratio of 30:1. The plate was placed in the xCELLigence station and impedance was measured every 15 min during 3 days. The data were analysed using a fixed time point indicated in the results.
The IC50 values are depicted in Table C-8.
The multispecific polypeptides showed tumour antigen dependent killing. The multispecific polypeptides were not able to induce T cell mediated killing of CHO-K1 reference cells, but induced dose dependent human T cell mediated killing of the CD20 transfected CHO-K1 cells. An example is shown in
These results confirm the outcome obtained in the flow cytometry based killing assay of Example 10. In addition, only when the tumour target antigen is present T cell mediated killing was observed, indicating that the multispecific polypeptides are critically dependent on their target for induction of cytotoxicity.
To evaluate the impact of the linker length used in the CD20/TCR binding multispecific polypeptides on the cytotoxic capacity, the effector and tumour building blocks were genetically linked with a 5GS (SEQ ID NO: 376), 9GS (SEQ ID NO: 378) or 35GS (SEQ ID NO: 385) linker and subsequently expressed in Pichia according to standard protocols (see Table C-9).
The impact of the linker length used in the CD20/TCR binding multispecific polypeptides on the human primary effector T cell induced cellular toxicity on the adherent CHO-K1 human CD20 transfected target cells was evaluated using real-time electrical impedance based technique as described Example 11.
The results are summarized in
All multispecific polypeptides, i.e. all linker lengths demonstrated specific cell killing. Unexpectedly, the TCR multispecific polypeptides with the longest linker (35GS linker) showed the best potency. In view of these results, further experiments were performed with multispecific polypeptides comprising the 35GS linker.
To evaluate the effect of different effector to target (E:T) ratios on the killing properties of the polypeptides, CD20xTCR binding multispecific polypeptides were incubated with 2.5×104 PKH labelled Ramos cells in the presence of respectively 2.5×105 (E:T=10:1), 1.25×105 (E:T=5:1), 5×104 (E:T=2:1) and 2.5×104 (E:T=1:1) human primary T cells as described in Example 10.
Exemplary results are shown in
Both constructs were able to kill the human CD20 target cells at different E:T ratios, even at a ratio of 1:1, after an incubation time of 18 h with little difference in potency. Although there was an impact of the E:T ratio on the % lysis, this might also be linked to the incubation time (see below).
To evaluate the impact of incubation time on the killing properties of the CD20xTCR binding multispecific constructs, specific lysis of target cells was calculated for different time-points in xCELLigence. In brief, the xCELLigence station was placed in a 37° C. incubator at 5% CO2. 50 μl of assay medium was added to each well of E-pate 96 (ACEA Biosciences; cat #05 232 368 001) and a blank reading on the xCELLigence system was performed to measure background impedance in absence of cells. Subsequently, human CD20 transfected CHO-K1 or CHO-K1 reference cells (1×104) were seeded onto the E-plates 96. After 20 h, 3×105 purified primary human T cells (described supra) and 100 nM or 1.5 nM multispecific constructs were added, respectively. The cell index (CI) was measured every 15 min during 5 days. Using the normalized CI (the normalized cell index—NCI, is calculated by dividing the cell index value at a particular time point by the cell index value of the time-point when purified primary human T cells were added) specific lysis at different time points of the condition with constructs was calculated in relation to the condition lacking construct. (% specific lysis=((NCIno construct−NCIwith construct)/NCIno construct))×100.
The results are depicted in
Already one hour after the addition of human primary T cells and the multispecific construct, an increase of cell lysis can be observed which clearly increased further upon longer incubation times. The maximal effect was clearly dependent on the incubation time but the obtained IC50 value did not change with increased incubation times. The irrelevant construct did not show any killing of the human CD20 transfected CHO-K1 cells.
It was hypothesized that HLE via albumin binding might be suitable to comply with various requirements, including (i) half-life extension (HLE) of the moiety; and (ii) efficacy of the multispecific polypeptide. Preferably, the HLE function would not impair the penetration of tumours and tissues.
Alb11 (SEQ ID NO: 404), a Nanobody binding to human serum albumin (HSA) was linked to the multispecific CD20xTCR binding polypeptides to increase the in vivo half-life of the formatted molecules (WO 06/122787). A number of formats were generated based on the CD20 tumour targeting building block at the N-terminus, the TCRα/β recruiting building blocks in the middle and the albumin targeting Nanobody at the C-terminus using a 35GS linker and expressed as indicated above. An overview of the explored formats is shown in Table C-11.
As the addition of the Alb11 Nanobody might influence the affinity or potency of the construct and the binding of HSA to the Alb11 Nanobody might have an impact on the affinity or potency of the half-life extended constructs, the half-life extended constructs were characterized for binding to TCR overexpressing CHO-K1 and primary human T cells. In addition, the potency in the functional T cell dependent Ramos B cell killing assay was evaluated in the presence and absence of HSA (described in 15.1 and 15.2 below).
15.1 Impact of Alb11 Building Block on the Binding Properties
Analogous to the experiments described in Example 5, binding of half-life extended anti-TCR polypeptides to CHO-K1 human TCR(2XN9)/CD3 cells, primary human T cells and Ramos cells was evaluated in a flow cytometric assay in the absence of HSA.
The results are provided in
15.2 Impact of Human Serum Albumin on Potency in Human T Cell Mediated B Cell Killing Assay
The functionality of half-life extended anti-TCR polypeptides was evaluated in the human T cell mediated Ramos killing assay as described in Example 10 in the presence and absence of 301M HSA and compared with the functionality of the non-HLE multispecific constructs.
The results are depicted in
The results indicate that the inclusion of the albumin targeting Nanobody in the construct as such did not have an essential impact on the obtained potency or efficacy. Although a minor loss of efficacy/potency was observed in the presence of HSA, the half-life extended TCR multispecific polypeptides were still potent in tumour cell killing.
In order to assess the general applicability of the TCR building blocks in directing T cells to tumour cells, TCR binding building blocks were combined with building block that binds a different TAA, in this case a Nanobody binding to HER2.
The anti-TCR building block was combined with a Nanobody that binds the HER2 solid tumour antigen in two orientations (Table C-14) and characterized in the xCELLigence based human T cell mediated HER2-positive tumour killing assay as described in Example 11 using two HER2 expressing cell lines (SKBR3 (ATCC: HTB-30), MCF-7 (ATCC: HTB-22)) and a HER2 negative reference cell line (MDA-MB-468 (ATCC HTB-132)) as target cell population. Human HER2 expression levels were confirmed using 100 nM of the monovalent anti-HER2 Nanobody HER2005F07 (SEQ ID NO: 350) in flow cytometry as described in Example 5. Results are shown in
In brief, SKBR3 (4×104 cells/well), MDA-MB-468 (4×104 cells/well) or MCF-7 (2×104 cells/well) were seeded in 96 well E-plates and incubated with 6×105 cells or 3×105 cells human primary T cells (effector target ratio of 15 to 1) in the presence or absence of the multispecific constructs and followed over time. Data were analysed after 18 h and are shown in
The IC50 values obtained in this assay are listed in Table C-15.
The data indicate specific killing of HER2-positive tumour cell lines by directing human primary T cells to the tumour cells via the anti-TCR Nanobody. Hence, the TCR binding building blocks are broadly applicable for directing cytotoxic T cells to tumours. Despite the large difference in tumour antigen density on SKBR3 and MCF-7 cells, both were efficiently killed by the addition of multispecific polypeptide constructs.
To further evaluate the broad applicability of the TCR binding building blocks, the induction of cytokine release was monitored during the human T cell mediated SKBR3 killing assay based on xCELLigence. The release of the cytokine IFN-7 was measured by ELISA. Briefly, SKBR3 cells were seeded in 96 E-plate in the presence of purified human primary T cells with or without multispecific HER2/TCR binding or irrelevant polypeptides as described in Example 16. 72 h after the addition of the human primary T cells/polypeptides to the E-plates, IFN-7 production by the human primary T cells was measured. Maxisorp 96-well ELISA plates (Nunc) were coated with anti-human IFN-7 antibody (BD Biosciences #551221). After overnight incubation, plates were washed and blocked with PBS+2% BSA for 1 h at room temperature. Next, plates were incubated with 1001 of the supernatants (2 fold diluted) and 1 μg/ml biotinylated anti-human IFN-7 antibody (BD Biosciences, #554550) for 2 h 30 min while shaking, washed again and incubated with streptavidin-HRP (Dakocytomation #P0397). After 30 min, TMB One Solution (Promega #G7431) was added. The reaction was stopped with 2M H2SO4 and the polypeptide dose dependent production of IFN-7 was determined by measurement of the OD at 405 nm using the Tecan sunrise 4.
The results are shown in
The multispecific HER2/TCR binding polypeptides induced a dose dependent production of the cytokine IFN-7, indicating that the human T cells were activated only in presence of the relevant polypeptide.
The cross-reactivity of the TCR binding building blocks with cynomolgus monkey TCR was evaluated.
18.1 Functional Characterization of the Multispecific Polypeptides in a Cynomolgus T Cell Mediated Ramos CD20 Positive Tumour Killing Assay
In a first experiment, a flow cytometric killing assay was set up, essentially as described in Example 10, using 2.5×105 primary cynomolgus T cells (isolated using Pan T Cell Isolation Kit MACS #130-091-993) as effector cells and 2.5×104 human CD20 positive Ramos cells as target cells.
The IC50 values and the % lysis obtained from the dose response curve are depicted in Table C-17. The results are shown in
The TCR binding multispecific polypeptides that contained a TCR binding building block belonging to cluster A showed dose dependent killing of the Ramos cells using cynomolgus T cells.
18.2 Functional Characterization of the Multispecific Polypeptides in a Cynomolgus T Cell Mediated CHO-K1 Human CD20 Positive Cell Killing Assay
To further assess the cross-reactivity of the TCR binding building blocks in the TCR/CD20 binding multispecific constructs, the xCELLigence based killing assay using purified primary cynomolgus T cells essentially as described in Example 11 was used.
The assay used an effector to target ratio of 30 to 1, i.e. 3×105 effector cynomolgus T cells (isolated using Pan T Cell Isolation Kit MACS #130-091-993) and 1×104 target CHO-K1 human CD20 cells.
The IC50 values obtained in this assay are listed in Table C-18. The results are summarized in
It can be concluded that the TCR binding multispecific polypeptides that contain a TCR binding building block belonging to cluster A showed dose dependent killing of the CHO-K1 CD20 transfected cells using cynomolgus T cells. Hence, cluster A Nanobodies cross-react with primary cynomolgus T cells and can elicit potent killing based on these cynomolgus T cells.
18.3 Binding of Anti-TCR Nanobodies to Cynomolgus T Cell Receptor Protein (ELISA)
Binding of purified monovalent anti-TCR Nanobodies to soluble recombinant cynomolgus TCR α/P protein was evaluated in ELISA (as described in Example 1.2) using 2 μg/ml directly coated recombinant soluble cynomolgus TCR-α/β zipper protein.
The EC50 values obtained from the dose response curve are depicted in Table C-19.
An exemplary result is shown in
The results indicate that the anti-TCR Nanobodies from cluster A and cluster B bind to the recombinant soluble cynomolgus TCR-α/β zipper protein.
18.4 Evaluation of Cynomolgus Cross-Reactivity in Bio-Layer Interferometry
Binding affinities of the monovalent anti-TCR Nanobodies were measured using Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) on an Octet RED384 instrument (Pall ForteBio Corp.) essentially as described in Example 7.1 using cynomolgus TCR α/β zipper. The results are depicted in
The cluster A Nanobodies bind to the soluble recombinant cynomolgus TCR α/β zipper with a 10 fold lower affinity compared to soluble recombinant human TCR α/β zipper.
18.5 Functional Characterization of Half-Life Extended Multispecific Polypeptides in a Cynomolgus T Cell Mediated Ramos CD20 Positive Tumour Killing Assay
Analogous to the set up described in Example 18.1, the half-life extended TCR binding polypeptides were evaluated in a cynomolgus T cell mediated Ramos killing assay.
The IC50 values obtained in this assay are listed in Table C-21. The results are depicted in
The HLE extended TCR binding multispecific polypeptides that contain a TCR binding building block belonging to cluster A showed dose dependent killing of the Ramos cells using purified primary cynomolgus T cells. The inclusion of the ALB11 in the construct as such did not impact the potency (overlapping CI). Upon addition of HSA, a small drop in efficacy was observed while the potency was not affected.
18.6 Functional Characterization of Half-Life Extended CD20xTCR Binding Multispecific Polypeptides in a Cynomolgus T Cell Mediated CHO-CD20 Positive Tumour Cell Killing Assay
To confirm the data in the flow cytometry based assay, the HLE constructs were tested in the xCELLigence based CHO-K1 human CD20 killing using purified primary cynomolgus T cells as described in Example 11.
The results are shown in
The HLE TCR binding multispecific polypeptides showed dose dependent killing of CHO-K1 human CD20 transfected cells using cynomolgus T cells, confirming that the ALB11 has no impact on the cynomolgus cross-reactivity of the TCR binding building block.
18.7 Functional Characterization of Multispecific Polypeptides in a Cynomolgus T Cell Mediated HER2 Positive Tumour Cell Killing Assay
The multispecific polypeptides were functionally characterized in a cynomolgus T cell mediated HER2 positive tumour cell killing assay. In short, the TCR/HER2 binding multispecific polypeptides were evaluated in a xCELLigence based killing assay essentially as described in Example 16, using 6×105 cynomolgus T cells as effector cells and 4×104 SKBR3 as target cells (effector to target of 30 to 1). Data were analysed after 18 h.
The results are depicted in
The cynomolgus cross-reactivity of the TCR binding building block was confirmed using the HER2/TCR binding multispecific constructs.
In this B cell depletion model, Ramos cells (a Burkitt's lymphoma cell line) and human PBMC were injected respectively intravenously and intraperitoneally in to NOG mice. Ramos B cell and PBMC-derived B cell killing by Nanobody-mediated recruitment of T cells present in the PBMC population was evaluated reflecting the potential of multispecific polypeptides to activate T cells by direct linkage of T cells via TCR to target B cells via CD20, resulting in target cell killing.
The in vivo efficacy of the bi-specific polypeptide T017000083 (CD20xTCR binding) on B cell depletion in a Ramos NOG mouse model was evaluated and compared with the irrelevant multispecific polypeptide T017000088 (irrelevant Nanobody+TCR binding Nanobody). The study demonstrated a statistically significant effect in bone marrow and spleen on Ramos B cell depletion and on PBMC derived B cell depletion in spleen.
In detail, the B cell depletion was evaluated in mice, intravenously injected with 106 Ramos cells in 200 μL of Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) medium 1640 at day one (D1). This injection took place 24 hours after a whole body irradiation of mice with a γ-source (1.44 Gy, 60Co) (D0). 107 PBMCs (500 μL in PBS) were injected on D3 (i.e. two days after tumor cell injection) after randomization of the mice into groups each of 24 animals. The treatment started on D3 one hour after PBMC injection and was repeated for 5 consecutive days in total until D7 (
On D20 or on D21, mice were sacrificed and spleen and bone marrow (femur) were collected for FACS analysis (mCD45, hCD45, hCD19, hCD20, hCD10) to analyze and quantify the presence of Ramos B cells (hCD19+ hCD20+ hCD45+ mCD45− hCD10+) and PBMC-derived B cells (hCD19+ hCD20+ hCD45+ mCD45− hCD10−).
Results for Ramos B cell depletion are represented in
Results for PBMC-derived B cell depletion are represented in
In conclusion, these results demonstrate that CD20/TCR multispecific polypeptides are able to significantly decrease Ramos B cells and PBMC-derived B cells in spleen and Ramos B cells in bone marrow in this model. This confirms the polypeptide-induced T cell activation by cross-linking T cells to target B cells and killing of the latter.
In this B cell depletion model, human PBMC were injected intraperitoneally in to NOG mice. PBMC-derived B cell killing by polypeptide-mediated recruitment of T cells present in the PBMC population was evaluated reflecting the potential of the polypeptides of the invention to activate T cells by direct linkage of T cells via TCR to target B cells via CD20, resulting in target cell killing.
The in vivo efficacy of the multispecific polypeptide T017000083 (CD20xTCR binding) on B cell depletion in a PBMC NOG mouse model was evaluated and compared with the irrelevant polypeptide T017000088. The study demonstrated a clear effect on PBMC derived B cell depletion in spleen.
In detail, the B cell depletion was evaluated in mice, intraperitoneally injected with 3×107 PBMCs in 500 μL of PBS at day three (D3) after a whole body irradiation of mice with a γ-source (1.44 Gy, 60Co) (D0) and randomization of the mice into groups each of 12 animals. The treatment started on D3 one hour after PBMC injection and was repeated for 5 consecutive days, in total until day 7 (D7) (
On day 18 (D18), mice were sacrificed and the spleen was collected for FACS analysis (mCD45, hCD45, hCD19, hCD20) to analyze and quantify the presence of PBMC-derived human B cells (hCD19+ hCD20+ hCD45+ mCD45−).
Results for PBMC-derived B cell depletion are represented in
In conclusion, these results demonstrate that a CD20/TCR binding multispecific polypeptide is able to significantly decrease PBMC-derived B cells in spleen in this model. This confirms the polypeptide-induced T cell activation by cross-linking T cells to target B cells and killing of the latter.
The therapeutic activity of T cell engaging strategy can be improved by the simultaneous targeting of multiple tumour associated antigens. Often tumour cells create an escape mechanism by the down-regulation of targeted antigens within a therapy. The simultaneous targeting of multiple antigens is likely to reduce the probability of generating tumour escape variants. The individual affinity of the respective tumour targeting Nanobodies may be varied such that preferable binding to either a single marker or simultaneous binding to both tumour markers is achieved. Antigens present on different cell populations can be combined or even soluble proteins can be targeted in combination with a tumour associated antigen.
As the Nanobody platform is ideally suited to combine different specificities into a multispecific format, the anti-TCR Nanobodies of the invention are combined into formats illustrating these concepts, i.e. with different tumour antigen binding Nanobodies in a multispecific polypeptide.
For the double tumour antigen targeting concept, a Nanobody reactive towards a first tumour antigen (TA1, e.g. CEA) is linked to a second Nanobody with different specificity (TA2, e.g. EGFR), different from TA1, in combination with a TCR reactive Nanobody. The specific order of the building blocks is varied within the format as well as the applied linker lengths in between the different building blocks. Combinations of TA1 and TA2 which are tested are depicted in Table C-24.
In order to test half-life extension, an Alb Nanobody is included as well in the polypeptides as set out in Table C-24.
To demonstrate the specific killing, a mixed cell culture assay system is used where TA1 single positive (e.g. MC38-huCEA or MKN45) and TA2 single positive tumour cells (e.g. Hela or Her14) are co-incubated. The expression level of the respective tumour antigens was determined in different cell lines and is represented in
In order to verify the specific killing, the induced killing of double positive tumour (for TA1 and TA2, e.g. LS174T or LoVo) cells is compared with the induced killing of single positive tumour cells. For this, a T cell mediated cytoxicity assay is used as described above with a single type of tumour cells positive for both markers (cf. Example 19).
As mentioned above, the therapeutic activity of T cell engaging strategy can be improved by the simultaneous targeting of multiple tumour associated antigens. Not only do tumour cells create an escape mechanism by the down-regulation of targeted antigens within a therapy, but also by introducing (point-)mutations. Also in this case, simultaneous targeting of multiple epitopes on an antigen is likely to reduce the probability of generating tumour escape variants. Moreover, targeting multiple epitopes on a single antigen can increase the affinity of binding (avidity effect).
As the Nanobody platform is ideally suited to combine different specificities into a multivalent format, the anti-TCR Nanobodies of the invention are combined into formats illustrating these concepts, i.e. with different tumour antigen binding Nanobodies in a multispecific polypeptide.
For the multivalent tumour antigen targeting concept, two Nanobodies reactive towards an antigen are linked (TA1 and TA2, respectively), followed by a TCR reactive Nanobody. The specific order of the building blocks is varied within the format as well as the applied linker lengths in between the different building blocks. Combinations of TA1 and TA2 which are tested are depicted in Table C-25.
In order to test half-life extension, an albumin binding Nanobody is included as well in the polypeptides as set out in Table C-25.
The potency and efficacy of these multivalent formats is evaluated and compared with the respective bispecific formats in an in vitro tumour cell killing assay comparable to the assay described in Example 10 but with the relevant cell lines (e.g. Hela, Her14, Ls174T, SKBR3, MCF7). Additionally, the effector-target ratio is varied such that an estimate is made whether a multivalent/multispecific polypeptide has a higher efficacy with lower effector target ratios.
As described earlier, the therapeutic activity of T cell engaging strategy can be improved by the simultaneous targeting of multiple tumour associated antigens, as tumour cells often create an escape mechanism by the down-regulation of targeted antigens within a therapy. The simultaneous targeting of multiple antigens is likely to reduce the generation of tumour escape variants.
For this double tumour antigen targeting concept, a Nanobody reactive towards a first tumour antigen (EGFR) was linked to a second Nanobody with different specificity (CEACAM5), in combination with a TCR reactive Nanobody. The specific order of the building blocks was varied within the format. The effector and tumour Nanobodies were genetically linked with 35GS linker and subsequently expressed in the yeast Pichia according to standard protocols. Irrelevant constructs were generated by replacing the tumour Nanobody with an irrelevant anti-egg lysozyme (cAblys) Nanobody (Table C-26).
Dose-dependent binding of the monovalent Nanobodies and multispecific polypeptides to cancer cell lines expressing CEACAM5 and EGFR (LoVo; ATCC CCL-229 and LS174T; ECACC 87060401), a cell line expressing EGFR (HER14; NIH3T3 (ATCC CRL-1658) transfected with EGFR), and to purified primary human T cells (isolated as described in Example 2.1) was evaluated in flow cytometry as outlined in Example 5. The results are presented in
The expression level of the respective tumour antigens on the different cells was determined in flow cytometry using 100 nM of a monovalent anti-EGFR Nanobody (EGFR038G07) and a monovalent anti-CEA Nanobody, as described in Example 5. Results are shown in
The EC50 values obtained from the dose response curve for binding HER14 cells are depicted in Table C-27. The EC50 values obtained from the dose response curve for binding LS174T and LoVo cells are depicted in Table C-28.
The data showed binding of the EGFR monovalent Nanobody and of the multispecific polypeptides containing the EGFR building block to the HER14 cells, expressing only EGFR. No binding of the CEACAM monovalent Nanobody and the multispecific polypeptides containing only the CEACAM5 tumour anchor building block was observed. All monovalent and multispecific polypeptides showed binding to the EGFR, CEACAM5 double positive cell lines LS174T and LoVo, as expected. There was also binding of the multispecific polypeptides to the human primary T cells. A drop in affinity of the multispecific polypeptides versus the monovalent TCR building block was observed due to the C-terminal position of the TCR building block.
Binding affinity of the purified EGFR monovalent Nanobody was evaluated by means of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based affinity determination on a Biacore T100 instrument. Thereto, hEGFR (Sino Biological, #10001-H08H) was immobilized onto a CM5 chip via amine coupling, using EDC and NHS chemistry. Purified Nanobodies were injected for 2 minutes at different concentrations (between 1.37 and 3000 nM) and allowed to dissociate for 15 min at a flow rate of 45 μl/min. In between sample injections, the surfaces were regenerated with 50 mM NaOH. HBS-EP+ (Hepes buffer pH7.4) was used as running buffer.
Binding affinities of the purified CEACAM5 monovalent Nanobody was evaluated by means of an SPR based affinity determination on a Biacore T100 instrument. Thereto, hCEACAM-5 (R&D Systems, #4128-CM) was immobilized onto a CM5 chip via amine coupling, using EDC and NHS chemistry. Purified Nanobodies were injected for 2 minutes at different concentrations (between 0.31 and 2000 nM) and allowed to dissociate for 15 min at a flow rate of 45 μl/min. In between sample injections, the surfaces were regenerated with 10 mM Glycine pH 1.5. HBS-EP+(Hepes buffer pH7.4) was used as running buffer.
The kinetic constants were calculated from the sensorgrams using the BIAEvaluation software (1:1 interaction). The affinity constants (KD) were calculated from resulting association and dissociation rate constants kon and koff, and are shown in Table C-29.
The multispecific polypeptides were functionally characterized in a human T cell mediated EGFR/CEACAM positive tumour cell killing assay. In short, the multispecific constructs were evaluated in a xCELLigence based killing assay essentially as described in Example 16, using 6×105 human T cells as effector cells and 4×104 LS174T cells (ECACC 87060401) or LoVo cells (ATCC CCL-229) respectively as target cells (effector to target of 15 to 1). Data were analysed after 30-40 h and after 50-60 h.
The results are depicted in
The data on the EGFR+/CEA+ LoVo cells showed a ˜28 fold difference in potency between the CEACAM5 only and the EGFR-CEA multispecific constructs and a ˜8 fold difference in potency between the EGFR only constructs and the EGFR-CEA multispecific constructs. On EGFR+/CEA+ LS174T cells, a ˜7 fold difference in potency between the CEACAM5 only and the EGFR-CEA multispecific constructs was observed and ˜2 fold difference between the EGFR only constructs and the EGFR-CEA multispecific constructs. These results showed that potency enhancements were obtained with multispecific constructs reactive against two different antigens present on a cell.
In this B cell depletion model, Burkitt's lymphoma Ramos cells and human PBMC were injected respectively intravenously and intraperitoneally in to mice after which Ramos B cell and PBMC-derived B cell killing by Nanobody-mediated recruitment of T cells present in PBMC population was evaluated: i.e. the potential of Nanobodies, HLE and non-HLE (NHLE), to activate T cells by direct linking of T cells via TCR to target B cells via CD20, resulting in target cell killing.
The polypeptides used in this study are described in Table 32:
The in vivo efficacy of a HLE bispecific Nanobody, T017000104 (TCR and CD20-specific coupled to an albumin targeting building block) in a Ramos NOG mouse model was evaluated and compared with the irrelevant Nanobody T017000106. The non-half-life extended (NHLE) Nanobody T017000105 (TCR and CD20-specific) and T0107000083 (TCR and CD20-specific) were compared to the NHLE irrelevant Nanobody T017000088 (irrelevant and TCR-specific). The study demonstrated a statistically significant effect in bone marrow and spleen on PBMC derived B cell depletion for T017000104 and T017000105 compared to their respective irrelevant control NBs. The Ramos cells were significantly reduced in T017000104 and T017000105 treated mice, both in spleen and bone marrow.
In detail, the B cell depletion was evaluated in the mice, intravenously injected with Ramos cells at day one (D1) and intraperitoneally with PBMCs at D3. Mice were treated from D3 to D7 (
On D20 or on D21, the mice were sacrificed and spleen and bone marrow (femur) were collected for FACS analysis (mCD45, hCD45, hCD19, hCD20, hCD10) and analyzed for presence of Ramos B cells and PBMC-derived B cells.
Results for Ramos B cell depletion are represented in
Results for PBMC-derived B cell depletion are represented in
In conclusion, these results demonstrate that both the anti-CD20/anti-TCR polypeptide and the HLE anti-CD20/anti-TCR polypeptide are able to significantly decrease Ramos B cells and PBMC-derived B cells in spleen and bone marrow in this B cell depletion model. This confirms the Nanobody-induced T cell activation by cross-linking T cells to target B cells and killing of the latter.
To investigate the role of CD4+, respectively CD8+ human T cells in the redirected killing, targeting of tumour cells with multispecific T cell engaging polypeptides was performed using T cell subsets. In this case, the HER2-positive cell line SKBR3 and Nanobody T017000102 (targeting HER2 and TCR) were used.
27.1 Redirected Cell Killing of Multispecific Polypeptides by Human Effector CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in the xCELLigence Based Assay
Human T cells were collected as described in Example 2.1. After thawing, human CD4+, respectively CD8+ T cells were isolated using the CD4+(Miltenyi Biotec #130-096-533), respectively CD8+(Miltenyi Biotech #130-096-495) T cell isolation kit. SKBR3 cells, were seeded in 96 well E-plates (2×104 cells/well) and incubated with 3×105 human primary effector T cells, human primary effector CD4+ T cells or human primary effector CD8+ T cells (effector target ratio of 15:1) in the presence or absence of multispecific constructs and followed over time, as described in Example 16. Data were analysed after 40 h.
Results are shown in
The data showed dose dependent specific killing of HER2-positive tumour cell lines by directing human primary T cells, human CD4+ or human CD8+ T cells to the tumour cells via the TCR polypeptide.
27.2 Effect of HER2/TCR Binding Polypeptides on CD69 and CD25 Expression on Human Effector CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in a HER2-Positive Tumour Cell Killing Assay
Primary human T cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subpopulations were isolated and a redirected HER2-positive tumour cell killing assay using SKBR3 cells was performed as described in Example 27.1. T cell activation was determined by measuring CD69 and CD25 upregulation after 24 h and 72 h of incubation respectively on the human primary T cells and on the CD4+ and CD8+ human T cell populations. CD69 and CD25 expression was measured in flow cytometry, using monoclonal mouse anti-human CD69PE (BD Biosciences #557050) and mouse anti-human CD25PE (BD Pharmigen #557138) antibody, for CD69 and CD25 measurement respectively.
Exemplary results are shown in
The data showed dose dependent upregulation of CD69 and CD25 on human primary T cells, human CD4+ and human CD8+ T cells.
27.3 Effect of HER2/TCR Binding Polypeptides on IFN-γ and IL-6 Release by Human Effector CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in a HER2-Positive Tumour Cell Killing Assay
Primary human T cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subpopulations were isolated and a redirected HER2-positive tumour cell killing assay using SKBR3 cells was performed as described in Example 27.1. The release of the cytokine IFN-7 was measured by ELISA as described in Example 17 and the release of IL-6 was measured in ELISA using the human IL-6 Quantikine ELISA Kit (R&D Systems, #D6050) according to manufactures instructions.
Exemplary results are shown in
The data showed dose dependent IFN-γ and IL-6 release by human primary T cells, human CD4+ and human CD8+ T cells.
It was hypothesized that HLE via albumin binding might be suitable to comply with various requirements, including (i) half-life extension (HLE) of the moiety; and (ii) efficacy of the multispecific polypeptide. Preferably, the HLE function would not impair the penetration of tumours and tissues.
Alb11 (SEQ ID NO: 404), a Nanobody binding to human serum albumin (HSA) was linked to the multispecific EGFRxCEAxTCR binding polypeptide to increase the in vivo half-life of the formatted molecule (WO 06/122787). A format was generated with the albumin targeting Nanobody at the C-terminus using a 35GS linker and expressed as indicated above. The explored format is shown in Table 34.
As the addition of the Alb11 Nanobody might influence the affinity or potency of the construct, the half-life extended multispecific polypeptide was characterized for binding to EGFR and CEA expressing cell lines and primary human T cells. In addition, the potency in the functional T cell dependent LS174T killing assay was evaluated (described in 28.1 and 28.2 below).
28.1 Impact of the Alb11 Building Block on the Binding Properties
Dose-dependent binding of the HLE multispecific polypeptide to cancer cell lines expressing CEACAM5 and EGFR (LS174T and LoVo), a cell line expressing EGFR (HER14; NIH3T3 transfected with EGFR), and to purified primary human T cells (isolated as described in Example 2.1) was evaluated in flow cytometry as outlined in Example 5, in the absence of HSA.
The results are presented in
Comparison of the HLE construct with the non-HLE construct showed similar binding to all three cell lines tested. The data presented showed that coupling of the Alb11 building block did not influence the binding properties.
28.2 Impact of the Alb11 Nanobody in the Redirected Cell Killing by Human Effector T Cells in the xCELLigence Based Assay
The functionality of the half-life extended multispecific polypeptide was evaluated in the absence of HSA in the human T cell mediated LS174T killing assay as described in Example 10 and compared with the functionality of the non-HLE multispecific constructs.
The results are depicted in
The results indicate that the inclusion of the albumin targeting Nanobody in the construct as such did not have an essential impact on the obtained potency or efficacy.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/573,288, filed Nov. 10, 2017, which is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2016/060859, filed May 13, 2016, and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/319,486, filed Apr. 7, 2016, and of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/160,757, filed May 13, 2015, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62319486 | Apr 2016 | US | |
| 62160757 | May 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15573288 | Nov 2017 | US |
| Child | 17128570 | US |
