The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Mitchell Ho

Ira H Pastan

Wei Gao

Dimiter Stanchev Dimitrov

Nan Li

Mingqian Feng

Yifan Zhang

Masanori Onda

Tapan K Bera

Yen T Phung

Junxia Wei

Raffit Hassan

Byungkook Lee

Zhewei Tang

Dan Li

Jiajia Pan

Heungnam Kim

Jessica D Hong

Bryan D Fleming

Osamu Kaneko

Sookhee Bang

Sook-Hee Bang

Disclosed is a molecule comprising: (a) a first domain, which comprises a targeting moiety; (b) a second domain, which comprises an albumin binding domain (ABD), (c) a third domain, which comprises a furin cleavage sequence ('FCS'), which FCS is cleavable by furin; and (d) a fourth domain, which comprises an optionally substituted Domain III fromexotoxin A (“PE”). Related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of producing the molecule, methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal, and methods of inhibiting the growth of a target cell are also disclosed.

Immunotoxins with albumin binding domain

Camel single-domain monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind human and mouse mesothelin are described. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and antibody conjugates based on the mesothelin-specific antibodies are also described. The disclosed CAR T cells, mesothelin-specific antibodies and conjugates thereof can be used, for example, in the diagnosis or treatment of mesothelin-positive cancers.

Cross species single domain antibodies targeting mesothelin for treating solid tumors

Monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind glypican-1 (GPC1) are described. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, immunotoxins and other antibody conjugates based on the GPC1-specific antibodies are also described. The disclosed CAR T cells, immunotoxins, GPC1-specific antibodies and conjugates thereof can be used, for example, in the diagnosis or treatment of GPC1-positive pancreatic cancer and other cancers.

High affinity monoclonal antibodies targeting glypican-1 and methods of use

Monoclonal antibodies that bind glypican-2 (GPC2) with high affinity are described. Immunotoxins and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that include the disclosed antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof are further described. In some instances, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment is humanized. The disclosed GPC2-specific antibodies and conjugates can be used, for example, for the diagnosis or treatment of GPC2-positive cancers, including neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and retinoblastoma.

High affinity monoclonal antibodies targeting glypican-2 and uses thereof

Nucleic acid constructs encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a truncated human epidermal growth factor receptor (huEGFRt) are described. The encoded CARs include a tumor antigen-specific monoclonal antibody, such as a glypican-3 (GPC3)-specific, a GPC2-specific or a mesothelin-specific monoclonal antibody, fused to a CD8&#x3b1; hinge region, a CD8&#x3b1; transmembrane region, a 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain and a CD3&#x3b6; signaling domain. Isolated host cells, such as isolated T cells that co-express the disclosed CARs and huEGFRt are also described. T cells transduced with the disclosed CAR constructs can be used for cancer immunotherapy.

Chimeric antigen receptors targeting glypican-3 or mesothelin

Disclosed is a molecule comprising: (a) a first domain, which comprises a targeting moiety; (b) a second domain, which comprises an albumin binding domain (ABD), (c) a third domain, which comprises a furin cleavage sequence ('FCS'), which FCS is cleavable by furin; and (d) a fourth domain, which comprises an optionally substituted Domain III fromexotoxin A ('PE'). Related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of producing the molecule, methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal, and methods of inhibiting the growth of a target cell are also disclosed.

Polypeptides and proteins that specifically bind to and immunologically recognize human mesothelin582-598 (IP-NGYLVLDLSMQEALS) (SEQ ID NO: 1) are disclosed. Anti-mesothelin binding moieties, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, and conjugates relating to the polypeptides and proteins are disclosed. Methods of reducing mesothelin shed from cell membranes, methods of reducing the activity of TNF&#x3b1; converting enzyme, methods of detecting the presence of cancer, and methods of treating or preventing cancer are also disclosed.

Anti-mesothelin polypeptides and proteins

A panel of human variable heavy (VH) single domain monoclonal antibodies specific for cell-surface glypican-2 (GPC2) are described. Methods for the diagnosis and treatment and GPC2-positive cancer are also described. Recombinant immunotoxins comprised of a GPC2-specific VH domain antibody and a clinically used form ofexotoxin A (PE38) were generated and shown to inhibit GPC2-positive neuroblastoma tumor cell growth and inhibit neuroblastoma xenograft growth in nude mice, without significant toxicity. Chimeric antigen receptors comprising a GPC2-specific VH single domain antibody are also described. T cells expressing the GPC2-specific CARs potently killed GPC2-positive neuroblastoma cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Monoclonal antibodies targeting glypican-2 (GPC2) and use thereof

Described herein is the identification of human monoclonal antibodies that bind GPC3 or heparan sulfate (HS) chains on GPC3 with high affinity. The antibodies described herein are capable of inhibiting HCC cell growth and migration. Provided are human monoclonal antibodies specific for GPC3 or HS chains on GPC3, including immunoglobulin molecules, such as IgG antibodies, as well as antibody fragments, such as single-domain VH antibodies or single chain variable fragments (scFv). Further provided are compositions including the antibodies that bind GPC3 or HS chains on GPC3, nucleic acid molecules encoding these antibodies, expression vectors comprising the nucleic acids, and isolated host cells that express the nucleic acids. Methods of treating cancer and/or inhibiting tumor growth or metastasis are also provided. Further provided are methods of detecting cancer in a subject and confirming a diagnosis of cancer in a subject.

Human monoclonal antibodies specific for glypican-3 and use thereof

Described herein is the use of rabbit hybridoma technology, along with a panel of truncated mesothelin domain fragments, to identify anti-mesothelin mAbs that bind specific regions of mesothelin. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the rabbit mAbs bind an epitope that is not part of Region I. In particular, the identified mAbs (YP187, YP223, YP218 and YP3) bind either Region II (391-486), Region III (487-581) or a native conformation of mesothelin with subnanomolar affinity. These antibodies do not compete for binding with the mesothelin-specific immunotoxin SS1P or mesothelin-specific antibody MORAb-009. In another aspect, disclosed is a high-affinity rabbit mAb that binds Region I of mesothelin (YP158). YP158 binds native mesothelin protein in cancer cells and tissues with high affinity and specificity.

Mesothelin domain-specific monoclonal antibodies and use thereof

Described herein is the use of phage display antibody engineering technology and synthetic peptide screening to identify SD1 and SD2, human single-domain antibodies to mesothelin. SD1 recognizes a conformational epitope at the C-terminal end (residues 539-588) of human mesothelin close to the cell surface. SD2 binds full-length mesothelin. To investigate SD1 as a potential therapeutic agent, a recombinant human Fc (SD1-hFc) fusion protein was generated. The SD1-hFc protein exhibits strong complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), in addition to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), against mesothelin-expressing tumor cells. Furthermore, the SD1-hFc protein causes significant tumor growth inhibition of tumor xenografts in nude mice. SD1 and SD2 are the first human single-domain antibodies targeting mesothelin-expressing tumors.

Mesothelin antibodies and methods for eliciting potent antitumor activity

Described herein is the identification of a panel of high affinity monoclonal antibodies that bind GPC3. The disclosed antibodies recognize native GPC3 on the surface of cancer cells, as well as soluble GPC3. The highest affinity antibody (YP7) was further characterized and shown to be highly sensitive in that it was capable of detecting cancer cells with low expression of GPC3. YP7 also exhibited significant HCC tumor growth inhibition in vivo. Immunotoxins comprising the antibodies disclosed herein fused to PE38 exhibited very high binding affinity for GPC3-expressing cells and significantly inhibited GPC3-expressing cancer cell growth. Thus, the high-affinity monoclonal antibodies disclosed herein can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of GPC3-expressing cancers.

Growing community of inventors

Urbana, MD, United States of America

Mitchell Ho