Quanta Biodesign, Ltd.

University of Washington

Pierce Chemical Company

Equip, LLC

Eqip, LLC

Paul D Davis

Edward C Crapps

D Scott Wilbur

Matthew W Giese

Kelli D Feather-Henigan

Kimberly Hines

Disclosed herein are linker architectures for conjugates that do not rely on the SAR of the cleavable trigger or the large steric bulk of a closely positioned antibody to alter payload release. These linkers are expected to reduce off-target payload release facilitated by extracellular cathepsins, and may also be applicable to conjugates of antibody fragments that lack the steric protection from a full antibody. In addition, the linkers disclosed herein are expected to provide more selective intracellular payload release. Thus, these linkers can function synergistically with the targeting vector to confer differential payload release rates in vivo that improve the selectivity of intracellular payload release and reduce off target toxicity.

Linkers for improving the stability of bioconjugates and the selectivity of payload release

Disclosed are general and 'substantially pure' branched discrete polyethylene glycol constructs useful in attaching to a variety of biologically active groups, for example, preferential locators, as well as biologics like enzymes, for use in diagnostics, e.g. imaging, therapeutics, theranostics, and moieties specific for other applications. In its simplest intermediate state, a branched discrete polyethylene glycol construct is terminated at one end by a chemically reactive moiety, 'A', a group that is reactive with a biologic material that creates &#x201c;A&#x201d;, which is a biologically reactive group, connected throughto a branched core (BC) which has attached at least two dPEG-containing chains, indicated by the solid line,, having terminal groups, which can be charged, non-reactive or reactable moieties and containing between about 2 and 64 dPEG residues.

Branched discrete PEG constructs

Disclosed are linear discrete PEG constructs, which can be created and produced in a precise and reproducible way. Key to being able to do these things, where x in the discrete PEGcan vary from about 2 to about 64, is that the processes used to make each linear portion is controlled to give essentially one oligomer/one compound. Having a variable length linear discrete PEG construct that is (a) primarily an linear discrete PEG construct with diagnostic or therapeutic groups attached along a chain of attachment cores, which is attached to a preferential locator; (b) is an m-discrete PEG as the terminal construct on the linear portion, and 'hidden'; (c or linear discrete PEG with a terminus group that can be either negatively or positively charged, or neutral; and any of the discrete PEG portions can be designed to be cleaved after entering the cell.

Discrete PEG constructs

Aspects of the present invention are directed to novel methods for making discrete polyethylene compounds selectively and specifically to a predetermined number of ethylene oxide units. Methods which can be used to build up larger dPEG compounds (a) containing a wider range of utility to make useful homo- and heterofunctional and branched species, and (b) under reaction configurations and conditions that are milder, more efficient, more diverse in terms of incorporating useful functionality, more controllable, and more versatile then any conventional method reported in the art to date. In addition, the embodiments of the invention allow for processes that allow for significantly improving the ability to purify the intermediates or final product mixtures, making these methods useful for commercial manufacturing dPEGs. Protecting groups and functional groups can be designed to make purification at large scale a practical reality. The novel dPEG products form the compositional and material basis for making other novel compounds of valuable application in the fields of diagnostics and therapeutics, amongst others.

Selective and specific preparation of discrete PEG compounds

Aspects of the present invention are directed to novel methods for making discrete polyethylene compounds selectively and specifically to a predetermined number of ethylene oxide units. Methods which can be used to build up larger dPEG compounds (a) containing a wider range of utility to make useful homo- and heterofunctional and branched species, and (b) under reaction configurations and conditions that are milder, more efficient, more diverse in terms of incorporating useful functionality, more controllable, and more versatile then any conventional method reported in the art to date. In addition, the embodiments of the invention allow for processes that allow for significantly improving the ability to purify the intermediates or final product mixtures, making these methods useful for commerial manufacturing dPEGs. Protecting groups and functional groups can be designed to make purification at large scale a practical reality. The novel dPEG products form the compositional and material basis for making other novel compounds of valuable application in the fields of diagnostics and therapeutics, amongst others.

Chemiluminescent detection of molecules of synthetic or natural origin such as proteins and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), as well as other biologic molecules, is increasingly replacing radioactive detection as the method of choice where sensitivity is critical. In such assays, luminescence is customarily achieved by the oxidation of a luminol or isoluminol substrate in the presence of an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide source, such as perborate, and a peroxidase catalyst such as horseradish peroxidase. To obtain useful levels of luminescence (e.g., detectable levels) by customary techniques, a luminescent enhancer is also present during oxidation. It has been found in the practice of the present invention that azine enhancers have contained an impurity which reduces the properties of the chemiluminescent assay working solutions. The present invention describes a working solution, a process of using the working solution, and kits containing solutions which can be mixed to form the working solutions comprising a solution which is useful for the chemiluminescent assay of peroxidase activity comprising: a) at least one chemiluminescent cyclic diacylhydrazide, b) at least one azine enhancer, and c) at least one oxidizine agent wherein said azine enhancer comprises less than 0.005 parts mole/mole total basis of azine compounds having a hydrogen atom bonded to a nitrogen atom of the azine ring. It has generally been found that this hydrogen containing azine is a poisoning agent for the performance of the azine enhancer.

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Dublin, OH, United States of America

Paul D Davis