Binding molecules specific for claudin 18.2, compositions and methods thereof, for treatment of cancer and other diseases

Abstract

Compositions and methods of making isolated binding molecules (e.g. an antibodies) or antigen-binding fragment thereof useful as therapeutics for treating and/or preventing diseases associated with cells expressing claudin18.2, including tumor-related diseases such as gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, hepatic cancer, head-neck cancer, and cancer of the gallbladder are described. Also, described are pharmaceutical formulations comprising the described compositions for the treatment of diseases either as single agent (e.g., naked antibodies) or as adjuvant therapy with other antigen-binding anticancer agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies), and/or by combination therapies where the anti-claudin18.2 antibodies are administered before, after, or concurrently with chemotherapy.