HK1185624A - Anti-il-23 antibodies - Google Patents

Description

anti-IL-23 antibodies

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies for diagnostic and therapeutic use. More particularly, humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies and methods of use are disclosed for the treatment of various diseases or disorders. Pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising these compounds are also disclosed.

Background

Higher eukaryotes have evolved complex responses to pathogens that are initiated by an innate immune response followed by an adaptive immune response. Together, these two mechanisms not only eradicate the pathogen infecting the organism but also generate a long-term immune response against future exposure. The lack of these responses can increase the sensitivity of the adaptive immune response to infection and/or changes, leading to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of subunits of the p40 and p35 proteins, which has long been considered as a marker cytokine for innate immune responses and has a major impact on the adaptive immunity. However, data on studies of the biological role of this cytokine produce elusive results. For example, although p 40-deficient mice are resistant to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), p 35-deficient mice are susceptible to both diseases and even exhibit worsening disease. These problems began to be resolved with the discovery of a new member of the IL-12 cytokine family, IL-23, which has a diverse role in immune responses in the late 1990 s.

IL-23 is composed of a subunit common to IL-12 (p40) and a unique p19 subunit. Although sharing the p40 subunit, IL-23 and IL-12 function very differently. IL-12 is important in Th1 responses by promoting differentiation, proliferation and activation of Th1 cells. In contrast, IL-23 supports a newly identified set of CD4⁺Development and maintenance of T helper cells, CD4⁺T helper cells are known as Th17 cells because of their ability to produce IL-17 and related cytokines. There is increasing evidence that IL-23 is involved in chronic autoimmune inflammation, and modulation of IL-23 activity may provide a promising therapy for autoimmune diseases.

Therefore, there is a need for antagonist molecules against IL-23 with beneficial pharmacological properties, which are useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of human diseases, in particular immune and autoimmune diseases.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anti-IL-23 antagonist molecules, in particular anti-IL-23 antagonist molecules having a high binding affinity for IL-23.

Another object of the present invention is to provide anti-IL-23 antagonist molecules having high specificity for IL-23.

It is another object of the present invention to provide anti-IL-23 antagonists that have high blocking activity against the association of IL-23 with its receptor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide anti-IL-23 antagonists with potent cellular activity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide anti-IL-23 antagonists with advantageous bioavailability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide anti-IL-23 antagonists with advantageous biophysical properties.

Other objects of the present invention include combinations of any of the above objects.

Summary of The Invention

The present invention addresses the above needs and provides antibodies that bind to the p19 subunit of the IL-23 protein. In one aspect, the antibodies of the invention bind human IL-23 with high affinity. In another aspect, the antibodies of the invention inhibit IL-17 production by mouse splenocytes stimulated by IL-23. In another aspect, the antibodies of the invention do not bind to IL-12, a closely related family member of IL-23, nor antagonize IL-12.

In one embodiment, the invention provides anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies, e.g., monoclonal antibodies, produced by mouse hybridomas. In one embodiment, the invention provides full-length anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies. In another embodiment, the invention provides anti IL-23p19 humanized antibodies, such as humanized monoclonal anti IL-23p19 antibody, such as full length humanized monoclonal anti IL-23p19 antibody. In one aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention bind human IL-23 with high affinity. In another aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention also bind cynomolgus (cynomolgus) IL-23 with high affinity. In another aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention inhibit IL-23-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 in DB cells. In another aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention antagonize the effects of IL-23 by binding to the p19 subunit of IL-23, as measured, for example, by inhibition of cytokines of IL-17 and IL-22, which are produced by stimulation with IL-23. In another aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention have a favorable Pharmacokinetic (PK) profile. In another aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention have advantageous biophysical properties, such as quality, stability or solubility, as determined by the percentage of antibody in monomeric form.

Other embodiments encompass DNA molecules encoding the antibodies of the invention, expression vectors and host cells comprising these DNA molecules, and methods of making the antibodies of the invention. The invention further provides therapeutic uses of the antibodies of the invention, particularly against immune and autoimmune diseases.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprising the light chain CDR1(L-CDR1) sequence of SEQ ID NO 1,4, 6,7, 8, 11, 15, 18, 19, 22, 27 or 30; light chain CDR2(L-CDR2) sequence SEQ ID NO 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 20, 23, 25, 28 or 31; light chain CDR3(L-CDR3) sequence SEQ ID NO 3, 10, 13, 14, 17, 21, 24, 26, 29 or 32; the heavy chain CDR1(H-CDR1) sequence SEQ ID NOs 33, 36, 38, 40, 43, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 67, 68, 69, 77, or 80; the heavy chain CDR2(H-CDR2) sequence SEQ ID NO:34, 39, 41, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 70, 72, 73, 75, 78 or 81; and heavy chain CDR3(H-CDR3) sequence SEQ ID NO 35, 37, 42, 44, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59, 62, 65, 71, 74, 76, 79 or 82. In one embodiment, an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises: a light chain variable region comprising the L-CDR1 listed above, the L-CDR2 listed above, and the L-CDR3 listed above; and a heavy chain variable region comprising the above-listed H-CDR1, the above-listed H-CDR2, and the above-listed H-CDR 3.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2, and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 1, 2,3, 33, 34, and 35, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 4,5, 3, 36, 34 and 37, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 1, 2,3, 38, 39 and 35, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 6, 2,3, 40, 41 and 42, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 7,2, 3, 43, 41 and 44, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 45, 46 and 47, respectively; L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 48, 49 and 50, respectively; or L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 11, 12, 13, 51, 52 and 53, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 7,2, 14, 54, 55 and 56, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 15, 16, 17, 57, 58 and 59, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 18, 16, 17, 60, 61 and 62, respectively; or respectively SEQ ID NO 19; 20; 21; 63. 66, 67 or 68; 64; and the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of 65; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 22, 23, 24, 69, 70 and 71, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 22, 25, 26, 55, 72 and 71, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 45, 73 and 74, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 27, 28, 29, 45, 75 and 76, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 77, 78 and 79, respectively; or the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 30, 31, 32, 80, 81 and 82, respectively. In one embodiment, an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises: a light chain variable region comprising the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, and L-CDR3 combination set forth above; and a heavy chain variable region comprising the above-listed combination of H-CDR1, H-CDR2, and H-CDR 3.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:84 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 121; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 86 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 123; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:88 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 125; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:90 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 127; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 91 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 128; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:93 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 130; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 95 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 132; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:97 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 134; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 99 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 136; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 101 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 138; or a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 103 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 140; or a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 105 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 142; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:107 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 144; or a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:109 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 146; or a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 111 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 148; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 113 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 150; or a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 115 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 152; or the light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:117 and the heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 154; or the light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 119 and the heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 156.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs 158, 160, 162, and 164 and a heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs 166, 168, 170, and 172.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof binds to K of IL-23_DLess than 40pM or less than 20pM or less than 10pM or less than 1 pM.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds human IL-23p19 at an epitope consisting of amino acid residues 108 to 126 and amino acid residues 137 to 151 of SEQ ID NO: 181.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that competes with an antibody of the invention for binding to human IL-23p 19. In one embodiment, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that competes for binding to human IL-23p19 with a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:174 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 176. In one embodiment, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that competes for binding to human IL-23p19 with a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 174 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 178. In one embodiment, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that competes for binding to human IL-23p19 with a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 176. In one embodiment, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that competes for binding to human IL-23p19 with a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 178.

In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized antibody. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a monoclonal antibody. At one endIn one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a full length antibody. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody, e.g., a full length humanized monoclonal antibody. In one embodiment, the antigen binding fragment is Fab, F (ab')₂Or a single chain Fv fragment. In one embodiment, the antigen binding fragment comprises a light chain variable region and a heavy chain variable region.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 19(CDR 1-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 20(CDR 2-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:21(CDR 3-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 63, 66, 67 or 68(CDR 1-H); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 64(CDR 2-H); and amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:65(CDR 3-H).

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 19(CDR 1-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 20(CDR 2-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:21(CDR 3-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 66(CDR 1-H); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 64(CDR 2-H); and amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:65(CDR 3-H).

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises: a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 19(CDR1-L), the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 20(CDR2-L) and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 21(CDR 3-L); and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 63, 66, 67 or 68(CDR1-H), the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 64(CDR2-H) and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 65(CDR 3-H).

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises: a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 19(CDR1-L), the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 20(CDR2-L) and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 21(CDR 3-L); and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:66(CDR1-H), the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:64(CDR2-H), and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:65(CDR 3-H).

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises: a light chain variable region comprising any one of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NOs 158, 160, 162, or 164; and a heavy chain variable region comprising any one of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NOs 166, 168, 170, or 172.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 160 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 166.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 160 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 168.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 158 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 166.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 158 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 168.

In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is humanizedAn antibody. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a monoclonal antibody. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a full length antibody. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody, e.g., a full length humanized monoclonal antibody. In one embodiment, the antigen binding fragment is Fab, F (ab')₂Or a single chain Fv fragment. In one embodiment, the antigen binding fragment comprises a light chain variable region and a heavy chain variable region.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides an antibody comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 166 or 168 linked to a human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM, IgA or IgE heavy chain constant region. An antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 166 or 168 linked to the heavy chain constant region of human IgG 1. An antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 158 or 160 linked to a human kappa or lambda light chain constant region. An antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 158 or 160 linked to a human kappa light chain constant region.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides an antibody comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 166 or 168 linked to the heavy chain constant region of human IgG1 and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 158 or 160 linked to the human kappa light chain constant region.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs 158, 160, 162 and 164 and a heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs 166, 168, 170 and 172.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 160 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 166.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 160 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 168.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:158 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 166.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:158 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 168.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 174 or 180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 176 or 178.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 174 and a heavy chain comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 176.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 174 and a heavy chain comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 178.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 176.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 178.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising: a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:160 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 160; and a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:166 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 166. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody, e.g., a full length humanized monoclonal antibody.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising: a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:160 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 160; and a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:168, and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 168. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody, e.g., a full length humanized monoclonal antibody.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising: a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:158 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 158; and a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:166 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 166. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody, e.g., a full length humanized monoclonal antibody.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising: a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:158 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 158; and a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:168, and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 168. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody, e.g., a full length humanized monoclonal antibody.

In one aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody can be further characterized by human IL-23K_DLess than or equal to 1 pM. In one aspect, the binding rate is unchanged in 50% human serum.

In one aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody can be further characterized in that it in vitro blocks IL-23 and human IL-23R/Fc binding.

In one aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody can be further characterized in that it does not bind to human IL-12.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention may be further characterized by their ability to inhibit IL-17 production, IC, induced by human IL-23 in mouse splenocytes₅₀Less than or equal to 20 pM.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention may be further characterized in that they inhibit human IL-23-induced STAT3 phosphorylation, IC in human DB cells₅₀Less than or equal to 40 pM.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention may be further characterized by having no predicted ADCC/CDC activity.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention may be further characterized by their K to cynomolgus IL-23_DLess than or equal to 1 pM.

In one aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody can be further characterized by it does not have with mouse or rat IL-23 cross reactivity.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention can be further characterized by their ability to inhibit IL-17 and IL-22 production induced by human IL-23 in the mouse ear by 80% or more at 1mg/kg for both cytokines.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention may be further characterized by a melting temperature of 83 ℃ as determined by differential scanning calorimetry.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention may be further characterized by a solubility greater than or equal to 100mg/ml as measured by ultraviolet spectroscopy and monitored by turbidity.

In another aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody can be further characterized by that it is at least 90% monomer form or at least 92% monomer form or at least 95% monomer form in the buffer.

In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of the invention may be further characterized in that it is maintained in buffer at least 90% monomeric form or at least 92% monomeric form or at least 95% monomeric form for one or four months.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody, e.g., a full length humanized monoclonal antibody.

Other embodiments encompass DNA molecules encoding the above light chain variable regions, DNA molecules encoding the above heavy chain variable regions, DNA molecules encoding the above light chain regions, or DNA molecules encoding the above heavy chain regions.

Other embodiments encompass expression vectors containing the above DNA molecules. In one embodiment, the expression vector comprises DNA molecules encoding a constant heavy chain and/or a constant light chain, respectively, linked to DNA molecules encoding a variable heavy chain and/or a variable light chain, respectively. Other embodiments encompass host cells carrying one or more of the expression vectors described above. In one embodiment, the host is a mammalian cell.

Other embodiments encompass a method of producing the above-described antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprising transfecting a mammalian host cell with the above-described one or more vectors, culturing the host cell, and recovering and purifying the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

Other embodiments encompass a method of producing the above-described antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprising obtaining a mammalian host cell comprising one or more vectors described above, and culturing the host cell. In one embodiment, the method further comprises recovering and purifying the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

In one embodiment, the present invention further provides an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof as described above for use in medicine. In one embodiment, the use is for the treatment of an inflammatory disease, an autoimmune disease, a respiratory disease, a metabolic disorder, or cancer. In one embodiment, the use is in the treatment of psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease), ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. In one embodiment, the use is for the treatment of psoriasis. In one embodiment, the use is for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody molecule or antigen-binding fragment described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a method of treating an inflammatory disease, an autoimmune disease, a respiratory disease, a metabolic disorder, or cancer, comprising administering to an individual, e.g., a patient, in need thereof an effective amount of the above-described anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. In one embodiment, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment is administered by a parenteral route of administration or intravenously or subcutaneously. In one embodiment, the antibody or antigen binding fragment is administered subcutaneously. In one embodiment, the disease is psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. In one embodiment, the disease is psoriasis. In one embodiment, the disease is inflammatory bowel disease.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a method of inhibiting the binding of IL-23 to an IL-23 receptor on a mammalian cell, comprising administering to the cell the antibody molecule or antigen-binding fragment described above, thereby inhibiting signaling mediated by the IL-23 receptor.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a method of treating a subject having an IL-23 associated disorder, comprising administering to the subject the above-described antibody or antigen-binding fragment that binds to human IL-23.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides a method for detecting and/or quantifying the amount of IL-23 in a biological sample by contacting the sample with an antibody or antigen-binding fragment described above and detecting the binding of the antibody or fragment thereof to IL-23p 19. This information can be used to diagnose IL-23 related disorders. Accordingly, a method for diagnosing an IL-23 associated disorder or determining whether an individual is at increased risk for developing an IL-23 associated disorder is provided, wherein the method comprises contacting a biological sample from the individual with the above-described antibody or antigen-binding fragment, and detecting binding of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment to IL-23p19 to determine the expression or concentration of IL-23.

In one embodiment, the invention additionally provides a method of inhibiting the binding of IL-23 to an IL-23 receptor on a cell, comprising administering to the cell or cellular environment an antibody or antigen-binding fragment as described above, thereby inhibiting signaling mediated by the IL-23 receptor.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1: alignment of mouse variable regions with humanized variable regions. FIG. 1 a: anti-IL-23 p196B8 engineered Vk region. FIG. 1 b: anti-IL-23 p196B8 engineered VH regions.

Amino acids are numbered according to the standard Kabat numbering scheme. Common font = human; italic/underlined font = murine; shaded font = composition; bold/italic/underlined = CDR.

FIG. 2: competitive binding assay for human IL-23 binding to IL-23R/Fc.

Detailed Description

The p19 subunit of IL-23 (also referred to herein as the "IL-23 p 19" and "p 19 subunit") is a 189 amino acid polypeptide containing a 21 amino acid leader sequence (Oppmann et al, Immunity13:715(2000), SEQ ID NO: 181). The biological activity of this molecule was only detected when it was paired with the IL-12p40 subunit to form IL-23. IL-23 is expressed primarily by activated Dendritic Cells (DCs) and phagocytes. The receptor for IL-23 was found to consist of the IL-12R β 1 subunit of the IL-12 receptor paired with a unique subunit called IL-23R (Parham et al, J.Immunol.168:5699 (2002)). The receptor was detected to be expressed mainly on memory T cells and NK cells. Thus, the expression of this cytokine receptor pair appears to be limited to a particular immune cell population. Although initially thought IL-12 and IL-23 will share many functions, but data show that this is not the case. Although IL-12 has a major role in the production of Th1 cells, IL-23 was found to be critically involved in the generation and maintenance of a newly identified Th cell subpopulation known as Th17 (Kikly et al curr. Opin. Immunol.18:670 (2006); Kastellein et al Ann. Rev. Immunol.25:221 (2007)). These cells produce IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22 and other proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF- α. As described below, animal model studies on the role of these Th17 cells show their importance as a driving force in chronic inflammation and autoimmunity.

The present invention provides antibodies that bind to the p19 subunit of IL-23, particularly human IL-23p 19. The invention also relates to humanized antibodies that recognize the p19 subunit of IL-23. In particular embodiments, the sequences of these humanized antibodies have been identified based on the sequences of certain lead mouse antibodies.

The lead mouse antibodies of the invention are produced by mouse hybridomas. Mice were immunized using different techniques. For example, antibodies specific for human IL-23p19 protein or fragments thereof can be raised against immunogenic antigens such as isolated IL-23p19 protein, isolated IL-23 protein, isolated hybrid IL-23 protein, and/or portions of any of the above proteins, including synthetic peptides. For example, mice are immunized with a hybrid IL-23 protein comprising a mouse IL-23p40 subunit and a human IL-23p19 subunit. The immunogenic antigens can be prepared and monoclonal antibodies produced using any suitable technique known in the art.

The lead mouse antibody was selected based on its high affinity for human IL-23. Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides an antibody that binds human IL-23 with high affinity. Selected mouse antibodies are humanized to produce humanized antibodies. The humanized antibodies of the invention bind human IL-23 with high affinity. Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides a humanized antibody that binds human IL-23 with high affinity.

Thus, in one embodiment, the invention provides a K_DAn anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of less than 40 pM. In another embodiment, the invention provides a K_DAn anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of less than 20 pM. In another embodiment, the invention provides a K_DAn anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of less than 10 pM. In another embodiment, the invention provides a K_DAn anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of less than 1 pM.

In another aspect, the antibodies of the invention bind to IL-23p19 with high affinity in the absence of human serum or in the presence of 50% human serum.

In another aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention also bind cyno IL-23 with high affinity.

In another aspect, the antibodies of the invention bind to IL-23, but not to IL-12. In another aspect, the antibodies of the invention do not interfere with the biological activity of IL-12, a closely related family member of IL-23.

In another aspect, the antibodies of the invention inhibit IL-17 production by mouse splenocytes stimulated by IL-23.

In another aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention inhibit IL-23-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 in DB cells.

In another aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention antagonize the effects of IL-23 by binding to the p19 subunit of IL-23 as measured by inhibition of cytokines, such as IL-17 and IL-22, which are produced by stimulation of IL-23, and by decreased levels of these cytokines.

In another aspect, the humanized antibodies of the invention have an advantageous Pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, as exemplified by in vivo half-life in cynomolgus monkeys.

In another aspect, the invention of the humanized monoclonal anti IL-23p19 antibody has favorable biophysical properties, such as quality, stability or solubility.

In one aspect, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized antibody. In one aspect, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a monoclonal antibody. In one aspect, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a full length antibody. In one aspect, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody, e.g., a full length humanized monoclonal antibody.

The antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the invention recognize a particular "IL-23 p19 epitope" or "IL-23 p19 epitope". As used herein, these terms refer to molecules (e.g., peptides) or molecular fragments that are capable of immunoreacting with an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody and include, for example, the IL-23p19 antigenic determinant recognized by any antibody having the following light/heavy chain sequence combinations: 84/121, 86/123, 88/125, 90/127, 91/128, 93/130, 95/132, 97/134, 99/136, 101/138, 103/140, 105/142, 107/144, 109/146, 111/148, 113/150, 115/152, 117/154, 119/156, 160/166, 160/168, 158/166 or 158/168. The IL-23p19 epitope may be included in a protein, protein fragment, peptide, or analog thereof. The epitopes are most commonly proteins, short oligopeptides, oligopeptides (i.e., organic compounds that mimic the antibody binding properties of the IL-23p19 antigen), or combinations thereof. The minimum size of a peptide or polypeptide epitope of an antibody is believed to be about four to five amino acids. A peptide or polypeptide epitope contains, for example, at least seven amino acids or, for example, at least nine amino acids or, for example, from about 15 to about 20 amino acids. Because antibodies can recognize antigenic peptides or polypeptides in tertiary form, the amino acids that make up an epitope need not be contiguous, and in some cases may not even be on the same peptide chain. Epitopes can be determined by various techniques known in the art, such as X-ray crystallography, hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS), site-directed mutagenesis, alanine scanning mutagenesis, and peptide screening methods.

The general structure of antibodies or immunoglobulins is well known to those skilled in the art. These molecules are heterotetrameric glycan proteins, typically about 150,000 daltons (dalton), composed of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy (H) chains and are commonly referred to as full-length antibodies. Each light chain is covalently linked to a heavy chain by one disulfide bond to form a heterodimer, and a heterotetrameric molecule is formed via a covalent disulfide bond between two identical heavy chains of the heterodimer. Although the light and heavy chains are linked together by one disulfide bond, the number of disulfide bonds between the two heavy chains varies with the immunoglobulin isotype. Each heavy and light chain also has regularly spaced intrachain disulfide bridges. Each heavy chain has a variable domain (V) at the amino terminus_H) Followed by three or four constant domains (C)_H1、C_H2、C_H3And C_H4) And is between C_H1And C_H2The hinge region in between. Each light chain has two domains, the amino-terminal variable domain (V)_L) And a carboxy-terminal constant domain (C)_L)。V_LDomain and V_HThe domains are non-covalently associated, and C_LDomains are usually linked to C via disulfide bonds_H1The domains are covalently linked. It is believed that particular amino acid residues form an interface between the light and heavy chain variable domains (Chothia et al, 1985, J.mol.biol.186: 651-. Variable domains are also referred to herein as variable regions.

Certain domains within the variable domain vary considerably between different antibodies, i.e., "hypervariable". These hypervariable domains contain residues which are directly involved in the binding and specificity of each particular antibody for its particular antigenic determinant. Hypervariability of both the light and heavy chain variable domains is concentrated in three segments called Complementarity Determining Regions (CDRs) or hypervariable loops (HVLs). CDRs are determined by sequence comparison in Kabat et al, 1991, Sequences of Proteins of immunological Interest, 5th edition, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., while HVLs (also referred to herein as CDRs) are structured according to the three-dimensional structure of the variable domains, as described by Chothia and Lesk,1987, J.mol.biol.196: 901-. These two approaches result in slightly different identifications of the CDRs. As determined by Kabat, the CDR-L1 is located at about residues 24-34 in the light chain variable domain, CDR-L2 is located at about residues 50-56, and CDR-L3 is located at about residues 89-97; CDR-H1 is located at about residues 31-35 in the heavy chain variable domain, CDR-H2 is located at about residues 50-65, and CDR-H3 is located at about residues 95-102. The precise number of residues covering a particular CDR will vary depending on the sequence and size of the CDR. Those skilled in the art can routinely determine which residues make up a particular CDR in view of the variable region amino acid sequence of the antibody. Thus, the CDRs 1, 2, CDR3 of the heavy and light chains define the unique functional properties that are characteristic of a given antibody.

The three CDRs within each heavy and light chain are separated by Framework Regions (FRs) that contain sequences that are generally less variable. From the amino-terminus to the carboxy-terminus of the heavy and light chain variable domains, the FRs and CDRs are arranged in the following order: FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3 and FR 4. The larger beta-sheet configuration of the FRs places the CDRs within each chain in close proximity to each other and to the CDRs in the other chain. The resulting conformation contributes to the antigen binding site (see Kabat et al, 1991, NIH Publ. Nos. 91-3242, Vol. 647-669), but not all CDR residues must be directly involved in antigen binding.

FR residues and Ig constant domains are not directly involved in antigen binding, but contribute to antigen binding and/or mediate antibody effector functions. It is believed that some FR residues have a significant effect on antigen binding in at least three ways: non-covalent binding directly to the epitope, interaction with one or more CDR residues, and affecting the interface between the heavy and light chains. The constant domains are not directly involved in antigen binding, but mediate various Ig effector functions, such as the involvement of antibodies in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP).

The light chains of vertebrate immunoglobulins can be assigned to one of two significantly different species (κ and λ) based on the amino acid sequences of the constant domains. By comparison, the heavy chains of mammalian immunoglobulins are classified into the following five main categories according to the sequence of the constant domains: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. IgG and IgA are further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g. IgG₁、IgG₂、IgG₃、IgG₄、IgA₁And IgA₂. The constant domains of the heavy chains corresponding to different immunoglobulin classes are called α, δ, ε, γ and μ, respectively. The subunit structures and three-dimensional configurations of various native immunoglobulin classes are well known.

The terms "antibody", "anti-IL-23P 19 antibody", "humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody", "humanized anti-IL-23P 19 epitope antibody" and "variant humanized anti-IL-23P 19 epitope antibody" specifically encompass monoclonal antibodies (including full length monoclonal antibodies), polyclonal antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies), and antibody fragments (e.g., variable domains and other portions of antibodies) that express the desired biological activity (e.g., IL-23P19 binding).

The term "monoclonal antibody" (mAb) refers to a monoclonal antibody that is highly specific, i.e., is highly specific against a single antigenic determinant (i.e., "epitope"). Thus, the modifier "monoclonal" indicates an antibody directed to the same epitope, and should not be construed as requiring production of the antibody by any particular method. It is understood that monoclonal antibodies can be prepared by any technique or method known in the art; including, for example, the hybridoma method (Kohler et al, 1975, Nature256:495), or recombinant DNA methods known in the art (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567), or methods for isolating recombinantly produced monoclonal antibodies using phage antibody libraries by techniques described in the following references: clackson et al, 1991, Nature 352: 624-; and Marks et al, 1991, j.mol.biol.222: 581-597.

The term "monomer" refers to a homogeneous form of an antibody. For example, for a full-length antibody, a monomer refers to a monomeric antibody having two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains.

Chimeric antibodies are composed of antibody heavy and light chain variable regions from one species (e.g., non-human mammal, such as a mouse) and heavy and light chain constant regions of another species (e.g., human) antibody, and can be obtained by: a DNA sequence encoding an antibody variable region from a first species (e.g., mouse) is ligated to a DNA sequence encoding an antibody constant region from a second species (e.g., human), and the host is transformed with an expression vector containing the ligated sequences, thereby making it possible to produce a chimeric antibody. Alternatively, in a chimeric antibody, one or more regions or domains in the heavy and/or light chain may also be identical, homologous or variants thereof, or from consensus or germline sequences, to the corresponding sequences in a monoclonal antibody from another immunoglobulin class or isotype. Chimeric antibodies can include fragments of such antibodies, provided that the antibody fragment expresses the desired biological activity of its parent antibody, e.g., binds to the same epitope (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Morrison et al, 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81: 6851-.

The terms "antibody fragment", "anti-IL-23 p19 antibody fragment", "anti-IL-23 p19 epitope antibody fragment", "humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody fragment", "humanized anti-IL-23 p19 epitope antibody fragment", "variant humanized anti-IL-23 p19 epitope antibody fragmentBy antibody fragment "is meant a portion of a full-length anti-IL-23P 19 antibody in which the variable region or functional capacity is retained, e.g., specific IL-23P19 epitope binding. Examples of antibody fragments include, but are not limited to, Fab ', F (ab')₂Fd, Fv, scFv and scFv-Fc fragments, diabodies (diabodies), linear antibodies, single-chain antibodies, minibodies (minibodies), diabodies formed from antibody fragments, and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.

Full-length antibodies can be treated with enzymes such as papain or pepsin to generate useful antibody fragments. Papain digestion is used to generate two identical antigen-binding antibody fragments, called "Fab" fragments (each with a single antigen-binding site) and a residual "Fc" fragment. Fab fragments also contain a light chain constant domain and a heavy chain C_H1A domain. Pepsin treatment to yield F (ab')₂A fragment having two antigen binding sites and still being capable of cross-linking antigens.

Fab' fragments differ from Fab fragments in that they are at C_H1Additional residues are present at the C-terminus of the domain, including one or more cysteines from the antibody hinge region. F (ab')₂Antibody fragments are pairs of Fab' fragments linked by cysteine residues in the hinge region. Other chemical couplings of antibody fragments are also known.

The "Fv" fragment contains the entire antigen recognition and binding site, which is composed of a dimer of one heavy chain variable domain in tight, non-covalent association with one light chain variable domain. In this configuration, the three CDRs of each variable domain interact, thereby generating a V_H-V_LThe surface of the dimer defines the antigen binding site. The six CDRs collectively confer antigen binding specificity to the antibody.

"Single chain Fv" or "scFv" antibody fragments are fragments comprising antibody V_HAnd V_LA single-chain Fv variant of a domain wherein said domain is present in a single polypeptide chain. Single-chain Fv's recognize and bind antigen. The scFv polypeptide may also optionally contain a site V_HDomain and V_LPolypeptide linker between domains to facilitate scFv formation for antigen bindingThree-dimensional structures (see, e.g., Pluckthun, 1994, In The Pharmacology of monoclonal Antibodies, Vol.113, Rosenburg and Moore eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, p.269-315).

"bivalent antibody" refers to a small antibody fragment having two antigen binding sites, said fragment comprising a heavy chain variable domain (V) linked in the same polypeptide chain_H) And the light chain variable domain (V)_L)(V_H-V_LOr V_L-V_H). Bivalent antibodies are more fully described in, for example, Holliger et al, (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA90: 6444-6448.

Other known antibody fragments include those comprising a pair of Fd segments (V) in tandem_H-C_H1-V_H-C_H1) To form an antibody fragment of a pair of antigen binding regions. The "linear antibody" may be bispecific or monospecific as described, for example, in Zapata et al, 1995, Protein Eng.8(10): 1057-1062.

A "humanized antibody" or "humanized antibody fragment" is a specific type of chimeric antibody that comprises an immunoglobulin amino acid sequence variant or fragment thereof that binds a predetermined antigen and that comprises one or more FRs having substantially human immunoglobulin amino acid sequences and one or more CDRs having substantially non-human immunoglobulin amino acid sequences. This non-human amino acid sequence is often referred to as an "import" sequence, and is typically taken from an "import" antibody domain, particularly a variable domain. Typically, a humanized antibody comprises at least the CDRs or HVLs of a non-human antibody inserted between the FRs of a human heavy or light chain variable domain. The present invention describes specific humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies comprising the CDRs or humanized CDRs derived from murine monoclonal antibodies as shown in tables 3 and 4 inserted between the FRs of the heavy and light chain variable domains of the human germline sequence. It will be appreciated that certain murine FR residues may be important to the function of the humanized antibody, and that certain human germline sequence heavy and light chain variable domain residues will therefore be modified to be identical to those in the corresponding murine sequences.

In another aspect, a humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody consists essentially ofThere is at least one (typically two) variable domain (e.g. as contained in, for example, Fab ', F (ab')2, Fabc and Fv fragments) in which all or substantially all of the CDRs correspond to CDRs of a non-human immunoglobulin, and in particular herein all of the CDRs are murine or humanized sequences as detailed in tables 1 to 4 below herein, and all or substantially all of the FRs are FRs of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence or germline sequence. In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody also comprises at least a portion of an Fc region of an immunoglobulin, typically a human immunoglobulin. Typically, an antibody contains both a light chain and at least a heavy chain variable domain. If appropriate, the antibody may also comprise heavy chain C_H1Hinge, C_H2、C_H3And/or C_H4One or more of the zones.

The humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody may be selected from any immunoglobulin class (including IgM, IgG, IgD, IgA and IgE) and any isotype (including IgG)₁、IgG₂、IgG₃、IgG₄、IgA₁And IgA₂). For example, the constant domain may be a complement-fixed constant domain in which the humanized antibody is expected to express cytotoxic activity, and the isotype is typically an IgG₁. If such cytotoxic activity is not desired, the constant domain may be of another isotype, e.g., IgG₂. Alternative humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies may comprise sequences from more than one immunoglobulin class or isotype, and those skilled in the art may be skilled in selecting particular constant domains to optimize the desired effector function. In particular embodiments, the antibodies provided herein are IgG1 antibodies, and more specifically IgG1 antibodies that knock out effector function.

The FR and CDR or HVL of the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody need not correspond exactly to the parent sequence. For example, one or more residues in the imported CDR or HVL or consensus FR or germline FR sequences can be altered (e.g., mutagenized) by substitution, insertion or deletion such that the resulting amino acid residues are no longer identical to the original residues at the corresponding positions in either parent sequence, but the antibody still retains the function of binding to IL-23P 19. The changes may generally not be widely varied and may be conservative changes. Typically, at least 75% of the humanized antibody residues will correspond to those in the parent consensus FR or germline FR and input CDR sequences, more typically at least 90%, and most typically more than 95% or more than 98% or more than 99% of the residues.

Influencing the interface between the heavy and light chain variable regions ('V')_L-V_HInterface ") are those that affect the proximity or orientation of the two chains relative to each other. Some residues that may be involved in interchain interactions include V_LResidues 34, 36, 38, 44, 46, 87, 89, 91, 96 and 98 and V_HResidues 35, 37, 39, 45, 47, 91, 93, 95, 100 and 103 (using the numbering system described in Kabat et al, sequencing of Proteins of Immunological Interest (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., 1987)). U.S. Pat. No. 6,407,213 also discusses, for example, V_LResidues 43 and 85 and V_HResidues 43 and 60 may also participate in this interaction. Although the residues are described only for human IgG, they are applicable to other species as well. Important antibody residues that are reasonably expected to participate in the inter-chain interactions are selected for substitution in the consensus sequence.

The terms "consensus sequence" and "consensus antibody" refer to an amino acid sequence comprising the most commonly occurring amino acid residue at each position in all immunoglobulins (e.g., human immunoglobulin variable domains) of any particular class, isotype, or subunit structure. The consensus sequence may be based on immunoglobulins of a particular species or multiple species. A "consensus" sequence, structure, or antibody is understood to encompass a consensus human sequence as described in certain embodiments, and refers to an amino acid sequence comprising the most commonly occurring amino acid residue at each position in all human immunoglobulins of any particular class, isotype, or subunit structure. Thus, a consensus sequence contains an amino acid sequence that has at each position an amino acid present in one or more known immunoglobulins, but which may not exactly replicate the entire amino acid sequence of any single immunoglobulin. The variable region consensus sequence is not available from any naturally occurring antibody or immunoglobulin and variants thereof (Kabat et al, 1991, Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th edition, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.). The FRs of the heavy and light chain consensus sequences and variants thereof provide useful sequences for the preparation of humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies. See, for example, U.S. patent nos. 6,037,454 and 6,054,297.

Human germline sequences occur naturally in the human population. The combination of germline genes results in antibody diversity. The germline antibody sequences of the antibody light chains are from conserved human germline kappa or lambda v-genes and j-genes. Similarly, the heavy chain sequences are from germline v-, d-and j-genes (LeFranc, M-P and LeFranc, G, "the immunoglobulin genes Book" Academic Press, 2001).

As used herein, "variant," "anti-IL-23 p19 variant," "humanized anti-IL-23 p19 variant," or "variant humanized anti-IL-23 p 19" each refer to a humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody having at least the light chain variable murine CDR sequences from any of the sequences shown in table 1, or at least the heavy chain murine CDR sequences derived from a murine monoclonal antibody as shown in table 2. Variants include variants having one or more amino acid changes in one or both light or heavy chain variable domains, provided that the amino acid change does not substantially impair binding of the antibody to IL-23p 19. Exemplary humanized antibodies generated herein include antibodies referred to as antibody A, antibody B, antibody C and antibody D, and the various light and heavy chains of the antibodies are shown in SEQ ID Nos 174 and 180, and SEQ ID Nos 176 and 178, respectively.

An "isolated" antibody is one that has been identified and has been isolated and/or recovered from a component of its natural environment. Contaminant components in the natural environment of an antibody are those that can interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic applications of the antibody, and can be enzymes, hormones, or other proteinaceous or nonproteinaceous solutes. In one aspect, the antibody can be purified to a degree of separation of at least greater than 95% by weight of the antibody.

Since at least one component of the natural environment of the antibody is not present, an isolated antibody includes an antibody in situ within the recombinant cell from which it was produced. However, isolated antibodies can generally be prepared by at least one purification step in which recombinant cellular material is removed.

The term "antibody performance" refers to factors contributing to the recognition of an antigen by an antibody or the efficacy of an antibody in vivo. Changes in the amino acid sequence of an antibody can affect antibody properties such as folding, and can affect physical factors such as: initial rate of antibody binding to antigen (k)_a) Dissociation constant (k) of antibody and antigen_d) The affinity constant (Kd) of the antibody to the antigen, the conformation of the antibody, the protein stability and the half-life of the antibody.

The term "epitope-tagged" as used herein refers to an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody fused to an "epitope tag". An "epitope tag" is a polypeptide having a sufficient number of amino acids to provide an epitope for antibody production, and which is designed such that it does not interfere with the desired activity of the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody. The epitope tag is typically sufficiently unique such that antibodies raised against the epitope tag do not substantially cross-react with other epitopes. Suitable tag polypeptides generally contain at least 6 amino acid residues and usually contain about 8 to 50 amino acid residues or about 9 to 30 residues. Examples of epitope tags and antibodies that bind epitopes include influenza HA tag polypeptide and its antibody 12CA5(Field et al, 1988mol. cell. biol. 8: 2159-; the C-myc tag and its 8F9, 3C7, 6E10, G4, B7 and 9E10 antibodies (Evan et al, 1985, mol. cell. biol.5(12): 3610-3616); and the herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D (gD) tag and its antibodies (Paborsky et al, 1990, Protein Engineering3 (6): 547-553). In certain embodiments, the epitope tag is a "salvage receptor binding epitope". The term "salvage receptor binding epitope" as used herein refers to an IgG molecule (e.g., IgG)₁、IgG₂、IgG₃Or IgG₄) An epitope in the Fc region that is responsible for extending the in vivo serum half-life of an IgG molecule.

In some embodiments, the antibodies of the invention may be conjugated to a cytotoxic agent. The cytotoxic agent is used for inhibiting or preventing cell function and/or inducing cell finenessAny substance that destroys cells. The term is intended to include radioisotopes (e.g., I)¹³¹、I¹²⁵、Y⁹⁰And Re¹⁸⁶) Chemotherapeutic drugs and toxins (e.g., enzymatically active toxins of bacterial, fungal, plant or animal origin), and fragments thereof. The cytotoxic agent can be conjugated to the humanized antibody of the invention by standard procedures, and it can be used, for example, to treat patients for whom antibody therapy is indicated.

A "chemotherapeutic drug" is a chemical compound that can be used to treat cancer. There are a variety of examples of chemotherapeutic drugs that can be conjugated to the therapeutic antibodies of the invention. Examples of the chemotherapeutic drugs include alkylating agents such as thiotepa (thiotepa) and cyclophosphamide; alkyl sulfonates such as busulfan, improsulfan and piposulfan; aziridines such as benzodidopa (benzodipa), carboquone (carboquone), meturedopa and uredopa; ethyleneimine and methylmelamine including hexamethylmelamine (altretamine), triethylenemelamine, triethylenephosphoramide sulfide, and trimethylolmelamine; annonaceous acetogenin (especially bullatacin and bullatacin); camptothecin (camptothecin) (including the synthetic analogue topotecan); bryostatin (bryostatin); callystatin; CC-1065 (including its synthetic analogs adozelesin, carzelesin, and bizelesin); cryptophycin (especially cryptophycin1 and cryptophycin 8); dolastatin (dolastatin); auristatin (including the analogs monomethyl-auristatin E and monomethyl-auristatin F); duocarmycin (duocarmycin) (including the synthetic analogs KW-2189 and CBI-TMI); punicin (eleutherobin); pancratistatin; sarcodictyin; spongistatin; nitrogen mustards, e.g. chlorambucil (chlorambucil), chlorambucil (chlorenaphazine), chlorophosphamide (chlorophosphamide), estramustine (estramustine), ifosfamide (ifosfamide), mechlorethamine (mechlorethamine), mechlorethamine hydrochloride (mechlorethamine oxide hydrochloride), melphalan (melphalan), neomustard (novembichin), benzene mustard (phenyleneterester), prednimustine (prednimustine), trofosinateAmines (trofosfamide) and uramustine (uracil mustard); nitroureas such as carmustine (carmustine), chlorouretocin (chlorozotocin), fotemustine (fotemustine), lomustine (lomustine), nimustine (nimustine) and ramustine (ranirnustine); antibiotics, e.g. enediyne (enediyne) antibiotics (e.g. calicheamicin), especially calicheamicin gamma 1I and calicheamicinSee, e.g., Angew chem. Intl.Ed. Engl. (1994)33: 183-); dynemicin, including dynemicin a; bisphosphonates, such as clodronate (clodronate); esperamicin (esperamicin); neooncostatin chromophore (neocarzinostatin chromophore) and related chromoprotein enediyne antibiotic chromophores (related chromoproteins enediyne chromophores), aclacinomycin classes, actinomycins (actinomycins), aurramycins, azaserines (azaserines), bleomycin (bleomycin), actinomycin C (cactinomycin), carabicins, carminomycins (carminomycins), carzinophycins (carzinophilins), tryptomycin (chromomycins), actinomycin D (dactinomycin), daunorubicin (daunorubicin), ditorelbicins (detonbucin), 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (6-diaza-5-oxo-L-norubicin), doxorubicin (Adriamycin)^TM) (including morpholino-doxorubicin (morpholino-doxorubicin), cyanomorpholino-doxorubicin (cyanomorpholo-doxorubicin), 2-pyrrolino-doxorubicin (2-pyrrolino-doxorubicin), deoxydoxorubicin (deoxydoxorubicin)), epirubicin (epirubicin), esorubicin (esorubicin), idarubicin (idarubicin), marijumycin (marcelomycin), mitomycins (mitomycin) such as mitomycin C (mitomycin C), mycophenolic acid (mycophenolic acid), norramycin (nogalamycin), olivomycin (olivomycin), pellomycin (polyplomycin), podomycin (puromycin), adriamycin (pulomycin), adriamycin (doxorubicin), doxorubicin (doxorubicin), streptomycin (streptozocin), streptomycin (streptomycin), streptomycin (streptomycin, streptomyc; resist againstMetabolites such as methotrexate (methotrexate) and 5-fluorouracil (5-fluorouracil) (5-FU); folic acid analogs such as denopterin, methotrexate, pteropterin and trimetrexate; purine analogs such as fludarabine (fludarabine), 6-mercaptopurine (6-mercaptopurine), thiamiprine (thiamiprine), and thioguanine (thioguanine); pyrimidine analogs such as, for example, ancitabine (ancitabine), azacitidine (azacitidine), 6-azauridine (6-azauridine), carmofur (carmofur), cytarabine (cytabine), dideoxyuridine (dideoxyuridine), doxifluridine (doxifluridine), enocitabine (enocitabine), and floxuridine (floxuridine); androgens such as carposterone (calusterone), methyl androsterone propionate (dromostanolone propionate), epitioandrostanol (epitiostanol), mepiquitane (mepiquitane), and testolactone (testolactone); anti-adrenergic agents (anti-adrenals), such as aminoglutethimide, mitotane and trilostane; folic acid supplements, such as folinic acid (frilic acid); acetoglucurolactone (acegultone); (ii) an aldophosphamide glycoside; aminolevulinic acid (aminolevulinic acid); eniluracil (eniluracil); amsacrine (amsacrine); bestrabuucil; bisantrene; idazot (edatraxate); desphosphamide (defofamine); colchicine (demecolcine); diazaquinone (diaziqutone); elfornitine; ammonium etitanium acetate; epothilone (epothilone); etoglut (etoglucid); gallium nitrate (gallium nitrate); hydroxyurea (hydroxyurea); lentinan (lentinan); lonidamine (lonidainine); maytansinol (maytansinoid) classes such as maytansine (maytansine) and ansamitocins (ansamitocins); mitoguazone (mitoguzone); mitoxantrone (mitoxantrone); mopidanmol; rhizobia (nitrarine); pentostatin (pentostatin); methionine mustard (phenamett); pirarubicin (pirarubicin); losoxantrone (losoxantrone); podophyllinic acid (podophyllic acid); 2-ethylhydrazine (2-ethylhydrazine); procarbazine (procarbazine);razoxane (rizoxane); root of herbaceous plantMycin (rhizoxin); sizofuran (sizofiran); germanium spiroamines (spirogyranium); tenuazonic acid (tenuazonic acid); triimine quinone (triaziquone); 2,2 ', 2' -trichlorotriethylamine (2,2 ', 2' -trichlorotriethylamine); trichothecenes (trichothecenes) (especially T-2 toxin, veracurin A, bacillocin A (roridin A) and anguidine); urethane (urethan); vindesine (vindesine); dacarbazine (dacarbazine); mannomustine (mannomustine); dibromomannitol (mitobronitol); dibromodulcitol (mitolactol); bromopropylpiperazine (pipobroman); a polycytidysine; cytarabine (arabine) ("Ara-C"); cyclophosphamide; thiotepa; taxanes (taxoids), e.g. paclitaxel (paclitaxel) ((R))Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology, Princeton, N.J.) and docetaxel (doxetaxel) ((R)Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Antony, France); chlorambucil; gemcitabine (Gemcitabine) (Gemzar)^TM) (ii) a 6-thioguanine; mercaptopurine; methotrexate; platinum analogs, such as cisplatin (cissplatin) and carboplatin (carboplatin); vinblastine (vinblastine); platinum; etoposide (VP-16); an ifosfamide; mitoxantrone; vincristine (vincristine); vinorelbine (vinorelbine) (Navelbine)^TM) (ii) a Nuantro (novantrone); teniposide (teniposide); edatrexate (edatrexate); daunorubicin (daunomycin); aminopterin (aminopterin); (xiloda); ibandronate (ibandronate); CPT-11; topoisomerase inhibitor RFS 2000; difluoromethyl ornithine (DMFO); retinoids, such as retinoic acid; capecitabine (capecitabine); and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, acid or derivative of any of the above. Also included in this definition are anti-hormonal agents used to modulate or inhibit the action of hormones on tumors, such as anti-estrogens and Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs), including, for example, tamoxifen (tamoxifen) (including Nolvadex)^TM) Raloxifene (raloxifene), droloxifene (droloxifene), 4-hydroxyTamoxifen, trioxifene (trioxifene), keoxifene, LY117018, onapristone (onapristone), and toremifene (torestilon)^TM) (ii) a Aromatase inhibitors which inhibit aromatase and which modulate the production of estrogen in the adrenal gland, for example 4(5) -imidazole, aminoglutethimide, megestrol acetate (Megace)^TM) Exemestane (exemestane), formestane (formestane), fadrozole (fadrozole), vorozole (rivosor)^TM)Letrozole (Femara)^TM) And anastrozole (Arimidex)^TM) (ii) a And antiandrogens, such as flutamide, nilutamide, bicalutamide, leuprolide, and goserelin; and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, acid or derivative of any of the above. Any one or more of the drugs can be conjugated to the humanized antibodies of the invention to provide therapeutic drugs that can be used to treat various disorders.

Antibodies may also be conjugated to prodrugs. A "prodrug" is a precursor or derivative form of a pharmaceutically active substance that is less cytotoxic to tumor cells than the parent drug and can be enzymatically activated or converted to a more active form. See, for example, Wilman, 1986, "Prodrugs in Cancer Chemotherapy", Biochemical Society Transactions, 14, pp.375-382, 615th Meeting Belfast; and Stella et al, 1985, "produgs: a Chemical apply to Targeted Drug Delivery ", Directed Drug Delivery, Borchardt et al (ed.), pp 247-. Prodrugs that may be used include, but are not limited to, phosphate-containing prodrugs, thiophosphate-containing prodrugs, sulfate-containing prodrugs, peptide-containing prodrugs, D-amino acid modified prodrugs, glycosylated prodrugs, β -lactam-containing prodrugs, optionally substituted phenoxyacetamide-containing prodrugs and optionally substituted phenylacetamide-containing prodrugs, 5-fluorocytosine prodrugs and other 5-fluorouridine prodrugs, which are convertible to non-cytotoxic drugs having higher activity. Examples of cytotoxic drugs that can be derivatized into prodrug forms include, but are not limited to, those chemotherapeutic drugs described above.

The antibodies of the invention may also be conjugated with a label, either alone or with a further second drug (prodrug, chemotherapeutic drug, etc.), for diagnostic as well as therapeutic monitoring purposes. The label is distinct from the other second drug, which refers to a detectable compound or composition drug, and which may be conjugated directly or indirectly to the humanized antibody of the invention. The label may be detectable by itself (e.g., radioisotope labels or fluorescent labels), or in the case of an enzymatic label, the label may catalyze a detectable chemical change in the substrate compound or composition. Labeled humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies can be prepared and used in a variety of applications, including in vitro and in vivo diagnostics.

The antibodies of the invention may be formulated as part of a liposome formulation to achieve in vivo delivery thereof. "liposomes" are vesicles composed of various types of lipids, phospholipids and/or surfactants. Liposomes can be used to deliver compounds or formulations to a mammal, such as the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies disclosed herein, optionally conjugated or combined with one or more pharmaceutically active drugs and/or labels. The components of liposomes are typically arranged in a bilayer structure, similar to the lipid arrangement of biological membranes.

Certain aspects of the invention relate to isolated nucleic acids encoding one or more domains of the humanized antibodies of the invention. An "isolated" nucleic acid molecule is a nucleic acid molecule that is identified and separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acid molecule with which it is ordinarily associated in the natural source of antibody nucleic acid. An isolated nucleic acid molecule is distinct from nucleic acid molecules that are present in natural cells.

In various aspects of the invention, one or more domains of the humanized antibody are recombinantly expressed. Such recombinant expression may employ one or more control sequences, i.e., polynucleotide sequences required for expression of an operably linked coding sequence in a particular host organism. Control sequences suitable for use in prokaryotic cells include, for example, promoter, operator, and ribosome binding site sequences. Eukaryotic control sequences include, but are not limited to, promoters, polyadenylation signals, and enhancers. The control sequences are useful for expression and production of humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies in prokaryotic and eukaryotic host cells.

A nucleic acid sequence is "operably linked" when it is placed in functional association with another nucleic acid sequence. For example, if a presequence or secretory leader is expressed as a preprotein that is involved in the secretion of a polypeptide, then the presequence or secretory leader is operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide; a promoter or enhancer is operably linked to a sequence if it affects the transcription of the sequence; or a ribosome binding site is operably linked to a coding sequence if it is positioned so as to facilitate translation. Generally, "operably linked" means that the DNA sequences being linked are contiguous and, in the case of a secretory leader, contiguous and in reading frame. However, enhancers are optionally continuous. Ligation may be accomplished by ligation at convenient restriction sites. If such sites are not present, synthetic oligonucleotide adaptors or linkers may be used.

As used herein, the terms "cell," "cell line," and "cell culture" are used interchangeably, and all such designations include progeny thereof. Thus, "transformants" and "transformed cells" include primary individual cells and cultures derived therefrom without regard to the number of transfers.

The term "mammal" for therapeutic purposes means any animal classified as a mammal, including humans, domestic and farm animals, as well as zoo, sports, or pet animals, such as dogs, horses, cats, cattle, and the like. Preferably, the mammal is a human.

As used herein, a "disorder" is any condition that may benefit from treatment with the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies described herein. The term includes chronic as well as acute disorders or diseases, including those pathological conditions that predispose a mammal to the disorder. Non-limiting examples or disorders to be treated herein include inflammatory, angiogenic, autoimmune and immunological disorders, respiratory disorders, cancer, hematologic malignancies, benign and malignant tumors, leukemias and lymphoid malignancies.

The terms "cancer" and "cancerous" refer to or describe the physiological condition in mammals that is typically characterized by dysregulated cell growth. Examples of cancer include, but are not limited to, carcinoma, lymphoma, blastoma, sarcoma, and leukemia.

As used herein, the term "IL-23 associated disorder" or "IL-23 associated disease" refers to a condition that is contributed to by IL-23 activity and that is normally aberrantly expressed by IL-23. IL-23 related disorders include immune system diseases and disorders, such as autoimmune disorders and inflammatory disorders. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease), pulmonary inflammation, asthma, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), and ankylosing spondylitis.

The term "intravenous infusion" refers to the introduction of a drug into the vein of an animal or human patient over a period of time greater than about 15 minutes, typically between about 30 to 90 minutes.

The term "intravenous bolus" or "intravenous bolus" refers to the administration of a drug into the veins of an animal or human such that the body receives the drug in about 15 minutes or less, typically 5 minutes or less.

The term "subcutaneous administration" refers to the introduction of a drug under the skin of an animal or human patient, preferably within a pocket between the skin and underlying tissue, by relatively slow, sustained delivery from a drug reservoir. Pinching or pulling the skin up and away from the underlying tissue may create a pocket.

The term "subcutaneous infusion" refers to the introduction of a drug by relatively slow, sustained delivery from a drug reservoir under the skin of an animal or human patient, preferably within a pocket between the skin and underlying tissue, over a period of time, including (but not limited to) 30 minutes or less, or 90 minutes or less. Optionally, the infusion may be performed by subcutaneously implanting a drug delivery pump (implanted under the skin of an animal or human patient), wherein the pump delivers a predetermined amount of drug over a predetermined period of time (e.g., 30 minutes, 90 minutes, or a period of time spanning an entire treatment regimen).

The term "subcutaneous bolus" refers to administration of a drug under the skin of an animal or human patient, wherein the bolus drug is delivered for less than about 15 minutes; in another aspect, less than 5 minutes; and in another aspect, less than 60 seconds. In another aspect, administration is within a pouch between the skin and the base tissue, wherein the pouch may be created by pinching or pulling the skin up away from the base tissue.

The term "therapeutically effective amount" is used to refer to an amount of active agent that alleviates or ameliorates one or more symptoms of the disorder being treated. In another aspect, a therapeutically effective amount refers to a target serum concentration that has been shown to be effective, for example, in slowing disease progression. Efficacy may be measured in a conventional manner depending on the condition to be treated.

As used herein, "treatment" and "therapy" and similar terms are intended to include therapeutic as well as prophylactic or inhibitory measures against a disease or disorder that produces any clinically desirable or beneficial effect, including, but not limited to, alleviation or relief of one or more symptoms of the disease or disorder, regression of the disease or disorder, slowing or stopping the progression of the disease or disorder. Thus, for example, the term treating includes administering a drug before or after the onset of symptoms of a disease or disorder, thereby preventing or eliminating one or more signs of the disease or disorder. As another example, the term includes administering a drug after clinical expression of a disease, thereby counteracting the symptoms of the disease. In addition, administration of a drug after onset and after clinical symptoms have occurred encompasses "treatment" or "therapy" as used herein, wherein administration affects a clinical parameter of the disease or disorder, such as the degree of tissue damage or the amount or extent of metastasis, whether or not the treatment results in amelioration of the disease. In addition, the results should be considered effective in treating the underlying disorder, provided that the composition of the invention, alone or in combination with another therapeutic agent, reduces or ameliorates at least one symptom of the disorder being treated, whether or not all symptoms of the disorder are reduced, as compared to when the humanized IL-23P19 antibody composition is not used.

The term "package insert" refers to instructions typically included in commercial packaging for therapeutic products that contain information regarding the indications, usage, administration, contraindications, and/or warnings for using the therapeutic products.

Antibodies

In one aspect, described and disclosed herein are anti-IL-23 antibodies, particularly humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies; and compositions and articles of manufacture comprising one or more anti-IL-23 antibodies, particularly one or more humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention. Also described are binding agents comprising antigen-binding fragments of anti-IL-23 antibodies, particularly humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies. The humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies and binding agents inhibit the production of Th 17-related cytokines, which contribute to chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, Th 17-related cytokines. Thus, humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies and binding agents may be useful for the treatment of a variety of diseases or disorders. The humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody and IL-23p19 binding agent each include at least a portion (i.e., an antigen binding fragment) that specifically recognizes an epitope of IL-23p 19.

At initial characterization, mouse antibodies were selected based on IL-23p19 binding characteristics.

Thus, in one aspect, the antibodies of the invention are directed to the K of IL-23, particularly human IL-23_DLess than 100 pM. In another aspect, the K of an antibody of the invention_DLess than 40 pM. In another aspect, the K of an antibody of the invention_DLess than 20 pM. In another aspect, the K of an antibody of the invention_DLess than 10 pM. In another aspect, the monoclonal antibody of the invention has K_DLess than 1 pM.

The selected mouse antibodies had the following light chain variable regions and heavy chain variable regions as shown in tables 1 and 2. Table 1: anti-IL-23 p19 mouse leader-VK sequence

Table 2: anti-IL-23 p29 mouse leader-VH sequence

The human framework sequences of each mouse leader were selected based on framework homology, CDR structures, conserved canonical residues, conserved interface filling residues, and other parameters.

The mouse light and heavy chain CDRs for the various mouse antibodies are shown in tables 3 and 4, respectively. Table 4 also shows the three heavy chain CDRs derived from mouse antibody 6B8 by the humanization method.

Table 3: light chain CDR sequences

Table 4: heavy chain CDR sequence

The CDRs listed above in tables 3 and 4 were determined using the Chothia numbering system (Al-Lazikani et Al, (1997) JMB273, 927-948).

Fab showing better or equal binding compared to the chimeric parent Fab was selected for conversion to IgG. 6B8 was converted to the IgG1KO form. IgG1KO (knockout effector function) has two mutations Leu234Ala and Leu235Ala in the Fc region that reduce effector functions such as Fc γ R and complement binding. IgG formats are described in the literature (see, e.g., Hezareh et al, (2001) Journal of Virology75: 12161-. Example 1 describes the humanization method in more detail. The result of this humanization is the generation of humanized antibody sequences. Representative numbering of the humanized light chain variable region and heavy chain variable region derived from mouse antibody 6B8 is provided and shown in tables 5 and 6. The alignment between the humanized light and heavy chain variable regions derived from mouse antibody 6B8 and the light and heavy chain variable regions of mouse antibody 6B8 is shown in figure 1.

The selected combination of humanized light and heavy chain variable regions derived from mouse antibody 6B8 produced antibodies A, B, C and D:

antibody A: 6B8-IgG1KO-2 with IgK-66 (heavy chain variable region 6B8CVH-02 and light chain variable region 6B8 CVK-66);

antibody B: 6B8-IgG1KO-5 with IgK-66 (heavy chain variable region 6B8CVH-05 and light chain variable region 6B8 CVK-66);

antibody C: 6B8-IgG1KO-2 with IgK-65 (heavy chain variable region 6B8CVH-02 and light chain variable region 6B8 CVK-65);

antibody D: 6B8-IgG1KO-5 with IgK-65 (heavy chain variable region 6B8CVH-05 and light chain variable region 6B8 CVK-65).

Antibodies A, B, C and D had heavy and light chain sequences shown in table 7.

Table 5: humanized 6B8-VK sequence

Table 6: humanized 6B8-VH sequence

Table 7: heavy and light chain DNA and amino acid sequences of antibodies A, B, C and D

In table 7 above, the light and heavy chain variable regions of antibodies A, B, C and D are underlined.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention have at least one of the following properties. In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention have any combination of at least two or at least 3, 4,5, 6,7, 8,9, 10 or 11 of the following properties. In another aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody with the following properties.

K for human IL-23_D1pM or less (no change in binding rate in 50% human serum)

Blocking IL-23 binding to human IL-23R/Fc in vitro

Does not bind to human IL-12

Inhibition of IL-17 production, IC, induced by human IL-23 in mouse splenocytes₅₀≤20pM

Inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation, IC induced by human IL-23 in human DB cells₅₀≤40pM

ADCC/CDC Activity without prediction

K for cynomolgus IL-23_D≤1pM

No cross-reactivity with mouse or rat IL-23

Inhibition of IL-17 and IL-22 production in mouse ears induced by human IL-23 (inhibition of both cytokines at 1 mg/kg. gtoreq.80%)

Stability 83 ℃ (melting temperature 83 ℃, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry)

Solubility ≧ 100mg/ml (as measured by UV spectroscopy and monitored by turbidity)

Subcutaneous administration of 1.0mg/kg in three cynomolgus monkeys showed an exposure of > 10nM for about 28 days with a bioavailability of about 70%.

Herein, no predicted ADCC/DC activity refers to the reduced affinity of the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of the invention for Fc receptors and thus is predicted to have no ADCC/CDC activity.

In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention have at least one of the following properties. In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention have any combination of at least two or at least 3, 4,5, 6,7, 8,9 or 10 of the following properties. In another aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody with the following properties.

K for human IL-23_D1pM or less (no change in binding rate in 50% human serum)

Blocking IL-23 binding to human IL-23R/Fc in vitro

Does not bind to human IL-12

Inhibition of IL-17 production, IC, induced by human IL-23 in mouse splenocytes₅₀≤20pM

Inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation, IC induced by human IL-23 in human DB cells₅₀≤40pM

ADCC/CDC Activity without prediction

K for cynomolgus IL-23_D≤1pM

No cross-reactivity with mouse or rat IL-23

Inhibition of IL-17 and IL-22 production in mouse ears induced by human IL-23 (inhibition of both cytokines at 1 mg/kg. gtoreq.80%)

Stability 83 ℃ (melting temperature 83 ℃, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry)

Solubility ≧ 100mg/ml (as measured by UV spectroscopy and monitored by turbidity).

In another aspect, the humanized antibody of the invention has at least one of the following binding properties (property a). In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of the invention has any combination of at least two or at least three of the following properties. In another aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody with the following properties.

K for human IL-23_D1pM or less (no change in binding rate in 50% human serum)

Does not bind to human IL-12

K for cynomolgus IL-23_D≤1pM

No cross-reactivity with mouse or rat IL-23.

In particular, the humanized antibodies of the invention are directed to K of human IL-23_DLess than 1pM (in 50% human serum binding rate change) and does not with human IL-12 binding.

In another aspect, the humanized antibody of the invention has at least one of the following functional properties (property B). In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of the invention has any combination of at least two or at least three of the following properties. In another aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody with the following properties.

Blocking IL-23 binding to human IL-23R/Fc in vitro

Inhibition of IL-17 production, IC, induced by human IL-23 in mouse splenocytes₅₀≤20pM

Inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation, IC induced by human IL-23 in human DB cells₅₀≤40pM

Inhibition of IL-17 and IL-22 production in the mouse ear induced by human IL-23 (inhibition of both cytokines at 1 mg/kg. gtoreq.80%).

In another aspect, the humanized antibody of the invention has at least one of the following properties (property C). In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of the invention has any combination of at least two or at least three of the following properties. In another aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody with the following properties.

ADCC/CDC Activity without prediction

Stability 83 ℃ (melting temperature 83 ℃, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry)

Solubility ≧ 100mg/ml (as measured by UV spectroscopy and monitored by turbidity)

Subcutaneous administration of 1.0mg/kg in three cynomolgus monkeys showed an exposure of > 10nM for about 28 days with a bioavailability of about 70%.

In another aspect, the humanized antibody of the invention has at least one of the following properties (property C). In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of the invention has any combination of at least two of the following properties. In another aspect, the invention of the humanized anti IL-23p19 antibody with the following properties.

ADCC/CDC Activity without prediction

Stability 83 ℃ (melting temperature 83 ℃, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry)

Solubility ≧ 100mg/ml (as measured by UV spectroscopy and monitored by turbidity).

In another aspect, a humanized antibody of the invention has at least one property a, at least one property B, and at least one property C. In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention have any combination of at least two or at least three properties A, B and C.

In some aspects, the humanized antibody exhibits blocking activity, whereby it reduces binding of IL-23 to the IL-23 receptor by 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%, or at least 95%. The ability of an antibody to block the binding of IL-23 to an IL-23 receptor can be measured using competitive binding assays known in the art. Alternatively, the blocking activity of an antibody can be measured by assessing the biological effects of IL-23 (e.g., IL-17 and IL-22 production) to determine whether signaling mediated by the IL-23 receptor is inhibited.

In another aspect, the invention provides a humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody having advantageous biophysical properties. In one aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of the invention is present in a buffer at least 90% monomeric form or at least 92% monomeric form or at least 95% monomeric form. In another aspect, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies of the invention remain in buffer at least 90% monomeric form or at least 92% monomeric form or at least 95% monomeric form for one month or four months.

In one aspect, a humanized antibody of the invention is antibody a, antibody B, antibody C or antibody D. Thus, in one embodiment, the humanized antibody of the invention comprises the light chain sequence SEQ ID NO:174 and the heavy chain sequence SEQ ID NO:176 (antibody A). In another embodiment, the humanized antibody of the invention comprises the light chain sequence SEQ ID NO:174 and the heavy chain sequence SEQ ID NO:178 (antibody B). In another embodiment, the humanized antibody of the invention comprises the light chain sequence SEQ ID NO:180 and the heavy chain sequence SEQ ID NO:176 (antibody C). In another embodiment, the humanized antibody of the invention comprises the light chain sequence SEQ ID NO:180 and the heavy chain sequence SEQ ID NO:178 (antibody D).

In another embodiment, the humanized antibody of the invention consists of the light chain sequence SEQ ID NO:174 and the heavy chain sequence SEQ ID NO:176 (antibody A). In another embodiment, the humanized antibody of the invention consists of the light chain sequence SEQ ID NO:174 and the heavy chain sequence SEQ ID NO:178 (antibody B). In another embodiment, the humanized antibody of the invention consists of the light chain sequence SEQ ID NO:180 and the heavy chain sequence SEQ ID NO:176 (antibody C). In another embodiment, the humanized antibody of the invention consists of the light chain sequence SEQ ID NO:180 and the heavy chain sequence SEQ ID NO:178 (antibody D).

In some embodiments, a humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody (including antigen binding fragments thereof, such as heavy and light chain variable regions) comprises an amino acid sequence having residues derived from antibody a (light chain sequence = SEQ ID NO: 174; heavy chain sequence = SEQ ID NO:176), antibody B (light chain sequence = SEQ ID NO: 174; heavy chain sequence = SEQ ID NO:178), antibody C (light chain sequence = SEQ ID NO: 180; heavy chain sequence = SEQ ID NO:176), or antibody D (light chain sequence = SEQ ID NO: 180; heavy chain sequence = SEQ ID NO: 178).

In another embodiment, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds human IL-23p19 at the epitope consisting of amino acid residues 108 to 126 and amino acid residues 137 to 151 of SEQ ID NO: 181.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that competes for binding to human IL-23p19 with an antibody of the invention (e.g., antibody A, antibody B, antibody C, or antibody D described herein). The ability of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment to competitively bind to IL-23p19 can be measured using competitive binding assays known in the art.

Humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies optionally include specific amino acid substitutions in a consensus or germline framework region. The specific substitution of amino acid residues in the foregoing framework positions can improve various aspects of antibody performance (including binding affinity and/or stability) compared to that exhibited by humanized antibodies formed by "direct swap" of CDRs or HVLs into human germline framework regions.

In some embodiments, the invention features other monoclonal antibodies having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, or 119 for the variable region of the light chain. In some embodiments, the invention features additional monoclonal antibodies having the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs 121, 123, 125, 127, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, or 156 (see Table 1 and Table 2 above). The CDR sequences of these mouse antibodies are shown in table 3 and table 4. Placing these CDRs in the FRs of the human consensus heavy and light chain variable domains will produce a suitable humanized antibody of the invention.

In particular, the present invention provides monoclonal antibodies whose light chain variable region and heavy chain variable region are combined as SEQ ID NOs: 84/121, 86/123, 88/125, 90/127, 91/128, 93/130, 95/132, 97/134, 99/136, 101/138, 103/140, 105/142, 107/144, 109/146, 111/148, 113/150, 115/152, 117/154 or 119/156. These variable regions may be combined with human constant regions.

In some embodiments, the invention features other humanized antibodies having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 158, 160, 162, or 164 in the light chain variable region sequence. In some embodiments, the invention features other humanized antibodies having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NOs 166, 168, 170, or 172 in the heavy chain variable region sequence (see Table 5 and Table 6 above). The CDR sequences of these antibodies are shown in table 3 and table 4. In particular, the present invention provides monoclonal antibodies having the combination of light chain variable region and heavy chain variable region of SEQ ID Nos. 160/166, 160/168, 158/166 or 158/168. These variable regions may be combined with human constant regions.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising: a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:160 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90%, at least 93%, or at least 95% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 160; and a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID No. 166 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90%, at least 93% or at least 95% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 166. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising: a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:160 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90%, at least 93%, or at least 95% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 160; and a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:168 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90%, at least 93% or at least 95% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 168. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising: a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:158 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90%, at least 93%, or at least 95% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 158; and a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID No. 166 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90%, at least 93% or at least 95% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 166. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising: a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:158 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90%, at least 93%, or at least 95% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 158; and a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:168 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90%, at least 93% or at least 95% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 168. In one embodiment, the anti-IL-23 p19 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody.

In some embodiments, the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies disclosed herein comprise at least a heavy or light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs or HVLs of a murine monoclonal or humanized antibody and the FRs of human germline heavy and light chain variable domains as set forth in tables 1-6 above.

The CDRs of these sequences are shown in tables 3 and 4. Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprising the light chain CDR1(L-CDR1) sequence SEQ ID NO 1,4, 6,7, 8, 11, 15, 18, 19, 22, 27 or 30; light chain CDR2(L-CDR2) sequence SEQ ID NO 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 20, 23, 25, 28 or 31; light chain CDR3(L-CDR3) sequence SEQ ID NO 3, 10, 13, 14, 17, 21, 24, 26, 29 or 32; the heavy chain CDR1(H-CDR1) sequence SEQ ID NOs 33, 36, 38, 40, 43, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 67, 68, 69, 77, or 80; the heavy chain CDR2(H-CDR2) sequence SEQ ID NO:34, 39, 41, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 70, 72, 73, 75, 78 or 81; and heavy chain CDR3(H-CDR3) sequence SEQ ID NO 35, 37, 42, 44, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59, 62, 65, 71, 74, 76, 79 or 82. In one aspect, an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises: a light chain variable region comprising the L-CDR1 listed above, the L-CDR2 listed above, and the L-CDR3 listed above; and a heavy chain variable region comprising the above-listed H-CDR1, the above-listed H-CDR2, and the above-listed H-CDR 3.

In another aspect, the invention provides an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising:

a) 1, 2,3, 33, 34 and 35, respectively, L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences; or

b) L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 4,5, 3, 36, 34 and 37, respectively; or

c) 1, 2,3, 38, 39 and 35, respectively, L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences; or

d) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 6, 2,3, 40, 41 and 42, respectively; or

e) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 7,2, 3, 43, 41 and 44, respectively; or

f) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 45, 46 and 47, respectively; or

g) L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 48, 49 and 50, respectively; or

h) 11, 12, 13, 51, 52 and 53, respectively, L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences; or

i) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 7,2, 14, 54, 55 and 56, respectively; or

j) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 15, 16, 17, 57, 58 and 59, respectively; or

k) 18, 16, 17, 60, 61 and 62, respectively, L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences; or

l) are respectively SEQ ID NO 19; 20; 21; 63. 66, 67 or 68; 64; and the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of 65; or

m) the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 22, 23, 24, 69, 70 and 71, respectively; or

n) the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 22, 25, 26, 55, 72 and 71, respectively; or

o) L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 45, 73 and 74, respectively; or

p) the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 27, 28, 29, 45, 75 and 76, respectively; or

q) the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 77, 78 and 79, respectively; or

r) are the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 30, 31, 32, 80, 81 and 82, respectively.

In one aspect, an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises: a light chain variable region comprising the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, and L-CDR3 combination set forth above; and a heavy chain variable region comprising the above-listed combination of H-CDR1, H-CDR2, and H-CDR 3.

In particular embodiments, chimeric antibodies in which CDR regions are exchanged between these exemplary immunoglobulins (i.e., for example, one or both CDRs of one mouse antibody or humanized antibody derived therefrom are exchanged with similar CDRs from another mouse antibody or humanized antibody derived therefrom) are expected to produce suitable antibodies.

In certain embodiments, the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody is an antibody fragment. Various antibody fragments have been outlined above and various techniques have been developed to produce them. Fragments can be obtained by proteolytic digestion of intact antibodies (see, e.g., Morimoto et al, 1992, Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods24: 107-117; and Brennan et al, 1985, Science229: 81). Alternatively, the fragments may be produced directly in recombinant host cells. For example, Fab '-SH fragments can be recovered directly from E.coli (E.coli) and chemically coupled to form F (ab')₂Fragments (see, e.g., Carter et al, 1992, Bio/Technology10: 163-. By another method, canIsolation of F (ab') directly from recombinant host cell cultures₂And (3) fragment. Other techniques for generating antibody fragments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a CDR described herein, in particular a combination of L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 described herein. In another aspect, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a variable region described herein, e.g., a combination of a light chain variable region and a heavy chain variable region described herein.

Certain embodiments include F (ab') of a humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising either of the light chain sequences SEQ ID NO:174 or 180 in combination with the heavy chain sequence SEQ ID NO:176 or 178₂And (3) fragment. Such embodiments can include including the F (ab')₂The whole antibody of (1).

In some embodiments, the antibody or antibody fragment comprises a constant region that mediates effector function. The constant region may provide an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), and/or complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) response against a target cell expressing IL-23. The effector domain may be, for example, the Fc region of an Ig molecule.

The effector domain of the antibody may be from any suitable vertebrate species and isotype. The ability of isoforms from different animal species to mediate effector functions varies. For example, the ability of a human immunoglobulin to mediate CDC and ADCC/ADCP, respectively, generally has the following order: IgM ≈ IgG₁≈IgG₃>IgG₂>IgG₄And IgG₁≈IgG₃>IgG₂/IgM/IgG₄. Murine immunoglobulins generally mediate CDC and ADCC/ADCP, respectively, in the following order: murine IgM ≈ IgG₃>>IgG_2b>IgG_2a>>IgG₁And IgG_2b>IgG_2a>IgG₁>>IgG₃. In another embodiment, murine IgG_2aMediate ADCC while murine IgG_2aAnd IgM mediates CDC.

Antibody modification

Humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies and drugs can include modifications to humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof. For example, it may be desirable to modify an antibody with respect to effector function to enhance the effectiveness of the antibody in treating cancer. One such modification is the introduction of cysteine residues into the Fc region, thereby allowing interchain disulfide bonds to form in this region. The homodimeric antibody thus generated may have improved internalization capacity and/or enhanced complement-mediated cell killing and/or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). See, for example, Caron et al, 1992, J.Exp Med.176: 1191-; and scopes, 1992, j.immunol.148: 2918-2922. Hetero-bifunctional cross-linking agents can also be used to prepare homodimeric antibodies with enhanced anti-tumor activity, as described by Wolff et al, 1993, Cancer Research 53: 2560, 2565. Alternatively, the antibody can be engineered to contain dual Fc regions, thereby enhancing the complement lysis and ADCC capabilities of the antibody. See Stevenson et al, 1989, Anti-Cancer Drug Design 3: 219-230.

Antibodies with improved ability to support ADCC have been generated by modifying the glycosylation pattern of the Fc region of the antibody. This is possible because the antibody is at C_H2Glycosylation at asparagine residue N297 in the domain is involved in the interaction between IgG and Fc γ receptors necessary for ADCC. Host cell lines have been engineered to express antibodies with altered glycosylation, such as increased bisecting (bisecting) N-acetylglucosamine or decreased fucose. Decreasing fucose enhances ADCC activity to a greater extent than increasing the presence of bisecting N-acetylglucosamine. In addition, ADCC enhancement of low fucose antibodies is independent of the Fc γ RIIIa V/F polymorphism.

Modifying the amino acid sequence in the Fc region of an antibody is an alternative to glycosylation engineering to enhance ADCC. The Fc gamma receptor has been determined in human IgG by extensive mutational analysis₁A binding site of (a). This resulted in the generation of humanized IgG with Fc mutations₁An antibody, said mutation increasing binding affinity to Fc γ RIIIa and enhancing in vitro ADCC. In addition, Fc variants have been obtained with a number of different alterations in binding properties, e.g., with specific Fc γThe binding of the R receptor is enhanced and the binding to other Fc γ R receptors is unchanged or reduced.

Another aspect includes an immunoconjugate comprising a humanized antibody or fragment thereof conjugated to a cytotoxic agent, such as a chemotherapeutic drug, a toxin (e.g., an enzymatically active toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant, or animal origin, or a fragment thereof), or a radioisotope (i.e., a radioconjugate).

Chemotherapeutic drugs that can be used to generate the immunoconjugates have been described above. Enzymatically active toxins and fragments thereof that can be used to form useful immunoconjugates include diphtheria a chain, non-binding active fragments of diphtheria toxin, exotoxin a chain (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa), ricin a chain, abrin a chain, modeccin a chain, alpha-sarcina, Aleurites fordii (Aleurites fordii) protein, dianthin protein, pokeweed (phytolacca americana) protein (PAPI, PAPII and PAP-S), Momordica charantia (momordia) inhibitors, curculin (currin), crotin, saponaria officinalis (saponaria officinalis) inhibitors, gelonin, mitogellin, restrictocin, phenomycin (enomycin), trichothecene, and the like. A variety of radionuclides can be used to generate humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies to the radioconjugate. Examples include²¹²Bi、¹³¹I、¹³¹In、⁹⁰Y and¹⁸⁶Re。

conjugates of humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies with cytotoxic or chemotherapeutic agents can be made by known methods using a variety of bifunctional protein coupling agents, such as N-succinimidyl 3- (2-pyridyldimercapto) propionate (SPDP), Iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidates (e.g. dimethyl adipate HCL), active esters (e.g. disuccinimidyl suberate), aldehydes (e.g. glutaraldehyde), bis-azido compounds (e.g. bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis-azido derivatives (e.g. bis (p-diazoniumbenzoyl) -ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (e.g. toluene 2, 6-diisocyanate) and bis-active fluorine compounds (e.g. 1, 5-difluoro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene). For example, ricin immunotoxins may be prepared as described in Vitetta et al, 1987, Science238: 1098. Carbon-14 labeled 1-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylene triaminepentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelator for conjugation of radionucleotides to antibodies. Conjugates can also be formed using a cleavable linker.

The humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies disclosed herein may also be formulated as immunoliposomes. Antibody-containing liposomes are prepared by methods known in the art, such as those described in the following references: epstein et al, 1985, Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA82: 3688; hwang et al, 1980, Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA77: 4030; and U.S. patent nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545. Liposomes with extended circulation time are disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent No. 5,013,556.

Particularly useful liposomes can be generated by reverse phase evaporation using a lipid composition comprising phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and PEG-derivatized phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE). Liposomes are extruded through a filter membrane with a specified pore size to obtain liposomes with the desired diameter. Fab' fragments of the antibodies disclosed herein can be combined with liposomes via a disulfide interchange reaction, as described in Martin et al, 1982, J.biol.chem.257: 286-. Chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., doxorubicin) are optionally contained within the liposomes. See, for example, Gabizon et al, 1989, J.national Cancer Inst.81(19): 1484.

The antibodies described and disclosed herein may also be used in ADEPT (antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy) procedures by conjugating the antibody with an enzyme that activates the prodrug, which converts the prodrug (e.g., a peptidyl chemotherapeutic drug) to an active anticancer drug. See, for example, WO81/01145, WO88/07378, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,278. The enzyme component of the immunoconjugates useful for ADEPT is an enzyme that acts on the prodrug to convert it to a more active, cytotoxic form. Specific enzymes useful for ADEPT include (but are not limited to): alkaline phosphatase for converting a phosphate-containing prodrug into a free drug; arylsulfatase for converting the sulfate-containing prodrug into a free drug; a cytosine deaminase for converting non-toxic 5-fluorocytosine into the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil; proteases, such as Serratia (Serratia) protease, thermolysin, subtilisin, carboxypeptidase, and cathepsin (e.g., cathepsins B and L), which are useful for converting peptide-containing prodrugs into free drugs; a D-alanylcarboxypeptidase for converting a prodrug containing a D-amino acid substituent; carbohydrate-cleaving enzymes, such as β -galactosidase and neuraminidase, which are used to convert glycosylated prodrugs into free drugs; a beta-lactamase for converting a beta-lactam derived drug into a free drug; and penicillin amidases, such as penicillin V amidase or penicillin G amidase, for converting drugs derivatized at the amine nitrogen with a phenoxyacetyl group or a phenylacetyl group, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, an antibody with enzymatic activity ("abzyme") can be used to convert the prodrug into a free active drug (see, e.g., Massey, 1987, Nature 328: 457-458). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared by known methods for delivering abzymes to a tumor cell population, for example, by covalently binding the enzyme to the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody/heterobifunctional cross-linking reagent described above. Alternatively, fusion proteins can be constructed using recombinant DNA techniques, which comprise at least the antigen binding region of an antibody disclosed herein and at least a functionally active portion of the above-described enzymes linked thereto (see, e.g., Neuberger et al, 1984, Nature312: 604-608).

In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to use a humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody fragment rather than an intact antibody, for example, to promote tissue penetration. It may be desirable to modify antibody fragments to extend their serum half-life. This can be achieved, for example, by incorporating salvage receptor binding epitopes into the antibody fragment. In one approach, appropriate regions in the antibody fragment may be altered (e.g., mutated) or the epitope may be incorporated into a peptide tag, e.g., by DNA or peptide synthesis, which is then fused terminally or medially to the antibody fragment. See, for example, WO 96/32478.

In other embodiments, also include humanized anti IL-23P19 antibody covalent modification. Covalent modifications include modifications to the following groups: cysteinyl, histidinyl, lysyl and amino-terminal residues, arginyl, tyrosyl, carboxyl-side groups (aspartyl or glutamyl), glutamyl and aspartyl residues or seryl or threonyl residues. Another type of covalent modification involves chemical or enzymatic coupling of the glycoside to an antibody. If applicable, the modification can be prepared by chemical synthesis or by enzymatic or chemical cleavage of the antibody. Other types of covalent modification of antibodies can be introduced into the molecule by reacting targeted amino acid residues of the antibody with an organic derivatizing agent capable of reacting with selected side chains or amino-or carboxy-terminal residues.

Removal of any carbohydrate moieties present on the antibody may be accomplished chemically or enzymatically. Chemical deglycosylation is described in the following documents: hakimuddin et al, 1987, Arch. biochem. biophysis.259: 52 and Edge et al, 1981, anal. biochem., 118: 131. Enzymatic cleavage of the carbohydrate moiety on antibodies can be achieved by using a variety of endoglycosidases and exoglycosidases, as described in Thotakura et al, 1987, meth. enzymol138: 350.

Another type of covalent modification that may be used comprises linking the antibody to one of a variety of non-proteinaceous polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polyalkylene oxide) in a manner described in one or more of the following: U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,835, U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,689, U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,144, U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,417, U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,192, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337.

Humanized and amino acid sequence variants

Amino acid sequence variants of the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody can be prepared by introducing appropriate nucleotide changes into the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody DNA or by peptide synthesis. Such variants include, for example, deletions from, and/or insertions into, and/or substitutions of, residues within the amino acid sequence of the anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies of the examples herein. Any combination of deletions, insertions, and substitutions are performed to arrive at the final construct, provided that the final construct possesses the desired characteristics. Amino acid changes can also alter post-translational processes of the humanized or variant anti-IL-23P 19 antibody, such as changing the number or position of glycosylation sites.

A method which can be used to identify certain residues or regions of preferred mutagenic positions in anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies is referred to as "alanine scanning mutagenesis" and is described, for example, in Cunningham and Wells (Science, 244:1081-1085 (1989)). Here, a residue or group of target residues (e.g., charged residues such as arg, asp, his, lys, and glu) is identified and substituted with a neutral or negatively charged amino acid (typically alanine) to affect the interaction of the amino acid with the IL-23P19 antigen. Those amino acid positions that show functional sensitivity to substitution are then modified by introducing additional or other variants at or against the substitution site. Thus, where the site of introduction of an amino acid sequence variation is predetermined, the nature of the mutation itself need not be predetermined. For example, to analyze the performance of a mutation at a given site, alanine scanning mutagenesis or random mutagenesis is performed at the target codon or region and the expressed anti-IL-23P 19 antibody variants are screened for the desired activity.

Amino acid sequence insertions include amino-and/or carboxy-terminal fusions (ranging in length from one residue to polypeptides containing hundreds or more residues) as well as intrasequence insertions of single or multiple amino acid residues. Examples of terminal insertions include an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody fused to an epitope tag. Other insertional variants of the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody molecule include fusions of enzymes or polypeptides that increase the serum half-life of the antibody to the N-or C-terminus of the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody.

Another type of variant is an amino acid substitution variant. The variants have at least one amino acid residue removed from the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody molecule and a different residue inserted at that position. The most interesting sites for substitution mutagenesis include the hypervariable regions, but also FR alterations are encompassed. Conservative substitutions are shown in table 5 under the heading of "preferred substitutions". If the substitution results in an alteration in biological activity, more important alterations (designated "exemplary substitutions," or as further described below with reference to amino acid species) can be introduced and the product screened.

Table 8:

in protein chemistry, it is generally accepted that the biological properties of an antibody can be achieved by selecting substitutions that differ significantly in their effect of maintaining the following properties: (a) the structure of the polypeptide backbone in the substitution region, e.g., in a folded or helical conformation, (b) the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site, or (c) the volume of the side chain. Natural residues are classified into the following classes according to common side chain properties:

(1) hydrophobicity: norleucine, met, ala, val, leu, ile;

(2) neutral hydrophilicity: cys, ser, thr;

(3) acidity: asp, glu;

(4) alkalinity: asn, gin, his, lys, arg;

(5) residues that influence chain orientation: gly, pro; and

(6) aromatic: trp, tyr, phe.

Non-conservative substitutions entail exchanging a member of one of the classes for another.

Any cysteine residues not involved in maintaining the appropriate conformation of the humanized or variant anti-IL-23P 19 antibody may also be substituted (typically with serine) to improve the oxidative stability of the molecule, prevent aberrant cross-linking, or provide a recognized point of incorporation with cytotoxic or cytostatic compounds. Conversely, cysteine bonds may be added to the antibody to improve its stability (particularly where the antibody is an antibody fragment such as an Fv fragment).

One type of substitutional variant involves substituting one or more hypervariable region residues in a parent antibody (e.g., a humanized or human antibody). Typically, the resulting variants selected for further development may have improved biological properties relative to the parent antibody from which they were generated. A convenient method of generating such substitutional variants is affinity maturation using phage display. Briefly, several hypervariable region sites (e.g., 6 to 7 sites) are mutated to generate all possible amino acid substitutions at each site. The antibody variants thus generated are displayed in a monovalent fashion from filamentous phage particles as fusions to the encapsulated M13 gene III product within each particle. The phage-displayed variants are then screened for biological activity (e.g., binding affinity). To identify candidate hypervariable region sites for modification, alanine scanning mutagenesis can be performed to identify hypervariable region residues which significantly facilitate antigen binding. Alternatively or additionally, it may be advantageous to analyze the crystal structure of the antigen-antibody complex to determine the contact point between the antibody and human IL-23P 19. The contact residues and nearby residues are candidate substitution residues for the techniques described herein. Immediately after the variants are generated, the set of variants is screened as described herein, and antibodies with superior properties in one or more relevant assays can be selected for further development.

Another class of amino acid variants of antibodies alters the original glycosylation pattern of the antibody. By "altered" is meant the deletion of one or more carbohydrate moieties present in the antibody and/or the addition of one or more glycosylation sites not present in the antibody.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to modify the antibodies of the invention to add glycosylation sites. Glycosylation of antibodies is typically either N-linked or O-linked. N-linked means that the carbohydrate moiety is attached to the side chain of an aspartic acid residue. The tripeptide sequences asparagine-X-serine and asparagine-X-threonine (where X is any amino acid except proline) are recognition sequences for the enzymatic attachment of a carbohydrate moiety to the side chain of aspartic acid. Thus, the presence of any of the tripeptide sequences in a polypeptide may result in a potential glycosylation site. O-linked glycosylation refers to the attachment of one of the sugars N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose or xylose to a hydroxyamino acid, most commonly serine or threonine, although 5-hydroxyproline or 5-hydroxylysine may also be used. Thus, to glycosylate a particular protein (e.g., an antibody), the amino acid sequence of the protein is engineered to contain one or more of the above-described tripeptide sequences (for N-linked glycosylation sites). It may also be altered (for O-linked glycosylation sites) by the addition or substitution of one or more serine or threonine residues in the original antibody sequence.

Nucleic acid molecules encoding amino acid sequence variants of anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies are prepared by a variety of methods known in the art. The methods include, but are not limited to, isolation from a natural source (in the case of natural amino acid sequence variants) or preparation by oligonucleotide-mediated (or site-directed) mutagenesis, PCR mutagenesis, and cassette mutagenesis of a pre-prepared variant or non-variant form of an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody.

Polynucleotides, vectors, host cells and recombinant methods

Other embodiments encompass isolated polynucleotides comprising sequences encoding humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides, and recombinant techniques for producing humanized antibodies. The isolated polynucleotide may encode any desired form of an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody, including, for example, full-length monoclonal antibodies, Fab ', F (ab')₂And Fv fragments, diabodies, linear antibodies, single-chain antibody molecules, and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.

Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding a light chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment, the light chain variable region having any of the following amino acid sequences: 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, or 119 of SEQ ID NO. Exemplary polynucleotide sequences encoding these amino acid sequences are SEQ ID NOs 83, 85, 87, 89, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116 and 118. Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding a heavy chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 121, 123, 125, 127, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, or 156. Exemplary polynucleotide sequences encoding these amino acid sequences are SEQ ID NOs 120, 122, 124, 126, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153 or 155.

Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding a light chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment, the light chain variable region having any of the following amino acid sequences: 158, 160, 162 or 164 SEQ ID NO. Exemplary polynucleotide sequences encoding these amino acid sequences are SEQ ID NO 157, 159, 161, or 163. Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding a heavy chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs 166, 168, 170, or 172. Exemplary polynucleotide sequences encoding these amino acid sequences are SEQ ID NOs 165, 167, 169, or 171.

Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding a light chain of an antibody, the light chain having any of the following amino acid sequences: 174 or 180 in SEQ ID NO. Exemplary polynucleotide sequences encoding these amino acid sequences are SEQ ID NO 173 or 179. Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding an antibody heavy chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:176 or 178. Exemplary polynucleotide sequences encoding these amino acid sequences are SEQ ID NO 175 or 177.

In one aspect, the isolated polynucleotide sequence encodes an antibody or antibody fragment comprising the light chain variable region and the heavy chain variable region of the amino acid sequences: 174 and 176; 174 and 178; 180 and 176; 180 and 178 SEQ ID NO. Exemplary polynucleotide sequences encoding these amino acid sequences are SEQ ID NOS 173 and 175; 173 and 177 of SEQ ID NO; 179 and 175; 179 and 177.

Polynucleotides comprising sequences encoding humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies or fragments or chains thereof may be fused to one or more regulatory or control sequences known in the art and may be contained in a suitable expression vector or host cell known in the art. Each polynucleotide molecule encoding a heavy or light chain variable domain may be independently fused to a polynucleotide sequence encoding a constant domain (e.g., a human constant domain) to allow for the production of a complete antibody. Alternatively, the polynucleotides or portions thereof may be fused together to provide a template for the production of single chain antibodies.

For recombinant production, the polynucleotide encoding the antibody is inserted into a replicable vector for cloning (amplification of the DNA) or expression. A variety of vectors suitable for expression of recombinant antibodies can be used. Carrier components generally include (but are not limited to) one or more of the following: a signal sequence, an origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer component, a promoter, and a transcription termination sequence.

Humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies may also be produced as fusion polypeptides in which the antibody is fused to a heterologous polypeptide, such as a signal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site at the amino terminus of the mature protein or polypeptide. The heterologous signal sequence of choice is typically one that is recognized and processed (i.e., cleaved by a signal peptidase) by the host cell. For prokaryotic host cells that are unable to recognize and process the signal sequence of the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody, the signal sequence may be replaced by a prokaryotic signal sequence. The signal sequence may be, for example, alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, lipoprotein, heat-stable enterotoxin II leader sequence, and the like. For yeast secretion, the native signal sequence can be replaced by, for example, the following signals: the leaders from the yeast invertase alpha-factor (including Saccharomyces (Saccharomyces) and Kluyveromyces (Kluyveromyces) alpha-factor leaders), acid phosphatase, Candida albicans (C.albicans) glucoamylase or the signals described in WO 90/13646. In mammalian cells, mammalian signal sequences can be used as well as viral secretory leaders (e.g., the herpes simplex virus gD signal). The DNA of the precursor region is joined in reading frame to DNA encoding a humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody.

Expression and cloning vectors contain nucleic acid sequences that enable the vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells. Typically, in cloning vectors, this sequence is one that enables the vector to replicate independently of the host chromosomal DNA, and it includes an origin of replication or an autonomously replicating sequence. Such sequences for a variety of bacteria, yeasts and viruses are well known in the art. The origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 is suitable for most Gram (Gram) negative bacteria, the 2- υ plasmid origin is suitable for yeast, and a variety of viral origins (SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV, and BPV) can be used to clone vectors in mammalian cells. Typically, mammalian expression vectors do not require an origin of replication component (typically only the SV40 origin may be used because it contains an early promoter).

Expression and cloning vectors may contain genes encoding selectable markers to facilitate identification of expression. Typical selectable marker genes encode the following proteins: conferring resistance to antibiotics or other toxins (e.g., ampicillin (ampicillin), neomycin, methotrexate, or tetracycline); alternatively, a complement that is auxotrophic; or in other alternatives to supply specific nutrients not present in the complex medium, such as a gene encoding the D-alanine racemase for Bacilli (Bacillus).

One example of a selection scheme utilizes a drug to prevent growth of the host cell. Those cells successfully transformed with the heterologous gene produce a protein conferring drug resistance and can therefore survive this selection. The dominant selection example uses the drugs neomycin, mycophenolic acid and hygromycin. Common selectable markers for mammalian cells are those that allow identification of cells that can take up nucleic acid encoding humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies, such as DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase), thymidine kinase, metallothionein-I and-II (e.g., primate metallothionein genes), adenosine deaminase, ornithine decarboxylase, and the like. Cells transformed with the DHFR selection gene were first identified by culturing all transformants in medium containing methotrexate (Mtx), a competitive antagonist of DHFR. When wild-type DHFR is used, a suitable host cell is a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell line deficient in DHFR activity (e.g., DG 44).

Alternatively, host cells (particularly wild-type hosts containing endogenous DHFR) transformed or co-transformed with DNA sequences encoding an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody, a wild-type DHFR protein, and another selectable marker (e.g., aminoglycoside 3' -phosphotransferase (APH)) can be selected by growing the cells in media containing a selection agent for the selectable marker (e.g., an aminoglycoside antibiotic such as kanamycin (kanamycin), neomycin, or G418). See, for example, U.S. patent No. 4,965,199.

If recombinant production is carried out using yeast cells as host cells, the TRP1 gene present in the yeast plasmid YRp7 (Stinchcomb et al, 1979, Nature 282: 39) can be used as a selectable marker. The TRP1 gene provides a selection marker for yeast mutant strains that lack the ability to grow in tryptophan (e.g., ATCC No. 44076 or PEP4-1) (Jones, 1977, Genetics85: 12). The presence of a trp1 lesion in the yeast host cell genome provides an effective environment to detect transformation by growth in the absence of tryptophan. Similarly, Leu2p deficient yeast strains (e.g., ATCC20,622 or 38,626) were complemented by known plasmids having the Leu2 gene.

In addition, Kluyveromyces may be transformed with a vector derived from the 1.6 μm circular plasmid pKD 1. Alternatively, expression systems for large scale production of recombinant bovine chymosin have been reported to be useful in Kluyveromyces lactis (K.lactis.) (Van den Berg, 1990, Bio/Technology8: 135). Stable multi-copy expression vectors for secretion of mature recombinant human serum albumin by industrial strains of the genus Kluyveromyces have also been disclosed (Fleer et al, 1991, Bio/Technology9: 968-.

Expression and cloning vectors typically contain a promoter that is recognized by the host organism and is operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule encoding an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or polypeptide chain thereof. Promoters suitable for use in prokaryotic hosts include the phoA promoter, the beta-lactamase and lactose promoter systems, alkaline phosphatase, the tryptophan (trp) promoter system, and hybrid promoters (e.g., the tac promoter). Other known bacterial promoters are also suitable. Promoters for use in bacterial systems may also contain Shine-Dalgamo (S.D.) sequences operably linked to DNA encoding humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody.

Various eukaryotic promoter sequences are known. Virtually all eukaryotic genes have an AT-rich region located about 25 to 30 bases upstream from the transcription start site. Another sequence found 70 to 80 bases upstream from the transcription start point of many genes is a CNCAAT region, where N can be any nucleotide. At the 3 'end of most eukaryotic genes is an AATAAA sequence, possibly adding to the 3' end of the coding sequence the signal of the poly a tail. All of the sequences are inserted into eukaryotic expression vectors in a suitable manner.

Examples of suitable promoter sequences for yeast hosts include the promoters for the following enzymes: 3-phosphoglycerate kinase or other glycolytic enzymes, such as enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, pyruvate kinase, triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase, and glucokinase.

Another advantage of inducible promoters is that transcription is controlled by growth conditions. The promoter includes the yeast promoter regions of the following enzymes: alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C, acid phosphatase, nitrogen metabolism-related derivative enzymes, metallothionein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization. Suitable vectors and promoters for yeast expression are further described in EP73,657. Yeast enhancers may also be used advantageously with yeast promoters.

Transcription of humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies from vectors in mammalian host cells is controlled, for example, by promoters obtained from: viral genomes, such as polyoma, fowlpox, adenovirus (e.g., adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus, retrovirus, hepatitis B virus, and Simian Virus 40(SV 40); a heterologous mammalian promoter, such as an actin promoter or an immunoglobulin promoter; a heat shock promoter, provided that the promoter is compatible with a host cell system.

The early and late promoters of the SV40 virus are conveniently obtained as SV40 restriction fragments, which also contain the SV40 viral origin of replication. The immediate early promoter of human cytomegalovirus is conveniently obtained as a HindIII E restriction fragment. A system for expressing DNA in a mammalian host using bovine papilloma virus as a vector is disclosed in U.S. patent No. 4,419,446. A modification of this system is described in U.S. patent No. 4,601,978. See also Reyes et al, 1982, Nature297: 598-. Alternatively, the Rous sarcoma virus (Rous sarcoma virus) long terminal repeat can be used as a promoter.

Another useful element that can be used in recombinant expression vectors is an enhancer sequence, which is used to increase transcription of DNA encoding the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody in higher eukaryotes. Various enhancer sequences are known from mammalian genes (e.g., globin, elastase, albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, and insulin). However, typically an enhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus is used. Examples include the SV40 enhancer (bp100-270) located late in the replication origin (lateside), the cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer located late in the replication origin, and the adenovirus enhancer. A description of the enhancer modules for the activation of eukaryotic promoters can also be found in Yaniv, 1982, Nature297: 17-18. The enhancer may be spliced into the vector at a position 5' or 3' to the sequence encoding the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody, but is preferably located at a site 5' to the promoter.

Expression vectors for use in eukaryotic host cells (yeast, fungi, insect, plant, animal, human cells or nucleated cells from other multicellular organisms) may also contain sequences necessary for termination of transcription and for stabilizing the mRNA. The sequences are generally obtained from the 5 'and occasionally the 3' untranslated regions of eukaryotic or viral DNA or cDNA. The region contains a nucleotide segment transcribed as a polyadenylated fragment in the untranslated portion of the mRNA encoding the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody. One useful transcription termination component is the bovine growth hormone polyadenylation region. See WO94/11026 and expression vectors disclosed therein. In some embodiments, humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies can be expressed using the CHEF system. (see, for example, U.S. patent No. 5,888,809, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.)

Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing the DNA in the vectors herein are the above mentioned prokaryotic cells, yeast cells or higher eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotes suitable for this purpose include eubacteria, such as gram-negative or gram-positive organisms, for example: enterobacteriaceae (Enterobacteriaceae), for example Escherichia (Escherichia) (e.g.Escherichia coli), Enterobacter (Enterobacter), Erwinia (Erwinia), Klebsiella (Klebsiella), Proteus (Proteus), Salmonella (Salmonella) (e.g.Salmonella typhimurium), Serratia (e.g.Serratia marcescens) and Shigella (Shigella), and Bacillus (e.g.Bacillus subtilis) and Bacillus licheniformis (e.g.Bacillus subtilis 41P disclosed in lichen 266,710 published 4.12.1989), Pseudomonas (e.g.Pseudomonas) and Streptomyces (Streptomyces). A preferred E.coli cloning host is E.coli 294(ATCC31,446), but other strains are also suitable, such as E.coli B, E.coli X1776(ATCC31,537) and E.coli W3110(ATCC27,325). The described embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive.

In addition to prokaryotes, eukaryotic microorganisms such as filamentous fungi or yeast are suitable cloning or expression hosts for vectors encoding humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies. Saccharomyces cerevisiae or common baker's yeast is the most commonly used lower eukaryotic host microorganism. However, a variety of other genera, species and strains can generally be used and are useful herein, such as Schizosaccharomyces (Schizosaccharomyces pombe); kluyveromyces hosts such as kluyveromyces lactis, kluyveromyces fragilis (k.fragilis) (ATCC12,424), kluyveromyces bulgaricus (k.bulgaricus) (ATCC16,045), kluyveromyces wilkerii (k.wickramii) (ATCC24,178), kluyveromyces farinosus (k.walltii) (ATCC56,500), kluyveromyces drosophilus (k.drosophilarium) (ATCC36,906), kluyveromyces thermotolerans (k.thermotolerans), and kluyveromyces marxianus (k.marxianus); yarrowia (EP402,226); pichia pastoris (Pichia pastoris) (EP183,070); candida (Candida); trichoderma reesei (Trichoderma reesei) (EP244,234); neurospora crassa (Neurospora crassa); schwanniomyces (Schwanniomyces), such as Schwanniomyces occidentalis (Schwanniomyces occidentalis); and filamentous fungi such as Neurospora (Neurospora), Penicillium (Penicillium), torticollis (Tolypocladium), and Aspergillus (Aspergillus) hosts (e.g., Aspergillus nidulans (a. nidulans) and Aspergillus niger (a. niger)).

Suitable host cells expressing the glycosylated humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody are obtained from multicellular organisms. Examples of invertebrate cells include plant and insect cells, including, for example, various baculovirus strains and variants and corresponding permissive insect host cells from, for example, the following hosts: spodoptera frugiperda (spodoptera rugosa) (caterpillars), Aedes aegypti (mosquitoes), Aedes albopictus (mosquitoes), Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila melanogaster), and Bombyx mori (silkworms). Various strains of transfection virus are available from published sources, such as the L-1 variant of Autographa californica (NPV) and the Bm-5 strain of Bombyx mori NPV, and are particularly useful for transfecting Spodoptera frugiperda cells.

Plant cell cultures of cotton, corn, potato, soybean, petunia, tomato, and tobacco may also be used as hosts.

In another aspect, the expression of humanized anti-IL-23P 19 is effected in a vertebrate cell. Propagation of vertebrate cells in culture (tissue culture) has become a routine procedure and technology is widely available. Examples of mammalian host cell lines which may be used are monkey kidney CV1 transformed by SV40 (COS-7, ATCC CRL1651), human embryonic kidney line (293 line or 293 cells subcloned for growth in suspension culture, Graham et al, 1977, J.Gen Virol.36: 59), baby hamster kidney cells (BHK, ATCC CCL10), Chinese hamster ovary cells/-DHFR 1(CHO, Urlaub et al, 1980, Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA77: 4216; e.g.DG 44), mouse testis support cells (TM4, Mather, 1980, biol.Rep.23: 243) 251, monkey kidney cells (MDCC 1ATCC CCL70), African green monkey kidney cells (ATCC-76, ATCC CRL-1587), human cervical cancer cells (HELA, ATCC CCL2), canine kidney cells (BRK 34), murine mouse lung cells (ATCC 1443, ATCC 14423), human mammary cells (MMCCL 36563665), human mammary tumor cells (MMHB 36563656365620), mouse lung tumor cells (MMHB) and mouse lung cells (CCL 365636562), mouse lung cells (ATCC 14423, ATCC 3659, mouse lung cells (MMHB) and mouse lung cells, TR1 cells (Mather et al, 1982, Annals N.Y.Acad.Sci.383: 44-68), MRC5 cells, FS4 cells, and the human hepatoma line (Hep G2).

Host cells are transformed with the above-described expression or cloning vectors for the production of humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody and cultured in common nutrient media modified as appropriate for inducing promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying genes encoding the desired sequences.

Host cells for the production of the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies described herein can be cultured in a variety of media. Commercially available media are suitable for culturing host cells, such as Ham's F10(Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.), minimal essential Medium ((MEM), Sigma-Aldrich), RPMI-1640 (Sigma-Aldrich), and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium ((DMEM), Sigma-Aldrich). In addition, any of the media described in one or more of the following references may be used as the host cell culture medium: ham et al, 1979, meth.enz.58: 44; barnes et al, 1980, anal. biochem.102: 255; U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,704, U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,866, U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,762, U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,655, U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,469, WO90/103430 and WO 87/00195. Any of the media may be supplemented as necessary with hormones and/or other growth factors (e.g., insulin, transferrin, or epidermal growth factor), salts (e.g., sodium chloride, calcium salts, magnesium salts, and phosphate salts), buffers (e.g., HEPES), nucleotides (e.g., adenosine and thymidine), antibiotics (e.g., gentamicin), trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds typically present at final concentrations in the micromolar range), and glucose or an equivalent energy source. Other supplements may also be included at appropriate concentrations known to those skilled in the art. Culture conditions such as temperature, pH, etc., are those previously used for the selected host cell for expression and will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

When using recombinant techniques, the antibody may be produced intracellularly, in the periplasmic space, or secreted directly into the culture medium. If the antibody is produced within the cell, the cell may be disrupted as a first step to release the protein. Particulate debris, i.e., host cells or lysed fragments, can be removed by centrifugation or ultrafiltration. Carter et al, 1992, Bio/Technology10:163-167 describe the procedure for isolating antibodies secreted into the periplasmic space of E.coli. Briefly, the cell paste was thawed in the presence of sodium acetate (ph3.5), EDTA, and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) over about 30 minutes. Cell debris can be removed by centrifugation. In case the antibody is secreted into the culture medium, the supernatant from the expression system is typically first concentrated using a commercially available protein concentration filter (e.g., Amicon or Millipore Pellicon ultrafiltration unit). A protease inhibitor such as PMSF may be included in any of the preceding steps to inhibit proteolysis, and an antibiotic may be included to prevent the growth of adventitious contaminants. Antibodies can be isolated from host cells using a variety of methods.

Antibody compositions prepared from cells can be purified using, for example, hydroxyapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis, dialysis, and affinity chromatography, with affinity chromatography being a common purification technique. The suitability of protein a as an affinity ligand depends on the species and isotype of any immunoglobulin Fc domain present in the antibody. Protein A can be used to purify antibodies based on human gamma 1, gamma 2, or gamma 4 heavy chains (see, e.g., Lindmark et al, 1983J. Immunol. meth.62: 1-13). Protein G is recommended for all mouse isoforms and human gamma 3 (see, e.g., Guss et al, 1986EMBO J.5: 1567-1575). The matrix to which the affinity ligand is attached is most often agarose, but other groups may be usedAnd (4) quality. Mechanically stable matrices, such as controlled pore glass or poly (styrene divinyl) benzene, allow faster flow rates and shorter processing times than can be achieved using agarose. Provided that the antibody comprises C_H3Domain, then Bakerbond ABX^TMResins (j.t.baker, phillips burg, n.j.) can be used for purification. Depending on the antibody to be recovered, other protein purification techniques may also be used, such as ion exchange column fractionation, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, silica gel chromatography, heparin Sepharose^TMChromatography, anion or cation exchange resin (e.g., polyaspartic acid column) chromatography, chromatofocusing, SDS-PAGE, and ammonium sulfate precipitation.

After any preliminary purification step, the mixture comprising the target antibody and contaminants may be subjected to low pH hydrophobic interaction chromatography using an elution buffer having a pH between about 2.5 and 4.5, which is typically performed at low salt concentrations (e.g., about 0-0.25M salt).

Also included are nucleic acids that hybridize under low, medium, and high stringency conditions as defined herein to all or a portion of the nucleotide sequence represented by the isolated polynucleotide sequence encoding an antibody or antibody fragment of the invention (e.g., the portion encoding the variable region). The hybridizing portion of the hybridizing nucleic acid is typically at least 15 (e.g., 20, 25, 30, or 50) nucleotides in length. The hybridizing portion of the hybridizing nucleic acid is at least 80% (e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 98%) identical to the sequence of a portion or all of the nucleic acid encoding the anti-IL-23P 19 polypeptide (e.g., heavy or light chain variable region) or its complement. Hybridizing nucleic acids of the type described herein may be used, for example, as cloning probes, primers (e.g., PCR primers), or diagnostic probes.

Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding an antibody or antibody fragment having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ id nos 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, or 119; and a sequence at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identical to the polynucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 83, 85, 87, 89, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, or 118.

Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding an antibody or antibody fragment having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ id nos 158, 160, 162, or 164; and a sequence at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:157, 159, 161, or 163.

Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding an antibody or antibody fragment having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ id nos 121, 123, 125, 127, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, or 156; and a sequence at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% identical to the polynucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 120, 122, 124, 126, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153 or 155.

Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding an antibody or antibody fragment having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ id nos 166, 168, 170, or 172; and a sequence at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 165, 167, 169, or 171.

Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding an antibody or antibody fragment having a light chain variable region amino acid sequence at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identical to any one of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NOs 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, or 119. Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding an antibody or antibody fragment having a light chain variable region amino acid sequence at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identical to any one of amino acid sequences SEQ ID NOs 158, 160, 162, or 164. Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding an antibody or antibody fragment having a heavy chain variable region amino acid sequence at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identical to any one of amino acid sequences SEQ id nos 121, 123, 125, 127, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, or 156. Some embodiments include an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding an antibody or antibody fragment having a heavy chain variable region amino acid sequence at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identical to any one of amino acid sequences SEQ id nos 166, 168, 170, or 172.

The term "identical" or "percent identity" as used herein in the context of two or more nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences refers to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of nucleotides or amino acid residues that are the same when compared and aligned (for maximum correspondence). To determine percent identity, the sequences are aligned for optimal alignment purposes (e.g., gaps can be introduced in a first amino acid or nucleic acid sequence for optimal alignment with a second amino acid or nucleic acid sequence). The amino acid residues or nucleotides at the corresponding amino acid positions or nucleotide positions are then aligned. A position in the first sequence is identical to a corresponding position in the second sequence if the position is occupied by the same amino acid residue or nucleotide at that position. The percent identity between two sequences is a function of the number of identical positions shared by the sequences (i.e., identity% = number of identical positions/total number of positions (e.g., number of overlapping positions) × 100). In some embodiments, the two sequences being compared are the same length after gaps have been introduced in the sequences, as appropriate (e.g., excluding additional sequences that extend beyond the sequences being compared). For example, in comparing variable region sequences, leader sequences and/or constant domain sequences are not considered. In a sequence alignment between two sequences, a "corresponding" CDR refers to a CDR at the same position in both sequences (e.g., CDR-H1 for each sequence).

Determination of percent identity or percent similarity between two sequences can be accomplished using a mathematical algorithm. A preferred non-limiting example of a mathematical algorithm for comparing two sequences is the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul (1990, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA87: 2264-. This algorithm has been incorporated into the NBLAST and XBLAST programs of Altschul et al (1990, J.mol.biol.215: 403-. BLAST nucleotide search can be performed using NBLAST program (score =100, word length =12) to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to nucleic acids encoding proteins of interest. BLAST protein searches can be performed using the XBLAST program (score =50, word length =3) to obtain amino acid sequences homologous to the protein of interest. For comparison purposes, Gapped BLAST can be utilized as described in Altschul et al, 1997, Nucleic Acids Res.25:3389-3402, to obtain Gapped alignment. Alternatively, PSI-Blast can be used to perform an iterative search that detects distant contacts between molecules (same article). When utilizing BLAST, Gapped BLAST, and PSI-BLAST programs, preset parameters for each program (e.g., XBLAST and NBLAST) can be used. Another preferred non-limiting example for alignment sequences is the algorithm of Myers and Miller (CABIOS (1989)). This algorithm has been incorporated into the ALIGN program (version 2.0), which is part of the GCG sequence alignment software package. When using an alignment program to compare amino acid sequences, a PAM120 weighted residue table, a gap length penalty equal to 12, and a gap penalty equal to 4 can be used. Other algorithms for sequence analysis are known in the art and include ADVANCE and ADAM, as described in Torellis and Robotti, 1994, Compout.appl.biosci.10: 3-5; and FASTA, as described in Pearson and Lipman, 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA85: 2444-8. Within FASTA, ktup is a control option to set sensitivity and search speed. If ktup =2, finding similar regions in the two aligned sequences by examining the alignment residue pairs; if ktup =1, a single aligned amino acid is checked. Ktup may be set to 2 or 1 for protein sequences, or 1 to 6 for DNA sequences. If ktup is not specified, the default is 2 for protein and 6 for DNA. Alternatively, protein sequence alignment can be performed using the CLUSTAL W algorithm, as described by Higgins et al, 1996, methods enzymol.266: 383-402.

Non-therapeutic use

The antibodies described herein can be used as affinity purifiers. In this method, the antibody is immobilized on a solid phase such as a protein a resin using methods well known in the art. Contacting the immobilized antibody with a sample containing the IL-23P19 protein (or fragment thereof) to be purified, and subsequently washing the carrier with a suitable solvent, such that substantially all material in the sample other than the IL-23P19 protein bound to the immobilized antibody can be removed. Finally, the carrier is washed with another suitable solvent, thereby releasing the IL-23P19 protein from the antibody.

anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies, such as humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies, are also useful in diagnostic assays to detect and/or quantify IL-23 protein, such as detecting IL-23 expression in specific cells, tissues or serum. anti-IL-23 p19 antibody diagnosability is used, for example, to monitor the manifestation or progression of disease as part of a clinical testing procedure, for example, to determine the efficacy of a given treatment and/or prevention regimen. Detection can be facilitated by coupling an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody. Examples of detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent substances, luminescent substances, bioluminescent substances, radioactive substances, positron emitting metals using various positron emission tomography, and nonradioactive paramagnetic metal ions. For metal ions that can bind to antibodies of the invention that are useful as diagnostic agents, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,900.

anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies are useful in methods of diagnosing an IL-23-associated disorder (e.g., a disorder characterized by aberrant expression of IL-23) or determining whether an individual is at increased risk for developing an IL-23-associated disorder. These methods comprise contacting a biological sample from the individual with an IL-23p19 antibody and detecting binding of the antibody to IL-23p 19. By "biological sample" is meant any biological sample obtained from an individual, cell line, tissue culture, or other source of cells potentially expressing IL-23. Methods for obtaining tissue biopsies and body fluids from mammals are well known in the art.

In some embodiments, the method can further comprise comparing the level of IL-23 in the patient sample to the level of IL-23 in a control sample (e.g., an individual not having an IL-23-associated disorder) to determine whether the patient has an IL-23-associated disorder or is at risk of developing an IL-23-associated disorder.

In some embodiments, it may be advantageous to label the antibody with a detectable moiety, e.g., for diagnostic purposes. A variety of detectable labels may be used, including radioisotopes, fluorescent labels, enzyme substrate labels, and the like. The label can be indirectly conjugated to the antibody using a variety of known techniques. For example, an antibody may be conjugated to biotin and any of the three broad classes of labels described above may be conjugated to avidin, or vice versa. Biotin binds selectively to avidin and the label can thus be conjugated to the antibody in this indirect manner. Alternatively, to achieve indirect conjugation between the label and the antibody, the antibody may be conjugated to a smaller hapten (e.g., digoxin) and one different type of the above-described label conjugated to an anti-hapten antibody (e.g., anti-digoxin antibody). Thus, indirect conjugation of the label to the antibody can be achieved.

Exemplary radioisotope labels include³⁵S、¹⁴C、¹²⁵I、³H and¹³¹I. the antibodies can be labeled with radioisotopes using, for example, techniques described in the following documents: current Protocols in immunology, volumes 1 and 2, 1991, edited by Coligen et al, Wiley-Interscience, New York, N.Y., Pubs. Radioactivity can be measured, for example, by scintillation counting.

Exemplary fluorescent labels include those from: rare earth chelates (europium chelates) or fluorescein and its derivatives, rhodamine (rhodamine) and its derivatives, dansyl (dansyl), Lissamine (Lissamine), phycoerythrin, and Texas Red (Texas Red). The fluorescent label can be conjugated to the antibody via known techniques, such as those disclosed in Current Protocols in Immunology (supra). Fluorescence can be measured quantitatively using a fluorometer.

A variety of well-characterized enzyme-substrate labels are known in the art (for example, for review see U.S. patent No. 4,275,149). Enzymes generally catalyze the development of a chromogenic substrate with a chemical change that can be measured using a variety of techniques. For example, the change may be a change in color of the substrate that can be measured spectrophotometrically. Alternatively, the enzyme may alter the fluorescence or chemiluminescence of the substrate. Techniques for quantifying the change in fluorescence are described above. A chemiluminescent substrate can be electronically excited by a chemical reaction and can subsequently emit light that can be measured using, for example, a chemiluminescence meter or provide energy to a fluorescent acceptor.

Examples of enzyme labels include luciferases (e.g., firefly luciferase and bacterial luciferases, U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,456), luciferin, 2, 3-dihydrophthalazinediones, malate dehydrogenase, urease, peroxidase (e.g., horseradish peroxidase (HRPO)), alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, glucoamylase, lysozyme, carbohydrate oxidases (e.g., glucose oxidase, galactose oxidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase), heterocyclic oxidases (e.g., uricase and xanthine oxidase), lactoperoxidase, microperoxidase, and the like. The technology of conjugating enzymes with antibodies is described, for example, in the following documents: o' Sullivan et al, 1981, Methods for the Preparation of Enzyme-Antibody Conjugates for use in Enzyme Immunoassay, Methods in Enzyme (edited by J.Langon and H.Van Vunakis), Academic press, N.Y., 73: 147-166.

Examples of enzyme-substrate combinations include (for example): horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) with catalase as a substrate, wherein the catalase oxidizes a dye precursor (e.g., o-phenylenediamine (OPD) or 3,3',5,5' -tetramethylbenzidine hydrochloride (TMB)); alkaline Phosphatase (AP) with p-nitrophenyl phosphate as chromogenic substrate; and β -D-galactosidase (. beta. -D-Gal) with a chromogenic substrate (e.g., p-nitrophenyl-. beta. -D-galactosidase or fluorogenic substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-. beta. -D-galactosidase).

One skilled in the art will appreciate a variety of other enzyme-substrate combinations. A general review of such combinations is found in U.S. patent No. 4,275,149 and U.S. patent No. 4,318,980.

In another embodiment, unlabeled humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody is used and detection is with a labeled antibody that binds the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody.

The antibodies described herein can be used in any known assay method, such as competitive binding assays, direct and indirect sandwich (sandwich) assays, and immunoprecipitation assays. See, for example, Zola, Monoclonal antibodies: a Manual of Techniques, pp.147-.

anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof can be used to inhibit the binding of IL-23 to the IL-23 receptor. These methods comprise administering an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof to a cell (e.g., a mammalian cell) or cellular environment, thereby inhibiting signaling mediated by an IL-23 receptor. These methods can be performed in vitro or in vivo. By "cellular environment" is meant a tissue, culture medium, or extracellular matrix surrounding a cell. Administering an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof to the cellular environment of a cell such that the antibody or fragment is capable of binding to an IL-23 molecule that is external to and surrounds the cell, thereby preventing binding of IL-23 to its receptor.

Diagnostic kit

The anti-IL-23P 19 antibody can be used in a diagnostic kit, i.e., a packaged combination of predetermined amounts of reagents and instructions for performing a diagnostic assay. If the antibody is labeled with an enzyme, the kit may include the substrate and cofactor required for the enzyme (e.g., a substrate precursor that provides a detectable chromophore or fluorophore). In addition, other additives may be included, such as stabilizers, buffers (e.g., blocking buffers or lysis buffers), and the like. The relative amounts of the various reagents can vary widely so that the concentration of the reagents in solution can significantly optimize the sensitivity of the assay. The reagents may be provided in dry powder form (typically by lyophilization) which includes excipients which, upon dissolution, provide a solution of the reagents with a suitable concentration.

Therapeutic use

In another embodiment, the humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibodies disclosed herein can be used to treat various disorders associated with the expression of IL-23P19 as described herein. Methods for treating IL-23-associated disorders comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody.

The humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or drug is administered by any suitable means, including parenterally, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, intrapulmonary, and intranasally, and if local immunosuppressive therapy is desired, intralesional administration (including infusion or otherwise contacting the graft with the antibody prior to transplantation) is performed. The humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or drug may be administered, for example, in infusion or bolus form. Parenteral infusion includes intramuscular, intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous administration. In addition, humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody by pulse infusion suitable administration, especially with antibody dose to reduce. In one aspect, administration is effected by injection, most preferably intravenous or subcutaneous injection, depending in part on whether administration is short-term or long-term.

In preventing or treating a disease, the appropriate dosage of the antibody may depend on a variety of factors, such as the type of disease to be treated, the severity and course of the disease, whether the antibody is administered for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes, previous therapy, the patient's clinical history and response to the antibody, as defined above, and the discretion of the attending physician. The antibody is administered to the patient at one time or in an appropriate manner over a series of treatments.

Depending on the type and severity of the disease, the initial candidate dose of antibody administered to the patient is about 1 μ g/kg to 20mg/kg (e.g., 0.1-15mg/kg), whether administered, for example, by one or more divided administrations or by continuous infusion. Depending on the factors mentioned above, typical daily doses may range from about 1 μ g/kg to 100mg/kg or higher. For repeated administrations over several days or longer, depending on the condition, treatment is continued until the desired suppression of disease symptoms occurs. However, other dosage regimens may be used. The progress of this therapy can be readily monitored by conventional techniques and assays. Exemplary dosage regimens are disclosed in WO 94/04188.

The term "inhibit" as used herein in the same context as "ameliorate" and "reduce" means reduce one or more characteristics of a disease.

The antibody compositions can be formulated, dosed, and administered in a manner consistent with good medical practice. Factors to be considered in this context include the particular disorder being treated, the particular mammal being treated, the clinical condition of the individual patient, the cause, the site of delivery of the drug, the method of administration, the timing of administration, and other factors known to the practitioner. The "therapeutically effective amount" to be administered of the antibody may depend on such factors and is the minimum amount required to prevent, ameliorate or treat a disorder associated with IL-23 expression.

The antibody need not be, but is optionally, formulated with one or more drugs currently used to prevent or treat the disorder. The effective amount of such other drug will depend on the amount of humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody present in the formulation, the type of disorder or treatment, and other factors described above. Such other drugs are typically used at the same doses and routes of administration as used above or at about 1% to 99% of the doses used above.

IL-23 related disorders

Anti IL-23p19 antibodies or agents are useful in the treatment or prevention of immune disorders characterized by aberrant expression of IL-23, for example, due to inappropriate activation of immune cells (e.g., lymphocytes or dendritic cells). This abnormal expression of IL-23 can be attributed, for example, to an increased IL-23 protein content. anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof may also be used to treat or prevent respiratory disorders, metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes), and certain cancers. Treatment or prevention of an immune disorder, a respiratory disorder, a metabolic disorder, or cancer according to the methods described herein is achieved by administering to an individual in need of such treatment or prevention an effective amount of an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or agent, whereby the antibody reduces the activity of IL-23 associated with the disease state.

Immune diseases characterized by inappropriate activation of immune cells and which can be treated or prevented by the methods described herein can be classified according to, for example, the type of underlying hypersensitivity reaction of the disorder. The reactions can be generally classified into four categories: allergic reactions, cytotoxic (cytolytic) reactions, immune complex reactions, or cell-mediated immune (CMI) reactions (also known as delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions). (see, for example, fundamentals immunology (edited by William e. paul, Raven Press, n.y., 3 rd edition, 1993)). Immune diseases include inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases.

Specific examples of the immune diseases include the following diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune demyelinating diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis, allergic encephalomyelitis), endocrine ophthalmopathy, uveal retinitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, Grave's disease, glomerulonephritis, autoimmune haematopathy, inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), anaphylaxis, Sjogren's syndrome, type I diabetes, primary biliary cirrhosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, fibromyalgia, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, inflammatory myositis, multiple endocrine deficiency, Schmidt's syndrome, autoimmune uveitis, addison's disease, adrenalitis, thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroiditis, malignant thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroiditis, Grave's disease, Gray Gastric atrophy, chronic hepatitis, lupus-like hepatitis, atherosclerosis, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, hypoparathyroidism, deshell syndrome (drestler's syndrome), autoimmune thrombocytopenia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic anemia, pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus, dermatitis herpetiformis, alopecia areata, pemphigoid, scleroderma, progressive systemic sclerosis, CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal hyperactivity, fingertip sclerosis, and telangiectasia), male and female autoimmune infertility, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis, mixed connective tissue disease, polyarteritis nodosa, systemic necrotizing vasculitis, atopic dermatitis, atopic rhinitis, Goodpasture's syndrome, gastodure's syndrome, gassy's disease, Sarcoidosis, rheumatic fever, asthma, recurrent abortion, antiphospholipid syndrome, farmer's lung, erythema multiforme, post-cardiotomy syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, avians lung, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Alport's syndrome, alveolitis, allergic alveolitis, fibrosing alveolitis, interstitial lung disease, erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum, transfusion reactions, Takayasu's arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, temporal arteritis, schistosomiasis, giant cell arteritis, ascariasis, aspergillosis, triple of aspirin's syndrome, eczema, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, Behcet's disease, Kaplan's syndrome, Kazaki's disease, Dengue fever (dengue), encephalomyelitis, endocarditis, endocardial myocardial fibrosis, endophthalmitis, persistent raised erythema, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, fetal erythroblastic polycythemia, eosinophilic fasciitis, post-transfusion purpura syndrome (Shulman's syndrome), feldti's syndrome (Felty's syndrome), filariasis, cyclitis, chronic cyclitis, isochronism, Focus's cyclitis, IgA nephropathy, Henoch-Schonlein purpura, graft-versus-host disease, transplant rejection, cardiomyopathy, myasthenia syndrome (Eaton-Lambert), recurrent polychondritis, cryoglobulinemia, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (Waldenstrom' scleroderma), Evon's syndrome (Evon's syndrome), acute respiratory distress syndrome, and inflammatory disease of the lungs, Delayed type hypersensitivity and autoimmune gonadal failure.

In some embodiments, the immune disorder is a T cell-mediated immune disorder, and thus anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies and agents as described herein are also useful for treating or preventing T cell-mediated immune disorders.

In one aspect, an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or agent is useful for treating or preventing respiratory disorders in which IL-23 is abnormally expressed. Treatment or prevention of respiratory disorders according to the methods described herein is achieved by administering to an individual in need of such treatment or prevention an effective amount of an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or agent, whereby the antibody reduces IL-23 activity associated with the disease state. These disorders include (but are not limited to): respiratory diseases, obstructive pulmonary diseases of various origins, emphysema of various origins, restrictive pulmonary diseases, interstitial lung diseases (interstitial pulmonary/interstitial lung diseases), cystic fibrosis, bronchitis of various origins, bronchiectasis, ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome) and all forms of pulmonary edema; obstructive pulmonary disease selected from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, bronchial asthma, pediatric asthma, severe asthma, acute asthmatic attacks, and chronic bronchitis; emphysema originating from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or α 1-protease inhibitor deficiency; a restrictive lung disease selected from allergic alveolitis, a restrictive lung disease induced by work-related harmful substances (such as asbestosis or silicosis), and a restriction caused by lung tumors (such as lymphangiosis carinomatosa, bronchoalveolar carcinoma and lymphoma); pneumonia caused by infection, e.g., viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal, helminth, or other pathogen infection; pneumonia caused by various factors, such as aspiration and left cardiac insufficiency; radiation-induced pneumonia or fibrosis, collagen (e.g., lupus erythematosus, systemic scleroderma, or sarcoidosis), granuloma (e.g., Boeck's disease, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, or Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)); mucoviscidosis (mucoviscidiosis), bronchitis caused by bacterial or viral infections, allergic and toxic bronchitis; bronchiectasis; pulmonary edema, such as toxic pulmonary edema after inhalation of toxic and foreign substances; rhinitis, arthritis and related arthropathies, psoriasis, myeloid leukemia, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, glomerulonephritis and chronic atopic dermatitis.

In another aspect, anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies and agents as described herein are also useful for treating cancers with aberrant expression of IL-23.

IL-23 expressing cancers that can be treated by the methods described herein include, for example, leukemias, such as acute leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia (e.g., myeloblastic leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia, myelomonocytic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, or erythroleukemia), chronic leukemia, chronic myelogenous (myelogenous) leukemia, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia; polycythemia vera; lymphoma (e.g., hodgkin's disease or non-hodgkin's disease); multiple myeloma, waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia; heavy chain disease; solid tumors, such as sarcomas and carcinomas (e.g., fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, osteosarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, breast carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchial carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, liver carcinoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilms' tumor, cervical carcinoma, uterine carcinoma, testicular tumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, colon carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, colon carcinoma, carcinoma, Glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, oligodendroglioma, meningioma (menengioma), melanoma, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma or esophageal carcinoma).

Pharmaceutical compositions and administration thereof

A composition comprising an IL-23p19 binding agent (e.g., an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody) can be administered to an individual having or at risk of having an immune disorder, a respiratory disorder, or cancer. The invention further provides the use of an IL-23P19 binding agent (e.g., an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody) in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of an IL-23P 19-expressing cancer or immune disorder. The term "subject" as used herein means any mammalian patient to which an IL-23P19 binding agent may be administered, including, for example, humans and non-human mammals, such as primates, rodents, and dogs. Individuals specifically intended to be treated using the methods described herein include humans. In the prevention or treatment of an immune disorder or cancer expressing IL-23P19, the antibody or drug may be administered alone or in combination with other components. These components, which may be administered in combination with an antibody or agent, include Methotrexate (MTX) and immunomodulators, such as antibodies or small molecules.

An example of an antibody for use in these pharmaceutical compositions is an antibody comprising a humanized antibody or antibody fragment of any one of the light chain variable region amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, or 119. Examples of antibodies for use in these pharmaceutical compositions are also antibodies comprising a humanized antibody or antibody fragment having the heavy chain variable region amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs 121, 123, 125, 127, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154 or 156.

Other examples of antibodies for use in these pharmaceutical compositions are also antibodies comprising a humanized antibody or antibody fragment having the light chain variable region amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs 158, 160, 162, or 164. Preferred antibodies for use in these pharmaceutical compositions are also antibodies comprising a humanized antibody or antibody fragment having the heavy chain variable region amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs 166, 168, 170 or 172.

Other examples of antibodies for use in these pharmaceutical compositions are also antibodies comprising humanized antibodies or antibody fragments of any of light chain variable and heavy chain variable regions of SEQ ID NOS 160 and 166, SEQ ID NOS 160 and 168, SEQ ID NOS 158 and 166, or SEQ ID NOS 158 and 168.

Other examples of antibodies for use in these pharmaceutical compositions are also antibodies comprising humanized antibodies having the amino acid sequence of either of SEQ ID NO:174 or 180 in the light chain region. Preferred antibodies for use in these pharmaceutical compositions are also antibodies comprising a humanized antibody having the heavy chain variable region amino acid sequence of either of SEQ ID NO:176 or 178.

Other examples of antibodies for use in these pharmaceutical compositions are also antibodies comprising antibody a, antibody B, antibody C or antibody D.

A variety of delivery systems are known and can be used to administer IL-23P19 binding agents. Methods of introduction include, but are not limited to, intradermal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, epidural, and oral routes. The IL-23P19 binding agent may be administered, for example, by infusion, bolus injection or injection, and may be administered with other bioactive agents, such as chemotherapeutic drugs. Administration may be systemic or local. In a preferred embodiment, administration is by subcutaneous injection. The formulation for such injection may be prepared, for example, in a pre-filled syringe, which may be administered once every other week.

In particular embodiments, the IL-23P19 binder composition is administered by injection, by catheter, by suppository, or by implant, which is a porous, non-porous, or gelatinous material comprising membranes or fibers such as silastic membranes. Typically, an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or a material to which the drug is not able to adsorb is used when the composition is administered.

In other embodiments, the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or drug is delivered in a controlled release system. In one embodiment, a pump may be used (see, e.g., Langer, 1990, Science249: 1527-. In another embodiment, polymeric materials may be used. (see, for example, Medical Applications of Controlled Release (Langer and Wise editor, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., 1974); Controlled Drug delivery Bioavailability, Drug Product Design and Performance (Smolen and Ball editor, Wiley, New York, 1984); Range and Peppas, 1983, Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem.23: 61. also see, Levy et al, 1985, Science228: 190; During et al, 1989, Ann. Neurol.25: 351; Howard et al, 1989, J. Neurosurg.71: 105.) other Controlled Release systems are discussed, for example, in Langer (supra).

The IL-23P19 binding agent (e.g., an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody) can be administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the binding agent and one or more pharmaceutically compatible ingredients.

In typical embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is formulated in accordance with routine procedures as a pharmaceutical composition suitable for intravenous or subcutaneous administration to a human. Typically, the composition for injectable administration is a solution in sterile isotonic aqueous buffer. If desired, the drug may also include a solubilizing agent and a local anesthetic (e.g., lignocaine) to reduce pain at the injection site. Typically, the ingredients are supplied individually or mixed together in unit dosage form, e.g., as a lyophilized powder or water-free concentrate in a sealed container such as an ampoule or sachet indicating the amount of active agent. If the drug is to be administered by infusion, it may be dispensed into an infusion bottle containing sterile pharmaceutical grade water or saline. In the event that the medicament is to be administered by injection, an ampoule containing sterile water or saline for injection may be provided so that the ingredients may be mixed prior to administration.

In addition, the pharmaceutical composition may be provided in the form of a pharmaceutical kit comprising (a) a container containing an IL-23P19 binding agent (e.g., an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody) in lyophilized form and (b) a second container containing a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent for injection (e.g., sterile water). Pharmaceutically acceptable diluents may be used to reconstitute or dilute the lyophilized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or drug. Optionally, the container may be accompanied by a notice in a form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice indicates approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration.

An effective amount of an IL-23P19 binding agent (e.g., an anti-IL-23P 19 antibody) in treating or preventing an immune disorder or a cancer expressing IL-23P19 can be determined by standard clinical techniques. In addition, in vitro assays may optionally be employed to help determine optimal dosage ranges. The exact dosage employed in the formulation may also depend on the route of administration and the stage of the immune disorder or cancer, and should be determined at the discretion of the practitioner and in the individual patient's circumstances. Effective doses can be extrapolated from dose-response curves obtained from in vitro or animal model test systems.

Typically, the dose of anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or IL-23P19 binding agent administered to a patient suffering from an immune disorder or IL-23P19 expressing cancer is typically from about 0.1mg/kg to about 100mg/kg of the individual's body weight. The dose administered to the subject is from about 0.1mg/kg to about 50mg/kg of the subject's body weight, from about 1mg/kg to about 30mg/kg, from about 1mg/kg to about 20mg/kg, from about 1mg/kg to about 15mg/kg, or from about 1mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg.

Exemplary doses include, but are not limited to, 1ng/kg to 100 mg/kg. In some embodiments, the dose is about 0.5mg/kg, about 1mg/kg, about 2mg/kg, about 3mg/kg, about 4mg/kg, about 5mg/kg, about 6mg/kg, about 7mg/kg, about 8mg/kg, about 9mg/kg, about 10mg/kg, about 11mg/kg, about 12mg/kg, about 13mg/kg, about 14mg/kg, about 15mg/kg, or about 16 mg/kg. The dose may be administered, for example, at the following frequency: daily, once per week (once a week), twice per week, three times per week, four times per week, five times per week, six times per week, once every two weeks or once a month, once every two months or once every three months. In particular embodiments, the dose is about 0.5 mg/kg/week, about 1 mg/kg/week, about 2 mg/kg/week, about 3 mg/kg/week, about 4 mg/kg/week, about 5 mg/kg/week, about 6 mg/kg/week, about 7 mg/kg/week, about 8 mg/kg/week, about 9 mg/kg/week, about 10 mg/kg/week, about 11 mg/kg/week, about 12 mg/kg/week, about 13 mg/kg/week, about 14 mg/kg/week, about 15 mg/kg/week, or about 16 mg/kg/week. In some embodiments, the dose is in the range of about 1 mg/kg/week to about 15 mg/kg/week.

In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an IL-23P19 binding agent may further comprise a therapeutic drug conjugated or unconjugated to the binding agent. An anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or IL-23P19 binding agent may be co-administered in combination with one or more therapeutic agents for treating or preventing an immune disorder or cancer.

Such combination therapy administration may produce additive or synergistic effects on disease parameters (e.g., symptom severity, number of symptoms, or frequency of relapse).

For treatment regimens that are administered in combination, in a particular embodiment, the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or IL-23P19 binding agent is administered concurrently with the therapeutic agent. In another specific embodiment, the therapeutic agent is administered before or after the administration of the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or IL-23P19 binding agent, i.e., at least one hour and up to several months, e.g., at least one hour, 5 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, or 3 months, before or after the administration of the anti-IL-23P 19 antibody or IL-23P19 binding agent.

Article of manufacture

In another aspect, articles of manufacture comprising materials useful for treating the above-described conditions are included. The article includes a container and a label. Suitable containers include, for example, bottles, vials, syringes, and test tubes. The container may be formed from a variety of materials, such as glass or plastic. The container contains a composition effective to treat a condition and may have a sterile access port. For example, the container may be an intravenous solution bag or a vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle. The active agent in the composition is a humanized anti-IL-23P 19 antibody. Indicia on or associated with the container indicates that the composition is for use in treating a selected condition. The article of manufacture may further comprise a second container comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer, such as phosphate buffered saline, Ringer's solution, and dextrose solution. It may also include other materials as desired from a commercial and user standpoint, including other buffers, diluents, filters, needles, syringes, and package inserts with written instructions for use.

The invention is further described in the following examples, which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Examples

Example 1: generation of humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies

Conversion of the mouse lead antibody 6B8 to that of 6B8A chimeric antibody consisting of a mouse variable domain and a human constant IgG1KO domain. Mouse antibody 6B8 is shown in table 1 and table 2 above. IgG1KO (KO isknock out, knock out) has two substitution mutations (Leu234Ala and Leu235Ala) that abrogate ADCC and CDC activity by reducing effector functions, such as Fc γ R and complement binding. The variable domain of the mouse antibody is identical to the variable domain of the chimeric antibody. Chimeric antibodies were generated to confirm the function of the antibody and to ensure that the correct sequence was obtained. The variable regions of the antibody are then humanized by design and screening methods. Libraries of human and mouse residue changes are prepared in such a way that there can be human or mouse residues in any given location. Such libraries were made for those amino acids that differ between human germline and mouse antibodies. Only clones that retain the function of the parent mouse antibody were selected. Representative humanized variable regions of antibody 6B8 are shown in tables 5 and 6.

In this way, antibody a, antibody B, antibody C and antibody D are humanized antibodies obtained from the cloning of mouse antibody 6B8 into human IgG1-KO (KO = knockout)/κ backbone. Antibodies A, B, C and D are shown in table 7.

Example 2: binding of antibodies to recombinant IL-23 protein

A) The following shows the mouse anti IL-23p19 antibody and recombinant human IL-23 binding kinetics and affinity (Table 9). After single column purification, the substances produced from the hybridomas were used to measure kinetics and binding affinity using Fortebio Octet (Fortebio, Menlo Park, CA). Because Octet is not a fluidics-based technique, this method does not provide an accurate determination of the dissociation rate. In some cases, only estimates of affinity may be obtained.

TABLE 9

Antibodies	ka(1/Ms)	kd(1/s)	KD(pM)
				18C4	3.84E+05	2.14E-06	5.57
18E5	3.29E+05	2.61E-06	7.93
				18D3	3.19E+05	2.16E-06	6.78
20E8	4.21E+05	2.69E-04	638
				22E2	3.46E+05	3.53E-04	1024
24A5	2.02E+05	4.57E-06	22.6
				15C11	4.11E+05	1.07E-05	26
43F5	1.72E+05	5.96E-06	34.6
				27G8	1.57E+05	4.26E-06	27.2
31H9	2.99E+05	3.45E-06	11.5
				2D1		<1e-6	<1
9D12		<1e-6	<1
				6B8		<1e-6	<1
73H10	5.29E+04	5.24E-06	99.2
				74H3	3.06E+04	2.09E-06	68.3
35H8
				26F7	4.76E+05	1.34E-05	28.1
34G3	9.18E+05	3.10E-05	32.8
				34D9	3.44E+03	1.87E-06	544

B) The affinity of the humanized antibody derived from the mouse antibody 6B8 was measured. Kinetic binding data measured using ProteONXPR36(Biorad, Hercules, CA) and globally fitted to a 1:1 binding model showed that the interaction with recombinant IL-23 (which contains a 21 amino acid linker or does not contain such a linker) covalently linking the p19 and p40 subunits has high affinity, ranging between 1pM and 100pM (table 10). Antibody 6H12 (disclosed in WO 2007/027714), antibody QF20 (disclosed in WO 2007/024846), and antibody C1273 (disclosed in WO 2007/005955) were also tested.

Watch 10

C) The affinity and kinetic data for the binding of anti-IL-23 p19 antibody to cynomolgus IL-23 was measured using ProteON XPR36 and fit overall to a 1:1 binding model (Table 11). Antibody 6H12 (disclosed in WO 2007/027714), antibody QF20 (disclosed in WO 2007/024846), and antibody C1273 (disclosed in WO 2007/005955) were also tested.

TABLE 11

Antibodies	KD(pM)	ka(1/Ms)	kd(1/s)
				Antibody A	<1	2.95E+06	<1e-6
Antibody B	<1	2.99E+06	<1e-6
				Antibody C	2.9	3.23E+06	9.36E-06
Antibody D	15.9	2.07E+06	3.29E-05
				C-1273	>5,000	n/a	n/a
6H12	157	9.91E+05	1.56E-04
				QF20	1.2	3.90E+06	4.78E-06

D) Molecular Selectivity with respect to human IL-12

Anti IL-23p19 antibody also at 100nM concentration injection in human IL-12 surface. The binding signal of these antibodies was zero as measured using Fortebio Octet, indicating that these antibodies selectively bind human IL-23. The binding of anti-IL-23 p19 antibody to IL-23 was also analyzed in the presence of 50% human serum and no significant effect of serum on the rate of binding was observed, demonstrating high specificity of binding.

Example 3: competitive binding assay for human IL-23 binding to human IL-23R/Fc

Human IL-23R-Fc was captured on the biosensor surface and 10nM human IL-23 was injected. The sensor profile indicates specific binding between IL-23 and the IL-23 receptor (fig. 2, top). The antibody was then co-injected with 10nM human IL-23 to assess whether binding of the antibody to IL-23 could inhibit the interaction between IL-23 and the IL-23 receptor. In this example, if the antibody binds to human IL-23 and is capable of inhibiting the interaction, reduced or no binding will be observed (figure 2, bottom). In the shown example, equimolar concentrations of antibody A were co-injected with 10nM recombinant human IL-23.

Example 4: functional cell analysis, inhibiting IL-17 production by mouse splenocyte stimulated by IL-23

A functional cell assay against an anti-IL-23 p19 antibody was performed to measure its ability to inhibit IL-17 production by IL-23-stimulated monocytes isolated from the spleen of mice. The human recombinant IL-23 protein can stimulate the release of IL-17 from mouse spleen cells. In addition, human IL-23, which is naturally derived and found in the supernatant of activated human monocytic THP-1 cells, can be used to stimulate IL-17 production by mouse monocytes.

Human recombinant IL-23 or native human IL-23 from activated THP-1 cells was pre-incubated with titrated anti-IL-23 p19 antibody. The IL-23/antibody combination was then added to freshly isolated murine splenocytes. Only recombinant IL-23 was used as a positive control. After two days of culture, cell supernatants were collected and assayed by ELISA (R)&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). Representative IC's of anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies are shown below₅₀The value is obtained. The antibodies tested were mouse antibodies (columns 1-19, see tables 1 and 2), chimeric antibodies (columns 20-23), and antibodies a-D produced by the hybridomas. Antibody 6H12 (disclosed in WO 2007/027714), antibody QF20 (disclosed in WO 2007/024846), and antibody C1273 (disclosed in WO 2007/005955) were also tested.

TABLE 12

Antibodies	IC50Value (pM), recombinant human IL-23	IC50Value (pM), native human IL-23
			18C4	471	100，413
18E5	Not measured out	9，9，13
			18D3	234	Not measured out
20E8	Not measured out	438，561
			22E2	61，130	117，35
24A5	22，37	85，31
			15C11	126	232
43F5	250，8000	8000
			27G8	235	5000
31H9	960	2000
			2D1	Not measured out	2336，1911，1597
9D12	59	281，138

6B8	13	8，2
			73H10	1411	Not measured out
74H3	1352	Not measured out
			36H8	Not measured out	Not measured out
26F7	27	2，8
			34G3	336	27，25
34D9	510	456
			Chimerization 18E5	31	8，36，10，9
Chimeric 22E2	100	9，178
			Chimeric 24A5	404	95，102
Chimeric 6B8	26，37，57	5，2，6，3
			Antibody A	5，5，5，15	1，1
Antibody B	13，30，54，42	9，8
			Antibody C	53，71，162，89	16，32
Antibody D	236，225，614，458	133，125
			6H12	1600，806，1300	957，4400，1013，439
QF20	Not measured out	7，12
			C1273	Not measured out	93，44

Example 5: functional specificity test for IL-12 in human activated T cell assays

The functional inhibition of IL-12 by anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies was tested in a human activated T cell assay. Human recombinant IL-12(1ng/ml) and 5 u g/ml anti IL-23p19 antibody pre-incubation. The IL-12/antibody combination is then added to PHA-derived human T cell blast cells. Only recombinant IL-12 was used as a positive control. Anti IL-12p70 antibody (Bender MedSystems, Vienna, Austria) was used as a control inhibitory antibody. After two days of culture, cell supernatants were collected and analyzed for IFN-. gamma.by ELISA (R & D Systems). Samples were tested in triplicate and the mean value of IFN-. gamma.determined (pg/ml). The results (along with standard deviation) are shown in the table below.

Watch 13

Antibodies	Cytokine stimulation	Mean pg/ml IFN-. gamma. +/-standard deviation
			Antibody-free antibodies	Is free of	87+/-7
Antibody-free antibodies	1ng/ml IL-12	532+/-51
			Chimerization 18E5	1ng/ml IL-12	511+/-3
Chimeric 6B8	1ng/ml IL-12	523+/-60
			Antibody A	1ng/ml IL-12	497+/-30
Antibody B	1ng/ml IL-12	537+/-2
			Antibody C	1ng/ml IL-12	495+/-25
Antibody D	1ng/ml IL-12	539+/-38
			anti-IL-12 p70 antibodies	1ng/ml IL-12	119+/-12

Example 6: inhibition of IL-23 induced STAT3 phosphorylation in human cell line DB

Human cell line DB (ATCC, Manassas, Va.) responds to IL-23 stimulation by the endogenous IL-23R complex (IL-23R and IL-12R β 1) and phosphorylates STAT3 in an IL-23 dose-dependent manner. An assay was developed for testing the inhibition of IL-23-induced STAT3 phosphorylation by anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies. DB cells were seeded at 1 × 10e6 cells/well in 96-well plates. The antibodies to be tested were serially diluted and preincubated with recombinant human IL-23(10ng/ml) for 1 hour at room temperature. The antibody/IL-23 mixture was then added to the cells at 37 ℃ for 30 minutes. Cells were harvested by centrifugation at 4 ℃ for 10 min and then lysed in ice-cold buffer (Cell Signaling Technology, Beverly, MA). A portion of the lysates was subjected to phosphoSTAT 3ELISA (Invitrogen). Antibody IC was calculated from the percentage inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation compared to no antibody control wells₅₀The value is obtained. Representative IC₅₀The values are shown in the table below.

TABLE 14

Antibodies	IC50(pM)
		Antibody A	25，15，38，23，13，18
Antibody B	73，84
		Antibody C	132，80
Antibody D	158
		QF20	26，26，27
C-1273	163，438

Example 7: in vivo model for IL-23-induced cytokine production in mouse ears

An in vivo model in mice was used. Recombinant human IL-23 was injected into the skin of mouse ears for 4 consecutive days, resulting in thickening of the epidermis and upregulation of IL-17 and IL-22 proteins. anti-IL-23 p19 antibodies were evaluated in this model. 1mg/kg or 5mg/kg of antibody was administered via a single intraperitoneal injection 1 hour prior to the initial injection of IL-23 into the skin. Recombinant human IL-23 (which contained the linker) was injected once daily for an additional 3 days and tissues were collected for cytokine assessment. Showing the inhibitory effect of the antibody on cytokine production. The results of the three experiments are shown in the table below (experiment 1: lines 1-7, experiment 2: lines 8-10, experiment 3: lines 1-14).

Watch 15

Example 8: pharmacokinetic studies in cynomolgus monkeys

Three cynomolgus monkeys were given the humanized anti-IL-23 p19 antibody by intravenous infusion for ten minutes at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg. Serum samples were collected over a 6 week time course and free antibody concentrations were measured using a specific ELISA. The serum concentration-time curves of the antibodies and the corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters are summarized in table 16 below.

TABLE 16

Antibodies	CL(ml/d/kg)	Vol(ml/kg)	AUC(nM·h/ml)	T1/2(sky)	MRT (sky)
						Antibody A	5.2	88	32262	12.1	17.2
Antibody B	6.0	87	27030	10.1	14.8
						Antibody C	4.7	91	34642	14.1	19.6
Antibody D	3.4	67	47633	12.6	19.8

Example 9: expression and biophysical data in NSO cells

Transfection of NS0 cells and generation of a stable cell pool (pool):

NS0 cells were grown in the presence of 1% FBS, followed by transfection. 40 × 10e6 cells were collected and resuspended in 0.8ml of medium containing 2% FBS along with 20 μ g of linearized DNA (heavy and light chain expression vectors), followed by incubation of the cells on ice for about 15 minutes, followed by electroporation of the cells at 750V/25 μ F (Bio-Rad Gene Pulser Xcell). Cells were recovered in 2% FBS at 37 ℃ and 5% CO2 for about 48 hours, followed by seeding in 96-well plates containing G418 and mycophenolic acid at 2 × 10e5 cells/ml for 14-21 days until colonies formed.

Supernatants with colonies were screened by ELISA from 96-well plates. ELISA plates were coated with PBS containing 1. mu.g/ml goat anti-kappa (Southern Biotech, Birmingham, AL) and the diluted supernatant was incubated, followed by detection with goat anti-human IgG Fc-HRP (from Jackson Immunoresearch laboratories, West Grove, Pa.). Positive colonies were pooled for scale-up. Titers of antibody production were determined by ForteBio using protein a tips (protein a tips) according to the manufacturer's protocol. The titers of antibody A and antibody D were between 250-350mg/L, the recovery from protein purification was over 80%, and the monomer content after IEX purification was over 94%. The protein was resuspended in final buffer (pH6.0) containing 20mM sodium citrate and 115mM NaCl and remained stable for at least 4 months at 4 ℃ and had a solubility in this buffer as high as 100 mg/ml.

TABLE 17

Watch 18

AUC: performing analytical ultracentrifugation at a concentration of 0.5-1mg/ml as measured by sedimentation velocity method; SEC: size exclusion chromatography; % M: percent monomer.

Example 10: epitope mapping (mapping)

Hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS) was used to localize the epitope to which antibody A binds to human IL-23p 19. This method determines the amide skeleton hydrogen and D of IL-23p19₂Ease of O exchange. Experiments were performed with IL-23 alone and IL-23 with antibody A added. Thus, the region of the IL-23p19 sequence that was shown to be significantly protected from exchange by the binding of antibody a was identified. The resolution of the process depends on the peptide produced by digestion with pepsin or protease XVIII. By using standard accurate mass and HPLC MS/MS technique other control experiments were performed with non-exchanged samples to identify these peptides derived from IL-23p 19.

Recombinant human IL-23 was used. For the protein + antibody samples, 50. mu.l IL-23(0.8mg/ml) was incubated with 10. mu.l antibody A (12.7mg/ml) for 15 minutes at room temperature. The final molar ratio of antibody A/IL-23 was 1.2: 1.

For the exchange, 5. mu.l of IL-23 protein were added to 50. mu.l of deuterated buffer (D with 50mM PBS₂O) and incubated at room temperature for 100 seconds. Add 50. mu.l 2M urea/0.5M TCEP and incubate at room temperature for 60 seconds. Mu.l pepsin or protease XVIII (4mg/ml in 0.1% formic acid) was added and the sample was immediately cooled to 4 ℃.

After 5 minutes, 50 μ l of the sample was injected on a Shimadzu HPLC system (SCL10A controller and two LC10AD pumps) under the following conditions:

mobile phase a =99/1/0.1 (water/acetonitrile/formic acid).

Mobile phase B =95/5/0.1 (acetonitrile/water/formic acid).

Flow rate =100 μ Ι/min.

Column = Phenomenex Jupiter C5, 5 μ,50 × 1.0 mm.

The mobile phase line, column, syringe ring were in an ice bath.

Gradient = time 0(3% B), time 2.2(3% B), time 10.1(90% B), time 12.0(90% B), time 12.1(3% B).

Mass spectrometry was performed as follows:

mass spectrometer = Thermo Orbitrap Velos (0900865).

The method comprises the following steps:

A. cleavage (to identify peptides): 12 min acquisition time (3 min start delay), full scan FTMS at 30,000 resolution, seven ion trap data dependent scans (CID).

And B, MS operation: 12 min acquisition time (3 min start delay), full scan FTMS at 60,000 resolution.

The pepsin and protease XVIII peptides were identified using cleavage data and the procedure Proteome Discoverer (Thermoscientific, Waltham, Mass.). The identified peptides were visually compared (protein alone versus protein in which antibody was present) using Xcalibur software (thermosecitigenic). There was no significant exchange change outside the IL-23p19 region for IL-23 alone with IL-23 with antibody A. For the p19 part of the protein, the data were analyzed using the program pepmap (thermosentific). This program calculates the average mass of exchanged peptides. The PepMap results were examined and those peptides that did not produce a validated result were calculated by means of Microsoft Excel.

The region of the IL-23 sequence that shows significant protection from exchange due to binding by antibody A is identified as amino acid residues 108 to 126 of SEQ ID NO:181 and amino acid residues 137 to 151 of SEQ ID NO: 181.

Claims (40)

1. An anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:

a) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 19(CDR 1-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 20(CDR 2-L); and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 21(CDR 3-L); and

b) a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 63, 66, 67 or 68(CDR 1-H); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 64(CDR 2-H); and amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:65(CDR 3-H).

2. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:

a) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 19(CDR 1-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 20(CDR 2-L); and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 21(CDR 3-L); and

b) a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:63(CDR 1-H); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 64(CDR 2-H); and amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:65(CDR 3-H).

3. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:

a) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 19(CDR 1-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 20(CDR 2-L); and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 21(CDR 3-L); and

b) a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:66(CDR 1-H); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 64(CDR 2-H); and amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:65(CDR 3-H).

4. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:

a) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 19(CDR 1-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 20(CDR 2-L); and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 21(CDR 3-L); and

b) a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 67(CDR 1-H); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 64(CDR 2-H); and amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:65(CDR 3-H).

5. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:

a) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 19(CDR 1-L); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 20(CDR 2-L); and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 21(CDR 3-L); and

b) a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:68(CDR 1-H); amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 64(CDR 2-H); and amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:65(CDR 3-H).

6. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises: a light chain variable region comprising any one of the amino acid sequences SEQ id nos 158, 160, 162, or 164; and a heavy chain variable region comprising any one of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NOs 166, 168, 170, or 172.

7. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 6, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 160 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 166.

8. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 6, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 160 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 168.

9. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 6, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 158 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 166.

10. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 6, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 158 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 168.

11. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 6, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 166 or 168 linked to a human IgG1 heavy chain constant region and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 158 or 160 linked to a human kappa light chain constant region.

12. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:

a) a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:158 or 160 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the framework region amino acid sequence of the variable domain light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:158 or 160; and

b) a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of SEQ ID NO:166 or 168 and a framework region having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of the framework region of the variable domain heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:166 or 168.

13. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

14. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 1, wherein the antibody is a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody and comprises: a light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs 158, 160, 162, and 164, and a heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs 166, 168, 170, and 172.

15. The humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 14, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 160 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 166.

16. The humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 14, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 160 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 168.

17. The humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 14, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 158 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 166.

18. The humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 14, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 158 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 168.

19. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 1, wherein the antibody is a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising: a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 174 or 180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 176 or 178.

20. The humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 19, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 174 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 176.

21. The humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 19, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 174 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 178.

22. The humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 19, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 176.

23. The humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of claim 19, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 178.

24. An anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds to human IL-23p19 at an epitope consisting of amino acid residues 108 to 126 and amino acid residues 137 to 151 of SEQ ID No. 181.

25. An anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that competes for binding to human IL-23p19 with:

a) a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 174 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 176; or

b) A humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 174 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 178; or

c) A humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 176; or

d) A humanized monoclonal anti-IL-23 p19 antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:180 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 178.

26. The anti-IL-23 p19 antibody of any one of claims 24 or 25, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

27. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of any one of claims 1-26 for use in medicine.

28. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 27, wherein the use is for the treatment of an inflammatory disease, an autoimmune disease, a respiratory disease, a metabolic disorder, or cancer.

29. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 27, wherein the use is for the treatment of psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

30. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of any one of claims 1-26 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

31. A method of treating a subject having an IL-23 associated disorder, comprising: administering to the individual an antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to any one of claims 1-26, which binds to human IL-23, or a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 30.

32. A method of treating an inflammatory disease, an autoimmune disease, a respiratory disease, a metabolic disorder, or cancer, comprising administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of any one of claims 1-26 or the pharmaceutical composition of claim 30.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the disease is psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

34. A method of inhibiting IL-23 binding to an IL-23 receptor on a mammalian cell, comprising administering to the cell the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of any one of claims 1-26, thereby inhibiting signaling mediated by the IL-23 receptor.

35. An anti-IL-23 p19 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising a light chain variable region comprising:

a) light chain CDR1(L-CDR1) sequence SEQ ID NO 1,4, 6,7, 8, 11, 15, 18, 19, 22, 27 or 30;

b) light chain CDR2(L-CDR2) sequence SEQ ID NO 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 20, 23, 25, 28 or 31; and

c) light chain CDR3(L-CDR3) sequence SEQ ID NO 3, 10, 13, 14, 17, 21, 24, 26, 29 or 32;

and a heavy chain variable region comprising:

d) the heavy chain CDR1(H-CDR1) sequence SEQ ID NOs 33, 36, 38, 40, 43, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 67, 68, 69, 77, or 80;

e) the heavy chain CDR2(H-CDR2) sequence SEQ ID NO:34, 39, 41, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 70, 72, 73, 75, 78 or 81; and

f) heavy chain CDR3(H-CDR3) sequence SEQ ID NO 35, 37, 42, 44, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59, 62, 65, 71, 74, 76, 79 or 82.

36. The anti-IL-23 p379 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 35, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:

a) 1, 2,3, 33, 34 and 35, respectively, L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences; or

b) L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 4,5, 3, 36, 34 and 37, respectively; or

c) 1, 2,3, 38, 39 and 35, respectively, L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences; or

d) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 6, 2,3, 40, 41 and 42, respectively; or

e) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 7,2, 3, 43, 41 and 44, respectively; or

f) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 45, 46 and 47, respectively; or

g) L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 48, 49 and 50, respectively; or

h) 11, 12, 13, 51, 52 and 53, respectively, L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences; or

i) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 7,2, 14, 54, 55 and 56, respectively; or

j) The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 15, 16, 17, 57, 58 and 59, respectively; or

k) 18, 16, 17, 60, 61 and 62, respectively, L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences; or

l) are respectively SEQ ID NO 19; 20; 21; 63. 66, 67 or 68; 64; and the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of 65; or

m) the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 22, 23, 24, 69, 70 and 71, respectively; or

n) the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 22, 25, 26, 55, 72 and 71, respectively; or

o) L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 45, 73 and 74, respectively; or

p) the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 27, 28, 29, 45, 75 and 76, respectively; or

q) the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 8,9, 10, 77, 78 and 79, respectively; or

r) are the L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NOs 30, 31, 32, 80, 81 and 82, respectively.

37. The anti-IL-23 p389 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 36, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:

a) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:84 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 121; or

b) A light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 86 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 123; or

c) A light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:88 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 125; or

d) A light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 90 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 127; or

e) A light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 91 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 128; or

f) A light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:93 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 130; or

g) A light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 95 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 132; or

h) A light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:97 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 134; or

i) A light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 99 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 136; or

j) A light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 101 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 138; or

k) A light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 103 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 140; or

l) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 105 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 142; or

m) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 107 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 144; or

n) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:109 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 146; or

o) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 111 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 148; or

p) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 113 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 150; or

q) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 115 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 152; or

r) a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:117 and a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 154; or

s) a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 119 and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 156.

38. An isolated polynucleotide comprising:

a sequence encoding a light chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment, the light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence: 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, or 119 of SEQ ID NO; or

A sequence encoding a heavy chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment, the heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequence: 121, 123, 125, 127, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, or 156.

39. An isolated polynucleotide comprising:

a sequence encoding a light chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment, the light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence: 158, 160, 162, or 164 SEQ ID NO; or

A sequence encoding a heavy chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment, the heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequence: 166, 168, 170 or 172 SEQ ID NO.

40. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 39, wherein the polynucleotide comprises: a sequence encoding a light chain of an antibody having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 174 or 180; or a sequence encoding an antibody heavy chain having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 176 or 178.