Binding agents to CD23

Abstract

The present invention relates to agents that bind CD23 and that can be used in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune or allergic diseases.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating or prophylaxis of an inflammatory disease in a human comprising administrating to a human a therapeutically effective amount of a binding agent that reduces cytokine mediated inflammatory effects by blocking the interaction between CD23 and CD11b or CD11c in vivo.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the binding agent is an antibody or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody is a humanised or chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the agent is a F′(ab′) 2 , Fab, Fv or ScFv fragment of an antibody.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease is an inflammatory autoimmune or allergic disease.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of: arthritis, lupus erythematosus, systemic lupus erythematosus, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, uveitis, dermatitis, psoriasis, urticaria, nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Sjogren's syndrome, asthma, eczema, GVH, COPD, bronchitis, insulitis, rhinitis and diabetes.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of: arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the disease is arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.