Method for the humanization of antibodies and humanized antibodies thereby obtained

Abstract

Method for the humanization of the VH and VL variable regions of an animal antibody of known sequence, humanized animal antibody obtainable according to the method, in particular anti-NGF and anti-TrkA humanized animal antibodies.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A humanized anti-TrkA antibody, or a TrkA antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the humanized anti-TrkA antibody comprises a VH region that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 37 and a VL region that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 38. 
     
     
         2 . The humanized anti-TrkA antibody, or a TrkA antigen binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , that comprises a VH region that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 37 and a VL region that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 38. 
     
     
         3 . The humanized anti-TrkA antibody, or a TrkA antigen binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , provided that the CDRs (complementarity determining regions) defined by the respective VH and VL regions (CDR) are not required to be identical to SEQ ID NO: 37, and SEQ ID NO: 38, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The humanized anti-TrkA antibody, or a TrkA antigen binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , wherein the humanized anti-TrkA antibody comprises a VH region having an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 37 and a VL region according to SEQ ID NO: 38.