Anti-il-6 antibodies for the treatment of anemia

Abstract

The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as anti-IL-6 antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat anemia (e.g., anemia associated with chemotherapy) including persons on a treatment regimen with a drug or chemotherapy and/or radiation for cancer (e.g., head and neck cancer) that is associated with increased risk of anemia.

1 - 418 . (canceled) 
     
     
         419 . A method for treating anemia resulting from IL-6 associated inflammation comprising administering a therapeutically effective dosage of an anti-IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment wherein the variable light (VL) CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 polypeptides thereof respectively comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, 5 and 6 and the variable heavy (VH) CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 polypeptides thereof respectively comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, 8 or 120, and 9. 
     
     
         420 . The method for treating anemia of  claim 419  wherein said IL-6 associated inflammation comprises a chronic inflammatory condition. 
     
     
         421 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable light chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 709 or SEQ ID NO:20. 
     
     
         422 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable light chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 709 or SEQ ID NO:20. 
     
     
         423 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable light chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 709 or SEQ ID NO:20. 
     
     
         424 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable light chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO: 709 or SEQ ID NO:20. 
     
     
         425 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable heavy chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 657 or SEQ ID NO:19. 
     
     
         426 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable heavy chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 657 or SEQ ID NO:19. 
     
     
         427 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable heavy chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 657 or SEQ ID NO:19. 
     
     
         428 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable heavy chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 657 or SEQ ID NO:19. 
     
     
         429 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable heavy chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO: 657 or SEQ ID NO:19. 
     
     
         430 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a variable heavy chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO: 657 and a variable light chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO: 709. 
     
     
         431 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said antibody or antibody fragment containing said CDR polypeptides comprises a heavy chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO: 704 and a light chain polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO: 702. 
     
     
         432 . The method of  claim 419 , wherein said method further comprises the administration of an anti-inflammatory agent selected from the group consisting of steroids, Cortisone, Glucocorticoids, prednisone, prednisolone, Hydrocortisone (Cortisol), Cortisone acetate, Methylprednisolone, Dexamethasone, Betamethasone, Triamcinolone, Beclomethasone, and Fludrocortisone acetate, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs), ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, etodolac, nabumetone, sulindac, tolmetin, choline magnesium salicylate, diclofenac, diflunisal, indomethacin, Ketoprofen, Oxaprozin, piroxicam, and nimesulide, Salicylates, Aspirin, Diflunisal, Salsalate, p-amino phenol derivatives, Paracetamol, phenacetin, Propionic acid derivatives, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Fenoprofen, Ketoprofen, Flurbiprofen, Oxaprozin, Loxoprofen, Acetic acid derivatives, Indomethacin, Sulindac, Etodolac, Ketorolac, Diclofenac, Nabumetone, Oxicam, Piroxicam, Meloxicam, Tenoxicam, Droxicam, Lornoxicam, Isoxicam, a fenamate, Mefenamic acid, Meclofenamic acid, Flufenamic acid, Tolfenamic acid, selective COX-2 inhibitors, Celecoxib, Rofecoxib, Valdecoxib, Parecoxib, Lumiracoxib, Etoricoxib, Firocoxib, Sulfonanilimide, Nimesulide, and Licofelone.