Cytotoxicity-inducing therapeutic agent

Abstract

By replacing the antigen-binding domain, the present inventors discovered novel polypeptide complexes that retain BiTE's strong anti-tumor activity and excellent safety properties, as well as have long half-life in blood and can damage various different target cells.

1 - 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . A method for treating cancer in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an antibody that comprises:
 a first light chain comprising a first VL domain and a first CL domain;   a second light chain comprising a second VL domain and a second CL domain;   a first heavy chain comprising a first heavy chain variable region and a first heavy chain constant region, wherein the first heavy chain constant region is a non-wild-type heavy chain constant region comprising the sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25 and 26, with one or more amino acid substitutions and optionally a deletion of the amino acids at EU numbering positions 446 and 447; and   a second heavy chain comprising a second heavy chain variable region and a second heavy chain constant region, wherein the second heavy chain constant region is a non-wild-type heavy chain constant region comprising the sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25 and 26, with one or more amino acid substitutions and optionally a deletion of the amino acids at EU numbering positions 446 and 447, wherein the amino acid sequence of the second heavy chain constant region is the same as or different from the amino acid sequence of the first heavy chain constant region, and is of the same isotype as the first heavy chain constant region;   wherein the first light chain and the first heavy chain associate to form a first antigen-binding domain that binds to CD3,   wherein the second light chain and the second heavy chain associate to form a second antigen-binding domain that does not bind to CD3, and that does bind to a cancer antigen that is not CD3,   wherein the first heavy chain constant region associates with the second heavy chain constant region,   wherein, when assessed by a surface plasmon resonance technique, the ability of the associated first and second heavy chain constant regions to bind to a given human Fcγ receptor is reduced, compared to the ability of a wild-type human IgG of the same isotype as the antibody to bind to the human Fcγ receptor, as a result of at least one of the one or more amino acid substitutions within the first and second heavy chain constant regions,   wherein the at least one substitution in the first and second heavy chain constant regions represents a change in amino acid sequence compared to the amino acid sequence of the heavy chain constant regions of the wild-type human IgG, and   wherein at least one of the amino acid substitutions that result in the reduced ability to bind to the human Fcγ receptor is at a position selected from the following EU numbering positions in each of the first and second heavy chain constant regions: 220, 226, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 325, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, and 332.   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein
 the amino acid sequence from position 118 to position 260 (EU numbering) of the first heavy chain constant region and of the second heavy chain constant region is the sequence from the corresponding portion of SEQ ID NO: 24; or   the amino acid sequence from position 261 to position 447 (EU numbering) of the first heavy chain constant region and of the second heavy chain constant region is the sequence from the corresponding portion of SEQ ID NO: 26.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the first heavy chain constant region and the second heavy chain constant region each comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23 with one or more substitutions and optionally a deletion of the two residues at the carboxyl terminus of SEQ ID NO: 23. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the one or more substitutions include a substitution in both the first and the second heavy chain constant regions at a position selected from positions 233, 234, 235, 236, 327, 330, and 331 (EU numbering), the substitution at the selected position being by an amino acid from a corresponding position in IgG2 or IgG4. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the one or more substitutions include a substitution in both the first and the second heavy chain constant regions at position 234, 235, or 297 (EU numbering). 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the one or more substitutions include a substitution by alanine. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the second heavy chain constant region is different from the amino acid sequence of the first heavy chain constant region. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein
 in one of the two heavy chain constant regions of the antibody, the amino acids at positions 349 and 366 (EU numbering) are cysteine and tryptophan, respectively; and   in the other heavy chain constant region of the antibody, the amino acids at positions 356, 366, 368, and 407 (EU numbering) are cysteine, serine, alanine, and valine, respectively.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein:
 in one of the two heavy chain constant regions of the antibody, the amino acid at position 356 is lysine;   in the other heavy chain constant region of the antibody, the amino acid at position 439 is glutamic acid; and   in one but not both of the two heavy chain constant regions of the antibody, the amino acid at position 435 is arginine (all positions being by EU numbering).   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the amino acids at EU numbering positions 446 and 447 are deleted in both heavy chain constant regions of the antibody. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the human Fcγ receptor is selected from FcγI, FcγIIA, FcγIIB, FcγIIIA, and FcγIIIB. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the second heavy chain constant region is the same as the amino acid sequence of the first heavy chain constant region. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the second heavy chain constant region is different from the amino acid sequence of the first heavy chain constant region, and wherein the percentage of heterodimers formed in a mixture of the first and second heavy chains is higher than the percentage of heterodimers that would be formed if the two heavy chain constant regions were identical and matched one of SEQ ID NO: 23-26. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the difference between the sequences of the first and second heavy chain constant regions comprises a difference at one or more CH3 domain positions. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the difference between the sequences of the first and second heavy chain constant regions further comprises a difference at one or more CH1 domain positions, wherein the one or more CH1 domain positions interface with a CL domain. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the second heavy chain constant region is different from the amino acid sequence of the first heavy chain constant region, and this difference in sequences comprises a difference at one or more CH1 domain positions of the two heavy chain constant regions, wherein the one or more CH1 domain positions interface with a CL domain. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the human Fcγ receptor is selected from FcγI, FcγIIIA, and FcγIIIB. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein, when assessed by a surface plasmon resonance technique, the antibody's ability to bind to each of human Fcγ receptors Fcγl, FcγIIIA, and FcγIIIB is reduced compared to the ability of the wild-type human IgG to bind to the same human Fcγ receptor. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein, when assessed by a surface plasmon resonance technique, the antibody's ability to bind to each of human Fcγ receptors FcγI, FcγIIA, FcγIIB, FcγIIIA, and FcγIIIB is reduced compared to the ability of the wild-type human IgG to bind to the same human Fcγ receptor. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the first and second heavy chain constant regions are human heavy chain constant regions. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the associated first and second heavy chain constant regions have essentially no detectable ability to bind to the given human Fcγ receptor, when assessed by a surface plasmon resonance technique. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the associated first and second heavy chain constant regions have essentially no detectable ability to bind to human Fcγ receptors FcγI, FcγIIA, FcγIIB, FcγIIIA, and FcγIIIB, when assessed by a surface plasmon resonance technique. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the one or more substitutions include one of the following sets of substitutions in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions (all positions by EU numbering):
 (a) L234F, L235E, P331S;   (b) C226S, C229S, P238S;   (c) C226S, C229S;   (d) C226S, C229S, E233P, L234V, L235A.   
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein each of the first and second heavy chain constant regions comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 with one or more substitutions and optionally a deletion of the two residues at the carboxyl terminus of SEQ ID NO: 24. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the one or more substitutions include one of the following sets of substitutions in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions (all positions by EU numbering):
 (a) H268Q, V309L, A330S, and P331S;   (b) V234A;   (c) G237A;   (d) V234A and G237A;   (e) A235E and G237A; or   (f) V234A, A235E, and G237A.   
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the first heavy chain constant region and the second heavy chain constant region comprise the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25 with one or more substitutions and optionally a deletion of the two residues at the carboxyl terminus of SEQ ID NO: 25. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the one or more substitutions include one of the following substitutions in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions (all positions by EU numbering):
 (a) F241A;   (b) D265A; or   (c) V264A.   
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the first heavy chain constant region and the second heavy chain constant region comprise the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26 with one or more substitutions and optionally a deletion of the two residues at the carboxyl terminus of SEQ ID NO: 26. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein the one or more substitutions include one of the following sets of substitutions in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions (all positions by EU numbering):
 (a) L235A, G237A, and E318A;   (b) L235E; or   (c) F234A and L235A.   
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the one or more substitutions include a substitution at position 234 (EU numbering) in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the one or more substitutions include a substitution at position 235 (EU numbering) in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the one or more substitutions include a substitution at position 239 (EU numbering) in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the one or more substitutions include a substitution at position 297 (EU numbering) in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the residues at positions 234 and 235 (both positions by EU numbering) are both alanine in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the residues at positions 234, 235 and 297 (all positions by EU numbering) are all alanine in both the first and second heavy chain constant regions. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein positions 446 and 447 (EU numbering) are deleted in the sequence of each of the first and second heavy chain constant regions. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the only substitution(s) in the amino acid sequence of one or both of the first and second heavy chain constant regions, compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, is/are at a position or positions independently selected from the following EU numbering positions: 220, 226, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 325, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, and 332. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the only substitution(s) in the amino acid sequence of one or both of the first and second heavy chain constant regions, compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24, is/are at a position or positions independently selected from the following EU numbering positions: 220, 226, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 325, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, and 332. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the only substitution(s) in the amino acid sequence of one or both of the first and second heavy chain constant regions, compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25, is/are at a position or positions independently selected from the following EU numbering positions: 220, 226, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 325, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, and 332. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the only substitution(s) in the amino acid sequence of one or both of the first and second heavy chain constant regions, compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, is/are at a position or positions independently selected from the following EU numbering positions: 220, 226, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 325, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, and 332. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the amino acid sequence of one or both of the first and second heavy chain constant regions has a substitution, compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, at a position or positions independently selected from the following EU numbering positions: 229, 239, 240, 264, 265, 267, 297, 298, 299, 329, 331, and 332. 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the amino acid sequence of one or both of the first and second heavy chain constant regions has a substitution, compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24, at a position or positions independently selected from the following EU numbering positions: 229, 239, 240, 264, 265, 267, 297, 298, 299, 329, 331, and 332. 
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the amino acid sequence of one or both of the first and second heavy chain constant regions has a substitution, compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25, at a position or positions independently selected from the following EU numbering positions: 229, 239, 240, 264, 265, 267, 297, 298, 299, 329, 331, and 332. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the amino acid sequence of one or both of the first and second heavy chain constant regions has a substitution, compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, at a position or positions independently selected from the following EU numbering positions: 229, 239, 240, 264, 265, 267, 297, 298, 299, 329, and 332. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the subject is a human and the antibody is a human or humanized antibody. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the subject is a human and the isotype of the antibody is human IgG1, human IgG2, human IgG3, or human IgG4. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the subject is a human and the isotype of each of the first and second heavy chain constant regions is independently selected from human IgG1, human IgG2, human IgG3, and human IgG4. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the cancer is liver cancer or lung cancer. 
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 117 , wherein the cancer antigen is selected from a group consisting of human glypican-3 (GPC3), human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and human epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the first antigen-binding domain is in the form of a first Fab, and the second antigen-binding domain is in the form of a second Fab. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein one or more of the following (i) to (iv) is true:
 (i) a charged amino acid residue at one of the one or more CH1 domain positions in the first heavy chain constant region interfaces with, and has a charge opposite to that of, a charged amino acid residue in the first CL domain;   (ii) a charged amino acid residue at one of the one or more CH1 domain positions in the second heavy chain constant region interfaces with, and has a charge opposite to that of, a charged amino acid residue in the second CL domain;   (iii) a charged amino acid residue at one of the one or more CH1 domain positions in the first heavy chain constant region interfaces with, and has the same charge as, a charged amino acid residue in the second CL domain;   (iv) a charged amino acid residue at one of the one or more CH1 domain positions in the second heavy chain constant region interfaces with, and has the same charge as, a charged amino acid residue in the first CL domain.   
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein the two charged amino acid residues of any of (i) to (iv) are at a pair of positions independently selected from the following pairs (all positions by EU numbering):
 (a) CH1 domain position 147 and CL domain position 180;   (b) CH1 domain position 147 and CL domain position 131;   (c) CH1 domain position 147 and CL domain position 164;   (d) CH1 domain position 147 and CL domain position 138;   (e) CH1 domain position 147 and CL domain position 123;   (f) CH1 domain position 175 and CL domain position 160; and   (g) CH1 domain position 213 and CL domain position 123.   
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein
 if (i) is true, one of the charged amino acids of (i) is selected from glutamic acid and aspartic acid, and the other is selected from lysine, arginine and histidine;   if (ii) is true, one of the charged amino acids of (ii) is selected from glutamic acid and aspartic acid, and the other is selected from lysine, arginine and histidine;   if (iii) is true, either both the charged amino acids of (iii) are independently selected from glutamic acid and aspartic acid, or both are independently selected from lysine, arginine and histidine;   if (iv) is true, either both of the charged amino acids of (iv) are independently selected from glutamic acid and aspartic acid, or both are independently selected from lysine, arginine and histidine.   
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein either
 (1) the first heavy chain constant region CH1 domain comprises a glutamic acid at position 213 (EU numbering), and the first CL domain comprises a lysine at position 123 (EU numbering); or   (2) the second heavy chain constant region CH1 domain comprises a glutamic acid at position 213 (EU numbering), and the second CL domain comprises a lysine at position 123 (EU numbering).