Methods of treating an allergy with allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for treating an allergy by administering one or more antibodies that bind specifically to the allergen. In certain embodiments, the antibodies useful for treating an allergen, bind specifically to the cat allergen, Fel d1. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the antibodies are fully human antibodies that bind to Fel d1. The antibodies of the invention are useful for binding to the Fel d1 allergen in vivo, thus preventing binding of the Fel d1 allergen to pre-formed IgE on the surface of mast cells or basophils. In doing so, the antibodies act to prevent the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators from mast cells and/or basophils, thus ameliorating the untoward response to the cat allergen in sensitized individuals.

1 - 65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . A method for treating a cat-allergic subject, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject one or more doses of each of a first monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds Fel d1 and a second monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds Fel d1;   wherein the first monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises three heavy chain complementarity determining regions HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3 that comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 20, 22, and 24, respectively, and three light chain complementarity determining regions LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 that comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 28, 30, and 32, respectively; and wherein the second monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises three heavy chain complementarity determining regions HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3 that comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 308, 310, and 312, respectively, and three light chain complementarity determining regions LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 that comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 316, 318, and 320, respectively;   wherein the subject has cat-induced allergic rhinitis.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the subject has allergic conjunctivitis. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the subject has allergic asthma. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the first monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region (HCVR) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18 and a light chain variable region (LCVR) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the second monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises an HCVR comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 306 and an LCVR comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 314. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the first monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and the second monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof are administered subcutaneously or intravenously. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the method comprises administering about 300 mg of the first monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and about 300 mg of the second monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the method comprises administering to the subject an initial dose and one or more secondary doses of each monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein the initial dose comprises about 300 mg of the first monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and about 300 mg of the second monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, and wherein each secondary dose comprises about 300 mg of the first monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and about 300 mg of the second monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein each secondary dose is administered 12 weeks after the immediately preceding dose. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the first monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and the second monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof are formulated in a single pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for subcutaneous administration. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises about 300 mg of the first monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and about 300 mg of the second monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.