The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of A.beta. in the brain of a patient. Preferred agents include antibodies, e.g., humanized antibodies.

Description of the Invention

The present invention features new immunological reagents and methods for preventing or treating Alzheimer's disease or other amyloidogenic diseases. The invention is based, at least in part, on the characterization of a monoclonal immunoglobulin, 12A11, effective at binding beta amyloid protein (A.beta.) (e.g., binding soluble and/or aggregated A.beta.), mediating phagocytosis (e.g., of aggregated A.beta.), reducing plaque burden and/or reducing neuritic dystrophy (e.g., in a patient). The invention is further based on the determination and structural characterization of the primary and secondary structure of the variable light and heavy chains of the 12A11 immunoglobulin and the identification of residues important for activity and immunogenicity.

Immunoglobulins are featured which include a variable light and/or variable heavy chain of the 12A11 monoclonal immunoglobulin described herein. Preferred immunoglobulins, e.g., therapeutic immunoglobulins, are featured which include a humanized variable light and/or humanized variable heavy chain. Preferred variable light and/or variable heavy chains include a complementarity determining region (CDR) from the 12A11 immunoglobulin (e.g., donor immunoglobulin) and variable framework regions from or substantially from a human acceptor immunoglobulin. The phrase "substantially from a human acceptor immunoglobulin" means that the majority or key framework residues are from the human acceptor sequence, allowing however, for substitution of residues at certain positions with residues selected to improve activity of the humanized immunoglobulin (e.g., alter activity such that it more closely mimics the activity of the donor immunoglobulin) or selected to decrease the immunogenicity of the humanized immunoglobulin.

In one embodiment, the invention features a humanized immunoglobulin light or heavy chain that includes 12A11 variable region complementarity determining regions (CDRs) (i.e., includes one, two or three CDRs from the light chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2 or includes one, two or three CDRs from the heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4), and includes a variable framework region from a human acceptor immunoglobulin light or heavy chain sequence, optionally having at least one residue of the framework residue backmutated to a corresponding murine residue, wherein said backmutation does not substantially affect the ability of the chain to direct A.beta. binding.

In one embodiment, the invention features a humanized immunoglobulin light or heavy chain that includes 12A11 variable region complementarity determining regions (CDRs) (i.e., includes one, two or three CDRs from the light chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2 or includes one, two or three CDRs from the heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4), and includes a variable framework region substantially from a human acceptor immunoglobulin light or heavy chain sequence, optionally having at least one residue of the framework residue backmutated to a corresponding murine residue, wherein said backmutation does not substantially affect the ability of the chain to direct A.beta. binding.

In another embodiment, the invention features a humanized immunoglobulin light or heavy chain that includes 12A11 variable region complementarity determining regions (CDRs) (e.g., includes one, two or three CDRs from the light chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2 and/or includes one, two or three CDRs from the heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4), and includes a variable framework region substantially from a human acceptor immunoglobulin light or heavy chain sequence, optionally having at least one framework residue substituted with the corresponding amino acid residue from the mouse 12A11 light or heavy chain variable region sequence, where the framework residue is selected from the group consisting of (a) a residue that non-covalently binds antigen directly; (b) a residue adjacent to a CDR; (c) a CDR-interacting residue (e.g., identified by modeling the light or heavy chain on the solved structure of a homologous known immunoglobulin chain); and (d) a residue participating in the VL-VH interface.

In another embodiment, the invention features a humanized immunoglobulin light or heavy chain that includes 12A11 variable region CDRs and variable framework regions from a human acceptor immunoglobulin light or heavy chain sequence, optionally having at least one framework residue substituted with the corresponding amino acid residue from the mouse 12A11 light or heavy chain variable region sequence, where the framework residue is a residue capable of affecting light chain variable region conformation or function as identified by analysis of a three-dimensional model of the variable region, for example a residue capable of interacting with antigen, a residue proximal to the antigen binding site, a residue capable of interacting with a CDR, a residue adjacent to a CDR, a residue within 6 .ANG. of a CDR residue, a canonical residue, a vernier zone residue, an interchain packing residue, an unusual residue, or a glycosylation site residue on the surface of the structural model.

In another embodiment, the invention features, in addition to the substitutions described above, a substitution of at least one rare human framework residue. For example, a rare residue can be substituted with an amino acid residue which is common for human variable chain sequences at that position. Alternatively, a rare residue can be substituted with a corresponding amino acid residue from a homologous germline variable chain sequence.

In another embodiment, the invention features a humanized immunoglobulin that includes a light chain and a heavy chain, as described above, or an antigen-binding fragment of said immunoglobulin. In an exemplary embodiment, the humanized immunoglobulin binds (e.g., specifically binds) to beta amyloid peptide (A.beta.) with a binding affinity of at least 10.sup.7 M.sup.-1, 10.sup.8 M.sup.-1, or 10.sup.9 M.sup.-1. In another embodiment, the immunoglobulin or antigen binding fragment includes a heavy chain having isotype .gamma.1. In another embodiment, the immunoglobulin or antigen binding fragment binds (e.g., specifically binds) to either or both soluble beta amyloid peptide (A.beta.) and aggregated A.beta.. In another embodiment, the immunoglobulin or antigen binding fragment captures soluble A.beta. (e.g., soluble A.beta.1-42). In another embodiment, the immunoglobulin or antigen binding fragment mediates phagocytosis (e.g., induces phagocytosis) of beta amyloid peptide (A.beta.). In yet another embodiment, the immunoglobulin or antigen binding fragment-crosses the blood-brain barrier in a subject. In yet another embodiment, the immunoglobulin or antigen binding fragment reduces either or both beta amyloid peptide (A.beta.) burden and neuritic dystrophy in a subject.

In another embodiment, the invention features chimeric immunoglobulins that include 12A11 variable regions (e.g., the variable region sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4). In yet another embodiment, the immunoglobulin, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, further includes constant regions from IgG1.

The immunoglobulins described herein are particularly suited for use in therapeutic methods aimed at preventing or treating amyloidogenic diseases. In one embodiment, the invention features a method of preventing or treating an amyloidogenic disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) that involves administering to the patient an effective dosage of a humanized immunoglobulin as described herein. In another embodiment, the invention features pharmaceutical compositions that include a humanized immunoglobulin as described herein and a pharmaceutical carrier. Also featured are isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells for producing the immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments or chains described herein, as well as methods for producing said immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin fragments or immunoglobulin chains.

The present invention further features a method for identifying 12A11 residues amenable to substitution when producing a humanized 12A11 immunoglobulin, respectively. For example, a method for identifying variable framework region residues amenable to substitution involves modeling the three-dimensional structure of a 12A11 variable region on a solved homologous immunoglobulin structure and analyzing said model for residues capable of affecting 12A11 immunoglobulin variable region conformation or function, such that residues amenable to substitution are identified. The invention further features use of the variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, or any portion thereof, in producing a three-dimensional image of a 12A11 immunoglobulin, 12A11 immunoglobulin chain, or domain thereof.

The present invention further features immunoglobulins having altered effector function, such as the ability to bind effector molecules, for example, complement or a receptor on an effector cell. In particular, the immunoglobulin of the invention has an altered constant region, e.g., Fc region, wherein at least one amino acid residue in the Fc region has been replaced with a different residue or side chain. In one embodiment, the modified immunoglobulin is of the IgG class, comprises at least one amino acid residue replacement in the Fc region such that the immunoglobulin has an altered effector function, e.g., as compared with an unmodified immunoglobulin. In particular embodiments, the immunoglobulin of the invention has an altered effector function such that it is less immunogenic (e.g., does not provoke undesired effector cell activity, lysis, or complement binding), has improved amyloid clearance properties, and/or has a desirable half-life.

I. Immunological and Therapeutic Reagents

Immunological and therapeutic reagents of the invention comprise or consist of immunogens or antibodies, or functional or antigen binding fragments thereof, as defined herein. The basic antibody structural unit is known to comprise a tetramer of subunits. Each tetramer is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one "light" (about 25 kDa) and one "heavy" chain (about 50-70 kDa). The amino-terminal portion of each chain includes a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids primarily responsible for antigen recognition. The carboxy-terminal portion of each chain defines a constant region primarily responsible for effector function.

Light chains are classified as either kappa or lambda and are about 230 residues in length. Heavy chains are classified as gamma (.gamma.), mu (.mu.), alpha (.alpha.), delta (.delta.), or epsilon (.epsilon.), are about 450-600 residues in length, and define the antibody's isotype as IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE, respectively. Both heavy and light chains are folded into domains. The term "domain" refers to a globular region of a protein, for example, an immunoglobulin or antibody. Immunoglobulin or antibody domains include, for example, three or four peptide loops stabilized by .beta.-pleated sheet and an interchain disulfide bond. Intact light chains have, for example, two domains (V.sub.L and C.sub.L) and intact heavy chains have, for example, four or five domains (V.sub.H, C.sub.H1, C.sub.H2, and C.sub.H3).

Within light and heavy chains, the variable and constant regions are joined by a "J" region of about 12 or more amino acids, with the heavy chain also including a "D" region of about 10 more amino acids. (See generally, Fundamental Immunology (Paul, W., ed., 2nd ed. Raven Press, N.Y. (1989), Ch. 7, incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes).

The variable regions of each light/heavy chain pair form the antibody binding site. Thus, an intact antibody has two binding sites. Except in bifunctional or bispecific antibodies, the two binding sites are the same. The chains all exhibit the same general structure of relatively conserved framework regions (FR) joined by three hypervariable regions, also called complementarity determining regions or CDRs. Naturally-occurring chains or recombinantly produced chains can be expressed with a leader sequence which is removed during cellular processing to produce a mature chain. Mature chains can also be recombinantly produced having a non-naturally occurring leader sequence, for example, to enhance secretion or alter the processing of a particular chain of interest.

The CDRs of the two mature chains of each pair are aligned by the framework regions, enabling binding to a specific epitope. From N-terminal to C-terminal, both light and heavy chains comprise the domains FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3 and FR4. "FR4" also is referred to in the art as the D/J region of the variable heavy chain and the J region of the variable light chain. The assignment of amino acids to each domain is in accordance with the definitions of Kabat, Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., 1987 and 1991). An alternative structural definition has been proposed by Chothia et al., J. Mol. Biol. 196:901 (1987); Nature 342:878 (1989); and J. Mol. Biol. 186:651 (1989) (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Chothia et al." and incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes).

A. A.beta. Antibodies

Therapeutic agents of the invention include antibodies that specifically bind to A.beta. or to other components of the amyloid plaque. Preferred antibodies are monoclonal antibodies. Some such antibodies bind specifically to the aggregated form of A.beta. without binding to the soluble form. Some bind specifically to the soluble form without binding to the aggregated form. Some bind to both aggregated and soluble forms. Antibodies used in therapeutic methods preferably have an intact constant region or at least sufficient of the constant region to interact with an Fc receptor. Preferred antibodies are those efficacious at stimulating Fc-mediated phagocytosis of A.beta. in plaques. Human isotype IgG1 is preferred because of it having highest affinity of human isotypes for the FcRI receptor on phagocytic cells (e.g., on brain resident macrophages or microglial cells). Human IgG1 is the equivalent of murine IgG2a, the latter thus suitable for testing in vivo efficacy in animal (e.g., mouse) models of Alzheimer's. Bispecific Fab fragments can also be used, in which one arm of the antibody has specificity for A.beta., and the other for an Fc receptor. Preferred antibodies bind to A.beta. with a binding affinity greater than (or equal to) about 10.sup.6, 10.sup.7, 10.sup.8, 10.sup.9, or 10.sup.10 M.sup.-1 (including affinities intermediate of these values).

Monoclonal antibodies bind to a specific epitope within A.beta. that can be a conformational or nonconformational epitope. Prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of antibodies can be tested using the transgenic animal model procedures described in the Examples. Preferred monoclonal antibodies bind to an epitope within residues 1-10 of A.beta. (with the first N terminal residue of natural A.beta. designated 1), more preferably to an epitope within residues 3-7 of A.beta.. In some methods, multiple monoclonal antibodies having binding specificities to different epitopes are used, for example, an antibody specific for an epitope within residues 3-7 of A.beta. can be co-administered with an antibody specific for an epitope outside of residues 3-7 of A.beta.. Such antibodies can be administered sequentially or simultaneously. Antibodies to amyloid components other than A.beta. can also be used (e.g., administered or co-administered).

Epitope specificity of an antibody can be determined, for example, by forming a phage display library in which different members display different subsequences of A.beta.. The phage display library is then selected for members specifically binding to an antibody under test. A family of sequences is isolated. Typically, such a family contains a common core sequence, and varying lengths of flanking sequences in different members. The shortest core sequence showing specific binding to the antibody defines the epitope bound by the antibody. Antibodies can also be tested for epitope specificity in a competition assay with an antibody whose epitope specificity has already been determined. For example, antibodies that compete with the 12A11 antibody for binding to A.beta. bind to the same or similar epitope as 12A11, i.e., within residues A.beta. 3-7. Screening antibodies for epitope specificity is a useful predictor of therapeutic efficacy. For example, an antibody determined to bind to an epitope within residues 1-7 of A.beta. is likely to be effective in preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease according to the methodologies of the present invention.

Antibodies that specifically bind to a preferred segment of A.beta. without binding to other regions of A.beta. have a number of advantages relative to monoclonal antibodies binding to other regions or polyclonal sera to intact A.beta.. First, for equal mass dosages, dosages of antibodies that specifically bind to preferred segments contain a higher molar dosage of antibodies effective in clearing amyloid plaques. Second, antibodies specifically binding to preferred segments can induce a clearing response against amyloid deposits without inducing a clearing response against intact APP polypeptide, thereby reducing the potential side effects.

1. Production of Nonhuman Antibodies

The present invention features non-human antibodies, for example, antibodies having specificity for the preferred A.beta. epitopes of the invention. Such antibodies can be used in formulating various therapeutic compositions of the invention or, preferably, provide complementarity determining regions for the production of humanized or chimeric antibodies (described in detail below). The production of non-human monoclonal antibodies, e.g., murine, guinea pig, primate, rabbit or rat, can be accomplished by, for example, immunizing the animal with A.beta.. A longer polypeptide comprising A.beta. or an immunogenic fragment of A.beta. or anti-idiotypic antibodies to an antibody to A.beta. can also be used. See Harlow & Lane, supra, incorporated by reference for all purposes). Such an immunogen can be obtained from a natural source, by peptide synthesis or by recombinant expression. Optionally, the immunogen can be administered fused or otherwise complexed with a carrier protein, as described below. Optionally, the immunogen can be administered with an adjuvant. The term "adjuvant" refers to a compound that when administered in conjunction with an antigen augments the immune response to the antigen, but when administered alone does not generate an immune response to the antigen. Adjuvants can augment an immune response by several mechanisms including lymphocyte recruitment, stimulation of B and/or T cells, and stimulation of macrophages. Several types of adjuvant can be used as described below. Complete Freund's adjuvant followed by incomplete adjuvant is preferred for immunization of laboratory animals.

Rabbits or guinea pigs are typically used for making polyclonal antibodies. Exemplary preparation of polyclonal antibodies, e.g., for passive protection, can be performed as follows. 125 non-transgenic mice are immunized with 100 .mu.g A.beta. 1-42, plus CFA/IFA adjuvant, and euthanized at 4-5 months. Blood is collected from immunized mice. IgG is separated from other blood components. Antibody specific for the immunogen may be partially purified by affinity chromatography. An average of about 0.5-1 mg of immunogen-specific antibody is obtained per mouse, giving a total of 60-120 mg.

Mice are typically used for making monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonals can be prepared against a fragment by injecting the fragment or longer form of A.beta. into a mouse, preparing hybridomas and screening the hybridomas for an antibody that specifically binds to A.beta.. Optionally, antibodies are screened for binding to a specific region or desired fragment of A.beta. without binding to other nonoverlapping fragments of A.beta.. The latter screening can be accomplished by determining binding of an antibody to a collection of deletion mutants of an A.beta. peptide and determining which deletion mutants bind to the antibody. Binding can be assessed, for example, by Western blot or ELISA. The smallest fragment to show specific binding to the antibody defines the epitope of the antibody. Alternatively, epitope specificity can be determined by a competition assay is which a test and reference antibody compete for binding to A.beta.. If the test and reference antibodies compete, then they bind to the same epitope or epitopes sufficiently proximal such that binding of one antibody interferes with binding of the other. The preferred isotype for such antibodies is mouse isotype IgG2a or equivalent isotype in other species. Mouse isotype IgG2a is the equivalent of human isotype IgG1 (e.g., human IgG1).

2. Chimeric and Humanized Antibodies

The present invention also features chimeric and/or humanized antibodies (i.e., chimeric and/or humanized immunoglobulins) specific for beta amyloid peptide. Chimeric and/or humanized antibodies have the same or similar binding specificity and affinity as a mouse or other nonhuman antibody that provides the starting material for construction of a chimeric or humanized antibody.

a. Production of Chimeric Antibodies

The term "chimeric antibody" refers to an antibody whose light and heavy chain genes have been constructed, typically by genetic engineering, from immunoglobulin gene segments belonging to different species. For example, the variable (V) segments of the genes from a mouse monoclonal antibody may be joined to human constant (C) segments, such as IgG1 and IgG4. Human isotype IgG1 is preferred. A typical chimeric antibody is thus a hybrid protein consisting of the V or antigen-binding domain from a mouse antibody and the C or effector domain from a human antibody.

b. Production of Humanized Antibodies

The term "humanized antibody" refers to an antibody comprising at least one chain comprising variable region framework residues substantially from a human antibody chain (referred to as the acceptor immunoglobulin or antibody) and at least one complementarity determining region substantially from a mouse antibody, (referred to as the donor immunoglobulin or antibody). See, Queen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:10029-10033 (1989), U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,101, U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,089, U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,761, U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,762, Selick et al., WO 90/07861, and Winter, U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,539 (incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes). The constant region(s), if present, are also substantially or entirely from a human immunoglobulin.

The substitution of mouse CDRs into a human variable domain framework is most likely to result in retention of their correct spatial orientation if the human variable domain framework adopts the same or similar conformation to the mouse variable framework from which the CDRs originated. This is achieved by obtaining the human variable domains from human antibodies whose framework sequences exhibit a high degree of sequence identity with the murine variable framework domains from which the CDRs were derived. The heavy and light chain variable framework regions can be derived from the same or different human antibody sequences. The human antibody sequences can be the sequences of naturally occurring human antibodies or can be consensus sequences of several human antibodies. See Kettleborough et al., Protein Engineering 4:773 (1991); Kolbinger et al., Protein Engineering 6:971 (1993) and Carter et al., WO 92/22653.

Having identified the complementarity determining regions of the murine donor immunoglobulin and appropriate human acceptor immunoglobulins, the next step is to determine which, if any, residues from these components should be substituted to optimize the properties of the resulting humanized antibody. In general, substitution of human amino acid residues with murine should be minimized, because introduction of murine residues increases the risk of the antibody eliciting a human-anti-mouse-antibody (HAMA) response in humans. Art-recognized methods of determining immune response can be performed to monitor a HAMA response in a particular patient or during clinical trials. Patients administered humanized antibodies can be given an immunogenicity assessment at the beginning and throughout the administration of said therapy. The HAMA response is measured, for example, by detecting antibodies to the humanized therapeutic reagent, in serum samples from the patient using a method known to one in the art, including surface plasmon resonance technology (BIACORE.TM.) and/or solid-phase ELISA analysis.

Certain amino acids from the human variable region framework residues are selected for substitution based on their possible influence on CDR conformation and/or binding to antigen. The unnatural juxtaposition of murine CDR regions with human variable framework region can result in unnatural conformational restraints, which, unless corrected by substitution of certain amino acid residues, lead to loss of binding affinity.

The selection of amino acid residues for substitution is determined, in part, by computer modeling. Computer hardware and software are described herein for producing three-dimensional images of immunoglobulin molecules. In general, molecular models are produced starting from solved structures for immunoglobulin chains or domains thereof. The chains to be modeled are compared for amino acid sequence similarity with chains or domains of solved three-dimensional structures, and the chains or domains showing the greatest sequence similarity is/are selected as starting points for construction of the molecular model. Chains or domains sharing at least 50% sequence identity are selected for modeling, and preferably those sharing at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% sequence identity or more are selected for modeling. The solved starting structures are modified to allow for differences between the actual amino acids in the immunoglobulin chains or domains being modeled, and those in the starting structure. The modified structures are then assembled into a composite immunoglobulin. Finally, the model is refined by energy minimization and by verifying that all atoms are within appropriate distances from one another and that bond lengths and angles are within chemically acceptable limits.

The selection of amino acid residues for substitution can also be determined, in part, by examination of the characteristics of the amino acids at particular locations, or empirical observation of the effects of substitution or mutagenesis of particular amino acids. For example, when an amino acid differs between a murine variable region framework residue and a selected human variable region framework residue, the human framework amino acid should usually be substituted by the equivalent framework amino acid from the mouse antibody when it is reasonably expected that the amino acid: (1) noncovalently binds antigen directly, (2) is adjacent to a CDR region, (3) otherwise interacts with a CDR region (e.g., is within about 3-6 .ANG. of a CDR region as determined by computer modeling), or (4) participates in the VL-VH interface.

Residues which "noncovalently bind antigen directly" include amino acids in positions in framework regions which have a good probability of directly interacting with amino acids on the antigen according to established chemical forces, for example, by hydrogen bonding, Van der Waals forces, hydrophobic interactions, and the like.

CDR and framework regions are as defined by Kabat et al. or Chothia et al., supra. When framework residues, as defined by Kabat et al., supra, constitute structural loop residues as defined by Chothia et al., supra, the amino acids present in the mouse antibody may be selected for substitution into the humanized antibody. Residues which are "adjacent to a CDR region" include amino acid residues in positions immediately adjacent to one or more of the CDRs in the primary sequence of the humanized immunoglobulin chain, for example, in positions immediately adjacent to a CDR as defined by Kabat, or a CDR as defined by Chothia (See e.g., Chothia and Lesk JMB 196:901 (1987)). These amino acids are particularly likely to interact with the amino acids in the CDRs and, if chosen from the acceptor, to distort the donor CDRs and reduce affinity. Moreover, the adjacent amino acids may interact directly with the antigen (Amit et al., Science, 233:747 (1986), which is incorporated herein by reference) and selecting these amino acids from the donor may be desirable to keep all the antigen contacts that provide affinity in the original antibody.

Residues that "otherwise interact with a CDR region" include those that are determined by secondary structural analysis to be in a spatial orientation sufficient to affect a CDR region. In one embodiment, residues that "otherwise interact with a CDR region" are identified by analyzing a three-dimensional model of the donor immunoglobulin (e.g., a computer-generated model). A three-dimensional model, typically of the original donor antibody, shows that certain amino acids outside of the CDRs are close to the CDRs and have a good probability of interacting with amino acids in the CDRs by hydrogen bonding, Van der Waals forces, hydrophobic interactions, etc. At those amino acid positions, the donor immunoglobulin amino acid rather than the acceptor immunoglobulin amino acid may be selected. Amino acids according to this criterion will generally have a side chain atom within about 3 angstrom units (.ANG.) of some atom in the CDRs and must contain an atom that could interact with the CDR atoms according to established chemical forces, such as those listed above.

In the case of atoms that may form a hydrogen bond, the 3 .ANG. is measured between their nuclei, but for atoms that do not form a bond, the 3 .ANG. is measured between their Van der Waals surfaces. Hence, in the latter case, the nuclei must be within about 6 .ANG. (3 .ANG. plus the sum of the Van der Waals radii) for the atoms to be considered capable of interacting. In many cases the nuclei will be from 4 or 5 to 6 .ANG. apart. In determining whether an amino acid can interact with the CDRs, it is preferred not to consider the last 8 amino acids of heavy chain CDR 2 as part of the CDRs, because from the viewpoint of structure, these 8 amino acids behave more as part of the framework.

Amino acids that are capable of interacting with amino acids in the CDRs, may be identified in yet another way. The solvent accessible surface area of each framework amino acid is calculated in two ways: (1) in the intact antibody, and (2) in a hypothetical molecule consisting of the antibody with its CDRs removed. A significant difference between these numbers of about 10 square angstroms or more shows that access of the framework amino acid to solvent is at least partly blocked by the CDRs, and therefore that the amino acid is making contact with the CDRs. Solvent accessible surface area of an amino acid may be calculated based on a three-dimensional model of an antibody, using algorithms known in the art (e.g., Connolly, J. Appl. Cryst. 16:548 (1983) and Lee and Richards, J. Mol. Biol. 55:379 (1971), both of which are incorporated herein by reference). Framework amino acids may also occasionally interact with the CDRs indirectly, by affecting the conformation of another framework amino acid that in turn contacts the CDRs.

The amino acids at several positions in the framework are known to be important for determining CDR confirmation (e.g., capable of interacting with the CDRs) in many antibodies (Chothia and Lesk, supra, Chothia et al., supra and Tramontano et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:175 (1990), all of which are incorporated herein by reference). These authors identified conserved framework residues important for CDR conformation by analysis of the structures of several known antibodies. The antibodies analyzed fell into a limited number of structural or "canonical" classes based on the conformation of the CDRs. Conserved framework residues within members of a canonical class are referred to as "canonical" residues. Canonical residues include residues 2, 25, 29, 30, 33, 48, 64, 71, 90, 94 and 95 of the light chain and residues 24, 26, 29, 34, 54, 55, 71 and 94 of the heavy chain. Additional residues (e.g., CDR structure determining residues) can be identified according to the methodology of Martin and Thorton (1996) J. Mol. Biol. 263:800. Notably, the amino acids at positions 2, 48, 64 and 71 of the light chain and 26-30, 71 and 94 of the heavy chain (numbering according to Kabat) are known to be capable of interacting with the CDRs in many antibodies. The amino acids at positions 35 in the light chain and 93 and 103 in the heavy chain are also likely to interact with the CDRs. Additional residues which may effect conformation of the CDRs can be identified according to the methodology of Foote and Winter (1992) J. Mol. Biol. 224:487. Such residues are termed "vernier" residues and are those residues in the framework region closely underlying (i.e., forming a "platform" tinder) the CDRs. At all these numbered positions, choice of the donor amino acid rather than the acceptor amino acid (when they differ) to be in the humanized immunoglobulin is preferred. On the other hand, certain residues capable of interacting with the CDR region, such as the first 5 amino acids of the light chain, may sometimes be chosen from the acceptor immunoglobulin without loss of affinity in the humanized immunoglobulin.

Residues which "participate in the VL-VH interface" or "packing residues" include those residues at the interface between VL and VH as defined, for example, by Novotny and Haber, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82:4592-66 (1985) or Chothia et al, supra. Generally, unusual packing residues should be retained in the humanized antibody if they differ from those in the human frameworks.

In general, one or more of the amino acids fulfilling the above criteria can be substituted. In some embodiments, all or most of the amino acids fulfilling the above criteria are substituted. Occasionally, there is some ambiguity about whether a particular amino acid meets the above criteria, and alternative variant immunoglobulins are produced, one of which has that particular substitution, the other of which does not. Alternative variant immunoglobulins so produced can be tested in any of the assays described herein for the desired activity, and the preferred immunoglobulin selected.

Usually the CDR regions in humanized antibodies are substantially identical, and more usually, identical to the corresponding CDR regions of the donor antibody. However, in certain embodiments, it may be desirable to modify one or more CDR regions to modify the antigen binding specificity of the antibody and/or reduce the immunogenicity of the antibody. Typically, one or more residues of a CDR are altered to modify binding to achieve a more favored on-rate of binding, a more favored off-rate of binding, or both, such that an idealized binding constant is achieved. Using this strategy, an antibody having ultra high binding affinity of, for example, 10.sup.10 M.sup.-1 or more, can be achieved. Briefly, the donor CDR sequence is referred to as a base sequence from which one or more residues are then altered. Affinity maturation techniques, as described herein, can be used to alter the CDR region(s) followed by screening of the resultant binding molecules for the desired change in binding. The method may also be used to alter the donor CDR, typically a mouse CDR, to be less immunogenic such that a potential human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) response is minimized or avoided. Accordingly, as CDR(s) are altered, changes in binding affinity as well as immunogenicity can be monitored and scored such that an antibody optimized for the best combined binding and low immunogenicity are achieved (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,467 and U.S. Pat. Pub. US20020164326A1).

In another approach, the CDR regions of the antibody are analyzed to determine the contributions of each individual CDR to antibody binding and/or immunogenicity by systemically replacing each of the donor CDRs with a human counterpart. The resultant panel of humanized antibodies is then scored for antigen affinity and potential immunogenicity of each CDR. In this way, the two clinically important properties of a candidate binding molecule, i.e., antigen binding and low immunogenicity, are determined. If patient sera against a corresponding murine or CDR-grafted (humanized) form of the antibody is available, then the entire panel of antibodies representing the systematic human CDR exchanges can be screened to determine the patients anti-idiotypic response against each donor CDR (for technical details, see, e.g., Iwashi et al., Mol. Immunol. 36:1079-91 (1999). Such an approach allows for identifying essential donor CDR regions from non-essential donor CDRs. Nonessential donor CDR regions may then be exchanged with a human counterpart CDR. Where an essential CDR region cannot be exchanged without unacceptable loss of function, identification of the specificity-determining residues (SDRs) of the CDR is performed by, for example, site-directed mutagenesis. In this way, the CDR can then be reengineered to retain only the SDRs and be human and/or minimally immunogenic at the remaining amino acid positions throughout the CDR. Such an approach, where only a portion of the donor CDR is grafted, is also referred to as abbreviated CDR-grafting (for technical details on the foregoing techniques, see, e.g., Tamura et al., J. of Immunology 164(3): 1432-41. (2000); Gonzales et al., Mol. Immunol 40:337-349 (2003); Kashmiri et al., Crit. Rev. Oncol. Hematol. 38:3-16 (2001); and De Pascalis et al., J. of Immunology 169(6):3076-84. (2002).

Moreover, it is sometimes possible to make one or more conservative amino acid substitutions of CDR residues without appreciably affecting the binding affinity of the resulting humanized immunoglobulin. By conservative substitutions are intended combinations such as gly, ala; val, ile, leu; asp, glu; asn, gln; ser, thr; lys, arg; and phe, tyr.

Additional candidates for substitution are acceptor human framework amino acids that are unusual or "rare" for a human immunoglobulin at that position. These amino acids can be substituted with amino acids from the equivalent position of the mouse donor antibody or from the equivalent positions of more typical human immunoglobulins. For example, substitution may be desirable when the amino acid in a human framework region of the acceptor immunoglobulin is rare for that position and the corresponding amino acid in the donor immunoglobulin is common for that position in human immunoglobulin sequences; or when the amino acid in the acceptor immunoglobulin is rare for that position and the corresponding amino acid in the donor immunoglobulin is also rare, relative to other human sequences. Whether a residue is rare for acceptor human framework sequences should also be considered when selecting residues for backmutation based on contribution to CDR conformation. For example, if backmutation results in substitution of a residue that is rare for acceptor human framework sequences, a humanized antibody may be tested with and without for activity. If the backmutation is not necessary for activity, it may be eliminated to reduce immunogenicity concerns. For example, backmutation at the following residues may introduce a residue that is rare in acceptor human framework sequences; uk=v2 (2.0%), L3 (0.4%), T7 (1.8%), Q18 (0.2%), L83 (1.2%), I85 (2.9%), A100 (0.3%) and L106 (1.1%); and vh=T3 (2.0%), KS (1.8%), I11 (0.2%), S23 (1.5%), F24 (1.5%), S41 (2.3%), K71 (2.4%), R75 (1.4%), I82 (1.4%), D83 (2.2%) and L109 (0.8%). These criteria help ensure that an atypical amino acid in the human framework does not disrupt the antibody structure. Moreover, by replacing an unusual human acceptor amino acid with an amino acid from the donor antibody that happens to be typical for human antibodies, the humanized antibody may be made less immunogenic.

The term "rare", as used herein, indicates an amino acid occurring at that position in less than about 20%, preferably less than about 10%, more preferably less than about 5%, even more preferably less than about 3%, even more preferably less than about 2% and even more preferably less than about 1% of sequences in a representative sample of sequences, and the term "common", as used herein, indicates an amino acid occurring in more than about 25% but usually more than about 50% of sequences in a representative sample. For example, when deciding whether an amino acid in a human acceptor sequence is "rare" or "common", it will often be preferable to consider only human variable region sequences and when deciding whether a mouse amino acid is "rare" or "common", only mouse variable region sequences. Moreover, all human light and heavy chain variable region sequences are respectively grouped into "subgroups" of sequences that are especially homologous to each other and have the same amino acids at certain critical positions (Kabat et al., supra). When deciding whether an amino acid in a human acceptor sequence is "rare" or "common" among human sequences, it will often be preferable to consider only those human sequences in the same subgroup as the acceptor sequence.

Additional candidates for substitution are acceptor human framework amino acids that would be identified as part of a CDR region under the alternative definition proposed by Chothia et al., supra. Additional candidates for substitution are acceptor human framework amino acids that would be identified as part of a CDR region under the AbM and/or contact definitions.

Additional candidates for substitution are acceptor framework residues that correspond to a rare or unusual donor framework residue. Rare or unusual donor framework residues are those that are rare or unusual (as defined herein) for murine antibodies at that position. For murine antibodies, the subgroup can be determined according to Kabat and residue positions identified which differ from the consensus. These donor specific differences may point to somatic mutations in the murine sequence which enhance activity. Unusual residues that are predicted to affect binding (e.g., packing canonical and/or vernier residues) are retained, whereas residues predicted to be unimportant for binding can be substituted. Rare residues within the 12A11 UK sequence include I85 (3.6%). Rare residues within the 12A11 vh sequence include T3 (1.0%), I11 (1.7%), L12 (1.7%), S41 (2.8%), D83 (1.8%) and A85 (1.8%).

Additional candidates for substitution are non-germline residues occurring in an acceptor framework region. For example, when an acceptor antibody chain (i.e., a human antibody chain sharing significant sequence identity with the donor antibody chain) is aligned to a germline antibody chain (likewise sharing significant sequence identity with the donor chain), residues not matching between acceptor chain framework and the germline chain framework can be substituted with corresponding residues from the germline sequence.

Other than the specific amino acid substitutions discussed above, the framework regions of humanized immunoglobulins are usually substantially identical, and more usually, identical to the framework regions of the human antibodies from which they were derived. Of course, many of the amino acids in the framework region make little or no direct contribution to the specificity or affinity of an antibody. Thus, many individual conservative substitutions of framework residues can be tolerated without appreciable change of the specificity or affinity of the resulting humanized immunoglobulin. Thus, in one embodiment the variable framework region of the humanized immunoglobulin shares at least 85% sequence identity to a human variable framework region sequence or consensus of such sequences. In another embodiment, the variable framework region of the humanized immunoglobulin shares at least 90%, preferably 95%, more preferably 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity to a human variable framework region sequence or consensus of such sequences. In general, however, such substitutions are undesirable.

In exemplary embodiments, the humanized antibodies of the invention exhibit a specific binding affinity for antigen of at least 10.sup.7, 10.sup.8, 10.sup.9 or 10.sup.10 M.sup.-1. In other embodiments, the antibodies of the invention can have binding affinities of at least 10.sup.10, 10.sup.11 or 10.sup.12 M.sup.-1. Usually the upper limit of binding affinity of the humanized antibodies for antigen is within a factor of three, four or five of that of the donor immunoglobulin. Often the lower limit of binding affinity is also within a factor of three, four or five of that of donor immunoglobulin. Alternatively, the binding affinity can be compared to that of a humanized antibody having no substitutions (e.g., an antibody having donor CDRs and acceptor FRs, but no FR substitutions). In such instances, the binding of the optimized antibody (with substitutions) is preferably at least two- to three-fold greater, or three- to four-fold greater, than that of the unsubstituted antibody. For making comparisons, activity of the various antibodies can be determined, for example, by BIACORE.TM. (i.e., surface plasmon resonance using unlabelled reagents) or competitive binding assays.

c. Production of Humanized 12A11 Antibodies

A preferred embodiment of the present invention features a humanized antibody to the N-terminus of A.beta., in particular, for use in the therapeutic and/or diagnostic methodologies described herein. A particularly preferred starting material for production of humanized antibodies is the monoclonal antibody 12A11. 12A11 is specific for the N-terminus of A.beta. and has been shown to (1) have a high avidity for aggregated A.beta.1-42, (2) have the ability to capture soluble A.beta., and (3) mediate phagocytosis (e.g., induce phagocytosis) of amyloid plaque (see Example I). The in vivo efficacy of the 12A11 antibody is described in Example II. The cloning and sequencing of cDNA encoding the 12A11 antibody heavy and light chain variable regions is described in Example III.

Suitable human acceptor antibody sequences can be identified by computer comparisons of the amino acid sequences of the mouse variable regions with the sequences of known human antibodies. The comparison is performed separately for heavy and light chains but the principles are similar for each. In particular, variable domains from human antibodies whose framework sequences exhibit a high degree of sequence identity with the murine VL and VH framework regions are identified by query of, for example, the Kabat Database or the IgG Protein Sequence Database using NCBI IgG BLAST.TM. (publicly accessible through the National Institutes of Health NCBI internet server) with the respective murine framework sequences. In one embodiment, acceptor sequences sharing greater that 50% sequence identity with murine donor sequences, e.g., donor framework (FR) sequences, are selected. Preferably, acceptor antibody sequences sharing 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% sequence identity or more are selected.

A computer comparison of 12A11 revealed that the 12A11 light chain (mouse subgroup II) shows the greatest sequence identity to human light chains of subtype kappa II, and that the 12A11 heavy chain (mouse subgroup Ib) shows greatest sequence identity to human heavy chains of subtype II, as defined by Kabat et al., supra. Light and heavy human framework regions can be derived from human antibodies of these subtypes, or from consensus sequences of such subtypes. In a first humanization effort, light chain variable framework regions were derived from human subgroup II antibodies. Based on previous experiments designed to achieve high levels of expression of humanized antibodies having heavy chain variable framework regions derived from human subgroup II antibodies, it had been discovered that expression levels of such antibodies were sometimes low. Accordingly, based on the reasoning described in Saldanha et al. (1999) Mol Immunol. 36:709-19, framework regions from human subgroup III antibodies were chosen rather than human subgroup II.

A human subgroup II antibody K64(AIMS4) (accession no. BAC01733) was identified from the NCBI non-redundant database having significant sequence identity within the light chain variable regions of 12A11. A human subgroup III antibody M72 (accession no. AAA69734) was identified from the NCBI non-redundant database having significant sequence identity within the heavy chain variable regions of 12A11 (see also Schroeder and Wang (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 872: 6146-6150.

Alternative light chain acceptor sequences include, for example, PDB Accession No. IKFA (gi24158782), PDB Accession No. IKFA (gi24158784), EMBL Accession No. CAE75574.1 (gi38522587), EMBL Accession No. CAE75575.1 (gi38522590), EMBL Accession No. CAE84952.1 (gi39838891), DJB Accession No. BAC01734.1 (gi21669419), DJB Accession No. BAC01730.1 (gi21669411), PIR Accession No. 540312 (gi481978), EMBL Accession No. CAA51090.1 (gi3980118), Accession No. AAH63599.1 (gi39794308), PIR Accession No. S22902 (gi106540), PIR Accession No. 542611 (gi631215), EMBL Accession No. CAA38072.1 (gi433890), EMBL Accession No. CAA39072.1 (gi34000), PIR Accession No. S23230 (gi284256), DBJ Accession No. BAC01599.1 (gi21669149), DBJ Accession No. BAC01729.1 (gi21669409), DBJ Accession No. BAC01562.1 (gi21669075), EMBL Accession No. CAA85590.1 (gi587338), Accession No. AAQ99243.1 (gi37694665), GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AAK94811.1 (giI8025604), EMBL Accession No. CAB51297.1 (gi5578794), DBJ Accession No. BAC01740.1 (gi21669431), GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AAB35009.1 (gi1041885) and DBJ Accession No. BAC01733.1 (gi21669417). Alternative heavy chain acceptor sequences include, for example, DBJ Accession No. BAC01904.1 (gi21669789), GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AAD53816.1 (gi5834100), GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AAS86081.1 (gi46254223), DBJ Accession No. BAC01462.1 (gi21668870), GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AAC18191.1 (gi3170773), DBJ Accession No. BAC02266.1 (gi21670513), GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AAD56254.1 (gi5921589), GENBANK Accession No. AAD53807.1 (gi5834082), DBJ Accession No. BAC02260.1 (gi21670501), GENBANK Accession No. AAC18166.1 (gi3170723), EMBL Accession No. CAA49495.1 (gi33085), PIR Accession No. 531513 (gi345903), GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AAS86079.1 (gi46254219), DBJ Accession No. BAC01917.1 (gi21669815), DBJ Accession No. BAC01912.1 (gi21669805), GENBANK Accession No. AAC18283.1 (gi3170961), DBJ Accession No. BAC01903 (gi21669787), DBJ Accession NO. BAC01887.1 (gi21669755), DBJ Accession No. BAC02259.1 (gi21670499), DBJ Accession No. BACOI913.1 (gi21669807), DBJ Accession No. BACOI910.1 (gi21669801), DJB Accession No. BAC02267.1 (gi21670515), GENBANK Accession No. AAC18306.1 (gi3171011), GENBANK Accession No. AAD53817.1 (gi5834102), PIR Accession No. E36005 (gi106423), EMBL CAB37129.1 (gi4456494), GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AAD00856.1 (gi4100384), and GENBANK.RTM. AAA68892.1 (gi186190).

In exemplary embodiments, humanized antibodies of the invention include 12A11 CDRs and FRs from an acceptor sequence listed supra. Residues within the framework regions important for CDR conformation and/or activity as described herein are selected for backmutation (if differing between donor and acceptor sequences).

Residues are next selected for substitution, as follows. When an amino acid differs between a 12A11 variable framework region and an equivalent human variable framework region, the human framework amino acid should usually be substituted by the equivalent mouse amino acid if it is reasonably expected that the amino acid: (1) noncovalently binds antigen directly, (2) is adjacent to a CDR region, is part of a CDR region under the alternative definition proposed by Chothia et al., supra, or otherwise interacts with a CDR region (e.g., is within about 3A of a CDR region), or (3) participates in the VL-VH interface.

Structural analysis of the 12A11 antibody heavy and light chain variable regions, and humanization of the 12A11 antibody is described in Example V. Briefly, three-dimensional models for the solved murine antibody structures 1 KTR for the light chain and 1JRH and 1ETZ for the heavy chain were studied. Alternative three-dimensional models which can be studied for identification of residues, important for CDR confirmation (e.g., vernier residues), include PDB Accession No. 2JEL (gi3212688), PDB Accession No. 1TET (gi494639), PDB Accession No. IJP5 (gi16975307), PDB Accession No. 1CBV (gi493917), PDB Accession No. 2PCP (gi4388943), PDB Accession No. 1191 (gi2050118), PDB Accession No. 1CLZ (gi1827926), PDB Accession No. 1FL6 (gi17942615) and PDB Accession No. 1KEL (gi 1942968) for the light chain and PDB 1GGI (gi442938), PDB Accession No. 1GGB (gi442934), PDB Accession No. 1N5Y (gi28373913), PDB Accession No. 2HMI (gi3891821), PDB Accession No. 1FDL (gi229915), PDB Accession No. 1KIP (gi1942788), PDB Accession No. 1KIQ (gi1942791) and PDB Accession No. 1VFA (gi576325) for the heavy chain.

Three-dimensional structural information for the antibodies described herein is publicly available, for example, from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics' Protein Data Bank (PDB). The PDB is freely accessible via the World Wide Web internet and is described by Berman et al. (2000) Nucleic Acids Research, 28:235. Study of solved three-dimensional structures allows for the identification of CDR-interacting residues within 12A11. Alternatively, three-dimensional models for the 12A11 VH and VL chains can be generated using computer modeling software. Briefly, a three-dimensional model is generated based on the closest solved murine antibody structures for the heavy and light chains. For this purpose, 1KTR can be used as a template for modeling the 12A11 light chain, and 1ETZ and 1JRH used as templates for modeling the heavy chain. The model can be further refined by a series of energy minimization steps to relieve unfavorable atomic contacts and optimize electrostatic and van der Waals interactions. Additional three-dimensional analysis and/or modeling can be performed using 2JEL (2.5 .ANG.) and/or 1TET (2.3 .ANG.) for the light chain and 1GGI (2.8 .ANG.) for the heavy chain (or other antibodies set forth supra) based on the similarity between these solved murine structures and the respective 12A11 chains.

The computer model of the structure of 12A11 can further serve as a starting point for predicting the three-dimensional structure of an antibody containing the 12A11 complementarity determining regions substituted in human framework structures. Additional models can be constructed representing the structure as further amino acid substitutions are introduced.

In general, substitution of one, most or all of the amino acids fulfilling the above criteria is desirable. Accordingly, the humanized antibodies of the present invention will usually contain a substitution of a human light chain framework residue with a corresponding 12A11 residue in at least 1, 2, 3 or more of the chosen positions. The humanized antibodies also usually contain a substitution of a human heavy chain framework residue with a corresponding 12A11 residue in at least 1, 2, 3 or more of the chosen positions.

Occasionally, however, there is some ambiguity about whether a particular amino acid meets the above criteria, and alternative variant immunoglobulins are produced, one of which has that particular substitution, the other of which does not. In instances where substitution with a murine residue would introduce a residue that is rare in human immunoglobulins at a particular position, it may be desirable to test the antibody for activity with or without the particular substitution. If activity (e.g., binding affinity and/or binding specificity) is about the same with or without the substitution, the antibody without substitution may be preferred, as it would be expected to elicit less of a HAMA response, as described herein.

Other candidates for substitution are acceptor human framework amino acids that are unusual for a human immunoglobulin at that position. These amino acids can be substituted with amino acids from the equivalent position of more typical human immunoglobulins. Alternatively, amino acids from equivalent positions in the mouse 12A11 can be introduced into the human framework regions when such amino acids are typical of human immunoglobulin at the equivalent positions.

Other candidates for substitution are non-germline residues occurring in a framework region. By performing a computer comparison of 12A11 with known germline sequences, germline sequences with the greatest degree of sequence identity to the heavy or light chain can be identified. Alignment of the framework region and the germline sequence will reveal which residues may be selected for substitution with corresponding germline residues. Residues not matching between a selected light chain acceptor framework and one of these germline sequences could be selected for substitution with the corresponding germline residue.

Rare mouse residues are identified by comparing the donor VL and/or VH sequences with the sequences of other members of the subgroup to which the donor VL and/or VH sequences belong (according to Kabat) and identifying the residue positions which differ from the consensus. These donor specific differences may point to somatic mutations which enhance activity. Unusual or rare residues close to the binding site may possibly contact the antigen, making it desirable to retain the mouse residue. However, if the unusual mouse residue is not important for binding, use of the corresponding acceptor residue is preferred as the mouse residue may create immunogenic neoepitopes in the humanized antibody. In the situation where an unusual residue in the donor sequence is actually a common residue in the corresponding acceptor sequence, the preferred residue is clearly the acceptor residue.

Table 1A (see Original Patent) summarizes the sequence analysis of the 12A11 VH and VL regions.

Germline sequences are set forth that can be used in selecting amino acid substitutions.

Three-dimensional structural information for antibodies described herein is publicly available, for example, from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics' Protein Data Bank (PDB). The PDB is freely accessible via the World Wide Web internet and is described by Berman et al. (2000) Nucleic Acids Research, p 235-242. Germline gene sequences referenced herein are publicly available, for example, from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database of sequences in collections of Igh, Ig kappa and Ig lambda germline V genes (as a division of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)). Homology searching of the NCBI "Ig Germline Genes" database is provided by IgG BLAST.TM..

In an exemplary embodiment, a humanized antibody of the present invention contains (i) a light chain comprising a variable domain comprising murine 12A11 VL CDRs and a human acceptor framework, the framework having zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more residues substituted with the corresponding 12A11 residue and (ii) a heavy chain comprising 12A11 VH CDRs and a human acceptor framework, the framework having at least one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more residues substituted with the corresponding 12A11 residue, and, optionally, at least one, preferably two or three residues substituted with a corresponding human germline residue.

In another exemplary embodiment, a humanized antibody of the present invention contains (i) a light chain comprising a variable domain comprising murine 12A11 VL CDRs and a human acceptor framework, the framework having at least one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more residues backmutated (i.e., substituted with the corresponding 12A11 residue), wherein the backmutation(s) are at a canonical, packing and/or vernier residues and (ii) a heavy chain comprising 12A11 VH CDRs and a human acceptor framework, the framework having at least one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more residues backmutated, wherein the backmutation(s) are at a canonical, packing and/or vernier residues. In certain embodiments, backmutations are only at packing and/or canonical residues or are primarily at canonical and/or packing residues (e.g., only 1 or 2 vernier residues of the vernier residues differing between the donor and acceptor sequence are backmutated).

In other embodiments, humanized antibodies include the fewest number of backmutations possible while retaining a binding affinity comparable to that of the donor antibody (or a chimeric version thereof). To arrive at such versions, various combinations of backmutations can be eliminated and the resulting antibodies tested for efficacy (e.g., binding affinity). For example, backmutations (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4 backmutations) at vernier residues can be eliminated or backmutations at combinations of vernier and packing, vernier and canonical or packing and canonical residues can be eliminated.

In another embodiment, a humanized antibody of the present invention has structural features, as described herein, and further has at least one (preferably two, three, four or all) of the following activities: (1) binds soluble A.beta.; (2) binds aggregated A.beta.1-42 (e.g., as determined by ELISA); (3) captures soluble A.beta.; (4) binds A.beta. in plaques (e.g., staining of AD and/or PDAPP plaques); (5) binds A.beta. with an affinity no less than two to three fold lower than chimeric 12A11 (e.g., 12A11 having murine variable region sequences and human constant region sequences); (6) mediates phagocytosis of A.beta. (e.g., in an ex vivo phagocytosis assay, as described herein); and (7) crosses the blood-brain barrier (e.g., demonstrates short-term brain localization, for example, in a PDAPP animal model, as described herein).

In another embodiment, a humanized antibody of the present invention has structural features, as described herein, such that it binds A.beta. in a manner or with an affinity sufficient to elicit at least one of the following in vivo effects: (1) reduce A.beta. plaque burden; (2) prevent plaque formation; (3) reduce levels of soluble A.beta.; (4) reduce the neuritic pathology associated with an amyloidogenic disorder; (5) lessen or ameliorate at least one physiological symptom associated with an amyloidogenic disorder; and/or (6) improve cognitive function.

In another embodiment, a humanized antibody of the present invention has structural features, as described herein, and specifically binds to an epitope comprising residues 3-7 of A.beta..

In yet another embodiment, a humanized antibody of the present invention has structural features, as described herein, such that it binds to an N-terminal epitope within A.beta. (e.g., binds to an epitope within amino acids 3-7 of A.beta.), and is capable of reducing (1) A.beta. peptide levels; (2) A.beta. plaque burden; and (3) the neuritic burden or neuritic dystrophy associated with an amyloidogenic disorder.

The activities described above can be determined utilizing any one of a variety of assays described herein or in the art (e.g., binding assays, phagocytosis assays, etc.). Activities can be assayed either in vivo (e.g., using labeled assay components and/or imaging techniques) or in vitro (e.g., using samples or specimens derived from a subject). Activities can be assayed either directly or indirectly. In certain preferred embodiments, neurological endpoints (e.g., amyloid burden, neuritic burden, etc) are assayed. Such endpoints can be assayed in living subjects (e.g., in animal models of Alzheimer's disease or in human subjects, for example, undergoing immunotherapy) using non-invasive detection methodologies. Alternatively, such endpoints can be assayed in subjects post mortem. Assaying such endpoints in animal models and/or in human subjects post mortem is useful in assessing the effectiveness of various agents (e.g., humanized antibodies) to be utilized in similar immunotherapeutic applications. In other preferred embodiments, behavioral or neurological parameters can be assessed as indicators of the above neuropathological activities or endpoints.

3. Production of Variable Regions

Having conceptually selected the CDR and framework components of humanized immunoglobulins, a variety of methods are available for producing such immunoglobulins. In general, one or more of the murine complementarity determining regions (CDR) of the heavy and/or light chain of the antibody can be humanized, for example, placed in the context of one or more human framework regions, using primer-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Briefly, primers are designed which are capable of annealing to target murine CDR region(s) which also contain sequence which overlaps and can anneal with a human framework region. Accordingly, under appropriate conditions, the primers can amplify a murine CDR from a murine antibody template nucleic acid and add to the amplified template a portion of a human framework sequence. Similarly, primers can be designed which are capable of annealing to a target human framework region(s) where a PCR reaction using these primers results in an amplified human framework region(s). When each amplification product is then denatured, combined, and annealed to the other product, the murine CDR region, having overlapping human framework sequence with the amplified human framework sequence, can be genetically linked. Accordingly, in one or more such reactions, one or more murine CDR regions can be genetically linked to intervening human framework regions.

In some embodiments, the primers may also comprise desirable restriction enzyme recognition sequences to facilitate the genetic engineering of the resultant PCR amplified sequences into a larger genetic segment, for example, a variable light or heavy chain segment, heavy chain, or vector. In addition, the primers used to amplify either the murine CDR regions or human framework regions may have desirable mismatches such that a different codon is introduced into the murine CDR or human framework region. Typical mismatches introduce alterations in the human framework regions that preserve or improve the structural orientation of the murine CDR and thus its binding affinity, as described herein.

It should be understood that the foregoing approach can be used to introduce one, two, or all three murine CDR regions into the context of intervening human framework regions. Methods for amplifying and linking different sequences using primer-based PCR are described in, for example, Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis, Molecular Cloning: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989); DNA Cloning, Vols. 1 and 2, (D. N. Glover, Ed. 1985); PCR Handbook Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry, Beaucage, Ed. John Wiley & Sons (1999) (Editor); Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, eds. Ausubel et al., John Wiley & Sons (1992).

Because of the degeneracy of the code, a variety of nucleic acid sequences will encode each immunoglobulin amino acid sequence. The desired nucleic acid sequences can be produced by de novo solid-phase DNA synthesis or by PCR mutagenesis of an earlier prepared variant of the desired polynucleotide. Oligonucleotide-mediated mutagenesis is a preferred method for preparing substitution, deletion and insertion variants of target polypeptide DNA. See Adelman et al., DNA 2:183 (1983). Briefly, the target polypeptide DNA is altered by hybridizing an oligonucleotide encoding the desired mutation to a single-stranded DNA template. After hybridization, a DNA polymerase is used to synthesize an entire second complementary strand of the template that incorporates the oligonucleotide primer, and encodes the selected alteration in the target polypeptide DNA.

4. Selection of Constant Regions

The variable segments of antibodies produced as described supra (e.g., the heavy and light chain variable regions of chimeric or humanized antibodies) are typically linked to at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc region), typically that of a human immunoglobulin. Human constant region DNA sequences can be isolated in accordance with well known procedures from a variety of human cells, but preferably immortalized B cells (see Kabat et al., supra, and Liu et al., WO87/02671) (each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes). Ordinarily, the antibody will contain both light chain and heavy chain constant regions. The heavy chain constant region usually includes CH1, hinge, CH2, CH3, and CH4 regions. The antibodies described herein include antibodies having all types of constant regions, including IgM, IgG, IgD, IgA and IgE, and any isotype, including IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4. When it is desired that the antibody (e.g., humanized antibody) exhibit cytotoxic activity, the constant domain is usually a complement fixing constant domain and the class is typically IgG1. Human isotype IgG1 is preferred. Light chain constant regions can be lambda or kappa. The humanized antibody may comprise sequences from more than one class or isotype. Antibodies can be expressed as tetramers containing two light and two heavy chains, as separate heavy chains, light chains, as Fab, Fab' F(ab')2, and Fv, or as single chain antibodies in which heavy and light chain variable domains are linked through a spacer.

5. Expression of Recombinant Antibodies

Chimeric and humanized antibodies are typically produced by recombinant expression. Nucleic acids encoding light and heavy chain variable regions, optionally linked to constant regions, are inserted into expression vectors. The light and heavy chains can be cloned in the same or different expression vectors. The DNA segments encoding immunoglobulin chains are operably linked to control sequences in the expression vector(s) that ensure the expression of immunoglobulin polypeptides. Expression control sequences include, but are not limited to, promoters (e.g., naturally-associated or heterologous promoters), signal sequences, enhancer elements, and transcription termination sequences. Preferably, the expression control sequences are eukaryotic promoter systems in vectors capable of transforming or transfecting eukaryotic host cells (e.g., COS cells). Once the vector has been incorporated into the appropriate host, the host is maintained under conditions suitable for high level expression of the nucleotide sequences, and the collection and purification of the crossreacting antibodies.

These expression vectors are typically replicable in the host organisms either as episomes or as an integral part of the host chromosomal DNA. Commonly, expression vectors contain selection markers (e.g., ampicillin-resistance, hygromycin-resistance, tetracycline resistance, kanamycin resistance or neomycin resistance) to permit detection of those cells transformed with the desired DNA sequences (see, e.g., Itakura et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,362).

E. coli is one prokaryotic host particularly useful for cloning the polynucleotides (e.g., DNA sequences) of the present invention. Other microbial hosts suitable for use include bacilli, such as Bacillus subtilis, and other enterobacteriaceae, such as Salmonella, Serratia, and various Pseudomonas species. In these prokaryotic hosts, one can also make expression vectors, which will typically contain expression control sequences compatible with the host cell (e.g., an origin of replication). In addition, any number of a variety of well-known promoters will be present, such as the lactose promoter system, a tryptophan (trp) promoter system, a beta-lactamase promoter system, or a promoter system from phage lambda. The promoters will typically control expression, optionally with an operator sequence, and have ribosome binding site sequences and the like, for initiating and completing transcription and translation.

Other microbes, such as yeast, are also useful for expression. Saccharomyces is a preferred yeast host, with suitable vectors having expression control sequences (e.g., promoters), an origin of replication, termination sequences and the like as desired. Typical promoters include 3-phosphoglycerate kinase and other glycolytic enzymes. Inducible yeast promoters include, among others, promoters from alcohol dehydrogenase, isocytochrome C, and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization.

In addition to microorganisms, mammalian tissue cell culture may also be used to express and produce the polypeptides of the present invention (e.g., polynucleotides encoding immunoglobulins or fragments thereof). See Winnacker, From Genes to Clones, VCH Publishers, N.Y., N.Y. (1987). Eukaryotic cells are actually preferred, because a number of suitable host cell lines capable of secreting heterologous proteins (e.g., intact immunoglobulins) have been developed in the art, and include CHO cell lines, various Cos cell lines, HeLa cells, preferably, myeloma cell lines, or transformed B-cells or hybridomas. Preferably, the cells are nonhuman. Expression vectors for these cells can include expression control sequences, such as an origin of replication, a promoter, and an enhancer (Queen et al., Immunol. Rev. 89:49 (1986)), and necessary processing information sites, such as ribosome binding sites, RNA splice sites, polyadenylation sites, and transcriptional terminator sequences. Preferred expression control sequences are promoters derived from immunoglobulin genes, SV40, adenovirus, bovine papilloma virus, cytomegalovirus and the like. See Co et al., J. Immunol. 148:1149 (1992).

Alternatively, antibody-coding sequences can be incorporated in transgenes for introduction into the genome of a transgenic animal and subsequent expression in the milk of the transgenic animal (see, e.g., Deboer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,957, Rosen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,489, and Meade et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,992). Suitable transgenes include coding sequences for light and/or heavy chains in operable linkage with a promoter and enhancer from a mammary gland specific gene, such as casein or beta lactoglobulin.

Alternatively, antibodies (e.g., humanized antibodies) of the invention can be produced in transgenic plants (e.g., tobacco, maize, soybean and alfalfa). Improved `plantibody` vectors (Hendy et al. (1999) J. Immunol. Methods 231:137-146) and purification strategies coupled with an increase in transformable crop species render such methods a practical and efficient means of producing recombinant immunoglobulins not only for human and animal therapy, but for industrial applications as well (e.g., catalytic antibodies). Moreover, plant produced antibodies have been shown to be safe and effective and avoid the use of animal-derived materials and therefore the risk of contamination with a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agent. Further, the differences in glycosylation patterns of plant and mammalian cell-produced antibodies have little or no effect on antigen binding or specificity. In addition, no evidence of toxicity or HAMA has been observed in patients receiving topical oral application of a plant-derived secretory dimeric IgA antibody (see Larrick et al. (1998) Res. Immunol. 149:603-608).

Various methods may be used to express recombinant antibodies in transgenic plants. For example, antibody heavy and light chains can be independently cloned into expression vectors (e.g., Agrobacterium tumefaciens vectors), followed by the transformation of plant tissue in vitro with the recombinant bacterium or direct transformation using, e.g., particles coated with the vector which are then physically introduced into the plant tissue using, e.g., ballistics. Subsequently, whole plants expressing individual chains are reconstituted followed by their sexual cross, ultimately resulting in the production of a fully assembled and functional antibody. Similar protocols have been used to express functional antibodies in tobacco plants (see Hiatt et al. (1989) Nature 342:76-87). In various embodiments, signal sequences may be utilized to promote the expression, binding and folding of unassembled antibody chains by directing the chains to the appropriate plant environment (e.g., the aqueous environment of the apoplasm or other specific plant tissues including tubers, fruit or seed) (see Fiedler et al. (1995) Bio/Technology 13:1090-1093). Plant bioreactors can also be used to increase antibody yield and to significantly reduce costs.

The vectors containing the polynucleotide sequences of interest (e.g., the heavy and light chain encoding sequences and expression control sequences) can be transferred into the host cell by well-known methods, which vary depending on the type of cellular host. For example, calcium chloride transfection is commonly utilized for prokaryotic cells, whereas calcium phosphate treatment, electroporation, lipofection, biolistics or viral-based transfection may be used for other cellular hosts. (See generally Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Press, 2nd ed., 1989) (incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes). Other methods used to transform mammalian cells include the use of polybrene, protoplast fusion, liposomes, electroporation, and microinjection (see generally, Sambrook et al., supra). For production of transgenic animals, transgenes can be microinjected into fertilized oocytes, or can be incorporated into the genome of embryonic stem cells, and the nuclei of such cells transferred into enucleated oocytes.

When heavy and light chains are cloned on separate expression vectors, the vectors are co-transfected to obtain expression and assembly of intact immunoglobulins. Once expressed, the whole antibodies, their dimers, individual light and heavy chains, or other immunoglobulin forms of the present invention can be purified according to standard procedures of the art, including ammonium sulfate precipitation, affinity columns, column chromatography, HPLC purification, gel electrophoresis and the like (see generally Scopes, Protein Purification (Springer-Verlag, N.Y., (1982)). Substantially pure immunoglobulins of at least about 90 to 95% homogeneity are preferred, and 98 to 99% or more homogeneity most preferred, for pharmaceutical uses.

6. Antibody Fragments

Also contemplated within the scope of the instant invention are antibody fragments. In one embodiment, fragments of non-human, and/or chimeric antibodies are provided. In another embodiment, fragments of humanized antibodies are provided. Typically, these fragments exhibit specific binding to antigen with an affinity of at least 10.sup.7, and more typically 10.sup.8 or 10.sup.9 M.sup.-1. Humanized antibody fragments include separate heavy chains, light chains, Fab, Fab', F(ab')2, Fabc, and Fv. Fragments are produced by recombinant DNA techniques, or by enzymatic or chemical separation of intact immunoglobulins.

7. Epitope Mapping

Epitope mapping can be performed to determine which antigenic determinant or epitope of A.beta. is recognized by the antibody. In one embodiment, epitope mapping is performed according to Replacement NET (rNET) analysis. The rNET epitope map assay provides information about the contribution of individual residues within the epitope to the overall binding activity of the antibody. rNET analysis uses synthesized systematic single substituted peptide analogs. Binding of an antibody being tested is determined against native peptide (native antigen) and against 19 alternative "single substituted" peptides, each peptide being substituted at a first position with one of 19 non-native amino acids for that position. A profile is generated reflecting the effect of substitution at that position with the various non-native residues. Profiles are likewise generated at successive positions along the antigenic peptide. The combined profile, or epitope map, (reflecting substitution at each position with all 19 non-native residues) can then be compared to a map similarly generated for a second antibody. Substantially similar or identical maps indicate that antibodies being compared have the same or similar epitope specificity.

8. Testing Antibodies for Therapeutic Efficacy in Animal Models

Groups of 7-9 month old PDAPP mice each are injected with 0.5 mg in PBS of polyclonal anti-A.beta. or specific anti-A.beta. monoclonal antibodies. All antibody preparations are purified to have low endotoxin levels. Monoclonals can be prepared against a fragment by injecting the fragment or longer form of A.beta. into a mouse, preparing hybridomas and screening the hybridomas for an antibody that specifically binds to a desired fragment of A.beta. without binding to other nonoverlapping fragments of A.beta..

Mice are injected intraperitoneally as needed over a 4 month period to maintain a circulating antibody concentration measured by ELISA titer of greater than 1/1000 defined by ELISA to A.beta.42 or other immunogen. Titers are monitored and mice are euthanized at the end of 6 months of injections. Histochemistry, A.beta. levels and toxicology are performed post mortem. Ten mice are used per group.

9. Screening Antibodies for Clearing Activity

The invention also provides methods of screening an antibody for activity in clearing an amyloid deposit or any other antigen, or associated biological entity, for which clearing activity is desired. To screen for activity against an amyloid deposit, a tissue sample from a brain of a patient with Alzheimer's disease or an animal model having characteristic Alzheimer's pathology is contacted with phagocytic cells bearing an Fc receptor, such as microglial cells, and the antibody under test in a medium in vitro. The phagocytic cells can be a primary culture or a cell line, and can be of murine (e.g., BV-2 or C8-B4 cells) or human origin (e.g., THP-1 cells). In some methods, the components are combined on a microscope slide to facilitate microscopic monitoring. In some methods, multiple reactions are performed in parallel in the wells of a microtiter dish. In such a format, a separate miniature microscope slide can be mounted in the separate wells, or a nonmicroscopic detection format, such as ELISA detection of A.beta. can be used. Preferably, a series of measurements is made of the amount of amyloid deposit in the in vitro reaction mixture, starting from a baseline value before the reaction has proceeded, and one or more test values during the reaction. The antigen can be detected by staining, for example, with a fluorescently labeled antibody to A.beta. or other component of amyloid plaques. The antibody used for staining may or may not be the same as the antibody being tested for clearing activity. A reduction relative to baseline during the reaction of the amyloid deposits indicates that the antibody under test has clearing activity. Such antibodies are likely to be useful in preventing or treating Alzheimer's and other amyloidogenic diseases. Particularly useful antibodies for preventing or treating Alzheimer's and other amyloidogenic diseases include those capable of clearing both compact and diffuse amyloid plaques, for example, the 12A11 antibody of the instant invention, or chimeric or humanized versions thereof.

Analogous methods can be used to screen antibodies for activity in clearing other types of biological entities. The assay can be used to detect clearing activity against virtually any kind of biological entity. Typically, the biological entity has some role in human or animal disease. The biological entity can be provided as a tissue sample or in isolated form. If provided as a tissue sample, the tissue sample is preferably unfixed to allow ready access to components of the tissue sample and to avoid perturbing the conformation of the components incidental to fixing. Examples of tissue samples that can be tested in this assay include cancerous tissue, precancerous tissue, tissue containing benign growths such as warts or moles, tissue infected with pathogenic microorganisms, tissue infiltrated with inflammatory cells, tissue bearing pathological matrices between cells (e.g., fibrinous pericarditis), tissue bearing aberrant antigens, and scar tissue. Examples of isolated biological entities that can be used include A.beta., viral antigens or viruses, proteoglycans, antigens of other pathogenic microorganisms, tumor antigens, and adhesion molecules. Such antigens can be obtained from natural sources, recombinant expression or chemical synthesis, among other means. The tissue sample or isolated biological entity is contacted with phagocytic cells bearing Fc receptors, such as monocytes or microglial cells, and an antibody to be tested in a medium. The antibody can be directed to the biological entity under test or to an antigen associated with the entity. In the latter situation, the object is to test whether the biological entity is phagocytosed with the antigen. Usually, although not necessarily, the antibody and biological entity (sometimes with an associated antigen), are contacted with each other before adding the phagocytic cells. The concentration of the biological entity and/or the associated antigen remaining in the medium, if present, is then monitored. A reduction in the amount or concentration of antigen or the associated biological entity in the medium indicates the antibody has a clearing response against the antigen and/or associated biological entity in conjunction with the phagocytic cells.

10. Chimeric/Humanized Antibodies Having Altered Effector Function

For the above-described antibodies of the invention comprising a constant region (Fc region), it may also be desirable to alter the effector function of the molecule. Generally, the effector function of an antibody resides in the constant or Fc region of the molecule which can mediate binding to various effector molecules, e.g., complement proteins or Fc receptors. The binding of complement to the Fc region is important, for example, in the opsonization and lysis of cell pathogens and the activation of inflammatory responses. The binding of antibody to Fc receptors, for example, on the surface of effector cells can trigger a number of important and diverse biological responses including, for example, engulfment and destruction of antibody-coated pathogens or particles, clearance of immune complexes, lysis of antibody-coated target cells by killer cells (i.e., antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, or ADCC), release of inflammatory mediators, placental transfer of antibodies, and control of immunoglobulin production.

Accordingly, depending on a particular therapeutic or diagnostic application, the above-mentioned immune functions, or only selected immune functions, may be desirable. By altering the Fc region of the antibody, various aspects of the effector function of the molecule, including enhancing or suppressing various reactions of the immune system, with beneficial effects in diagnosis and therapy, are achieved.

The antibodies of the invention can be produced which react only with certain types of Fc receptors, for example, the antibodies of the invention can be modified to bind to only certain Fc receptors, or if desired, lack Fc receptor binding entirely, by deletion or alteration of the Fc receptor binding site located in the Fc region of the antibody. Other desirable alterations of the Fc region of an antibody of the invention are cataloged below. Typically the Kabat numbering system is used to indicate which amino acid residue(s) of the Fc region (e.g., of an IgG antibody) are altered (e.g., by amino acid substitution) in order to achieve a desired change in effector function. The numbering system is also employed to compare antibodies across species such that a desired effector function observed in, for example, a mouse antibody, can then be systematically engineered into a human, humanized, or chimeric antibody of the invention.

For example, it has been observed that antibodies (e.g., IgG antibodies) can be grouped into those found to exhibit tight, intermediate, or weak binding to an Fc receptor (e.g., an Fc receptor on human monocytes (Fc.gamma.RI)). By comparison of the amino-acid sequences in these different affinity groups, a monocyte-binding site in the hinge-link region (Leu234-Ser239) has been identified. Moreover, the human Fc.gamma.RI receptor binds human IgG1 and mouse IgG2a as a monomer, but the binding of mouse IgG2b is 100-fold weaker. A comparison of the sequence of these proteins in the hinge-link region shows that the sequence 234 to 238, i.e., Leu-Leu-Gly-Gly-Pro (SEQ ID NO:32) in the strong binders becomes Leu-Glu-Gly-Gly-Pro (SEQ ID NO:33) in mouse gamma 2b, i.e., weak binders. Accordingly, a corresponding change in a human antibody hinge sequence can be made if reduced Fc.gamma.I receptor binding is desired. It is understood that other alterations can be made to achieve the same or similar results. For example, the affinity of Fc.gamma.RI binding can be altered by replacing the specified residue with a residue having an inappropriate functional group on its sidechain, or by introducing a charged functional group (e.g., Glu or Asp) or for example an aromatic non-polar residue (e.g., Phe, Tyr, or Trp).

These changes can be equally applied to the murine, human, and rat systems given the sequence homology between the different immunoglobulins. It has been shown that for human IgG3, which binds to the human Fc.gamma.RI receptor, changing Leu 235 to Glu destroys the interaction of the mutant for the receptor. The binding site for this receptor can thus be switched on or switched off by making the appropriate mutation.

Mutations on adjacent or close sites in the hinge link region (e.g., replacing residues 234, 236 or 237 by Ala) indicate that alterations in residues 234, 235, 236, and 237 at least affect affinity for the Fc.gamma.RI receptor. Accordingly, the antibodies of the invention can also have an altered Fc region with altered binding affinity for Fc.gamma.RI as compared with the unmodified antibody. Such an antibody conveniently has a modification at amino acid residue 234, 235, 236, or 237.

Affinity for other Fc receptors can be altered by a similar approach, for controlling the immune response in different ways.

As a further example, the lytic properties of IgG antibodies following binding of the Cl component of complement can be altered.

The first component of the complement system, Cl, comprises three proteins known as Clq, Clr and Cls which bind tightly together. It has been shown that Clq is responsible for binding of the three protein complex to an antibody.

Accordingly, the Clq binding activity of an antibody can be altered by providing an antibody with an altered CH 2 domain in which at least one of the amino acid residues 318, 320, and 322 of the heavy chain has been changed to a residue having a different side chain. The numbering of the residues in the heavy chain is that of the EU index (see Kabat et al., supra). Other suitable alterations for altering, e.g., reducing or abolishing specific Clq-binding to an antibody include changing any one of residues 318 (Glu), 320 (Lys) and 322 (Lys), to Ala.

Moreover, by making mutations at these residues, it has been shown that Clq binding is retained as long as residue 318 has a hydrogen-bonding side chain and residues 320 and 322 both have a positively charged side chain.

Clq binding activity can be abolished by replacing any one of the three specified residues with a residue having an inappropriate functionality on its side chain. It is not necessary to replace the ionic residues only with Ala to abolish Clq binding. It is also possible to use other alkyl-substituted non-ionic residues, such as Gly, Ile, Leu, or Val, or such aromatic non-polar residues as Phe, Tyr, Trp and Pro in place of any one of the three residues in order to abolish Clq binding. In addition, it is also be possible to use such polar non-ionic residues as Ser, Thr, Cys, and Met in place of residues 320 and 322, but not 318, in order to abolish Clq binding activity.

It is also noted that the side chains on ionic or non-ionic polar residues will be able to form hydrogen bonds in a similar manner to the bonds formed by the Glu residue. Therefore, replacement of the 318 (Glu) residue by a polar residue may modify but not abolish Clq binding activity.

It is also known that replacing residue 297 (Asn) with Ala results in removal of lytic activity while only slightly reducing (about three fold weaker) affinity for Clq. This alteration destroys the glycosylation site and the presence of carbohydrate that is required for complement activation. Any other substitution at this site will also destroy the glycosylation site.

The invention also provides an antibody having an altered effector function wherein the antibody has a modified hinge region. The modified hinge region may comprise a complete hinge region derived from an antibody of different antibody class or subclass from that of the CH1 domain. For example, the constant domain (CH1) of a class IgG antibody can be attached to a hinge region of a class IgG4 antibody. Alternatively, the new hinge region may comprise part of a natural hinge or a repeating unit in which each unit in the repeat is derived from a natural hinge region. In one example, the natural hinge region is altered by converting one or more cysteine residues into a neutral residue, such as alanine, or by converting suitably placed residues into cysteine residues. Such alterations are carried out using art recognized protein chemistry and, preferably, genetic engineering techniques, as described herein.

In one embodiment of the invention, the number of cysteine residues in the hinge region of the antibody is reduced, for example, to one cysteine residue. This modification has the advantage of facilitating the assembly of the antibody, for example, bispecific antibody molecules and antibody molecules wherein the Fc portion has been replaced by an effector or reporter molecule, since it is only necessary to form a single disulfide bond. This modification also provides a specific target for attaching the hinge region either to another hinge region or to an effector or reporter molecule, either directly or indirectly, for example, by chemical means.

Conversely, the number of cysteine residues in the hinge region of the antibody is increased, for example, at least one more than the number of normally occurring cysteine residues. Increasing the number of cysteine residues can be used to stabilize the interactions between adjacent hinges. Another advantage of this modification is that it facilitates the use of cysteine thiol groups for attaching effector or reporter molecules to the altered antibody, for example, a radiolabel.

Accordingly, the invention provides for an exchange of hinge regions between antibody classes, in particular, IgG classes, and/or an increase or decrease in the number of cysteine residues in the hinge region in order to achieve an altered effector function (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,425 which is expressly incorporated herein). A determination of altered antibody effector function is made using the assays described herein or other art recognized techniques.

Importantly, the resultant antibody can be subjected to one or more assays to evaluate any change in biological activity compared to the starting antibody. For example, the ability of the antibody with an altered Fc region to bind complement or Fc receptors can be assessed using the assays disclosed herein as well as any art recognized assay.

Production of the antibodies of the invention is carried out by any suitable technique including techniques described herein as well as techniques known to those skilled in the art. For example an appropriate protein sequence, e.g. forming part of or all of a relevant constant domain, e.g., Fc region, i.e., CH2, and/or CH3 domain(s), of an antibody, and include appropriately altered residue(s) can be synthesized and then chemically joined into the appropriate place in an antibody molecule.

Preferably, genetic engineering techniques are used for producing an altered antibody. Preferred techniques include, for example, preparing suitable primers for use in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) such that a DNA sequence which encodes at least part of an IgG heavy chain, e.g., an Fc or constant region (e.g., CH2, and/or CH3) is altered, at one or more residues. The segment can then be operably linked to the remaining portion of the antibody, e.g., the variable region of the antibody and required regulatory elements for expression in a cell.

The present invention also includes vectors used to transform the cell line, vectors used in producing the transforming vectors, cell lines transformed with the transforming vectors, cell lines transformed with preparative vectors, and methods for their production.

Preferably, the cell line which is transformed to produce the antibody with an altered Fc region (i.e., of altered effector function) is an immortalized mammalian cell line (e.g., CHO cell).

Although the cell line used to produce the antibody with an altered Fc region is preferably a mammalian cell line, any other suitable cell line, such as a bacterial cell line or a yeast cell line, may alternatively be used.

11. Affinity Maturation

Antibodies (e.g., humanized antibodies) of the invention can be modified for improved function using any of a number of affinity maturation techniques. Typically, a candidate molecule with a binding affinity to a given target molecule is identified and then further improved or "matured" using mutagenesis techniques resulting in one or more related candidates having a more desired binding interaction with the target molecule. Typically, it is the affinity of the antibody (or avidity, i.e., the combined affinities of the antibody for a target antigen) that is modified, however, other properties of the molecule, such as stability, effector function, clearance, secretion, or transport function, may also be modified, either separately or in parallel with affinity, using affinity maturation techniques.

In exemplary embodiments, the affinity of an antibody (e.g., a humanized antibody of the instant invention) is increased. For example, antibodies having binding affinities of at least 10.sup.7M.sup.-1, 10.sup.8M.sup.-1 or 10.sup.9M.sup.-1 can be matured such that their affinities are at least 10.sup.9M.sup.-1, 10.sup.10M.sup.-1 or 10.sup.12 M.sup.-1.

One approach for affinity maturing a binding molecule is to synthesize a nucleic acid encoding the binding molecule, or portion thereof, that encodes the desired change or changes. Oligonucleotide synthesis is well known in the art and readily automated to produce one or more nucleic acids having any desired codon change(s). Restriction sites, silent mutations, and favorable codon usage may also be introduced in this way. Alternatively, one or more codons can be altered to represent a subset of particular amino acids, e.g., a subset that excludes cysteines which can form disulfide linkages, and is limited to a defined region, for example, a CDR region or portion thereof. Alternatively, the region may be represented by a partially or entirely random set of amino acids (for additional details, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,830,650; 5,798,208; 5,824,514; 5,817,483; 5,814,476; 5,723,323; 4,528,266; 4,359,53; 5,840,479; and 5,869,644).

It is understood that the above approaches can be carried out in part or in full using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which is well known in the art and has the advantage of incorporating oligonucleotides, e.g., primers or single stranded nucleic acids having, e.g., a desired alteration(s), into a double stranded nucleic acid and in amplified amounts suitable for other manipulations, such as genetic engineering into an appropriate expression or cloning vector. Such PCR can also be carried out under conditions that allow for misincorporation of nucleotides to thereby introduce additional variability into the nucleic acids being amplified. Experimental details for carrying out PCR and related kits, reagents, and primer design can be found, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,202; 4,683,195; 6,040,166; and 6,096,551. Methods for introducing CDR regions into antibody framework regions using primer-based PCR is described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,725. Methods for primer-based PCR amplification of antibody libraries (and libraries made according to method) employing a minimal set of primers capable of finding sequence homology with a larger set of antibody molecules, such that a larger and diverse set of antibody molecules can be efficiently amplified, is described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,780,225; 6,303,313; and 6,479,243. Non PCR-based methods for performing site directed mutagenesis can also be used and include "Kunkel" mutagenesis that employs single-stranded uracil containing templates and primers that hybridize and introduce a mutation when passed through a particular strain of E. coli (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,192).

Additional methods for varying an antibody sequence, or portion thereof, include nucleic acid synthesis or PCR of nucleic acids under nonoptimal (i.e., error-prone) conditions, denaturation and renaturation (annealing) of such nucleic acids, exonuclease and/or endonuclease digestion followed by reassembly by ligation or PCR (nucleic acid shuffling), or a combination of one or more of the foregoing techniques as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,440,668; 6,238,884; 6,171,820; 5,965,408; 6,361,974; 6,358,709; 6,352,842; 4,888,286; 6,337,186; 6,165,793; 6,132,970; 6,117,679; 5,830,721; and 5,605,793.

In certain embodiment, antibody libraries (or affinity maturation libraries) comprising a family of candidate antibody molecules having diversity in certain portions of the candidate antibody molecule, e.g., in one or more CDR regions (or a portion thereof), one or more framework regions, and/or one or more constant regions (e.g., a constant region having effector function) can be expressed and screened for desired properties using art recognized techniques (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,291,161; 6,291,160; 6,291,159; and 6,291,158). For example, expression libraries of antibody variable domains having a diversity of CDR3 sequences and methods for producing human antibody libraries having a diversity of CDR3 sequences by introducing, by mutagenesis, a diversity of CDR3 sequences and recovering the library can be constructed (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,516).

Finally, for expressing the affinity matured antibodies, nucleic acids encoding the candidate antibody molecules can be introduced into cells in an appropriate expression format, e.g., as full length antibody heavy and light chains (e.g., IgG), antibody Fab fragments (e.g., Fab, F(ab').sub.2), or as single chain antibodies (scFv) using standard vector and cell transfection/transformation technologies (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,331,415; 6,103,889; 5,260,203; 5,258,498; and 4,946,778).

B. Nucleic Acid Encoding Immunologic and Therapeutic Agents

Immune responses against amyloid deposits can also be induced by administration of nucleic acids encoding antibodies and their component chains used for passive immunization. Such nucleic acids can be DNA or RNA. A nucleic acid segment encoding an immunogen is typically linked to regulatory elements, such as a promoter and enhancer, that allow expression of the DNA segment in the intended target cells of a patient. For expression in blood cells, as is desirable for induction of an immune response, exemplary promoter and enhancer elements include those from light or heavy chain immunoglobulin genes and/or the CMV major intermediate early promoter and enhancer (Stinski, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,168,062 and 5,385,839). The linked regulatory elements and coding sequences are often cloned into a vector. For administration of double-chain antibodies, the two chains can be cloned in the same or separate vectors.

A number of viral vector systems are available including retroviral systems (see, e.g., Lawrie and Tumin, Cur. Opin. Genet. Develop. 3:102-109 (1993)); adenoviral vectors (see, e.g., Bett et al., J. Virol. 67:5911 (1993)); adeno-associated virus vectors (see, e.g., Zhou et al., J. Exp. Med. 179:1867 (1994)), viral vectors from the pox family including vaccinia virus and the avian pox viruses, viral vectors from the alpha virus genus such as those derived from Sindbis and Semliki Forest Viruses (see, e.g., Dubensky et al., J. Virol. 70:508 (1996)), Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (see Johnston et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,576) and rhabdoviruses, such as vesicular stomatitis virus (see Rose, U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,943) and papillomaviruses (Ohe et al., Human Gene Therapy 6:325 (1995); Woo et al., WO 94/12629 and Xiao & Brandsma, Nucleic Acids. Res. 24, 2630-2622 (1996)).

DNA encoding an immunogen, or a vector containing the same, can be packaged into liposomes. Suitable lipids and related analogs are described by Eppstein et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,036, Felgner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,618, Rose, U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,833, and Epand et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,185. Vectors and DNA encoding an immunogen can also be adsorbed to or associated with particulate carriers, examples of which include polymethyl methacrylate polymers and polylactides and poly (lactide-co-glycolides), see, e.g., McGee et al., J. Micro Encap. (1996).

Gene therapy vectors or naked polypeptides (e.g., DNA) can be delivered in vivo by administration to an individual patient, typically by systemic administration (e.g., intravenous, intraperitoneal, nasal, gastric, intradermal, intramuscular, subdermal, or intracranial infusion) or topical application (see e.g., Anderson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,346). The term "naked polynucleotide" refers to a polynucleotide not delivered in association with a transfection facilitating agent. Naked polynucleotides are sometimes cloned in a plasmid vector. Such vectors can further include facilitating agents such as bupivacaine (Weiner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,972). DNA can also be administered using a gene gun. See Xiao & Brandsma, supra. The DNA encoding an immunogen is precipitated onto the surface of microscopic metal beads. The microprojectiles are accelerated with a shock wave or expanding helium gas, and penetrate tissues to a depth of several cell layers. For example, The ACCEL.TM. Gene Delivery Device manufactured by Agricetus, Inc. Middleton Wis. is suitable. Alternatively, naked DNA can pass through skin into the blood stream simply by spotting the DNA onto skin with chemical or mechanical irritation (see Howell et al., WO 95/05853).

In a further variation, vectors encoding immunogens can be delivered to cells ex vivo, such as cells explanted from an individual patient (e.g., lymphocytes, bone marrow aspirates, tissue biopsy) or universal donor hematopoietic stem cells, followed by reimplantation of the cells into a patient, usually after selection for cells which have incorporated the vector.

II. Prophylactic and Therapeutic Methods

The present invention is directed inter alia to treatment of Alzheimer's and other amyloidogenic diseases by administration of therapeutic immunological reagents (e.g., humanized immunoglobulins) to specific epitopes within A.beta. to a patient under conditions that generate a beneficial therapeutic response in a patient (e.g., induction of phagocytosis of A.beta., reduction of plaque burden, inhibition of plaque formation, reduction of neuritic dystrophy, improving cognitive function, and/or reversing, treating or preventing cognitive decline) in the patient, for example, for the prevention or treatment of an amyloidogenic disease. The invention is also directed to use of the disclosed immunological reagents (e.g., humanized immunoglobulins) in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of an amyloidogenic disease.

In one aspect, the invention provides methods of preventing or treating a disease associated with amyloid deposits of A.beta. in the brain of a patient. Such diseases include Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome and cognitive impairment. The latter can occur with or without other characteristics of an amyloidogenic disease. Some methods of the invention comprise administering an effective dosage of an antibody that specifically binds to a component of an amyloid deposit to the patient. Such methods are particularly useful for preventing or treating Alzheimer's disease in human patients. Exemplary methods comprise administering an effective dosage of an antibody that binds to A.beta.. Preferred methods comprise administering an effective dosage of an antibody that specifically binds to an epitope within residues 1-10 of A.beta., for example, antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope within residues 1-3 of A.beta., antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope within residues 1-4 of A.beta., antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope within residues 1-5 of A.beta., antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope within residues 1-6 of A.beta., antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope within residues 1-7 of A.beta., or antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope within residues 3-7 of A.beta.. In yet another aspect, the invention features administering antibodies that bind to an epitope comprising a free N-terminal residue of A.beta.. In yet another aspect, the invention features administering antibodies that bind to an epitope within residues of 1-10 of A.beta. wherein residue 1 and/or residue 7 of A.beta. is aspartic acid. In yet another aspect, the invention features administering antibodies that specifically bind to A.beta. peptide without binding to full-length amyloid precursor protein (APP). In yet another aspect, the isotype of the antibody is human IgG1.

In yet another aspect, the invention features administering antibodies that bind to an amyloid deposit in the patient and induce a clearing response against the amyloid deposit. For example, such a clearing response can be effected by Fc receptor mediated phagocytosis.

Therapeutic agents of the invention are typically substantially pure from undesired contaminant. This means that an agent is typically at least about 50% w/w (weight/weight) pure, as well as being substantially free from interfering proteins and contaminants. Sometimes the agents are at least about 80% w/w and, more preferably at least 90 or about 95% w/w pure. However, using conventional protein purification techniques, homogeneous peptides of at least 99% w/w pure can be obtained.

The methods can be used on both asymptomatic patients and those currently showing symptoms of disease. The antibodies used in such methods can be human, humanized, chimeric or nonhuman antibodies, or fragments thereof (e.g., antigen binding fragments) and can be monoclonal or polyclonal, as described herein. In yet another aspect, the invention features administering antibodies prepared from a human immunized with A.beta. peptide, which human can be the patient to be treated with antibody.

In another aspect, the invention features administering an antibody with a pharmaceutical carrier as a pharmaceutical composition. Alternatively, the antibody can be administered to a patient by administering a polynucleotide encoding at least one antibody chain. The polynucleotide is expressed to produce the antibody chain in the patient. Optionally, the polynucleotide encodes heavy and light chains of the antibody. The polynucleotide is expressed to produce the heavy and light chains in the patient. In exemplary embodiments, the patient is monitored for level of administered antibody in the blood of the patient.

The invention thus fulfills a longstanding need for therapeutic regimes for preventing or ameliorating the neuropathology and, in some patients, the cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease.

A. Patients Amenable to Treatment

Patients amenable to treatment include individuals at risk of disease but not showing symptoms, as well as patients presently showing symptoms. In the case of Alzheimer's disease, virtually anyone is at risk of suffering from Alzheimer's disease if he or she lives long enough. Therefore, the present methods can be administered prophylactically to the general population without the need for any assessment of the risk of the subject patient. The present methods are especially useful for individuals who have a known genetic risk of Alzheimer's disease. Such individuals include those having relatives who have experienced this disease, and those whose risk is determined by analysis of genetic or biochemical markers. Genetic markers of risk toward Alzheimer's disease include mutations in the APP gene, particularly mutations at position 717 and positions 670 and 671 referred to as the Hardy and Swedish mutations respectively (see Hardy, supra). Other markers of risk are mutations in the presenilin genes, PS1 and PS2, and ApoE4, family history of AD, hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerosis. Individuals presently suffering from Alzheimer's disease can be recognized from characteristic dementia, as well as the presence of risk factors described above. In addition, a number of diagnostic tests are available for identifying individuals who have AD. These include measurement of CSF tau and A.beta.42 levels. Elevated tau and decreased A.beta.42 levels signify the presence of AD. Individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease can also be diagnosed by ADRDA criteria as discussed in the Examples section.

In asymptomatic patients, treatment can begin at any age (e.g., 10, 20, 30). Usually, however, it is not necessary to begin treatment until a patient reaches 40, 50, 60 or 70. Treatment typically involves multiple dosages over a period of time. Treatment can be monitored by assaying antibody levels over time. If the response falls, a booster dosage is indicated. In the case of potential Down's syndrome patients, treatment can begin antenatally by administering therapeutic agent to the mother or shortly after birth.

B. Treatment Regimes and Dosages

In prophylactic applications, pharmaceutical compositions or medicaments are administered to a patient susceptible to, or otherwise at risk of, Alzheimer's disease in an amount sufficient to eliminate or reduce the risk, lessen the severity, or delay the outset of the disease, including biochemical, histologic and/or behavioral symptoms of the disease, its complications and intermediate pathological phenotypes presenting during development of the disease. In therapeutic applications, compositions or medicaments are administered to a patient suspected of, or already suffering from such a disease in an amount sufficient to cure, or at least partially arrest, the symptoms of the disease (biochemical, histologic and/or behavioral), including its complications and intermediate pathological phenotypes in development of the disease.

In some methods, administration of agent reduces or eliminates myocognitive impairment in patients that have not yet developed characteristic Alzheimer's pathology. An amount adequate to accomplish therapeutic or prophylactic treatment is defined as a therapeutically- or prophylactically-effective dose. In both prophylactic and therapeutic regimes, agents are usually administered in several dosages until a sufficient immune response has been achieved. The term "immune response" or "immunological response" includes the development of a humoral (antibody mediated) and/or a cellular (mediated by antigen-specific T cells or their secretion products) response directed against an antigen in a recipient subject. Such a response can be an active response, i.e., induced by administration of immunogen, or a passive response, i.e., induced by administration of immunoglobulin or antibody or primed T-cells. Typically, the immune response is monitored and repeated, dosages are given if the immune response starts to wane.

Effective doses of the compositions of the present invention, for the treatment of the above described conditions vary depending upon many different factors, including means of administration, target site, physiological state of the patient, whether the patient is human or an animal, other medications administered, and whether treatment is prophylactic or therapeutic. Usually, the patient is a human but non-human mammals including transgenic mammals can also be treated. Treatment dosages need to be titrated to optimize safety and efficacy.

For passive immunization with an antibody, the dosage ranges from about 0.0001 to 100 mg/kg, and more usually 0.01 to 5 mg/kg (e.g., 0.02 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.75 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, etc.), of the host body weight. For example dosages can be 1 mg/kg body weight or 10 mg/kg body weight or within the range of 1-10 mg/kg, preferably at least 1 mg/kg. In another example, dosages can be 0.5 mg/kg body weight or 15 mg/kg body weight or within the range of 0.5-15 mg/kg, preferably at least 1 mg/kg. Doses intermediate in the above ranges are also intended to be within the scope of the invention. Subjects can be administered such doses daily, on alternative days, weekly or according to any other schedule determined by empirical analysis. An exemplary treatment involves administration in multiple dosages over a prolonged period, for example, of at least six months. Additional exemplary treatment regimes involve administration once per every two weeks or once a month or once every 3 to 6 months. Exemplary dosage schedules include 1-10 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg on consecutive days, 30 mg/kg on alternate days or 60 mg/kg weekly. In some methods, two or more monoclonal antibodies with different binding specificities are administered simultaneously, in which case the dosage of each antibody administered falls within the ranges indicated.

Antibody is usually administered on multiple occasions. Intervals between single dosages can be weekly, monthly or yearly. Intervals can also be irregular as indicated by measuring blood levels of antibody to A.beta. in the patient. In some methods, dosage is adjusted to achieve a plasma antibody concentration of 1-1000 .mu.g/ml and in some methods 25-300 .mu.g/ml. Alternatively, antibody can be administered as a sustained release formulation, in which case less frequent administration is required. Dosage and frequency vary depending on the half-life of the antibody in the patient. In general, humanized antibodies show the longest half-life, followed by chimeric antibodies and nonhuman antibodies.

The dosage and frequency of administration can vary depending on whether the treatment is prophylactic or therapeutic. In prophylactic applications, compositions containing the present antibodies or a cocktail thereof are administered to a patient not already in the disease state to enhance the patient's resistance. Such an amount is defined to be a "prophylactic effective dose." In this use, the precise amounts again depend upon the patient's state of health and general immunity, but generally range from 0.1 to 25 mg per dose, especially 0.5 to 2.5 mg per dose. A relatively low dosage is administered at relatively infrequent intervals over a long period of time. Some patients continue to receive treatment for the rest of their lives.

In therapeutic applications, a relatively high dosage (e.g., from about 1 to 200 mg of antibody per dose, with dosages of from 5 to 25 mg being more commonly used) at relatively short intervals is sometimes required until progression of the disease is reduced or terminated, and preferably until the patient shows partial or complete amelioration of symptoms of disease. Thereafter, the patent can be administered a prophylactic regime.

Doses for nucleic acids encoding antibodies range from about 10 ng to 1 g, 100 ng to 100 mg, 1 .mu.g to 10 mg, or 30-300 .mu.g DNA per patient. Doses for infectious viral vectors vary from 10-100, or more, virions per dose.

Therapeutic agents can be administered by parenteral, topical, intravenous, oral, subcutaneous, intraarterial, intracranial, intraperitoneal, intranasal or intramuscular means for prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment. The most typical route of administration of an immunogenic agent is subcutaneous although other routes can be equally effective. The next most common route is intramuscular injection. This type of injection is most typically performed in the arm or leg muscles. In some methods, agents are injected directly into a particular tissue where deposits have accumulated, for example intracranial injection. Intramuscular injection or intravenous infusion are preferred for administration of antibody. In some methods, particular therapeutic antibodies are injected directly into the cranium. In some methods, antibodies are administered as a sustained release composition or device, such as a Medipad.TM. device.

Agents of the invention can optionally be administered in combination with other agents that are at least partly effective in treatment of amyloidogenic disease. In certain embodiments, a humanized antibody of the invention (e.g., humanized 12A11) is administered in combination with a second immunogenic or immunologic agent. For example, a humanized 12A11 antibody of the invention can be administered in combination with another humanized antibody to A.beta.. In other embodiments, a humanized 12A11 antibody is administered to a patient who has received or is receiving an A.beta. vaccine. In the case of Alzheimer's and Down's syndrome, in which amyloid deposits occur in the brain, agents of the invention can also be administered in conjunction with other agents that increase passage of the agents of the invention across the blood-brain barrier. Agents of the invention can also be administered in combination with other agents that enhance access of the therapeutic agent to a target cell or tissue, for example, liposomes and the like. Coadministering such agents can decrease the dosage of a therapeutic agent (e.g., therapeutic antibody or antibody chain) needed to achieve a desired effect.

C. Pharmaceutical Compositions

Agents of the invention are often administered as pharmaceutical compositions comprising an active therapeutic agent, i.e., and a variety of other pharmaceutically acceptable components. See Remington's Pharmaceutical Science (15th ed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa. (1980)). The preferred form depends on the intended mode of administration and therapeutic application. The compositions can also include, depending on the formulation desired, pharmaceutically-acceptable, non-toxic carriers or diluents, which are defined as vehicles commonly used to formulate pharmaceutical compositions for animal or human administration. The diluent is selected so as not to affect the biological activity of the combination. Examples of such diluents are distilled water, physiological phosphate-buffered saline, Ringer's solutions, dextrose solution, and Hank's solution. In addition, the pharmaceutical composition or formulation may also include other carriers, adjuvants, or nontoxic, nontherapeutic, nonimmunogenic stabilizers and the like.

Pharmaceutical compositions can also include large, slowly metabolized macromolecules such as proteins, polysaccharides such as chitosan, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids and copolymers (such as latex functionalized Sepharose.TM., agarose, cellulose, and the like), polymeric amino acids, amino acid copolymers, and lipid aggregates (such as oil droplets or liposomes). Additionally, these carriers can function as immunostimulating agents (i.e., adjuvants).

For parenteral administration, agents of the invention can be administered as injectable dosages of a solution or suspension of the substance in a physiologically acceptable diluent with a pharmaceutical carrier that can be a sterile liquid such as water oils, saline, glycerol, or ethanol. Additionally, auxiliary substances, such as wetting or emulsifying agents, surfactants, pH buffering substances and the like can be present in compositions. Other components of pharmaceutical compositions are those of petroleum, animal, vegetable, or synthetic origin, for example, peanut oil, soybean oil, and mineral oil. In general, glycols such as propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol are preferred liquid carriers, particularly for injectable solutions. Antibodies can be administered in the form of a depot injection or implant preparation, which can be formulated in such a manner as to permit a sustained release of the active ingredient. An exemplary composition comprises monoclonal antibody at 5 mg/mL, formulated in aqueous buffer consisting of 50 mM L-histidine, 150 mM NaCl, adjusted to pH 6.0 with HCl.

Typically, compositions are prepared as injectables, either as liquid solutions or suspensions; solid forms suitable for solution in, or suspension in, liquid vehicles prior to injection can also be prepared. The preparation also can be emulsified or encapsulated in liposomes or micro particles such as polylactide, polyglycolide, or copolymer for enhanced adjuvant effect, as discussed above (see Langer, Science 249: 1527 (1990) and Hanes, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 28:97 (1997)). The agents of this invention can be administered in the form of a depot injection or implant preparation, which can be formulated in such a manner as to permit a sustained or pulsatile release of the active ingredient.

Additional formulations suitable for other modes of administration include oral, intranasal, and pulmonary formulations, suppositories, and transdermal applications. For suppositories, binders and carriers include, for example, polyalkylene glycols or triglycerides; such suppositories can be formed from mixtures containing the active ingredient in the range of 0.5% to 10%, preferably 1%-2%. Oral formulations include excipients, such as pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose, and magnesium carbonate. These compositions take the form of solutions, suspensions, tablets, pills, capsules, sustained release formulations or powders and contain 10%-95% of active ingredient, preferably 25%-70%.

Topical application can result in transdermal or intradermal delivery. Topical administration can be facilitated by co-administration of the agent with cholera toxin or detoxified derivatives or subunits thereof or other similar bacterial toxins (See Glenn et al., Nature 391, 851 (1998)). Co-administration can be achieved by using the components as a mixture or as linked molecules obtained by chemical crosslinking or expression as a fusion protein.

Alternatively, transdermal delivery can be achieved using a skin patch or using transferosomes (Paul et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 25:3521 (1995); Cevc et al., Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1368:201-15 (1998)).
 

Claim 1 of 32 Claims

1. A purified humanized antibody which specifically binds beta amyloid peptide (A.beta.), or antigen-binding fragment of said humanized antibody, the humanized antibody or antigen-binding fragment comprising a humanized light chain comprising three complementarity determining regions (CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3) from the monoclonal antibody 12A11 light chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2, and wherein L2 is occupied by V, L4 is occupied by M, L36 is occupied by Y, L38 is occupied by Q, L40 is occupied by P, L44 is occupied by P, L46 is occupied by L, L47 is occupied by L, L48 is occupied by I, L49 is occupied by Y, L64 is occupied by G, L66 is occupied by G, L68 is occupied by G, L69 is occupied by T, L71 is occupied by F, L87 is occupied by Y, and L98 is occupied by F (Kabat numbering convention) and a humanized heavy chain comprising three complementarity determining regions (CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3) from the monoclonal antibody 12A11 heavy chain variable region sequence and wherein at least three variable region framework residues and amino acids occupying them are selected from the group consisting of H24 occupied by F, H28 occupied by S, H29 occupied by L, H37 occupied by I, H48 occupied by L, H67 occupied by L, H71 occupied by K, H73 occupied by T, and H78 occupied by V (Kabat numbering convention).

 

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