1
|
Nyesiga B, Levin M, Säll A, Rosén A, Jansson K, Fritzell S, Hägerbrand K, Weilguny D, von Schantz L. RUBY® - a tetravalent (2+2) bispecific antibody format with excellent functionality and IgG-like stability, pharmacology and developability properties. MAbs 2024; 16:2330113. [PMID: 38527972 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2024.2330113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the large number of existing bispecific antibody (bsAb) formats, the generation of novel bsAbs is still associated with development and bioprocessing challenges. Here, we present RUBY, a novel bispecific antibody format that allows rapid generation of bsAbs that fulfill key development criteria. The RUBYTM format has a 2 + 2 geometry, where two Fab fragments are linked via their light chains to the C-termini of an IgG, and carries mutations for optimal chain pairing. The unique design enables generation of bsAbs with mAb-like attributes. Our data demonstrate that RUBY bsAbs are compatible with small-scale production systems for screening purposes and can be produced at high yields (>3 g/L) from stable cell lines. The bsAbs produced are shown to, in general, contain low amounts of aggregates and display favorable solubility and stress endurance profiles. Further, compatibility with various IgG isotypes is shown and tailored Fc gamma receptor binding confirmed. Also, retained interaction with FcRn is demonstrated to translate into a pharmacokinetic profile in mice and non-human primates that is comparable to mAb controls. Functionality of conditional active RUBY bsAbs is confirmed in vitro. Anti-tumor effects in vivo have previously been demonstrated, and shown to be superior to a comparable mAb, and here it is further shown that RUBY bsAbs penetrate and localize to tumor tissue in vivo. In all, the RUBY format has attractive mAb-like attributes and offers the possibility to mitigate many of the development challenges linked to other bsAb formats, facilitating both high functionality and developability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barnabas Nyesiga
- Alligator Bioscience AB, Medicon Village, Lund, Sweden
- Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Mattias Levin
- Alligator Bioscience AB, Medicon Village, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Säll
- Alligator Bioscience AB, Medicon Village, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Rosén
- Alligator Bioscience AB, Medicon Village, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kim Jansson
- Alligator Bioscience AB, Medicon Village, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sara Fritzell
- Alligator Bioscience AB, Medicon Village, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Keri D, Walker M, Singh I, Nishikawa K, Garces F. Next generation of multispecific antibody engineering. Antib Ther 2024; 7:37-52. [PMID: 38235376 PMCID: PMC10791046 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbad027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Multispecific antibodies recognize two or more epitopes located on the same or distinct targets. This added capability through protein design allows these man-made molecules to address unmet medical needs that are no longer possible with single targeting such as with monoclonal antibodies or cytokines alone. However, the approach to the development of these multispecific molecules has been met with numerous road bumps, which suggests that a new workflow for multispecific molecules is required. The investigation of the molecular basis that mediates the successful assembly of the building blocks into non-native quaternary structures will lead to the writing of a playbook for multispecifics. This is a must do if we are to design workflows that we can control and in turn predict success. Here, we reflect on the current state-of-the-art of therapeutic biologics and look at the building blocks, in terms of proteins, and tools that can be used to build the foundations of such a next-generation workflow.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Keri
- Department of Protein Therapeutics, Research, Gilead Research, 324 Lakeside Dr, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Matt Walker
- Department of Protein Therapeutics, Research, Gilead Research, 324 Lakeside Dr, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Isha Singh
- Department of Protein Therapeutics, Research, Gilead Research, 324 Lakeside Dr, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Kyle Nishikawa
- Department of Protein Therapeutics, Research, Gilead Research, 324 Lakeside Dr, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Fernando Garces
- Department of Protein Therapeutics, Research, Gilead Research, 324 Lakeside Dr, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fernández-Quintero ML, Pomarici ND, Fischer ALM, Hoerschinger VJ, Kroell KB, Riccabona JR, Kamenik AS, Loeffler JR, Ferguson JA, Perrett HR, Liedl KR, Han J, Ward AB. Structure and Dynamics Guiding Design of Antibody Therapeutics and Vaccines. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:67. [PMID: 37873864 PMCID: PMC10594513 DOI: 10.3390/antib12040067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibodies and other new antibody-like formats have emerged as one of the most rapidly growing classes of biotherapeutic proteins. Understanding the structural features that drive antibody function and, consequently, their molecular recognition is critical for engineering antibodies. Here, we present the structural architecture of conventional IgG antibodies alongside other formats. We emphasize the importance of considering antibodies as conformational ensembles in solution instead of focusing on single-static structures because their functions and properties are strongly governed by their dynamic nature. Thus, in this review, we provide an overview of the unique structural and dynamic characteristics of antibodies with respect to their antigen recognition, biophysical properties, and effector functions. We highlight the numerous technical advances in antibody structure prediction and design, enabled by the vast number of experimentally determined high-quality structures recorded with cryo-EM, NMR, and X-ray crystallography. Lastly, we assess antibody and vaccine design strategies in the context of structure and dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica L. Fernández-Quintero
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nancy D. Pomarici
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna-Lena M. Fischer
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Valentin J. Hoerschinger
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Katharina B. Kroell
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jakob R. Riccabona
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna S. Kamenik
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes R. Loeffler
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - James A. Ferguson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Hailee R. Perrett
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Klaus R. Liedl
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Julianna Han
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrew B. Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ziegengeist T, Orth J, Kroll K, Schneider M, Spindler N, Dimova D, Handschuh S, Brandenburg A, Ossola R, Furtmann N, Birkenfeld J, Beil C, Hoffmann D, Schmidt T, Sendak R, Fischer M, Hölper S, Kühn J. High-Throughput and Format-Agnostic Mispairing Assay for Multispecific Antibodies Using Intact Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2023. [PMID: 37369001 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Multispecific antibodies have gained significant importance in a broad indication space due to their ability to engage multiple epitopes simultaneously and to thereby overcome therapeutic barriers. With growing therapeutic potential, however, the molecular complexity increases, thus intensifying the demand for innovative protein engineering and analytical strategies. A major challenge for multispecific antibodies is the correct assembly of light and heavy chains. Engineering strategies exist to stabilize the correct pairing, but typically individual engineering campaigns are required to arrive at the anticipated format. Mass spectrometry has proven to be a versatile tool to identify mispaired species. However, due to manual data analysis procedures, mass spectrometry is limited to lower throughputs. To keep pace with increasing sample numbers, we developed a high-throughput-capable mispairing workflow based on intact mass spectrometry with automated data analysis, peak detection, and relative quantification using Genedata Expressionist. This workflow is capable of detecting mispaired species of ∼1000 multispecific antibodies in three weeks and thus is applicable to complex screening campaigns. As a proof of concept, the assay was applied to engineering a trispecific antibody. Strikingly, the new setup has not only proved successful in mispairing analysis but has also revealed its potential to automatically annotate other product-related impurities. Furthermore, we could confirm the assay to be format-agnostic, as shown by analyzing several different multispecific formats in one run. With these comprehensive capabilities, the new automated intact mass workflow can be applied as a universal tool to detect and annotate peaks in a format-agnostic approach and in high-throughput, thus enabling complex discovery campaigns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Ziegengeist
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Jennifer Orth
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Katja Kroll
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Marion Schneider
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Nadja Spindler
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Dilyana Dimova
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Severin Handschuh
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | | | | | - Norbert Furtmann
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Joerg Birkenfeld
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
- Perspix Biotech GmbH FiZ Frankfurt Innovation Center Biotechnology, Frankfurt 60438, Germany
| | - Christian Beil
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Dietmar Hoffmann
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Thorsten Schmidt
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Rebecca Sendak
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Melanie Fischer
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Soraya Hölper
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Jennifer Kühn
- Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Structural mechanism of Fab domain dissociation as a measure of interface stability. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2023; 37:201-215. [PMID: 36918473 PMCID: PMC10049950 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-023-00501-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic antibodies should not only recognize antigens specifically, but also need to be free from developability issues, such as poor stability. Thus, the mechanistic understanding and characterization of stability are critical determinants for rational antibody design. In this study, we use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the melting process of 16 antigen binding fragments (Fabs). We describe the Fab dissociation mechanisms, showing a separation in the VH-VL and in the CH1-CL domains. We found that the depths of the minima in the free energy curve, corresponding to the bound states, correlate with the experimentally determined melting temperatures. Additionally, we provide a detailed structural description of the dissociation mechanism and identify key interactions in the CDR loops and in the CH1-CL interface that contribute to stabilization. The dissociation of the VH-VL or CH1-CL domains can be represented by conformational changes in the bend angles between the domains. Our findings elucidate the melting process of antigen binding fragments and highlight critical residues in both the variable and constant domains, which are also strongly germline dependent. Thus, our proposed mechanisms have broad implications in the development and design of new and more stable antigen binding fragments.
Collapse
|
6
|
Iwasaki YW, Tharakaraman K, Subramanian V, Khongmanee A, Hatas A, Fleischer E, Rurak TT, Ngok-ngam P, Tit-oon P, Ruchirawat M, Satayavivad J, Fuangthong M, Sasisekharan R. Generation of bispecific antibodies by structure-guided redesign of IgG constant regions. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1063002. [PMID: 36703993 PMCID: PMC9871890 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1063002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) form an exciting class of bio-therapeutics owing to their multispecificity. Although numerous formats have been developed, generation of hetero-tetrameric IgG1-like BsAbs having acceptable safety and pharmacokinetics profiles from a single cell culture system remains challenging due to the heterogeneous pairing between the four chains. Herein, we employed a structure-guided approach to engineer mutations in the constant domain interfaces (CH1-CL and CH3-CH3) of heavy and κ light chains to prevent heavy-light mispairing in the antigen binding fragment (Fab) region and heavy-heavy homodimerization in the Fc region. Transient co-transfection of mammalian cells with heavy and light chains of pre-existing antibodies carrying the engineered constant domains generates BsAbs with percentage purity ranging from 78% to 85%. The engineered BsAbs demonstrate simultaneous binding of both antigens, while retaining the thermal stability, Fc-mediated effector properties and FcRn binding properties of the parental antibodies. Importantly, since the variable domains were not modified, the mutations may enable BsAb formation from antibodies belonging to different germline origins and isotypes. The rationally designed mutations reported in this work could serve as a starting point for generating optimized solutions required for large scale production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yordkhwan W. Iwasaki
- Program in Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kannan Tharakaraman
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Vidya Subramanian
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Amnart Khongmanee
- Translational Research Unit, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Andrew Hatas
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Eduardo Fleischer
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Troy T. Rurak
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Patchara Ngok-ngam
- Translational Research Unit, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Phanthakarn Tit-oon
- Translational Research Unit, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mathuros Ruchirawat
- Translational Research Unit, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand,Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), Office of the Permanent Secretary (OPS), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jutamaad Satayavivad
- Program in Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Bangkok, Thailand,Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), Office of the Permanent Secretary (OPS), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Bangkok, Thailand,Laboratory of Pharmacology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mayuree Fuangthong
- Translational Research Unit, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand,Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), Office of the Permanent Secretary (OPS), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Bangkok, Thailand,Program in Applied Biological Sciences, Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Bangkok, Thailand,*Correspondence: Mayuree Fuangthong, ; Ram Sasisekharan,
| | - Ram Sasisekharan
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States,*Correspondence: Mayuree Fuangthong, ; Ram Sasisekharan,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dou X, Xu Q, Dong B, Xu G, Qian N, Yang C, Li H, Chen L, Gao X, Song H. Anti-c-MET Fab-Grb2-Gab1 Fusion Protein-Mediated Interference of c-MET Signaling Pathway Induces Methuosis in Tumor Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231912018. [PMID: 36233320 PMCID: PMC9569552 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231912018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bio-macromolecules have potential applications in cancer treatment due to their high selectivity and efficiency in hitting therapeutic targets. However, poor cell membrane permeability has limited their broad-spectrum application in cancer treatment. The current study developed highly internalizable anti-c-MET antibody Fab fusion proteins with intracellular epitope peptide chimera to achieve the dual intervention from the extracellular to intracellular targets in tumor therapy. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the fusion proteins could interfere with the disease-associated intracellular signaling pathways and inhibit the uncontrolled proliferation of tumor cells. Importantly, investigation of the underlying mechanism revealed that these protein chimeras could induce vacuolation in treated cells, thus interfering with the normal extension and arrangement of microtubules as well as the mitosis, leading to the induction of methuosis-mediated cell death. Furthermore, in vivo tumor models indicated that certain doses of fusion proteins could inhibit the A549 xenograft tumors in NOD SCID mice. This study thus provides new ideas for the intracellular delivery of bio-macromolecules and the dual intervention against tumor cell signaling pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Qinzhi Xu
- Beijng Immunoah Pharma Tech Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, China
| | - Bo Dong
- Beijng Immunoah Pharma Tech Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, China
| | - Guili Xu
- Beijng Immunoah Pharma Tech Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, China
| | - Niliang Qian
- Beijng Immunoah Pharma Tech Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, China
| | - Cuima Yang
- Beijng Immunoah Pharma Tech Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, China
| | - Hongjie Li
- Beijng Immunoah Pharma Tech Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, China
| | - Liting Chen
- Beijng Immunoah Pharma Tech Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xin Gao
- Beijng Immunoah Pharma Tech Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, China
- Correspondence: (X.G.); (H.S.)
| | - Haifeng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China
- Correspondence: (X.G.); (H.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Segués A, Huang S, Sijts A, Berraondo P, Zaiss DM. Opportunities and challenges of bi-specific antibodies. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 369:45-70. [PMID: 35777864 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The recent clinical approval of different Bi-specific antibodies (BsAbs) has revealed the great therapeutic potential of this novel class of biologicals. For example, the bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE), Blinatumomab, demonstrated the unique capacity of BsAbs to link T-cells with tumor cells, inducing targeted tumor cell removal. Additionally, Amivantamab, recognizing the EGFR and cMet in cis, revealed a substantial improvement of therapeutic efficacy by concomitantly targeting two tumor antigens. Cis-targeting BsAbs furthermore allow discerning cell populations which concurrently express two antigens, for which each antigen expression pattern in itself might not be selective. In this way, BsAbs harbor the great prospect of being more specific and showing fewer side effects than monoclonal antibodies. Nevertheless, BsAbs have also faced major obstacles, for instance, in ensuring reliable assembly and clinical-grade purification. In this review, we summarize the different available antibody platforms currently used for the generation of IgG-like and non-IgG-like BsAbs and explain which approaches have been used to assemble those BsAbs which are currently approved for clinical application. By focusing on the example of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and the different, ongoing approaches to develop BsAbs specifically targeting Tregs within the tumor microenvironment, our review highlights the huge potential as well as the pitfalls BsAb face in order to emerge as one of the most effective therapeutic biologicals targeting desired cell populations in a highly selective way. Such BsAb may improve treatment efficacy and reduce side effects, thereby opening novel treatment opportunities for a range of different diseases, such as cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aina Segués
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Shuyu Huang
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alice Sijts
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pedro Berraondo
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Dietmar M Zaiss
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Department of Immune Medicine, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Institute of Pathology, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Fernández-Quintero ML, Kroell KB, Grunewald LJ, Fischer ALM, Riccabona JR, Liedl KR. CDR loop interactions can determine heavy and light chain pairing preferences in bispecific antibodies. MAbs 2022; 14:2024118. [PMID: 35090383 PMCID: PMC8803122 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.2024118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
As the current biotherapeutic market is dominated by antibodies, the design of different antibody formats, like bispecific antibodies, is critical to the advancement of the field. In contrast to monovalent antibodies, which consist of two identical antigen-binding sites, bispecific antibodies can target two different epitopes by containing two different antigen-binding sites. Thus, the rise of new formats as successful therapeutics has reignited the interest in advancing and facilitating the efficient production of bispecific antibodies. Here, we investigate the influence of point mutations in the antigen-binding site, the paratope, on heavy and light chain pairing preferences by using molecular dynamics simulations. In agreement with experiments, we find that specific residues in the antibody variable domain (Fv), i.e., the complementarity-determining region (CDR) L3 and H3 loops, determine heavy and light chain pairing preferences. Excitingly, we observe substantial population shifts in CDR-H3 and CDR-L3 loop conformations in solution accompanied by a decrease in bispecific IgG yield. These conformational changes in the CDR3 loops induced by point mutations also influence all other CDR loop conformations and consequentially result in different CDR loop states in solution. However, besides their effect on the obtained CDR loop ensembles, point mutations also lead to distinct interaction patterns in the VH-VL interface. By comparing the interaction patterns among all investigated variants, we observe specific contacts in the interface that drive heavy and light chain pairing. Thus, these findings have broad implications in the field of antibody engineering and design because they provide a mechanistic understanding of antibody interfaces, by identifying critical factors driving the pairing preferences, and thus can help to advance the design of bispecific antibodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica L Fernández-Quintero
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Katharina B Kroell
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lukas J Grunewald
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna-Lena M Fischer
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jakob R Riccabona
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Klaus R Liedl
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Fernández-Quintero ML, Quoika PK, Wedl FS, Seidler CA, Kroell KB, Loeffler JR, Pomarici ND, Hoerschinger VJ, Bujotzek A, Georges G, Kettenberger H, Liedl KR. Comparing Antibody Interfaces to Inform Rational Design of New Antibody Formats. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:812750. [PMID: 35155578 PMCID: PMC8826573 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.812750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As the current biotherapeutic market is dominated by antibodies, the design of different antibody formats, like bispecific antibodies and other new formats, represent a key component in advancing antibody therapy. When designing new formats, a targeted modulation of pairing preferences is key. Several existing approaches are successful, but expanding the repertoire of design possibilities would be desirable. Cognate immunoglobulin G antibodies depend on homodimerization of the fragment crystallizable regions of two identical heavy chains. By modifying the dimeric interface of the third constant domain (CH3-CH3), with different mutations on each domain, the engineered Fc fragments form rather heterodimers than homodimers. The first constant domain (CH1-CL) shares a very similar fold and interdomain orientation with the CH3-CH3 dimer. Thus, numerous well-established design efforts for CH3-CH3 interfaces, have also been applied to CH1-CL dimers to reduce the number of mispairings in the Fabs. Given the high structural similarity of the CH3-CH3 and CH1-CL domains we want to identify additional opportunities in comparing the differences and overlapping interaction profiles. Our vision is to facilitate a toolkit that allows for the interchangeable usage of different design tools from crosslinking the knowledge between these two interface types. As a starting point, here, we use classical molecular dynamics simulations to identify differences of the CH3-CH3 and CH1-CL interfaces and already find unexpected features of these interfaces shedding new light on possible design variations. Apart from identifying clear differences between the similar CH3-CH3 and CH1-CL dimers, we structurally characterize the effects of point-mutations in the CH3-CH3 interface on the respective dynamics and interface interaction patterns. Thus, this study has broad implications in the field of antibody engineering as it provides a structural and mechanistical understanding of antibody interfaces and thereby presents a crucial aspect for the design of bispecific antibodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica L. Fernández-Quintero
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Patrick K. Quoika
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Florian S. Wedl
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Clarissa A. Seidler
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Katharina B. Kroell
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes R. Loeffler
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nancy D. Pomarici
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Valentin J. Hoerschinger
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Bujotzek
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Guy Georges
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Hubert Kettenberger
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Klaus R. Liedl
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- *Correspondence: Klaus R. Liedl,
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rybchenko VS, Panina AA, Aliev TK, Solopova ON, Balabashin DS, Novoseletsky VN, Dolgikh DA, Sveshnikov PG, Kirpichnikov MP. Bispecific Antibodies for IFN-β Delivery to ErbB2 + Tumors. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1915. [PMID: 34944558 PMCID: PMC8699518 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The main aim of our work was to create a full-length bispecific antibody (BsAb) as a vehicle for the targeted delivery of interferon-beta (IFN-β) to ErbB2+ tumor cells in the form of non-covalent complex of BsAb and IFN-β. Such a construct is a CrossMab-type BsAb, consisting of an ErbB2-recognizing trastuzumab moiety, a part of chimeric antibody to IFN-β, and human IgG1 Fc domain carrying knob-into-hole amino acid substitutions necessary for the proper assembly of bispecific molecules. The IFN-β- recognizing arm of BsAb not only forms a complex with the cytokine but neutralizes its activity, thus providing a mechanism to avoid the side effects of the systemic action of IFN-β by blocking IFN-β Interaction with cell receptors in the process of cytokine delivery to tumor sites. Enzyme sandwich immunoassay confirmed the ability of BsAb to bind to human IFN-β comparable to that of the parental chimeric mAb. The BsAb binds to the recombinant ErbB2 receptor, as well as to lysates of ErbB2+ tumor cell lines. The inhibition of the antiproliferative effect of IFN-β by BsAb (IC50 = 49,3 µg/mL) was demonstrated on the HT29 cell line. It can be proposed that the BsAb obtained can serve as a component of the immunocytokine complex for the delivery of IFN-β to ErbB2-associated tumor cells.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Antibodies, Bispecific/chemistry
- Antibodies, Bispecific/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/chemistry
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/pharmacology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- HT29 Cells
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments/chemistry
- Interferon-beta/metabolism
- Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- Trastuzumab/chemistry
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav S. Rybchenko
- Department of Bioengineering, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.B.); (D.A.D.); (M.P.K.)
| | - Anna A. Panina
- Department of Bioengineering, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.B.); (D.A.D.); (M.P.K.)
| | - Teimur K. Aliev
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga N. Solopova
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 115478 Moscow, Russia;
- Russian Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy, 117638 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Dmitry S. Balabashin
- Department of Bioengineering, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.B.); (D.A.D.); (M.P.K.)
| | | | - Dmitry A. Dolgikh
- Department of Bioengineering, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.B.); (D.A.D.); (M.P.K.)
- Department of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Petr G. Sveshnikov
- Russian Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy, 117638 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Mikhail P. Kirpichnikov
- Department of Bioengineering, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.B.); (D.A.D.); (M.P.K.)
- Department of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lim SA, Gramespacher JA, Pance K, Rettko NJ, Solomon P, Jin J, Lui I, Elledge SK, Liu J, Bracken CJ, Simmons G, Zhou XX, Leung KK, Wells JA. Bispecific VH/Fab antibodies targeting neutralizing and non-neutralizing Spike epitopes demonstrate enhanced potency against SARS-CoV-2. MAbs 2021; 13:1893426. [PMID: 33666135 PMCID: PMC7939556 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.1893426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous neutralizing antibodies that target SARS-CoV-2 have been reported, and most directly block binding of the viral Spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) to angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2). Here, we deliberately exploit non-neutralizing RBD antibodies, showing they can dramatically assist in neutralization when linked to neutralizing binders. We identified antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) by phage display that bind RBD, but do not block ACE2 or neutralize virus as IgGs. When these non-neutralizing Fabs were assembled into bispecific VH/Fab IgGs with a neutralizing VH domain, we observed a ~ 25-fold potency improvement in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 compared to the mono-specific bi-valent VH-Fc alone or the cocktail of the VH-Fc and IgG. This effect was epitope-dependent, reflecting the unique geometry of the bispecific antibody toward Spike. Our results show that a bispecific antibody that combines both neutralizing and non-neutralizing epitopes on Spike-RBD is a promising and rapid engineering strategy to improve the potency of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Antibodies, Bispecific/genetics
- Antibodies, Bispecific/immunology
- Antibodies, Bispecific/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/genetics
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Viral/genetics
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use
- COVID-19/genetics
- COVID-19/immunology
- Epitopes/genetics
- Epitopes/immunology
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/genetics
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/immunology
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/therapeutic use
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shion A. Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Josef A. Gramespacher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Katarina Pance
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Rettko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Paige Solomon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jing Jin
- Vitalant Research Institute and Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Irene Lui
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Susanna K. Elledge
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Colton J. Bracken
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Graham Simmons
- Vitalant Research Institute and Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Xin X. Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin K. Leung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - James A. Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Surowka M, Schaefer W, Klein C. Ten years in the making: application of CrossMab technology for the development of therapeutic bispecific antibodies and antibody fusion proteins. MAbs 2021; 13:1967714. [PMID: 34491877 PMCID: PMC8425689 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.1967714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies have recently attracted intense interest. CrossMab technology was described in 2011 as novel approach enabling correct antibody light-chain association with their respective heavy chain in bispecific antibodies, together with methods enabling correct heavy-chain association using existing pairs of antibodies. Since the original description, CrossMab technology has evolved in the past decade into one of the most mature, versatile, and broadly applied technologies in the field, and nearly 20 bispecific antibodies based on CrossMab technology developed by Roche and others have entered clinical trials. The most advanced of these are the Ang-2/VEGF bispecific antibody faricimab, currently undergoing regulatory review, and the CD20/CD3 T cell bispecific antibody glofitamab, currently in pivotal Phase 3 trials. In this review, we introduce the principles of CrossMab technology, including its application for the generation of bi-/multispecific antibodies with different geometries and mechanisms of action, and provide an overview of CrossMab-based therapeutics in clinical trials.
Collapse
|
14
|
Fernández-Quintero ML, Kroell KB, Heiss MC, Loeffler JR, Quoika PK, Waibl F, Bujotzek A, Moessner E, Georges G, Liedl KR. Surprisingly Fast Interface and Elbow Angle Dynamics of Antigen-Binding Fragments. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:609088. [PMID: 33330636 PMCID: PMC7732698 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.609088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fab consist of a heavy and light chain and can be subdivided into a variable (V H and V L ) and a constant region (C H 1 and C L ). The variable region contains the complementarity-determining region (CDR), which is formed by six hypervariable loops, shaping the antigen binding site, the paratope. Apart from the CDR loops, both the elbow angle and the relative interdomain orientations of the V H -V L and the C H 1-C L domains influence the shape of the paratope. Thus, characterization of the interface and elbow angle dynamics is essential to antigen specificity. We studied nine antigen-binding fragments (Fab) to investigate the influence of affinity maturation, antibody humanization, and different light-chain types on the interface and elbow angle dynamics. While the CDR loops reveal conformational transitions in the micro-to-millisecond timescale, both the interface and elbow angle dynamics occur on the low nanosecond timescale. Upon affinity maturation, we observe a substantial rigidification of the V H and V L interdomain and elbow-angle flexibility, reflected in a narrower and more distinct distribution. Antibody humanization describes the process of grafting non-human CDR loops onto a representative human framework. As the antibody framework changes upon humanization, we investigated if both the interface and the elbow angle distributions are changed or shifted. The results clearly showed a substantial shift in the relative V H -V L distributions upon antibody humanization, indicating that different frameworks favor distinct interface orientations. Additionally, the interface and elbow angle dynamics of five antibody fragments with different light-chain types are included, because of their strong differences in elbow angles. For these five examples, we clearly see a high variability and flexibility in both interface and elbow angle dynamics, highlighting the fact that Fab interface orientations and elbow angles interconvert between each other in the low nanosecond timescale. Understanding how the relative interdomain orientations and the elbow angle influence antigen specificity, affinity, and stability has broad implications in the field of antibody modeling and engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica L. Fernández-Quintero
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Katharina B. Kroell
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martin C. Heiss
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes R. Loeffler
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Patrick K. Quoika
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Franz Waibl
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Bujotzek
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Ekkehard Moessner
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Large Molecular Research, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Guy Georges
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Klaus R. Liedl
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bringing the Heavy Chain to Light: Creating a Symmetric, Bivalent IgG-Like Bispecific. Antibodies (Basel) 2020; 9:antib9040062. [PMID: 33172091 PMCID: PMC7709125 DOI: 10.3390/antib9040062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific molecules are biologically significant, yet their complex structures pose important manufacturing and pharmacokinetic challenges. Nevertheless, owing to similarities with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), IgG-like bispecifics conceptually align well with conventional expression and manufacturing platforms and often exhibit potentially favorable drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) properties. However, IgG-like bispecifics do not possess target bivalency and current designs often require tedious engineering and purification to ensure appropriate chain pairing. Here, we present a near-native IgG antibody format, the 2xVH, which can create bivalency for each target or epitope and requires no engineering for cognate chain pairing. In this modality, two different variable heavy (VH) domains with distinct binding specificities are grafted onto the first constant heavy (CH1) and constant light (CL) domains, conferring the molecule with dual specificity. To determine the versatility of this format, we characterized the expression, binding, and stability of several previously identified soluble human VH domains. By grafting these domains onto an IgG scaffold, we generated several prototype 2xVH IgG and Fab molecules that display similar properties to mAbs. These molecules avoided the post-expression purification necessary for engineered bispecifics while maintaining a capacity for simultaneous dual binding. Hence, the 2xVH format represents a bivalent, bispecific design that addresses limitations of manufacturing IgG-like bispecifics while promoting biologically-relevant dual target engagement.
Collapse
|
16
|
A novel efficient bispecific antibody format, combining a conventional antigen-binding fragment with a single domain antibody, avoids potential heavy-light chain mis-pairing. J Immunol Methods 2020; 483:112811. [PMID: 32569598 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2020.112811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Due to the technical innovations in generating bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) in recent years, BsAbs have become important reagents for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. However, the difficulty of producing a heterodimer consisting of two different arms with high yield and purity constituted a major limitation for their application in academic and clinical settings. Here, we describe a novel Fc-containing BsAb format (Fab × sdAb-Fc) composed of a conventional antigen-binding fragment (Fab), and a single domain antibody (sdAb), which avoids heavy-light chain mis-pairing during antibody assembly. In this study, the Fab x sdAb-Fc BsAbs were efficiently produced by three widely used heavy-heavy chain heterodimerization methods: Knobs-into-holes (KIH), Charge-pairs (CP) and controlled Fab-arm exchange (cFAE), respectively. The novel Fab x sdAb-Fc format provided a rapid and efficient strategy to generate BsAb with high purity and a unique possibility to further purify desired BsAbs from undesired antibodies based on molecular weight (MW). Compared to conventional BsAb formats, the advantages of Fab x sdAb-Fc format may thus provide a straightforward opportunity to apply bispecific antibody principles to research and development of novel targets and pathways in diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity.
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhu Y, Shen R, Hao R, Wang S, Ho M. Highlights of Antibody Engineering and Therapeutics 2019 in San Diego, USA: Bispecific Antibody Design and Clinical Applications. Antib Ther 2020; 3:146-154. [PMID: 32671329 PMCID: PMC7363406 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbaa012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there are only two bispecific antibody (bsAb) drugs in the market, around 100 bsAb drug candidates are in clinical development. BsAbs have gained fast growing investment and attractions from the biopharmaceutical industry and academia in recent years. Antibody Engineering & Therapeutics 2019 (AET 2019) was held in San Diego, USA, from December 9th to 13th, 2019. This year's AET certainly reflected the trend. In this report, we selected eleven presentations from AET 2019 to highlight bsAbs' design and their potentials in cancer therapy. These presentations have discussed emerging strategies to improve bispecific antibody drugs in efficacy, safety, and production. As compared to CAR-Ts, some T cell-redirecting bsAbs may potentially achieve comparable efficacies with less side effects and toxicities, as evidenced with both preclinical and clinical data reviewed at the conference. Several approaches to reduce T cell engagers' toxicities including conditionally active bsAbs and IgM-based bsAbs were also presented and discussed at the conference. For the first time, The Antibody Society and the Chinese Antibody Society jointly held a special session at the AET.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhu
- Chinese Antibody Society, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed. Yong Zhu or Mitchell Ho. or
| | - Run Shen
- Sorrento Therapeutics, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Rui Hao
- Pfizer, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Shouye Wang
- Chinese Antibody Society, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mitchell Ho
- NCI Antibody Engineering Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed. Yong Zhu or Mitchell Ho. or
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Bispecific Antibodies and Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Cancer Therapy: Technological Considerations. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10030360. [PMID: 32111076 PMCID: PMC7175114 DOI: 10.3390/biom10030360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of monoclonal antibodies to specifically bind a target antigen and neutralize or stimulate its activity is the basis for the rapid growth and development of the therapeutic antibody field. In recent years, traditional immunoglobulin antibodies have been further engineered for better efficacy and safety, and technological developments in the field enabled the design and production of engineered antibodies capable of mediating therapeutic functions hitherto unattainable by conventional antibody formats. Representative of this newer generation of therapeutic antibody formats are bispecific antibodies and antibody–drug conjugates, each with several approved drugs and dozens more in the clinical development phase. In this review, the technological principles and challenges of bispecific antibodies and antibody–drug conjugates are discussed, with emphasis on clinically validated formats but also including recent developments in the fields, many of which are expected to significantly augment the current therapeutic arsenal against cancer and other diseases with unmet medical needs.
Collapse
|
19
|
Nie S, Wang Z, Moscoso-Castro M, D'Souza P, Lei C, Xu J, Gu J. Biology drives the discovery of bispecific antibodies as innovative therapeutics. Antib Ther 2020; 3:18-62. [PMID: 33928225 PMCID: PMC7990219 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A bispecific antibody (bsAb) is able to bind two different targets or two distinct epitopes on the same target. Broadly speaking, bsAbs can include any single molecule entity containing dual specificities with at least one being antigen-binding antibody domain. Besides additive effect or synergistic effect, the most fascinating applications of bsAbs are to enable novel and often therapeutically important concepts otherwise impossible by using monoclonal antibodies alone or their combination. This so-called obligate bsAbs could open up completely new avenue for developing novel therapeutics. With evolving understanding of structural architecture of various natural or engineered antigen-binding immunoglobulin domains and the connection of different domains of an immunoglobulin molecule, and with greatly improved understanding of molecular mechanisms of many biological processes, the landscape of therapeutic bsAbs has significantly changed in recent years. As of September 2019, over 110 bsAbs are under active clinical development, and near 180 in preclinical development. In this review article, we introduce a system that classifies bsAb formats into 30 categories based on their antigen-binding domains and the presence or absence of Fc domain. We further review the biology applications of approximately 290 bsAbs currently in preclinical and clinical development, with the attempt to illustrate the principle of selecting a bispecific format to meet biology needs and selecting a bispecific molecule as a clinical development candidate by 6 critical criteria. Given the novel mechanisms of many bsAbs, the potential unknown safety risk and risk/benefit should be evaluated carefully during preclinical and clinical development stages. Nevertheless we are optimistic that next decade will witness clinical success of bsAbs or multispecific antibodies employing some novel mechanisms of action and deliver the promise as next wave of antibody-based therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siwei Nie
- WuXi Biologics, 299 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China and ,To whom correspondence should addressed. Jijie Guor Siwei Nie. or
| | - Zhuozhi Wang
- WuXi Biologics, 299 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China and
| | | | - Paul D'Souza
- Clarivate Analytics, Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8EZ, UK
| | - Can Lei
- Clarivate Analytics, Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8EZ, UK
| | - Jianqing Xu
- WuXi Biologics, 299 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China and
| | - Jijie Gu
- WuXi Biologics, 299 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China and ,To whom correspondence should addressed. Jijie Guor Siwei Nie. or
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Chiu ML, Goulet DR, Teplyakov A, Gilliland GL. Antibody Structure and Function: The Basis for Engineering Therapeutics. Antibodies (Basel) 2019; 8:antib8040055. [PMID: 31816964 PMCID: PMC6963682 DOI: 10.3390/antib8040055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies and antibody-derived macromolecules have established themselves as the mainstay in protein-based therapeutic molecules (biologics). Our knowledge of the structure–function relationships of antibodies provides a platform for protein engineering that has been exploited to generate a wide range of biologics for a host of therapeutic indications. In this review, our basic understanding of the antibody structure is described along with how that knowledge has leveraged the engineering of antibody and antibody-related therapeutics having the appropriate antigen affinity, effector function, and biophysical properties. The platforms examined include the development of antibodies, antibody fragments, bispecific antibody, and antibody fusion products, whose efficacy and manufacturability can be improved via humanization, affinity modulation, and stability enhancement. We also review the design and selection of binding arms, and avidity modulation. Different strategies of preparing bispecific and multispecific molecules for an array of therapeutic applications are included.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark L. Chiu
- Drug Product Development Science, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Malvern, PA 19355, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Dennis R. Goulet
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, P.O. Box 357610, Seattle, WA 98195-7610, USA;
| | - Alexey Teplyakov
- Biologics Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, PA 19477, USA; (A.T.); (G.L.G.)
| | - Gary L. Gilliland
- Biologics Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, PA 19477, USA; (A.T.); (G.L.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Joshi KK, Phung W, Han G, Yin Y, Kim I, Sandoval W, Carter PJ. Elucidating heavy/light chain pairing preferences to facilitate the assembly of bispecific IgG in single cells. MAbs 2019; 11:1254-1265. [PMID: 31286843 PMCID: PMC6748609 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2019.1640549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple strategies have been developed to facilitate the efficient production of bispecific IgG (BsIgG) in single host cells. For example, we previously demonstrated near quantitative (≥90%) formation of BsIgG of different species and isotypes by combining 'knob-into-hole' mutations for heavy chain heterodimerization with engineered antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) for preferential cognate heavy/light chain pairing. Surprisingly, in this study we found high yield (>65%) of BsIgG1without Fab engineering to be a common occurrence, i.e., observed for 33 of the 99 different antibody pairs evaluated. Installing charge mutations at both CH1/CL interfaces was sufficient for near quantitative yield (>90%) of BsIgG1 for most (9 of 11) antibody pairs tested with this inherent cognate chain pairing preference. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that a strong cognate pairing preference in one Fab arm can be sufficient for high BsIgG1 yield. These observed chain pairing preferences are apparently driven by variable domain sequences and can result from a few specific residues in the complementarity-determining region (CDR) L3 and H3. Transfer of these CDR residues into other antibodies increased BsIgG1 yield in most cases. Mutational analysis revealed that the disulfide bond between heavy and light chains did not affect the yield of BsIgG1. This study provides some mechanistic understanding of factors contributing to antibody heavy/light chain pairing preference and subsequently contributes to the efficient production of BsIgG in single host cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Kishore Joshi
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wilson Phung
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics and Lipidomics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Guanghui Han
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics and Lipidomics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yiyuan Yin
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ingrid Kim
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wendy Sandoval
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics and Lipidomics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paul J. Carter
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Dietrich S, Gross AW, Becker S, Hock B, Stadlmayr G, Rüker F, Wozniak-Knopp G. Constant domain-exchanged Fab enables specific light chain pairing in heterodimeric bispecific SEED-antibodies. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2019; 1868:140250. [PMID: 31295556 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bispecific antibodies promise to broadly expand the clinical utility of monoclonal antibody technology. Several approaches for heterodimerization of heavy chains have been established to produce antibodies with two different Fab arms, but promiscuous pairing of heavy and light chains remains a challenge for their manufacturing. METHODS We have designed a solution in which the CH1 and CL domain pair in one of the Fab fragments is replaced with a CH3-domain pair and heterodimerized to facilitate correct modified Fab-chain pairing in bispecific heterodimeric antibodies based on a strand-exchange engineered domain (SEED) scaffold with specificity for epithelial growth factor receptor and either CD3 or CD16 (FcγRIII). RESULTS Bispecific antibodies retained binding to their target antigens and redirected primary T cells or NK cells to induce potent killing of target cells. All antibodies were expressed at a high yield in Expi293F cells, were detected as single sharp symmetrical peaks in size exclusion chromatography and retained high thermostability. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed specific heavy-to-light chain pairing for the bispecific SEED antibodies as well as for one-armed SEED antibodies co-expressed with two different competing light chains. CONCLUSION Incorporation of a constant domain-exchanged Fab fragment into a SEED antibody yields functional molecules with favorable biophysical properties. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Our results show that the novel engineered bispecific SEED antibody scaffold with an incorporated Fab fragment with CH3-exchanged constant domains is a promising tool for the generation of complete heterodimeric bispecific antibodies with correct light chain pairing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Dietrich
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alec W Gross
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Inc., 45A Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica, MA 01821, USA
| | - Stefan Becker
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Björn Hock
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Gerhard Stadlmayr
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Rüker
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gordana Wozniak-Knopp
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Labrijn AF, Janmaat ML, Reichert JM, Parren PWHI. Bispecific antibodies: a mechanistic review of the pipeline. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2019; 18:585-608. [DOI: 10.1038/s41573-019-0028-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 493] [Impact Index Per Article: 98.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
24
|
Ovacik AM, Li J, Lemper M, Danilenko D, Stagg N, Mathieu M, Ellerman D, Gupta V, Kalia N, Nguy T, Plaks V, David Johnson C, Wang W, Brumm J, Fine B, Junttila T, Lin K, Carter PJ, Prabhu S, Spiess C, Kamath AV. Single cell-produced and in vitro-assembled anti-FcRH5/CD3 T-cell dependent bispecific antibodies have similar in vitro and in vivo properties. MAbs 2018; 11:422-433. [PMID: 30550367 PMCID: PMC6380433 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2018.1551676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibody production using single host cells has been a new advancement in the antibody engineering field. We previously showed comparable in vitro biological activity and in vivo mouse pharmacokinetics (PK) for two novel single cell variants (v10 and v11) and one traditional dual cell in vitro-assembled anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/CD3 T-cell dependent bispecific (TDB) antibodies. Here, we extended our previous work to assess single cell-produced bispecific variants of a novel TDB against FcRH5, a B-cell lineage marker expressed on multiple myeloma (MM) tumor cells. An in vitro-assembled anti- FcRH5/CD3 TDB antibody was previously developed as a potential treatment option for MM. Two bispecific antibody variants (designs v10 and v11) for manufacturing anti-FcRH5/CD3 TDB in single cells were compared to in vitro-assembled TDB in a dual-cell process to understand whether differences in antibody design and production led to any major differences in their in vitro biological activity, in vivo mouse PK, and PK/pharmacodynamics (PD) or immunogenicity in cynomolgus monkeys (cynos). The binding, in vitro potencies, in vitro pharmacological activities and in vivo PK in mice and cynos of these single cell TDBs were comparable to those of the in vitro-assembled TDB. In addition, the single cell and in vitro-assembled TDBs exhibited robust PD activity and comparable immunogenicity in cynos. Overall, these studies demonstrate that single cell-produced and in vitro-assembled anti-FcRH5/CD3 T-cell dependent bispecific antibodies have similar in vitro and in vivo properties, and support further development of single-cell production method for anti-FcRH5/CD3 TDBs and other single-cell bispecifics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Meric Ovacik
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Ji Li
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Marie Lemper
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Dimitry Danilenko
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Nicola Stagg
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Mary Mathieu
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Diego Ellerman
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Vinita Gupta
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Navdeep Kalia
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Trung Nguy
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Vicki Plaks
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Clarissa David Johnson
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Weiru Wang
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Jochen Brumm
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Bernard Fine
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Teemu Junttila
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Kedan Lin
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Paul J Carter
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Saileta Prabhu
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Christoph Spiess
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Amrita V Kamath
- a Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech, Inc ., South San Francisco , CA , USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Wu X, Demarest SJ. Building blocks for bispecific and trispecific antibodies. Methods 2018; 154:3-9. [PMID: 30172007 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), which target two antigens or epitopes, incorporate the specificities and properties of two distinct monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) into a single molecule. As such, BsAbs can elicit synergistic activities and provide the capacity for enhanced therapeutic efficacy and/or safety compared to what can be achieved with conventional monospecific IgGs. There are many building block formats to generate BsAbs and Trispecific antibodies (TsAbs) based on combining the antigen recognition domains of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). This review describes the many and varied antibody-based building blocks used to achieve multivalency and multispecificity. These diverse building blocks provide opportunities to tailor the design of BsAbs and TsAbs to match the desired applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiufeng Wu
- Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10290 Campus Point Dr., San Diego, CA 92121, United States.
| | - Stephen J Demarest
- Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10290 Campus Point Dr., San Diego, CA 92121, United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Krah S, Kolmar H, Becker S, Zielonka S. Engineering IgG-Like Bispecific Antibodies-An Overview. Antibodies (Basel) 2018; 7:antib7030028. [PMID: 31544880 PMCID: PMC6640676 DOI: 10.3390/antib7030028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibody therapeutics have proven to be successful treatment options for patients in various indications. Particularly in oncology, therapeutic concepts involving antibodies often rely on the so-called effector functions, such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), which are programed in the antibody Fc region. However, Fc-mediated effector mechanisms often seem to be insufficient in properly activating the immune system to act against tumor cells. Furthermore, long term treatments can lead to resistance against the applied drug, which is monospecific by nature. There is promise in using specific antibodies to overcome such issues due to their capability of recruiting and activating T-cells directly at the tumor site, for instance. During the last decade, two of these entities, which are referred to as Blinatumomab and Catumaxomab, have been approved to treat patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and malignant ascites. In addition, Emicizumab, which is a bispecific antibody targeting clotting factors IXa and X, was recently granted market approval by the FDA in 2017 for the treatment of hemophilia A. However, the generation of these next generation therapeutics is challenging and requires tremendous engineering efforts as two distinct paratopes need to be combined from two different heavy and light chains. This mini review summarizes technologies, which enable the generation of antibodies with dual specificities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Krah
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Stefan Becker
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Stefan Zielonka
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Regula JT, Imhof-Jung S, Mølhøj M, Benz J, Ehler A, Bujotzek A, Schaefer W, Klein C. Variable heavy-variable light domain and Fab-arm CrossMabs with charged residue exchanges to enforce correct light chain assembly. Protein Eng Des Sel 2018; 31:289-299. [PMID: 30169707 PMCID: PMC6277175 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzy021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Technologies for the production of bispecific antibodies need to overcome two major challenges. The first one is correct heavy chain assembly, which was solved by knobs-into-holes technology or charge interactions in the CH3 domains. The second challenge is correct light chain assembly. This can be solved by engineering the Fab-arm interfaces or applying the immunoglobulin domain crossover approach. There are three different crossovers possible, namely Fab-arm, constant domain and variable domain crossovers. The CrossMabCH1-CL exchange does not lead to the formation of unexpected side products, whereas the CrossMabFab and the CrossMabVH-VL formats result in the formation of typical side products. Thus, CrossMabCH1-CL was initially favored for therapeutic antibody development. Here, we report a novel improved CrossMab design principle making use of site-specific positional exchanges of charged amino acid pairs in the constant domain of these CrossMabs to enable the correct light chain assembly in the CrossMabVH-VL and improvements for the CrossMabFab design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joerg Thomas Regula
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Imhof-Jung
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Michael Mølhøj
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Joerg Benz
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Chemical Biology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Ehler
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Chemical Biology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Bujotzek
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schaefer
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Christian Klein
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Discovery Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|