1
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Janezic EM, Doan A, Mai E, Bravo DD, Wang J, Kim HS, Spiess C, Bewley K, ElSohly A, Liang WC, Koerber JT, Richalet P, Vanhove M, Comps-Agrar L. A novel, label-free, pre-equilibrium assay to determine the association and dissociation rate constants of therapeutic antibodies on living cells. Br J Pharmacol 2023. [PMID: 37783572 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16258] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Monoclonal antibodies (Ab) represent the fastest growing drug class. Knowledge of the biophysical parameters (kon , koff and KD ) that dictate Ab:receptor interaction is critical during the drug discovery process. However, with the increasing complexity of Ab formats and their targets, it became apparent that existing technologies present limitations and are not always suitable to determine these parameters. Therefore, novel affinity determination methods represent an unmet assay need. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We developed a pre-equilibrium kinetic exclusion assay using recent mathematical advances to determine the kon , koff and KD of monoclonal Ab:receptor interactions on living cells. The assay is amenable to all human IgG1 and rabbit Abs. KEY RESULTS Using our novel assay, we demonstrated for several monoclonal Ab:receptor pairs that the calculated kinetic rate constants were comparable with orthogonal methods that were lower throughput or more resource consuming. We ran simulations to predict the critical conditions to improve the performance of the assays. We further showed that this method could successfully be applied to both suspension and adherent cells. Finally, we demonstrated that kon and koff , but not KD , correlate with in vitro potency for a panel of monoclonal Abs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our novel assay has the potential to systematically probe binding kinetics of monoclonal Abs to cells and can be incorporated in a screening cascade to identify new therapeutic candidates. Wide-spread adoption of pre-equilibrium assays using physiologically relevant systems will lead to a more holistic understanding of how Ab binding kinetics influence their potency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elaine Mai
- Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Jianyong Wang
- Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Hok Seon Kim
- Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Adel ElSohly
- Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA
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2
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He Y, Ma H, Wang C, Ai Z, Wu Q, Chen H, Lu D. A novel brick for bispecific antibody construction. Proteins 2023. [PMID: 36964928 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the development of bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) has become a major trend in the biopharmaceutical industry. By simultaneously engaging two molecular targets, bsAbs have exhibited unique mechanisms of action that could lead to clinical benefits unattainable by conventional monoclonal antibodies. The type of structure used to construct a bsAb directly influences the distance, angle, degree of freedom, and affinity between the two antibody binding sites and the interaction between the two antigens or the cells where the antigens are located, which have been bound by the antibody. Consequently, the structure of the bsAb is one of the most vital factors affecting its function. Herein, we reported for the first time a novel basic module bsAb format, VFV (Variable domain-Fab-Variable domain). And then, the feasibility of the VFV format was demonstrated by constructing a series of engager-like basic module bsAbs. Next, a series of VFV bsAbs containing Fc (VFV-Ig), Fab (VFV-Fab), or Hinge (VFV-Hinge) were developed based on Hxb module, and all of them had adequate purity and activity. Finally, a T cell engager bsAb with the potential to overcome on-target off-tumor activity was constructed according to the structural characteristics of VFV, which validated that the VFV module can be used as a new brick for the construction of various bsAbs. In a word, the successful construction of this bsAb format for the first time not only enriches the arsenal of the bsAb format, but also provides inspiration for the construction of new bsAbs. Nevertheless, we are fully aware that as a proof-of-concept study, this paper has many shortcomings, and there is still a lot of work to be done to determine whether VFV can serve as a platform for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan He
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haili Ma
- LongBio Pharma Co, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhilong Ai
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiao Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongyan Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daru Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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3
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Benedetti F, Stadlmayr G, Stadlbauer K, Rüker F, Wozniak-Knopp G. Selection of High-Affinity Heterodimeric Antigen-Binding Fc Fragments from a Large Yeast Display Library. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2681:131-159. [PMID: 37405647 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3279-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Antigen-binding Fc (Fcab™) fragments, where a novel antigen binding site is introduced by the mutagenesis of the C-terminal loops of the CH3 domain, function as parts of bispecific IgG-like symmetrical antibodies when they replace their wild-type Fc. Their homodimeric structure typically leads to bivalent antigen binding. In particular, biological situations monovalent engagement, however, would be preferred, either for avoiding agonistic effects leading to safety issues, or the attractive option of combining a single chain (i.e., one half) of an Fcab fragment reactive with different antigens in one antibody. We present the strategies for construction and selection of yeast libraries displaying heterodimeric Fcab fragments and discuss the effects of altered thermostability of the basic Fc scaffold and novel library designs that lead to isolation of highly affine antigen binding clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Benedetti
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Stadlmayr
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Stadlbauer
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Rüker
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Gordana Wozniak-Knopp
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria.
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4
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Bispecific mAb2 Antibodies Targeting CD59 Enhance the Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity Mediated by Rituximab. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23095208. [PMID: 35563599 PMCID: PMC9103234 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of complement activation via the overexpression of complement-regulatory proteins (CRPs), most notably CD46, CD55 and CD59, is an efficient mechanism of disguise of cancer cells from a host immune system. This phenomenon extends to counteract the potency of therapeutic antibodies that could lyse target cells by eliciting complement cascade. The manifold functions and ubiquitous expression of CRPs preclude their systemic specific inhibition. We selected CD59-specific Fc fragments with a novel antigen binding site (Fcabs) from yeast display libraries using recombinant antigens expressed in bacterial or mammalian cells. To produce a bispecific antibody, we endowed rituximab, a clinically applied anti-CD20 antibody, used for therapy of various lymphoid malignancies, with an anti-CD59 Fcab. This bispecific antibody was able to induce more potent complement-dependent cytotoxicity for CD20 and CD59 expressing Raji cell line measured with lactate dehydrogenase-release assay, but had no effect on the cells with lower levels of the primary CD20 antigen or CD20-negative cells. Such molecules are promising candidates for future therapeutic development as they elicit a higher specific cytotoxicity at a lower concentration and hence cause a lower exhaustion of complement components.
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5
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Natale V, Stadlmayr G, Benedetti F, Stadlbauer K, Rüker F, Wozniak-Knopp G. Trispecific antibodies produced from mAb 2 pairs by controlled Fab-arm exchange. Biol Chem 2022; 403:509-523. [PMID: 35089662 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies and antibody fragments are therapeutics of growing importance. They are clinically applied for effector cell engagement, enhanced targeting selectivity, addressing of multiple cellular pathways and active transfer of certain activities into difficult-to-reach compartments. These functionalities could profit from a third antigen specificity. In this work we have employed symmetrical bispecific parental antibodies of mAb2 format, which feature a novel antigen binding site in the CH3 domains, and engineered them with a minimal number of point mutations to guide the formation of a controlled Fab-arm exchanged trispecific antibody at a high yield after reduction and re-oxidation. Two model antibodies, one reactive with EGFR, Her2 and VEGF, and one with Fab-arms binding to Ang2 and VEGF and an Fc fragment binding to VEGF, were prepared and examined for heterodimeric status, stability, antigen binding properties and biological activity. Resulting molecules were of good biophysical characteristics and retained antigen reactivity and biological activity of the parental mAb2 constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Natale
- Department of Biotechnology, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Stadlmayr
- Department of Biotechnology, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Filippo Benedetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Stadlbauer
- Department of Biotechnology, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Rüker
- Department of Biotechnology, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gordana Wozniak-Knopp
- Department of Biotechnology, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
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6
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Jäger S, Dickgiesser S, Tonillo J, Hecht S, Kolmar H, Schröter C. EGFR binding Fc domain-drug conjugates: stable and highly potent cytotoxic molecules mediate selective cell killing. Biol Chem 2021; 403:525-534. [PMID: 34535048 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The exposition of cancer cells to cytotoxic doses of payload is fundamental for the therapeutic efficacy of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) in solid cancers. To maximize payload exposure, tissue penetration can be increased by utilizing smaller-sized drug conjugates which distribute deeper into the tumor. Our group recently explored small human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeting Fc antigen binding fragments (Fcabs) for ADC applications in a feasibility study. Here, we expand this concept using epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting Fcabs for the generation of site-specific auristatin-based drug conjugates. In contrast to HER2-targeting Fcabs, we identified novel conjugation sites in the EGFR-targeting Fcab scaffold that allowed for higher DAR enzymatic conjugation. We demonstrate feasibility of resultant EGFR-targeting Fcab-drug conjugates that retain binding to half-life prolonging neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and EGFR and show high serum stability as well as target receptor mediated cell killing at sub-nanomolar concentrations. Our results emphasize the applicability of the Fcab format for the generation of drug conjugates designed for increased penetration of solid tumors and potential FcRn-driven antibody-like pharmacokinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jäger
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, D-64293Darmstadt, Germany.,Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, D-64287Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stephan Dickgiesser
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, D-64293Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jason Tonillo
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, D-64293Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Hecht
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, D-64293Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, D-64287Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian Schröter
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, D-64293Darmstadt, Germany
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7
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Jäger S, Wagner TR, Rasche N, Kolmar H, Hecht S, Schröter C. Generation and Biological Evaluation of Fc Antigen Binding Fragment-Drug Conjugates as a Novel Antibody-Based Format for Targeted Drug Delivery. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:1699-1710. [PMID: 34185508 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Fragment crystallizable (Fc) antigen binding fragments (Fcabs) represent a novel antibody format comprising a homodimeric Fc region with an engineered antigen binding site. In contrast to their full-length antibody offspring, Fcabs combine Fc-domain-mediated and antigen binding functions at only one-third of the size. Their reduced size is accompanied by elevated tissue penetration capabilities, which is an attractive feature for the treatment of solid tumors. In the present study, we explored for the first time Fcabs as a novel scaffold for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). As model, various HER2-targeting Fcab variants coupled to a pH-sensitive dye were used in internalization experiments. A selective binding on HER2-expressing tumor cells and receptor-mediated endocytosis could be confirmed for selected variants, indicating that these Fcabs meet the basic prerequisite for an ADC approach. Subsequently, Fcabs were site-specifically coupled to cytotoxic monomethyl auristatin E yielding homogeneous conjugates. The conjugates retained HER2 and FcRn binding behavior of the parent Fcabs, showed a selective in vitro cell killing and conjugation site-dependent serum stability. Moreover, Fcab conjugates showed elevated penetration in a spheroid model, compared to their full-length antibody and Trastuzumab counterparts. Altogether, the presented results emphasize the potential of Fcabs as a novel scaffold for targeted drug delivery in solid cancers and pave the way for future in vivo translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jäger
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany.,Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Tim R Wagner
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nicolas Rasche
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Hecht
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian Schröter
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
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8
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Kariolis MS, Wells RC, Getz JA, Kwan W, Mahon CS, Tong R, Kim DJ, Srivastava A, Bedard C, Henne KR, Giese T, Assimon VA, Chen X, Zhang Y, Solanoy H, Jenkins K, Sanchez PE, Kane L, Miyamoto T, Chew KS, Pizzo ME, Liang N, Calvert MEK, DeVos SL, Baskaran S, Hall S, Sweeney ZK, Thorne RG, Watts RJ, Dennis MS, Silverman AP, Zuchero YJY. Brain delivery of therapeutic proteins using an Fc fragment blood-brain barrier transport vehicle in mice and monkeys. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/545/eaay1359. [PMID: 32461332 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay1359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Effective delivery of protein therapeutics to the central nervous system (CNS) has been greatly restricted by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We describe the development of a BBB transport vehicle (TV) comprising an engineered Fc fragment that exploits receptor-mediated transcytosis for CNS delivery of biotherapeutics by binding a highly expressed brain endothelial cell target. TVs were engineered using directed evolution to bind the apical domain of the human transferrin receptor (hTfR) without the use of amino acid insertions, deletions, or unnatural appendages. A crystal structure of the TV-TfR complex revealed the TV binding site to be away from transferrin and FcRn binding sites, which was further confirmed experimentally in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant expression of TVs fused to anti-β-secretase (BACE1) Fabs yielded antibody transport vehicle (ATV) molecules with native immunoglobulin G (IgG) structure and stability. Peripheral administration of anti-BACE1 ATVs to hTfR-engineered mice and cynomolgus monkeys resulted in substantially improved CNS uptake and sustained pharmacodynamic responses. The TV platform readily accommodates numerous additional configurations, including bispecific antibodies and protein fusions, yielding a highly modular CNS delivery platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihalis S Kariolis
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Robert C Wells
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jennifer A Getz
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Wanda Kwan
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Cathal S Mahon
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Raymond Tong
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Do Jin Kim
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Ankita Srivastava
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Catherine Bedard
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Kirk R Henne
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Tina Giese
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Victoria A Assimon
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Xiaocheng Chen
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yin Zhang
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Hilda Solanoy
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Katherine Jenkins
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Pascal E Sanchez
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Lesley Kane
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Takashi Miyamoto
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Kylie S Chew
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Michelle E Pizzo
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Nicholas Liang
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Meredith E K Calvert
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Sarah L DeVos
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Sejal Hall
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Zachary K Sweeney
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Robert G Thorne
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Ryan J Watts
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Mark S Dennis
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Adam P Silverman
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Y Joy Yu Zuchero
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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9
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Benedetti F, Stracke F, Stadlmayr G, Stadlbauer K, Rüker F, Wozniak-Knopp G. Bispecific antibodies with Fab-arms featuring exchanged antigen-binding constant domains. Biochem Biophys Rep 2021; 26:100959. [PMID: 33718630 PMCID: PMC7920882 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.100959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies can acquire the property of engagement of a second antigen via fusion methods or modification of their CDR loops, but also by modification of their constant domains, such as in the mAb2 format where a set of mutated amino acid residues in the CH3 domains enables a high-affinity specific interaction with the second antigen. We tested the possibility of introducing multiple binding sites for the second antigen by replacing the Fab CH1/CL domain pair with a pair of antigen-binding CH3 domains in a model scaffold with trastuzumab variable domains and VEGF-binding CH3 domains. Such bispecific molecules were produced in a “Fab-like” format and in a full-length antibody format. Novel constructs were of expected molecular composition using mass spectrometry. They were expressed at a high level in standard laboratory conditions, purified as monomers with Protein A and gel filtration and were of high thermostability. Their high-affinity binding to both target antigens was retained. Finally, the Her2/VEGF binding domain-exchanged bispecific antibody was able to mediate a potentiated surface Her2-internalization effect on the Her2-overexpressing cell line SK-BR-3 due to improved level of cross-linking with the endogenously secreted cytokine. To conclude, bispecific antibodies with Fabs featuring exchanged antigen-binding CH3 domains offer an alternative solution in positioning and valency of antigen binding sites. Fab constant domains can be efficiently exchanged for antigen-binding CH3 domains. Such mutagenesis results in bispecific antibodies with correct chain pairing. Domain-exchanged bispecific Fab- and IgG-like formats are of favorable biophysical properties. Resulting bispecific antibodies show high-affinity binding to both target antigens.
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Key Words
- Ab, antibody
- BLI, biolayer interferometry
- BSA, bovine serum albumin
- Bispecific antibody
- CDR, complementarity determining region
- DSC, differential scanning calorimetry
- Domain-exchanged antibody
- EC50, half-maximal effective concentration
- FBS, fetal bovine serum
- FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate
- Fab constant domain exchange
- Fab, fragment antigen binding
- Fc, fragment crystallizable
- Fcab, Fc with antigen binding properties
- HPLC-SEC, high pressure liquid chromatography-size exclusion chromatography
- Her2 internalization
- IgG, immunoglobulin G
- LC-ESI-MS, liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry
- PBS, phosphate buffered saline
- PE, phycoerythrin
- PEI, polyethylenimine
- PNGase F, Peptide:N-glycosidase F
- RMSD, root mean square deviation
- TRA, trastuzumab
- Tm, melting temperature
- VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor
- “Knobs-into-holes” heterodimerization
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Benedetti
- CD Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Stracke
- CD Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Stadlmayr
- CD Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Stadlbauer
- CD Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Rüker
- CD Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gordana Wozniak-Knopp
- CD Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
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10
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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.
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11
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Molecular Mechanism of HER2 Rapid Internalization and Redirected Trafficking Induced by Anti-HER2 Biparatopic Antibody. Antibodies (Basel) 2020; 9:antib9030049. [PMID: 32961882 PMCID: PMC7551206 DOI: 10.3390/antib9030049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Amplification and overexpression of HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2), an ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase, have been implicated in human cancer and metastasis. A bispecific tetravalent anti-HER2 antibody (anti-HER2-Bs), targeting two non-overlapping epitopes on HER2 in domain IV (trastuzumab) and domain II (39S), has been reported to induce rapid internalization and efficient degradation of HER2 receptors. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of this antibody-induced rapid HER2 internalization and intracellular trafficking. Using quantitative fluorescent imaging, we compared the internalization kinetics of anti-HER2-Bs and its parental arm antibodies, alone or in combinations and under various internalization-promoting conditions. The results demonstrated that concurrent engagement of both epitopes was necessary for rapid anti-HER2-Bs internalization. Cellular uptake of anti-HER2-Bs and parental arm antibodies occurred via clathrin-dependent endocytosis; however, inside the cells antibodies directed different trafficking pathways. Trastuzumab dissociated from HER2 in 2 h, enabling the receptor to recycle, whereas anti-HER2-Bs stayed associated with the receptor throughout the entire endocytic pathway, promoting receptor ubiquitination, trafficking to the lysosomes, and efficient degradation. Consistent with routing HER2 to degradation, anti-HER2-Bs significantly reduced HER2 shedding and altered its exosomal export. Collectively, these results enable a better understanding of the mechanism of action of anti-Her2-Bs and can guide the rational design of anti-HER2 therapeutics as well as other bispecific molecules.
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12
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ELISA assay employing epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies to quantify circulating HER2 with potential application in monitoring cancer patients undergoing therapy with trastuzumab. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3016. [PMID: 32080226 PMCID: PMC7033231 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59630-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating HER2 extracellular domain (HER2 ECD) levels were proposed as a surrogate for HER2 tissue expression to monitor breast cancer patients for early relapse or responses to standard or HER2-targeted therapies, such as the monoclonal antibody (mAb) trastuzumab. Currently, available commercial ELISA assays for HER2 ECD rely on antibodies recognizing undisclosed or unknown epitopes. In this work, two ELISA assays employing MGR2 and MGR3 epitope-specific mAbs for HER2 ECD were developed and validated, showing good assay precision and linearity of the dose-response signal within the dynamic range of 0.19-12.50 ng mL-1 and detection limits of 0.76 and 0.75 ng mL-1 for the MGR2 and MGR3 assays, respectively. The developed assay showed a good agreement with two widely used commercial kits for HER2 ECD quantification in serum samples from breast cancer patients. A complete characterization of mAb-HER2 ECD interaction was performed by means of surface plasmon resonance using trastuzumab as control for both epitope mapping and kinetics analysis. The epitopes recognized by the two mAbs showed no overlap with trastuzumab, which was confirmed by trastuzumab interference analysis in serum samples. The method showed to be a practical approach to determine HER2 ECD with a high degree of sensitivity, reliability and recovery in samples containing mAbs-based therapies.
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13
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Zhang Y, Wu S, Zhuang X, Weng G, Fan J, Yang X, Xu Y, Pan L, Hou T, Zhou Z, Chen S. Identification of an Activating Mutation in the Extracellular Domain of HER2 Conferring Resistance to Pertuzumab. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:11597-11608. [PMID: 31920346 PMCID: PMC6941612 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s232912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aberrant expression of HER2 is highly associated with tumour occurrence and metastasis, therefore HER2 is extensively targeted for tumour immunotherapy. For example, trastuzumab and pertuzumab are FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies that target HER2-positive tumour cells. Despite their advances in clinical applications, emerging resistance to these two HER2-targeting antibodies has hindered their further application. Somatic mutations in HER2 receptor have been identified as one of the major reasons for resistance to anti-HER2 antibodies. Methods We analysed the frequency of somatic mutations in various tumour types based on TCGA and COSMIC databases. Then, the effect of the most frequent mutation (S310F) on the interaction between pertuzumab and HER2 was analysed by molecular modelling analysis. The effect of the S310F mutation was further evaluated through multiple in vitro binding experiments and antitumour activity assays. Results We found through bioinformatics analysis that S310F, an activating mutation in the HER2 extracellular domain, was the most frequent mutation in HER2. The S310F mutation was shown to confer resistance of HER2-positive tumour cells to pertuzumab treatment. With molecular modelling analysis, we confirmed the possibility that the S310F mutation might disrupt the interaction between pertuzumab and HER2 as a result of a significant change in the critical residue S310. Further functional analyses revealed that the S310F mutation completely abolished pertuzumab binding to HER2 receptor and inhibited pertuzumab antitumour efficacy. Conclusion We demonstrated the loss-of-function mechanism underlying pertuzumab resistance in HER2-positive tumour cells bearing the S310F mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Precision Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinlei Zhuang
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Gaoqi Weng
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiansheng Fan
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyue Yang
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Liqiang Pan
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Computer Aided Design and Computer Graphics (CAD&CG), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhan Zhou
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqing Chen
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
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14
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Kholodenko RV, Kalinovsky DV, Doronin II, Ponomarev ED, Kholodenko IV. Antibody Fragments as Potential Biopharmaceuticals for Cancer Therapy: Success and Limitations. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:396-426. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867324666170817152554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are an important class of therapeutic agents approved for the therapy of many types of malignancies. However, in certain cases applications of conventional mAbs have several limitations in anticancer immunotherapy. These limitations include insufficient efficacy and adverse effects. The antigen-binding fragments of antibodies have a considerable potential to overcome the disadvantages of conventional mAbs, such as poor penetration into solid tumors and Fc-mediated bystander activation of the immune system. Fragments of antibodies retain antigen specificity and part of functional properties of conventional mAbs and at the same time have much better penetration into the tumors and a greatly reduced level of adverse effects. Recent advantages in antibody engineering allowed to produce different types of antibody fragments with improved structure and properties for efficient elimination of tumor cells. These molecules opened up new perspectives for anticancer therapy. Here, we will overview the structural features of the various types of antibody fragments and their applications for anticancer therapy as separate molecules and as part of complex conjugates or structures. Mechanisms of antitumor action of antibody fragments as well as their advantages and disadvantages for clinical application will be discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman V. Kholodenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho- Maklaya St., 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Daniel V. Kalinovsky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho- Maklaya St., 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Igor I. Doronin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho- Maklaya St., 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Eugene D. Ponomarev
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Brain, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong
| | - Irina V. Kholodenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho- Maklaya St., 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
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15
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Yeast Surface Display and Cell Sorting of Antigen-Binding Fc Fragments. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 30737746 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9024-5_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Since the introduction of the yeast display platform, this method has increasingly gained popularity for the discovery and affinity maturation of antibodies and other protein scaffolds intended for antigen recognition. Yeast display is particularly well suited for the selection of antigen-binding Fc fragments (Fcabs) as it allows rapid combinatorial library construction via gap repair-driven homologous recombination and an efficient display of a glycosylated Fc able to interact with Fcγ receptors. Apart from expression-related normalization, isolation of properly folded Fcabs can be guided efficiently by simultaneous staining with ligands such as protein A, FcγRI, or the conformation-sensitive anti-FigCH2 antibody, whose binding is critically dependent on the integrity of the Fc structure. The particular properties of the Fcab scaffold, such as its homodimeric state which can promote binding to multiple antigen molecules, require modifications of traditional affinity maturation strategies. Preferred to equilibrium selections are kinetically driven antigen selections, designed to specifically influence the binding off-rate, which in many cases augments the desired biological effect. A simple design of a yeast-displayed heterodimeric Fc fragment is described and can be used as a general guideline for affinity selection of Fcabs with an asymmetric binding site. Overall, this chapter underlines the importance of the versatile yeast display technique for the optimization of the novel Fcab scaffold for antigen recognition.
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16
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Everett KL, Kraman M, Wollerton FPG, Zimarino C, Kmiecik K, Gaspar M, Pechouckova S, Allen NL, Doody JF, Tuna M. Generation of Fcabs targeting human and murine LAG-3 as building blocks for novel bispecific antibody therapeutics. Methods 2018; 154:60-69. [PMID: 30208333 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The immunoglobulin superfamily protein lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) participates in immune suppression and has been identified as a suitable target for cancer therapies. In order to generate bispecific antibodies targeting LAG-3, Fcabs (Fc-region with antigen binding) targeting human and murine LAG-3 were generated from phage libraries. These Fcabs bind to LAG-3, inhibiting its interaction with MHC class II, and induce IL-2 production in a T cell assay. Bispecific antibodies, known as mAb2, were produced by replacing the Fc region of a monoclonal antibody with Fcab sequences in the CH3 domain. mAb2 containing anti-LAG-3 Fcabs have mAb-like biophysical characteristics and retain LAG-3 binding and functional activity. mAb2 can thus be generated using multiple Fabs to investigate bispecific parings and develop novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy L Everett
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom.
| | - Matthew Kraman
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Francisca P G Wollerton
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Carlo Zimarino
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Katarzyna Kmiecik
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel Gaspar
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Sarka Pechouckova
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Natalie L Allen
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline F Doody
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Mihriban Tuna
- F-star Biotechnology Ltd, Eddeva B920, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
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17
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Wozniak-Knopp G, Stadlmayr G, Perthold JW, Stadlbauer K, Gotsmy M, Becker S, Rüker F. An antibody with Fab-constant domains exchanged for a pair of CH3 domains. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195442. [PMID: 29630643 PMCID: PMC5891013 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We have designed a complete antibody-like construct where the CH1 and Cκ domains are exchanged for a pair of the CH3 domains and efficient pairing of the heavy and light variable domain is achieved using “Knobs-into-Holes” strategy. This construct, composed of only naturally occurring immunoglobulin sequences without artificial linkers, expressed at a high level in mammalian cells, however exhibited low solubility. Rational mutagenesis aimed at the amino acid residues located at the interface of the variable domains and the exchanged CH3 domains was applied to improve the biophysical properties of the molecule. The domain-exchanged construct, including variable domains of the HER2/neu specific antibody trastuzumab, was able to bind to the surface of the strongly HER2/neu positive cell line SK-BR3 4-fold weaker than trastuzumab, but could nevertheless incite a more potent response in an antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) reporter assay with FcγRIIIa-overexpressing T-cells. This could be explained with a stronger binding to the FcγRIIIa. Importantly, the novel construct could mediate a specific ADCC effect with natural killer cells similar to the parental antibody.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
- Cell Line
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin Constant Regions/chemistry
- Immunoglobulin Constant Regions/genetics
- Immunoglobulin Constant Regions/immunology
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/chemistry
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/genetics
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/immunology
- Immunoglobulin G/chemistry
- Immunoglobulin G/genetics
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Models, Molecular
- Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
- Protein Domains
- Protein Engineering
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Receptors, IgG/chemistry
- Receptors, IgG/genetics
- Receptors, IgG/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Trastuzumab/chemistry
- Trastuzumab/genetics
- Trastuzumab/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordana Wozniak-Knopp
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Gerhard Stadlmayr
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Walther Perthold
- Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, Department of Material Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Stadlbauer
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Gotsmy
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Becker
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Florian Rüker
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
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18
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Abstract
As of May 1, 2017, 74 antibody-based molecules have been approved by a regulatory authority in a major market. Additionally, there are 70 and 575 antibody-based molecules in phase III and phase I/II clinical trials, respectively. These total 719 antibody-based clinical stage molecules include 493 naked IgGs, 87 antibody-drug conjugates, 61 bispecific antibodies, 37 total Fc fusion proteins, 17 radioimmunoglobulins, 13 antibody fragments, and 11 immunocytokines. New uses for these antibodies are being discovered each year. For oncology, many of the exciting new approaches involve antibody modulation of T-cells. There are over 80 antibodies in clinical trials targeting T cell checkpoints, 26 T-cell-redirected bispecific antibodies, and 145 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell-based candidates (all currently in phase I or II clinical trials), totaling more than 250 T cell interacting clinical stage antibody-based candidates. Finally, significant progress has been made recently on routes of delivery, including delivery of proteins across the blood-brain barrier, oral delivery to the gut, delivery to the cellular cytosol, and gene- and viral-based delivery of antibodies. Thus, there are currently at least 864 antibody-based clinical stage molecules or cells, with incredible diversity in how they are constructed and what activities they impart. These are followed by a next wave of novel molecules, approaches, and new methods and routes of delivery, demonstrating that the field of antibody-based biologics is very innovative and diverse in its approaches to fulfill their promise to treat unmet medical needs.
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19
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20
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Wang C, Wu Y, Wang L, Hong B, Jin Y, Hu D, Chen G, Kong Y, Huang A, Hua G, Ying T. Engineered Soluble Monomeric IgG1 Fc with Significantly Decreased Non-Specific Binding. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1545. [PMID: 29181008 PMCID: PMC5693891 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the long serum half-life provided by the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) recycling, the IgG1 Fc has been pursued as the fusion partner to develop therapeutic Fc-fusion proteins, or as the antibody-derived scaffold that could be engineered with antigen-binding capabilities. In previous studies, we engineered the monomeric Fc by mutating critical residues located on the IgG1 Fc dimerization interface. Comparing with the wild-type dimeric Fc, monomeric Fc might possess substantial advantages conferred by its smaller size, but also suffers the disadvantage of non-specific binding to some unrelated antigens, raising considerable concerns over its potential clinical development. Here, we describe a phage display-based strategy to examine the effects of multiple mutations of IgG1 monomeric Fc and, simultaneously, to identify new Fc monomers with desired properties. Consequently, we identified a novel monomeric Fc that displayed significantly decreased non-specificity. In addition, it exhibited higher thermal stability and comparable pH-dependent FcRn binding to the previous reported monomeric Fc. These results provide baseline to understand the mechanism underlying the generation of soluble IgG1 Fc monomers and warrant the further clinical development of monomeric Fc-based fusion proteins as well as antigen binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanling Wu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lili Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Binbin Hong
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yujia Jin
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Kong
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ailing Huang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoqiang Hua
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianlei Ying
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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21
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Wozniak-Knopp G, Stadlmayr G, Perthold JW, Stadlbauer K, Woisetschläger M, Sun H, Rüker F. Designing Fcabs: well-expressed and stable high affinity antigen-binding Fc fragments. Protein Eng Des Sel 2017; 30:657-671. [DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzx042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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23
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Lobner E, Humm AS, Mlynek G, Kubinger K, Kitzmüller M, Traxlmayr MW, Djinović-Carugo K, Obinger C. Two-faced Fcab prevents polymerization with VEGF and reveals thermodynamics and the 2.15 Å crystal structure of the complex. MAbs 2017; 9:1088-1104. [PMID: 28816592 PMCID: PMC5627596 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2017.1364825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fcabs (Fc domain with antigen-binding sites) are promising novel therapeutics. By engineering of the C-terminal loops of the CH3 domains, 2 antigen binding sites can be inserted in close proximity. To elucidate the binding mode(s) between homodimeric Fcabs and small homodimeric antigens, the interaction between the Fcabs 448 and CT6 (having the AB, CD and EF loops and the C-termini engineered) with homodimeric VEGF was investigated. The crystal structures of these Fcabs, which form polymers with the antigen VEGF in solution, were determined. However, construction of heterodimeric Fcabs (JanusFcabs: one chain Fc-wt, one chain VEGF-binding) results in formation of distinct JanusFcab–VEGF complexes (2:1), which allowed elucidation of the crystal structure of the JanusCT6–VEGF complex at 2.15 Å resolution. VEGF binding to Janus448 and JanusCT6 is shown to be entropically unfavorable, but enthalpically favorable. Structure-function relationships are discussed with respect to Fcab design and engineering strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Lobner
- a Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria.,b Department of Chemistry, Division of Biochemistry , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria
| | - Anne-Sophie Humm
- a Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria.,c Department for Structural and Computational Biology , Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna , Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9, Vienna , Austria
| | - Georg Mlynek
- c Department for Structural and Computational Biology , Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna , Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9, Vienna , Austria
| | - Konstantin Kubinger
- a Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria.,b Department of Chemistry, Division of Biochemistry , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria
| | - Michael Kitzmüller
- a Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria.,b Department of Chemistry, Division of Biochemistry , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria
| | - Michael W Traxlmayr
- a Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria.,b Department of Chemistry, Division of Biochemistry , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria
| | - Kristina Djinović-Carugo
- c Department for Structural and Computational Biology , Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna , Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9, Vienna , Austria.,d Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology , University of Ljubljana , Večna pot 113, Ljubljana , Slovenia
| | - Christian Obinger
- a Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria.,b Department of Chemistry, Division of Biochemistry , BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences , Muthgasse 18, Vienna , Austria
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Fcab-HER2 Interaction: a Ménage à Trois. Lessons from X-Ray and Solution Studies. Structure 2017; 25:878-889.e5. [PMID: 28528777 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2017.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The crystallizable fragment (Fc) of the immunoglobulin class G (IgG) is an attractive scaffold for the design of novel therapeutics. Upon engineering the C-terminal loops in the CH3 domains, Fcabs (Fc domain with antigen-binding sites) can be designed. We present the first crystal structures of Fcabs, i.e., of the HER2-binding clone H10-03-6 having the AB and EF loop engineered and the stabilized version STAB19 derived by directed evolution. Comparison with the crystal structure of the Fc wild-type protein reveals conservation of the overall domain structures but significant differences in EF-loop conformations. Furthermore, we present the first Fcab-antigen complex structures demonstrating the interaction between the engineered Fcab loops with domain IV of HER2. The crystal structures of the STAB19-HER2 and H10-03-6-HER2 complexes together with analyses by isothermal titration calorimetry, SEC-MALS, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy show that one homodimeric Fcab binds two HER2 molecules following a negative cooperative binding behavior.
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25
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Liu H, Saxena A, Sidhu SS, Wu D. Fc Engineering for Developing Therapeutic Bispecific Antibodies and Novel Scaffolds. Front Immunol 2017; 8:38. [PMID: 28184223 PMCID: PMC5266686 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have become molecules of choice to treat autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Moreover, bispecific/multispecific antibodies that target more than one antigen or epitope on a target cell or recruit effector cells (T cell, natural killer cell, or macrophage cell) toward target cells have shown great potential to maximize the benefits of antibody therapy. In the past decade, many novel concepts to generate bispecific and multispecific antibodies have evolved successfully into a range of formats from full bispecific immunoglobulin gammas to antibody fragments. Impressively, antibody fragments such as bispecific T-cell engager, bispecific killer cell engager, trispecific killer cell engager, tandem diabody, and dual-affinity-retargeting are showing exciting results in terms of recruiting and activating self-immune effector cells to target and lyse tumor cells. Promisingly, crystallizable fragment (Fc) antigen-binding fragment and monomeric antibody or half antibody may be particularly advantageous to target solid tumors owing to their small size and thus good tissue penetration potential while, on the other hand, keeping Fc-related effector functions such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis, and extended serum half-life via interaction with neonatal Fc receptor. This review, therefore, focuses on the progress of Fc engineering in generating bispecific molecules and on the use of small antibody fragment as scaffolds for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Liu
- Laboratory of Antibody Engineering, Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai , China
| | - Abhishek Saxena
- Laboratory of Antibody Engineering, Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai , China
| | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- Laboratory of Antibody Engineering, Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, Terrence Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, Terrence Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Donghui Wu
- Laboratory of Antibody Engineering, Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai , China
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Abstract
The crystallizable fragment (Fc) of the immunoglobulin class G (IgG) is a very attractive scaffold for the design of novel therapeutics due to its quality of uniting all essential antibody functions. This article reviews the functionalization of this homodimeric glycoprotein by diversification of structural loops of CH3 domains for the design of Fcabs, i.e. antigen-binding Fc proteins. It reports the design of libraries for the selection of nanomolar binders with wildtype-like in vivo half-life and correlation of Fc receptor binding and ADCC. The in vitro and preclinical biological activity of selected Fcabs is compared with that of clinically approved antibodies. Recently, the great potential of the scaffold for the development of therapeutics for clinical use has been shown when the HER2-binding Fcab FS102 entered clinical phase I. Furthermore, methods for the engineering of biophysical properties of Fcabs applicable to proteins in general are presented as well as the different approaches in the design of heterodimeric Fc-based scaffolds used in the generation of bispecific monoclonal antibodies. Finally, this work critically analyzes and compares the various efforts in the design of highly diverse and functional libraries that have been made in the engineering of IgG1-Fc and structurally similar scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Lobner
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael W Traxlmayr
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Obinger
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Hasenhindl
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Antibody Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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