Isumi Y, Hayashi S, Inoue T, Yoshigae Y, Sato T, Hasegawa J, Agatsuma T. DS-7080a, a Selective Anti-ROBO4 Antibody, Shows Anti-Angiogenic Efficacy with Distinctly Different Profiles from Anti-VEGF Agents.
Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020;
9:7. [PMID:
32879763 PMCID:
PMC7442859 DOI:
10.1167/tvst.9.9.7]
[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] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) results from choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and causes severe vision loss. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies have significantly improved therapeutic outcomes; however, a substantial number of patients experience disease progression. Roundabout 4 (ROBO4) has been reported to be a vascular-specific protein that stabilizes vasculature in ocular pathological angiogenesis. To explore ROBO4 targeting as a novel treatment against neovascularization, we generated a humanized anti-human ROBO4 antibody, DS-7080a, and evaluated its efficacy.
Methods
ROBO4 mRNA in human whole eye cross-sections was examined by in situ hybridization. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration was measured in the presence of VEGF, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), or conditioned medium of primary human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cells. CNV was induced in cynomolgus monkeys by laser irradiation. Vascular leakage was measured by fluorescein angiography, and pathological changes were determined by histology.
Results
ROBO4 mRNA was detected in choroidal vessels of nAMD patients. DS-7080a suppressed HGF- or bFGF-induced HUVEC migration in addition to that induced by VEGF. Further, HUVEC migration induced by HRPE-conditioned medium was inhibited by either DS-7080a or ranibizumab in a similar manner, and the combination of these showed further inhibition. In a laser-induced CNV monkey model, single intravitreous administration of 1.1 mg/eye of DS-7080a reduced the incidence of grade 4 leakage from 44.45% in control eyes to 1.85% (P < 0.05 by Dunnett's test).
Conclusions
Anti-ROBO4 antibody DS-7080a suppressed HUVEC migration in a distinctly different fashion from anti-VEGF agents and improved laser-induced CNV in non-human primates.
Translational Relevance
DS-7080a may be a novel treatment option for nAMD.
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