Bcl-2 gene proteins conjugated to a ligand for a cell surface antigen of a specific cell type

• US 20020061308A1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tanox Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Tanox Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Chang, Nancy T.
• Application Number:
  US09/974,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061308A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/178.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6875 the antibody being a hybrid immunoglobulin

Abstract

The invention is related to conjugates comprised of a pro-apoptotic protein encoded by Bak, Bak-2 or Bax genes and a ligand specifically targeting a cell surface antigen. The cell surface antigen is expressed on tumor cells, cells infected with bacteria or virus, or cells of specific functions, but it is not expressed or expressed only to a limited extent on other cell types. The ligand my be an organic molecule, an oligonucleotide, peptide, peptidomimetic, monoclonal antibody or derivative thereof, including fragments and single chain antibodies.

Claims

1. A conjugate comprising a pro-apoptotic protein and a ligand specifically targeting a cell surface antigen, wherein the pro-apoptotic protein is the expression protein of the Bak, Bak-2 or Bax genes.

2. The conjugate of claim 1 wherein the cell surface antigen is expressed on tumor cells, cells infected with bacteria or virus, or cells of specific functions, but it is not expressed or expressed only to a limited extent on other cell types.

3. The conjugate of claim 1 or 2 wherein the ligand is an organic molecule, an oligonucleotide, peptide, peptidomimetic, monoclonal antibody or derivative thereof, including fragments and single chain antibodies.

4. The conjugate of claim 3 wherein the monoclonal antibody is a chimeric, Delmmunised™

, humanized or human antibody, and the fragment is Fv, Fd, Fab, or F(ab′

)₂.