ANTIBODIES TO IL-6 AND USE THEREOF
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as an Ab1 antibody or antibody fragment having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat disease or to improve survivability or quality of life of a patient in need thereof. In preferred embodiments these patients will comprise those exhibiting (or at risk of developing) an elevated serum C-reactive protein level, reduced serum albumin level, elevated D-dimer or other coagulation cascade related protein(s), cachexia, fever, weakness and/or fatigue prior to treatment. The subject therapies also may include the administration of other actives such as chemotherapeutics, anti-coagulants, statins, and others. Additional preferred embodiments of the subject invention relate to therapeutic compositions and methods treating or preventing rheumatoid arthritis, especially subcutaneous and intravenous formulations and dosage regimens using IL-6 antagonists according to the invention, as well as methods for preventing or treating GVHD or leukemia relapse in subjects receiving transplanted cells, tissue or organs, use thereof in the treatment or prevention of mucositis, and use thereof to potentiate the cytotoxic, apoptotic, and anti-metastatic or anti-invasive effects of chemotherapeutics and radiation on cancers, especially cancers that have developed a resistance to radiation or chemotherapy, such as an EGFR inhibitor.
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Citations
331 Claims
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1-271. -271. (canceled)
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272. A method of treating rheumatoid arthritis by subcutaneously or intravenously administering an effective dosage of an anti-IL-6 antibody having the same epitopic specificity as an antibody comprising the variable light and heavy sequences in SEQ ID NO:
- 2 and 3 respectively, or an antibody that competes with said antibody or antibody fragment for binding to IL-6 to a patient in need thereof.
- View Dependent Claims (273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303)
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278. The method of claim 278, wherein said anti-IL-6 antibody contains variable heavy and light sequences which are at least 90% identical has the variable heavy and light sequences contained in SEQ ID NO:
- 19 or 20.
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304. A method of using an anti-IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment having the same epitopic specificity as an antibody or antibody fragment containing the variable heavy and light sequences in SEQ ID NO:
- 3 and 2 respectively, for preventing or alleviating the onset of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), or leukemia relapse in a subject receiving transplanted cells, tissues or organs.
- View Dependent Claims (305, 306, 307, 308, 311, 312, 313)
- 309. A method of pre-treating cells, tissues or organ which are to be used for transplant to reduce the risk of GVHD or leukemia comprising contacting said cells, tissue or organ in vitro with an IL-6 antagonist in order to reduce IL-6 expression.
- 314. A cancer treatment regimen that includes the administration of at least one chemotherapeutic agent and/or radiation, wherein the efficacy of said chemotherapeutic or radiation against the cancer is enhanced by further administering an anti-IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment tumor that is selected from Ab1, Ab2, Ab3, Ab4, Ab5, Ab6, Ab7, Ab8, Ab9, Ab10, Ab11, Ab12, Ab13, Ab14, Ab15, Ab16, Ab17, Ab18, Ab19, Ab20, Ab21, Ab22, Ab23, Ab24, Ab25, Ab26, Ab27, Ab28, Ab29, Ab30, Ab31, Ab32, Ab33, Ab34, Ab35, Ab36, and chimeric or humanized variants thereof and IL-6 binding fragment of any of the foregoing.
- 315. A method of treating or preventing mucositis in a patient at risk of developing mucositis as a result of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, by administering an amount of an anti-IL-6 antibody in an amount effective to treat or prevent the onset of mucositis.
Specification