Antibodies to EGF receptor epitope peptides

• US 7,767,792 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (Commonwealth Of Australia As Represented By Department Of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research And Tertiary Education), Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (Commonwealth Of Australia As Represented By Department Of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research And Tertiary Education), Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Ltd., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Scott, Andrew Mark, Old, Lloyd J., Johns, Terrance Grant, Burgess, Antony Wilks, Wittrup, K. Dane, Adams, Timothy E., Chao, Ginger, Hoyne, Peter Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao; Manjunath N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shafer; Shulamith H
• Application Number:
  US11/060,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20050255555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 530/387.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/00 Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies materials for immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/04 Immunostimulants
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/71 for growth factors; for growth regulators

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to growth factor receptor epitope peptides, particularly EGF family receptor epitope peptides. The invention also relates to the use of the receptor peptides in generating antibodies which have anti-tumor or anti-cancer activity or in stimulating an immunological response. The invention further relates to antibodies specifically directed against the receptor peptides. Methods for generating an immune response and for treatment of tumors and cancer are also provided.

Claims

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an EGF family receptor peptide antibody specifically directed against the peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said antibody is not mAb806 and is generated using an immunogen comprising an EGF receptor peptide selected from the group consisting of an EGF receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO;

1, and a variant or mutant of an EGF receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO;

1 having one or more amino acid substitutions and which is recognized or bound by mAb806, wherein said immunogen is optionally conjugated to an immunogenic carrier.

2. A purified antibody specifically directed against an EGF family receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1, wherein said antibody is not mAb806 and is generated using an immunogen comprising an EGF receptor peptide selected from the group consisting of an EGF receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO;

1, and a variant or mutant of an EGF receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO;

1 having one or more amino acid substitutions and which is recognized or bound by mAb806, wherein said immunogen is optionally conjugated to an immunogenic carrier.

3. A purified antibody according to claim 2, wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

4. A purified antibody according to claim 2, wherein said antibody is labeled with a detectable label.

5. A purified antibody according to claim 2, wherein said antibody is an immunoconjugate and is covalently attached to or conjugated with one or more other molecules or agents having a therapeutic or diagnostic purpose.

6. A purified antibody according to claim 5, wherein said other molecules or agents are selected from other antibodies or antibody fragments which are not immunoreactive with an EGFR peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1, toxins, ligands, radioactive isotopes and chemotherapeutic agents.

7. A method for generating antibodies immunoreactive with an epitope exposed on cells expressing abnormal or overexpressed EGFR, but not exposed on wild type cells, comprising immunizing an animal with an EGF receptor peptide selected from the group consisting of an EGF receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1, and a variant or mutant of an EGF receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO;

1 having one or more amino acid substitutions and which is recognized or bound by mAb806, and isolating peptide binding antibodies.

8. A method for selecting antibodies immunoreactive with an epitope exposed on cells expressing abnormal or overexpressed EGFR, but not exposed on wild type cells, comprising screening candidate antibodies or cells expressing antibodies or active antibody fragments with an EGF receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1.

9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an EGF family receptor peptide antibody specifically directed against the peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said antibody is not mAb806 and is generated using an immunogen comprising an EGF receptor peptide consisting of SEQ ID NO;

1, wherein said immunogen is optionally conjugated to an immunogenic carrier.

10. A purified antibody specifically directed against an EGF family receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1, wherein said antibody is not mAb806 and is generated using an immunogen comprising an EGF receptor peptide consisting of SEQ ID NO;

1, wherein said immunogen is optionally conjugated to an immunogenic carrier.

11. A purified antibody according to claim 10, wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

12. A purified antibody according to claim 10, wherein said antibody is labeled with a detectable label.

13. A purified antibody according to claim 10, wherein said antibody is an immunoconjugate and is covalently attached to or conjugated with one or more other molecules or agents having a therapeutic or diagnostic purpose.

14. A purified antibody according to claim 13, wherein said other molecules or agents are selected from other antibodies or antibody fragments which are not immunoreactive with an EGFR peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1, toxins, ligands, radioactive isotopes and chemotherapeutic agents.

15. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an EGF family receptor peptide antibody specifically directed against the peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said antibody is not mAb806.

16. A purified antibody specifically directed against an EGF family receptor peptide of SEQ ID NO:

1, wherein said antibody is not mAB806.

17. A purified antibody according to claim 16, wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.