2536results about "Fusions for specific cell targeting" patented technology

Methods of treating cancer and infectious diseases utilizing a treatment regimen comprising administering a compound that reduces inhibitory signal transduction in T cells, in combination with a potentiating agent, such as cyclophosphamide, to produce potent T cell mediated responses, are described. Compositions comprising the PD-1 antagonists and potentiating agents useful in the methods of the invention are also disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions for targeting the vasculature of solid tumors using immunological- and growth factor-based reagents. In particular aspects, antibodies carrying diagnostic or therapeutic agents are targeted to the vasculature of solid tumor masses through recognition of tumor vasculature-associated antigens, such as, for example, through endoglin binding, or through the specific induction of endothelial cell surface antigens on vascular endothelial cells in solid tumors.

Integration of costimulatory signaling domains within a tumor targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), such as the IL13Rα2 specific IL13-zetakine (IL13ζ), enhances T cell-mediated responses against tumors even in the absence of expressed ligands for costimulatory receptors.

An antisense compound for use in treating myotonic dystrophy DM1 or DM2, a method of enhancing antisense targeting to heart and quadricep muscles, and a method for treating DM1 or DM2 in a mammalian subject are disclosed. The oligonucleotide has 8-30 bases, with at least 8 contiguous bases being complementary to the polyCUG or polyCCUG repeats in the 3′UTR region of dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) mRNA in DM1 or DM2, respectively. Conjugated to the oligonucleotide is a cell-penetrating peptide having the sequence (RXRR(B / X)R)2XB, where R is arginine; B is β-alanine; and each X is —C(O)—(CH2)n—NH—, where n is 4-6. The antisense compound is effective to selectively block the sequestration of muscleblind-like 1 protein (MBNL1) and / or CUGBP, in heart and quadricep muscle in a myotonic dystrophy animal model.

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with expression of EGFRvIII. The invention also relates to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific to EGFRvIII, vectors encoding the same, and recombinant T cells comprising the anti-EGFRvIII CAR. The invention also includes methods of administering a genetically modified T cell expressing a CAR that comprises an anti-EGFRvIII binding domain.

Cell-penetrating peptides useful for targeting a therapeutic compound to a selected mammalian tissue, methods for their identification, methods of forming conjugate compounds containing such peptides, and conjugates formed thereby are disclosed. The cell-penetrating peptides are 8 to 30 amino acid residues in length and consist of subsequences selected from the group consisting of RXR, RX, RB, and RBR; where R is arginine, B is β-alanine, and each X is independently —C(O)—(CHR1)n—NH—, where n is 4-6 and each R1 is independently H or methyl, such that at most two R1's are methyl. In one embodiment, X is a 6-aminohexanoic acid residue.

Methods and compositions for the treatment of acute pancreatitis in a mammal. Particular compositions comprise a binding element, a translocation element, and a therapeutic element able to prevent accumulation of digestive enzymes within the pancreas.

The present invention comprises compositions and methods for treating a tumor or neoplastic disease in a host, The methods employ conjugates comprising superantigen polypeptides or nucleic acids with other structures that preferentially bind to tumor cells and are capable of inducing apoptosis. Also provided are superantigen-glycolipid conjugates and vesicles that are loaded onto antigen presenting cells to activate both T cells and NKT cells. Cell-based vaccines comprise tumor cells engineered to express a superantigen along with glycolipids products which, when expressed, render the cells capable of eliciting an effective anti-tumor immune response in a mammal into which these cells are introduced. Included among these compositions are tumor cells, hybrid cells of tumor cells and accessory cells, preferably dendritic cells. Also provided are T cells and NKT cells activated by the above compositions that can be administered for adoptive immunotherapy.

Integration of costimulatory signaling domains within a tumor targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), such as the IL13Rα2 specific IL13-zetakine (IL13ζ), enhances T cell-mediated responses against tumors even in the absence of expressed ligands for costimulatory receptors.

The present invention discloses bispecific antibodies comprising two antibody variable domains on a single polypeptide chain, wherein a first portion of the bispecific antibody is capable of recruiting the activity of a human immune effector cell by specifically binding to an effector antigen on the human immune effector cell, the first portion consisting of one antibody variable domain, and a second portion of the bispecific antibody specifically binding to a target antigen other than the effector antigen, the target antigen on a target cell other than the human immune effector cell, the second portion comprising one antibody variable domain.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for producing fusion proteins with reduced immunogenicity. Fusion proteins of the invention include a junction region having an amino acid change that reduces the ability of a junctional epitope to bind to MHC Class II, thereby reducing its interaction with a T-cell receptor. Methods of the invention involve analyzing, changing, or modifying one or more amino acids in the junction region of a fusion protein in order to identify a T-cell epitope and reduce its ability to interact with a T cell receptor. Compositions and methods of the invention are useful in therapy.

The present invention generally relates to mutant interleukin-2 polypeptides that exhibit reduced affinity to the α-subunit of the IL-2 receptor, for use as immunotherapeutic agents. In addition, the invention relates to immunoconjugates comprising said mutant IL-2 polypeptides, polynucleotide molecules encoding the mutant IL-2 polypeptides or immunoconjugates, and vectors and host cells comprising such polynucleotide molecules. The invention further relates to methods for producing the mutant IL-2 polypeptides or immunoconjugates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and uses thereof.

The invention relates to murine / human chimeric monoclonal antibodies with high specificity to and affinity for human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), derivatives thereof, processes for the preparation of these antibodies and their derivatives, DNAs coding for heavy and light chains of these antibodies, processes for the preparation of said DNAs, mammalian cell lines that produce and secrete the antibodies and processes for the preparation of said cell lines. The chimeric antibodies and their derivatives are used for clinical purposes in vitro and in vivo, especially for the diagnosis of cancer, for localization and in vivo imaging of tumors, for therapy, e.g. site-directed delivery of cytotoxins, and similar purposes. The invention also concerns test kits and pharmaceutical compositions containing said chimeric monoclonal antibodies and / or derivatives thereof.

The present invention is directed to a functional T cell receptor (TCR) fusion protein (TFP) recognizing and binding to at least one MHC-presented epitope, and containing at least one amino acid sequence recognizing and binding an antigen. The present invention is further directed to an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the same, a T cell expressing said TFP, and a pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of diseases involving malignant cells expressing said tumor-associated antigen.

Compositions including an antibody single-chain variable fragment (scFv) conjugate that specifically binds to ROR1 tumor-associated antigen are provided. The anti-ROR1 scFv antibody and conjugates may include a biologically-active molecule. Such conjugates may comprise a chimeric receptor to direct T cells to respond to ROR1 cancer cells, Methods to use the scFV conjugates to target cells expressing ROR1 for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes are also provided.

Novel chimeric moieties that show significant efficacy against cancers are provided. In certain embodiments the chimeric moieties comprise a targeting moiety attached to an interferon. In certain embodiments, the chimeric moieties comprise fusion proteins where an antibody that specifically binds to a cancer marker is fused to interferon alpha (IFN-α) or interferon beta (IFN-β).

The present invention generally relates to mutant interleukin-2 polypeptides that exhibit reduced affinity to the α-subunit of the IL-2 receptor, for use as immunotherapeutic agents. In addition, the invention relates to immunoconjugates comprising said mutant IL-2 polypeptides, polynucleotide molecules encoding the mutant IL-2 polypeptides or immunoconjugates, and vectors and host cells comprising such polynucleotide molecules. The invention further relates to methods for producing the mutant IL-2 polypeptides or immunoconjugates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and uses thereof.

This invention provides novel chimeric moieties that show significant efficacy against cancers. In certain embodiments the chimeric moieties comprise a targeting moiety attached to an interferon. In certain embodiments, the chimeric moieties comprise fusion proteins where an antibody that specifically binds to a cancer marker is fused to interferon alpha (IFN-α).

The present invention provides drug delivery systems comprising FcRn binding partners (e.g., FcRn binding partner, Fc fragment) associated with a particle or an agent to be delivered. Inventive drug delivery systems allow for binding to the FcRn receptor and transcytosis into and / or through a cell or cell layer. Inventive systems are useful for delivering therapeutic agents across the endothelium of blood vessels or the epithelium of an organ.

Methods of treating cancer and infectious diseases utilizing a treatment regimen comprising administering a compound that reduces inhibitory signal transduction in T cells, in combination with a potentiating agent, such as cyclophosphamide, to produce potent T cell mediated responses, are described. Compositions comprising the PD-1 antagonists and potentiating agents useful in the methods of the invention are also disclosed.

The present invention provides fibronectin type III (Fn3)-based multimeric scaffolds that specifically bind to one or more specific target antigen. The invention further provides bispecific Fn3-derived binding molecules that bind to two or more target antigens simultaneously, fusions, conjugates, and methods to increase the stability of Fn3-based binding molecules. Furthermore, the present invention is related to a prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic agent, which contains Fn3-based multimeric scaffolds.

The present invention relates to methods of treating mammals affected by, for example, a hyperproliferative disease such as cancer, by administering a tumor-targeted superantigen and a chemotherapeutic agent, whereby the administration of the tumor-targeted superantigen and chemotherapeutic agent reduce the antibody response and enhance the T cell response. The superantigen, wild-type or modified, is fused to a target-seeking moiety, such as an antibody or an antibody active fragment. The combined administration of a superantigen and a chemotherapeutic agent provides enhanced therapeutic effects in a treated animal.

This invention relates generally to bifunctional molecules including (a) a TGFβRII or fragment thereof capable of binding TGFβ and (b) an antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, that binds to an immune checkpoint protein, such as Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1), uses of such molecules (e.g., for treating cancer), and methods of making such molecules.

The present invention relates to the field of adoptive immunotherapy. The invention provides methods for generating phenotypically defined, functional, and / or expandable T cells from pluripotent stem cells engineered through safe genetic modifications. The engineered cells may provide one or more of: 1) targeting a specific predetermined antigen expressed on the cell surface of a target cell in an HLA independent manner, 2) enhanced survival and functional potential 3) “off-the-shelf” T cells for administration to multiple recipients, eventually across immunogenic barriers, and / or 4) cytotoxic potential and anti-tumor activity.

The present invention relates to the combination therapy of specific tumor-targeted IL-2 variant immunocytokines with specific antibodies which bind human PD-L1.

Elucidating the function of proteins in mammalian cells is particularly challenging due to the inherent complexity of these systems. Methods to study protein function in living cells ideally perturb the activity of only the protein of interest but otherwise maintain the natural state of the host cell or organism. Ligand-dependent inteins offer single-protein specificity and other desirable features as an approach to control protein function in cells post-translationally. Some aspects of this invention provide second-generation ligand-dependent inteins that splice to substantially higher yields and with faster kinetics in the presence of the cell-permeable small molecule 4-HT, especially at 37° C., while exhibiting comparable or improved low levels of background splicing in the absence of 4-HT, as compared to the parental inteins. These improvements were observed in four protein contexts tested in mammalian cells at 37° C., as well as in yeast cells assayed at 30° C. or 37° C. The newly evolved inteins described herein are therefore promising tools as conditional modulators of protein structure and function in yeast and mammalian cells.