Recombinant il-9 antibodies and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides novel antibodies that immunospecifically bind to an IL-9 polypeptide and compositions comprising said antibodies. The present invention also provides methods and compositions preventing, treating, managing, and / or ameliorating diseases and disorders associated with aberrant expression and / or activity of IL 9 or IL-9 receptor or subunits thereof, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, proliferative diseases, and infections comprising administration of one or more antibodies thereof that immunospecifically bind to an IL-9 polypeptide. The invention also encompasses methods and compositions for diagnosing, monitoring, and prognosing these disorders. The present invention further relates to articles of manufacture and kits comprising antibodies that immunospecifically bind to an IL-9 polypeptide.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 477,797, filed Jun. 10, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 462,259, filed Apr. 11, 2003, which are both incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention provides antibodies that immunospecifically bind to an IL-9 polypeptide and compositions comprising said antibodies. The invention also provides prophylactic and therapeutic protocols to prevent, treat, manage, and / or ameliorate various disorders or one or more symptoms thereof, said protocols comprising the administration of antibodies that immunospecifically bind to an IL-9 polypeptide alone or in combination with other therapies. In particular, the present invention provides methods for preventing, treating, managing, and / or ameliorating symptoms associated with an inflammatory disorder (e.g., asthma) or a respiratory infection, said methods comprising administering to a human sub...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0094]As used herein, the terms “antagonist” and “antagonists” refer to any protein, polypeptide, peptide, peptidomimetic, glycoprotein, antibody, antibody fragment, carbohydrate, nucleic acid, organic molecule, inorganic molecule, large molecule, or small molecule that blocks, inhibits, reduces or neutralizes the function, activity and / or expression of another molecule. In various embodiments, an antagonist reduces the function, activity and / or expression of another molecule by at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or at least 99% relative to a control such as phosphate buffered saline (PBS).

[0102]As used herein, the term “effective amount” refers to the amount of a therapy (e.g., a prophylactic or therapeutic agent) which is sufficient to reduce and / or ameliorate the severity and / or duration of a disease or disorder (e.g., a disease or disorder characterized by aberrant expression and / or activity of an IL-9 polypeptide, a disease or disorder characterized by aberrant expression and / or activity of an IL-9 receptor or one or more subunits thereof, an autoimmune disease, an inflammatory disease, a proliferative disease, or an infection (preferably, a respiratory infection) or one or more symptoms thereof), prevent the advancement of said disease or disorder, cause regression of said disease or disorder, prevent the recurrence, development, or onset of one or more symptoms associated with said disease or disorder, or enhance or improve the prophylactic or therapeutic effect(s) of another therapy (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agent).

[0136]As used herein, the term “synergistic” refers to a combination of therapies (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agents) which is more effective than the additive effects of any two or more single therapies (e.g., one or more prophylactic or therapeutic agents). A synergistic effect of a combination of therapies (e.g., a combination of prophylactic or therapeutic agents) permits the use of lower dosages of one or more of therapies (e.g., one or more prophylactic or therapeutic agents) and / or less frequent administration of said therapies to a subject with a respiratory condition. The ability to utilize lower dosages of therapies (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agents) and / or to administer said therapies less frequently reduces the toxicity associated with the administration of said therapies to a subject without reducing the efficacy of said therapies in the prevention or treatment of a respiratory condition. In addition, a synergistic effect can result in improved efficacy of therapies (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agents) in the prevention or treatment of a respiratory condition. Finally, the synergistic effect of a combination of therapies (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agents) may avoid or reduce adverse or unwanted side effects associated with the use of any single therapy.

[0139]As used herein, the term “therapeutically effective amount” refers to the amount of a therapy (e.g., an antibody that immunospecifically binds to an IL-9 polypeptide), that is sufficient to reduce the severity of a disease or disorder (e.g., a disease or disorder characterized by aberrant expression and / or activity of an IL-9 polypeptide, a disease or disorder characterized by aberrant expression and / or activity of an IL-9 receptor or one or more subunits thereof, an autoimmune disease, an inflammatory disease, a proliferative disease, or an infection (preferably, a respiratory infection) or one or more symptoms thereof), reduce the duration of a respiratory condition, ameliorate one or more symptoms of such a disease or disorder, prevent the advancement of such a disease or disorder, cause regression of such a disease or disorder, or enhance or improve the therapeutic effect(s) of another therapy.

Problems solved by technology

Antibodies, T cells and macrophages provide beneficial protection, but can also produce harmful or deadly immunological responses.

The dilemma faced when administering immunosuppressive agents, however, is the more effectively the autoimmune disease is treated, the more defenseless the patient is left to attack from infections.

These events result in swelling, redness, warmth, and pus formation at the site of injury or infection.

When this delicately balanced interplay is disrupted, the inflammatory response may result in considerable damage to normal tissue and may be more harmful than the original injury or infection that triggered the initial inflammatory reaction.

However, NSAIDs are believed not to be capable of altering progression of the disease.

Moreover, NSAIDs frequently cause gastrointestinal side effects, affect the lower intestinal tract causing perforation or aggravating inflammatory bowel disease, produce renal toxicity and prolong bleeding time.

The serious problem of negative reactions resulting from prolonged corticosteroid therapy (e.g., osteoporosis, increased risk of infection, increased appetite, hypertension, edema, peptic ulcers, and psychoses) greatly limits its long-term use.

Methotrexate, like other cytotoxic agents, frequently causes stomatitis, erythema, slopecia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and damage to major organs such kidney and liver.

These therapies are associated with side effects such as drug interactions, dry mouth, blurred vision, growth suppression in children, and osteoporosis in menopausal women.

However, there are no current therapies available that prevent the development of asthma in subjects at increased risk of developing asthma.

Type II reactions may result in cytolysis or tissue damage.

Continuous or chronic exposure to an allergen can result in chronic allergic inflammation.

Present therapies for allergic reactions produce negative side effects or have limited use.

For example, high doses of antihistamines and corticosteroids have deleterious side effects (e.g., central nervous system disturbance, constipation, etc.).

Vasodilators pose increased risks to patients with certain conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hyperthyroidism and may cause death from cerebrovascular hemorrhage or cardiac arrhythmia.

Symptoms of upper respiratory infection include runny or stuffy nose, irritability, restlessness, poor appetite, decreased activity level, coughing, and fever.

Unfortunately, in regard to certain infections, there are no therapies available, infections have been proven to be refractory to therapies, or the occurrence of side effects outweighs the benefits of the administration of a therapy to a subject.

The use of anti-bacterial agents for the treatment of bacterial respiratory infections may also produce side effects or result in resistant bacterial strains.

The administration of anti-fungal agents may cause renal failure or bone marrow dysfunction and may not be effective against fungal infection in patients with suppressed immune systems.

Thus, as a result of drug resistance, many infections prove refractory to a wide array of standard treatment protocols.

Therapies available for the treatment of established RSV disease are limited.

While a vaccine might prevent RSV infection, no vaccine is yet licensed for this indication.

A major obstacle to vaccine development is safety.

Finally, primary RSV infection and disease do not protect well against subsequent RSV disease (Henderson et al., 1979, New Engl. J. Med. 300:530-534).

Furthermore, passive infusion of immune serum or immune globulin did not produce enhanced pulmonary pathology in cotton rats subsequently challenged with RSV.

While this is a major advance in preventing RSV infection, this therapy poses certain limitations in its widespread use.

Second, the concentrations of active material in hyperimmune globulins are insufficient to treat adults at risk or most children with comprised cardiopulmonary function.

Third, intravenous infusion necessitates monthly hospital visits during the RSV season.

Finally, it may prove difficult to select sufficient donors to produce a hyperimmune globulin for RSV to meet the demand for this product.

Alcoholics, institutionalized persons, cigarette smokers, patients with heart failure, patients with chronic obstructive airway disease, the elderly, children, infants, infants born prematurely, patients with compromised immune systems, and patients with dysphagia are at greater risk of developing pneumonia.

Determination of the specific pathogen causing the pneumonia cannot be made in about 30-50% of patients and specimens may be misleading because of normal flora may contaminate samples through the upper airways.

The administration of antibiotics may result in side effects, toxicity, and development of antibiotic resistant strains.

In addition, because the pathogen causing pneumonia is difficult to diagnose, the use of antibiotics may be ineffective since both viruses and fungi also cause pneumonia.

In addition, fatal and severe liver injury has been associated with treatment of latent TB with rifampcin and pyranzinamide.

All forms of candidiasis are considered serious, progressive, and potentially fatal.

Unfortunately, acute renal failure has been associated with amphotericin B therapy.

Fluconazole, however, has led to increasing treatment failures and anti-fungal resistance.

Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common cause of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis that extends rapidly, causing progressive, and ultimately fatal respiratory failure.

However, invasive infections often progress rapidly and are fatal, thus aggressive therapy comprising IV amphotericin B or oral itraconazole is required.

Unfortunately, high-dose amphotericin B may cause renal failure and itraconazole is effective only in moderately severe cases.

AIDS patients, patients with Hodgkin's or other lymphomas or sarcoidosis, and patients undergoing long-term corticosteroid therapy are at increased risk for cryptococcosis.

Renal and hematologic function of all patients receiving ampotericin B with or without flucytosine must be evaluated before and during therapy since flucytosine blood levels must be monitored to limit toxicity and administration of flucytosine may not be safe for patients with preexisting renal failure or bone marrow dysfunction.

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