EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody and application thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a bispecific antibody against EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and c-Met (c-Met). The amino acid sequence of the Fc segment of the binding arm is modified, so that the heterodimer interaction between the EGFR binding arm and the c-Met binding arm of the bispecific antibody is stronger than the respective interaction of the EGFR binding arm and the c-Met binding arm from homodimers, and the EGFR binding arm and the c-Met binding arm can be assembled into a heterodimer in vitro; the effect of inhibiting proliferation of EGFR and c-Met double-positive tumor cells is better than that of combination of EGFR monoclonal antibody and c-Met monoclonal antibody, antibody dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) is mediated, target protein internalization is promoted, and proliferation of osimertinib acquired drug-resistant strain cells is inhibited. The bispecific antibody prepared by the invention is simple to prepare and stable in structure, the pure bispecific antibody is obtained by in-vitro assembly, and clinical treatment requirements are expected to be better met, so that the bispecific antibody has a good market prospect.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to patent application No. 202310966671.2 filed in China on August 2, 2023. The entire contents of this prior patent application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a bispecific antibody containing anti-EGFR / c-Met or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, and use of the bispecific antibody as an anticancer drug. Background Art

[0003] In the field of EGFR-positive tumor treatment, TKI resistance is still an important issue that affects the efficacy of EGFR targeted therapy. In recent years, bispecific antibodies targeting EGFR and c-Met have become an important solution to EGFR-TKI acquired resistance and have the potential to be used in the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Based on the crosstalk and direct interaction between the EGFR and c-Met signaling pathways, the two anti-tumor mechanisms corresponding to the bispecific antibodies targeting EGFR and c-Met can also interact with each other to produce a synergistic effect, which can not only enhance the anti-tumor effect, but also reduce the amount of antibodies used, thereby reducing the risk of adverse reactions.

[0004] Currently, the first approved drug for the EGFR / c-MET target worldwide is Johnson & Johnson's bispecific antibody amivantamab (JNJ-372), which was approved for marketing in the United States in May 2021 for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations that progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy, providing a new strategy for the treatment of NSCLC. According to the results of the CHRYSALIS Phase I study of amivantamab in non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations after progression of platinum-containing chemotherapy, the incidence of infusion-related reactions (IRR) was high. In addition to amivantamab, domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies such as Merus, Jiahe Bio, Invitrogen and Hansoh Pharmaceutical are also deploying EGFR / c-Met target antibodies. In general, the currently applied EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies focus on the therapeutic effect on tumors (and / or TKI-resistant patients), and their safety is still unclear or needs to be improved. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides an EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody molecule having the desired combined advantages of EGFR and c-Met dual-target selection specificity, anti-tumor efficacy and safety prospects, which can meet the clinical needs of TKI-resistant cancer treatment while taking into account clinical efficacy and safety.

[0006] The research and development of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention can not only be used to treat patients who have developed drug resistance after existing treatment methods such as EGFR monoclonal antibodies and c-Met monoclonal antibodies, but also be used to have tumor selectivity and further improve drug efficacy while further taking into account safety and the needs of EGFR binding arm and c-Met binding arm assembly in production. It is expected to become a new generation of therapeutic products that make up for the problem of unsatisfactory safety of EGFR and c-Met specific dual-targeted tumor treatment products on the market and have better binding arm assembly.

[0007] EGFR and c-Met are co-expressed in many cancer types, and antibody molecules targeting both targets ("bispecific antibody molecules") offer the prospect of achieving broad clinical benefit across multiple cancer indications.

[0008] In the first aspect, the present invention provides a bispecific antibody, which comprises an antigen binding arm A that can specifically bind to human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and antagonize the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to EGFR, and an antigen binding arm B that can specifically bind to human proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Met) and antagonize the binding of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to c-Met; wherein the binding arm A comprises light chain A (LCA) and heavy chain A (HCA), and the binding arm B comprises light chain B (LCB) and heavy chain B (HCB).

[0009] In some embodiments, the LCA comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1.

[0010] In some embodiments, the HCA comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2.

[0011] In some embodiments, the LCB comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

[0012] In some embodiments, the HCB comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

[0013] In some embodiments, the LCA, HCA, LCB and HCB comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

[0014] In some embodiments, the binding arm A is a half-antibody structure of an IgG-type anti-EGEG antibody, and the binding arm B is a half-antibody structure of an IgG-type anti-c-Met antibody.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a bispecific antibody, which comprises an antigen binding arm A that specifically targets EGFR and an antigen binding arm B that specifically targets c-Met, wherein the binding arm A comprises a light chain variable region A (VLA) and a heavy chain variable region A (VHA), and the binding arm B comprises a light chain variable region B (VLB) and a heavy chain variable region B (VHB), wherein the VHA and VLA of the binding arm A are derived from a homodimeric IgG polypeptide A (IgG(A)) comprising a light chain variable region A (VLA) and a heavy chain variable region A (VHA), and the VHB and VLB of the binding arm B are derived from a homodimeric IgG polypeptide B (IgG(B)) comprising a light chain variable region B (VLB) and a heavy chain variable region B (VHB).

[0016] In some embodiments, the VHA comprises VHACDR1, VHACDR2 and VHACDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 19, 20 and 21, respectively.

[0017] In some embodiments, the VLA comprises VLACDR1, VLACDR2 and VLACDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 22, 23 and 24, respectively.

[0018] In some embodiments, the VHB comprises VHBCDR1, VHBCDR2 and VHBCDR having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 25, 26 and 27, respectively.

[0019] In some embodiments, the VLB comprises VLBCDR1, VHBCDR2 and VHBCDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 28, 29 and 30, respectively.

[0020] In some embodiments, the VHA comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:5.

[0021] In some embodiments, the VLA comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:6.

[0022] In some embodiments, the VHB comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:7.

[0023] In some embodiments, the VLB comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:8.

[0024] In some embodiments, the VHA, VLA, VHB and VLB comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively.

[0025] In some embodiments, the binding arm A further comprises a heavy chain constant region A (CHA) and a light chain constant region A (CLA), and the binding arm B further comprises a heavy chain constant region B (CHB) and a light chain constant region B (CLB), wherein both the CHA and the CHB are IgG1 isotype heavy chain constant regions.

[0026] In some embodiments, the CHA comprises an Fc(A) region, and the Fc(A) region comprises a CH3(A) region; wherein the CHB comprises an Fc(B) region, and the Fc(B) region comprises a CH3(B) region.

[0027] In some embodiments, the heterodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region is stronger than the homodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region respectively.

[0028] In some embodiments, the binding arm A further comprises a heavy chain constant region A (CHA) and a light chain constant region A (CLA), and the binding arm B further comprises a heavy chain constant region B (CHB) and a light chain constant region B (CLB), wherein both the CHA and the CHB are IgG1 isotype heavy chain constant regions.

[0029] In some embodiments, CH3 (A) of the antigen binding arm A and CH3 (B) of the antigen binding arm B both comprise mutations that enhance mutual influence in promoting heterodimer formation.

[0030] In some embodiments, the CH3(A) comprises at least one amino acid substitution, the CH3(B) comprises at least one amino acid substitution, and when the residues are numbered according to the EU index, the substitution in CH3(A) and the substitution in CH3(B) occur at different amino acid residue positions.

[0031] In some embodiments, the CH3(A) comprises an amino acid mutation as shown in F405L, and the CH3(B) comprises an amino acid mutation as shown in K409R.

[0032] In some embodiments, both the Fc(A) and the Fc(B) regions comprise amino acid mutations that reduce immunogenicity.

[0033] In some embodiments, both the Fc(A) and Fc(B) regions contain a combination of amino acid site mutations consisting of K214R, D356E and L358M.

[0034] In some embodiments, the CHA, CLA, CHB and CLB comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13 and 14, respectively.

[0035] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a nucleic acid encoding composition comprising polynucleotide sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17 and 18, respectively, encoding HCA, HCB, LCA and LCB of the bispecific antibody described in the above aspects.

[0036] In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method for preparing the aforementioned anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody based on Fab exchange technology.

[0037] In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the bispecific antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described in the preceding aspects, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

[0038] In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides bispecific antibody molecules or antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to EGFR and c-Met as defined herein, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the bispecific antibody molecules or antigen-binding fragments thereof, which are used for preparing drugs for treating diseases of the human or animal body, such as methods for treating cancer.

[0039] In a seventh aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating cancer, comprising administering the antibody molecule or pharmaceutical composition defined in the invention.

[0040] In some embodiments, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and squamous head and neck cancer (SQHN). In some exemplary embodiments, the cancer to be treated is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

[0041] The present disclosure includes combinations of described aspects and preferred features unless such combinations are expressly impermissible or explicitly avoided.

[0042] It should be understood that within the scope of the present invention, the above-mentioned technical features of the present invention and the technical features specifically described below (such as embodiments) can be combined with each other to form new or preferred technical solutions. Due to space limitations, they are not listed here.

[0043] The EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody disclosed herein has the following functions:

[0044] (1) It can specifically bind to human c-Met protein and EGFR protein, and the binding of binding arm B to c-Met is significantly stronger than that of binding arm A to EGFR, with the binding activity of the two arms differing by more than 20 times;

[0045] (2) It can bind to CHOK1-EGFR cells overexpressing human EGFR and CHOK1-HGFR cells overexpressing human c-Met, respectively, and the binding activity of binding arm B to CHOK1-HGFR cells is significantly higher than the binding activity of binding arm A to CHOK1-EGFR;

[0046] (3) Ability to bind specifically to double positive tumor cells;

[0047] (4) It can antagonize the binding of the ligand EGF to the target protein human EGFR and the binding of the ligand HGF to the target protein human c-Met;

[0048] (5) It has a similar affinity to Evantor for Fc receptor proteins;

[0049] (6) It can inhibit the autophosphorylation of EGFR mediated by the ligand EGF and the autophosphorylation of c-Met mediated by the ligand HGF;

[0050] (7) It can mediate the internalization and degradation of EGFR and c-Met target proteins respectively, and the mediated dual-target internalization has a synergistic effect;

[0051] (8) mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against CHOK1-EGFR target cells and CHOK1-cMet target cells and EGFR and c-Met double-positive tumor cells, respectively, and the ADCC mediated against double-positive tumor cells mainly depends on the EGFR antibody arm;

[0052] (9) It can inhibit the proliferation of various human tumor cells in vitro; its inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation in vitro is stronger than the combination of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody and anti-c-Met monoclonal antibody, and has a synergistic effect;

[0053] (10) It can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells with acquired resistance to third-generation TKI (such as osimertinib) in vitro;

[0054] (11) It can inhibit tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model of HGF-autosecreting human tumor cells.

[0055] The positive progressive effects of the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention are: based on the selective specific binding to EGFR and c-Met double-positive tumor cells, the inhibitory efficacy on human tumor cell proliferation in vitro is stronger than the combination of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody and anti-c-Met monoclonal antibody, and has a synergistic effect; the functional property of inhibiting the growth of HGF autocrine human tumors in vivo is expected to provide the tumor treatment market with a new option for tumor immune targeted therapy suitable for patients with osimertinib-acquired drug-resistant tumors and suitable for large-scale production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Examples and experiments illustrating the principles of the present disclosure may be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0057] Figure 1 ELISA detection of the dose-dependent binding curve of BT461-DB targeting CMET or EGFR protein. A, ELISA detection of the dose-dependent binding curve of anti-EGFR / cMet antibody and human cMet protein. B, ELISA detection of the dose-dependent binding curve of anti-EGFR / cMet antibody and human EGFR protein. The horizontal axis represents the antibody concentration (logarithmic value), and the vertical axis represents the binding signal intensity of the antibody.

[0058] Figure 2 Dose-dependent binding curves of BT461-DB targeting and binding to cell surface EGFR and CMET detected by FACS. A, Dose-dependent binding curves of anti-EGFR / cMet antibody and CHO-K1 cells overexpressing human c-Met detected by FACS. B, Dose-dependent binding curves of anti-EGFR / cMet antibody and CHO-K1 cells overexpressing human EGFR detected by FACS. The horizontal axis represents the antibody concentration (logarithmic value), and the vertical axis represents the binding signal intensity of the antibody.

[0059] Figure 3 FACS detection of the antibody concentration gradient binding curve of anti-EGFR / cMet antibody and EGFR and HGFR double positive cell MKN45. Left, binding curve; right, EC50 of the binding curve; the horizontal axis represents the antibody concentration (logarithmic value), and the vertical axis represents the antibody binding signal intensity.

[0060] Figure 4 Dose-dependent binding curves of ELISA detection of BT461-DB blocking the binding activity of ligand HGF, EGF to HGFR and EGFR target protein. A, Dose-dependent binding curves of ELISA detection of anti-EGFR / cMet antibody blocking the binding of HGF to human HGFR protein. B, Dose-dependent binding curves of ELISA detection of anti-EGFR / cMet antibody blocking the binding of EGF to human EGFR protein. The horizontal axis represents the antibody concentration (logarithmic value), and the vertical axis represents the binding signal intensity of the ligand HGF.

[0061] Figure 5 Binding and dissociation curves of BT461-DB. A, Binding and dissociation curves of BT461-KIH and EGFR-HIS protein. B, Binding and dissociation curves of BT461-DB and EGFR-HIS protein. C, Binding and dissociation curves of BT461-KIH and HGFR-HIS protein. D, Binding and dissociation curves of BT461-DB and HGFR-HIS protein.

[0062] Figure 6 Western-blot was used to detect the inhibition of BT461-DB on target protein EGFR autophosphorylation and c-Met autophosphorylation.

[0063] Figure 7 Detection of cell internalization level caused by BT461-DB antibody. Left, after treatment with gradient concentrations of antibodies, FACS detected the internalization of the antibody of the present invention. Right, EC50 and TOP (maximum internalization level) of gradient concentration antibody---internalization level curve. The abscissa represents the antibody concentration (logarithmic value), and the ordinate represents the internalization level of the fluorescently labeled antibody.

[0064] Figure 8 ADCC reporter system was used to evaluate the ADCC level of target cells mediated by BT461-DB. A, in vitro ADCC effect on CHOK1 cells overexpressing EGFR (antibody-dependent). B, in vitro ADCC effect on CHOK1 cells overexpressing cMet (antibody-dependent).

[0065] Fig. 9 ADCC reporter system evaluates the ADCC effect of BT461-DB antibody on HCC827 tumor cells. Left: ADCC effect level curve. B: EC50 and TOP value (maximum ADCC effect level) of the curve.

[0066] Fig.10 The antibody BT461-DB inhibits the proliferation of the tumor cell line HCC827-HGF in vitro. A, The in vitro efficacy of BT461-DB is comparable to that of BT461-KIH. B, The in vitro efficacy of BT461-DB has a synergistic effect.

[0067] Fig.11 Results of the resistance validation experiment of osimertinib-acquired resistant cells.

[0068] Fig.12 The proliferation curve of the antibody BT461-DB inhibiting osimertinib acquired resistance cells in vitro. A, BT461-DB significantly inhibits the proliferation of osimertinib acquired resistance cells. B, BT461-DB has a synergistic effect on the in vitro efficacy of resistant cells.

[0069] Fig.13 The experimental results of the inhibition of HCC827-HGF xenograft tumor growth by antibody BT461-DB. A, Tumor volume growth curve. B, Tumor inhibition rate statistics.

[0070] Fig.14 PEE12.4 plasmid.

[0071] Fig.15 PEE6.4 plasmid. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] Through creative work, the researchers of the present invention have obtained an anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody that can solve the TKI resistance problem in the field of EGFR-positive cancer treatment and achieve high-purity assembly. Compared with the combination of EGFR monoclonal antibody and c-Met monoclonal antibody, the bispecific antibody of the present invention has a significantly higher affinity for c-Met than for EGFR binding, and can antagonize the binding of ligands HGF and EGF with target proteins EGFR and c-Met; it can significantly inhibit the intracellular pc-Met (Y1234 / 1235) phosphorylation level and slightly inhibit the p-EGFR (Y1173) phosphorylation level, thereby inhibiting the signaling pathway of c-Met and EGFR; Fc has a high affinity with receptor proteins, can mediate ADCC of EGFR-positive cells and c-Met-positive cells and EGFR and c-Met double-positive tumor cells, promote the internalization of EGFR and c-Met target proteins, and the internalization of EGFR and c-Met dual targets has a synergistic effect; it can inhibit the proliferation of HGFR-positive cells, and the degree of inhibition is stronger than the combination of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody and anti-c-Met monoclonal antibody, and has a synergistic effect.

[0073] Unless otherwise defined, scientific and technical terms related to the present invention shall have the meanings commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, unless the context otherwise requires, singular terms shall include the plural and plural terms shall include the singular. In general, the nomenclature and techniques used in connection with cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, and protein and oligonucleotide or polynucleotide chemistry and hybridization described herein are those well known and commonly used in the art. Standard techniques are used for recombinant DNA, oligonucleotide synthesis, and tissue culture and transformation (e.g., electroporation, transient transfection). Enzymatic reactions and purification techniques are performed according to the manufacturer's instructions or as commonly accomplished in the art or as described herein. The aforementioned techniques and procedures are generally performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references cited and discussed throughout this specification. The nomenclature used in connection with analytical chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, and medical and pharmaceutical chemistry described herein, as well as laboratory procedures and techniques thereof, are well known and commonly used in the art. Standard techniques are used for chemical synthesis, chemical analysis, drug preparation, formulation, delivery, and patient treatment.

[0074] Aspects and examples of the present disclosure will be discussed below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other aspects and disclosures will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference.

[0075] Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)

[0076] Human EGFR (also known as proto-oncogene c-ErbB-1) is a transmembrane protein and a receptor for members of the epidermal growth factor family (EGF family). Binding of EGFR to its ligand induces receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation of several tyrosine residues (Y992, Y1045, Y1068, Y1148, and Y1173) in the C-terminal regulatory region of EGFR.

[0077] Aberrant EGFR expression activity is associated with many diseases, including neurological diseases and many cancers.

[0078] In the present specification, "EGFR" may refer to EGFR from any species and includes EGFR isoforms, fragments, variants or homologs from any species.

[0079] In an exemplary embodiment, EGFR comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:32.

[0080] Tyrosine protein kinase (c-Met)

[0081] Human c-Met, also known as receptor tyrosine kinase, or hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR), binds to its ligand HGF and induces autophosphorylation of several tyrosine residues (Y1234 / Y1235) on the c-Met intracellular domain, providing docking sites for downstream signaling molecules and activating multiple signaling cascades. Overexpression of c-Met is observed in many human tumors, which is often associated with a metastatic phenotype and poor prognosis. Examples of cancers in which high levels of c-Met expression have been observed include non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, breast cancer, and esophageal and gastric cancer. In these cancers, co-expression of EGFR and c-Met is often observed.

[0082] In the present specification, “c-Met” may be c-Met from any species and includes c-Met isoforms, fragments, variants or homologs from any species.

[0083] In an exemplary embodiment, HGFR comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:31.

[0084] As used herein, the term "Fab arm" refers to a heavy chain-light chain pair. The variable regions of the heavy and light chains of an immunoglobulin molecule contain a binding domain that interacts with an antigen. The constant region of an antibody (Ab) can mediate the binding of the immunoglobulin to host tissues or factors, including various cells of the immune system (such as effector cells) and components of the complement system such as Clq, the first component of the classical pathway of complement activation.

[0085] "Full length antibody" when used herein refers to an antibody that contains all of the heavy and light chain constant and variable domains normally found in an antibody of that isotype.

[0086] As used herein, "isotype" refers to the immunoglobulin class encoded by the heavy chain constant region genes (e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG, or IgG4).

[0087] When used herein, the term "Fc region" refers to the region of an antibody comprising at least the hinge region, the CH2 domain, and the CH3 domain.

[0088] The term "heterodimer interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region" refers to the interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region in a CH3(A) / CH3(B) heterodimeric protein.

[0089] The term "tumor cell protein" refers to a protein located on the cell surface of a tumor cell. In the present invention, tumor cell proteins are, for example, EGFR and c-Met.

[0090] The term "effector cell" as used herein refers to an immune cell that participates in the effector phase of an immune response relative to the recognition phase and activation phase of an immune response. Exemplary immune cells include cells of bone marrow or lymphoid origin, such as lymphocytes (such as B cells and T cells, including cytolytic T cells (CTL)), killer cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, monocytes, eosinophils, polymorphonuclear cells such as neutrophils, granulocytes, mast cells and basophils. Some effector cells express specific Fc receptors and perform specific immune functions.

[0091] In some embodiments, the effector cells are capable of inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), such as natural killer cells, which are capable of inducing ADCC.

[0092] In some embodiments, effector cells can phagocytose target antigens or target cells.

[0093] Composition of matter

[0094] The present invention provides bispecific antibodies that specifically bind to EGFR and c-Met, polynucleotides encoding the bispecific antibodies of the present invention, vectors, host cells, and methods for preparing and using the same.

[0095] "Antigen binding arm" describes the portion of the molecule in a bispecific antibody that binds to all or part of the corresponding antigen.

[0096] The bispecific antibody specifically binding to EGFR and c-Met of the present invention comprises an antigen binding arm A that specifically binds to EGFR and an antigen binding arm B that specifically binds to c-Met, and its affinity for c-Met is significantly higher than its affinity for EGFR, and the affinity difference is greater than or equal to 20 times.

[0097] The amino acid sequence number combinations of the fragments contained in the binding arm A and the binding arm B of the exemplary embodiment of the bispecific antibody of the present invention are shown in Table 1, the light chain, heavy chain, variable region and CDR sequences of the EGFR-specific binding arm A are shown in Table 2 and Table 3 of Example 1, respectively, and the amino acid sequences of the light chain, heavy chain, variable region and CDR sequences of the c-Met-specific binding arm B are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 of Example 1, respectively.

[0098] EGFR-specific binding arm A

[0099] The binding arm A of the bispecific antibody of the present invention binds to EGFR with high affinity and inhibits EGFR signal transduction, and can provide beneficial effects in terms of specificity and reduced EGFR receptor phosphorylation levels compared to small molecule EGFR inhibitors and anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. The binding arm A of the present invention is monovalent, thus preventing the desired receptor clustering and activation that may occur in other bivalent molecules.

[0100] In some embodiments, the binding arm A that specifically binds to EGFR of the bispecific antibody of the present invention comprises light chain A (LCA) and heavy chain A (HCA).

[0101] In some embodiments, the LCA of the binding arm A preferably comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1.

[0102] In some embodiments, the HCA of the binding arm A preferably comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2.

[0103] In some embodiments, the LCA and HCA of the binding arm A preferably comprise SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO:

[0104] The amino acid sequence shown in NO:2.

[0105] In some embodiments, the LCA and HCA are derived from IgG polypeptide A (IgG(A)) having a homodimeric structure consisting of light chain A (LCA) and heavy chain A (HCA).

[0106] In some embodiments, the LCA and HCA are derived from IgG polypeptide A (IgG(A)) having a homodimeric structure consisting of light chain A (LCA) and heavy chain A (HCA) as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively.

[0107] In some embodiments, the binding arm A comprises a light chain variable region A (VLA) and a heavy chain variable region A (VHA); wherein the binding arm A is derived from an IgG polypeptide A (IgG(A)) having a homodimeric structure composed of a light chain variable region A (VLA) and a heavy chain variable region A (VHA).

[0108] In some embodiments, the binding arm A is a half antibody of a homodimeric IgG antibody.

[0109] In some embodiments, the protected VLA and the VHA comprise the VHA CDRs and VLA CDRs as shown in Table 3 of Example 1, respectively.

[0110] In some embodiments, the binding arm A that specifically binds to EGFR has a VHA CDR1 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:19.

[0111] In some embodiments, the binding arm A that specifically binds to EGFR has a VHA CDR2 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:20.

[0112] In some embodiments, the binding arm A that specifically binds to EGFR has a VHA CDR3 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:21.

[0113] In some embodiments, the binding arm A that specifically binds to EGFR has a VLA CDR1 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:22.

[0114] In some embodiments, the binding arm A that specifically binds to EGFR has a VLA CDR2 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:23.

[0115] In some embodiments, the binding arm A that specifically binds to EGFR has a VLA CDR3 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:24.

[0116] The amino acid sequence of the binding arm A of the bispecific antibody embodiment of the present invention and the amino acid sequence of the parent antibody are shown in Example 1.

[0117] In some embodiments, the heavy chain variable region A (VHA) preferably comprises VHA CDR1, VHA CDR2 and VHA CDR3 with amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 19, 20 and 21, respectively, and the light chain variable region A (VLA) preferably comprises VLA CDR1, VLA CDR2 and VLA CDR3 with amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 22, 23 and 24, respectively.

[0118] In some embodiments, the heavy chain variable region A (VHA) comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:5.

[0119] In some embodiments, the light chain variable region A (VLA) comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:6.

[0120] Wherein, the VHA and VLA comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 and 6, respectively.

[0121] In some embodiments, the binding arm A is derived from a homodimeric IgG polypeptide A (IgG(A)) consisting of VHA having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:5 and VLA having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:6.

[0122] In some embodiments, the binding arm A further comprises a heavy chain constant region A (CHA) and a light chain constant region A (CLA).

[0123] In some embodiments, the CHA is of the IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 isotype.

[0124] In some embodiments, the CHA is an IgG1 isotype heavy chain constant region.

[0125] In some embodiments, the antigen binding arm A contains an Fc(A) region, and the Fc(A) region contains a CH3(A) region.

[0126] In some embodiments, the CH3(A) region comprises amino acid mutations that reduce the heavy chain mispairing rate.

[0127] In some embodiments, the CH3(A) region comprises an amino acid mutation as shown in F405L.

[0128] In some embodiments, the Fc(A) region comprises a subtype backmutation that reduces immunogenicity.

[0129] In some embodiments, the Fc(A) region comprises amino acid mutations such as K214R, D356E, and L358M.

[0130] In some embodiments, the Fc(A) comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:9.

[0131] In some embodiments, the CHA comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:11.

[0132] In some embodiments, the LCA is a kappa-type or lambda-type light chain.

[0133] In some embodiments, the LCA is a kappa-type light chain.

[0134] In some embodiments, the CLA comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:12.

[0135] c-Met-specific binding arm B

[0136] The binding arm B of the bispecific antibody of the present invention binds to c-Met with high affinity and inhibits c-Met signaling, and can provide beneficial effects in terms of specificity and reduced c-Met receptor phosphorylation levels compared to small molecule c-Met inhibitors and anti-c-Met monoclonal antibodies. The binding arm B of the present invention is monovalent, thus preventing the desired receptor clustering and activation that may occur with other bivalent molecules.

[0137] In some embodiments, the binding arm B that specifically binds to c-Met of the bispecific antibody of the present invention comprises a light chain B (LCB) and a heavy chain B (HCB).

[0138] In some embodiments, the LCB of the binding arm A preferably comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

[0139] In some embodiments, the HCB of the binding arm A preferably comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

[0140] In some embodiments, the light chain B (LCB) and heavy chain B (HCB) comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4, respectively.

[0141] In some embodiments, the binding arm B is derived from an IgG polypeptide B (IgG(B)) having a homodimeric structure consisting of a light chain B (LCB) and a heavy chain B (HCB).

[0142] In some embodiments, the binding arm B is a half antibody of a light chain B (LCB) and heavy chain B (HCB) homodimeric IgG antibody comprising the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4, respectively.

[0143] In some embodiments, the binding arm B comprises a light chain variable region B (VLB) and a heavy chain variable region B (VHB); wherein the binding arm B is derived from an IgG polypeptide B (IgG(B)) having a homodimeric structure composed of a light chain variable region B (VLB) and a heavy chain variable region B (VHB).

[0144] In some embodiments, the VHB comprises VHB CDR1, VHB CDR2 and VHB CDR3, and the VLB comprises VLB CDR1, VLB CDR2 and VLB CDR3.

[0145] In some embodiments, the binding arm B that specifically binds to c-Met has a VHB CDR1 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:25.

[0146] In some embodiments, the binding arm B that specifically binds to c-Met has a VHB CDR2 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:26.

[0147] In some embodiments, the binding arm B that specifically binds to c-Met has a VHB CDR3 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:27.

[0148] In some embodiments, the binding arm B that specifically binds to c-Met has a VLB CDR1 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:28.

[0149] In some embodiments, the binding arm B that specifically binds to c-Met has a VLB CDR2 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 29,

[0150] In some embodiments, the binding arm B that specifically binds to c-Met has a VLB CDR3 with an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:30.

[0151] In some embodiments, the heavy chain variable region B (VHB) comprises VHB CDR1, VHB CDR2 and VHB CDR3 with amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 25, 26 and 27, respectively.

[0152] In some embodiments, the light chain variable region B (VLB) comprises VLB CDR1, VLB CDR2 and VLB CDR3 with amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 28, 29 and 30, respectively.

[0153] In some embodiments, the c-Met binding arm B comprises VHB CDR1, VHB CDR2 and VHB CDR3 of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 25, 26 and 27, respectively, and VLB CDR1, VLB CDR2 and VLB CDR3 of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 28, 29 and 30.

[0154] In some embodiments, the heavy chain variable region B (VHB) comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:7.

[0155] In some embodiments, the light chain variable region B (VLB) comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:8.

[0156] In some embodiments, the VHB and VLB comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8, respectively.

[0157] In some embodiments, the binding arm B is derived from a homodimeric IgG polypeptide B (IgG(B)) consisting of VHB having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:7 and VLB having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:8.

[0158] In some embodiments, the binding arm B further comprises a heavy chain constant region B (CHB) and a light chain constant region B (CLB).

[0159] In some embodiments, the CHB is one of the isotypes of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4.

[0160] In some embodiments, the CHB is an IgG1 isotype heavy chain constant region.

[0161] The CHB is an IgG1 isotype heavy chain constant region.

[0162] In some embodiments, the CHB contains an Fc(B) region, and the Fc(B) region includes a CH3(B) region.

[0163] In some embodiments, the CH3(B) region comprises amino acid mutations that reduce the heavy chain mispairing rate.

[0164] In some embodiments, the CH3(B) region comprises an amino acid mutation as shown in K409R.

[0165] In some embodiments, the CH3(B) region comprises an IgG subtype amino acid back mutation that reduces immunogenicity.

[0166] In some embodiments, the Fc(B) region comprises a combination of amino acid mutations as shown in K214R, D356E and L358M.

[0167] In some embodiments, the Fc(B) comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:10.

[0168] In some embodiments, the CHB comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:13.

[0169] In some embodiments, the CLB is one of a kappa-type and a lambda-type light chain constant region.

[0170] In some embodiments, the CLB is a kappa-type light chain constant region.

[0171] In some embodiments, the CLB comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:14.

[0172] The amino acid sequence of the binding arm B of the bispecific antibody embodiment of the present invention and the amino acid sequence of the parent antibody are shown in Example 1.

[0173] Structure of a bispecific antibody that specifically binds to EGFR and c-Met

[0174] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to an EGFR / c-Met bispecific heterodimeric protein obtained or obtainable by the method of the present invention.

[0175] In an embodiment of the method of the present invention, the binding arm A and the binding arm A of the bispecific molecule are both Fab structures, the Fab (A) arm binds to EGFR-specific tumor cells, such as the tumor cell surface protein EGFR, and the Fab arm (B) recognizes c-Met-specific tumor cells, such as the tumor cell surface protein c-Met.

[0176] In some embodiments, the binding arm A that binds to EGFR is an antigen binding arm comprising a VH / VL pair or a light chain / heavy chain pair specific to EGFR, and the binding arm B that binds to c-Met is an antigen binding arm comprising a VH / VL pair or a light chain / heavy chain pair specific to c-Met.

[0177] In addition, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific heterodimeric protein of the present invention is an asymmetric molecule, having different characteristics on each Fab arm (e.g., EGFR-specific Fab (A) or c-Met-specific Fab (B)) or each CH3 domain (e.g., CH3 (A) or CH3 (B)) or having different modifications throughout the molecule, such as a molecule having amino acid substitutions for reducing heavy chain mispairing and reducing immunogenicity. Such asymmetric molecules can be produced in any suitable combination. This is further illustrated below by some non-limiting examples.

[0178] The bispecific antibody specifically binding to EGFR and c-Met of the present invention comprises an antigen binding arm A specifically binding to EGFR and an antigen binding arm B specifically binding to c-Met, wherein the binding arm A is a half-antibody structure polypeptide A derived from a homodimeric IgG antibody with EGFR binding specificity containing a variant Fc (A) region, and the Fc (A) region comprises a CH3 (A) region; and the binding arm B is a half-antibody structure polypeptide B derived from a homodimeric IgG antibody with c-Met binding specificity containing a variant Fc (B) region, and the Fc (B) region comprises a CH3 (B) region; wherein the sequences of the CH3 (A) region and the CH3 (B) region are different, and the heterodimeric interaction between the CH3 (A) region and the CH3 (B) region is stronger than the interaction between the CH3 of the homodimers of the CH3 (A) region and the CH3 (B) region.

[0179] In some embodiments, the EGFR-specific binding arm A comprises LCA and HCA as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, respectively, and the c-Met-specific binding arm B comprises LCB and HCB as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, respectively. The heavy chain (HCA) of the binding arm A and the heavy chain (HCB) of the binding arm B interact to form a heterodimer structure.

[0180] In some embodiments, the LCA and the HCA comprise a light chain variable region (VLA) and a heavy chain variable region (VHA) specific for EGFR, respectively, and the LCB and the HCB comprise a light chain variable region (VLB) and a heavy chain variable region (VHB) specific for c-Met, respectively.

[0181] In some embodiments, the VHA comprises VHA CDR1, VHA CDR2 and VHA CDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 19, 20 and 21, respectively.

[0182] In some embodiments, the VLA comprises VLA CDR1, VLA CDR2, and VLA CDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 22, 23, and 24, respectively.

[0183] In some embodiments, the VHB comprises VHB CDR1, VHB CDR2 and VHB CDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 25, 26 and 27, respectively.

[0184] In some embodiments, the VLB comprises VLA CDR1, VLA CDR2 and VLA CDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 28, 29 and 30, respectively.

[0185] In some embodiments, the VLA comprises VLA CDR1, VLA CDR2 and VLA CDR3 of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 19, 20 and 21, respectively, the VHA comprises VHA CDR1, VHA CDR2 and VHA CDR3 of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 22, 23 and 24, respectively, the VLB comprises VLA CDR1, VLA CDR2 and VLA CDR3 of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 25, 26 and 27, respectively, and the VHB comprises VHB CDR1, VHB CDR2 and VHB CDR3 of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 28, 29 and 30, respectively.

[0186] In some embodiments, the binding arm A of the EGFR-specific half-antibody structure comprises VHA and VLA as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 and 6, respectively.

[0187] In some embodiments, the binding arm B of the c-Met-specific half-antibody structure comprises VLB and VHB as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8, respectively.

[0188] The light chain and heavy chain of the binding arm A and the binding arm B of the bispecific antibody of the present invention disclosed herein further include a light chain constant region and a heavy chain constant region, respectively.

[0189] In other embodiments, each Fab arm present in the bispecific molecule is derived from a different IgG subclass.

[0190] Preferably, the LCA and HCA of binding arm A and the LCB and HCB of binding arm B of the bispecific antibody according to the present invention disclosed herein both comprise the constant region of a full-length human IgG antibody.

[0191] In some embodiments, the binding arm A and the binding arm B are full-length IgG antibodies, preferably one of full-length IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4 antibodies.

[0192] In some preferred embodiments the full length IgG antibody is an antibody of the human IgG1 isotype.

[0193] In another embodiment of the heterodimeric protein of the present invention, the Fc region of polypeptide A (Fc(A)) is of an isotype selected from IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 (except for the specified mutations), and the Fc region of polypeptide B (Fc(B)) is of an isotype selected from IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 (except for the specified mutations).

[0194] In another embodiment of the heterodimeric protein of the present invention, the Fc regions of both polypeptide A and polypeptide B are of IgG1 isotype.

[0195] In some embodiments, the binding arms of the bispecific antibody molecules described herein comprise a heavy chain constant region (CH) of the IgG1 isotype, such as the CHA region of binding arm A and the CHB region of binding arm B.

[0196] For example, as described in more detail below, an asymmetric bispecific antibody molecule has different CHAs and CHBs.

[0197] In some embodiments, the CHA comprises Fc(A) and the CHB comprises Fc(B).

[0198] In some embodiments, the Fc(A) comprises CH3(A), and the Fc(B) comprises CH3(B).

[0199] In some embodiments, the heavy chain constant region of the bispecific antibody molecule described herein, such as CHA and CHB, may comprise one or more amino acid modifications. In some embodiments, the amino acid modification is an amino acid replacement.

[0200] In another aspect, the present invention relates to an EGFR / c-Met bispecific heterodimeric protein, which comprises a polypeptide A comprising an immunoglobulin Fc (A) region, wherein the Fc (A) region comprises a CH3 (A) region; and a polypeptide B comprising an immunoglobulin Fc (B) region, wherein the sequences of the CH3 (A) region and the CH3 (B) region are different, and the heterodimeric interaction between the CH3 (A) region and the CH3 (B) region is stronger than the homodimeric interaction between the CH3 (A) region and the CH3 (B) region.

[0201] In some preferred embodiments, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific heterodimeric protein of the present invention is prepared using the Fab exchange technology platform that is commonly used in the antibody industry and can provide modified heavy chain CH3 modifications. After the modified half antibody of binding arm A and the half antibody of binding arm B are co-expressed in clonal cells, the interaction between the heavy chains HCA and HCB, especially between Fc (A) and Fc (B), is stronger than the interaction between homodimers, and heterodimers are preferentially formed.

[0202] In some embodiments, CH3(A) of the antigen binding arm A and CH3(B) of the antigen binding arm B both comprise mutations that enhance the promotion of heterodimer formation.

[0203] In some embodiments, the Fc(A) and the Fc(B) each comprise an amino acid mutation that prevents heavy chain mispairing.

[0204] The bispecific antibodies of the present invention disclosed herein are preferably used in humans. A preferred embodiment of the bispecific antibodies of the present invention is a human or humanized antibody. The bispecific antibodies of the present invention as disclosed herein are preferably heterodimeric bispecific antibodies formed by the interaction between the binding arm of the half-antibody structure targeting EGFR and the binding arm of the half-antibody structure targeting c-Met through the heavy chain CH3 site, which is stronger than the interaction between the respective homodimers.

[0205] In some embodiments, the CH3(A) region has a non-Phe amino acid at position 405, such as a non-Phe, Arg or Gly amino acid at position 405; in some embodiments, the CH3(B) region has a non-Lys, Leu or Met amino acid at position 409.

[0206] In some embodiments, wherein the CH3(A) comprises an amino acid mutation as shown in F405L. In some embodiments, the CH3(B) comprises an amino acid mutation as shown in K409R.

[0207] In some embodiments, the CH3(A) and the CH3(B) comprise heavy chain mispairing preventing amino acid mutations F405L and K409R, respectively.

[0208] In some embodiments, both the Fc(A) and the Fc(B) regions further comprise a combination of amino acid site mutations that reduce immunogenicity.

[0209] In some embodiments, both the CH3A and the CH3B contain a combination of amino acid site mutations consisting of amino acid mutations K214R, D356E and L358M that reduce immunogenicity.

[0210] In a preferred embodiment, the binding arm A and the binding arm B may form a heterodimer through the interaction between CHA and CHB, more specifically, through the interaction between the CH3(A) and the CH3(B).

[0211] In some preferred embodiments, the Fc(A) of binding arm A comprises an Fc(A) segment derived from the constant region CHA of heavy chain A as shown in SEQ ID NO:3, and the Fc(B) of binding arm B comprises an Fc(B) segment derived from the constant region CHB of heavy chain B as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

[0212] In some preferred embodiments, the Fc(A) of binding arm A comprises an amino acid sequence derived from SEQ ID NO:9, and the Fc(B) of binding arm B comprises an amino acid sequence derived from SEQ ID NO:10.

[0213] In some embodiments, the CHA and the CHB are heavy chain constant regions of the IgG1 isotype.

[0214] In some embodiments, the CHA region comprises CH3(A) of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:33.

[0215] In some embodiments, the CHB region comprises CH3(B) of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:34.

[0216] In some embodiments, the CHA region comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:11.

[0217] In some embodiments, the CHB region comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:13.

[0218] In some embodiments, the CH3(A) and the CH3(B) comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 33 and SEQ ID NO: 34, respectively.

[0219] In some embodiments, the CHA and the CHB comprise the residues shown in SEQ ID NO: 11 and SEQ ID NO: 20, respectively.

[0220] The amino acid sequence shown in NO:13.

[0221] In some embodiments, the bispecific antibody molecules described herein comprise a light chain constant region fragment thereof, such as CLA comprised by antigen binding arm A and CLB comprised by antigen binding arm B.

[0222] In some embodiments, the CLA and CLB are selected from one of a kappa-type light chain constant region or a lambda-type light chain constant region.

[0223] In some embodiments, the CLA and CLB are both kappa-type light chain constant regions.

[0224] In some embodiments, the CLA region comprises the κCLA region of the amino acid sequence shown in EQ ID NO:12.

[0225] In some embodiments, the CLB region comprises a κCLB region having an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:14.

[0226] In still other embodiments of the heterodimeric protein of the present invention, the polypeptide A may be a full-length heavy chain of an antibody (preferably a human antibody).

[0227] In other embodiments of the heterodimeric protein of the present invention, the polypeptide B may be a full-length heavy chain of an antibody (preferably a human antibody).

[0228] In some further embodiments of the heterodimeric protein of the present invention, polypeptide A and polypeptide B are both full-length heavy chains of two antibodies (preferably two human antibodies that bind to EGFR and c-Met, respectively), so the resulting heterodimeric protein is a bispecific antibody.

[0229] In some embodiments, the resulting heterodimeric protein comprises, in addition to the heavy chain, two full-length light chains derived from an EGFR-specific antibody and a full-length light chain derived from a c-Met-specific antibody, respectively.

[0230] In another embodiment of the heterodimeric protein of the invention, the increased strength of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific heterodimer interaction compared to the individual EGFR homodimer interactions and the c-Met homodimer interactions is attributed to CH3 modification rather than to the introduction of covalent bonds, cysteine ​​residues or charged residues.

[0231] In another embodiment of the EGFR / c-Met heterodimeric protein of the present invention, the heterodimeric interaction between polypeptide A and polypeptide B in the heterodimeric protein is such that Fab arm exchange does not occur at a final concentration of 75 mM 2-MEA under the conditions described in Example 1.

[0232] In the bispecific antibody preparation method of the present invention, the constant region of the heavy chain is usually modified so that the heterodimerization between the half antibodies of the two specific binding arms formed by the interaction between the heavy chains, especially the CH3 part of the heavy chain, of the binding arms of the bispecific antibody of the present invention is stronger than the homodimerization between the half antibodies of their respective sources and the same half antibodies, and is more conducive to heterodimerization (i.e., dimerization of the heavy chain with another heavy chain / light chain combination) to achieve a significant reduction and prevention of the probability of light and heavy chain mispairing.

[0233] In some preferred embodiments, the ADCC activity of the antibody can also be improved by techniques known to those skilled in the art.

[0234] As disclosed herein, the bispecific antibodies of the present invention can have good ADCC properties by modifying the heavy chain through amino acid mutations in the heavy chain constant region.

[0235] In another embodiment, amino acid mutations that improve binding to Fcγ-receptor or FcRn are included on one of the two Fab arms of the bispecific molecule.

[0236] In another embodiment, amino acid mutations that improve binding to C1q are included on one of the two Fab arms of the bispecific molecule.

[0237] In the antibody according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the numbering combinations of the amino acid sequences of the fragments included in the binding arm A and the binding arm B are summarized in Table 1.

[0238] Functional properties of the bispecific antibodies of the invention

[0239] The EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention has the following functions:

[0240] (1) It can specifically bind to human c-Met protein and EGFR protein in vitro, and the EC50 of binding to human c-Met protein in ELISA assay is significantly lower than that of binding to EGFR protein, with a difference of more than 20 times.

[0241] (2) have extremely high affinity for c-Met-HIS and high affinity for EGFR-HIS, respectively;

[0242] (3) Able to specifically bind to cells that highly express human c-Met protein, cells that highly express EGFR protein, and double-positive tumor cells for c-Met protein and EGFR protein;

[0243] (3) It can block the binding of the ligand HGF to the receptor EGFR and the binding of the ligand EGF to the receptor c-Met;

[0244] (4) The affinity of Fc to receptor protein is comparable to that of Evantor;

[0245] (5) It can significantly inhibit the level of p-Met (Y1234 / 1235) autophosphorylation mediated by the ligand EGF in tumor cells and slightly inhibit the level of p-EGFR (Y1173) autophosphorylation mediated by the ligand EGF;

[0246] (6) It can mediate the internalization and degradation of dual-target proteins of EGFR and c-Met, and the internalization level mediated by the anti-c-Met antibody arm is higher than that mediated by the anti-EGFR antibody arm;

[0247] (7) Able to mediate ADCC effects on cells that highly express EGFR, cells that highly express c-Met, and double-positive tumor cells that highly express EGFR and c-Met, respectively; wherein the mediated ADCC mainly depends on the EGFR antibody arm;

[0248] (8) It is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells in vitro, and the inhibition has a synergistic effect relative to the combination of EGFR monoclonal antibody and c-Met monoclonal antibody;

[0249] (9) It can inhibit the proliferation of TKI-resistant acquired resistant tumor cells in vitro; the inhibitory effect is stronger than the combination of EGFR monoclonal antibody and c-Met monoclonal antibody, and the inhibitory effect has a synergistic effect with respect to EGFR monoclonal antibody and c-Met monoclonal antibody;

[0250] (10) It has anti-tumor activity in mouse models of tumor cells.

[0251] Nucleic acids, vectors, host cells

[0252] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a combination of the nucleic acid encoding the binding arm A and the nucleic acid encoding the binding arm B of the EGFR / c-Met heterodimeric bispecific antibody molecule described in the aforementioned aspects herein.

[0253] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition of nucleic acids encoding nucleic acids 1# encoding binding arm A that specifically binds to EGFR and nucleic acids 2# encoding binding arm B that specifically binds to c-Met, wherein the nucleic acid 1# is a fusion of nucleic acids 3# encoding heavy chain A of binding arm A and nucleic acids 4# encoding light chain A, and the nucleic acid 2# is a fusion of nucleic acids 5# encoding heavy chain B of binding arm B and nucleic acids 6# encoding light chain B, respectively encoding.

[0254] In some embodiments, the heavy chain A (HCA) encoded by the encoding nucleic acid 3# comprises a CH3 mutation F405L that promotes the interaction between the EGFR binding arm and the c-Met binding arm to avoid heavy chain mispairing.

[0255] In some embodiments, the heavy chain B (HCB) encoded by the encoding nucleic acid 5# comprises a CH3 mutation K409R that promotes the interaction between the EGFR binding arm and the c-Met binding arm to avoid heavy chain mispairing.

[0256] In some embodiments, the Fc(A) of heavy chain A encoded by the encoding nucleic acid 5# comprises an amino acid mutation combination K214R, D356E, L358M that reduces immunogenicity.

[0257] In some embodiments, the Fc(B) of heavy chain B encoded by the encoding nucleic acid 7# comprises an amino acid mutation combination K214R, D356E, L358M that reduces immunogenicity.

[0258] In some embodiments, the nucleic acid molecules are purified or isolated from other nucleic acids or naturally occurring biological materials. Those skilled in the art of antibodies can prepare such nucleic acid molecules using methods well known in the art.

[0259] The present invention describes nucleic acid #4 encoding light chain A (LCA) and nucleic acid #3 encoding heavy chain A (HCA) of these EGFR-specific binding arm A.

[0260] The present invention describes the nucleic acid encoding the light chain B (LCB) of these EGFR-specific binding arm B #6 and the nucleic acid encoding the heavy chain B (HCB) #5.

[0261] In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding composition of the present invention may include:

[0262] (i) a nucleic acid sequence encoding the LCA domain shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and a nucleic acid sequence encoding the HCA domain shown in SEQ ID NO: 2;

[0263] (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding the LCB domain shown in SEQ ID NO:3, and a nucleic acid sequence encoding the HCB domain shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

[0264] In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to an expression vector comprising the above-specified EGFR-specific homodimer-encoding nucleic acid construct and the c-Met-specific homodimer-encoding nucleic acid construct.

[0265] In one aspect, the present invention also provides a composition comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding the binding arm A of the b antibody structure or the binding arm B of the b antibody structure of the bispecific antibody molecule described herein, or a composition of a vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding the antibody molecule binding arm A or the antibody binding arm B, respectively.

[0266] The isolated nucleic acid molecules can be used to express the antibody molecules of the present disclosure or a combination thereof. The nucleic acid is usually provided in the form of a recombinant vector for expression. A suitable vector can be selected or constructed, containing suitable regulatory sequences, including promoter sequences, terminator fragments, polyadenylation sequences, enhancer sequences, marker genes and other suitable sequences. Preferably, the vector contains appropriate regulatory sequences to drive expression of the nucleic acid in a host cell. The vector can be a plasmid, a virus, such as a plasmid. A phage or a phagemid, as appropriate.

[0267] In some embodiments, the vector is a pHR vector.

[0268] In some embodiments, the PHR vector is PEE12.4, such as Fig.14 shown.

[0269] In some embodiments, the PHR vector is PEE6.4, such as Fig.15 shown.

[0270] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a host cell comprising the first and second nucleic acid constructs specified above.

[0271] Preparation method

[0272] In another aspect, the present invention provides an in vitro method for producing an EGFR / c-Met heterodimer bispecific antibody, the method comprising the following steps:

[0273] a) providing a homodimeric protein A specific for EGFR comprising an immunoglobulin Fc(A) region, wherein the Fc(A) region comprises a CH3(A) region,

[0274] b) providing a c-Met-specific homodimeric protein B comprising an immunoglobulin Fc(B) region, wherein the Fc(B) region comprises a CH3(B) region,

[0275] wherein the sequences of the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region are different, and the heterodimer interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region is stronger than the homodimer interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region,

[0276] c) incubating the EGFR-specific protein A with the c-Met-specific protein B under reducing conditions sufficient to allow the cysteines in the hinge region to undergo disulfide bond isomerization, and

[0277] d) obtaining the EGFR / c-Met bispecific heterodimeric protein.

[0278] In some embodiments, the homodimeric protein A and homodimeric protein B, in addition to the Fc region, also include one or more or all other regions of an antibody, i.e., a CH1 region, a VH region, a CL region, and / or a VL region. Therefore, in some embodiments, the homodimeric protein A is a full-length antibody. In another embodiment, the homodimeric protein B is a full-length antibody.

[0279] In one embodiment, the Fc region of homodimeric protein A is an isotype selected from IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4, and the Fc region of homodimeric protein B is an isotype selected from IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4. In a preferred embodiment, the Fc regions of both homodimeric protein A and homodimeric protein B are of IgG1 isotype.

[0280] In some embodiments, the homodimeric proteins A and B provided in steps a) and b) are purified.

[0281] As described above, the sequences of the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region of the homodimeric initiating protein are different, and the heterodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region is made stronger than the homodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region respectively.

[0282] In some embodiments, the increased strength of heterodimer interactions compared to respective homodimer interactions is due to CH3 modifications and not due to the introduction of covalent bonds, cysteine ​​residues, or charged residues.

[0283] In some embodiments, the products of the invention are highly stable and do not undergo Fab arm exchange under mild reducing conditions in vitro or, importantly, in vivo after administration to humans. Thus, in one embodiment, the heterodimeric interaction between the two proteins A and B in the resulting heterodimeric protein is such that Fab arm exchange cannot occur under the conditions described in Example 1 at a final concentration of 75 mM 2-MEA.

[0284] In some embodiments, the method of the present invention can be used to obtain a stable heterodimeric protein with high yield based on two homodimeric starting proteins containing only a few relatively conservative asymmetric mutations in the CH3 region.

[0285] Therefore, in some embodiments, the sequences of the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region contain amino acid substitutions at positions that are not identical.

[0286] In some embodiments, the amino acids are natural amino acids.

[0287] In some embodiments, the homodimeric protein A has no more than 1 amino acid substitution in the CH3(A) region, and the homodimeric protein B has no more than 1 amino acid substitution in the CH3(B) region, compared to the wild-type CH region.

[0288] In some embodiments, homodimeric protein A has an amino acid substitution at a position selected from the group consisting of amino acid 405, and homodimeric protein B has an amino acid substitution at a position selected from the group consisting of amino acid 409, wherein homodimeric protein A and homodimeric protein B are not substituted at the same position.

[0289] In some embodiments, the homodimeric protein A has an amino acid substitution at position 405 and the homodimeric protein B has an amino acid substitution at position 409.

[0290] In some embodiments, the homodimeric protein A has an amino acid other than Phe at position 405 and the homodimeric protein B has an amino acid other than Lys, Leu, or Met at position 409.

[0291] In some embodiments, the homodimeric Protein A has an amino acid at position 405 that is not Phe, Arg, or Gly.

[0292] In one such embodiment, the homodimeric protein B has an amino acid at position 409 that is not Lys, Leu or Met and the homodimeric protein A has an amino acid at position 405 that is not Phe.

[0293] In yet another embodiment, the homodimeric protein B has an amino acid at position 409 that is not Lys, Leu or Met, and the homodimeric protein A has an amino acid at position 405 that is not Phe, Arg or Gly.

[0294] In even yet another embodiment, the homodimeric protein A has Leu at position 405 and the second homodimeric protein B has Arg at position 409.

[0295] In addition to the amino acid substitutions specified above, the homodimeric proteins A and B may contain other amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions relative to the wild-type Fc sequence.

[0296] In yet another embodiment, the homodimeric protein B and the homodimeric protein A have a combination of amino acid mutations consisting of K214R, D356E and L358M.

[0297] In yet another embodiment, the CH3(A) region comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:33 in addition to the specified mutations.

[0298] In yet another embodiment, the CH3(B) region comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 34 in addition to the specified mutations.

[0299] As described above, step c) of the method of the present invention comprises incubating the first protein with the second protein under reducing conditions sufficient to allow the cysteine ​​in the hinge region to undergo disulfide isomerization. Examples of suitable conditions are given herein. The minimum requirements for the cysteine ​​in the hinge region to undergo disulfide isomerization may vary depending on the homodimer starting protein, in particular depending on the exact sequence in the hinge region. Importantly, the homodimer interactions of the CH3(A) and CH3(B) regions are sufficiently weak to allow the cysteine ​​in the hinge region to undergo disulfide isomerization under given conditions.

[0300] In some embodiments, the reducing conditions of step c) include the addition of a reducing agent, which includes but is not limited to: 2-mercaptoethylamine (2-MEA), dithiothreitol (DTT), dierythritol (DTE), glutathione, tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), L-cysteine ​​and β-mercapto-ethanol, preferably a reducing agent selected from the following: 2-mercaptoethylamine, dithiothreitol and tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine.

[0301] In some preferred embodiments, the reducing conditions of step c) include the addition of a reducing agent, 2-mercaptoethylamine (2-MEA).

[0302] In yet another embodiment, step c) comprises incubating at a temperature of at least 31° C. for at least 5 minutes in the presence of at least 75 mM 2-mercaptoethylamine. The incubation may be carried out at a pH of 5 to 8, such as pH 7.4.

[0303] In yet another embodiment, step d) comprises returning the conditions to non-reducing or less reducing, for example by removing the reducing agent, such as by desalting.

[0304] In some preferred embodiments, step d) comprises returning the conditions to non-reducing or less reducing, for example at pH 11.0, by removing the reducing agent, such as by desalting.

[0305] In some embodiments, the methods of the invention result in an antibody product wherein greater than 80%, such as greater than 90%, such as greater than 95%, such as greater than 99% of the antibody molecules are the desired bispecific antibody.

[0306] The post-production nature of preparing EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies by Fab swapping under reducing conditions (such as by adding 2-MEA) as disclosed herein makes it a very suitable strategy for (high throughput) screening of EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies. Furthermore, the in vitro approach can be performed in libraries, which allows for greater control, higher flexibility and yield of the EGFR / c-Met heterodimeric proteins compared to co-expression, while screening can be performed in the final therapeutic form, eliminating the need for engineering after lead selection.

[0307] In another aspect, the method for preparing the EGFR / c-Met bispecific heterodimeric protein of the present invention can be used for "matrix" screening, that is, a large number of combinations of EGFR / c-Met binding specificities are generated based on two groups of antibodies, one group of anti-EGFR antibodies has exactly the same CH3(A) region and the other group of anti-c-Met antibodies has exactly the same CH3(B) region, wherein the sequences of the CH3(A) and CH3(B) regions are different, and the heterodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) and CH3(B) regions is stronger than the homodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) and CH3(B) regions respectively.

[0308] Therefore, in some embodiments the present invention relates to a method for selecting a heterodimeric protein having EGFR / c-Met dual specificity, the method comprising the following steps:

[0309] a) providing a first group of EGFR-specific homodimeric protein A comprising an Fc(A) region, wherein the homodimeric protein A has completely identical CH3(A) regions,

[0310] b) providing a second group of c-Met-specific homodimeric proteins B comprising an Fc(B) region, wherein the homodimeric proteins B have identical CH3(B) regions, wherein the sequences of the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region are different, and the heterodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and CH3(B) is stronger than the homodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and CH3(B),

[0311] c) incubating the combination of said first set of EGFR-specific homodimeric protein A and said second set of c-Met-specific homodimeric protein B under reducing conditions sufficient to allow the cysteines in the hinge region to undergo disulfide bond isomerization, thereby producing a set of bispecific antibodies,

[0312] d) optionally restoring the conditions to non-reducing,

[0313] e) assaying the resulting heterodimeric protein set for a given desired EGFR / c-Met bispecificity, etc. property, and

[0314] f) Selecting a heterodimeric protein with the desired EGFR / c-Met bispecific properties.

[0315] In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a method for selecting a desired EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody, the method comprising the following steps:

[0316] a) providing a first group of homodimeric antibodies comprising a variable region with binding specificity for EGFR, wherein said antibodies of said first group comprise a CH3(A) region,

[0317] b) providing a second group of homodimeric antibodies comprising a variable region having binding specificity for c-Met, wherein the antibodies of the second group comprise a CH3(B) region, wherein the sequences of the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region are different and such that the heterodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region is stronger than the homodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region,

[0318] c) incubating the combination of the first set of antibodies and the second set of antibodies under reducing conditions sufficient to allow the cysteines in the hinge region to undergo disulfide bond isomerization, thereby generating a set of EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies,

[0319] d) optionally restoring the conditions to non-reducing,

[0320] e) assaying the resulting set of bispecific antibodies for a given desired property, and

[0321] f) Selecting a bispecific antibody with the desired EGFR / c-Met bispecificity.

[0322] The screening strategy includes two sets of antibody vectors containing a range of specificities, wherein one set is cloned into a backbone that can participate in Fab arm interchange with the backbone of the second set under reducing conditions (e.g., by adding 2-MEA). For example, the first set is cloned into an IgG1-F405L backbone and the second set is cloned into an IgG1-K409R backbone (see also Example 1 for other possible backbone combinations).

[0323] Each member of the two sets of antibody vectors is then expressed on a small scale, for example, by transiently transfecting all antibody vectors into CHO-K1 cells and expressing them in culture.

[0324] Then the expressed antibodies of two groups of antibodies are mixed in pairs in an equimolar ratio in a matrix-like manner. For example, all individual antibodies are purified by small-scale protein A chromatography, and the antibody concentration is measured by absorbance at a wavelength of 280nm. Alternatively, other suitable (small-scale) purification methods or methods known in the art for determining protein concentration can be used.

[0325] In another embodiment, the purification step can be omitted if the expression medium does not affect downstream applications. Subsequently, the antibody concentrations are normalized so that the appropriate volumes contain equimolar amounts of anti-EGFR antibody and anti-c-Met antibody.

[0326] For example, a set of anti-EGFR antibodies in the F405L backbone (BT461-DB-EGFR) are each mixed with an anti-cMet antibody in the K409R backbone (BT461-DB-CMET) in a ratio of 1:1.1; an appropriate amount of reducing agent is added to the above antibody mixture and incubated at a permissive temperature for an appropriate period of time. For example, to a mixture containing a mg of antibody A (F405L) and 1.1a mg of antibody B (K409R), 0.25b ml of 300mM 2-MEA is added to form an assembly reaction system with a volume of b, resulting in a final concentration of 75mM 2-MEA (final concentration of 75mM 2-MEA) and incubated at 31°C for 5 molecules. The reducing agent is then removed from the mixture (now containing bispecific antibodies) to promote oxidation of disulfide bonds and avoid interference of the reducing agent in the screening assay. For example, 2-MEA is removed by performing a buffer exchange of the bispecific antibody mixture of the two specificities using a desalting plate. Alternatively, other suitable methods of removing the reducing agent known in the art may be used.

[0327] The bispecific antibodies are then characterized biochemically or functionally to identify EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody candidates of the present invention.

[0328] In some embodiments, those skilled in the art of antibodies can also obtain the bispecific heterodimeric protein of the present invention by co-expressing constructs encoding EGFR-specific polypeptide A and c-Met-specific polypeptide B in a single cell.

[0329] Therefore, in another aspect, the method for preparing the heterodimeric protein of the present invention by co-expression in a single cell comprises the following steps:

[0330] a) providing a first nucleic acid construct encoding a polypeptide A comprising an immunoglobulin Fc(A) region, wherein the Fc(A) region comprises a CH3(A) region,

[0331] b) providing a second nucleic acid construct encoding a second polypeptide B comprising an immunoglobulin Fc(B) region, wherein the Fc(B) region comprises a CH3(B) region, wherein the sequences of the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region are different, and such that the heterodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region is stronger than the homodimeric interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region,

[0332] c) co-expressing the first and second nucleic acid constructs in a host cell, and

[0333] d) obtaining the heterodimeric protein from cell culture.

[0334] In one such embodiment, the homodimeric protein B has an amino acid at position 409 that is not Lys, Leu or Met and the homodimeric protein A has an amino acid at position 405 that is not Phe.

[0335] In yet another embodiment, the homodimeric protein A has an amino acid at position 405 that is not Phe, Arg or Gly, and the homodimeric protein B has an amino acid at position 409 that is not Lys, Leu or Met.

[0336] In another embodiment, the first homodimeric protein B comprises Arg at position 409 and the homodimeric protein A comprises Leu at position 405.

[0337] Suitable expression vectors (including promoters, enhancers, etc.) and suitable host cells for preparing antibodies are well known in the art. Examples of host cells include yeast, bacteria and mammalian cells, such as CHO or HEK cells.

[0338] In other embodiments, the co-expression methods of the invention include any of the other features described above under the in vitro methods.

[0339] In some exemplary embodiments, the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody molecule of the present invention is prepared by respectively constructing a recombinant expression vector 1 for simultaneously expressing the light chain and heavy chain of the anti-EGFR antibody and a recombinant expression vector 2 for simultaneously expressing the light chain and heavy chain of the anti-c-Met antibody, and then transiently transfecting the two recombinant expression vectors 1 and 2 into host cells, respectively, culturing the host cells to produce a fermentation culture product of the bispecific antibody of the present invention, and then purifying the protein product prepared by the recombinant host cells in the culture product and obtaining the bispecific EGFR / c-Met antibody of the present invention through in vitro assembly and purification, and the binding arm A of the generated bispecific antibody may have the properties described above for the binding arm that binds to EGFR, and the binding arm B of the bispecific molecule may have the properties described above for the binding arm that binds to c-Met.

[0340] In some exemplary embodiments, the expression vector of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention is constructed based on the bispecific antibody platform technology of Genmab, and the heavy chain of the anti-EGFR antibody (HCA) is designed with mutations (F405L, K214R, D356E, L358M), and the heavy chain of the anti-c-Met antibody (HCB) is designed with mutations (K409R, K214R, D356E, L358M), and the encoding nucleic acids 3# and 5# of HCA and HCB, and the encoding nucleic acids 4# and 6# of LCA and LCB are synthesized using genetic engineering technology. Next, the nucleic acids encoding LCA and HCA containing the above-mentioned amino acid mutations of the anti-c-Met or anti-EGFR antibody and the nucleic acids encoding LCB and HCB containing the above-mentioned amino acid mutations of the anti-c-Met antibody were respectively constructed into four expression vectors to obtain four plasmids expressing the light and heavy chains of the anti-c-Met or anti-EGFR antibody, respectively. Then, the plasmids expressing the light and heavy chains with the same antigen binding specificity were digested with SalI / NotI and ligated, and two nucleotide sequences encoding the nucleic acids of LCA and HCA with the same EGFR antigen binding specificity were constructed into the same expression vector, and two nucleotide sequences encoding the nucleic acids of LCB and HCB with the same c-Met antigen binding specificity were constructed into the same expression vector, to obtain recombinant plasmids carrying the anti-c-Met antibody light and heavy chain encoding nucleic acid fusions and recombinant plasmids expressing the anti-EGFR antibody light and heavy chain encoding nucleic acid fusions, respectively.

[0341] In some exemplary embodiments, the method for preparing the bispecific antibody of the present invention comprises the steps of:

[0342] 1. Based on Genmab's dual antibody platform technology, we designed and synthesized nucleic acid 3# encoding heavy chain A (HCA) of EGFR antibody containing amino acid mutations (F405L, K214R, D356E, L358M), and nucleic acid 5# encoding heavy chain B (HCB) of anti-c-Met antibody containing amino acid mutations (K409R, K214R, D356E, L358M) using genetic engineering technology; at the same time, nucleic acid 4# encoding light chain A (LCA) of anti-EGFR antibody containing unmutated κ-type light chain constant region and VLA, and nucleic acid 6# encoding light chain B (LCB) of c-Met antibody were designed.

[0343] 3. Construct 3# and 5# into expression plasmid vectors A1 and A2, respectively, and construct 4# and 6# into expression plasmids B1 and B2, respectively, to obtain recombinant expression plasmids B1-LCA and B1-LCB1- expressing the light chains of anti-EGFR antibody and anti-c-Met antibody, respectively, and recombinant expression plasmid A1-HCA expressing heavy chain A comprising the aforementioned CH3A mutation and Fc(A) mutation, and recombinant expression plasmid A1-HCB expressing heavy chain B comprising the aforementioned CH3B mutation and Fc(B) mutation, respectively.

[0344] 4. The recombinant expression plasmids A1 and B1 of the light and heavy chains and A2 and B2 were connected by SalI / NotI enzyme (NEB), and the two nucleotide sequences encoding LCA and HCA, respectively, were constructed into the same expression vector, and the two nucleotide sequences encoding LCB and HCB, respectively, were constructed into the same expression vector A1, to obtain the recombinant expression plasmid C1 carrying the encoding nucleic acid fusion 1# and co-expressing the light and heavy chains of the anti-EGFR antibody, and the recombinant expression plasmid C2 carrying the encoding nucleic acid fusion 2# and co-expressing the light and heavy chains of the anti-c-Met antibody, respectively.

[0345] 5. Plasmid C1 encoding anti-EGFR antibody and plasmid C2 encoding anti-c-Met antibody protein were transiently transfected into host cells respectively to obtain recombinant host cell A expressing HCA and LCA of anti-EGFR binding arms and recombinant host cell B expressing HCB and LCB of anti-c-Met binding arms.

[0346] 6. Collect the cell supernatant, and optionally separate and purify the binding arm A and binding arm B of the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention thus produced.

[0347] 7. In vitro assembly and purification.

[0348] In some embodiments, the expression plasmids A1 and A2 of the light chain of the EGFR binding arm and the light chain of the c-Met binding arm of the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention are preferably PEE6.4, such as Fig.15 .

[0349] In some embodiments, the expression plasmids B1 and B2 of the heavy chain of the EGFR binding arm and the heavy chain of the c-Met binding arm of the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention are preferably PEE12.4, such as Fig.14 .

[0350] In some embodiments, the encoding nucleic acids of the light chain and heavy chain of the EGFR binding arm of the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention are co-constructed into a PEE expression vector (pHR plasmid) to obtain a recombinant pHR expression vector C1 expressing EGFR-specific IgG (A), and the encoding nucleic acids of the light chain and heavy chain of the c-Met binding arm are co-constructed into a PEE expression vector (pHR plasmid) to obtain a recombinant expression plasmid C2 expressing c-Met-specific IgG (B).

[0351] The nucleic acid molecules or vectors described herein can be introduced into host cells. The techniques for introducing nucleic acids or vectors into host cells are well known in the art and any suitable technique can be used.

[0352] A range of host cells suitable for producing recombinant antibody molecules are known in the art and include bacterial, yeast, insect or mammalian host cells. Preferred host cells are mammalian cells, such as CHO, NSO or HEK cells.

[0353] In some embodiments, the host cell is a CHO cell.

[0354] In some embodiments, the host cell is a CHO-K1 cell.

[0355] In some exemplary preferred embodiments, the host cell is a CHO-K1 cell in which the FUT8 gene is knocked out.

[0356] In some embodiments, FUT8 knockout cells can also be used during the production of the bispecific antibodies of the invention, and one or both of the homodimeric proteins can be glycoengineered to reduce fucose, thereby improving ADCC.

[0357] Knocking out the FUT8 gene of the host cell is a genetic engineering method to reduce the fucose level of the antibody through engineering. In mammalian cells, fucose is bound to the glucosamine on the Fc end of the antibody through an α-1,6 glycosidic bond, which is catalyzed by the α-1,6-fucosyltransferase encoded by the FUT8 gene. Knocking out the FUT8 gene will completely eliminate the fucose on the Fc end of the antibody, thereby improving the ADCC effect of the binding arm constituting the bispecific antibody of the present invention.

[0358] The inventors further screened the obtained clones by functional activity and produced the bispecific antibody molecules of the present invention that specifically bind to EGFR-positive tumor cells and / or specifically bind to c-Met-positive tumor cells and have significant differences in binding to tumor cells and non-tumor tissues.

[0359] In this way, the inventors identified antibodies that can distinguish tumors from non-tumor tissues. The bispecific antibody of the present invention has the expected characteristics that can meet the necessary therapeutic applications, namely, it specifically recognizes the EGFR target and the c-Met target on the surface of cancer cells and can effectively trigger internalization after binding to the target, and the binding arm A and the binding arm B have significant differences in affinity, and the affinity of the c-Met-specific binding arm B for c-Met is significantly higher than the affinity of the EGFR-specific binding arm A for EGFR, while conferring tumor killing and safety. The structure can provide more than 99% bispecific antibody monomer purity in in vitro assembly, such as BT461-DB.

[0360] In some exemplary embodiments, the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the Dubody structure of the present invention (e.g., BT461-DB) shows high binding affinity (in the nanomolar range) to c-Met expressed on the cell surface of cancer cells. In addition, this anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody shows a higher ability to trigger internalization of the antibody complex, as shown in Example 11. Exemplarily, the present invention obtains a bispecific antibody of EGFR / c-Met named BT-461-DB.

[0361] Methods for culturing host cells are well known in the art. The method may further comprise the step of isolating and / or purifying the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody molecule. Techniques for purifying recombinantly obtained EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody molecules are well known in the art and include, for example, HPLC, FPLC or affinity chromatography, such as affinity chromatography.

[0362] In some embodiments, an affinity tag on the antibody molecule can be used for purification. The method can also include formulating the antibody molecule into a pharmaceutical composition, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or other substance as described below.

[0363] In some embodiments, the homodimeric proteins A and B provided in steps a) and b) are purified.

[0364] In some preferred embodiments, the preparation of the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody molecule with a Dubody structure of the present invention comprises in vitro assembly and purification steps.

[0365] In some preferred embodiments, the assembly is performed according to the Fab exchange technology of the duobody platform, wherein the anti-EGFR half antibody (exemplary such as BT461-DB-EGFR) and the anti-c-Met half antibody (exemplary such as BT461-DB--c-Met) after affinity chromatography are mixed in vitro for assembly, a reducing agent water bath is added for reduction, the reducing agent is removed by desalting and the solution is replaced with a buffer solution, and oxidation is allowed to stand at room temperature.

[0366] In some preferred embodiments, the purification is performed by cationic chromatography.

[0367] In some preferred embodiments, the assembled system comprises an anti-EGFR antibody (exemplary such as BT461-DB-EGFR) and an anti-cMet antibody (exemplary such as BT461-DB-c-Met) in a ratio of about 1:1.

[0368] In some preferred embodiments, the reducing agent is 2-MEA.

[0369] In some preferred embodiments, the concentration of the reducing agent 2-MEA is 50 to 100 mmol / L.

[0370] In some preferred embodiments, the reduction is performed in a water bath.

[0371] In some preferred embodiments, the desalting is performed using G25 chromatography technology.

[0372] Biological functional characteristics of EGFR / c-Met antibody molecules

[0373] The EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody molecules described herein (exemplified by BT461 DB) can be evaluated and validated by reference to certain functional properties.

[0374] Specific binding to EGFR protein and c-Met protein in vitro

[0375] In some embodiments, the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention can specifically bind to EGFR protein and specifically bind to c-Met protein in vitro.

[0376] In some embodiments, the bispecific antibodies of the present invention can bind to human EGFR with high affinity and specifically bind to human c-Met with very high affinity.

[0377] In some exemplary embodiments, the present invention evaluates the extracellular EGFR binding level and c-Met binding level of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody by measuring the EC50 value of binding to human EGFR and c-Met in vitro by ELISA.

[0378] In some exemplary embodiments, the binding arm A of the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can bind to EGFR with an ELISA binding EC50 of about 1260-1450 ng / mL, preferably 1290-1350 ng / mL.

[0379] In some exemplary embodiments, the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention (such as BT461-DB binding arm B) can bind to c-Met with an ELISA binding EC50 of about 2-20 ng / mL, preferably 5-15 ng / mL, more preferably 7-10 ng / mL.

[0380] The method for determining the ELISA binding EC50 can be found in the method shown in Example 2.

[0381] Binds to EGFR and / or Met on the cell surface

[0382] In some embodiments, the bispecific antibodies of the present invention are capable of binding to cells overexpressing EGGR and cells overexpressing c-Met, respectively.

[0383] In some embodiments, the binding EC50 value is determined by FACS to evaluate the level of binding of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody to EGFR expressed on the cell surface and c-Met expressed on the cell surface.

[0384] In some embodiments, the bispecific antibodies of the invention, such as BT461-DB, can bind to CHO-K1 cells overexpressing EGFR with a FACS binding EC50 of about 1610-1820 ng / mL.

[0385] In some embodiments, the bispecific antibodies of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can bind to CHO-K1 cells overexpressing c-Met with a FACS binding EC50 of about 245-285 ng / mL.

[0386] The method for determining the in vitro binding EC50 by FACS can be found in Example 3.

[0387] In some embodiments, the bispecific antibody of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can specifically bind to EGFR / c-Met double positive tumor cells.

[0388] In some exemplary embodiments, BT461-DB of the present invention can bind to double-positive tumor cells overexpressing EGFR and c-Met with a FACS binding EC50 of about 780-910 ng / mL.

[0389] In some exemplary embodiments, the double-positive tumor cells overexpressing EGFR and c-Met are MKN45 cells, as shown in Example 4.

[0390] In some embodiments, BT461-DB of the present invention can antagonize the binding of the ligand HGF to the target protein c-Met.

[0391] In some exemplary embodiments such as BT461, the antagonistic IC50 value determined by ELISA method is used to evaluate the level of binding of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody to antagonize the ligands HGF and EGF to the membrane proteins EGFR and c-MET. In some embodiments, in the specific binding embodiment of double-positive tumor cells, the ELISA blocking IC50 value of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention to antagonize HGFc-Met is not less than 1000 ng / mL, not less than 830 ng / mL, or preferably not less than 730 ng / mL, more preferably not less than 680 ng / mL, most preferably not less than 630 ng / mL, more preferably not less than 610 ng / mL, more preferably not less than 550 ng / mL, and most preferably not less than 460 ng / mL.

[0392] In some exemplary embodiments, for example, when measured with HGF-HIS, the bispecific antibody BT461 of the present invention can inhibit the binding of HGF to c-Met with a FACS antagonism IC50 value of about 425-500 ng / mL. The method for determining the antagonism IC50 by FACS can refer to the method shown in Example 5.

[0393] Affinity for target protein

[0394] In some embodiments, the bispecific binding arm A and the binding arm B of the present invention have high levels of affinity for EGFR and c-Met antigens, respectively.

[0395] In some embodiments, biolayer interferometry (BLI) can be used to detect the affinity of the bispecific antibody of the present invention for binding to EGFR and c-Met target proteins.

[0396] In some embodiments, in BLI monitoring, the binding arm A in the bispecific antibody of the present invention binds to EGFR with an affinity of a KD (M) equal to or less than 1.05E-7, or preferably less than 8.45E-8, more preferably less than 6.95E-8, more preferably less than 4.65E-8, more preferably less than 3.35E-8, and most preferably less than 2.15E-8.

[0397] In some embodiments, the affinity assay results determined by BLI show that the bispecific antibody of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, binds to human c-EGFR at a concentration of 5 μg / mL with a dissociation constant of KD (M) equal to or less than 2.262E-08, or preferably equal to or less than 2.52E-08, or more preferably equal to or less than 2.42E-08, or more preferably equal to or less than 2.35E-08, or most preferably less than 2.20E-08.

[0398] In some embodiments, in a BLI assay, the binding arm B in the bispecific antibody of the invention binds to human c-Met with an affinity equal to or less than a KD (M) of 2.45E-9, or less than 2.25E-9, or preferably less than 1.95E-9, or preferably less than 1.75E-9, or preferably less than 1.55E-9, or more preferably less than 1.40E-9, or more preferably less than 9.96E-10, or more preferably less than 8.85E-10, or most preferably less than 7.62E-10.

[0399] In some embodiments, the bispecific antibody BT461 of the present invention binds to human c-Met with a dissociation constant (KD) of equal to or less than 1.20E-09, equal to or less than 8.12E-10, equal to or less than 7.82E-10, or less than 7.62E-10.

[0400] An exemplary BLI detection method is shown in Example 6.

[0401] In some embodiments, the KD(M) of the EGFR binding arm of the present invention, such as the exemplary bispecific antibody BT461-DB molecule, for binding to EGFR is significantly higher than the KD(M) of the c-Met binding arm for binding to c-Met.

[0402] In some embodiments, the ratio of the affinity of the c-Met binding arm of the exemplary bispecific antibody BT461-DB molecule of the invention for c-Met to the affinity of the EGFR binding arm for EGFR is more than 20-fold.

[0403] Affinity of FC for receptor protein

[0404] In some embodiments, the Fc of the exemplary bispecific antibody BT461-DB molecule of the present invention has a high binding affinity to the receptor protein comparable to that of Avanta.

[0405] In some embodiments, the receptor proteins include FcγRI (CD64), FcγRⅢA (CD16a-F176), FcγRⅢA (CD16a-V176), FcγRⅢB (CD16b), FcγRⅡA (CD32a), FcγRⅡB / C (CD32b / c), Fc Rn and C1q.

[0406] In some embodiments, the BLI method is used to determine the binding affinity between Fc and receptor protein.

[0407] Bispecific antibodies can also serve as vehicles for retargeting effector mechanisms to disease-associated tissues such as tumors.

[0408] In some embodiments, the binding affinity KD (M) between Fc of BT461-DB of the present invention and receptor protein FFcγRⅢA (CD16a-V176) measured by BLI method is not higher than about 2.62E-8.

[0409] In some embodiments, the binding affinity KD (M) between Fc of BT461-DB of the present invention and receptor protein FcγRⅢA (CD16a-F176) measured by BLI method is no higher than about 3.26E-7.

[0410] In some embodiments, the binding affinity KD (M) between Fc of BT461-DB of the present invention and receptor protein FFcγRⅢB (CD16b) measured by BLI method is not higher than about 1.416E-5.

[0411] In some embodiments, the binding affinity KD (M) between Fc of BT461-DB of the present invention and receptor protein FcγRⅡA (CD32a) measured by BLI method is not higher than about 1.50E-6.

[0412] In some embodiments, the binding affinity KD (M) between the Fc of BT461-DB of the present invention and the receptor protein FcγRⅡB / C (CD32b / c) measured by BLI method is about no higher than 1.63E-6.

[0413] In some embodiments, the binding affinity KD (M) between Fc of BT461-DB of the present invention and receptor protein FcγRI (CD64) measured by BLI method is no higher than about 8.95E-9.

[0414] In some embodiments, the binding affinity KD (M) between Fc of BT461-DB of the present invention and receptor protein Fc Rn measured by BLI method is about no higher than 2.25E-7.

[0415] In some embodiments, the binding affinity KD (M) between Fc of BT461-DB of the present invention and receptor protein C1q measured by BLI method is no higher than about 1.09E-8.

[0416] Inhibits EGFR autophosphorylation and c-Met autophosphorylation

[0417] In some embodiments, BT461 of the present invention is capable of inhibiting EGFR autophosphorylation and c-Met autophosphorylation.

[0418] In some embodiments, changes in the autophosphorylation levels of EGFR and c-Met can be measured by Western blotting to explore whether the anti-c-Met / EGFR bispecific antibody can inhibit the signaling pathways of c-Met and EGFR.

[0419] Exemplarily, the results of chemiluminescence system development after Western blotting analysis showed that under the conditions of 100 ng / mL EGF-mFC + 100 ng / mL HGF-his, after treating MKN45 cells with 250 μg / mL IgG1, antibodies Avantu, BT461-KIH and BT-461DB for a period of time, BT461-KIH, BT461-DB and Avantu were able to significantly inhibit the phosphorylation level of pC-MET (Y1234 / 1235) and slightly inhibit the phosphorylation level of p-EGFR (Y1173).

[0420] Mediate target protein internalization and degradation

[0421] In some embodiments, BT461-DB of the exemplary antibody Duobody structure of the present invention is capable of mediating and promoting the internalization and degradation of target proteins EGFR and c-Met.

[0422] In some embodiments, the internalization level mediated by the anti-c-Met antibody arm of the exemplary antibody BT461-DB of the present invention is higher than the internalization level mediated by the anti-EGFR antibody arm. In some embodiments, the level of target protein internalization mediated by the anti-c-Met binding arm and the anti-EGFR binding arm of the exemplary antibody BT461-DB of the present invention can be evaluated by using a flow cytometer after co-incubation of a fluorescently labeled secondary antibody with the bispecific antibody of the present invention, and taking the EC50 (ng / mL) value obtained by (PE fluorescence excitation and reception).

[0423] In some embodiments, the ability of the exemplary antibody BT461-DB of the present invention to promote internalization of the target protein is stronger than that of the anti-EGFR binding arm. In some embodiments, the ability of the exemplary antibody BT461-DB of the present invention to promote internalization of the target protein is slightly weaker than that of the anti-c-Met binding arm.

[0424] In some embodiments, the EC50 of the exemplary antibody BT461-DB of the present invention for promoting internalization of the target protein is about no higher than 700 ng / mL, or preferably about no higher than 650 ng / mL, or most preferably about no higher than 590 ng / mL.

[0425] In some embodiments, the EC50 of the exemplary antibody BT461-DB-c-Met binding arm of the present invention for promoting internalization of the target protein is about no higher than 420 ng / mL, or preferably about no higher than 350 ng / mL, or most preferably about no higher than 268 ng / mL.

[0426] In some embodiments, the EC50 of the exemplary antibody BT461-DB-EGFR binding arm of the present invention for promoting internalization of the target protein EGFR is about no higher than 680 ng / mL, or preferably about no higher than 650 ng / mL, or most preferably about no higher than 590 ng / mL.

[0427] Mediates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)

[0428] In some embodiments, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

[0429] In some embodiments, the present invention uses the ADCC Reporter Bioassay method to detect the ADCC biological activity of the antibody of the present invention.

[0430] In some embodiments, the EC50 value of ADCC mediated by the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, against CHOK1-EGFR target cells is about no higher than 300 ng / mL, or about no higher than 280 ng / mL, or about no higher than 260 ng / mL, or about no higher than 208 ng / mL, or about no higher than 188 ng / mL.

[0431] In some embodiments, the EC50 value of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, for mediating ADCC against CHOK1-c-Met target cells is about no higher than 1290 ng / mL, or about no higher than 260 ng / mL, or about no higher than 238 ng / mL, or about no higher than 208 ng / mL, or about no higher than 188 ng / mL, or about no higher than 168 ng / mL.

[0432] In some embodiments, the EC50 value of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, in mediating ADCC against EGFR and c-Met double-positive tumor cells is about no higher than 156 ng / mL, preferably about no higher than 124.48 ng / mL, more preferably about no higher than 89.48 ng / mL, more preferably about no higher than 72.18 ng / mL, and most preferably about no higher than 52.18 ng / mL.

[0433] In some embodiments, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies of the invention mediate ADCC of double-positive tumor cells at a level close to that of both binding arms.

[0434] Inhibits tumor cell proliferation in vitro

[0435] In some embodiments, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies of the present invention can inhibit tumor cell proliferation in vitro.

[0436] In some embodiments, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can inhibit the proliferation of EGFR-positive tumor cells and / or c-Met-positive tumor cells in vitro.

[0437] In some embodiments, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells expressing HGF in vitro.

[0438] In some exemplary embodiments, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention can inhibit the proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.

[0439] In some exemplary embodiments, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention can inhibit the proliferation of human non-small cell lung cancer EGFR mutant cells in vitro.

[0440] In some embodiments, the tumor cell line is HCC827-HGF.

[0441] In some embodiments, for example, by using The 3D kit detects the effect of the antibodies of the present invention on the proliferation of these cell lines, and compares the level of reduction in tumor cell viability caused by a mixture comprising an EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody (e.g., BT461-DB and BT461-KIH) and two monospecific antibodies (one binding to EGFR and the other binding to c-Met) to evaluate the level of inhibition of tumor cell proliferation by the synergistic inhibition of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention.

[0442] In some exemplary embodiments, when the bispecific molecules of the present invention inhibit tumor cell proliferation, the cell viability of the tumor cells is comparable to the measured value under the inhibition of Amivantanab, the activity of tumor cells after inhibition by BT461-DB is comparable to the activity of tumor cells after inhibition by BT-461-KIH, and the inhibitory abilities of BT461-DB and BT461-KIH on tumor cell activity are stronger than the combination of their related EGFR monoclonal antibodies and anti-c-Met monoclonal antibodies (e.g., Taixinsheng & LY358-B12), indicating that BT461-DB has a synergistic effect in the efficacy of inhibiting tumors in vitro.

[0443] Inhibit TKI-acquired resistance cell proliferation in vitro

[0444] In some embodiments, the bispecific molecules of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can significantly inhibit the proliferation of TIK-resistant tumor cells.

[0445] In some embodiments, the bispecific molecules of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can significantly inhibit the proliferation of TIK-resistant HGF-expressing tumor cells.

[0446] In some embodiments, the bispecific molecules of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can significantly inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells HCC827-HGF-TIK resistant cells at multiple gradient concentrations.

[0447] In some embodiments, the bispecific molecules of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can significantly inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells HCC827-HGF-osimertinib-resistant cells at multiple gradient concentrations, wherein the inhibition level of HCC827-HGF cell proliferation is comparable to that of BT461-KIH and Avanta.

[0448] In some embodiments, the bispecific molecules of the present invention, such as BT461-DB, can significantly inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells HCC827-HGF-osimertinib-resistant cells in the concentration range of 28-550 μg / mL, wherein the inhibition level of HCC827-HGF cell proliferation is comparable to that of BT461-KIH and Avanta.

[0449] In some embodiments, the antibody BT461-DB of the present invention has a stronger efficacy in inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells HCC827-HGF-osimertinib-resistant cells than the c-Met binding arm of BT461-DB, and is stronger than the combination of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody and anti-c-Met monoclonal antibody, indicating that the anti-EGFR / cMet dual-target antibody of the present invention has a synergistic effect in inhibiting the proliferation of osimertinib-resistant tumor cells in vitro.

[0450] Has the effect of inhibiting tumor growth in vivo

[0451] In some embodiments, the bispecific antibodies of the invention as disclosed herein are capable of inhibiting the growth of EGFR-positive tumors and c-Met-positive tumors in vivo.

[0452] In some exemplary embodiments, the exemplary antibody BT461-DB of the present invention has therapeutic efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model of human non-small cell lung cancer cells.

[0453] In some exemplary embodiments, the antibody BT461-DB is preferably administered for 21 days in a mouse xenograft model of HCC827-HGF cells.

[0454] In some exemplary embodiments, the antibody BT461 has a therapeutic effect of inhibiting tumor growth in a NSG mouse xenograft model of human pancreatic cancer cells.

[0455] The EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies BT461-DB and BT461-KIH of the present invention have the therapeutic effect of inhibiting tumor growth at a dosage of 1.5 to 8 mg / kg.

[0456] In some exemplary embodiments, at a dosage of 2 mg / kg, the TGI (tumor inhibition ratio) of BT461-DB is 67.7%.

[0457] In some exemplary embodiments, at a dosage of 5 mg / kg, the TGI (tumor inhibition ratio) of BT461-DB is 122.9%.

[0458] Pharmaceutical composition

[0459] The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the bispecific antibody of the present invention as disclosed herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient for treating susceptible people suffering from or at risk of EGFR, c-Met or EGFR / c-Met positive tumors.

[0460] In some embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable excipient includes, but is not limited to, non-toxic solid, semi-solid or liquid fillers, diluents, encapsulating materials or any type of formulation auxiliary.

[0461] In some embodiments, the proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants, stabilizers, cryoprotectants or antioxidants.

[0462] In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises a composition of an EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody such as BT461-DB as provided herein, and further comprises one or more antioxidants that will reduce oxidation of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment, and this reduction in oxidation will prevent oxidation of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment, extend its shelf life and / or improve its efficacy, prevent or reduce loss of binding affinity, thereby improving antibody stability and maximizing shelf life. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a composition comprising one or more antibodies disclosed herein and one or more antioxidants such as methionine. In certain embodiments, the antioxidant is not methionine.

[0463] In some embodiments, the carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (eg, glycerol, propylene glycol, and liquid polyethylene glycol, etc.), or suitable mixtures thereof.

[0464] In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is prepared by dissolving or dispersing an effective amount of the antibody of the present invention in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or aqueous medium.

[0465] In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions in pharmaceutical forms suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions; and sterile powders for the ex situ preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersions.

[0466] In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is a dry, especially freeze-dried, composition which allows the production of an injectable solution after addition of sterile water or physiological saline.

[0467] In some embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier can include, for example, an aqueous vehicle such as Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, Isotonic Dextrose Injection, Sterile Water Injection, or Dextrose and Lactated Ringer's Injection.

[0468] Injectable pharmaceutical compositions may be prepared in any conventional form, such as liquid solutions, suspensions, or solid forms suitable for producing liquid solutions, suspensions, or emulsions. Injectable preparations may include: (1) sterile and / or pyrogen-free solutions ready for injection; (2) sterile dry soluble products, such as lyophilized powders, that are combined with a solvent just prior to use; (3) sterile suspensions ready for injection; (4) sterile dry insoluble products that are combined with a vehicle just prior to use; (5) and sterile and / or pyrogen-free emulsions. Solutions may be aqueous or non-aqueous.

[0469] In certain embodiments, the parenteral formulation of a unit dose can be packaged in an ampoule, a vial, or a syringe with a needle. All preparations for parenteral administration should be sterile and pyrogen-free, as known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, a sterile lyophilized powder is prepared by dissolving the antibody or Fab as disclosed in the present invention in a suitable solvent.

[0470] In some embodiments, the solvent may contain a buffer, such as citrate, sodium phosphate or potassium phosphate, or other such buffers known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the buffer is approximately neutral pH. The sterile filtered solution is then added and lyophilized under standard conditions known to those skilled in the art to obtain the desired formulation. In some embodiments, the resulting solution will be distributed into vials for lyophilization. The lyophilized powder can be stored under appropriate conditions, such as storage at about 4° C. to room temperature. The lyophilized powder is reconstituted with water for injection to obtain a formulation for parenteral administration. In some embodiments, for reconstitution, sterile and / or pyrogen-free water or other liquid suitable carrier is added to the lyophilized powder. The exact amount depends on the selected therapy given and can be determined empirically.

[0471] In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention further comprises one or more additional therapeutic means or therapeutic groups in addition to the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, for example, another therapeutic agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent or an anti-cancer drug combination.

[0472] Combination medication

[0473] In some embodiments, the antibodies disclosed herein can be administered alone or in combination with one or more additional therapeutic means or agents. For example, the antibodies disclosed herein can be administered in combination with another therapeutic agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent or an anticancer drug.

[0474] In some embodiments, the present invention provides a combined therapeutic method of administering to a subject in need thereof any of the aforementioned anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies and a therapeutic composition consisting of one or more additional therapeutically active ingredients.

[0475] In certain embodiments, the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies disclosed herein can be administered simultaneously with the one or more additional therapeutic agents, and the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments and the additional therapeutic agents can be administered as part of the same pharmaceutical composition. In certain embodiments, the administration of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment disclosed herein before or after another agent is also considered to be administered "in combination" with the agent, even if the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies of the present invention and the other agent are administered by different routes. Where possible, the additional therapeutic agent administered in combination with the antibody disclosed herein is administered according to the schedule listed in the product information sheet of the additional therapeutic agent or a regimen well known in the art.

[0476] The present invention includes pharmaceutical compositions in which the aforementioned anti-EGFR / -c-Met antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof and anti-FGFR2 antibody ADC are co-formulated with one or more additional therapeutically active ingredients as described elsewhere in the present invention.

[0477] Although the antibody molecule can be administered alone, the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody molecule of the present invention is generally administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition, which may contain at least one component other than the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody molecule of the present invention. Therefore, another aspect of the present disclosure also provides a method comprising formulating the antibody molecule into a pharmaceutical composition.

[0478] In some embodiments, the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention can be co-formulated and / or administered in combination with one or more additional target-specific therapeutic antibody components selected from the following groups: such as another FGFR2 antagonist, an antagonist of another EGFR family member such as ErbB3 or ErbB4, anti-ErbB2, such as an antagonist of ErbB3 or ErbB4, a MET antagonist, an EGFR antagonist, an IGF1R antagonist, an IGF1R antagonist, a DGFR-α inhibitor, a PDGFR-β inhibitor or a small molecule kinase inhibitor, a VEGF-inhibitor, a DLL4 antagonist.

[0479] In some embodiments, the additional therapeutically active ingredient is an antibody of a second specificity.

[0480] In some embodiments, the second specific antibody includes, but is not limited to, MSLN antagonists (e.g., anti-MSLN antibodies), CA9 antagonists (e.g., anti-CA9 antibodies), plaque protein antagonists (e.g., plaque protein antagonists), LGR5 antagonists (e.g., anti-LGR5 antibodies), monovalent CD20 antagonists (e.g., monovalent anti-CD20 antibodies such as rituximab), CD20xCD3 bispecific antibodies, PD-1 blockers (e.g., anti-PD-1 antibodies such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab), and the like.

[0481] In some embodiments, other therapeutic agents that can be advantageously administered in combination with the antibodies provided herein also include, for example, tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, and cytokine inhibitors, including small molecule cytokine inhibitors and antibodies that bind to cytokines, such as, but not limited to, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, or their respective receptors.

[0482] In some embodiments, the additional therapeutic agents that can be combined with any of the anti-FGFR2 antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof described herein (including anti-FGFR2 antibodies ADCs) include one or more chemotherapeutic agents.

[0483] In some embodiments, examples of chemotherapeutic agents that can be combined with any of the anti-EGFR\c-Met bispecific antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof described herein, such as BT461-DB, include alkylating agents, aziridines, nitrosoureas, antibiotics, antimetabolites, purine analogs, pyrimidine analogs, alkyl sulfonates, folic acid supplements, aldehyde phosphoramide glycosides, taxanes, platinum analogs, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids, or derivatives of any of the foregoing.

[0484] In some embodiments, the anti-FGFR2 antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the present invention, including anti-FGFR2 antibody ADCs, can also be administered in combination and / or co-formulated with antiviral agents, antibiotics, analgesics, corticosteroids, steroids, oxygen, antioxidants, COX inhibitors, cardioprotectants, metal chelators, IFN-γ and / or NSAIDs.

[0485] For the treatment of diseases related to EGFR and c-Met overexpression

[0486] The EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention or ADC comprising the same can be used to regulate, treat, alleviate, help prevent the occurrence of cell, tissue, organ, tumor or human disease or specific pathology or alleviate its symptoms.

[0487] In some embodiments, the method for administering the drug comprises administering to a patient an effective amount of a drug comprising the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, such that the growth or metastasis of tumors or cancer cells expressing EGFR and / or c-Met is inhibited.

[0488] In some embodiments, the method of administering the drug comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention to a patient in need thereof for a period of time sufficient to treat cancer.

[0489] In some embodiments, the cancer is resistant to or has acquired resistance to treatment with one or more EGFR inhibitors.

[0490] In some embodiments, the patient may be treated with the anti-EGFR antibody Taxinomab, or may have acquired resistance to such treatment.

[0491] Detection of elevated c-Met expression levels or increased c-Met activity, such as caused by elevated levels of circulating HGF, activating mutations of the c-Met gene, or c-Met gene amplification, can identify patients who are resistant to EGFR inhibitors.

[0492] In some embodiments, the cancer is associated with EGFR mutation, residue deletion, EGFR amplification, or c-Met amplification or mutation.

[0493] The EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies of the present invention can be used to treat any disease or disorder characterized by abnormal activation or production of EGFR, c-Met, EGF, soluble EGFR, soluble c-Met or other EGFR ligands or HGF, or a disorder associated with EGFR or c-Met expression, which may or may not involve malignancy or cancer, wherein abnormal activation and / or production of EGFR, c-Met, EGF or other EGFR ligands or HGF occurs in cells or tissues of a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease or disorder.

[0494] The EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention, comprising a binding arm A and a binding arm B, can be used to treat tumors, including cancers and benign tumors.

[0495] In some embodiments, exemplary cancers suitable for treatment by the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies of the present invention include cancers that overexpress EGFR and / or c-Met and are cancers associated with increased EGFR activity and / or expression levels.

[0496] In some embodiments, the type of increased EGFR activity and / or expression level includes, but is not limited to, EGFR activating mutation, EGFR gene amplification, or ligand-mediated EGFR activation.

[0497] In some embodiments, the causes of the increased c-Met activity and / or expression level include, but are not limited to, c-Met activating mutations, c-Met gene amplification, or HGF-mediated c-Met activation, or mutant KRAS.

[0498] In some embodiments, the EGFR activating mutation that may be associated with cancer causes an increase in at least one biological activity associated with EGFR, including but not limited to increased tyrosine kinase activity, formation of receptor homodimers and heterodimers, and enhanced ligand binding.

[0499] In some embodiments, the c-Met activating mutation that may be associated with cancer causes an increase in at least one biological activity associated with c-Met, wherein the increase in the c-Met-related biological activity includes but is not limited to tyrosine kinase activity, the formation of receptor homodimers and heterodimers, enhanced ligand binding, etc.

[0500] In another embodiment of the present invention, the experimental mouse model has a NSCLC tumor or tumor metastasis with an activating EGFR mutation or EGFR gene amplification, and the method of administering the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention to treat the tumor disease model mouse comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention to the model mouse.

[0501] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating a cancer patient, the method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention for a period of time sufficient to treat the cancer, wherein the cancer is associated with EGFR mutation, EGFR amplification or c-Met amplification.

[0502] In some embodiments, the cancer is associated with wild-type EGFR and wild-type c-Met.

[0503] In some embodiments, the cancer is associated with wild-type EGFR and c-Met amplification.

[0504] In some embodiments, the patient has NSCLC associated with EGFR amplification and wild-type c-Met.

[0505] In some embodiments, the patient has NSCLC associated with EGFR amplification and c-Met amplification.

[0506] In some embodiments, the patient is treated with the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody or its ADC of the present invention. When the tumor is associated with L858R, T790M, del(E746, A750) EGFR, EGFR amplification, wild-type c-Met and / or c-Met amplification, BT461-MMAE, BT461-Dxd and BT461-exitecan of the present invention show efficacy in in vivo tumor animal models.

[0507] In one embodiment, the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody or ADC thereof of the present invention can be used to prepare a drug for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

[0508] In some embodiments, the cells of NSCLC have an epithelial phenotype.

[0509] In some embodiments, the NSCLC has acquired resistance to EGFR monoclonal antibodies.

[0510] In one embodiment, the EGFR monoclonal antibody is Taxin.

[0511] The present invention also provides use of the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody or its ADC of the present invention for preparing a medicament for treating a subject suffering from a tumor or at risk of suffering from the tumor, wherein the method for administering the medicament comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody or pharmaceutical composition as disclosed herein to a subject in need thereof, wherein the tumor is preferably an EGFR, c-Met single-positive or EGFR / c-Met double-positive tumor.

[0512] Prior to initiating said treatment, said method preferably further comprises determining whether said subject suffers from such an EGFR, c-Met or EGFR / c-Met positive tumor.

[0513] The bispecific KANGTIs of the invention are applicable to a wide range of cancers. Exemplary cancers suitable for treatment by the bispecific molecules of the invention, such as the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibodies of the invention.

[0514] In some exemplary embodiments, the cancer is non-small cell lung cancer.

[0515] In some exemplary embodiments, the cancer is gastric cancer.

[0516] In some exemplary embodiments, the cancer is pancreatic cancer.

[0517] Application in the preparation of medicines

[0518] In one aspect, the present invention provides use of an anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same in preparing a medicament for treating cancer or tumor.

[0519] One aspect of the present invention is to provide use of the bispecific antibody of the present invention for preparing a medicament for inhibiting the growth or proliferation of cells expressing EGFR and / or c-Met, wherein the method for administering the medicament comprises contacting patient cells with the EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody of the present invention.

[0520] In some preferred embodiments, the tumor, preferably an EGFR / c-Met positive cancer, is preferably a patient population with an EGFR monoclonal antibody-resistant phenotype or tumor / cancer.

[0521] In some preferred embodiments, the subject is preferably a subject suitable for antibody therapy using an EGFR-specific antibody such as nimotuzumab.

[0522] Co-expression of EGFR and c-Met is associated with many cancer types and bispecific antibody molecules targeting these two molecules and conjugates comprising such bispecific antibody molecules offer broad clinical opportunities across multiple indications. Therefore, the antibody molecules or antibody-drug conjugates described herein can be used in therapeutic applications, in particular for the treatment of cancer.

[0523] The bispecific antibody molecules or pharmaceutical compositions described herein can be used in methods for treating human EGFR and / or c-Met positive related tumors or cancers.

[0524] Related aspects of the present disclosure provide;

[0525] (i) a bispecific antibody molecule as described herein for use as a medicament;

[0526] (ii) a bispecific antibody molecule as described herein for use in a method of treating a disease or disorder;

[0527] (iii) use of the bispecific antibody molecule described herein in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a disease or disorder; and,

[0528] (iv) a method of treating a disease or disorder in an individual, wherein the method comprises administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody molecule or conjugate described herein.

[0529] In some embodiments, treatment can be any treatment or therapy that achieves some desired therapeutic effect, such as inhibiting or delaying the progression of a disorder, and includes reducing the rate of progression, halting the rate of progression, ameliorating the condition of a disorder, curing or alleviating (whether partial or total), preventing, ameliorating, delaying, alleviating or arresting one or more symptoms and / or signs of a disorder, or prolonging the survival of an individual or patient beyond what would be expected in the absence of the treatment.

[0530] In some embodiments, the methods of treatment described may comprise administering to the individual at least one additional therapeutic agent in addition to the bispecific antibody molecule of the invention.

[0531] In some embodiments, the anti-EGFR / c-Met bispecific antibody molecules of the invention can be administered to an individual alone or in combination with one or more other treatments, wherein the additional treatment can be administered to the individual simultaneously, sequentially or separately with the administration of the antibody molecule or conjugate. When the additional treatment is administered simultaneously with the antibody molecule or conjugate, the antibody molecule and the additional treatment can be administered to the individual as a combined preparation. For example, the additional therapy can be a known therapy or therapeutic agent for the disease to be treated.

[0532] In a preferred example, the antibody molecules described herein or pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same can be used in methods for treating cancer.

[0533] Cancer can be characterized by the abnormal proliferation of malignant cancer cells.

[0534] In some embodiments, the tumor is an abnormally proliferative tumor of EGFR-positive malignant tumor cells or c-Met-positive malignant cancer cells.

[0535] In some embodiments, the tumor is a c-Met-positive malignant tumor cell or an abnormally proliferative tumor.

[0536] In some embodiments, the tumor is EGFR / / c-Met double positive tumor cells.

[0537] EGFR positive tumors are generally tumors with EGFR activating mutations. EGFR activating mutations are EGFR mutations that result in activation of the EGF / EGFR signaling pathway. EGFR activating mutations may be important for the cancerous state of the tumor. The reason why such tumors may be resistant to EGFR targeted therapy is through activation of the HGF / c-Met signaling pathway. The tumor may also be a tumor associated with HGF. Activation of the c-Met / HGF signaling pathway is one of the ways in which EGFR positive tumors may escape treatment with EGFR targeted therapy. The antibodies of the present invention are particularly suitable for treating HGF-related tumors or HGF-dependent tumors, tumors in which activation of the c-Met / HGF signaling pathway is associated with the presence or excess of HGF. Compared with HGF / c-Met signaling negative tumor cells, positive tumor cells in which the HGF / c-Met signaling pathway is activated have a more superior selective growth advantage.

[0538] In some embodiments, the cancer treated using the antibody molecules described herein can be selected from the group consisting of lung cancer (e.g., non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)), pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, renal cancer, gastric cancer, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, or glioblastoma.

[0539] In one embodiment, the cancer to be treated is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

[0540] In one embodiment, the cancer is gastric cancer.

[0541] In some embodiments, the cancer is pancreatic cancer.

[0542] In some embodiments, the treatment may include inhibiting cancer growth, including complete remission of cancer, and / or inhibiting cancer metastasis, and inhibiting cancer recurrence. Cancer growth generally refers to any of a variety of indicators that indicate changes within the cancer to a more developed form. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the attached claims, or the drawings, are expressed in their specific form or in means for performing the disclosed functions, or methods or processes for obtaining the disclosed results (as the case may be). These features may be used alone or in any combination to implement the present disclosure in its different forms.

[0543] Although the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with the above exemplary embodiments, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given the present disclosure. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments disclosed above are considered to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Various changes may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0544] To avoid any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided to enhance the reader's understanding. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

[0545] Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

[0546] Throughout this specification, including the appended claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "comprise" and "comprising" and variations such as "include", "includes" and "including", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a specified integer or step or groups of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or groups of integers or steps.

[0547] It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value and / or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another example includes from one particular value and / or to another particular value. Similarly, when a value is expressed as an approximation by using the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another example. The term "about" in relation to a numerical value is optional and means, for example, + / - 10%. Specific embodiments

[0549] The present invention is further described below by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the examples.

[0550] The experimental methods in the following embodiments where specific conditions are not specified are performed under conventional conditions, or under conditions recommended by raw material or product manufacturers, or according to the experimental methods described in biotechnology textbooks such as Molecular Cloning, Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Contemporary Molecular Biology Methods, Cell Biology, etc. Reagents where specific sources are not specified are conventional reagents purchased through commercial channels.

[0551] The reagents and raw materials used in the present invention are commercially available.

[0552] Example 1 Construction, expression, assembly and purification of the anti-c-Met / EGFR bispecific antibody BT461-DB

[0553] 1.1 Construction of BT461-DB

[0554] The construction of anti-c-Met / EGFR antibody BT461-DB is based on Genmab's dual antibody platform technology. The heavy chain of the anti-EGFR antibody was mutated (F405L, K214R, D356E, L358M), and the heavy chain of the anti-c-Met antibody was mutated (K409R, K214R, D356E, L358M) by genetic engineering technology. Then, the nucleotide sequences of the light chain and heavy chain of the anti-c-Met or anti-EGFR antibody were constructed into PEE6.4 and PEE12.4 expression vectors, respectively, to obtain the light and heavy chain plasmids of the anti-c-Met or anti-EGFR antibody, and then the light and heavy chain plasmids were connected by SalI / NotI enzyme (NEB), and the two nucleotide sequences were constructed into the same PEE expression vector (pHR plasmid) to obtain a plasmid that co-expresses the light and heavy chains of the anti-c-Met or anti-EGFR antibody.

[0555] The amino acid sequence of the binding arm A of the bispecific antibody embodiment of the present invention is shown in Example 1, comprising the light chain, heavy chain, variable region and CDR sequences of Tables 2 and 3, and the amino acid sequence of the binding arm B is shown in Example 1, comprising the light chain, heavy chain, variable region and CDR sequences of Tables 4 and 5.

[0556] The amino acid sequences of the heavy chain and light chain of the anti-EGFR antibody are as shown in Table 2. The sequence numbers of the amino acid sequences of the heavy chain and light chain and each segment contained therein are shown in Table 1.

[0557] The amino acid sequences of the heavy and light chains of the anti-c-MET antibody are shown in Table 3. The sequence numbers of the amino acid sequences of each segment of the heavy and light chains are shown in Table 1.

[0558] Table 1 The sequence numbers of the amino acid sequences of the binding arm components and ligands of BT461 (BT461 DB for short) of the Dubody structure

[0559]

[0560] Table 2 Amino acid sequence of binding arm A

[0561]

[0562] Table 3. Exemplary CDR sequences of binding arm A

[0563]

[0564]

[0565] Table 4 Amino acid sequence of binding arm B

[0566]

[0567]

[0568] Table 5. Exemplary CDR sequences included in binding arm B

[0569] Combination Arm B VLBCDR1 SVSSSVSSIYLH (SEQ ID NO: 28) VLBCDR2 STSNLAS (SEQ ID NO: 29) VLBCDR3 QVYSGYPLT (SEQ ID NO: 30) VHBCDR1 DYYMH (SEQ ID NO: 25) VHBCDR2 RVNPNRRGTTYNQKFEG(SEQ ID NO:26) VHBCDR3 ANWLDY (SEQ ID NO: 27)

[0570] The encoding nucleic acids of binding arm A and binding arm B are shown in Table 6.

[0571] Table 6 Nucleic acid encoding binding arm

[0572]

[0573]

[0574] 1.2 Expression and purification of anti-EGFR antibody (BT461-DB-EGFR) and anti-c-Met antibody (BT461-DB-c-Met)

[0575] According to the manufacturer's instructions, pHR plasmid DNA encoding anti-EGFR antibody and anti-c-Met antibody proteins were transiently transfected into CHO-K1 cells knocked out of the FUT8 gene using the ExpiFectamine CHO transfection kit (Gibco), and the transfected cells were placed in OPM-CD TransCHO (OPM, P83059) expression medium and cultured in a shaker at 37°C and 125rpm for 14 days, and the cell supernatant was collected. The resulting cell suspension (CHO-K1 cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells, ATCC, CCL-61) was centrifuged (5000rpm, 30mins), and the supernatant was filtered (using a 0.22um filter membrane) and then purified by affinity chromatography.

[0576] Affinity chromatography capture of EGFR and c-Met arms: Mab Select Sure LX filler (cytiva) was used, with a retention time of 6 minutes. The fermentation supernatant was loaded onto the chromatography column with a loading capacity of 40 mg protein per ml of filler. The target protein was in the eluent at pH 3.8. The specific experimental steps are shown in Table 7.

[0577] Table 7

[0578] step Buffer Column Volume (CV) balance 20 mM Pb, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 5 Loading Cell culture medium / balance 20 mM Pb, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 2 Rinse 1 20 mM NaAC, 0.5 M NaCl, pH 5.0 5 Rinse 2 20 mM NaAC, pH 5.0 4 Elution 20 mM NaAC, pH 3.8 6 CIP 0.2MNaOH 2 balance 20 Mm PB, 150 Mm NaCl, pH 7.4 2 save 20% ethanol 2

[0579] The obtained antibody solution was subjected to buffer exchange (buffer exchanged to PBS) and concentration through a 30KD ultrafiltration tube. The concentration of the obtained protein was tested by Nanodrop, and the purity was tested by HPLC-SEC.

[0580] 1.3 In vitro assembly and purification of BT461-DB

[0581] Assembly system: Using Fab exchange technology, anti-EGFR antibody (BT461-DB-EGFR) and anti-c-Met antibody (BT461-DB-c-Met) after affinity chromatography were assembled at a ratio of 1:1.1 (e.g. 8 mg of EGFR antibody arm, 8.8 mg of c-Met antibody arm), added to the reducing agent 2-MEA with a final concentration of 75 mmol / L, and reduced in a 31°C water bath for 5 h. G-25 desalting was used to remove the 2-MEA reducing agent and the solution was replaced with PBS, and the solution was oxidized at room temperature for 48 h. The oxidation buffer was PBS (pH 7.110, Cond: 16.376 mS / cm).

[0582] The configurations of the two single-arm reduction reaction systems are shown in Table 8.

[0583] Table 8

[0584] Samples and buffers Addition amount EGFR a mg c-Met 1.1amg 300mM2-MEA 0.25bml Final concentration 75mM 1MTris Adjust pH to 7.4 1XPBS Add reaction system to bml

[0585] The reaction system was placed in a water bath at 31°C for 5 hours to fully reduce the disulfide bonds between antibodies.

[0586] G25 chromatography has a molecular sieving effect and can separate large molecular antibodies from small molecule reducing agent 2-MEA. The experimental steps are shown in Table 9.

[0587] Table 9

[0588]

[0589] After loading, samples were collected and the peak range of UV280 was 100-100mAU.

[0590] The purification system is: cationic chromatography, and the filler used is Boglund Diamond SP Mustang. The polymer fragments existing in the expression process of the two antibodies and the excess c-Met in the assembly process cause the samples after oxidation to contain product-related impurities. There is a difference in the isoelectric point between the double antibody and the product-related impurities, and the impurities can be removed by cations. Mobile phase A: 20mM NaAc pH5.0; mobile phase B 20mM NaAc, 1M NaCl pH5.0. The experimental steps are shown in Table 10.

[0591] Table 10

[0592]

[0593]

[0594] During the elution process, the peak range of cationic UV280 is 100-100mAU. When the peak shows an inflection point, the tube is changed for collection. The cationic elution samples are sent for SEC, NR-CE, and CEX.

[0595] The test results showed that the SEC monomer purity of BT461-DB was 99.66%, the polymer accounted for 0.27%, the fragment accounted for 0.08%, and the NR-CE-SDS (non-reducing capillary gel electrophoresis) monomer purity was 96.2%, which met the requirements of subsequent research.

[0596] 1.3 In vitro assembly and purification of BT461-DB

[0597] Assembly system: Using Fab exchange technology, anti-EGFR antibody (BT461-DB-EGFR) and anti-c-Met antibody (BT461-DB-c-Met) after affinity chromatography were assembled at a ratio of 1:1.1 (e.g. 8 mg of EGFR antibody arm, 8.8 mg of c-Met antibody arm), added to the reducing agent 2-MEA with a final concentration of 75 mmol / L, and reduced in a 31°C water bath for 5 h. G-25 desalting was used to remove the 2-MEA reducing agent and the solution was replaced with PBS, and the solution was oxidized at room temperature for 48 h. The oxidation buffer was PBS (pH 7.110, Cond: 16.376 mS / cm).

[0598] The configurations of the two single-arm reduction reaction systems are shown in Table 11.

[0599] Table 11

[0600] Samples and buffers Addition amount EGFR a mg c-Met 1.1amg 300mM2-MEA 0.25bml Final concentration 75mM 1MTris Adjust pH to 7.4 1XPBS Add reaction system to bml

[0601] The reaction system was placed in a water bath at 31°C for 5 hours to fully reduce the disulfide bonds between antibodies.

[0602] G25 chromatography has a molecular sieving effect and can separate large molecular antibodies from small molecular reducing agent 2-MEA. The experimental steps are shown in Table 12

[0603] Table 12

[0604]

[0605] After loading, samples were collected and the peak range of UV280 was 100-100mAU.

[0606] The purification system is: cationic chromatography, and the filler used is Boglund Diamond SP Mustang. The polymer fragments existing in the expression process of the two antibodies and the excess c-Met in the assembly process cause the samples after oxidation to contain product-related impurities. There is a difference in the isoelectric point between the double antibody and the product-related impurities, and the impurities can be removed by cations. Mobile phase A: 20mM NaAc pH5.0; mobile phase B 20mM NaAc, 1M NaCl pH5.0. The experimental steps are shown in Table 13.

[0607] Table 13

[0608]

[0609] During the elution process, the peak range of cationic UV280 is 100-100mAU. When the peak shows an inflection point, the tube is changed for collection. The cationic elution samples are sent for SEC, NR-CE, and CEX.

[0610] The test results showed that the SEC monomer purity of BT461-DB was 99.66%, the polymer accounted for 0.27%, the fragment accounted for 0.08%, and the NR-CE-SDS (non-reducing capillary gel electrophoresis) monomer purity was 96.2%, which met the requirements of subsequent research.

[0611] Example 2 Evaluation of the binding activity of BT461-DB to EGFR and c-Met antigen proteins

[0612] 2.1 Targeting c-Met protein

[0613] C-MET-HIS (Bipsys, C-MET-H5227) was diluted to 2μg / mL with coating solution (take 8ml of 0.2mol / L Na2CO3, mix 17ml of 0.2mol / L NaHCO3, add 75ml of distilled water, and adjust the pH to 9.6), and the coating amount of 50μL / well was added to the wells of the ELISA plate, and incubated at 37°C for 2 hours. Discard the liquid in the wells, and wash 5 times with a plate washer, 200μL / time of washing solution (PBST, 0.05% Tween-20 added to the PBS diluent). Add 200μL of blocking solution (PBST+5% skim milk powder) to each well and incubate at 4°C overnight. Discard the liquid in the wells, and wash 5 times with a plate washer (tecan, model Hydrospeed) with 200μL / time of washing solution. Add 50 μL of BT461 and Avanto (Johnson, batch number MAS0001) at a concentration of 20 μg / mL, 5-fold dilution, 7 gradient antibodies, and set up a blank control; incubate at 37°C for 60 minutes; discard the liquid in the wells, wash 5 times with a plate washer, 200 μL / time of washing solution. Add 50 μL of Goat-anti-human-IgG-Fc-Secondary-Antibody (Jackson, 1:10000 dilution) secondary antibody to each well, incubate at 37°C for 60 minutes; discard the liquid in the wells, wash 5 times with a plate washer, 200 μL / time of washing solution. Add 50 μL / well of colorimetric solution and incubate at 37°C for 15 minutes. Add 50 μL / well of 2 mol / L H2SO4 to terminate the reaction, and read the OD450 value on the microplate reader. The results of ELISA-binding activity analysis are shown in Table 14 and Figure 1 As shown in A.

[0614] 2.2 Targeting EGFR protein

[0615] EGFR-HIS (Bipsys, EGR-H5222) was diluted to 2μg / mL with coating solution (take 8ml of 0.2mol / L Na2CO3, mix 17ml of 0.2mol / L NaHCO3, add 75ml of distilled water, and adjust the pH to 9.6), and the coating amount of 50μL / well was added to the wells of the ELISA plate, and incubated at 37°C for 2 hours. Discard the liquid in the wells, and wash 5 times with a plate washer, using 200μL / time of washing solution (PBST, 0.05% Tween-20 added to the PBS diluent). Add 200μL of blocking solution (PBST+5% skimmed milk powder) to each well and incubate at 4°C overnight. Discard the liquid in the wells, and wash 5 times with 200μL / time of washing solution using a plate washer (tecan, model Hydrospeed). Add 50 μL of anti-c-Met / EGFR dual antibody (BT461, Avanto) at a concentration of 20 μg / mL, 5-fold dilution, 7 gradient antibodies to each well, and set up a blank control at the same time; incubate at 37°C for 60 minutes; discard the liquid in the wells, wash 5 times with 200 μL / time of washing solution using a plate washer. Add 50 μL of Goat-anti-human-IgG-Fc-Secondary-Antibody (Jackson, 1:10000 dilution) secondary antibody to each well, incubate at 37°C for 60 minutes; discard the liquid in the wells, wash 5 times with 200 μL / time of washing solution using a plate washer. Add 50 μL / well of colorimetric solution and incubate at 37°C for 15 minutes. Add 50 μL / well of 2 mol / L H2SO4 to terminate the reaction, and read the OD450 value on the microplate reader. The results of ELISA-binding activity analysis are shown in Table 14 and Figure 1 As shown in B.

[0616] Table 14 EC50 of the binding of the bispecific antibodies of the present invention to c-Met and EGFR proteins

[0617] EC50(ng / mL) BT461-DB BT461-KIH HGFR-his 8.216 6.684 EGFR-his 1300 807.2

[0618] From Table 14 and Figure 1 It can be seen that the antibody BT461-DB can specifically bind to human c-Met protein and EGFR protein, and its binding activity is consistent with that of the BT461-KIH antibody.

[0619] Example 3 Evaluation of the binding activity of BT461-DB to CHO-K1 cells overexpressing EGFR and c-Met

[0620] 3.1 BT461 targets CHO-K1 cells overexpressing c-Met membrane protein

[0621] In order to detect the specificity of the antibody of the present invention binding to the c-Met membrane protein on the cell surface, we stably overexpressed the human c-Met membrane protein in CHO-K1 cells (hamster ovary cell substrain, ATCC#CCL-61) by plasmid electroporation and drug screening. The CHO-K1-c-Met cells overexpressing human c-Met were digested and counted, resuspended in a 96-well plate (3E5 cells were added to each well), and washed with PBS (twice); a blank control group and an experimental group were set up on the 96-well plate, and the antibody BT461 and Evantor (concentration of 20μg / mL) were added to the wells of the experimental group and diluted into 7 gradients with 5-fold concentration by gradient dilution method; the 96-well plate was placed at 4°C for incubation for 30mins, centrifuged (1000rpm, 2mins), and the liquid in the wells was removed. Then wash with PBS (200 μL / time, 2 times); add PE-anti-human-IgG-Fc-Secondary-Antibody (Jackson, 1:10000 dilution, 50 μL) to each well, incubate at 4°C for 30 mins, centrifuge (1000 rpm, 2 mins), remove the liquid and wash with PBS (200 μL / time, 2 times); add PBS (200 μL / well) to each well, resuspend the cells, and read with a flow cytometer. The results of FACS-binding activity analysis are shown in Table 15 and Figure 2 As shown in A.

[0622] 3.2 Similarly, we stably overexpressed human EGFR membrane protein in CHO-K1 cells (hamster ovary cell substrain, ATCC#CCL-61) by plasmid electroporation and drug screening to detect the specificity of the antibody of the present invention binding to the EGFR membrane protein on the cell surface. The CHO-K1-EGFR cells overexpressing human EGFR were digested and counted, resuspended in a 96-well plate (3E5 cells were added to each well), and washed with PBS (twice); a blank control group and an experimental group were set up on the 96-well plate, and anti-c-Met / EGFR antibody BT461 and Evantor (at a concentration of 20 μg / mL) were added to the wells of the experimental group and diluted to 7 gradients with a 5-fold concentration by gradient dilution method; the 96-well plate was placed at 4°C for incubation for 30 minutes, centrifuged (1000 rpm, 2 minutes), and the wells were removed. After the liquid in the well was removed, the cells were washed with PBS (200 μL / time, 2 times); PE-anti-human-IgG-Fc-Secondary-Antibody (Jackson, 1:10000 dilution, 50 μL) was added to each well, incubated at 4°C for 30 mins, centrifuged (1000 rpm, 2 mins), and the liquid was removed and washed with PBS (200 μL / time, 2 times); PBS (200 μL / well) was added to each well, the cells were resuspended, and the flow cytometer was used for reading. The results of FACS-binding activity analysis are shown in Table 15 and Figure 2 As shown in B.

[0623] Table 15. EC50 of binding of BT461-DB to cells expressing c-Met and / or EGFR membrane proteins

[0624] EC50(ng / mL) BT461-DB BT461-KIH CHOK1-HGFR 266.2 270.4 CHOK1-EGFR 1725 1962

[0625] The results showed that the antibody BT461-DB of the present invention bound to the EGFR or c-Met protein expressed on the surface of CHO-K1 cells with EC50 of 1725 ng / mL and 266.2 ng / mL, respectively, which was consistent with the binding activity of the antibody BT461-KIH (1962 ng / mL and 270.4 ng / mL, respectively).

[0626] Example 4 Specific binding of BT461-DB to EGFR / c-Met double positive tumor cells MKN45 cells

[0627] In order to further detect the binding of the antibody of the present invention to tumor cells expressing dual targets, we digested and counted MKN45 (Shine Bio, catalog number SNL-173) cells that highly expressed EGFR and c-Met membrane proteins, resuspended them in a 96-well plate (3E5 cells were added to each well), and washed with PBS (twice); a blank control group and an experimental group were set up on the 96-well plate, and anti-c-Met / EGFR antibody BT461 and Avanto (at a concentration of 20 μg / mL) were added to the wells of the experimental group and diluted into 7 gradients with a 5-fold concentration using a gradient dilution method; the 96-well plate was placed at 4°C and incubated for 30 minutes s, centrifuged (1000rpm, 2mins), removed the liquid in the plate wells and washed with PBS (200μL / time, 2 times); added PE-anti-human-IgG-Fc-Secondary-Antibody (Jackson, 1:10000 dilution, 50μL) to each well, incubated at 4°C for 30mins, centrifuged (1000rpm, 2mins), removed the liquid and washed with PBS (200μL / time, 2 times); added PBS (200μL / well) to each well, resuspended the cells, and read with a flow cytometer. The results of FACS-binding activity analysis are shown in Table 16 and Figure 3 shown.

[0628] The results showed that the binding activities of antibodies BT461-DB and BT461-KIH with MKN45 were basically the same, and their EC50 were 829.2 ng / mL and 809.5 ng / mL, respectively.

[0629] Table 16

[0630] EC50(ng / mL) BT461-DB 829.2 BT461--KIH 809.5

[0631] Example 5 Antagonizing the binding of ligands HGF and EGF to target proteins EGFR and c-Met

[0632] 5.1 Antagonizing the binding of EGF to EGFR

[0633] EGF-mFC (Biopsy, catalog number EGF-H525b) was diluted to 5 μg / mL with coating solution (8 ml of 0.2 mol / L Na2CO3, 17 ml of 0.2 mol / L NaHCO3, 75 ml of distilled water, and pH adjusted to 9.6), and coated into the wells of the ELISA plate at a volume of 50 μL / well, incubated at 37°C for 2 hrs, and washed with washing solution (PBST, 0.05% Tween-20 was added to the PBS diluent) after removing the liquid (200 μL / time, 5 times); 200 μL of blocking solution was added to each well, and incubated at 4°C overnight, and washed with washing solution after removing the liquid (200 μL / time, 5 times); a blank control group and an experimental group were set up on the ELISA plate, and EGFR-his (25 μL, 4 μg / mL) and anti- c-Met / EGFR antibody was diluted into 7 gradients with 5-fold concentration by gradient dilution method, incubated at 37°C for 120mins, washed with washing solution (200μL / time, 5 times) after removing the liquid; Goat-anti-HIS-Fc-Secondary-Antibody (Jackson, 1:10000 dilution) was added to each well, washed with washing solution (200μL / time, 5 times) after removing the liquid; color development solution (50μL / well) was added to each well, incubated at 37°C for 15mins, H2SO4 aqueous solution (50μL / well, 2mol / L) was added to terminate the reaction, and the OD450 value was read on the microplate reader. The results of ELISA-blocking activity analysis are shown in Table 17 and Figure 4 As shown in A.

[0634] 5.2 Antagonizing the binding of HGF to c-Met

[0635] HGFR-hfc (Biopsy, catalog number MET-H5256) was coated with a coating solution (0.2 mol / L Na2CO38ml, 0.2mol / LNaHCO317ml mixed, then add 75ml distilled water, adjust pH to 9.6) diluted to 2μg / mL, and coated into the wells of the ELISA plate at a volume of 50μL / well, incubated at 37°C for 2hrs, removed the liquid and washed with washing solution (PBST, 0.05% Tween-20 was added to the PBS diluent) (200μL / time, 5 times); added 200μL blocking solution to each well, and incubated at 4°C overnight, removed the liquid and washed with washing solution (200μL / time, 5 times); set up a blank control group and an experimental group on the ELISA plate, added 25μL of HGF-HIS (Bipsis, product number HGF-H52H3) with a concentration of 200ng / mL and 500μg / mL of antibody BT461-DB, BT461-KIH and diluted to 7 gradients with 5-fold concentration by gradient dilution method, incubated at 37°C for 120mins, removed the liquid and washed with washing solution (200μL / time, 5 times); added Goat-anti-human-his-Secondary-Antibody (Jackson, catalog number: 109-005-098, 1:10000 dilution) to each well, removed the liquid and washed with washing solution (200μL / time, 5 times); added color development solution (50μL / well) to each well, incubated at 37°C for 15mins, added H2SO4 aqueous solution (50μL / well, 2mol / L) to terminate the reaction, and read the OD450 value on the microplate reader. The results of ELISA-blocking activity analysis are shown in Table 17 and Figure 4 As shown in B.

[0636] Table 17. IC50 of blocking the binding of HGF, EGF to proteins EGFR and c-Met

[0637] IC50(ng / mL) BT461-DB BT461-KIH HGF 456.4 543.3

[0638] from Figure 4 A shows that antibodies BT461-DB and BT461-KIH can block the binding of ligand EGF to receptor EGFR, and the blocking level is consistent. Figure 4 B shows that antibodies BT461-DB and BT461-KIH can both block the binding of ligand HGF to receptor c-Met, and the blocking levels are basically the same. The IC50 of antibodies BT461-DB and BT461-KIH are 456.4 ng / mL and 543.3 ng / mL, respectively.

[0639] Example 6 Detection of the affinity of antibody BT461-DB to antigen based on biolayer interferometry (BLI)

[0640] 6.1 Binding kinetics of the bispecific antibody of the present invention against recombinant human EGFR-His

[0641] EGFR-His (ACRO, catalog number EGR-H5222) was diluted from 100nM in gradient dilution with PBST, and the gradient dilution method was used to dilute it 2-fold to 7 concentration points, and a zero concentration reference well was set. The antibody c-Met / EGFR bispecific antibody BT461-DB and the control antibody BT461-KIH (JH021 / B / 2024015) were diluted to 5μg / mL respectively. The molecular interaction instrument (Fortebio, manufacturer: Sartorius, model: Octet R8) was set to run at 30°C and 1000rpm. The coated AHC2 probe (Sartorius, catalog number 18-5142) was used to capture the antibody, with a capture time of 180s; the gradient diluted EGFR-HIS sample was bound for 120s; the dissociation time was 300s; and the regeneration buffer (10mM glycine, PH 1.7) was used to regenerate 3 times, 30s each time. The detection was performed on the machine using ForteBio's Octet System. After obtaining the sensorgram data, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) were analyzed using OctetBLI Analysis software to fit the ideal binding and dissociation curves, such as Figure 5 As shown in A and 5B, the equilibrium dissociation constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen was calculated and the results are shown in Table 18.

[0642] 6.2 Binding kinetics of the bispecific antibody of the present invention against recombinant human c-Met-His

[0643] As in Example 6.1, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) of BT461-DB and BT461-KIH with c-Met-HIS (Biopsy, c-Met-H5227) were analyzed using Octet BLI Analysis software to fit the ideal binding and dissociation curves, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown in C and 5D, the equilibrium dissociation constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen was calculated.

[0644] Table 18. c-Met-HIS affinity and EGFR-HIS affinity

[0645]

[0646]

[0647] The results are shown in Table 18. The affinities of BT461-DB and BT461-KIH to c-Met-his are 0.766 nM and 0.929 nM, respectively, which are basically consistent. BT461-DB and BT461-KIH also have consistent affinities to EGFR-HIS, which are 21.93 nM and 19.85 nM, respectively. The affinities of the two arms of the BT461-DB antibody differ by more than 20 times.

[0648] Example 7 Evaluation of affinity between FC of antibody BT461-DB and receptor protein

[0649] 7.1 Detection of the binding affinity of BT461-DB antibody to FcγRI (CD64)

[0650] Based on the bio-layer interferometry (BLI) technology, the JH021 antibody was diluted with PBST to a gradient with a starting concentration of 250 nM, and then diluted 2-fold to 7 concentration points, and a zero concentration control well was set. The FcγRI (CD64) receptor protein was diluted to 5 μg / mL with Loading Buffer ((1×PBS, pH7.4, with 0.02% Tween-20, 0.1% BSA)) and immobilized on the HIS1K sensor (brand: Sartorius, catalog number: 18-5120, batch number: 2301012611), with a threshold of 0.5 nm and an immobilization time of 180 s. The molecular interaction instrument ForteBio's Octet System (brand: Sartorius, model: Octet R8) was set up with the following operating conditions: temperature 30°C, shake speed 1000rpm. The immobilized HIS1K probe was used to bind to the gradient diluted sample, with a binding time of 120s and a dissociation time of 300s; regeneration buffer (10mM glycine, PH 1.7) was used for 30s. The on-machine detection was performed using ForteBio's Octet System. After obtaining the sensorgram data, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) were analyzed using Octet BLI Analysis 12.2 software, and the ideal binding and dissociation curves were fitted to calculate the affinity constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen. The results are shown in Table 19: The binding affinities of BT461-DB, BT461-KIH and FcγRI (CD64) were 2.28E-07 and 2.33E-07, respectively, which were not much different.

[0651] 7.2. Detection of antibody binding affinity to FcγRⅢA (CD16a-F176)

[0652] The affinity test of JH021 antibody binding to Human FcγRⅢA (CD16a-F176) (Brand: ACRO, Catalog No.: CDA-H5220, Batch No.: 2415-226YF1-1J9) based on biolayer interferometry (BLI) technology was performed. JH021 antibody was gradiently diluted with PBST, with a starting concentration of 5000nM, and then 2-fold gradient dilution was performed in sequence to 7 concentration points, and a zero concentration control well was set. The FcγRⅢA (CD16a-F176) receptor protein was diluted to 5 μg / mL with Loading Buffer ((1×PBS, pH7.4, with 0.02% Tween-20, 0.1% BSA)) and immobilized to the HIS1K sensor (brand: Sartorius, item number: 18-5120, batch number: 2301012611), with a threshold of 0.5 nm and a solidification time of 180 s. The molecular interaction instrument ForteBio's Octet System (brand: Sartorius, model: Octet R8) was set up with the following operating conditions: temperature 30°C, shake speed 1000 rpm. The immobilized HIS1K probe was used to bind to the gradient diluted sample, with a binding time of 120 s and a dissociation time of 300 s; regeneration was performed with regeneration buffer (10 mM glycine, pH 1.7) for 30 s. The detection was performed on the ForteBio's Octet System. After obtaining the sensorgram data, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) were analyzed using Octet BLI Analysis12.2 software, the ideal binding and dissociation curves were fitted, and the affinity constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen was calculated. The results are shown in Table 19: The binding affinities of BT461-DB, BT461-KIH and FcγRⅢA (CD16a-F176) were 3.30E-07 and 2.68E-07, respectively, which were not much different.

[0653] 7.3 Detection of antibody binding affinity to FcγRⅢA (CD16a-V176)

[0654] The affinity test of JH021 antibody binding to Human FcγRⅢA (CD16a-V176) (Brand: ACRO, Catalog No.: CD8-H52H4, Batch No.: 1824-21BCF1-196) based on biolayer interferometry (BLI) technology was performed. JH021 antibody was gradiently diluted with PBST, with a starting concentration of 2500nM, and then 2-fold gradient dilution was performed in sequence to 7 concentration points, and a zero concentration control well was set. The FcγRⅢA (CD16a-V176) receptor protein was diluted to 10 μg / mL with Loading Buffer ((1×PBS, pH7.4, with 0.02% Tween-20, 0.1% BSA)) and immobilized to the HIS1K sensor (brand: Sartorius, item number: 18-5120, batch number: 2301012611), with a threshold of 0.5 nm and a solidification time of 180 s. The molecular interaction instrument ForteBio's Octet System (brand: Sartorius, model: Octet R8) was set up with the following operating conditions: temperature 30°C, shake speed 1000 rpm. The immobilized HIS1K probe was used to bind to the gradient diluted sample, with a binding time of 120 s and a dissociation time of 300 s; regeneration was performed with regeneration buffer (10 mM glycine, pH 1.7) for 30 s. The detection was performed on the ForteBio's Octet System. After obtaining the sensorgram data, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) were analyzed using Octet BLI Analysis12.2 software, the ideal binding and dissociation curves were fitted, and the affinity constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen was calculated. The results are shown in Table 19: The binding affinities of BT461-DB, BT461-KIH and FcγRⅢA (CD16a-V176) were 2.65E-08 and 2.26E-08, respectively, which were not much different.

[0655] 7.4 Detection of antibody binding affinity to FcγRⅢB (CD16b)

[0656] Based on the bio-layer interferometry (BLI) technology, the JH021 antibody was diluted with PBST to a gradient with a starting concentration of 5000 nM, and then diluted 2-fold to 7 concentration points, and a zero concentration control well was set. The FcγRⅢB (CD16b) receptor protein was diluted to 5 μg / mL with Loading Buffer ((1×PBS, pH7.4, with 0.02% Tween-20, 0.1% BSA)) and immobilized on the HIS1K sensor (brand: Sartorius, catalog number: 18-5120, batch number: 2301012611), with a threshold of 0.5 nm and an immobilization time of 180 s. The molecular interaction instrument ForteBio's Octet System (brand: Sartorius, model: Octet R8) was set up with the following operating conditions: temperature 30°C, Shakespeed 1000rpm. The immobilized HIS1K probe was used to bind to the gradient diluted sample, with a binding time of 120s and a dissociation time of 300s; regeneration buffer (10mM glycine, PH 1.7) was used for 30s. The on-machine detection was performed using ForteBio's Octet System. After obtaining the sensorgram data, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) were analyzed using Octet BLI Analysis 12.2 software, and the ideal binding and dissociation curves were fitted to calculate the affinity constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen. The results are shown in Table 19: The binding affinities of BT461-DB, BT461-KIH and FcγRⅢB (CD16b) were 1.44E-05 and 1.42E-05, respectively, which were basically consistent.

[0657] 7.5 Detection of antibody binding affinity to FcγRⅡA (CD32a)

[0658] Based on the bio-layer interferometry (BLI) technology, the affinity detection of JH021 antibody and Human FcγRⅡA (CD32a) (brand: ACRO, catalog number: CDA-H5221, batch number: 1822-216TF1-139) was performed. FcγRⅡA (CD32a) was gradiently diluted with PBST, with a starting concentration of 2000nM, and then 2-fold gradient dilution was performed in sequence to 7 concentration points, and a zero concentration control well was set. The JH021 antibody receptor protein was diluted to 20μg / mL with Loading Buffer ((1×PBS, pH7.4, with 0.02% Tween-20, 0.1% BSA)) and immobilized on the ProA sensor (brand: Sartorius, catalog number: 18-5010, batch number: 2302000611), with a threshold of 2.0nm and an immobilization time of 180s. The molecular interaction instrument ForteBio's Octet System (brand: Sartorius, model: Octet R8) was set up with the following operating conditions: temperature 30°C, Shakespeed 1000rpm. The immobilized ProA probe was used to bind to the gradient diluted sample, with a binding time of 120s and a dissociation time of 300s; regeneration was performed with a regeneration buffer (10mM glycine, PH 1.7) for 30s. The on-machine detection was performed using ForteBio's Octet System. After obtaining the sensorgram data, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) were analyzed using Octet BLI Analysis 12.2 software, and the ideal binding and dissociation curves were fitted to calculate the affinity constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen. The results are shown in Table 19: The binding affinities of BT461-DB, BT461-KIH and FcγRⅡA (CD32a) were 1.52E-06 and 1.53E-06, respectively, which were basically consistent.

[0659] 7.6 Detection of antibody binding affinity to FcγRⅡB / C (CD32b / c)

[0660] Based on the biolayer interferometry (BLI) technology, the JH021 antibody was diluted with PBST to a gradient with a starting concentration of 5000 nM, and then diluted 2-fold to 7 concentration points, and a zero concentration control well was set. The FcγRⅡB / C (CD32b / c) receptor protein was diluted to 5 μg / mL with Loading Buffer ((1×PBS, pH7.4, with 0.02% Tween-20, 0.1% BSA)) and immobilized on the HIS1K sensor (brand: Sartorius, catalog number: 18-5120, batch number: 2301012611), with a threshold of 0.5 nm and an immobilization time of 180 s. The molecular interaction instrument ForteBio's Octet System (brand: Sartorius, model: Octet R8) was set up with the following operating conditions: temperature 30°C, shake speed 1000rpm. The immobilized HIS1K probe was used to bind to the gradient diluted sample, with a binding time of 120s and a dissociation time of 300s; regeneration buffer (10mM glycine, PH 1.7) was used for 30s. The on-machine detection was performed using ForteBio's Octet System. After obtaining the sensorgram data, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) were analyzed using Octet BLI Analysis 12.2 software, and the ideal binding and dissociation curves were fitted to calculate the affinity constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen. The results are shown in Table 19: The binding affinities of BT461-DB, BT461-KIH and FcγRⅡB / C (CD32b / c) were 1.65E-06 and 1.16E-06, respectively, which were basically consistent.

[0661] 7.7 Detection of antibody binding affinity to Fc Rn

[0662] Based on the bio-layer interferometry (BLI) technology, the JH021 antibody was gradiently diluted with PBST, with a starting concentration of 1000nM, and then 2-fold gradient dilution was performed to 7 concentration points, and a zero concentration control well was set. The FcRn receptor protein was diluted to 2μg / mL with Loading Buffer ((1×PBS, pH7.4, with 0.02% Tween-20, 0.1% BSA)) and immobilized on the SA sensor (brand: Sartorius, catalog number: 18-5019, batch number: 2309011711), with a threshold of 2.5nm and an immobilization time of 180s. The molecular interaction instrument ForteBio's Octet System (brand: Sartorius, model: Octet R8) was set up with the following operating conditions: temperature 30°C, shake speed 1000rpm. The immobilized SA probe was used to bind to the gradient diluted sample, with a binding time of 120s and a dissociation time of 300s; regeneration buffer (10mM glycine, PH 1.7) was used for 30s. The on-machine detection was performed using ForteBio's Octet System. After obtaining the sensorgram data, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) were analyzed using Octet BLI Analysis 12.2 software, and the ideal binding and dissociation curves were fitted to calculate the affinity constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen. The results are shown in Table 19: The binding affinities of BT461-DB and BT461-KIH to Fc Rn were 2.28E-07 and 2.33E-07, respectively, which were basically consistent.

[0663] 7.8 Detection of antibody binding affinity to C1q

[0664] Based on the bio-layer interferometry (BLI) technology, the affinity detection of JH021 antibody and Human C1q (brand: Abcam, catalog number: AB282858, batch number: 1034803-2) was performed. C1q was gradient diluted with PBST, with a starting concentration of 100nM, and then 2-fold gradient dilution was performed in sequence to 7 concentration points, and a zero concentration control well was set. The JH021 antibody receptor protein was diluted to 20μg / mL with Loading Buffer ((1×PBS, pH7.4, with 0.02% Tween-20, 0.1% BSA)) and immobilized on the FAB2G sensor (brand: Sartorius, catalog number: 18-5125, batch number: 2212007211), with a threshold of 2.5nm and an immobilization time of 180s. The molecular interaction instrument ForteBio's Octet System (brand: Sartorius, model: Octet R8) was set up with the following operating conditions: temperature 30°C, shake speed 1000rpm. The immobilized FAB2G probe was used to bind to the gradient diluted sample, with a binding time of 120s and a dissociation time of 300s; regeneration buffer (10mM glycine, PH 1.7) was used for 30s. The on-machine detection was performed using ForteBio's Octet System. After obtaining the sensorgram data, the binding constant (ka) and dissociation constant (kd) were analyzed using Octet BLI Analysis 12.2 software, and the ideal binding and dissociation curves were fitted to calculate the affinity constant KD (kd / ka) between the antibody and antigen. The results are shown in Table 19: The binding affinities of BT461-DB, BT461-KIH and C1q were 1.12E-08 and 1.62E-08, respectively, which were basically consistent.

[0665] Table 19. Affinity test results of antibody BT461-DB and FC receptor protein

[0666]

[0667] Example 8 Antibody BT461-DB inhibits EGFR autophosphorylation and c-Met autophosphorylation

[0668] To explore whether the anti-c-Met / EGFR bispecific antibody can inhibit the signaling pathways of c-Met and EGFR, we measured the changes in the phosphorylation levels of EGFR and c-Met, respectively.

[0669] Western blot analysis

[0670] Non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells were seeded in 6-well plates (4×10 5 / well), after adhesion, control group and experimental group were set up on 6-well plates, and IgG1, Evantol, BT461-DB, BT461-KIH at a concentration of 250 μg / mL were added to the negative group, control group and experimental group (BT461-DB, BT461-KIH) in a medium containing 100 ng / mL EGF-mFC (Bipusais) + 100 ng / mL HGF-his (Bipusais) with 1% serum. After reacting for 15 minutes, RIPA-lysis buffer (150 μL, Biyuntian) was added and lysed at 0°C (on ice) for 30 mins; loading buffer (containing reducing agent β-mercaptoethanol (Life Technologies)) was added to each well. Technologies), boiled at 95°C for 10 minutes to denature the protein; used Tris-SDS as the electrophoresis buffer, and subjected the denatured protein to electrophoresis (the denatured protein was loaded into the wells of a 10% PAGE precast gel (Genscript)). After the electrophoresis, the protein was transferred to a PVDF membrane using a transfer buffer containing 20% ​​methanol, and then the PVDF membrane was blocked with 5% skim milk at room temperature for 1 hour; anti-c-Met antibody (invitrogen, RJ243364) or anti-EGFR antibody (ABCAM, ab52894) or anti-GAPDH antibody (S The cells were incubated with anti-p-EGFR antibody (R&D, AF1095), anti-p-C-Met antibody (Cellsignaling, #3077S) or anti-p-EGFR antibody (R&D, AF1095), incubated overnight at 4°C, and washed with TBST (3 times, each time for 10 mins); at room temperature, goat anti-mouse / rabbit IgG (H+L) HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (1:3000 dilution) was added to each well, incubated for 1 h, and washed with TBST (3 times, each time for 10 mins); at room temperature, the cells were reacted with ECL substrate (Sangong, l115AA0118) for 1 min and developed using a chemiluminescence system.

[0671] The development results are as follows Figure 6 As shown, stimulation with HGF-his (100 μg / mL) and EGF-mfc (100 μg / mL) for 15 min can activate the phosphorylation of EGFR and c-Met in A549 cells; on this basis, the addition of BT461-DB or BT461-KIH can significantly inhibit the intracellular pc-Met (Y1234 / 1235) phosphorylation level and slightly inhibit the p-EGFR (Y1173) phosphorylation level.

[0672] Example 9 Antibody BT461 mediates internalization and degradation of target protein

[0673] Using pHAb probe to draw internalization curves of gradient antibody concentrations

[0674] Take 100μg of secondary antibody Goat-anti-human-IgG-Fc-Secondary-Antibody and use ultrafiltration tube to exchange dissolution buffer, add 500μl 10mM sodium bicarbonate (pH 8.5), 15000rpm, 4℃, 10mins, repeat twice. Add 25μl DMSO-water Mix (1:1) solution to 250μg pHAb Reative Dyes (Promega, -80℃ storage) to dissolve and obtain 10mg / mL dye mother solution. Bind pHAb reactive dye to antibody, antibody-dye ratio is 100μg:1.2μL, shake at room temperature for 60 minutes. Use desalting column to remove unreacted dye. Centrifuge the column at 900g for 2mins, drop the dye and antibody binding mix on the center of the desalting column bevel, centrifuge with the bevel facing outward, 900g, 2mins; after collection, detect antibody concentration and dye-antibody ratio.

[0675] MKN45 cell count, 3E5 cells were added to each well of a U-bottom 96-well plate, centrifuged at 1000rpm for 2min, and washed twice with PBS. Antibodies BT461-DB, BT461-KIH, BT461-DB-EGFR, BT461-DB-c-Met, and IgG1 were added to the wells for gradient dilution, with a starting concentration of 20μg / mL, 5-fold dilution, 7 points, 50μL of antibody was added to each well, and a blank control was set at the same time; incubated at 4℃ for 30min; centrifuged at 1000rpm for 2min, the liquid in the well was discarded, PBS washing solution, 200μL / time washing twice, and operated on ice. 50μl of dye-labeled secondary antibody (diluted 1:200) was added to the wells, one of the plates was placed in a 37℃ incubator for incubation, and the other plate was placed in a 4℃ refrigerator for incubation. After 4h, PBS was washed twice and resuspended in 200μl PBS. Flow cytometry detection (PE fluorescence excitation and reception were taken).

[0676] The results are as follows Figure 7 As shown, antibody BT461-DB promotes the internalization of the target protein, and its internalization efficiency is consistent with that of BT461-KIH, and the internalization level mediated by the anti-c-Met antibody arm is greater than that mediated by the anti-EGFR antibody arm.

[0677] Example 10 Evaluation of ADCC Levels Mediated by BT461-DB Antibody

[0678] The ADCC biological activity of the antibody was detected by ADCC Reporter Bioassay. The ADCC reporter system used in this example was ADCC Reporter Bioassay (Suzhou Ruian, RA-CK01), and the fluorescent substrate was Bio-Turbo-One-Step Firefly Luciferase Assay Kit (Suzhou Ruian, RA-GL03).

[0679] 10.1 Target cells are CHOK1-EGFR

[0680] CHOK1-EGFR cells (overexpressing EGFR membrane protein) in the logarithmic growth phase were taken as target cells, digested and counted, and resuspended in culture medium (Gibco, F12K + 10% FBS). The cell density of the obtained suspension was 2.5E5 / mL, and 96-well plates (96-well opaque flat-bottom white plates, Costar, 3917) were spread, 100 μL per well, and cultured for 6 hours to make them adhere to the wall. After the cells adhered to the wall, the culture medium was aspirated, washed once with PBS, and the corresponding antibodies were diluted to the corresponding gradient concentrations in 1640 + 1% FBS culture medium according to the distribution of the wells of the experimental group and the control group, and added to the corresponding wells, 50 μL per well; 37°C, 5% CO2, incubated for 45 minutes. ADCC reporter cells were collected and resuspended in 1640 + 1% FBS culture medium (1E6) without phenol red, 25,000 / well, 25 μL per well, so that the effector cells: target cells = 1:1. After 6 h of incubation in the incubator, the plate was brought to room temperature for equilibrium, 75 μL of luciferase substrate was added to each well, incubated for 3 min, and the CTG reading was detected using a microplate reader (PerkinElmer). Figure 8 A and Table 20.

[0681] from Figure 8 As can be seen from data A, both antibodies BT461-DB and BT461-KIH mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against CHOK1-EGFR target cells, and the ADCC levels were similar.

[0682] 10.2 Target cells are CHOK1-c-Met

[0683] CHOK1-c-Met cells (overexpressing c-Met membrane protein) in the logarithmic growth phase were taken as target cells, digested and counted, and resuspended in culture medium (Gibco, F12K + 10% FBS). The cell density of the obtained suspension was 2.5E5 / mL, and 96-well plates (96-well opaque flat-bottom white plates, Costar, 3917) were spread, 100 μL per well, and cultured for 6 hours to make them adhere to the wall. After the cells adhered to the wall, the culture medium was aspirated, washed once with PBS, and the corresponding antibodies were diluted to the corresponding gradient concentrations in 1640 + 1% FBS culture medium according to the well plate distribution of the experimental group and the control group, and added to the corresponding wells, 50 μL per well; 37°C, 5% CO2, co-incubated for 45 minutes. ADCC reporter cells were collected and resuspended in 1640 + 1% FBS culture medium (1E6) without phenol red, 25,000 / well, 25 μL per well, so that the effector cell: target cell = 1:1. After 6 h of incubation in the incubator, the plate was brought to room temperature for equilibrium, 75 μL of luciferase substrate was added to each well, incubated for 3 min, and the CTG reading was detected using a microplate reader (PerkinElmer). Figure 8 B and Table 20.

[0684] from Figure 8 As can be seen from data B, both antibodies BT461-DB and BT461-KIH mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against CHOK1-c-Met target cells, and the ADCC levels were similar.

[0685] Table 20. EC50 of antibody-mediated ADCC killing curves

[0686] EC50(ng / mL) BT461-DB BT461-KIH hIgG1 CHOK1-c-Met 162.0 126.5 NA CHOK1-EGFR 185.2 153.4 NA

[0687] 10.3 Target cells are non-small cell lung cancer cell line HCC827

[0688] HCC827 tumor cells in the logarithmic growth phase were taken as target cells, digested and counted, and resuspended in culture medium (Gibco, RPM1640 + 10% FBS). The cell density of the obtained suspension was 2.5E5 / mL, and 96-well plates (96-well opaque flat-bottom white plates, Costar, 3917) were spread, 100 μL per well, and cultured for 6 hours to make them adhere to the wall. After the cells adhered to the wall, the culture medium was aspirated, washed once with PBS, and the corresponding antibodies were diluted to the corresponding gradient concentrations in 1640 + 1% FBS culture medium according to the distribution of the wells of the experimental group and the control group, and added to the corresponding wells, 50 μL per well; 37 ° C, 5% CO2 co-incubated for 45 minutes. ADCC reporter cells were collected and resuspended in 1640 + 1% FBS culture medium (1E6) without phenol red, 25,000 / well, 25 μL per well, so that the effector cell: target cell = 1:1. After 6 h of incubation in the incubator, the plate was brought to room temperature for equilibrium, 75 μL of luciferase substrate was added to each well, incubated for 3 min, and the CTG reading was detected using a microplate reader (PerkinElmer). Fig. 9 shown.

[0689] from Fig. 9 It can be seen from the data that both antibodies BT461-DB and BT461-KIH mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against HCC827 tumor cells, and the ADCC levels were similar, with EC50 of 52.58 ng / mL and 41.67 ng / mL, respectively, and maximum killing release fluorescence of 247.6*10^3 and 255.3*10^3, respectively; in addition, the experimental results also showed that 461-DB-mediated ADCC mainly depends on the BT461-DB-EGFR antibody arm.

[0690] Example 11 BT461-DB antibody inhibits tumor cell proliferation in vitro

[0691] In this example, non-small cell lung cancer EGFR mutant cells HCC827 (Punosai #CL-0094, EGFR exon 19 deletion) were selected, and HGF was overexpressed in HCC827 cells (lentiviral transfection, which can be autosecreting after expression). The 3D kit (Novozyme, DD1102) was used to detect the effects of the antibodies of the present invention on the proliferation of these cell lines.

[0692] Tumor cells growing in the logarithmic phase were taken, digested and inoculated into 96-well plates (2000 cells / well), and cultured overnight in complete culture medium; after removing the culture medium in the 96-well plate, 100 μL of anti-c-Met / EGFR antibodies BT461-DB, BT461-KIH, and control IgG1 (initial concentration of 500 μg / mL) diluted with complete cell culture medium were added and diluted into 5 gradients with 2-fold concentration using the gradient dilution method. After culturing in an incubator at a concentration of 5% CO2 atmosphere and a temperature of 37°C for 5 days, an equal volume of 3D reagent (Vazyme, Norwegian, catalog number DD1102) was shaken and mixed for 5 min until the cell clusters were completely lysed. After incubation for 25 min, 100 μL of the mixture was transferred to an opaque plate with a white bottom and detected using a TR-FRET microplate reader (PerkinElmer, model, catalog number).

[0693] The results are as follows Fig.10 As shown in A, the antibody BT461-DB of the present invention can significantly inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells HCC827-HGF (expressing HGF) at multiple gradient concentrations, wherein the inhibition level of HCC827-HGF cell proliferation is comparable to that of BT461-KIH.

[0694] Example 12 The in vitro efficacy of BT461-DB bispecific antibody has a synergistic effect

[0695] The experimental method was consistent with that in Example 11. HCC827-HGF tumor cells growing in the logarithmic phase were taken, digested and inoculated into a 96-well plate (2000 cells / well), and cultured overnight in complete culture medium. After removing the culture medium in the 96-well plate, 100 μL of antibodies BT461-DB, BT461-DB-EGFR, BT461-DB-c-Met, BT461-DB-EGFR and BT461-DB-c-Met diluted with complete cell culture medium were added in equal doses. The initial concentration was 500 μg / mL and the gradient dilution method was used to dilute the concentration by 2 times into 5 gradients. After culturing in an incubator for 5 days in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and a temperature of 37°C, an equal volume of 1% ... 3D reagent (Vazyme, Norwegian, catalog number DD1102) was shaken and mixed for 5 min until the cell clusters were completely lysed. After incubation for 25 min, 100 μL of the mixture was transferred to an opaque plate with a white bottom and detected using a TR-FRET microplate reader (PerkinElmer, model, catalog number).

[0696] The results are as follows Fig.10As shown in B, the efficacy of the antibody 461-DB of the present invention > combination > 461-DB-EGFR > 461-DB-c-Met, indicating that the anti-EGFR / c-Met dual-target antibody has a synergistic effect in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation in vitro.

[0697] Example 13 BT461-DB antibody inhibits the proliferation of osimertinib-acquired drug-resistant cells in vitro

[0698] 13.1 Construction of HCC827-HGF-OSI osimertinib-resistant cell line

[0699] In this example, the HCC827-HGF-OSI osimertinib-resistant cell line was obtained by gradient-increased administration.

[0700] HCC827-HGF cells were revived, cultured in 1640+10% FBS+1% double-antibody medium, and stably propagated for 2-3 generations to stabilize the cell properties.

[0701] Osimertinib induction: First, 100nM osimertinib was administered for 2 months; then 200nM osimertinib was administered for 1 month and cell proliferation was detected; then 400nM osimertinib was administered for 1 month and cell proliferation was detected; finally, 600nM osimertinib was administered for 1 month and cell proliferation was detected;

[0702] TKI resistance experiment:

[0703] (1) HCC827-HGF cell lines and non-drug-resistant HCC827-HGF cells in the logarithmic growth phase were obtained, and the cells were resuspended in complete medium after digestion, and the cell concentration was adjusted to 4E4 / mL. 50 μL of the cell suspension was added to each well of a 96-well plate (3599, corning), and the cells and osimertinib were co-incubated in an incubator for 3 days;

[0704] (2) After 3 days, the cells were removed from the incubator and allowed to equilibrate to room temperature;

[0705] (3) Take out the detection solution from -20°C in advance to melt, equilibrate to room temperature, add 100 μL of detection reagent to each well, mix on an oscillator at 300 rpm / min for 5 min, and then let it stand at room temperature for 25 min;

[0706] (4) Detection: Use a dispenser to pipette and mix the liquid in each well. Take out 100 μL from each well and transfer it to a new OptiPlate standard non-transparent microplate. Select CTG mode for reading.

[0707] The results are as follows Fig.11As shown, HCC827-HGF-OSI acquired resistance to osimertinib below 1 μM.

[0708] 13.2 In vitro efficacy of BT461-DB on osimertinib-resistant HCC827-HGF-OSI cell line

[0709] The test method is similar to that of Example 11. Tumor cells growing in the logarithmic phase were taken, digested and inoculated into a 96-well plate (2000 cells / well), and cultured overnight in complete culture medium. After removing the culture medium in the 96-well plate, 100 μL of anti-c-Met / EGFR antibodies BT461-DB, BT461-KIH, and control IgG1 (initial concentration of 500 μg / mL) diluted with complete cell culture medium were added and diluted into 5 gradients with a 2-fold concentration using a gradient dilution method. After culturing in an incubator for 5 days in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and a temperature of 37°C, an equal volume of 3D reagent (Vazyme, Norwegian, catalog number DD1102) was shaken and mixed for 5 min until the cell clusters were completely lysed. After incubation for 25 min, 100 μL of the mixture was transferred to an opaque plate with a white bottom and detected using a TR-FRET microplate reader (PerkinElmer, model, catalog number).

[0710] The results are as follows Fig.12 As shown in A, the antibody BT461-DB of the present invention can significantly inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells HCC827-HGF-osimertinib-resistant cells at multiple gradient concentrations, wherein the inhibition level of HCC827-HGF cell proliferation is comparable to that of BT461-KIH and Avanta.

[0711] 13.3 Evaluation of the synergistic effect of BT461-DB on the proliferation inhibition of osimertinib-resistant cells

[0712] The experimental method was consistent with that in Example 12. HCC827-HGF-OSI tumor cells growing in the logarithmic phase were taken, digested and inoculated into a 96-well plate (2000 cells / well), and cultured overnight in complete medium. After removing the medium in the 96-well plate, 100 μL of antibodies BT461-DB, BT461-DB-EGFR, BT461-DB-c-Met, BT461-DB-EGFR and BT461-DB-c-Met diluted with complete cell medium were added in equal doses, with an initial concentration of 500 μg / mL and diluted to 5 gradients with a 2-fold concentration by gradient dilution method. After culturing in an incubator for 5 days in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and a temperature of 37°C, an equal volume of 100 μL ... 3D reagent (Vazyme, Norwegian, catalog number DD1102) was shaken and mixed for 5 min until the cell clusters were completely lysed. After incubation for 25 min, 100 μL of the mixture was transferred to an opaque plate with a white bottom and detected using a TR-FRET microplate reader (PerkinElmer, model, catalog number).

[0713] The results are as follows Fig.12 As shown in B, the 461-EGFR monoclonal antibody has basically no effect on osimertinib-resistant cells, while the efficacy of the antibody 461-DB of the present invention is > 461-DB-c-Met> combination > 461-DB-EGFR, indicating that the anti-EGFR / c-Met dual-target antibody has a synergistic effect in inhibiting the proliferation of osimertinib-resistant tumor cells in vitro.

[0714] Example 14 In vivo study of tumor efficacy of bispecific antibodies

[0715] The in vivo antitumor activity of the anti-bispecific antibodies was evaluated in a mouse xenograft model of human non-small cell lung cancer HCC827-HGF cells (NSG, Vital River, 6 weeks old, female).

[0716] Human HCC827-HGF cells were propagated as monolayer cultures in vitro using RPM1640 + 10% FBS as complete culture medium. Cells in the logarithmic growth phase were digested and resuspended in serum-free culture medium / Matrigel (1:1) to obtain a suspension. Cells were cultured at 5×10 6 The mice were inoculated subcutaneously (sc) on the right side of the back to form tumors. Ten days after implantation, the mice were divided into five groups according to the tumor volume. The average tumor volume in each group was 80-100mm 3 Dosing was started around 14:00 p.m. IgG1 or antibody molecules were administered intravenously (IV) once a week for three weeks.

[0717] The experimental results are as follows Fig.13 As shown in the data, in the HCC827-HGF tumor model, the anti-tumor efficacy of BT461-DB and BT461-KIH was positively correlated with the dose. At a dose of 2 mg / kg, the TGI (tumor inhibition ratio) of BT461-DB and BT461-KIH were 67.7% and 64.2%, respectively; at a dose of 5 mg / kg, the TGI (tumor inhibition ratio) of BT461-DB and BT461-KIH were 122.9% and 120.4%, respectively.

Claims

1. A bispecific antibody comprising an antigen binding arm A that can specifically bind to human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and antagonize the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to EGFR, and an antigen binding arm B that can specifically bind to hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-Met) and antagonize the binding of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to c-Met, wherein: The binding arm A comprises light chain A (LCA) and heavy chain A (HCA), and the binding arm B comprises light chain B (LCB) and heavy chain B (HCB), wherein the LCA, HCA, LCB and HCB comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

2. The bispecific antibody according to claim 1, wherein the bispecific antibody has one or more of the following functions: (1) It can inhibit the autophosphorylation of EGFR mediated by the ligand EGF and the autophosphorylation of c-Met mediated by the ligand HGF; (2) capable of inhibiting the growth and proliferation of EGFR and / or c-Met double-positive human tumor cells, wherein: The effect of inhibiting the proliferation of EGFR and c-Met double positive tumor cells is stronger than the combination of EGFR monoclonal antibody and c-Met monoclonal antibody; (3) Ability to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC); (4) promoting the internalization of the target protein, and the internalization level mediated by the bispecific antibody is higher than the internalization level mediated by the c-Met-specific binding arm B or the EGFR-specific binding arm A; (5) It can inhibit the proliferation of osimertinib-acquired resistance cells.

3. The bispecific antibody according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The affinity of the bispecific antibody to c-Met is significantly higher than that to EGFR.

4. The bispecific antibody according to claims 1 to 3, wherein: The binding arm A comprises a light chain variable region A (VLA) and a heavy chain variable region A (VHA), and the binding arm B comprises a light chain variable region B (VLB) and a heavy chain variable region B (VHB), wherein the VHA and VLA of the binding arm A are derived from an IgG polypeptide A (IgG(A)) having a homodimeric structure comprising VHA and VLA, and the VHB and VLB of the binding arm B are derived from an IgG polypeptide B (IgG(B)) having a homodimeric structure comprising VHB and VLB; wherein the VHA comprises VHA CDR1, VHA CDR2 and VHA CDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 19, 20 and 21, respectively, the VLA comprises VLA CDR1, VLA CDR2 and VLA CDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 22, 23 and 24, respectively, the VHB comprises VHB CDR1, VHB CDR2 and VHB CDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 25, 26 and 27, respectively, and the VLB comprises VHB CDR1, VHB CDR2 and VHB CDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 28, 29 and 30, respectively. VLB CDR1, VLB CDR2 and VLB CDR3 of the amino acid sequences shown in NOs: 28, 29 and 30.

5. The bispecific antibody according to claim 4, wherein The VHA, VLA, VHB and VLB comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively.

6. The bispecific antibody according to claims 1 to 5, wherein: The binding arm A further comprises a heavy chain constant region A (CHA) and a light chain constant region A (CLA), and the binding arm B further comprises a heavy chain constant region B (CHB) and a light chain constant region B (CLB), wherein the CHA and the CHB are both IgG1 isotype heavy chain constant regions.

7. The bispecific antibody according to claims 1 to 6, wherein: The antigen CHA contains an Fc(A) region, and the Fc(A) region contains a CH3(A) region; the CHB contains an Fc(B) region, and the Fc(B) region contains a CH3(B) region, and the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region can form a heterodimer through interaction, and the heterodimer interaction is stronger than the homodimer interaction between the CH3(A) region and the CH3(B) region, or optionally, the CH3(A) of the antigen binding arm A and the CH3(B) of the antigen binding arm B both contain amino acid mutations that enhance the formation of heterodimers; Or optionally, wherein the CH3(A) comprises an amino acid mutation as shown in F405L, and the CH3(B) comprises an amino acid mutation as shown in K409R; or further optionally, both the Fc(A) and the Fc(B) comprise a combination of amino acid mutations that reduce immunogenicity.

8. The bispecific antibody according to claims 1 to 7, wherein: The Fc(A) comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:9, and the Fc(B) comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:

10.

9. The bispecific antibody according to claims 1 to 8, wherein: The CHA, CLA, CHB and CLB comprise the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13 and 14, respectively.

10. A composition encoding nucleic acids, comprising polynucleotide sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17 and 18, which can encode HCA, HCB, LCA and LCB of the bispecific antibody of claim 1, respectively. 11 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the bispecific antibody according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

12. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a second therapeutic agent or treatment regimen, the second therapeutic agent or treatment regimen comprising a chemotherapeutic drug, a DNA alkylating agent, an immunomodulator, a proteasome inhibitor, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, radiation therapy, stem cell transplantation, different bispecific antibodies that interact with different tumor cell surface antigens and T cell or immune cell antigens, an antibody drug conjugate, a bispecific antibody conjugated to an anti-tumor agent, a PD-1, PD-L1 or CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitor, or a combination thereof.

13. Use of the bispecific antibody of claims 1 to 9 or the pharmaceutical composition of claim 11 or 12 in the preparation of a therapeutic drug for treating a disease or tumor involving abnormal EGFR and c-Met cells and a therapeutic drug for inhibiting the growth or metastasis of tumors or cancer cells expressing EGFR and / or c-Met in a patient; in, The EGFR and c-Met abnormal cells include EGFR activating mutations, EGFR gene amplification, up-regulated HGF expression levels, c-Met activating mutations, c-Met gene amplification or mutant KRAS-related.

14. Use of the bispecific antibody according to claims 1 to 9 or the pharmaceutical composition according to claim 11 or 12 in the preparation of a medicament for treating osimertinib-resistant diseases.

15. The use according to claim 13 or 14, wherein: The tumor or cancer is one of epithelial cell cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, anal cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, pharyngeal cancer, nasal cancer, pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, tongue cancer, esophageal cancer, vaginal cancer, cervical cancer, spleen cancer, testicular cancer, gastric cancer, thymic cancer, thyroid cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, or sporadic or hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma; or optionally, the cancer is one of non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer.

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