Therapeutic binding molecules

Abstract

To provide an improved medicament for treating or preventing CCR9-mediated diseases or conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).SOLUTION: The invention relates to binding molecules, such as antibodies, that bind to the chemokine receptor CCR9. More specifically, the invention relates to the treatment of CCR9-mediated diseases or conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and methods for the detection of CCR9, which make use of the binding molecules of the invention.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to binding molecules, such as antibodies, that bind to the chemokine receptor CCR9. More specifically, the present invention relates to the treatment of diseases or conditions mediated by CCR9, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to methods for the detection of CCR9 using the binding molecules of the present invention. [Background technology]

[0002] IBD is a group of chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that are pathologically characterized by enteritis and epithelial damage. Two forms of IBD, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are associated with significant morbidity and can significantly impact an individual's quality of life and their ability to function.[1] These morbidities highlight the need for improved therapies for IBD.

[0003] Therapeutic interventions for IBD are adapted to address symptomatic response and subsequent tolerability of the intervention. Existing therapies include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and antibodies. However, despite these treatments, it is estimated that surgical intervention is required in up to two-thirds of patients with Crohn's disease during survival [2]. Clinical management of Crohn's disease has historically adopted a step-up approach beginning with steroids, immunosuppressants (thiopurines and methotrexate), and / or aminosalicylates, although evidence regarding the efficacy of the latter is very limited [3]. There are no licensed therapies that achieve long-lasting remission in the majority of patients.

[0004] Targeted anti-CCR9 antibodies have been proposed as a mechanism for the treatment of cancer. Aberrant CCR9 expression in ovarian, prostate, breast and melanoma cancers correlates with invasiveness in response to CCL25 in vitro. CCL25 binding enhances cell survival and resistance to apoptosis. Non-Patent Document 1 [4] and Patent Document 1 describe the mouse anti-CCR9 antibodies 91R (mouse anti-human CCR9 IgG2b) and 92R (mouse anti-human CCR9 IgG2a). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2015075269A1 Brochure [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] Somovilla-Crespo et al. 2018 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Thus, there exists a need for improved pharmaceuticals for treating or preventing such disorders.The present invention solves one or more of the problems set forth above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The inventors have found that the chemokine receptor, CCR9, is highly expressed in the colon and ileum of patients with IBD who co-express the inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17. The inventors have successfully created a binding molecule that binds to CCR9-expressing cells, inhibits the interaction between CCR9 and its natural ligand CCL25, and prevents CCL25-mediated CCR9 internalization. Advantageously, the binding molecule can induce the death of the CCR9-expressing cells to which it binds, for example, by mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against the CCR9-expressing cells to which it binds. The development of a binding molecule that inhibits the binding of CCL25 to CCR9 and induces the death of the CCR9-expressing cells to which it binds is particularly advantageous for subjects with IBD.

[0009] Thus, the present invention relates to a binding molecule that binds to CCR9. The binding molecule of the present invention preferably inhibits the binding of CCL25 to CCR9. The binding molecule of the present invention can preferably induce the death of the CCR9-expressing cells to which it binds. For example, the binding molecule may be capable of mediating an ADCC response against the cells to which it binds. The binding molecule of the present invention can preferably prevent or inhibit the migration of the CCR9-expressing cells to which it binds. For example, the binding molecule may prevent the migration of the CCR9-expressing cells in response to CCL25, or the binding molecule may prevent the migration of the CCR9-expressing cells from the periphery to the intestine of a subject.

[0010] In one aspect, the invention provides a binding molecule that binds to CCR9 and comprises a heavy chain variable (VH) region having a set of CDRs HCDR1, HCDR2 and HCDR3 and a light chain variable (VL) region having a set of CDRs LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3, wherein (a) the VH region amino acid sequence comprises HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 1, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 2 and HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 3, and the VL region amino acid sequence comprises LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 4 (RSSQSLVHX1NX2NTYLH, X1 and X2 are any amino acids), LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 5 and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 6; or (b) the VH region amino acid sequence comprises HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 7, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 8 and HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 9, and or (c) the VH region amino acid sequence comprises an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 13, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 14, and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 15, and the VL region amino acid sequence comprises an LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 16, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 17, and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 18, or any one or more of said HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 comprise one, two, or three amino acid substitutions compared to said sequences.

[0011] A binding molecule of the invention may comprise a VH region amino acid sequence comprising an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:1, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:2, and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:3, and an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:5 and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:6, and a VL region amino acid sequence comprising an LCDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:19 (RSSQSLVHX1NX2NTYLH, where X1 of SEQ ID NO:19 is P or S and X2 of SEQ ID NO:19 is R, T, or G), SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, and SEQ ID NO:22.

[0012] The binding molecules of the invention preferably comprise an immunoglobulin Fc domain, or a fragment thereof, that retains the ability to bind to one or more Fc receptors. For example, the binding molecule may comprise a human IgG1 Fc domain, or a fragment thereof. The binding molecules of the invention are preferably non-fucosylated. For example, the binding molecule may be non-fucosylated at amino acid position 297. The binding molecules of the invention may be present in a composition comprising multiple copies of said binding molecule, wherein at least 50%, 75%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or 100% of the copies of the binding molecule in the composition are non-fucosylated.

[0013] In another embodiment, the invention provides a binding molecule that binds to CCR9, which does not compete with another binding molecule of the invention for binding to CCR9, e.g., does not compete with a binding molecule as described above for binding to CCR9, e.g., does not compete with a binding molecule as described herein for use in therapy for binding to CCR9. The binding molecule of this embodiment can be used to determine the abundance of CCR9+ cells in a sample that has been contacted with a binding molecule of the invention.

[0014] Similarly, the invention provides a method for assessing depletion of CCR9-expressing cells by a binding molecule of the invention, comprising: (i) contacting the binding molecule with a population of cells (the population of cells comprising CCR9-expressing cells and immune effector cells) under conditions suitable to allow antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by effector cells; (ii) contacting the population of cells with a binding molecule that binds to CCR9 and does not compete with the binding molecule of step (i) for binding to CCR9; (iii) detecting CCR9-expressing cells in the population of cells bound by the binding molecule of step (ii); and (iv) comparing the amount of CCR9-expressing cells detected in step (iii) with the amount of CCR9-expressing cells in the original cell population used in step (i), thereby determining the amount of CCR9-expressing cells depleted in step (i).

[0015] The present invention also provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding any of the binding molecules of the present invention. Also provided is a vector comprising a polynucleotide of the present invention operably linked to a promoter. Also provided is a vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding a VH region of a binding molecule of the present invention and a polynucleotide encoding a VL region of a binding molecule of the present invention, the polynucleotides being operably linked to one or more promoters.

[0016] The invention provides a host cell comprising a polynucleotide of the invention or a vector of the invention. Also provided is a method of producing a binding molecule of the invention comprising expressing a polynucleotide of the invention or a vector of the invention in a host cell.

[0017] The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a binding molecule of the invention and a pharma- ceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

[0018] The present invention also relates to the use of the binding molecules of the invention in medicine, such as the binding molecules of the invention for use in therapy. The present invention relates to treating a disease or condition mediated by CCR9 in a subject by a method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a binding molecule of the invention, or a composition of the invention. The present invention also relates to treating a disease or condition mediated by CCR9 in a subject by a method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a binding molecule that binds to CCR9, said binding molecule being (i) capable of inhibiting binding of CCL25 to CCR9, and (ii) capable of mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against a CCR9-expressing cell to which it binds.

[0019] The binding molecules as described herein can also be used to detect CCR9. For example, the present invention provides a method for detecting the presence of a CCR9 polypeptide in a sample, comprising: (a) contacting the sample with a binding molecule that binds to CCR9, such as any of the binding molecules of the present invention or as described herein, to provide a binding molecule-antigen complex; (b) detecting the presence or absence of said binding molecule-antigen complex; (c) the presence of the binding molecule-antigen complex confirms the presence of a CCR9 polypeptide.

[0020] The present invention relates to improved anti-CCR9 antibodies and their use in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The present invention particularly relates to humanized, non-fucosylated monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to the CC motif chemokine receptor 9 (CCR9). Through its Fc receptor functionality, the binding of the antibody to the CCR9 receptor triggers an ADCC response that results in the depletion of the CCR9 expressing cell population. The antibody of the present invention is humanized and CDR optimized. The antibody is non-fucosylated without loss of potency. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1]CCR9 expression in various cell types. Figure 1A: Expression of CCR9 in CD4+ cells from cynomolgus and human cells blood, mesenteric lymph node (cynomolgus only), colon, ileum, and thymus; Figure 1B: Expression of CCR9 in B cells in the ileum (left) and colon (right) of healthy and IBD patients; Figure 1C: Expression of CCR9 in T effector cells and Tregs from the colon or ileum of healthy or IBD patients. [Diagram 2] Binding of inflammatory cytokines to CCR9 in CD4+ T cells. Figure 2A: IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17 expression in CCR9- and CCR9+ cells; Figure 2B: Fold change in expression levels of cytokines assessed in Figure 2A between CD4+CCD9- and CD4+CCR9+ cells. [Diagram 3] Aligned amino acid sequences of the variable regions of nine anti-CCR9 antibodies (Figure 3A: VH region; Figure 3B: VL region). The positions of the CDRs (HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3) are underlined. The positions of the framework (FW) regions are also indicated. [Figure 4] Aligned VH and VL regions of antibody AB1020243, a humanized form of the antibody (AB1020243-fgl), and two CDR-optimized forms of the antibody (243LO0326 and 243LO0331). [Diagram 5] Binding of anti-CCR9 antibodies to cells expressing or not expressing CCR9. FIG. 5A: Binding to Molt 4 cell line; FIG. 5B: Binding to Molt 4 and Jurkat cell lines. [Figure 6]As a binding control for AB1020243 to different forms of CCR9 in HEK cells, binding was assessed in HEK cells not transfected with CCR9 (parental HEK), then binding was also assessed in HEK cells overexpressing human CCR9A (Hu A HEK), HEK cells overexpressing human CCR9B (Hu B HEK), HEK cells overexpressing cynomolgus CCR9 (Cyno HEK), HEK cells overexpressing mouse CCR9 (Mouse HEK) and HEK cells overexpressing rat CCR9 (Rat HEK). [Figure 7] Activation of NK cells by nonfucosylated anti-CCR9 antibodies preincubated with CCR9A-expressing HEK cells (top) or Molt 4 cells (bottom). [Figure 8] Effect of treatment with anti-CCR9 antibodies on the number of CCR9+CD4+PBMC. [Figure 9] Comparison of binding of chimeric antibody AB1020243 and its humanized versions to various ligands. Figure 9A: human CCR9B; Figure 9B: cynomolgus CCR9; Figure 9B: CXCR1; Figure 9D: CXCR2; Figure 9E: CCR5; Figure 9F: CCR8; Figure 9G: HEK cells not transfected with CCR9. [Figure 10] Comparison of the AB1020243 antibody and its humanized version. FIG. 10A: NK cell activation after binding to the Molt 4 cell line; FIG. 10B: Kinetic properties of humanized and chimeric AB1020243 afuc antibodies. [Figure 11] Ability of anti-CCR9 antibodies to compete with CCL25 for binding to CCR9. [Figure 12] Binding of 243LO0326 and AB1020243 to ligands. Figure 12A: human CCR9A; Figure 12B: human CCR9B; Figure 12C: cynomolgus CCR9A; Figure 12D: CCR5; Figure 12E: CCR8; Figure 12F: CXCR1; and Figure 12F: CXCR2. [Figure 13]Amount of antibody AB1020243 or antibody 243LO0326 bound to the cell surface over time. Amount of antibody AB1020243 or antibody 243LO0326 bound to the cell surface over time (Figure 13A) as well as the effect of antibody or CCL25 treatment on CCR9 receptor levels at the cell surface over time (Figure 13B). [Figure 14] Effect of anti-CCR9 antibodies in killing Molt 4 cells FIG. 14A: PBMC and Jurkat cells (FIG. 14B); and human or cynomolgus PBMC (FIG. 14C). [Figure 15] Effect of fucosylation on potency Figure 15B: Effect of non-fucosylation on ADCC. Figure 15A: ADCC activity of fucosylated versus non-fucosylated species in a fucosylation spike test. RP: Relative potency. [Figure 16] Targeted in vivo depletion of CCR9+ T cells. Figure 16A: Effect of intravenous injection of 243LO0326 on the number of CCR9+ memory CD4+ T cells in the blood of cynomolgus monkeys. Figure 16B: High and low doses of 243LO0326 reduce CDR4+CCR9+ cells in the peripheral blood of cynomolgus monkeys within 2 days. Figure 16C: High and low doses of 243LO0326 reduce CDR4+CCR9+ cells in the ileum of cynomolgus monkeys as measured by FACS on day 15. Figure 16D: High and low doses of 243LO0326 reduce CDR4+CCR9+ cells in the intestinal mucosa of cynomolgus monkeys as measured by IHC on day 15. [Figure 17] Selective depletion of CCR9+ intestinal lymphocytes [Figure 18] Effect of 243LO0326 on IBD markers in human intestinal explants taken from IBD patients. Figure 18A: CCR9 levels; Figure 18B: IL-6 levels; Figure 18C: GM-CSF levels; Figure 18D: IL-22 levels. [Figure 19] Blocking CCR9 internalization 243LO0326 inhibited CCL25-induced CCR9 internalization. [Figure 20] CCR9A and CCR9B alignment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Singleton, et al., DICTIONARY OF MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 20 ED., John Wiley and Sons, New York (1994), and Hale & Marham, THE HARPER COLLINS DICTIONARY OF BIOLOGY, Harper Perennial, NY (1991) provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a general dictionary of many of the terms used in this disclosure.

[0023] The disclosure is not limited by the exemplary methods and materials disclosed herein, and any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure. Numeric ranges are inclusive of the numbers defining the range. Unless otherwise indicated, each and every nucleic acid sequence is written left to right in the 5' to 3' direction; amino acid sequences are written left to right in the amino to carboxy direction.

[0024] The headings provided herein do not limit the various aspects or embodiments of the disclosure.

[0025] Amino acids are referred to herein using the amino acid name, three-letter abbreviation, or one-letter abbreviation. The term "protein" as used herein includes proteins, polypeptides, and peptides. As used herein, the term "amino acid sequence" is synonymous with the terms "polypeptide" and / or "protein". In some cases, the term "amino acid sequence" is synonymous with the term "peptide". In some cases, the term "amino acid sequence" is synonymous with the term "enzyme". The terms "protein" and "polypeptide" are used interchangeably herein. In the present disclosure and claims, conventional one-letter and three-letter codes for amino acid residues may be used. The three-letter code for amino acids as defined in accordance with the IUPACIUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature (JCBN). It is also understood that due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, a polypeptide may be encoded by more than one nucleotide sequence.

[0026] Other definitions of terms may appear throughout the specification. Before describing the exemplary embodiments in more detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described, and may therefore vary. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims.

[0027] Where a range of values ​​is given, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each intervening value between the upper and lower limit of that range, to the nearest tenth of the lower limit, is also understood to be specifically disclosed. Each smaller range between any stated value or intervening value in a stated range and any other stated value or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the disclosure. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may be independently included or excluded in the range, and each range in which either limit is included, neither is included, or both are included in the smaller range, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. When a stated range includes one or both limits, ranges excluding either or both of the included limits are also included in the disclosure.

[0028] It should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to "an agent" includes a plurality of such agents, a reference to "the agent" includes a reference to one or more agents and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

[0029] "About" may generally mean an acceptable degree of error for the quantity being measured, given the nature or precision of the measurement method. Exemplary degrees of error are within 20 percent (%), typically within 10%, and more typically within 5% of a given value or range of values. Preferably, the term "about" is understood herein as ±(±)5% of the numerical value of the number being used, preferably ±4%, ±3%, ±2%, ±1%, ±0.5%, ±0.1%.

[0030] An embodiment described in this specification as "comprising" one or more features may also be considered as disclosing the corresponding embodiment "consisting of" and / or "consisting essentially of" such features.

[0031] The term "pharmaceutical acceptable," as used herein, means approved by a regulatory agency of the Federal or state government, or listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia, the European Pharmacopoeia, or other generally recognized pharmacopoeias, for use in animals, and more particularly in humans.

[0032] Concentrations, amounts, volumes, percentages, and other numerical values ​​may be presented herein in a range format, it being understood that such range formats are used merely for convenience and brevity and should be interpreted flexibly not only to include the numerical values ​​expressly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all individual numerical values ​​or subranges subsumed within the range, as if each numerical value and subrange were expressly recited.

[0033] The term "epitope" refers to a region of a target protein (eg, a polypeptide) capable of binding to (eg, bound by) a binding molecule of the invention.

[0034] "Binding affinity" generally refers to the overall strength of non-covalent interactions between a single binding site of a molecule (e.g., an antibody) and its binding partner (e.g., an antigen). Unless otherwise specified, as used herein, "binding affinity" refers to the intrinsic binding affinity, which reflects a 1:1 interaction between binding pair members (e.g., an antibody and an antigen). The affinity of a molecule X for its partner Y can generally be represented by a dissociation constant (KD). Affinity can be measured by common methods known in the art, including those described herein. Low affinity antibodies generally bind antigens slowly and tend to dissociate easily, while high affinity antibodies generally bind antigens more rapidly and tend to remain bound longer. Various methods for measuring binding affinity are known in the art, any of which can be used for the purposes of the present invention.

[0035] The potency of a binding molecule can be expressed as an IC50 value. IC50 is the median inhibitory concentration of a binding molecule. In functional assays, IC50 is the concentration that reduces a biological response by 50% of its maximum. IC50 can be calculated by a number of means known in the art.

[0036] The potency of a binding molecule can be expressed as an EC50 value. In functional assays, EC50 is the concentration that induces a median response between baseline and maximum after a specified exposure time. EC50 can be calculated by a number of means known in the art.

[0037] 5.1 Binding molecules The present invention relates to binding molecules that bind to CCR9. Chemokine receptor 9, CCR9 (also known as CDw199 and GPR-9-6), is a member of the beta chemokine receptor family. CCR9 is organized into 15 domains corresponding to an N-terminal extracellular domain (Nt), 7 transmembrane domains, 3 intracellular domains, 3 extracellular domains and an intracellular C-terminal domain (Ct). In humans, CCR9 exists in two isoforms, CCR9A and CCR9B. Isoform A has an additional 12 N-terminal amino acids and has a higher affinity for the ligand CCL25 compared to isoform B. Isoforms A and B are reported to be co-expressed in a ratio of 10:1. The previously described anti-CCR9 antibodies 91R and 92R bind only to isoform CCR9A and not CCR9B [4].

[0038] Without wishing to be bound by theory, our observation that a higher percentage of CCR9-positive CD4 T lymphocytes in the intestine co-express the inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17 compared to CCR9-negative CD4 T lymphocytes suggests that CCR9 may identify CD4 T lymphocytes that contribute to the pathogenesis of IBD.

[0039] The RNA, DNA and amino acid sequences of CCR9 are known to those skilled in the art and can be found in many databases, such as the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and UniProt databases. Examples of these sequences found in UniProt are P51686-1 for human CCR9A and P51686-2 for human CCR9B; Q0H741 for cynomolgus CCR9; Q9WUT7 for mouse CCR9; and Q8CH33 for rat CCR9.

[0040] In some embodiments, a binding molecule of the invention binds to human CCR9. In some embodiments, a binding molecule binds to human CCR9A and / or human CCR9B. In some embodiments, a binding molecule binds to human CCR9A and human CCR9B.

[0041] In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to CCR9 from a non-human mammalian species, such as a non-human primate. In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to cynomolgus monkey CCR9. In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to human and cynomolgus monkey CCR9, for example, to human CCR9A and human CCR9B as well as to cynomolgus monkey CCR9.

[0042] In some embodiments, the binding molecule does not bind to mouse and / or rat CCR9, hi some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to human and cynomolgus CCR9, e.g., human CCR9A and human CCR9B and cynomolgus CCR9, but does not bind to mouse or rat CCR9.

[0043] In some embodiments, the binding molecule selectively binds to CCR9 (also referred to interchangeably herein as specifically). By selective binding, it will be understood that the CDRs of the binding molecule both bind to CCR9 and do not have significant cross-reactivity to any other molecule. In particular, a binding molecule that selectively binds to CCR9 may not have significant cross-reactivity to any other cytokine receptor. A binding molecule that selectively binds to CCR9 may not have significant cross-reactivity to any one, any two, any three, or all four of CCR5, CCR8, CXCR1, and CXCR2. For example, in some embodiments, the binding molecule does not bind to CCR5, CCR8, CXCR1, or CXCR2.

[0044] In some embodiments, a binding molecule that selectively binds to human CCR9, such as human CCR9A and / or human CCR9B, may not have significant cross-reactivity with CCR9 from another species, such as mouse and / or rat CCR9. In some embodiments, a binding molecule that selectively binds to human CCR9 may have cross-reactivity with closely related CCR9 molecules, such as cynomolgus monkey CCR9, but may not have significant cross-reactivity with more distantly related CCR9, such as mouse and / or rat CCR9.

[0045] Cross-reactivity can be assessed by any suitable method. For example, binding can be measured by assaying binding of the binding molecule to an overexpressing cell line expressing the receptor of interest. Binding can also be measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), BIACORE® (using recombinant CCR9 as the analyte and the binding molecule as the ligand, or vice versa), KINEXA®, ForteBio Octet system, or other binding assays known in the art. As a non-limiting example, cross-reactivity of a binding molecule with a molecule other than CCR9 can be considered significant if the binding molecule binds to the other molecule with at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 100% of the strength with which it binds to CCR9. A binding molecule that selectively binds to CCR9 may bind to another molecule, such as a different cytokine receptor, such as any one, two, three or all four of CCR5, CCR8, CXCR1, and CXCR2, with less than 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, 45%, 40%, 35%, 30%, 25% or 20% of the strength with which it binds to CCR9. Preferably, the binding molecule binds to other molecules with less than 20%, less than 15%, less than 10%, or less than 5%, less than 2% or less than 1% of the strength with which it binds to CCR9. As used herein, CCR9 is preferably a naturally occurring CCR9, such as human CCR9, such as human CCR9A and / or human CCR9B.

[0046] In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to cells expressing CCR9. The binding molecule may bind to a CCR9 receptor present in the cell membrane of the cell. The cell may be a cell that naturally expresses CCR9, or the cell may be engineered to express CCR9, such as by introducing a nucleic acid encoding CCR9 under conditions that allow expression of CCR9. The cell may be engineered to overexpress CCR9, such that the engineered cell line expresses higher levels of CCR9 than the corresponding unengineered cell. The cell may express human CCR9A or human CCR9B.

[0047] The cells may be a HEK cell line that has been engineered to express CCR9, such as human CCR9A and / or human CCR9B.

[0048] The Molt 4 cell line is a human T-lymphocyte cell line derived from acute lymphoblastic leukemia that naturally expresses CCR9 at high levels. The Molt 4 cell line can be obtained from ATCC, CRL-1582. In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to Molt 4 cells. In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to Molt 4 cells by binding to CCR9 on the surface of the Molt 4 cells or CCR9 present in the cell membrane of the Molt 4 cells.

[0049] In some embodiments, the binding molecule does not bind to cells that do not express CCR9, such as Jurkat cells. The Jurkat cell line can be obtained from the ATCC as Jurkat, clone E6.1. In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to CCR9 (e.g., human CCR9) with a dissociation constant (KD) of ≦1 μM, ≦100 nM, ≦10 nM, ≦5 nM, ≦1 nM, ≦0.5 nM, ≦0.1 nM, or ≦10 pM. In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to CCR9 (e.g., CCR9 present on Molt 4 cells) with a KD of between about 0.01 nM and about 0.45 nM, between about 0.025 nM and about 0.25 nM, or between about 0.05 nM and about 0.1 nM. In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to CCR9 (e.g., CCR9 present on Molt 4 cells) with a KD of about 0.09 nM.

[0050] In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to CCR9 (e.g., CCR9 present on Molt 4 cells) with a KD of between about 2 nM and about 5 nM, between about 2.5 nM and about 4 nM, or between about 3 nM and about 3.5 nM. In some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to CCR9 (e.g., CCR9 present on Molt 4 cells) with a KD of about 3.4 nM.

[0051] KD measurements (binding affinity) can be performed by any suitable assay known in the art. Suitable assays include affinity assays that can be performed via the Ligand Tracer system, KinExA system (e.g., KinExA 3100, KinExA 3200 or KinExA 4000) (Sapidyne Instruments, Idaho), or ForteBio Octet system.

[0052] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a CCR9 antagonist. For example, the binding molecule can prevent or inhibit the normal function of CCR9. For example, the binding molecule can prevent or inhibit the migration of CCR9-expressing cells by weakening the CCR9 present on the cells.

[0053] In some embodiments, the binding molecule inhibits the binding of a ligand to CCR9. For example, in some embodiments, the binding molecule binds to CCR9 and blocks or inhibits the binding of a ligand to the CCR9 molecule. This can be assessed by common methods known in the art, including those described herein.

[0054] The binding molecule can be a competitive inhibitor of CCR9.For example, the binding molecule can compete with the ligand of CCR9 for binding to CCR9.Competitive binding can be evaluated by general methods known in the art, including those described herein.

[0055] In some embodiments, the ligand of CCR9 is CCL25. CCL25 (also known as TECK) is a cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. The RNA, DNA and amino acid sequences of CCL25 are known to those skilled in the art and can be found in many databases, such as the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and UniProt databases. Examples of these sequences found in UniProt are O15444 for human CCL25; O35903 for mouse CCL25; Q32PX4 for rat CCL25 and A0A2K5TSD9 and A0A2K5TSC0 for cynomolgus monkey CCL25.

[0056] In some embodiments, the binding molecule blocks or inhibits the binding of CCL25 to CCR9. For example, CCL25 may have reduced binding to CCR9 in the presence of a binding molecule of the invention. In some embodiments, the binding molecule can bind to CCR9 present on the surface or membrane of a cell and inhibit the binding of CCL25 to CCR9 on the cell.

[0057] In some embodiments, the binding molecule can prevent or inhibit the migration of CCR9-expressing cells to which it binds. For example, cells bound by the binding molecule of the invention may migrate in response to a stimulus less efficiently than cells not bound by the binding molecule of the invention. In some embodiments, the binding molecule prevents or inhibits the migration of CCR9-expressing cells in response to CCL25. In some embodiments, the binding molecule can prevent or inhibit the migration of CCR9-expressing cells from the periphery to the intestine of a subject.

[0058] In some embodiments, a binding molecule of the invention can induce the killing of a CCR9-expressing cell to which it binds. For example, in some embodiments, a binding molecule can mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against a CCR9-expressing cell to which it binds. In some embodiments, a binding molecule can mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against a CCR9-expressing lymphocyte to which it binds. As used herein, "mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity" or "mediate ADCC" means that a binding molecule is capable of inducing ADCC.

[0059] ADCC is a mechanism of cell-mediated immune defense that activates immune effector cells to lyse target cells whose membrane surface antigens are bound by binding molecules. Examples of such immune effector cells include natural killer cells (NK cells), macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils. Thus, in some embodiments, the binding molecules can induce the activation of such immune effector cells. For example, the binding molecules of the present invention may be capable of inducing the activation of such immune effector cells when the binding molecules bind to CCR9-expressing cells.

[0060] In some embodiments, a binding molecule of the invention is capable of depleting CCR9-expressing cells in a population of cells that includes CCR9-expressing cells and immune effector cells.

[0061] The ability of a binding molecule to induce death, deplete or mediate ADCC on CCR9-expressing cells to which it binds can be determined using any of the methods described herein. For example, a binding molecule of the present invention can be incubated with PBMCs and the percentage of CD4+CCR9+ cells remaining at the end of the incubation period can be determined using a non-competitive CCR9 binding molecule. The change in concentration of the binding molecule can be used to calculate the concentration-dependent killing effect of the binding molecule. From this, the EC50 of the binding molecule can be calculated. As used herein, EC50 can be calculated based on the killing of CD4+CCR9+ cells by PBMCs after the binding of the binding molecule of the present invention to CD4+CCR9+ cells.

[0062] In some embodiments, the EC50 of the binding molecule of the invention (e.g., measured as described herein) is less than 100 nM, e.g., less than 50 nM, less than 25 nM, less than 10 nM, or less than 5 nM. The EC50 may be less than 3 nM, less than 2 nM, less than 1 nM, less than 500 pM, or less than 250 pM. The EC50 may be from about 2 pM to about 200 pM, e.g., from about 3.5 pM to about 200 pM. In some embodiments, the EC50 is from about 1 pM to about 5 nM, e.g., from about 4 pM to about 3 nM. In some embodiments, the EC50 is from about 2 nM to about 3 nM, e.g., from about 2.5 nM to about 3 nM, e.g., about 2.6 nM. In some embodiments, the EC50 is about 0.25 nM to about 2.5 nM, for example, about 0.5 nM to about 1 nM, for example, about 0.5 nM. In some embodiments, the EC50 is about 50 pM to about 250 pM, for example, about 150 pM to about 250 pM, for example, about 200 pM. In some embodiments, the EC50 is about 3.5 pM to about 50 pM, for example, about 3.5 pM to about 25 pM. In some embodiments, the EC50 is about 3.5 pM to about 5 pM, or about 4 pM to about 10 pM. In some embodiments, the EC50 is about 6 pM to about 60 pM, for example, about 25 pM to about 60 pM, preferably about 25 pM to about 35 pM, for example, about 30 pM.

[0063] In some embodiments, the EC50 of the binding molecule when it binds to human CCR9 is about 3.5 pM to about 10 pM, for example, about 4 pM to about 5 pM. In some embodiments, the EC50 of the binding molecule when it binds to cynomolgus monkey CCR9 is about 6 pM to about 60 pM, for example, about 25 pM to about 60 pM, preferably about 25 pM to about 35 pM, for example, about 30 pM.

[0064] To trigger ADCC, the binding molecule can crosslink immune effector cells to CCR9-expressing cells. Thus, in some embodiments, the binding molecule of the present invention can crosslink immune effector cells to CCR9-expressing cells. For example, the binding molecule may be able to crosslink immune effector cells to CCR9-expressing cells by binding to an Fc receptor on the immune effector cells. There are several Fc receptors specific for different antibody classes, including IgG (gamma receptors), IgE (eta receptors), IgA (alpha receptors) and IgM (mu receptors). Thus, in some embodiments, the binding molecule can bind to an Fc receptor. In some embodiments, the binding molecule can bind to an FcγR, such as a receptor selected from FcγRI, FcγRIIa, FcγRIIb, FcγRIIIa, and FcγRIIIb. In some embodiments, the binding molecule can bind to FcγRIIIa. In some embodiments, the binding molecule can bind to an Fc receptor present on an immune effector cell.

[0065] A binding molecule can be bound by an Fc receptor on an immune effector cell via an Fc domain present in the binding molecule. Thus, in some embodiments, a binding molecule of the invention comprises a region capable of binding to an Fc receptor, such as an Fc receptor as defined above. In some embodiments, a binding molecule comprises an immunoglobulin Fc domain, or a fragment thereof that retains the ability to bind to one or more Fc receptors, such as one or more Fc receptors as defined above. As used herein, the term "Fc domain" refers to a portion of a single immunoglobulin heavy chain that begins in the hinge region of an antibody and ends at the C-terminus of the antibody. Thus, a complete Fc domain can include at least a portion of a hinge (e.g., upper, middle, and / or lower hinge region), a CH2 domain, and a CH3 domain. In some embodiments, a binding molecule comprises a homodimer of Fc domains. In some embodiments, a binding molecule further comprises such an immunoglobulin Fc domain or a fragment thereof that includes a region that binds to CCR9. In some embodiments, the binding molecule is an immunoglobulin molecule or fragment thereof that comprises an antigen binding region that binds to CCR9 and an Fc binding region that binds to one or more Fc receptors as defined above.

[0066] In some embodiments, the Fc binding region, immunoglobulin Fc domain, or fragment thereof is an IgG Fc domain or fragment thereof, such as an IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 Fc domain or fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the Fc binding region, immunoglobulin Fc domain, or fragment thereof is an IgG1 Fc domain or fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the Fc binding region, immunoglobulin Fc domain, or fragment thereof is a human immunoglobulin Fc domain or fragment thereof, such as a human IgG1 Fc domain or fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises an immunoglobulin Fc domain having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 78. For example, in some embodiments, the Fc domain comprises amino acids 111-330 of SEQ ID NO: 78.

[0067] The binding of the binding molecule of the present invention to the Fc receptor on immune effector cells can crosslink the immune effector cells with the cells to which the antigen-binding portion of the binding molecule is bound. Thus, in some embodiments, the binding molecule of the present invention can induce immune effector cell activation. In some embodiments, the crosslinking of immune effector cells to CCR9-expressing cells by the binding molecule activates ADCC by the effector cells.

[0068] Immune effector cell activation can be evaluated by the methods described herein, such as by in vitro ADCC bioassay. Briefly, immune effector cells can be modified to express a reporter, such as a luciferase reporter, that acts as a surrogate for effector function. Immune effector cells containing such a reporter are added to target cells pre-incubated with binding molecules. After incubation of effector and target cells, reporter function (e.g., luminescence) is quantified. Thus, such methods can be used to identify binding molecules that can activate immune effector cells. For example, if the assay is to evaluate the effectiveness of a binding molecule to activate immune effector cells, the target cells can be cells known to express CCR9. Such methods can be used to identify target cells that express CCR9. For example, if the assay is to evaluate whether a target cell expresses CCR9, the binding molecule can be a binding molecule known to bind to CCR9, such as the binding molecule of the present invention.

[0069] In some embodiments, a binding molecule of the invention has an NK cell activation potency of ≦5 nM, such as ≦3 nM, ≦2 nM, ≦1 nM, or ≦0.5 nM, as determined using a HEK cell line expressing CCR9A. In some embodiments, a binding molecule of the invention has an NK cell activation potency of 0.8 nM as determined using a Molt 4 cell line. In some embodiments, activation of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by effector cells causes lysis of CCR9-expressing cells.

[0070] For a binding molecule to be considered capable of mediating ADCC against CCR9-expressing cells to which it binds, the binding molecule should have an immune effector cell activating potency, such as an NK cell activating potency of ≦20 nM as determined using a Molt 4 cell line, ≦30 nM as determined using a HEK cell line expressing CCR9A, and / or a PBMC killing EC50 of ≦3 nM.

[0071] In some embodiments, the binding molecules of the present invention provide altered effector functions that also affect the biological profile of the binding molecule. For example, modification of the glycosylation profile of the constant region domain of an immunoglobulin molecule can increase Fc receptor binding of the modified binding molecule. In other cases, constant region modifications consistent with the present invention can reduce complement binding. Still other modifications of the constant region can be used to remove disulfide bonds or oligosaccharide moieties that allow for enhanced localization by improving antigen specificity or antibody mobility. Similarly, modifications to the constant region according to the present invention can be readily made using well-known biochemical or molecular engineering techniques that are well within the purview of one skilled in the art.

[0072] Thus, in some embodiments, the binding molecules of the present invention may have enhanced effector functions that increase the ability of the binding molecule to interact with immune effector cells, e.g., increase the ability of the binding molecule to crosslink immune effector cells with CCR9-expressing cells bound by the binding molecule, or increase the ability of the binding molecule to induce ADCC. In some embodiments, the immunoglobulin Fc domain of the binding molecules provided herein is modified compared to the corresponding wild-type Fc domain, the modification resulting in increased affinity for one or more Fc receptors, preferably one or more Fcγ receptors. In some embodiments, the immunoglobulin Fc domain is modified compared to the corresponding wild-type Fc domain, the modification resulting in enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity response.

[0073] Binding molecules can be made with modified glycosylation, such as non-fucosylated / hypofucosylated binding molecules with reduced amounts of fucosyl residues or binding molecules with increased bisecting GlcNac structures. Such modified glycosylation profiles have been demonstrated to increase the ADCC ability of binding molecules. These modifications can be achieved by any means known in the art, such as those described in the Examples section herein.

[0074] Thus, in some embodiments, the binding molecules provided herein may be non-fucosylated. The binding molecules may not contain fucose. The binding molecules may contain at least one N-linked glycan that lacks a core fucose sugar unit.

[0075] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is nonfucosylated at EU position 297, also referred to herein as position N297 (Edelman et al., 1969, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 63(1):78-85). That is, the N-linked glycan at position N297 may be absent, may lack fucose, or may lack a core fucose sugar unit. The N-linked glycan at amino acid position N297 corresponds to position N180 in SEQ ID NO:78. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:78, and N180 of SEQ ID NO:78 is nonfucosylated. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises an Fc domain comprising amino acids 111-330 of SEQ ID NO:78, and N180 of SEQ ID NO:78 is nonfucosylated.

[0076] As described herein, the binding molecule may comprise an Fc domain or a fragment thereof, such as an hIgG1 Fc domain or a fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises a non-fucosylated Fc domain or a fragment thereof, such as a non-fucosylated hIgG1 Fc domain or a fragment thereof. Any of the Fc domains or Fc domain fragments as described herein may be present in a non-fucosylated form. The Fc domain or fragment may be free of fucose. At least one N-linked glycan of the Fc domain or fragment may lack a core fucose sugar unit. The Fc domain or fragment may be non-fucosylated at EU position 297. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises a non-fucosylated Fc domain comprising amino acids 111-330 of SEQ ID NO: 78. For example, the binding molecule may comprise a non-fucosylated Fc domain comprising amino acids 111-330 of SEQ ID NO: 78, where N180 of SEQ ID NO: 78 is non-fucosylated. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises a non-fucosylated Fc domain and a non-fucosylated Fc domain. For example, the binding molecule can comprise a non-fucosylated Fc domain comprising amino acids 111-330 of SEQ ID NO: 78 (N180 of SEQ ID NO: 78 is non-fucosylated) and a non-fucosylated Fc domain comprising amino acids 111-330 of SEQ ID NO: 78. In some embodiments, the binding molecule is completely non-fucosylated. For example, all of the N-linked glycans of the binding molecule can be non-fucosylated. In some embodiments, the Fc domain of the binding molecule is completely non-fucosylated. For example, all of the N-linked glycans of the Fc domain can be non-fucosylated.

[0077] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is present in a composition comprising multiple copies of said binding molecule, wherein at least 50%, 75%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or 100% of the copies of the binding molecule in the composition are non-fucosylated, e.g., lack fucose as described herein, lack a core fucose sugar unit in at least one N-linked glycan, or are non-fucosylated at EU position 297. In such compositions, the binding molecule has an amino acid sequence as disclosed herein, but the copies of the binding molecule in the composition may vary in their glycosylation patterns, e.g., some copies may comprise fucose and some copies may lack fucose, e.g., lack a core fucose sugar unit in at least one N-linked glycan, or are non-fucosylated at EU position 297, as described herein.

[0078] In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the CCR9-expressing cells are gut-resident cells. In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the CCR9-expressing cells are peripheral blood cells. In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the CCR9-expressing cells express CD4, CD8, CD20, CD19, CD69, and / or CD103. In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the CCR9-expressing cells express GM-CSF, IL-22, TNFα, IL-6, IFNγ, IL-4, and / or IL-17. For example, the CCR9-expressing cells may express IFNγ, IL-4, and / or IL-17. In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the CCR9-expressing cells are lymphocytes, such as gut-resident lymphocytes or peripheral blood lymphocytes. In some embodiments, the lymphocytes are T lymphocytes, such as CD4+ T lymphocytes. In some embodiments, the lymphocytes are B lymphocytes.

[0079] In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the immune effector cells are NK cells, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, or combinations thereof. In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the immune effector cells are NK cells.

[0080] A binding molecule of the invention may have any one or more of the functional characteristics detailed above. Additionally or alternatively, it may have any one or more of the structural (e.g., sequence) characteristics detailed below.

[0081] Figures 3 and 4 show selected sequences from exemplary binding molecules of the invention. The binding molecules shown in Figures 3 and 4 are antibodies, which comprise variable heavy domain (VH) and variable light domain (VL) region sequences as shown in these figures. A binding molecule of the invention may comprise the VH and VL of any antibody shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4. A binding molecule of the invention may comprise the VH and VL of any antibody shown in Figure 4.

[0082] Table 3 provides amino acid sequences of the VH and VL regions for exemplary binding molecules of the invention, and Table 4 provides CDR sequences for exemplary binding molecules of the invention. A binding molecule of the invention may comprise the VH and VL of any binding molecule shown in Table 3. A binding molecule of the invention may comprise the set of six CDRs (HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3) of any binding molecule shown in Table 4.

[0083] A binding molecule of the invention may comprise the CDR sequence of any antibody as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. For example, a binding molecule may comprise all six of the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences as shown for any one of the antibodies shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. A binding molecule of the invention may comprise the CDR sequence of any antibody as shown in FIG. 4. For example, a binding molecule may comprise all six of the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences as shown for any one of the antibodies shown in FIG. 4. A binding molecule of the invention may comprise a set of six CDRs as shown in Table 4. For example, a binding molecule may comprise all six of the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences as shown for any one of the antibodies shown in Table 4.

[0084] A binding molecule of the invention may comprise a heavy chain variable (VH) region having a set of CDRs HCDR1, HCDR2 and HCDR3, and a light chain variable (VL) region having a set of CDRs LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3. Thus, a binding molecule may comprise a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3 as shown for any one of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4, and a light chain variable region (VL) comprising LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3 as shown for the same antibody shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4. A binding molecule may comprise a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3 as shown for any one of the antibodies shown in Figure 4, and a light chain variable region (VL) comprising LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3 as shown for the same antibody shown in Figure 4. The binding molecule may comprise a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3 as shown for any one of the antibodies shown in Table 4, and a light chain variable region (VL) comprising LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3 as shown for the same antibody shown in Table 4.

[0085] For example, in some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:1, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:2, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:3, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:4, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:5 and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:6 (X1 and X2 of SEQ ID NO:4 are any amino acid); b) HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 7, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 8, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 9, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 10, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 11 and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 12; or c) HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 13, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 14, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 15, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 16, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 17 and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 18 Includes.

[0086] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 1, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 3, and a VL region comprising an LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 4, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 5, and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 6 (X1 and X2 in SEQ ID NO: 4 are any amino acid); b) a VH region comprising an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 7, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 8 and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 9, and a VL region comprising an LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 10, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 11 and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 12; or c) a VH region comprising an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 13, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 14, and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 15, and a VL region comprising an LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 16, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 17, and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 18. Includes.

[0087] The binding molecule may comprise an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:1, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:2, an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:3, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:5, an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:6, and an LCDR1 having an amino acid sequence selected from (a) SEQ ID NO:4; (b) SEQ ID NO:19; (c) SEQ ID NO:20; (d) SEQ ID NO:21; and (e) SEQ ID NO:22 (X1 and X2 of SEQ ID NO:4 are any amino acid, X1 of SEQ ID NO:19 is P or S, and X2 of SEQ ID NO:19 is R, T, or G). Thus, in some embodiments, the binding molecule may comprise: a) HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:1, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:2, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:3, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:4, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:5, and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:6 (X1 and X2 of SEQ ID NO:4 are any amino acid); b) HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:1, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:2, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:3, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:19, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:5, and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:6 (X1 of SEQ ID NO:19 is P or S, and X2 of SEQ ID NO:19 is R, T, or G); c) HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:1, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:2, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:3, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:20, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:5, and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:6; d) HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:1, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:2, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:3, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:21, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:5, and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:6; or e) HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:1, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:2, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:3, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO:22, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:5, and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO:6 Includes.

[0088] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 1, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 3, and a VL region comprising an LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 4, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 5, and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 6 (X1 and X2 in SEQ ID NO: 4 are any amino acid); b) a VH region comprising an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 1, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 3, and a VL region comprising an LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 19, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 5, and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 6 (X1 of SEQ ID NO: 19 is P or S, and X2 of SEQ ID NO: 19 is R, T, or G); c) a VH region comprising an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 1, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 3, and a VL region comprising an LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 20, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 5, and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 6; d) a VH region comprising an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 1, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 3, and a VL region comprising an LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 21, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 5, and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 6; or e) a VH region comprising an HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 1, an HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and an HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 3, and a VL region comprising an LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 22, an LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 5, and an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 6. Includes.

[0089] The present invention encompasses binding molecules as defined herein with the listed CDR sequences (reference binding molecules) and functional variants thereof. The functional variants bind to the same target antigen as the reference binding molecule, and preferably exhibit the same antigen cross-reactivity profile as the reference binding molecule. For example, the functional variants may bind to the same naturally occurring forms of CCR9 as the reference binding molecule, for example, the same subset of molecules from the following list: human CCR9A, human CCR9B, cynomolgus CCR9, rat CCR9 and mouse CCR9. The functional variants may have different affinities for the target antigen when compared to the reference binding molecule, but substantially the same affinity is preferred.

[0090] In some embodiments, functional variants of a reference binding molecule exhibit sequence diversity at one or more CDRs when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence. Thus, functional binding molecule variants can include functional variants of CDRs. When the term "functional variant" is used in the context of a CDR sequence, this means that the CDR has one, two or three amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence, and when combined with the remaining five CDRs (or variants thereof), the variant binding molecule is capable of binding to the same target antigen as the reference binding molecule and preferably exhibits the same antigen cross-reactivity profile as the reference binding molecule.

[0091] In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises a light chain CDR1 that has one, two or three amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a light chain CDR2 that has one, two or three amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a light chain CDR3 that has one, two or three amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a heavy chain CDR1 that has one, two or three amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a heavy chain CDR2 that has one, two or three amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; and a heavy chain CDR3 that has one, two or three amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; the binding molecule binds to the same target antigen as the reference binding molecule, and preferably exhibits the same antigen cross-reactivity as the reference binding molecule.

[0092] In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises a light chain CDR1 with a maximum of 2 amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a light chain CDR2 with a maximum of 2 amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a light chain CDR3 with a maximum of 2 amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a heavy chain CDR1 with a maximum of 2 amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a heavy chain CDR2 with a maximum of 2 amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; and a heavy chain CDR3 with a maximum of 2 amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; the binding molecule binds to the same target antigen as the reference binding molecule, and preferably exhibits the same antigen cross-reactivity profile as the reference binding molecule. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises a light chain CDR1 with a maximum of 2 amino acid differences when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence.

[0093] The binding molecule may comprise a light chain CDR1 having at most one amino acid difference when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a light chain CDR2 having at most one amino acid difference when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a light chain CDR3 having at most one amino acid difference when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a heavy chain CDR1 having at most one amino acid difference when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; a heavy chain CDR2 having at most one amino acid difference when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; and a heavy chain CDR3 having at most one amino acid difference when compared to the corresponding reference CDR sequence; the binding molecule binds to the same target antigen as the reference binding molecule and preferably exhibits the same antigen cross-reactivity profile as the reference binding molecule.

[0094] In some embodiments, a variant binding molecule may have a total of up to 5, 4 or 3 amino acid differences in its CDRs when compared to the corresponding reference binding molecule, provided that there are a maximum of 3, a maximum of 2 or a maximum of 1 amino acid difference per CDR. Preferably, a variant binding molecule may have a total of up to 2 (preferably, a maximum of 1) amino acid differences in its CDRs when compared to the corresponding reference binding molecule, provided that there are a maximum of 2 amino acid differences per CDR. More preferably, a variant binding molecule may have a total of up to 2 (preferably, a maximum of 1) amino acid differences in its CDRs when compared to the corresponding reference binding molecule, provided that there are a maximum of 1 amino acid difference per CDR.

[0095] For example, such a binding molecule may comprise all six of the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences of a reference binding molecule (such as any one of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4 or Table 3), where any one or more of said HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences comprise one, two, or three amino acid changes compared to the respective CDR sequences of the reference binding molecule. A binding molecule may comprise all six of the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences of a reference binding molecule (such as any one of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4), except with one, two, or three amino acid changes, e.g., substitutions, in any one of said CDR sequences. A binding molecule may comprise one, two, or three amino acid changes, e.g., substitutions, in any one or more of said light chain CDRs and / or any one or more of said heavy chain CDRs. The binding molecule may comprise one, two or three amino acid changes, e.g., substitutions, in any one or more of HCDR1, HCDR2, LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3. The binding molecule may comprise one, two or three amino acid changes, e.g., substitutions, in LCDR1.

[0096] The foregoing may apply to any of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4 or Table 4, or any of the binding molecules described herein, where the amino acid differences are defined relative to their CDR sequences, and the variant binding molecule binds to the same target antigen as said binding molecule, and preferably exhibits the same antigen cross-reactivity. Thus, the reference binding molecule in any of the embodiments herein may be an antibody having the VH and VL sequences of any of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4, or the binding molecules of Table 3, or an antibody having the set of six CDRs of any of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4 or Table 4.

[0097] The amino acid differences can be amino acid substitutions, insertions or deletions, hi some embodiments, the amino acid differences are conservative amino acid substitutions as described herein.

[0098] In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises all six of the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences as shown by any one of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4, or Table 4, or as set forth above, or any functional variant thereof. For example, such a binding molecule may comprise all six of the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences as shown for any one of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4, or Table 4, or as set forth above, wherein any one or more of said HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences comprise one, two, or three amino acid changes, e.g., substitutions, compared to the respective sequences in Figure 3 or Figure 4, or Table 4, or as listed above. A binding molecule may comprise all six of the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 sequences as shown for any one or more of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4 or the binding molecules as shown in Table 3 or above, except having one, two or three amino acid changes, e.g., substitutions, in any one of said CDR sequences. A binding molecule may comprise one, two or three amino acid changes, e.g., substitutions, in any one or more of said light chain CDRs and / or any one or more of said heavy chain CDRs. A binding molecule may comprise one, two or three amino acid changes, e.g., substitutions, in any one or more of HCDR1, HCDR2, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3. A binding molecule may comprise one, two or three amino acid changes, e.g., substitutions, in LCDR1.

[0099] A binding molecule of the invention can comprise the heavy chain variable region (VH) and light chain variable region (VL) of any antibody as shown in FIG.

[0100] For example, in some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:51 and a VL region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:52; b) a VH region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:51 and a VL region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:53; c) a VH region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:51 and a VL region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:54; d) a VH region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:51 and a VL region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:55 (DVVMTQTPLSLPVSLGDQASISCRSSQSLVHX1NX2NTYLHWYLQKPGQSPKLLIYKVSNRFSGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKISRVEAEDLGVFFCSQSTHVPWTFGGGTKLEIK, (a) X1 and X2 are each any amino acid (SEQ ID NO:76); or (b) X1 is P or S and X2 is R, T, or G (SEQ ID NO:77)); or e) a VH region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 56 and a VL region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 57 Includes.

[0101] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:58 and a VL region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:59; or b) a VH region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 60 and a VL region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61 Includes.

[0102] The present invention encompasses binding molecules as described herein (reference binding molecules) that contain the recited VH and VL region sequences, as well as functional variants thereof. The functional variants bind to the same target antigen as the reference binding molecule, and preferably exhibit the same antigen cross-reactivity as the reference binding molecule. The functional variants may have different affinities for the target antigen when compared to the reference binding molecule, although substantially the same affinity is preferred.

[0103] The VH region sequence of the binding molecule may have at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to the corresponding VH region sequence of a reference binding molecule. The VL region sequence of the binding molecule may have at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to the corresponding VL region sequence of a reference binding molecule.

[0104] In some embodiments, the CDRs of such a binding molecule are identical to the CDRs of a reference binding molecule, and all differences outside of those CDRs, e.g., differences between the binding molecule and the reference binding molecule, are in the framework regions of the VH and / or VL sequences.

[0105] In some embodiments, the CDRs of such binding molecules are functional variants as described above. In some embodiments, such binding molecules contain amino acid differences in one or more CDRs and amino acid differences in one or more framework regions compared to the VH and / or VL sequences of a corresponding reference binding molecule.

[0106] In some embodiments, the binding molecule has the same framework sequence as the reference binding molecule. In another embodiment, the binding molecule comprises a framework region with a maximum of two, preferably a maximum of one amino acid difference (when compared to the corresponding reference framework sequence). Thus, each framework region can have a maximum of two, preferably a maximum of one amino acid difference (when compared to the corresponding reference framework sequence).

[0107] In some embodiments, a binding molecule may have a total of up to 5, 4, or 3 amino acid differences in its framework regions when compared to a corresponding reference binding molecule, provided that there is a maximum of 2 (preferably, a maximum of 1) amino acid difference per framework region. Such a binding molecule may have a total of up to 2 (more preferably, a maximum of 1) amino acid differences in its framework regions when compared to a corresponding reference binding molecule, provided that there is a maximum of 2 amino acid differences per framework region. Such a binding molecule may have a total of up to 2 (more preferably, a maximum of 1) amino acid differences in its framework regions when compared to a corresponding reference binding molecule, provided that there is a maximum of 1 amino acid difference per framework region.

[0108] Thus, a binding molecule may comprise a VH region and a VL region as described herein, wherein the VH region has up to 14 amino acid differences (up to 2 amino acid differences in each CDR and up to 2 amino acid differences in each framework region) when compared to the VH region of a reference binding molecule herein; and the VL region has up to 14 amino acid differences (up to 2 amino acid differences in each CDR and up to 2 amino acid differences in each framework region) when compared to the VL region of a reference binding molecule herein; the variant binding molecule binds to the same target antigen as the reference binding molecule, and preferably exhibits the same antigen cross-reactivity as the reference binding molecule.

[0109] Such variant VH or VL regions may be referred to as "functional equivalents" of the reference VH or VL region.

[0110] In some embodiments, a binding molecule may comprise a VH region and a VL region as described herein, wherein the VH region has up to seven amino acid differences (e.g., up to one amino acid difference in each CDR and up to one amino acid difference in each framework region) when compared to the VH region of a reference binding molecule herein; and the VL region has up to seven amino acid differences (e.g., up to one amino acid difference in each CDR and up to one amino acid difference in each framework region) when compared to the VL region of a reference binding molecule herein; and the variant binding molecule binds to the same target antigen as the reference binding molecule, and preferably exhibits the same antigen cross-reactivity as the reference binding molecule.

[0111] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and b) a VL region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 55, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto ((i) each of X1 and X2 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is any amino acid (SEQ ID NO: 76); or (ii) X1 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is P or S and X2 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is R, T or G (SEQ ID NO: 77)).

[0112] For example, in some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and b) comprises a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 76, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto.

[0113] For example, in some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and b) comprises a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 77, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto. c) In some embodiments, the binding molecule is d) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and e) comprises a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 52, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto.

[0114] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and b) comprises a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 53, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto.

[0115] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and b) comprises a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 54, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto.

[0116] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and b) comprises a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 57, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto.

[0117] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 58, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and b) comprises a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 59, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto.

[0118] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and b) comprises a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 61, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto.

[0119] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a) a VH region comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity to the reference amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51, 56, 58, 60, or a functional variant thereof; and b) a VL region comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 100% sequence identity to a reference amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 59, 61, or a functional variant thereof ((i) each of X1 and X2 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is any amino acid (SEQ ID NO: 76); or (ii) X1 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is P or S and X2 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is R, T or G (SEQ ID NO: 77)).

[0120] The foregoing may apply to any of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4 or the binding molecules of Table 3, or any of the binding molecules described herein, where the amino acid differences are defined relative to their VH and / or VL sequences, and the binding molecule binds to the same target antigen as said binding molecule, and preferably exhibits the same antigen cross-reactivity. Thus, a reference binding molecule in any of the embodiments herein may be an antibody having the VH and VL sequences of any of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4 or the binding molecules of Table 3.

[0121] The amino acid differences can be amino acid substitutions, insertions or deletions, hi some embodiments, the amino acid differences are conservative amino acid substitutions as described herein.

[0122] The binding molecules of the invention may be provided in an isolated form.

[0123] In some embodiments, a binding molecule of the invention is an immunoglobulin molecule, hi some embodiments, a binding molecule is an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.

[0124] In particular, an antibody is a protein that comprises at least one or two heavy (H) chain variable regions (abbreviated herein as VH) and at least one or two light (L) chain variable regions (abbreviated herein as VL). The VH and VL regions can be further subdivided into regions of hypervariability called "complementarity determining regions" ("CDRs"), interspersed with more conserved regions called "framework regions" (FWs). The extent of the framework regions and CDRs are precisely defined (see Kabat, EA, et al. Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, USDepartment of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242, 1991, and Chothia, C. et al, J. MoI. Biol. 196:901-917, 1987). Preferably, each VH and VL region is composed of three CDRs and four FWs, arranged from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus in the following order: FW1, CDR1, FW2, CDR2, FW3, CDR3, FW4.

[0125] The heavy or light chain of the antibody may further comprise all or a portion of a heavy or light chain constant region. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises all or a portion of the heavy chain constant region of SEQ ID NO: 78 and all or a portion of the light chain constant region of SEQ ID NO: 79. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises a heavy chain constant region and a light chain constant region as shown in Table 7. The binding molecule may comprise a functional fragment of the heavy chain constant region and / or the light chain constant region as shown in Table 7, such as a fragment, where the binding molecule retains the ability to bind to one or more Fc receptors as described herein. In some embodiments, the binding molecule may comprise a heavy chain constant region and a light chain constant region as shown in Table 7, and may further comprise a VH region and a VL region disclosed herein, e.g., the VH and VL sequences of any of the antibodies shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4 or the binding molecules of Table 1. In some embodiments, the binding molecule is an antibody that is a tetramer of two heavy immunoglobulin chains and two light immunoglobulin chains, where the heavy and light immunoglobulin chains are interconnected, e.g., by disulfide bonds. The heavy chain constant region comprises three domains, CH1, CH2 and CH3. In some embodiments, the binding molecule has a heavy chain constant region of SEQ ID NO: 78. The light chain constant region is composed of one domain, CL. In some embodiments, the binding molecule has a light chain constant region of SEQ ID NO: 79. The heavy and light chain variable regions contain a binding domain that interacts with an antigen.

[0126] The "Kabat numbering system" is commonly used to refer to residues within the variable region (roughly residues 1-107 in the light chain and residues 1-113 in the heavy chain) (e.g., Kabat et al., Sequences of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)).

[0127] The numbering of amino acid positions as in Kabat refers to the numbering system used for the heavy or light chain variable domains of the antibody compilation in Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991). When using this numbering system, the actual linear amino acid sequence may contain fewer or additional amino acids corresponding to a shortening of, or insertion into, the FW or CDR of the variable domain. For example, the heavy chain variable domain may contain a single amino acid insertion after residue 52 of H2 (residue 52a according to Kabat) and residues inserted after heavy chain FW residue 82 (e.g., residues 82a, 82b and 82c according to Kabat, etc.).

[0128] The Kabat numbering of residues can be determined for a given antibody by aligning the antibody's sequence with the "standard" Kabat numbered sequence at the regions of homology. Chothia instead refers to the location of the structural loops (Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987)). The end of the Chothia CDR-H1 loop when numbered using the Kabat numbering convention varies between H32 and H34 depending on the length of the loop (this is because the Kabat numbering scheme places insertions at H35A and H35B; if neither 35A nor 35B are present, the loop ends at 32, if only 35A is present, the loop ends at 33, and if both 35A and 35B are present, the loop ends at 34). The AbM hypervariable regions represent a compromise between the Kabat CDRs and the Chothia structural loops and are used by Oxford Molecular's AbM antibody modeling software. The table below lists the positions of the amino acids that comprise the variable regions of the antibodies in each system.

[0129] [Table 1]

[0130] ImMunoGeneTics (IMGT) also provides a numbering system for immunoglobulin variable regions, including CDRs. See, e.g., Lefranc, MP et al., Dev. Comp. Immunol. 27:55-77 (2003). The IMGT numbering system is based on the alignment of over 5,000 sequences, structural data, and characterization of hypervariable loops, allowing easy comparison of variable and CDR regions across all species. According to the IMGT numbering scheme, HCDR1 is at positions 26-35, HCDR2 is at positions 51-57, HCDR3 is at positions 93-102, LCDR1 is at positions 27-32, LCDR2 is at positions 50-52, and LCDR3 is at positions 89-97.

[0131] The term "antibody" includes intact immunoglobulins of IgA, IgG, IgE, IgD, IgM types (as well as subtypes thereof), and the light chains of the immunoglobulins may be of the kappa or lambda type. The binding molecules of the invention may be or include full-length antibodies or may be or include antigen-binding fragments thereof. The term antigen-binding fragment, as used herein, refers to a portion of an antibody that binds to CCR9, e.g., a molecule in which one or more immunoglobulin chains are not full length but which binds to CCR9. In some embodiments, the antigen-binding fragment is one or more selected from an Fv fragment, a Fab fragment, a F(ab')2 fragment, a Fab' fragment, a dsFv fragment, a scFv fragment, a sc(Fv)2 fragment, a dAb fragment, a single chain antibody, or a combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the antigen-binding fragment is a Fab fragment. In some embodiments, the binding molecule comprises a Fab domain.

[0132] The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention may have any antibody format. In some embodiments, the antibody has the "traditional" format described above. Alternatively, the antibody may be a Fab fragment in some embodiments. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment according to the present invention may also be a Fab', Fv, scFv, Fd, VNAR domain, IgNAR, intrabody, IgG CH2, minibody, single domain antibody, Fcab, scFv-Fc, F(ab')2, di-scFv, bispecific T cell engager (BiTE®), F(ab')3, tetrabody, triabody, diabody, DVD-Ig, (scFv)2, or mAb2.

[0133] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a monoclonal antibody (mAb). In some embodiments, the binding molecule is a polyclonal antibody.

[0134] A "monoclonal antibody" (mAb) refers to a homogeneous antibody population involved in highly specific recognition and binding of a single antigenic determinant or epitope. This is in contrast to a polyclonal antibody, which typically contains different antibodies directed against different antigenic determinants. The term "monoclonal antibody" encompasses both intact and full-length monoclonal antibodies, as well as antibody fragments (e.g., Fab, Fab', F(ab')2, Fv), single-chain (scFv) variants, fusion proteins containing an antibody portion, and any other modified immunoglobulin molecule that contains an antigen recognition site. Furthermore, "monoclonal antibody" refers to such antibodies produced in a number of ways, including but not limited to hybridoma, phage selection, recombinant expression, and transgenic animals.

[0135] In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment is one or more selected from a murine antibody, a humanized antibody, a chimeric antibody, a fully human antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a polyclonal antibody, a recombinant antibody, a multispecific antibody, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment is a humanized antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody of the present invention does not induce an anti-human antibody response, e.g., a murine anti-human antibody response.

[0136] The antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof of the present invention may be derived from any species by recombinant means. For example, the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments may be mouse, rat, goat, horse, pig, cow, chicken, rabbit, camel, donkey, human, or chimeric versions thereof. For use in human administration, non-human derived antibodies or antigen-binding fragments may be genetically or structurally modified to be less antigenic when administered to a human patient.

[0137] Particularly preferred are human or humanized antibodies, especially recombinant human or humanized antibodies. The term "humanized antibody" refers to an antibody derived from a non-human (e.g., mouse) immunoglobulin that has been engineered to contain minimal non-human (e.g., mouse) sequences. Typically, a humanized antibody is a human immunoglobulin in which residues from a complementarity determining region (CDR) are replaced with residues from a CDR of a non-human species (e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, or hamster) that has the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity (Jones et al., 1986, Nature, 321:522-525; Riechmann et al., 1988, Nature, 332:323-327; Verhoeyen et al., 1988, Science, 239:1534-1536). In some cases, Fv framework region residues of a human immunoglobulin are replaced with the corresponding residues in an antibody from a non-human species that has the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity.

[0138] The humanized antibody may be further modified by substitution of any additional residues in the Fv framework regions and / or in the replaced non-human residues to refine and optimize the antibody specificity, affinity, and / or capacity. In general, a humanized antibody will contain substantially all of at least one, typically two or three, of the variable domains that contain all or substantially all of the CDR regions corresponding to a non-human immunoglobulin, while all or substantially all of the FR regions are of human immunoglobulin consensus sequences. The humanized antibody may also contain at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region or domain (Fc), typically of a human immunoglobulin. Examples of methods used to generate humanized antibodies are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,225,539 and 5,639,641.

[0139] In some embodiments, the antibody of the present invention is a human antibody. The term "human antibody" refers to an antibody produced in a human or an antibody having an amino acid sequence corresponding to an antibody produced in a human, made using any technique known in the art. This definition of a human antibody includes intact or full-length antibodies, fragments thereof, and / or antibodies comprising at least one human heavy and / or light chain polypeptide, such as an antibody comprising a mouse light chain and a human heavy chain polypeptide.

[0140] In some embodiments, the antibody of the present invention is a chimeric antibody. The term "chimeric antibody" refers to an antibody in which the amino acid sequence of the immunoglobulin molecule is derived from two or more species. Typically, the variable regions of both the light and heavy chains correspond to the variable regions of an antibody with the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity derived from one species of mammal (e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, etc.), while the constant regions are homologous to sequences in antibodies derived from that species (usually human) to avoid eliciting an immune response in another species.

[0141] There are five major classes of heavy chain constant regions classified as IgA, IgG, IgD, IgE and IgM, each with a characteristic effector function designated by the isotype. For example, IgG is divided into four subclasses known as IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4. Ig molecules interact with multiple classes of cellular receptors. For example, IgG molecules interact with three classes of Fcγ receptors (FcγR) specific for the IgG class of antibodies, namely FcγRI, FcγRII and FcγRIII. Sequences important for binding of IgG to FcγR receptors have been reported to be located in the CH2 and CH3 domains. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention can be of any isotype, namely IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM, as well as synthetic multimers of four-chain immunoglobulin (Ig) structures. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is of the IgG isotype. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment may be of any IgG subclass, for example, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 isotype. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is of the IgG1 or IgG2 isotype.

[0142] In some embodiments, the antibody comprises a heavy chain constant region of an IgG isotype. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises a portion of a heavy chain constant region that is of an IgG isotype. In some embodiments, the IgG constant region or portion thereof is an IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 constant region. Preferably, the IgG constant region or portion thereof is an IgG1 or IgG2 constant region. The antibody molecule may also have other formats, such as an IgG1 with YTE (Dall'Acqua et al. (2002) J. Immunology, 169:5171-5180; Dall'Acqua et al. (2006) J Biol. Chem. 281(33):23514-24) and / or TM mutations in the Fc region (Oganesyan et al. (2008) Acta Cryst D64:700-4).

[0143] The antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the invention may comprise a lambda light chain or a kappa light chain. Engineered antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof include those in which modifications have been made to framework residues within the VH and / or VL regions. Such modifications may improve the properties of the antibody, for example, to reduce the immunogenicity of the antibody and / or improve antibody production and purification.

[0144] Binding molecules of the invention include both intact and modified forms of the binding molecules disclosed herein. For example, a binding molecule of the invention can be functionally linked (e.g., by chemical coupling, genetic fusion, non-covalent association, or otherwise) to one or more other molecular entities, such as pharmaceutical agents, detection agents, and / or proteins or peptides that can mediate association of the binding molecules disclosed herein with another molecule (e.g., a streptavidin core region or a polyhistidine tag). Non-limiting examples of detection agents include enzymes, such as alkaline phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase ("G6PDH"), alpha-D-galactosidase, glucose oxidase, glucose amylase, carbonic anhydrase, acetylcholinesterase, lysozyme, malate dehydrogenase, and peroxidases, such as horseradish peroxidase; dyes; fluorescent labels or agents, such as fluorescein and its derivatives, fluorochromes, rhodamine compounds and derivatives, GFP (GFP stands for "green fluorescent protein"), dansyl, umbelliferone, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, o-phthaldehyde, and fluorescamine; fluorophores, such as lanthanide cryptates and chelates, such as europium (Perkin Elmer and Cis Biointernational); chemiluminescent labels or agents, e.g., isoluminol, luminol and dioxetanes; bioluminescent labels, e.g., luciferase and luciferin; sensitizers; coenzymes; enzyme substrates; bromine-77, carbon-14, cobalt-57, fluorine-8, gallium-67, gallium-68, hydrogen-3 (tritium), indium-111, indium-113m, iodine-123m, iodine-125, iodine-126, iodine-131, iodine-1 Radiolabels including, but not limited to, 33, mercury-107, mercury-203, phosphorus-32, rhenium-99m, rhenium-101, rhenium-105, ruthenium-95, ruthenium-97, ruthenium-103, ruthenium-105, scandium-47, selenium-75, sulfur-35, technetium-99, technetium-99m, tellurium-121m, tellurium-122m, tellurium-125m, thulium-165, thulium-167, thulium-168, and yttrium-199;particles, such as latex or carbon particles, metal sols, crystallites, liposomes, cells which may be further labeled with dyes, catalysts or other detectable groups; molecules, such as biotin, digoxigenin or 5-bromodeoxyuridine; toxin moieties, such as a toxin moiety selected from the group of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE or a cytotoxic fragment or variant thereof), Diptheria toxin or a cytotoxic fragment or variant thereof, Botulinum toxin A, B, C, D, E or F, ricin or a cytotoxic fragment thereof, such as ricin A, abrin or a cytotoxic fragment thereof, saporin or a cytotoxic fragment thereof, pokeweed antiviral toxin or a cytotoxic fragment thereof, and bryodin 1 or a cytotoxic fragment thereof;

[0145] The binding molecules of the invention also include derivatives that have been modified (e.g., by any type of covalent bond to the binding molecule) such that the covalent bond does not prevent the binding of the binding molecule to its target (e.g., epitope) or otherwise impair the biological activity of the binding molecule. Suitable derivatives may be produced by methods including, but not limited to, fucosylation, glycosylation, acetylation, PEGylation, phosphorylation, and amidation.

[0146] Further embodiments are multispecific binding molecules (bispecific, trispecific, etc.) and other conjugates, for example with cytotoxic small molecules. The binding molecules of the present invention, including the antibodies of the present invention, can be obtained using conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art, and their usefulness confirmed by conventional binding tests (exemplary methods) is described in Examples 3 and 4. As an example, a convenient binding assay is to incubate cells expressing the antigen with the antibody. If the antibody is tagged with a fluorophore, the binding of the antibody to the antigen can be detected by FACS analysis.

[0147] The antibodies of the present invention can be produced in a variety of animals, including mice, rats, rabbits, goats, sheep, monkeys, or horses. Antibodies can be produced after immunization with individual capsular polysaccharides, or with multiple capsular polysaccharides. Blood isolated from these animals contains polyclonal antibodies (multiple antibodies that bind to the same antigen). Antigens can also be injected into chickens for the production of polyclonal antibodies in egg yolk. To obtain monoclonal antibodies specific to a single epitope of an antigen, antibody-secreting lymphocytes are isolated from the animal and immortalized by fusing them with a cancer cell line. The fused cells are called hybridomas, which grow continuously in culture and secrete antibodies. Single hybridoma cells are isolated by dilution cloning to generate cell clones that all produce the same antibody, and these antibodies are called monoclonal antibodies. Methods for producing monoclonal antibodies are conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art (see, for example, Making and Using Antibodies: A Practical Handbook. GC Howard. CRC Books. 2006. ISBN 0849335280). Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are often purified using Protein A / G or antigen affinity chromatography.

[0148] The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention may be prepared as a monoclonal anti-CCR9 antibody, which may be prepared using the hybridoma method, such as that described by Kohler and Milstein, Nature 256:495 (1975). Using the hybridoma method, a mouse, hamster, or other suitable host animal is immunized as described above to induce lymphocyte production of antibodies that specifically bind to the immunizing antigen. Lymphocytes may also be immunized in vitro. After immunization, lymphocytes may be isolated and fused with a suitable myeloma cell line, for example using polyethylene glycol, to form hybridoma cells, followed by selection away from unfused lymphocytes and myeloma cells. Hybridomas that produce monoclonal antibodies specifically directed against the selected antigen as determined by immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, or by in vitro binding assays such as radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can then be grown in in vitro culture using standard methods (Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, Academic Press, 1986) or in vivo as ascites tumors in animals. Monoclonal antibodies can then be purified from the culture medium or ascites fluid using known methods.

[0149] Alternatively, binding molecules (e.g., monoclonal antibodies) can also be produced using recombinant DNA methods as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567. Polynucleotides encoding the monoclonal antibodies are isolated from mature B cells or hybridoma cells, such as by RT-PCR using oligonucleotide primers that specifically amplify genes encoding the heavy and light chains of the antibody, and their sequences are determined using conventional procedures. The isolated polynucleotides encoding the heavy and light chains are then cloned into a suitable expression vector, which is transfected into host cells that do not normally produce immunoglobulin proteins, such as E. coli cells, monkey COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, or myeloma cells, and the monoclonal antibodies are produced by the host cells. Alternatively, recombinant monoclonal antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the desired species can be isolated from phage display libraries expressing the CDRs of the desired species as described in McCafferty et al., Nature 348:552-554 (1990); Clackson et al., Nature 352:624-628 (1991); and Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol. 222:581-597 (1991).

[0150] The polynucleotides encoding the binding molecules of the invention can further be modified in several different ways using recombinant DNA techniques to generate alternative binding molecules. In some embodiments, the constant domains of, for example, the light and heavy chains of a mouse monoclonal antibody can be (1) substituted with those regions of, for example, a human antibody to generate a chimeric antibody, or (2) substituted with a non-immunoglobulin polypeptide to generate a fusion antibody. In some embodiments, the constant regions are truncated or removed to generate the desired antibody fragment of the monoclonal antibody. Site-directed or high-density mutagenesis of the variable regions can be used to optimize the specificity, affinity, etc. of the monoclonal antibody.

[0151] In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is a human antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. Human antibodies can be prepared directly using various techniques known in the art. Immortalized human B lymphocytes can be produced by in vitro immunization or isolated from immunized individuals that produce antibodies against the target antigen. See, for example, Cole et al., Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, p. 77 (1985); Boemer et al., J. Immunol. 147(1): 86-95 (1991); U.S. Patent No. 5,750,373.

[0152] In some embodiments, antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof can be selected from phage libraries that express human antibodies, e.g., as described in Vaughan et al., Nat. Biotech. 14:309-314 (1996); Sheets et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 95:6157-6162 (1998); Hoogenboom and Winter, J. Mol. Biol. 227:381 (1991); and Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol. 222:581 (1991). Techniques for the production and use of antibody phage libraries are also described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,969,108, 6,172,197, 5,885,793, 6,521,404; 6,544,731; 6,555,313; 6,582,915; 6,593,081; 6,300,064; 6,653,068; 6,706,484; and 7,264,963; and Rothe et al., J. Molec. Biol. 376:1182-1200 (2008), each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0153] Affinity maturation and chain shuffling strategies are known in the art and can be utilized to generate high affinity human antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, see Marks et al., BioTechnology 10:779-783 (1992), incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0154] In some embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (e.g., monoclonal antibody) may be a humanized antibody. Methods for engineering, humanizing, or resurfacing non-human or human antibodies may also be used and are well known in the art. A humanized, resurfacing, or similarly engineered antibody may have one or more amino acid residues derived from a non-human source, such as, but not limited to, mouse, rat, rabbit, non-human primate, or other mammalian source. These non-human amino acid residues are often replaced by residues referred to as "import" residues, which are usually taken from "import" variable, constant, or other domains of a known human sequence. Such imported sequences may be used to reduce immunogenicity, or to reduce, enhance, or modify binding, affinity, on-rate, off-rate, avidity, specificity, half-life, or any other suitable property as known in the art. Advantageously, the CDR residues may be directly and most substantially involved in influencing CCR9 binding. Thus, while it may be preferable to maintain some or all of the non-human or human CDR sequences, the non-human sequences of the variable and constant regions may be replaced with human or other amino acids.

[0155] Antibodies can also be optionally humanized, resurfaced, engineered, or engineered human antibodies to retain high affinity for the antigen CCR9 and other favorable biological properties. To achieve this goal, optionally humanized (or human) or engineered anti-CCR9 antibodies and resurfacing antibodies can be prepared by a process of analysis of the parental sequences and various conceptual humanized and engineered products using three-dimensional models of the parental, engineered, and humanized sequences. Three-dimensional immunoglobulin models are commonly available and are familiar to those skilled in the art. Computer programs are available that illustrate and display predicted three-dimensional conformational structures of selected candidate immunoglobulin sequences. Inspection of these displays allows analysis of the likely role of the residues in the functioning of the candidate immunoglobulin sequence, i.e., analysis of residues that affect the ability of the candidate immunoglobulin to bind to its antigen, such as CCR9. In this way, FW residues can be selected and combined from the consensus and import sequences to achieve the desired antibody properties, such as increased affinity for the target antigen.

[0156] The anti-CCR9 antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the present invention can be humanized, resurfaced or engineered by any known method, including, but not limited to, those described in Jones et al., Nature 321:522 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332:323 (1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science 239:1534 (1988); Sims et al., J. Immunol. 151:2296 (1993); Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol. 196:901 (1987); Carter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:4285 (1992); Presta et al., J. Immunol. 151:2623 (1993); U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,631; Specification No. 5,639,641, Specification No. 5,723,323; Specification No. 5,976,862; Specification No. 5,824,514; Specification No. 5,817,483; Specification No. 5,814,476; Specification No. 5,763,192; Specification No. 5,723,323; Specification No. 5,766,886; Specification No. 5,714,352; Nos. 6,204,023; 6,180,370; 5,693,762; 5,530,101; 5,585,089; 5,225,539; 4,816,567; 7,557,189; 7,538,195; and 7,342,110. and the like, as described in International Application Nos. PCT / US98 / 16280; PCT / US96 / 18978; PCT / US91 / 09630; PCT / US91 / 05939; PCT / US94 / 01234; PCT / GB89 / 01334; PCT / GB91 / 01134; PCT / GB92 / 01755; WO 90 / 14443; WO 90 / 14424; WO 90 / 14430, and EP 229246 (each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, including the references cited therein).

[0157] Anti-CCR9 humanized antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof can also be generated in transgenic mice containing human immunoglobulin loci that have the capacity to produce a full repertoire of human antibodies upon immunization without producing endogenous immunoglobulins. This approach is described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,545,807; 5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; and 5,661,016.

[0158] In some embodiments, fragments (e.g., antibody fragments) of antibodies (e.g., anti-CCR9 antibodies) are provided. Various techniques are known for the production of antibody fragments. Traditionally, these fragments are obtained via proteolytic digestion of intact antibodies, for example, as described by Morimoto et al., J. Biochem. Biophys. Meth. 24:107-117 (1993) and Brennan et al., Science 229:81 (1985). In some embodiments, anti-CCR9 antibody fragments are produced recombinantly. Fab, Fv, and scFv antibody fragments can all be expressed in and secreted from E. coli or other host cells, allowing for the production of large amounts of these fragments. Such anti-CCR9 antibody fragments can also be isolated from the antibody phage libraries discussed above. Anti-CCR9 antibody fragments can also be linear antibodies, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,870. Other techniques for the production of antibody fragments will be apparent to the skilled practitioner.

[0159] According to the present invention, the technique can be adapted for the production of single chain antibodies specific for CCR9. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778. In addition, the method can be adapted for the construction of Fab expression libraries that allow for the rapid and efficient identification of monoclonal Fab fragments, or derivatives, fragments, analogs or homologs thereof, having the desired specificity for CCR9. See, e.g., Huse et al., Science 246:1275-1281 (1989). Antibody fragments can be produced by techniques known in the art, including, but not limited to, F(ab')2 fragments produced by pepsin digestion of antibody molecules; Fab fragments produced by reduction of disulfide bridges of F(ab')2 fragments; Fab fragments produced by treating antibody molecules with papain and a reducing agent; or Fv fragments.

[0160] The modified binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof as provided herein) may comprise any type of binding region that results in the association of the binding molecule with CCR9. In this regard, the binding region may be a variable region that may comprise or be derived from any type of mammal that can be induced to mount a humoral response to a desired antigen and produce immunoglobulins. Thus, the variable region of an anti-CCR9 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof may be of, for example, human, murine, non-human primate (e.g., cynomolgus monkey, macaque, etc.) or lupine origin. In some embodiments, both the variable and constant regions of the modified antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof are human. In some embodiments, the variable region of a compatible antibody (usually derived from a non-human source) may be engineered or specifically tailored to improve the binding properties or reduce the immunogenicity of the molecule. In this regard, the variable regions useful in the present invention may be humanized or otherwise modified by the inclusion of imported amino acid sequences.

[0161] In some embodiments, both the heavy and light chain variable domains of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof are modified by at least partial replacement of one or more CDRs and / or by replacement and sequence alteration of partial framework regions. The CDRs may be derived from antibodies of the same class or even subclass as the antibody from which the framework regions are derived, but it is envisaged that the CDRs are derived from antibodies of different classes, and in certain embodiments, from antibodies of different species. To transfer the antigen-binding capacity of one variable domain to another, it is not necessary to replace all CDRs with the complete CDRs of the donor variable region. Rather, it is sufficient to transfer only those residues necessary to maintain the activity of the antigen-binding site. Given the explanations in US Pat. Nos. 5,585,089, 5,693,761 and 5,693,762, it is well within the capabilities of the skilled artisan to carry out routine experimentation to obtain functional antibodies with reduced immunogenicity.

[0162] Notwithstanding the modifications of the variable regions, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the modified antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the present invention may include antibodies (e.g., full-length antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof) in which at least a portion of one or more of the constant region domains have been deleted or otherwise modified to provide desired biochemical characteristics, such as increased effector function, including improved ability to induce ADCC, when compared to an antibody of substantially the same immunogenicity that includes a native or unmodified constant region. In some embodiments, the constant region of the modified antibody will include a human constant region. Modifications to the constant region that are compatible with the present invention include the addition, deletion, or substitution of one or more amino acids in one or more domains. That is, the modified antibodies disclosed herein may include changes or modifications to one or more of the three heavy chain constant domains (CH1, CH2, or CH3) and / or the light chain constant domain (CL). In some embodiments, modified constant regions in which one or more domains are partially or completely deleted are contemplated. In some embodiments, the modified antibodies will include domain-deleted constructs or variants in which the entire CH2 domain has been removed (ΔCH2 constructs). In some embodiments, the deleted constant region domain may be replaced by a short amino acid spacer (eg, 10 residues) that provides some of the molecular flexibility normally imparted by the missing constant region.

[0163] Any of a variety of sequence alignment methods can be used to determine percent identity, including, but not limited to, global methods, local methods, and hybrid methods such as, for example, segment approach methods. Protocols for determining percent identity are routine procedures within the skill of the art. Global methods align sequences from the beginning to the end of the molecule and determine the best alignment by summing the scores of individual residue pairs and by applying gap penalties. Non-limiting methods include, for example, CLUSTAL W (see, e.g., Julie D. Thompson et al., CLUSTAL W: Improving the Sensitivity of Progressive Multiple Sequence Alignment Through Sequence Weighting, Position-Specific Gap Penalties and Weight Matrix Choice, 22(22) Nucleic Acids Research 4673-4680(1994)); and iterative refinement methods (see, e.g., Osamu Gotoh, Significant Improvement in Accuracy of Multiple Protein. Sequence Alignments by Iterative Refinement as Assessed by Reference to Structural Alignments, 264(4) J. MoI. Biol. 823-838(1996)). Local methods align sequences by identifying one or more conserved motifs shared by all of the input sequences.Non-limiting methods include, for example, Match-box (see, e.g., Eric Depiereux and Ernest Feytmans, Match-Box: A Fundamentally New Algorithm for the Simultaneous Alignment of Several Protein Sequences, 8(5) CABIOS 501-509(1992)); Gibbs sampling (see, e.g., CE Lawrence et al., Detecting Subtle Sequence Signals: A Gibbs Sampling Strategy for Multiple Alignment, 262(5131) Science 208-214(1993)); Align-M (see, e.g., Ivo Van WaIIe et al., Align-MA New Algorithm for Multiple Alignment of Highly Divergent Sequences, 20(9) Bioinformatics:1428-1435(2004)).

[0164] Thus, the percent sequence identity is determined by conventional methods. See, for example, Altschul et al., Bull. Math. Bio. 48:603-16, 1986 and Henikoff and Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915-19, 1992. Briefly, two amino acid sequences are aligned to optimize the alignment score using a gap opening penalty of 10, a gap extension penalty of 1, and the "blosum62" scoring matrix of Henikoff and Henikoff (ibid.) as shown below (amino acids are indicated by standard one-letter code):

[0165] The "percent sequence identity" between two or more nucleic acid or amino acid sequences is a function of the number of identical positions shared by the sequences. Thus, the percent identity can be calculated as the number of identical nucleotides / amino acids divided by the total number of nucleotides / amino acids, multiplied by 100. The calculation of percent sequence identity can also take into account the number of gaps that need to be introduced to optimize the alignment of two or more sequences, and the length of each gap. The sequence comparison and percent identity determination between two or more sequences can be performed using a specific mathematical algorithm, such as BLAST, which is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0166] The present invention further encompasses variants and equivalents that are substantially homologous to the binding molecules of the present invention (e.g., antibodies, such as murine, chimeric, humanized or human antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof). These may contain, for example, conservative substitution mutations, i.e., the replacement of one or more amino acids with similar amino acids. For example, a conservative substitution refers to the replacement of an amino acid with another amino acid within the same general class, such as the replacement of one acidic amino acid with another acidic amino acid, one basic amino acid with another basic amino acid, or one neutral amino acid with another neutral amino acid. What is intended by conservative amino acid substitution is well known in the art.

[0167] Substantially homologous polypeptides are characterized as having one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions. These changes are preferably of an insignificant nature, i.e., conservative amino acid substitutions (see below) and other substitutions that do not significantly affect the folding or activity of the polypeptide; small deletions, typically from 1 to about 30 amino acids; and small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue, a small linker peptide of up to about 20-25 residues, or an affinity tag.

[0168] [Table 2]

[0169] In addition to the 20 standard amino acids, non-standard amino acids (e.g., 4-hydroxyproline, 6-N-methyllysine, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, isovaline, and α-methylserine) can be substituted for amino acid residues in the binding molecules of the invention. A limited number of non-conserved amino acids, amino acids that are not encoded by the genetic code, and unnatural amino acids can be substituted for polypeptide amino acid residues. The binding molecules of the invention can also include non-naturally occurring amino acid residues.

[0170] Non-naturally occurring amino acids include, but are not limited to, trans-3-methylproline, 2,4-methano-proline, cis-4-hydroxyproline, trans-4-hydroxy-proline, N-methylglycine, allo-threonine, methyl-threonine, hydroxy-ethylcysteine, hydroxyethylhomo-cysteine, nitro-glutamine, homoglutamine, pipecolic acid, tert-leucine, norvaline, 2-azaphenylalanine, 3-azaphenyl-alanine, 4-azaphenyl-alanine and 4-fluorophenylalanine. Several methods are known in the art for incorporating non-naturally occurring amino acid residues into proteins. For example, an in vitro system can be used in which nonsense mutations are suppressed using chemically aminoacylated suppressor tRNAs. Methods for synthesizing amino acids and aminoacylating tRNAs are known in the art. Transcription and translation of the plasmid containing the nonsense mutation is carried out in a cell-free system containing E. coli S30 extract and commercially available enzymes and other reagents. The protein is purified by chromatography. See, e.g., Robertson et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113:2722, 1991; Ellman et al., Methods Enzymol. 202:301, 1991; Chung et al., Science 259:806-9, 1993; and Chung et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:10145-9, 1993). In the second method, translation is carried out in Xenopus oocytes by microinjection of mutated mRNA and chemically aminoacylated suppressor tRNA (Turcatti et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:1991-8, 1996). Within the third method, E. coli cells are cultured in the absence of the natural amino acid to be replaced (e.g., phenylalanine) and in the presence of the desired unnatural amino acid (e.g., 2-azaphenylalanine, 3-azaphenylalanine, 4-azaphenylalanine, or 4-fluorophenylalanine).Non-naturally occurring amino acids are incorporated into polypeptides in place of their natural counterparts. See Koide et al., Biochem. 33:7470-6, 1994. Naturally occurring amino acid residues can be converted to non-naturally occurring species by in vitro chemical modification. Chemical modification can be combined with site-directed mutagenesis to further expand the range of substitutions (Wynn and Richards, Protein Sci. 2:395-403, 1993).

[0171] A limited number of non-conservative amino acids, amino acids that are not encoded by the genetic code, non-naturally occurring amino acids, and unnatural amino acids may be substituted for amino acid residues in the binding molecules of the invention.

[0172] Essential amino acids in the binding molecules of the invention can be identified according to procedures known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, Science 244:1081-5, 1989). The sites of biological interaction can also be determined by physical analysis of the structure, as determined by techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography, electron diffraction or photoaffinity labeling, in conjunction with mutation of amino acids at putative contact sites. See, for example, de Vos et al., Science 255:306-12, 1992; Smith et al., J. Mol. Biol. 224:899-904, 1992; Wlodaver et al., FEBS Lett. 309:59-64, 1992. The identity of essential amino acids can also be inferred from analysis of homology with related components of the binding molecules of the invention (e.g., translocation component or protease component).

[0173] Multiple amino acid substitutions can be made and tested using known methods of mutagenesis and screening, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer (Science 241:53-7, 1988) or Bowie and Sauer (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:2152-6, 1989). Briefly, these authors disclose methods for simultaneously randomizing two or more positions in a polypeptide, selecting functional polypeptides, and then sequencing the mutagenized polypeptides to determine the range of permissible substitutions at each position. Other methods that can be used include phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., Biochem. 30:10832-7, 1991; Ladner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; Huse, WIPO Publication WO 92 / 06204) and region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., Gene 46:145, 1986; Ner et al., DNA 7:127, 1988).

[0174] 5.2 Composition Also provided herein is a composition comprising the binding molecule of the present invention. The composition may comprise any binding molecule as described herein. The composition may comprise two or more binding molecules as described herein.

[0175] In another aspect, a composition is provided comprising a binding molecule that binds to CCR9, said binding molecule being (i) capable of inhibiting binding of CCL25 to CCR9, and (ii) capable of mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against a CCR9-expressing cell to which it binds.

[0176] A composition as described herein may be a pharmaceutical composition, such as a composition comprising a binding molecule of the invention and further comprising at least one pharma- ceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. The term "pharmaceutical composition" refers to a formulation that enables the biological activity of the active ingredient and does not contain additional components that are unacceptably toxic to the subject to which the composition is administered. Such compositions may be sterile and may contain a pharma- ceutically acceptable carrier, such as saline. A suitable pharmaceutical composition may include one or more of a buffer (e.g., acetate, phosphate, or citrate buffer), a surfactant (e.g., polysorbate), a stabilizer (e.g., human albumin), a preservative (e.g., benzyl alcohol), and an absorption enhancer to promote bioavailability, and / or other conventional solubilizers or dispersants.

[0177] In some embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may include a pharma- ceutically acceptable, non-toxic, sterile carrier, e.g., saline, non-toxic buffers, preservatives, etc. Suitable formulations for use in the therapeutic methods disclosed herein are described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 22nd ed., Ed. Lloyd V. Allen, Jr. (2012).

[0178] In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be contained within one or more formulations selected from a capsule, a tablet, an aqueous suspension, a solution, a nasal aerosol, or a combination thereof.

[0179] In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition comprises two or more binding molecules of the invention, for example, a pharmaceutical composition may comprise two or more selected from antibodies, antigen-binding fragments, or combinations thereof.

[0180] The term "pharmacologically effective amount" of a binding molecule means an amount sufficient to achieve effective binding to a target and to obtain a benefit, e.g., ameliorating the symptoms of a disease or condition or detecting a substance or cell.

[0181] In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may include a buffer (e.g., acetate, phosphate, or citrate buffer), a surfactant (e.g., polysorbate), optionally a stabilizer (e.g., human albumin), and the like.

[0182] Suitably, the binding molecules of the invention bind to CCR9 molecules with sufficient affinity such that the binding molecules are useful as therapeutic agents or diagnostic reagents in targeting CCR9.

[0183] 5.3 Treatment method The present invention also relates to the use of the binding molecules and compositions of the invention in methods of treatment. The present invention provides binding molecules of the invention for use in such methods of treatment, e.g. binding molecules of the invention for use in methods of treating the human or animal body by therapy. Where methods of treatment and uses are described herein with reference to a binding molecule of the invention, the same methods and uses are also encompassed in which the binding molecule is present in a composition, such as a pharmaceutical composition, such as a pharmaceutical composition as described herein.

[0184] Thus, the present invention encompasses a binding molecule as defined above and a pharmaceutical composition as defined above for use in a method of treating a disease or condition mediated by CCR9.

[0185] In one aspect, there is provided a binding molecule of the invention for use in treating a disease or condition mediated by CCR9. There is also provided a composition of the invention, such as a pharmaceutical composition of the invention, for use in treating a disease or condition mediated by CCR9. There is further provided a use of a binding molecule of the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease or condition mediated by CCR9.

[0186] In another aspect, there is provided a method of treating a CCR9-mediated disease or condition in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a binding molecule of the invention.

[0187] In one aspect, there is provided a binding molecule for use in treating a CCR9-mediated disease or condition in a subject, said binding molecule being (i) capable of inhibiting binding of CCL25 to CCR9, and (ii) capable of mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against a CCR9-expressing cell to which it binds.

[0188] In one aspect, there is provided a method of treating a disease or condition mediated by CCR9 in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a binding molecule that binds CCR9, the binding molecule being (i) capable of inhibiting binding of CCL25 to CCR9, and (ii) capable of mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against a CCR9-expressing cell to which it binds.

[0189] In some embodiments of any of the treatment aspects, the CCR9-mediated disease or condition being treated is inflammatory bowel disease.

[0190] In some embodiments, the binding molecules can deplete CCR9-expressing cells in a subject, for example in the intestine of a subject. Without being bound by theory, this may be due to the ability of the binding molecules to prevent migration of CCR9-expressing cells from the periphery of the subject to the intestine and / or the ability of the binding molecules to induce death of CCR9-expressing cells to which they bind.

[0191] Thus, in one aspect, there is provided a method of depleting CCR9-expressing cells in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a binding molecule of the invention.

[0192] In some embodiments, the CCR9 polypeptide is comprised within a CCR9 polypeptide sequence, or a fragment thereof.

[0193] A "CCR9 polypeptide" may comprise the full-length polypeptide sequence of CCR9, or may comprise a fragment of CCR9 of any length of the full-length polypeptide sequence of CCR9 (e.g., comprising 5%, 15%, 25%, 35%, 45%, 55%, 65%, 75%, 85% or 95% of the polypeptide sequence of the full-length polypeptide sequence of CCR9) that comprises an epitope that can bind (e.g., be bound by) a binding molecule of the invention.

[0194] The binding molecules may be advantageously used in methods for detecting CCR9 epitopes and in related methods of diagnostics.

[0195] The term "treat" or "treating" as used herein encompasses therapeutic measures that cure, slow, alleviate symptoms, and / or halt progression of a diagnosed pathological condition or disorder. Thus, those in need of treatment include those already with the disorder. Preferably, the term "treat" or "treating" as used herein means corrective treatment. The term "treat" or "treating" encompasses treating inflammatory bowel disease as well as treating its symptoms and diseases / disorders associated therewith. In some embodiments, the term "treat" or "treating" refers to symptoms of IBD, such as inflammation in the intestine, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stool, etc. In some embodiments, a subject is successfully "treated" for a CCR9-mediated disease or disorder (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease) according to the methods provided herein when the patient exhibits, for example, a total, partial, or transient reduction or disappearance of symptoms associated with the CCR9-mediated disease or disorder (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease). "Treating" or "treatment" also includes prophylactic treatment, eg, preventing the onset of a disease, such as preventing the onset of IBD.

[0196] "Preventing" refers to a prophylactic or preventative measure that prevents and / or delays the onset of the targeted pathological condition or disorder. Thus, those in need of prevention include those prone or susceptible to developing the disorder. In some embodiments, a disease or disorder (preferably inflammatory bowel disease) has been successfully prevented in accordance with the methods provided herein if the patient develops, for example, fewer or less severe symptoms associated with the disease or disorder, or develops symptoms associated with the disease or disorder later than a patient who has not been subjected, either transiently or permanently, to the methods of the invention.

[0197] The terms "subject", "individual" and "patient" are used interchangeably herein to refer to a mammalian subject. In some embodiments, the "subject" is a human, a farm animal, a livestock animal, a sport animal, and a zoo animal, such as a human, a non-human primate, a dog, a cat, a guinea pig, a rabbit, a rat, a mouse, a horse, a cow, and the like. In some embodiments, the subject is a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). In a preferred embodiment, the subject is a human. In the methods of the invention, the subject may not have been previously diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. Alternatively, the subject may have been previously diagnosed as having inflammatory bowel disease. The subject may also be a subject that exhibits disease risk factors or is asymptomatic for inflammatory bowel disease. The subject may also be a subject that is suffering from or at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the invention may be used to confirm the presence of inflammatory bowel disease in a subject. For example, the subject may have been previously diagnosed as having inflammatory bowel disease by alternative means. In some embodiments, the subject has previously been treated with an inflammatory bowel disease therapy.

[0198] In some embodiments, the methods of treatment of the present invention include one or more administration steps selected from oral, intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, rectal or vaginal, inhalation, topical, or a combination thereof.

[0199] In some embodiments, the binding molecule is delivered directly to the site of the harmful cell population (e.g., thereby increasing exposure of the diseased tissue to the therapeutic agent), hi some embodiments, administration is directly to the airways, for example, by inhalation or intranasal administration.

[0200] In some embodiments, the inflammatory bowel disease is Crohn's disease, such as Crohn's disease of the ileum or ileocolon, hi some embodiments, the inflammatory bowel disease is ulcerative colitis.

[0201] 5.4 Detection Methods In a further aspect, methods are provided for detecting the presence or absence of a CCR9 polypeptide. The binding molecules of the invention may be used in such methods.

[0202] In some embodiments, a method for detecting the presence or absence of a CCR9 polypeptide comprises: a) contacting a sample with a binding molecule of the invention to result in a binding molecule-antigen complex; b) detecting the presence or absence of said binding molecule-antigen complex; c) the presence of a binding molecule-antigen complex confirms the presence of a CCR9 polypeptide. Includes.

[0203] In some embodiments, any of steps (i)-(iii) above are performed ex vivo or in vitro. In some embodiments, all of steps (i)-(iii) above are performed ex vivo or in vitro. In some embodiments, any of steps (i)-(iii) above are performed in vivo.

[0204] The binding molecule can be any binding molecule described herein, for example a binding molecule that comprises a set of six CDRs as shown for any antibody in Figure 3 or Figure 4 or Table 4, or a binding molecule that comprises a VH and VL as shown for any antibody in Figure 3 or Figure 4 or a binding molecule of Table 3.

[0205] In some embodiments, the detection methods described herein are performed in vitro. In some embodiments, the detection methods described herein are performed ex vivo. In some embodiments, the detection methods described herein are performed on a sample from a subject, such as a sample previously obtained from the subject. The detection methods may or may not include a step of obtaining a sample from the subject. Suitably, the "sample" is a sample obtained from a subject (e.g., a biopsy), a cell line, a tissue culture, or other source of cells that may express CCR9. In some embodiments, the sample is a biopsy from a subject. The biopsy may be from the intestine of a subject suffering from inflammatory bowel disease or from a subject at risk of suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. The sample may be a sample isolated from a subject.

[0206] The invention encompasses the corresponding use of the binding molecules of the invention to detect CCR9 polypeptides (eg, CCR9 polypeptide epitopes).

[0207] In some embodiments, the presence of the binding molecule-antigen complex indicates the presence of inflammatory bowel disease, and the absence of the binding molecule-antigen complex indicates the absence of inflammatory bowel disease.

[0208] In some embodiments, the inflammatory disease is an inflammatory disease involving cells that express a CCR9 polypeptide (eg, a CCR9 polypeptide epitope).

[0209] Thus, the invention encompasses the use of a binding molecule of the invention in a method of diagnosing a subject having inflammatory bowel disease, preferably said inflammatory bowel disease involving CCR9 expressing cells.

[0210] In some embodiments, the method of detection or diagnosis may comprise measuring the expression level of CCR9 in a sample from a subject and comparing the measured CCR9 expression level with a reference CCR9 level, wherein an increase in the measured CCR9 expression level compared to the reference CCR9 level indicates the presence of inflammatory bowel disease. In some embodiments, the reference CCR9 level is the expression level of CCR9 in a non-IBD (e.g. normal) sample of the same type, such as of the same tissue type.

[0211] "Binding molecule-antigen complex" refers to a complex (e.g., a macromolecular complex) that comprises an antigen bound to its corresponding binding molecule, e.g., CCR9 bound to a binding molecule of the invention. The term "binding molecule-antigen complex" may be used interchangeably with the terms "bound CCR9-binding molecule complex" and "binding molecule bound to CCR9."

[0212] The binding molecule-antigen complex may be detected by any means known to one of skill in the art. In some embodiments, the binding molecule is labeled with a detectable label. The label may be an epifluorescent label.

[0213] In some embodiments, the binding molecule-antigen complex is detected by a secondary (eg, detection) antibody that binds to the binding molecule and / or the binding molecule complex.

[0214] Suitably, the secondary antibody comprises a detection means such as a tag / label to aid in detection. The detection means is preferably conjugated to the secondary antibody. Examples of suitable labels include detectable labels such as radioactive or fluorescent or color molecules, enzymatic or chromogenic markers, such as dyes that provide a visible color change upon binding of the detection antibody to the antigen. As an example, the label can be fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC), R-phycoerythrin, Alexa 532, CY3 or digoxigenin. The label can be a reporter molecule, which is detected directly, such as by detecting its fluorescent signal, or by exposing the label to a photographic or X-ray film. Alternatively, the label is not directly detectable, but can be detected, for example, in a two-phase system. An example of indirect label detection is the binding of an antibody to the label.

[0215] In some embodiments, the secondary antibody comprises a fluorescent tag and the binding molecule-antigen complex is detected by the fluorescence emitted from the binding molecule-antigen-secondary antibody complex. "Binding molecule-antigen-secondary antibody complex" refers to a complex comprising an antigen (e.g., CCR9) bound to a binding molecule, which is further bound by a secondary antibody that binds to the binding molecule and / or the binding molecule-antigen complex.

[0216] Suitably, the binding molecule-antigen complex is detected when the signal (e.g., fluorescence) emitted from the detection label is greater than the signal detected in a control that does not contain the binding molecule (e.g., a binding molecule that binds to CCR9), which may alternatively contain CCR9 but no sample is applied to the control.

[0217] In another embodiment, a second binding molecule that binds to CCR9 is provided, wherein said second binding molecule does not compete with the first binding molecule for binding to CCR9.

[0218] The first binding molecule can be any binding molecule as disclosed herein that binds to CCR9. A suitable first binding molecule can be a binding molecule as shown in Figure 4. A suitable first binding molecule can be a binding molecule that comprises the VH and VL of any binding molecule shown in Table 3, or that comprises the set of six CDRs (HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3) of any binding molecule shown in Table ... a) comprises a heavy chain variable (VH) region having the set of CDRs HCDR1, HCDR2 and HCDR3, and a light chain variable (VL) region having the set of CDRs LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3 of an antibody as shown in Figure 4; b) comprises the heavy chain variable (VH) region and the light chain variable (VL) region of the antibody shown in FIG. 4; c) comprising a heavy chain variable (VH) region sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51 and a light chain variable (VL) region sequence of SEQ ID NO: 55, in which (i) X1 and X2 of SEQ ID NO: 55 are each any amino acid (SEQ ID NO: 76); or (ii) X1 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is P or S and X2 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is R, T or G (SEQ ID NO: 77); or d) comprising a heavy chain variable (VH) region sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51 and a light chain variable (VL) region sequence of SEQ ID NO: 52, 53 or 54; or e) a binding molecule comprising a heavy chain variable (VH) region sequence of SEQ ID NO:56 and a light chain variable (VL) region sequence of SEQ ID NO:57.

[0219] Advantageously, the invention encompasses the use of a second binding molecule (that does not compete with the first binding molecule for binding) to determine the abundance of CCR9-expressing cells in a sample that has been contacted with the first binding molecule.

[0220] Thus, there is provided a method for assessing depletion of CCR9-expressing cells by a first binding molecule, comprising: a) contacting the first binding molecule with a population of cells, the population of cells comprising CCR9-expressing cells and immune effector cells, under conditions suitable to enable antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by the effector cells; b) contacting the population of cells with a second binding molecule that binds to CCR9 and does not compete with the first binding molecule of step (i) for binding to CCR9; c) detecting CCR9-expressing cells in the population of cells bound by the second binding molecule of (ii); d) comparing the amount of CCR9-expressing cells detected in step (iii) with the amount of CCR9-expressing cells in the original cell population used in step (i), thereby determining the amount of CCR9-expressing cells depleted in step (i).

[0221] In some embodiments, the second binding molecule comprises a VH and VL sequence shown in Table 6, or a set of six CDRs shown in Table 6. For example, the first binding molecule may comprise a VH and VL of any binding molecule shown in Table 3, or may comprise a set of six CDRs of any binding molecule shown in Table 4, and the second binding molecule may comprise a VH and VL sequence shown in Table 6, or a set of six CDRs shown in Table 6.

[0222] In some embodiments, the second binding molecule binds to CCR9 and a) HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 44, or a functional variant thereof; b) HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 45, or a functional variant thereof; c) HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 46, or a functional variant thereof; d) LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 47, or a functional variant thereof; LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO:5, or a functional variant thereof; and e) A binding molecule as described herein comprising an LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 48, or a functional variant thereof (functional variant being as defined herein).

[0223] In some embodiments, the second binding molecule is a binding molecule that binds to CCR9 and comprises a heavy chain variable (VH) region having a set of CDRs HCDR1, HCDR2 and HCDR3, and a light chain variable (VL) region having a set of CDRs LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3, wherein the VH region amino acid sequence comprises HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 44, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 45 and HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 46, and the VL region amino acid sequence comprises LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 47, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO: 5 and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 48.

[0224] In some embodiments, the second binding molecule binds to CCR9 and a) a VH region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 72, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto; and b) A binding molecule comprising a VL region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 73, or a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity thereto.

[0225] 5.5 Polynucleotides, Vectors and Host Cells In another aspect, a polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a binding molecule of the invention is provided.

[0226] In some embodiments, the polynucleotide is an isolated polynucleotide.

[0227] In some embodiments, where a binding molecule comprises more than one polypeptide chain (e.g., where a binding molecule is an immunoglobulin molecule or a fragment thereof comprising at least one heavy chain and at least one light chain), a polynucleotide encodes one, some, or all of the polypeptide chains of the binding molecule. For example, a polynucleotide may encode a heavy chain polypeptide and a light chain polypeptide of the binding molecule. In some embodiments, a polynucleotide encodes a VH region of the binding molecule. In some embodiments, a polynucleotide of the invention encodes a VL region of the binding molecule. In some embodiments, a polynucleotide encodes a VH region and a VL region of the binding molecule.

[0228] In some embodiments, the polynucleotide further encodes a leader sequence (eg, which functions as a secretory sequence to control export of the polypeptide from the cell).

[0229] Variants of the above polynucleotides are encompassed by the present invention. Polynucleotide variants may contain alterations in coding regions, non-coding regions, or both. In some embodiments, polynucleotide variants include alterations that produce silent substitutions, additions, or deletions, but do not change the properties or activities of the encoded polypeptide. In some embodiments, polynucleotide variants are made by silent substitutions due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. Polynucleotide variants may be made for a variety of reasons, such as to optimize codon expression for a particular host (changing codons in human mRNA to those preferred by bacterial hosts, such as E. coli).

[0230] In another aspect, a vector is provided that comprises a polynucleotide of the invention operably linked to a promoter; or comprises a binding molecule of the invention and a polynucleotide encoding a VH region of a binding molecule of the invention and a polynucleotide encoding a VL region of a binding molecule of the invention, said polynucleotides operably linked to one or more promoters. As used herein, the term "promoter" refers to any nucleic acid sequence that regulates expression of a polynucleotide sequence by driving transcription of the polynucleotide sequence. As used herein, the terms "operably linked" and "operably linked" refer to the promoter being in the correct functional location and / or orientation relative to the polynucleotide sequence that it regulates to control transcription initiation and / or expression of said sequence. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequences encoding the VH region and the VL region are operably linked to the same promoter. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequences encoding the VH region and the VL region are each operably linked to a separate promoter. In some embodiments, the separate promoters are the same type of promoter. In some embodiments, the separate promoters are different types of promoters.

[0231] Examples of vectors include viral vectors, naked DNA or RNA expression vectors, plasmids, cosmids or phage vectors, DNA or RNA expression vectors associated with cationic condensing agents, DNA or RNA expression vectors encapsulated in liposomes, and certain eukaryotic cells such as producer cells. Once constructed into a vector, the polynucleotide of the invention may be operably linked to an appropriate promoter for expression of the polypeptide in the desired host.

[0232] A vector may contain additional nucleic acid sequences that control the expression of a polynucleotide. For example, a vector may contain one or more enhancer and repressor sequences. As used herein, the term "enhancer" refers to a nucleic acid sequence that binds to one or more proteins that increase the transcriptional activation of a polynucleotide. As used herein, the term "repressor" refers to a nucleic acid sequence that binds to one or more proteins that reduce the transcriptional activation of a polynucleotide.

[0233] Another aspect provided herein is a host cell comprising a polynucleotide of the invention or as disclosed herein, or a vector of the invention or as disclosed herein, wherein the host cell is capable of producing a polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide or vector.

[0234] Another aspect provided herein is a method of producing a binding molecule of the invention, comprising expressing a polynucleotide or vector of the invention in a host cell. For example, in some embodiments, the method comprises culturing a host cell under conditions suitable for producing a binding molecule of the invention encoded by the polynucleotide or vector present in the host cell.

[0235] Suitable host cells for expression of the binding molecules of the invention include prokaryotic, yeast, insect, or higher eukaryotic cells (preferably where the polynucleotide is under the control of a suitable promoter). Prokaryotes include gram-negative or gram-positive organisms, such as E. coli or Bacillus. Higher eukaryotic cells include established cell lines of mammalian origin as described herein. Cell-free translation systems may also be used. In some embodiments, the host cell is a cell that does not fucosylate the Fc region of the binding molecule. In some embodiments, the host cell is a cell that expresses an enzyme that diverts the fucose pathway to generate GDP-D-rhamnose.

[0236] 5.6 NonfucosylationAntibody effector function can be modified through the generation of antibodies with modified glycosylation patterns. For example, antibodies with altered types of glycosylation can be generated, such as non-fucosylated / hypofucosylated antibodies with reduced amounts of fucosyl residues or antibodies with increased bisecting GlcNac structures. Such modified glycosylation patterns have been demonstrated to increase the ADCC ability of antibodies. Such carbohydrate modifications can be achieved, for example, by expressing the antibody in a host cell with modified glycosylation machinery. Cells with modified glycosylation machinery have been described in the art and can be used as host cells to express the recombinant antibodies of the invention, thereby producing antibodies with modified glycosylation. For example, EP 1,176,195 describes cell lines with a functionally disrupted FUT8 gene encoding fucosyltransferase, and antibodies expressed in such cell lines exhibit hypofucosylation. PCT Publication WO 03 / 035835 describes a variant CHO cell line, Lec13 cells, with a reduced ability to attach fucose to sugars linked to Asn(297), which also results in hypofucosylation of antibodies expressed in the host cells (see also [5]). PCT Publication WO 99 / 54342 describes cell lines engineered to express glycosyltransferases (e.g., beta(1,4)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnTIII)) that modify glycoproteins such that antibodies expressed in the engineered cell lines exhibit an increase in bisecting GlcNac structures that result in increased ADCC activity of the antibodies (see also [6]). WO 2011 / 035884 A1 describes a process for generating molecules that lack fucose on their sugar moieties.WO 2011 / 035884 A1 describes, inter alia, cells for producing molecules, the cells comprising at least one enzyme that uses GDP-6-deoxy-D-lyxo-4-hexulose as a substrate, and the enzyme converts the substrate to GDP-D-rhamnose, GDP-D-perosamine, GDP-deoxy-D-talose, GDP-6-deoxy-daltrose, or GDP-4-keto-3,6-dideoxy-D-mannose.

[0237] 5.7 Kits and Further Assays In one aspect, a kit is provided comprising a binding molecule of the invention. Further encompassed is the use of said kit in the methods of the invention.

[0238] In some embodiments, the kit further comprises an isolated (e.g., purified) antigen or a cell expressing the antigen. For example, the kit may further comprise an isolated (e.g., purified) CCR9 or a cell expressing CCR9. In some embodiments, the kit comprises one or more containers. In some embodiments, the kit comprises all of the components necessary and / or sufficient to perform a detection assay as described herein, including all controls, instructions for performing the assay, and any necessary software for analysis and presentation of results.

[0239] The binding molecules of the present invention may be used in assays for immunospecific binding by any method known in the art, including but not limited to competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such as Western blot, RIA, ELISA, ELISPOT, "sandwich" immunoassays, immunoprecipitation assays, precipitation reactions, gel diffusion precipitation reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays, complement fixation assays, immunoradiometric assays, fluorescent immunoassays, and protein A immunoassays.

[0240] The binding molecules of the present invention can be utilized histologically, as in immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, or non-immunological assays, for example, for in situ detection of CCR9 or its conserved variants or peptide fragments. In situ detection can be achieved by dissecting a tissue specimen from a patient and applying a labeled binding molecule of the present invention thereto (e.g., by overlaying a labeled binding molecule of the present invention on a biological sample). Using such procedures, it is possible to determine not only the presence of CCR9, or conserved variants or peptide fragments, but also its distribution in the examined tissue. Using the present invention, one skilled in the art will readily understand that any of a wide variety of histological methods (such as staining procedures) can be modified to achieve such in situ detection.

[0241] [Table 3]

[0242] [Table 4]

[0243] [Table 5]

[0244] [Table 6] EXAMPLES

[0245] 5.8 Example 1 - CCR9 Expression in Various Cells and Tissues Cells were isolated from various tissues in humans and cynomolgus monkeys, and the percentage of cells from a given tissue and / or a given cell type that expressed CCR9 was determined using flow cytometry.

[0246] As shown in Figure 1A, cells expressing both CCR9 and CD4 were found in the colon, ileum and thymus of both human and cynomolgus monkey tissues, and were also found in the mesenteric lymph nodes of cynomolgus monkey tissues. In contrast, CCR9+CD4+ cells were present at low levels in blood. It was also found that CCR9 mRNA was co-expressed with CD3+ cells in cynomolgus monkey ileum (data not shown).

[0247] CCR9 expression was evaluated in human tissues. The largest proportion of CCR9 expressing cells was found in CD4+ cells of the thymus (76% of cells expressing CCR9), with high levels also seen in CD4+ T cells (47% of cells expressing CCR9) and CD8+ T cells (37% of cells expressing CCR9) of the ileum of IBD patients. Some CCR9 expression was also seen in cells of the colon of IBD patients, either CD4+ T cells (9% of cells expressing CCR9) or CD8+ T cells (12% of cells expressing CCR9), with only a small number of CCR9 expressing cells (<5%) in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the blood of IBD patients. CCR9 expression was seen in 28% of B cells in the blood, with lower levels in B cells in the colon and ileum (11% and 16%, respectively). Only very small numbers of monocytes, dendritic cells (DCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) expressed CCR9 (<5%).

[0248] FIG. 1B shows the percentage of B cells expressing CCR9 in the ileum (left chart) and colon (right chart) of healthy and IBD patients. For each B cell type (naive B cells, memory B cells, plasma cells), results from healthy subjects are provided on the left and results for IBD patients are provided on the right. It was found that there was a decrease in the number of B cells expressing CCR9 in IBD, with the greatest decrease observed in memory B cells. It is hypothesized that this may be due to high CCR9 ligand expression driving receptor internalization in IBD.

[0249] Figure 1C shows the percentage of T effector cells and Tregs from the colon or ileum of healthy subjects or IBD patients that express CCR9. For each tissue type shown, the % of T effector cells expressing CCR9 is shown on the left and the % of Tregs expressing CCR9 is shown on the right. No obvious differences in the T effector / Treg ratios in the tissue types between healthy and IBD patients were found.

[0250] 5.9 Example 2 - Association of CCR9 with Inflammatory Cytokine Expression Co-expression of the inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17 was assessed in human CD4+CCR9+ and CD4+CCR9- cells using flow cytometry. Cells were isolated from human colon or ileum and treated with PMA / ionomycin and brefeldin A (a protein transport inhibitor) for 4 hours to stimulate cytokine production. CD4+ T cells were identified by gating on single viable cells that were CD45+, CD3+, and CD8-. CD4+CCR9+ cells were found to express higher levels of inflammatory cytokines than CD4+CCR9- cells (Figure 2A). The difference in levels between CD4+CCR9- and CD4+CCR9+ cells was greatest for expression of IL-17 (ranging from a 2-fold to 6-fold increase), while the average difference remained approximately 2-3-fold for both IL-4 and IFN-γ (Figure 2B).

[0251] 5.10 Example 3 - Generation of anti-CCR9 antibodies Anti-CCR9 antibodies were generated using hybridoma technology after alternating immunization of CD1 mice with human CCR9 and mouse CCR9 overexpressing HEK cell lines. Three groups of mice were used. For group 1, mice were immunized alternately with CHO and HEK overexpressing hCCR9; mice in group 2 were immunized alternately with HEK cells overexpressing hCCR9 and HEK cells overexpressing mCCR9; mice in group 3 were immunized with HEK cells overexpressing mCCR9. The recombinant cell lines were administered at 1e7 cells / 100 μL diluted in PBS, emulsified with an equal volume of Freund's complete adjuvant, and injected into mice at two sites with 100 μL per site. For the three subsequent injections, cells were emulsified with Freund's incomplete adjuvant and injections were performed as described above. A final boost was performed on day 24 by intraperitoneally injecting 200 μL of cells in PBS.

[0252] Tail vein bleeds were obtained from mice pre-immunization, 13 days after the first immunization, and 20 days after the second immunization. IgG titers against human CCR9, mouse CCR9, and parental HEK and CHO cells were determined by serum ELISA. Animals with the highest antigen-specific titers were advanced for hybridoma generation.

[0253] 5.10.1 Assessment of mouse immune responses to hCCR9 and mCCR9 Individual mouse serum IgG titers against hCCR9 and mCCR9 were determined by ELISA. The above hCCR9 and mCCR9 HEK and CHO cell lines, together with the parental HEK and CHO cells, were plated on 96-well poly-D-lysine microtiter plates at 40,000 cells / well and cultured overnight at 37°C in a CO2 incubator. After overnight incubation, the supernatant was removed and the cells were fixed in a 3.7% solution of formaldehyde / PBS for 5 minutes at room temperature. All subsequent incubations were performed at room temperature. After removal of the formaldehyde solution, the wells were blocked by the addition of 3% marvel / PBS blocking buffer. After 1 hour, the blocking buffer was removed, the wells were washed again with PBS, and serum samples were added in a dilution series (starting with a 1:200 dilution at 50 μL / well). After 1 hour incubation, the wells were washed three times with PBS supplemented with 0.05% (v / v) Tween 20. Europium-labeled anti-mouse IgG (Perkin Elmer) at 1:500 in Dlfia assay buffer was then added to the wells at 50 μL per well. After a further 1 hour incubation and 5 washes as above, Enhancement solution (Perkin Elmer) was added to the wells at 50 ul per well and the plate was incubated for 10 minutes at room temperature on an orbital shaker. The plate was then read using a PerkinElmer EnVision 2103 multilabel plate reader.

[0254] Serum titration curves for hCCR9, mCCR9, and parental HEK and CHO cells were plotted and the respective areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated.

[0255] 5.10.2 Monoclonal Mouse IgG Isolation Four days after the final boost, lymph nodes were aseptically harvested and cells were isolated by mechanical disruption and counted. These cells were mixed with SP2 / 0 myeloma cells and fused using an electrofusion apparatus. The resulting fusions were mixed with methylcellulose-based semi-solid medium and plated on OmniTray plates. The semi-solid medium contained CloneMatrix and DMEM supplemented with 20% FCS, 10% BM Condimed H1, 1 mM sodium pyruvate and OPI medium supplement, 2% hypoxanthine azaserine and FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse gG. The cells in the semi-solid medium were cultured for 13 days at 37°C in a 5% CO2 incubator. During this incubation period, clonal colonies are formed from single precursor hybridoma cells. These colonies secrete IgG that is captured in the vicinity of the colony by FITC-conjugated anti-IgG present in the semi-solid medium. The resulting formation of immune complexes can be seen as fluorescent "halos" around the cells when visualized with a ClonePix FL colony picker (Molecular Devices). Colonies with these halos are then picked into 96-well microtiter plates.

[0256] After 3 to 5 days of culture, supernatants from picked colonies were collected and screened for CCR9 binding.

[0257] 5.10.3 DNA sequencing and purification of mouse IgG Messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted from hybridoma cells using magnetic oligo(dT) particles and reverse transcribed into cDNA. PCR amplification was performed using poly-C and constant region VH or VL primers specific for all mouse IgG subclasses.

[0258] 5.10.4 Mouse IgG purification Cells were grown in 24-well plates and overgrown in serum-free HL-1 medium supplemented with HyperZero and glutamine. After 10 days, supernatants were transferred to a 96-well master block and mouse IgG of all subclasses (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3) was purified from overgrown cell culture supernatants on ProPlus resin (Phynexus) using a Perkin Elmer Minitrack. Captured mouse IgG was eluted with 75 μL of 100 mM HEPES, 140 mM NaCl pH 3.0, followed by neutralization with an equal volume of 200 mM HEPES pH 8.0. Purified IgG was quantified using absorbance readings at 280 nm in a UV-Star 384-well plate.

[0259] 5.10.5 Reformatting Mouse IgG Mouse hybridoma IgG clones were molecularly reformatted to generate constructs expressing mouse VH and VL domains and appropriate mouse IgG constant domains for each hybridoma essentially as described by Persic et al 1997 [7] with the following modifications. The expression vector contained an OriP fragment to facilitate use with CHO transient cells and to allow episomal replication. The VH domain was cloned into an appropriate vector containing mouse heavy chain constant domains and regulatory elements to express full IgG1 heavy chains in mammalian cells. Similarly, the VL domain was cloned into a vector for expression of appropriate mouse light chain (lambda or kappa) constant domains and regulatory elements to express full IgG light chains in mammalian cells. To obtain IgG, mammalian suspension CHO cells were transiently transfected with heavy and light chain IgG vectors. IgG was expressed and secreted into the medium. The harvest was filtered and purified followed by purification of the IgG using Protein A chromatography. Culture supernatants were loaded onto appropriately sized columns of Ceramic Protein A (Pall 20078-036) and washed with 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0, 250 mM NaCl. Bound IgG was eluted from the column using 0.1 M sodium citrate (pH 3.0) and neutralized by the addition of Tris-HCl (pH 9.0). The eluted material was buffer exchanged into PBS using a Nap10 column (GE Lifescienses, 17-0854-02) after which the concentration of IgG was determined spectrophotometrically using an extinction coefficient based on the amino acid sequence of IgG [8]. Purified IgG was analyzed for purity using SDS-PAGE. Purified IgG was screened for binding to human CCR9 on HEK cells.

[0260] Figure 3 shows the amino acid sequences of the variable heavy (Figure 3A) and variable light (Figure 3B) chains for the nine unique hits identified in this screen. For example, cDNA for AB1020243 was prepared from clone ZY10OI-A02 and sequenced for the VH and VL domains. FW = framework regions. The positions of the CDRs are underlined as specified by the Kabat assignment (Kabat et al., Sequences of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)). The VH and VL sequences of humanized AB1020243 (AB1020243-fgl) are shown in Figure 4, where they are aligned with the original chimeric sequence.

[0261] To further improve the potency and efficacy of AB1020243, specific scanning mutagenesis of H and L CDRs was performed. The CDRs were mutated by site-directed mutagenesis in a mammalian expression vector with a low multiplicity biased nucleotide (NNC) codon mix designed to maximize the abundance of alternative amino acids (aa), while removing undesirable amino acids (Met, Trp) from the library. Five hundred and sixty-six CDR variants were generated to create a CDR-optimized version of humanized AB1020243. The screening library was expressed in CHO cells from 24-well deep plates, followed by Protein A purification of the variants. After identification of improved variants, recombinations within and between the CDRs were performed by site-directed mutagenesis to tailor favorable variants into the final lead antibody candidate as a-fuc huIgG1. The VH and VL sequences of the CDR-optimized antibodies AB243LO0331 and AB243LO0326 are shown in Figure 4, where they are aligned with the parental sequence from AB1020243 and the humanized form of AB1020243. The altered LCDR1 residues are shown in bold underlined text.

[0262] 5.11 Example 4 - Evaluation of CCR9 Binding and Potency 5.11.1 Cell binding Binding of antibodies to CCR9-expressing cells was assessed using HEK cells overexpressing human CCR9A or using Molt4 cells. The Molt4 cell line is derived from human T cells and is known to express CCR9 [9]. Test antibodies were diluted to a concentration of 10 μg / mL in PBS supplemented with 1% fetal bovine serum. Antibodies were titrated as single points using 3-fold titrations across 8 points on a 96-well plate and cells were stained for 20 min at 4°C. Cells were washed and stained with secondary goat anti-mouse or human IgG PE at 2.5 μg / ml in sterile PBS + 1% FBS serum for 20 min at 4°C.

[0263] Figure 5A shows that at least AB1020243, AB1020229, and AB1020011 bound to Molt4 cells. Binding to Molt4 cells was compared to binding to Jurkat cells, which do not express human CCR9. As shown in Figure 5B, binding to Molt4 cells was similar to that seen in Figure 5A, but no significant binding to Jurkat cells was detected.

[0264] Antibody AB1020243 (hybridoma mIgG) was also tested for binding to different forms of CCR9. Briefly, the test antibody was diluted to a concentration of 60ug / mL in assay buffer containing Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (Sigma HB264) and 0.1% bovine serum albumin (Sigma A9576). Antibodies were titrated in duplicate using single-fold titration over 24 points on a 384 black clear bottom non-binding microplate (Corning® NBS™ 3655) such that the final volume of test antibody was 10uL per well. The secondary detection antibody Alexa Fluor 647 labeled human IgG (H+L) (Jackson Immuno-Research; 209-665-082) was prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions and diluted 1:1000 in assay buffer as above. Secondary detection antibody was dispensed into the assay plates containing the test antibodies using a Mutidrop dispenser (Thermo Scientific) at a volume of 10 uL per well.

[0265] Transfected HEK CCR9-overexpressing cell lines or untransfected parental control cells were cultured at 1 x 10 per ml. 6Cells were suspended in assay buffer at a concentration of 10 μL and 10 μL of cells were dispensed into assay plates containing test and secondary antibodies using a Mutidrop dispenser (Thermo Scientific). The assay plates were incubated overnight at 4° C. and read on a mirrorball® (laser scanning fluorescence cytometer; TTP-Labtech) with excitation at 488 nm and emission using the FL4 channel (667-685 nm). Data were plotted in GraphPad Prism version 8.0.0 for Windows (GraphPad Software, San Diego, California USA) and expressed as Log (mg / mL antibody) versus fluorescence (FL4) counts. As shown in FIG. 6, it showed good binding of AB1020243 to both human forms of CCR9 (CCR9A and CCR9B) and cynomolgus monkey CCR9. It showed little or no binding to mouse or rat CCR9.

[0266] 5.11.2 In Vitro ADCC Bioassay Antibody potency and effector function were assessed using NK cell activation assays as follows: All potency assays were performed at a 5:1 effector (NK-92 MI CD16a NFAT cells) to target (Molt4; HEK CCR9 overexpressing cells or Jurkat cells) ratio. The effector NK-92 cell line does not naturally express the FcγRIIIa receptor (CD16). An engineered form of NK-92 was used that overexpresses the high affinity (ha) CD16 V158 FcγRIIIa receptor with increased binding to the Fc domain (Boissel et al Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016; 76(14 Suppl): Abstract 2302). This receptor crosslinks NK cells to target cells via antibodies bound to the target cells. The NK-92 cells used also express an NFAT luciferase reporter, which can be used as a surrogate for effector function. Binding of the target-binding antibody to the NK cells induces activation of the NFAT transcription factor, driving the luciferase reporter gene. The luminescence signal is proportional to the ADCC activity.

[0267] Both target and effector cells were prepared in assay medium containing modified RPMI (Gibco™; 12633) with 10% Ultra Low IgG FBS (Gibco™; 16250-078). Target cells were cultured at 8×10 per mL. 5 Resuspend effector cells at a cell concentration of 8 x 10 per mL 6 The cells were resuspended at a concentration of 60 μg / mL. Test antibodies were diluted to a concentration of 60 μg / mL and duplicate 4-fold titrations were performed across 12 points on a 384-well polypropylene microplate (Greiner Bio-one International; 781280).

[0268] Target cells were dispensed into 384-well white clear-bottom tissue culture treated plates (Corning® 3560) using a Mutidrop dispenser (Thermo Scientific) at a volume of 12.5 μL per well. Test antibodies (6.25 μL per well) were then added to the target cell-containing plates using a Bravo automated liquid handling platform (Agilent). Target cells and antibodies were pre-incubated for 30 minutes at 37° C. in an O2 / CO2 incubator. Effector cells were then added at a volume of 6.25 μL per well using a Mutidrop dispenser (Thermo Scientific). The assay plates containing target cells, effector cells and antibodies were incubated for an additional 5 hours at 37° C. in an O2 / CO2 incubator.

[0269] At the end of the incubation period, luciferase detection reagent was prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions (Steady-Glo® Luciferase Assay System; Promega E2520) and 25 μL was dispensed into each well using manual pipetting. The assay plate was covered with foil and lysis was allowed to occur for 20 minutes at room temperature on a plate shaker. The assay plate was read on an EnVision® 2105 multimode plate reader (Perkin Elmer) using the ultrasensitive luminescence mode. Data was analyzed in GraphPad Prism version 8.0.0 for Windows (GraphPad Software, San Diego, California USA) using a 4-parameter log(agonist) to response logistic equation. Data was expressed as Log(molar) antibody concentration versus response (counts per second).

[0270] Figure 7 shows NK cell activation by (non-fucosylated) antibodies when bound to MOLT4 / HEK cells. Non-fucosylated forms of antibodies were produced from a dual expression cassette whereby heavy chain IgG expression was co-expressed with RMD enzyme in CHO cells to produce non-fucosylated proteins. The potency of AB1020243 afuc antibody when bound to HEK cells expressing human CCR9A was measured as 0.5nM. The potency of humanized AB1020243 afuc antibody when bound to Molt4 cells was measured as 0.8nM.

[0271] 5.11.3 PBMC killing assay Antibodies were serially titrated (10-fold) over 8 points with a starting concentration of 10 μg / mL. Antibodies were titrated at 1 × 10 in u-bottom 96-well plates. 6 Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were added and incubated overnight. The following day, the percentage of remaining CCR9-expressing CD4 T cells was measured by flow cytometry using a non-competitive CCR9 antibody. The VH / VL and CDR sequences of the non-competitive antibodies are shown in Tables 5 and 6. As shown in Figure 8, antibodies AB1020243, AB1020229 and AB1020011 all showed killing of CCR9+PBMCs. The EC50 (n=4) for AB1020243 afuc was measured as 2.6 nM.

[0272] [Table 7]

[0273] [Table 8]

[0274] [Table 9]

[0275] 5.12 Example 5 - Properties of humanized AB1020243 Humanized AB1020243 was produced as in Example 3. In all experiments herein above, humanized AB1020243 was in a non-fucosylated form produced from a dual expression cassette whereby heavy chain IgG expression was co-expressed with GDP-6-deoxy-D-lyxo-4-hexulose reductase (RMD) in CHO cells to produce a non-fucosylated protein.

[0276] 5.12.1 CCR9 Cross-Reactivity of Humanized AB1020243 The binding of the parent AB1020243 antibody (chimeric) was compared to that of the humanized version based on the methods described in Example 4.

[0277] As shown in Figure 9, the humanized antibody ("human") retained similar binding to the parental AB1020243 ("chimeric") to HEK cells expressing cynomolgus CCR9 and human CCR9B (Figures 9A and 9B). No significant binding was observed to the parental HEK JI cell line, which does not express CCR9 (Figure 9G). Even at higher concentrations, humanized AB1020243 did not show significant off-target binding to CXCR1 (Figure 9C), CXCR2 (Figure 9D), CCR5 (Figure 9E), or CCR8 (Figure 9F).

[0278] 5.12.2 Humanized AB1020243 retains high potency Humanization of AB1020243 surprisingly did not result in a significant change in potency in the NK cell activation assay (Figure 10). The chimeric and humanized forms of AB1020243 afuc resulted in similar activation of the NK-92 cell line described above using MOLT4 cells. This is in contrast to the benchmark non-fucosylated murine anti-CCR9 IgG1 antibody (3C3, ATCC HB-12653), where a large reduction in potency was observed after humanization. Similarly, humanization did not alter the potency of AB1020243 afuc bound to HEK cells overexpressing cynomolgus CCR9A.

[0279] It was also found that the kinetic properties of the AB1020243 afuc antibody were not significantly altered by humanization. Measurements of CCR9+ viable cells were made using fluorescently labeled antibodies using Ligand Tracer technology. Briefly, affinity to cells was measured on a LigandTracer instrument (Ridgeview Instruments) using a 633 nm fluorescence detector at room temperature (approximately 22°C). IgG in human IgG1 format was specifically labeled with DyLight 650 maleimide fluorophore to engineered cysteine ​​residues on the CH2 region of the IgG. The labeled IgG was added to a circular Nunclon D plate with pre-attached discrete spots of CHO K1 parental (control) and CCR9-expressing CHO K1 cells. IgG binding and dissociation fluorescence profiles were measured on the instrument and subsequently analyzed with a bivalent (1:2) fit model within TraceDrawer software (Ridgeview Instruments). The off-rates (k d ) is 3.85 × 10 -5 s -1 which remained similar after humanization, at 4.3 × 10 -5 s 1 This is consistent with no observed loss of potency upon humanization (Figure 10B).

[0280] 5.12.3 Ability to compete with CCL25 Humanized AB1020243 was tested for its ability to compete with CCL25 in HTRF IP-One Gq assay (Cis-Bio; 62IPAPEB). The IP-One assay is a competitive immunoassay using terbium cryptate-labeled anti-IP1 Mab and d2-labeled IP1. IP1 is a downstream metabolite of the IP cascade that accumulates in cells after activation of the Gq receptor and is stable in the presence of LiCl. LiCl is added to the cell stimulation buffer, causing accumulation of IP1 upon receptor activation.

[0281] Test antibodies were buffer exchanged into IP-one buffer (Krebs-Ringer solution + LiCl) and serially diluted (in triplicate) from pure in IP-one buffer using a one by one dilution series over 16 points on a 384-well polypropylene microplate (Greiner Bio-one International; 781280), and 3.5 mL of each antibody was added to a white 384-bottom shallow plate (Costar; 4513) using a Bravo automated liquid handling platform (Agilent). MOLT 4 cells were harvested and resuspended to 5.4 × 106 cells / mL in IP-One assay buffer, and 7.5 μL of cells were dispensed into the antibody-containing plate using a Mutidrop dispenser (Thermo Scientific) for a final cell concentration of 40,000 cells / well. Antibodies were pre-incubated with the cells for 30 min. Recombinant human CCL25 / TECK protein (R&D Systems; 9046-TK) was reconstituted to 200 nM according to the manufacturer's instructions and 3.5 uL was dispensed to the antibody and cell-containing plates using a Mutidrop dispenser (Thermo Scientific) for a final assay concentration of 50 nM. The assay plates were incubated at 37° C. for 90 minutes and then processed according to the IP-One HTRF protocol using reagents provided with the kit. FIG. 11 shows that humanized AB1020243 and CDR-optimized antibodies 234LO0331 and 243LO0326 retain the ability to compete with CCL25 similar to the parental chimeric AB1020243 antibody. Thus, the antibodies of the invention contrast, for example, with the previously described murine CCR9 antibodies 92R and 91R, which do not inhibit CCL25-induced migration of CCR9+ MOLT-4 cells and do not even partially compete with CCL25 for binding to MOLT-4 cells [4].

[0282] 5.13 Example 6 - Properties of CDR-optimized antibodies As described in Example 3, a CDR-optimized form of humanized AB1020243 was produced. In all experiments described herein, the CDR-optimized antibody was in a non-fucosylated form. The CDR-optimized antibody was formatted to reduce the risk of Asn deamidation in LCDR1.

[0283] 5.13.1 CCR9 binding CDR-optimized AB1020243 was tested for its ability to bind to various forms of CCR9 and various cell types based on the method described in Example 4. As shown in Figure 12, 243LO0326 and parent antibody AB1020243 showed similar binding to both human isotypes CCR9A and CCR9B, and cynomolgus monkey CCR9A. Both 243LO0326 and 243LO0331 did not show significant binding to mouse or rat CCR9 even at high concentrations (data not shown). 243LO0326 and parent antibody AB1020243 also did not show any off-target receptor binding to CCR5, CCR8, CXCR1 or CXCR2.

[0284] 5.13.2 Affinity As shown in Figure 13A, 243LO0326 remained membrane bound for extended periods of time, with most of the antibody remaining on the cell surface after 5 hours at 37°C. In contrast, the amount of parent antibody AB1020243 bound to the cell surface decreased significantly over the first hour. D) was measured using Ligand Tracer as 0.09 nM for 243LO0326 and 3.4 nM for AB1020243. Briefly, affinity for cells was measured on a LigandTracer instrument (Ridgeview Instruments) using a 633 nm fluorescence detector at room temperature (approximately 22° C.). IgG in human IgG1 format was specifically labeled with DyLight 650 maleimide fluorophore to an engineered cysteine ​​residue on the CH2 region of the IgG. The labeled IgG was added to a circular Nunclon D plate with pre-attached discrete spots of CHO K1 parental (control) and CCR9-expressing CHO K1 cells. IgG binding and dissociation fluorescence profiles were measured on the instrument and subsequently analyzed with a bivalent (1:2) fit model within TraceDrawer software (Ridgeview Instruments).

[0285] As shown in Figure 13B, only a slight reduction in CCR9 receptor levels was observed on the membrane with antibody treatment. For comparison, CCL25 treatment induced a significant reduction in CCR9 receptors on the membrane. It was further shown that anti-CCR9 antibodies can prevent CCL25-induced internalization (Figure 19).

[0286] 5.13.3 Effect CDR-optimized AB1020243 was tested for its ability to induce NK cell activation and PBMC killing as described in Example 4. Figure 14A shows the effect of the antibody in the NK cell activation assay. 243LO0326 was found to be more potent than the parent antibody AB1020243. Figure 14B shows the killing of PBMC by 243LO0326 and the parent antibody AB1020243. 243LO0326 showed improved potency, with an EC50 of 4 pM compared to an EC50 of 200 pM for AB1020243. Figure 14C shows that 243LO0346 had a similar ability to induce killing of both human and cynomolgus CD4+CCR9+ PBMCs, with an EC50 measured at 4-5 pM using human PBMCs and an EC50 of 30 pM using cynomolgus PBMCs.

[0287] 5.13.4 Nonfucosylated Non-fucosylation of anti-CCR9 antibodies enhances cell killing as shown in an ADCC NK cell activation assay (Figure 15A). The effect of the level of fucosylation on the potency of the antibody (243LO0326) was evaluated in a fucosylation spike test using an in vitro ADCC bioassay (see Section 5.11.2). The ADCC potency of the antibody was retained for up to about 10% fucosylation compared to a 100% non-fucosylated molecule. Acceptable potency was retained for up to 50% fucosylation (Figure 15B).

[0288] [Table 10]

[0289] 5.14 Example 7 - In vitro and in vivo effects 5.14.1 Antibody depletion of CCR9+ cells in cynomolgus monkeys Monkeys were intravenously injected with a single dose of isotype control antibody and 10 mg / kg 243LO0326. The percentage of CCR9+ memory CD4+ T cells was assessed in the blood at various time points. Figure 16A shows that there was a decrease in CCR9+ cells present in the blood on day 15, and that 10 mg / kg 243LO0326 completely eliminated CCR9+ cells at this time point. Notably, at high and low doses (10 mg / kg), 243LO0326 depleted CCR9+ T cells in the peripheral blood (Figure 16B), ileum (Figure 16C) and mucosa (Figure 16D). Depletion of CCR9+ T cells was tissue and cell specific (Figure 17). 243LO0326 selectively depleted CCR9+ intestinal lymphocytes, relatively sparing the extraintestinal population, and had no effect on thymic T cells.

[0290] 5.14.2 Intestinal explant model 6 mm punch biopsies of the intestinal mucosal layer were taken from healthy human subjects and from human subjects with inflammatory bowel disease as described by Vadstrup et al.

[10] . Explant tissues were cultured for 12-84 hours in the presence or absence of 243LO0326. The percentage of CCR9+ cells was assessed along with key mediators of inflammation: IL-6, GM-CSF and IL-22. Figure 18 shows that treatment with the antibody depleted CCR9+CD4+ cells (Figure 18A) and reduced inflammatory mediators (Figures 18B-D) in each of the explants tested. Explant tissue from one of the healthy subjects also showed high levels of IL-6, GM-CSF and IL-22, which were reduced upon anti-CCR9 treatment.

[0291] 5.15 Example 7 - Anti-CCR9 antibodies block CCL25-induced CCR9 internalization The IHC data surprisingly suggest that there is a quantitatively low expression of CCR9 in the inflamed Clonal ileum. Ex vivo, CCR9 is internalized after activation by CCL25 and is expressed at higher levels in the inflamed Clonal ileum. This suggests that in the inflamed intestine, CCR9 on pathogenic T cells is internalized after activation by CCL25. Nevertheless, cells expressing CCR9 in the Clonal ileum display a proinflammatory and resident memory phenotype.

[0292] In an assay to detect CCR9 internalization, the CDR-optimized non-fucosylated antibody 243LO0326 was able to block CCL25-induced internalization at a concentration of 2 nM (Figure 19). CCL25-induced internalization was assessed by FACS. Advantageously, blocking CCL25-induced internalization prevents receptor recycling. Thus, the antibodies of the present invention advantageously induce ADCC, block the CCL25 ligand of the CCR9 receptor, and prevent CCL25-induced CCR9 receptor recycling to CCR9-expressing T cells.

[0293] 5.16 Conclusion Taken together, these data indicate that anti-CCR9 therapy is a viable treatment option for patients with IBD. CRR9+ T cells expressing inflammatory cytokines are expressed in the intestine and blood of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Figures 1 and 2). The above anti-CCR9 antibodies bind to human CCR9 on CCR9-expressing T cells (Figures 5 and 6). Non-fucosylated versions of these antibodies activate NK cells, promote ADCC (Figures 7 and 15) and cause targeted cell killing (Figure 8). Humanization of one of the antibody clones surprisingly did not reduce the affinity of the antibody for human CCR9 compared to the chimeric parent antibody (Figure 9), and maintained the ability to activate NK cells (Figure 10A) and compete with CCL25 (Figure 11).

[0294] Further CDR optimization of one of the humanized antibodies was performed. These CDR-optimized non-fucosylated antibodies (243LO0326 and 243LO0331) bound to membrane-bound CCR9 for a longer period compared to the parent antibody, with affinities (K D ) (Figure 13). The CDR-optimized antibody was further able to induce NK cell activation and PBMC killing. 243LO0326 was more potent than AB1020243 (Figure 14). 243LO0326 can further inhibit CCL25-induced CCR9 internalization (Figure 19). 243LO0326 treatment also reduces CCR9 T cells in the blood (Figure 16). 243LO0326 treatment of intestinal explant tissue from IBD patients depletes CCR9+CD4+ cells (Figure 16A) and reduces inflammatory mediators (Figures 16B and 16D). Thus, 243LO0326 is highly potent and specific for CCR9. Although cell depletion occurs via ADCC; in the absence of ADCC effector cells such as NK cells, 243LO0326 also blocks binding between CCR9 and its ligand CCL25.

[0295] Since the CCR9 antibodies disclosed herein are capable of binding to both hCCR9, CCR9A and CCRB isoforms and can compete with CCL25 for binding to CCR9, the epitope is predicted to be located within the extracellular N-terminus of CCR9B, i.e., amino acid positions 1-36 of CCR9B, which correspond to amino acid positions 13-48 of CCR9A: MADDYGSESTSSMEDYVNFNFTDFYCEKNNVRQFAS (SEQ ID NO: 80) (Table 9, Table 10, Figure 20).

[0296] [Table 11]

[0297] [Table 12]

[0298] The CCR9-targeting antibody disclosed herein can block the binding of CCL25 to CCR9 and deplete CCR9+ T cells. In intestinal inflammatory autoimmune diseases, the antibody disclosed herein is expected to deplete CCR9+ pathogenic T cells in blood and intestinal tissues and block the binding of CCL25 to CCR9, without completely depleting pathogenic T cells. This dual mechanism of action is expected to provide a sustained therapeutic effect. CCR9 + Specific depletion of enterotropic effector memory T cells induces and maintains durable remission, resulting in disease modification.

[0299] References [1]MFNeurath, Nat Rev Immunol 14,329(2014). [2] M. Gajendran et al., Dis Mon 64,20(2018). [3] J. Torres et al., J Crohns Colitis 14,4(2020). [4] B. Somovilla-Crespo et al., Frontiers in Immunology 9, (2018). [5] RLShields et al., J Biol Chem 277, 26733(2002). [6] P.Umana et al., Nat Biotechnol 17,176(1999). [7] L. Persic et al., Gene 187,9(1997). [8] CNPace et al., Protein Sci 4, 2411 (1995). [9] J. Minowada, T. Ohnuma, and GE Moore, JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute 49, 891 (1972).

[10] K. Vadstrup et al., PLOS ONE 11, e0155335(2016).

Claims

1. A therapeutic agent comprising an anti-CCR9 antibody as an active ingredient, wherein the anti-CCR9 antibody competes with CCL25 for binding to human CCR9, and wherein the anti-CCR9 antibody specifically binds to an epitope in CCR9, and wherein the epitope is located within a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:

80.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anti-CCR9 antibody inhibits CCL25-mediated internalization of CCR9.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the anti-CCR9 antibody competes with CCL25 for binding to human CCR9A and CCR9B.

4. The anti-CCR9 antibody, (a) is nonfucosylated; (b) is nonfucosylated at amino acid position 297; or (c) is present in a composition comprising a plurality of copies of the anti-CCR9 antibody, wherein at least 50%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or 100% of the copies of the anti-CCR9 antibody in the composition are nonfucosylated; The therapeutic agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the anti-CCR9 antibody comprises an immunoglobulin Fc domain, or a fragment thereof, that retains the ability to bind to one or more Fc receptors.

6. The immunoglobulin Fc domain or fragment (a) an IgG Fc domain or a fragment thereof; (b) a human IgG Fc domain or a fragment thereof; (c) a human IgG1 Fc domain or a fragment thereof; (d) is altered compared to a corresponding wild-type Fc domain, said alteration resulting in increased affinity for one or more Fcγ receptors; (e) is altered compared to a corresponding wild-type Fc domain, said alteration resulting in an enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity response; and / or (f) containing a non-fucosylated N-linked glycan at amino acid position 297; The therapeutic agent according to claim 5.

7. 10. A pharmaceutical composition for use in a method of treating a disease or condition in a subject, said pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutic agent according to any one of claims 1 to 6, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of said pharmaceutical composition.

8. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7, wherein the disease is inflammatory bowel disease.

9. 8. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 7, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of Crohn's disease, ileal / ileocolonic Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.

10. 8. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 7, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, prostate cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, circulating cells from solid tumors, liver fibrosis and acute hepatitis.

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