Antibodies against pyroglutamate amyloid-β and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to 3pE Aβ, as well as methods of producing the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, and methods of using the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, including use formulations, administration, and kits. The disclosed antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof and methods are useful for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other β-amyloid-related diseases.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of antibodies against amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and therapeutic methods using the antibodies. In particular, the antibodies can be used to identify and treat amyloid-related disorders.

[0002] (Reference to electronically submitted sequence listing) This application contains a Sequence Listing that has been submitted electronically via EFS-Web as an ASCII formatted Sequence Listing with the file name "JAB7013USPSP Sequence Listing" and a creation date of March 11, 2019, and has a size of 76kb. The Sequence Listing submitted via EFS-Web is a part of the present specification and is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. [Background technology]

[0003] Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disorder clinically characterized by progressive loss of memory, cognition, reasoning, judgment, and emotional stability, which leads to gradually and severely impaired mental function and ultimately to death. Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of progressive mental disability (dementia) in the elderly. Alzheimer's disease is identified worldwide and represents a major public health problem. The disease is currently estimated to affect more than 5 million individuals in the United States alone. Currently, it is incurable, and no treatment effectively prevents AD or reverses its symptoms or course.

[0004] The brains of individuals with AD exhibit characteristic lesions called amyloid plaques, amyloid angiopathy (amyloid deposits in blood vessels) and neurofibrillary tangles. The majority of these lesions, particularly amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, are commonly found in several areas of the brain important for memory and cognitive function. Amyloid plaques and amyloid angiopathy also characterize the brains of individuals with Trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome), Diffuse Lewy Body Disease and Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage with Amyloidosis of the Dutch Type (HCHWA-D).

[0005] The major components of amyloid plaques are various amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides produced by cleavage of the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). The deposition of Aβ peptides in the brain is hypothesized to be an early and necessary step in the disease cascade that leads to AD. The identification of mutations in the amyloid precursor protein and presenilin genes that lead to altered Aβ production and cause familial early-onset AD provides strong evidence that alterations in amyloid metabolism are central events in the pathogenic process underlying the disease.

[0006] Amyloid-β peptide with pyroglutamate at the third residue (3pE Aβ) is the major species accumulated in the brains of AD patients. 3pE Aβ is present in almost all diffuse and mature plaques in AD, is metabolically stable, and may play a role in both plaque seeding and stabilization (Cynis et al., Molecular Neurodegeneration, 2016; 11: 48). No detectable amount of 3pE Aβ has been reported in CSF or plasma, suggesting that the target peptide is pathology specific (DeMattos et al., Neuron, 2012; 76: 1-13). Antibodies that selectively bind to 3pE Aβ may be useful for immunotherapy. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As embodied and fully described, the present invention relates to antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to amyloid-β having a pyroglutamate third residue (3pE Aβ), methods of generating antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to 3pE Aβ, assay methods using such antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, and use of the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the invention for the manufacture of a medicament for treating, delaying the onset of, or reversing at least one pathology or symptom of Alzheimer's disease and other β-amyloid related diseases. The antibodies of the present invention preferentially bind Aβ peptides containing 3pE over Aβ peptides that do not contain 3pE.

[0008] In certain embodiments, a. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; b. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; c. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; d. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; e. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; f. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; g. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; h. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; i. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; j. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; k. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; l. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; or m. Described herein is an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising a heavy complementarity determining region (HCDR1), HCDR2, HCDR3, a light chain complementarity determining region (LCDR1), LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 56, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binds to 3pE Aβ, preferably human 3pE Aβ.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, or 21, or a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10, 12, 14, 18, 22, 53, or 55.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises: a. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:22; b. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10; c. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:12; d. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; e. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; f. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:16 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; g. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:20 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; h. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:17 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:18; i. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18; j. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:53; or k. A heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:55.

[0011] In certain embodiments, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is chimeric. In certain embodiments, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is human or humanized.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the isolated monoclonal antibody comprises: a. a heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:37 and a light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:38; b. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38; c. a heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 and a light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 52; or d. comprising a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:54.

[0013] In certain embodiments, the antigen-binding fragment is selected from the group of fragments consisting of Fv, F(ab'), F(ab')2, and scFv. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof selectively binds to 3pE Aβ peptides (e.g., Aβ3pE-40 and Aβ3pE-42) and has little or no cross-reactivity to other Aβ peptides or β-amyloid precursor protein (APP).

[0014] Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof disclosed herein.

[0015] Also provided is a vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the invention.

[0016] Host cells comprising vectors containing isolated nucleic acids encoding the monoclonal antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the invention are also provided. Also provided are hybridomas that produce the isolated monoclonal antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the invention.

[0017] In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is provided comprising an isolated monoclonal antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of the invention and a pharma- ceutically acceptable carrier.

[0018] Also provided is a method of treating a condition associated with the formation of plaques containing β-amyloid protein in a subject in need thereof. The method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the invention, or a pharmaceutical composition of the invention. In certain embodiments, the condition is Alzheimer's disease. In certain embodiments, the condition is selected from the group consisting of dementia associated with trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome), diffuse Lewy body disease, inclusion body myositis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage with Amyloidosis of the Dutch Type (HCHWA-D).

[0019] Also provided is a method of reducing plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the invention, or a pharmaceutical composition of the invention.

[0020] Also provided is a method of preventing the seeding activity of 3pE Aβ in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the invention, or a pharmaceutical composition of the invention.

[0021] Also provided is a method of producing a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the invention, the method comprising culturing a cell containing nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof under conditions to produce the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, and recovering the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

[0022] A method for producing a pharmaceutical composition of the invention is also provided, the method comprising combining a monoclonal antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of the invention with a pharma- ceutical acceptable carrier to obtain a pharmaceutical composition.

[0023] One embodiment includes kits and devices comprising the above-described antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof.

[0024] Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from detailed consideration of the preferred embodiments which follow. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] Sensorgrams (single cycle kinetics) from surface plasmon resonance label-free detection of affinity binding interaction of BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) to human Aβ (3pE-40) peptide. Grey traces represent double reference subtracted data, while black traces represent fitted values. [Diagram 2] 16A-C are sensograms (single cycle kinetics) of surface plasmon resonance label-free detection of affinity binding interaction of mE8c mIgG2a to human Aβ (3pE-40) peptide. The grey trace represents the double reference subtracted data, while the black trace represents the fitted values. [Figure 3A]FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 versus a control HFA molecule to plaques as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 3B] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 versus a control HFA molecule to plaques as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 3C] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 versus a control HFA molecule to plaques as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 3D] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 versus a control HFA molecule to plaques as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 3E] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 versus a control HFA molecule to plaques as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 3F] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 versus a control HFA molecule to plaques as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 3G] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 versus a control HFA molecule to plaques as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 3H] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 versus a control HFA molecule to plaques as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 3I] Figure 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 versus the reference HFA molecule to plaques as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. Results are shown for a primary antibody concentration of 0.05 μg / mL. Arrows indicate areas of plaque labeling for BAMB674 and BAMB675. (A) BAMB674, (B) BAM675, (C) Antibody I, (D) Antibody II, (E) B12L, (F) CI-C7, (G) hE8L, (H) R17L, (I) R17. [Figure 4A] FIG. 13 is a graph showing BAMB31 — 1 selectivity as demonstrated by detection of synthetic human Aβ peptides in a sandwich ELISA. [Figure 4B] Graph showing BAMB31_1 selectivity as demonstrated by detection of synthetic human Aβ peptides in a sandwich ELISA: (A) Aβ1-40 (B) AβpE11-40. [Figure 5A] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB246 (huIgG1 chimera) to plaques by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 5B] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB246 (huIgG1 chimera) to plaques by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 5C] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 to plaques by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 5D]FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB674 to plaques by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 5E] FIG. 1 shows the reactivity of BAMB675 to plaques by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. [Figure 5F] BAMB675 immunohistochemical reactivity to plaques in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) transgenic mouse brain tissue. Small inset panels show whole brain sections and enlarged areas stained. [Figure 6A] FIG. 1 shows immunohistochemical reactivity to plaques in cryopreserved AD brain tissue with 4G8 at two different magnifications. [Figure 6B] FIG. 1 shows immunohistochemical reactivity to plaques in cryopreserved AD brain tissue with BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) at two different magnifications. [Figure 6C] FIG. 1 shows immunohistochemical reactivity to plaques in cryopreserved AD brain tissue with 4G8 at two different magnifications. [Figure 6D] FIG. 1 shows immunohistochemical reactivity to plaques in cryopreserved AD brain tissue with BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) at two different magnifications. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a graph showing serum antibody concentrations at different time points following a single 20 mg / kg intraperitoneal (ip) dose in transgenic mice. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a graph showing microhemorrhages as assessed by number of Perl positive cells following chronic treatment with isotype control and BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) antibodies in PDAPP mice. [Figure 9]1 is a graph showing amyloid burden after chronic treatment with BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) antibody in the hippocampus of isotype control and PDAPP mice as measured by an immunoassay detecting Aβ1X. Grey values ​​represent data points below the detection limit of the assay. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a two-compartment model for monkey PK characterization of BAMB674 and BAMB675. [Figure 11] 1 is a graph showing PK vs. observed data for BAMB674 and BAMB675. Blood concentrations of BAM31 HFA mAb as +YTE IgG1 (YTE serum) isotype and wild type IgG1 (WT serum) following intravenous (iv) bolus administration of 25 mg / kg in cynomolgus monkeys. Anti-Aβ 3pE antibody (3pE-AB) μg / mL concentration is shown on a logarithmic scale on the Y-axis over time in days on the X-axis. The calculated half-life (t1 / 2) for each mAb is shown on the inset text. [Figure 12] Graph showing brain concentrations observed for BAMB674 and BAMB675. Brain lysate levels on days 7 and 42 of BAMB31 HFA mAb as +YTE IgG1 (YTE brain) isotype and wild type IgG1 (WT brain) following iv bolus administration of 25 mg / kg in cynomolgus monkeys. Anti-Aβ 3pE antibody (3pE-AB) μg / mL concentration is shown on a logarithmic scale on the Y-axis over time in days on the X-axis. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Various publications, articles and patents are cited or described in the Background and throughout the specification. Each of these references is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Any discussion of documents, operations, materials, devices, articles and the like which is included in the specification is for the purpose of providing a context for the invention. Such discussion is not an admission that any or all of these items constitute part of the prior art to any invention disclosed or claimed.

[0027] It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds, compositions or biological systems, as these can vary, and the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0028] 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 invention belongs. Unless otherwise defined, certain terms used herein have the meanings set forth herein.

[0029] 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.

[0030] Unless otherwise indicated, the term "at least" preceding a series of elements should be understood to refer to every element in the series. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0031] As used herein, it will be understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having," "contains," or "containing," or any other variation thereof, are intended to include a stated integer or group of integers, but not to exclude other integers or groups of integers, and are intended to be non-exclusive or non-limiting. For example, a composition, mixture, process, method, article, or device that includes a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or not inherently present in such composition, mixture, process, method, article, or device. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive "or" and not an exclusive "or." For example, condition A or B is satisfied by one of the following: A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist), A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists), and both A and B are true (or exist).

[0032] As used herein, the connective term "and / or" between multiple listed elements is understood to encompass both individual and combined options. For example, when two elements are connected by "and / or," the first option refers to the first element being applicable without the second element. The second option refers to the second element being applicable without the first element. The third option refers to the first and second elements being applicable together. Any one of these options is understood to be included in the meaning and thus meets the requirements of the term "and / or" as used herein. The simultaneous applicability of two or more of the options is also understood to be included in the meaning and thus meets the requirements of the term "and / or."

[0033] As used herein, the term "consists of" or variations such as "consist of" or "consisting of," as used throughout the specification and claims, indicates that any recited integer or group of integers is inclusive, but that no additional integer or group of integers is added to the specified method, structure, or composition.

[0034] As used herein, the term "consists essentially of" or variations such as "consist essentially of" or "consisting essentially of" as used throughout the specification and claims indicates the inclusion of any recited integer or group of integers, optionally including any recited integer or group of integers that do not materially change the basic or novel characteristics of the specified method, structure, or composition. See MPEP §2111.03.

[0035] antibody The invention provides antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind specifically and preferentially to 3pE Aβ peptides over Aβ peptides that do not contain 3pE. Methods of generating antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to 3pE Aβ peptides, and methods of generating hybridomas that produce antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to 3pE Aβ peptides are further provided. The invention also includes methods of treating Alzheimer's disease and other β-amyloid-related diseases in individuals, methods of removing plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease or other β-amyloid-related diseases, and methods of inhibiting the plaque-seeding activity of 3pE Aβ. The invention also provides kits and devices that include the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof for use in the methods described.

[0036] According to a particular embodiment, the present invention provides a method for producing a method for treating a pulmonary circulation comprising the steps of: a. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; b. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; c. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; d. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; e. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; f. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; g. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; h. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; i. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; j. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; k. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; l. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; or m. An isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (HCDR1), HCDR2, HCDR3, light chain complementarity determining region 1 (LCDR1), LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 56, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binds to 3pE Aβ, preferably human 3pE Aβ.

[0037] In another particular aspect, the present invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, or 21, or a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10, 12, 14, 18, 22, 53, or 55.

[0038] According to another particular aspect, the present invention comprises l. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:22; m. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10; n. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:12; o. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; p. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14; q. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14; r. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:20 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; s. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:17 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:18; t. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:18; u. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:53, or v. An isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:55.

[0039] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 1, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. In another embodiment, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 21, and a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 22 or 53 or 55. Preferably, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:22 or 53 or 55.

[0040] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 1, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. In another embodiment, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 20, and a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 14. Preferably, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:20 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14.

[0041] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively. In another embodiment, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 19, and a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 18. Preferably, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:18.

[0042] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively. In another embodiment, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 17, and a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 18. Preferably, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:17 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:18.

[0043] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively. In another embodiment, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 16, and a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 14. Preferably, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:16 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14.

[0044] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively. In another embodiment, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 15, and a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 14. Preferably, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14.

[0045] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively. In another embodiment, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 13, and a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 14. Preferably, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14.

[0046] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively. In another embodiment, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 11, and a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 12. Preferably, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:12.

[0047] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively, or SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively. In another embodiment, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 9, and a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95% or more, such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10. Preferably, the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10.

[0048] In another particular aspect, the isolated monoclonal antibody comprises: a. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:37 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38; b. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38; c. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:37 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:52; or d. comprising a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:55.

[0049] In another particular aspect, the present invention relates to the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is chimeric.

[0050] In another particular aspect, the present invention relates to the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is human or humanized.

[0051] In another particular embodiment, the invention relates to an antigen-binding fragment, which is selected from the group of fragments consisting of Fv, F(ab'), F(ab')2, and scFv. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof selectively binds to 3pE Aβ peptides (e.g., Aβ3pE-40 and Aβ3pE-42) and has little or no cross-reactivity to other Aβ peptides or β-amyloid precursor protein (APP).

[0052] In another general aspect, the present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the coding sequence of a protein can be altered (e.g., substituted, deleted, inserted, etc.) without changing the amino acid sequence of the protein. Thus, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the nucleic acid sequence encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention can be altered without changing the amino acid sequence of the protein.

[0053] In another general aspect, the present invention relates to a vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention. Any vector known to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure can be used, such as a plasmid, cosmid, phage vector, or viral vector. In some embodiments, the vector is a recombinant expression vector, such as a plasmid. The vector can include any elements for establishing the conventional functions of an expression vector, for example, a promoter, a ribosome binding element, a terminator, an enhancer, a selection marker, and an origin of replication. The promoter can be a constitutive, inducible, or reconfigurable promoter. Numerous expression vectors capable of delivering nucleic acids to cells are known in the art and can be used herein to produce the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof in cells. Conventional cloning techniques or artificial gene synthesis can be used to generate the recombinant expression vector according to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0054] In another general aspect, the present invention relates to a host cell comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention. In view of the present disclosure, any host cell known to the skilled artisan can be used for recombinant expression of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention. In some embodiments, the host cell is an E. coli TG1 or BL21 cell (e.g., for expression of scFv or Fab antibodies), a CHO-DG44 or CHO-K1 cell, or a HEK293 cell (e.g., for expression of full-length IgG antibodies). According to certain embodiments, the recombinant expression vector is transformed into the host cell by conventional methods, such as chemical transfection, heat shock, or electroporation, in which the recombinant nucleic acid is stably integrated into the host cell genome for efficient expression.

[0055] In another general aspect, the invention relates to a method of producing a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the invention, comprising culturing a cell comprising nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof under conditions to produce the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the invention, and recovering the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof from the cell or cell culture (e.g., from the supernatant). The expressed antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof can be collected from the cells and purified according to conventional techniques known in the art and as described herein.

[0056] The present invention provides an isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds to 3pE Aβ. As used herein, the term "antibody" refers to an immunoglobulin protein capable of binding to an antigen or a portion thereof, particularly an immunoglobulin protein capable of specifically binding to 3pE Aβ. Binding of an antibody to an antigen can be measured by methods known to those skilled in the art, one example being the use of a BIAcore™ instrument. Generally speaking, an antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment is said to specifically bind to an antigen when the dissociation constant is 1 μM or less, preferably 100 nM or less, and most preferably 10 nM or less.

[0057] Antigen-binding fragments of antibodies refer to fragments of antibodies that can bind to the antigen bound by the intact antibody and compete with the intact antibody for antigen binding. Antigen-binding fragments include portions of the intact antibody that allow antigen binding (i.e., the variable region of the intact antibody). Antigen-binding fragments can include, but are not limited to, Fab, Fab', F(ab')2, Fv fragments, disulfide stabilized Fv fragments (dsFv), (dsFv)2, bispecific dsFv (dsFv-dsFv'), single-chain antibody molecules (e.g., scFV), diabodies, minibodies, nanobodies, linear antibodies, single domain antibodies (sdab), camelized single domain antibodies, multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments, and any other antibody fragment that binds to an antigen but does not include the complete antibody structure.

[0058] Antibodies consist of two heavy chains and two light chains. Each heavy chain contains one variable domain or region (V H ), followed by a constant domain or region (C H 1), a hinge region, and two further constant domains or regions (C H 2 and C H Each light chain has one variable domain or region (V L ) and one constant domain or region (C L ). The variable domains or regions of the heavy and light chains form the paratope of an antibody (also similar in structure to a lock) specific for a particular epitope (similar in structure to a key), allowing the paratope and epitope to be precisely bound together. Within the variable domains, the β-strands of the variable loops, of which there are three in the light and heavy chains, are responsible for binding to the antigen. These loops are called complementarity determining regions (CDRs, i.e., CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3).

[0059] CDRs are defined as the complementarity determining regions of an antibody. These are the hypervariable regions of the heavy and light chains of an antibody that are primarily involved in binding to an antigen. There are three CDRs (CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3) in each of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains. The light chain variable complementarity determining regions are alternatively referred to as LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3, and the heavy chain variable complementarity determining regions are alternatively referred to as HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3. The CDRs of an antibody can be defined in many ways. For example, the CDRs in the variable regions can be identified according to the Kabat, Chothia, IMGT definitions, and / or conformational definitions, or any method of CDR determination known in the art. Antibody CDRs may be identified as hypervariable regions as originally defined by Kabat (Kabat et al., 1992, Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th ed., Public Health Service, NIH, Washington DC), structural loop structures originally described by Chothia (Chothia et al., Nature 342:877-883 (1989)), or by a unique numbering system, IMGT (Lefranc, The Immunologist 7:132-136 (1999); Lefranc, et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 27:209-212(1999); Scaviner et al., Exp. Clin. Immunogenet. 16:234-240(1999), Lefranc, et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 43:D413-422(2015).

[0060] When used in the context of antibodies, "isolated" means altered from any natural state "by the hand of man," i.e., altered or removed from its original environment, or both, if the isolation occurs naturally. For example, a naturally occurring antibody that is naturally present in an animal living in its natural state is "not isolated," but the same antibody that is separated from the existing material in its natural state is "isolated." As the term is used herein, for example, an "isolated antibody" can refer to an antibody that is substantially free of other antibodies having different antigen specificities (i.e., an isolated antibody that specifically binds to 3pE Aβ is substantially free of antibodies that do not bind to 3pE Aβ). An antibody can occur in a non-naturally occurring composition, such as an immunoassay reagent, and remain an isolated antibody in the composition within the meaning of the term as the term is used herein.

[0061] Methods for producing antibodies include inoculating a host with the desired immunogen. Suitable hosts include, but are not limited to, mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, donkeys, horses, monkeys, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, humans, and any species capable of mounting a mature immune response. Immunization procedures are well established in the art and have been described in many articles and publications, including "The Immunoassay Handbook", 2nd Edition, edited by David Wild (Nature Publishing Group, 2000).

[0062] Preferably, immunogens embodying features of the invention are administered to a host subject, e.g., an animal or human, in combination with an adjuvant. Suitable adjuvants include, but are not limited to, Freund's adjuvant, powdered aluminum hydroxide (alum), aluminum hydroxide combined with Bordetella pertussis, and monophosphoryl lipid A-synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate.

[0063] Typically, the immunogen or a combination of immunogen and adjuvant is injected into the mammalian host by one or more subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections. Preferably, the immunization program is carried out for at least one week, more preferably two weeks or more. Polyclonal antibodies produced in this manner can be isolated and purified using methods well known in the art.

[0064] Monoclonal antibodies can be produced by the well-established hybridoma method of Kohler and Milstein, e.g., Nature 256:495-497 (1975). The hybridoma method typically involves immunizing a host or lymphocytes derived from a host, harvesting lymphocytes that secrete or have the potential to secrete monoclonal antibodies, fusing the lymphocytes with an immortalized cell, and selecting cells that secrete the desired monoclonal antibody.

[0065] A host can be immunized to produce, or induce lymphocytes capable of producing, antibodies specific to the immunogen. Alternatively, lymphocytes can be immunized in vitro. If human cells are desired, peripheral blood lymphocytes can be used, although spleen cells or lymphocytes from other mammalian sources are preferred.

[0066] Lymphocytes can be fused with immortalized cell lines to form hybridoma cells, a process that can be facilitated by the use of fusing agents, such as polyethylene glycol. By way of example, mutant rodent, bovine, or human myeloma cells immortalized by transformation can be used. A substantially pure population of hybridoma cells is preferred, as opposed to unfused immortalized cells. Thus, after fusion, the cells can be grown in a suitable medium that inhibits the growth or survival of unfused immortalized cells, for example, by using mutant myeloma cells lacking hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT). In such cases, hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine can be added to the medium (HAT medium) to prevent the growth of HGPRT-deficient cells while allowing the growth of hybridomas.

[0067] Preferably, the immortalized cells fuse efficiently, can be isolated from a mixed population by selection in a medium such as HAT, and support stable high level expression of the antibody following fusion. Preferred immortalized cell lines include myeloma cell lines available from the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA.

[0068] One aspect of the present invention is a method for generating a hybridoma cell line capable of producing a monoclonal antibody that binds to amyloid β peptide. Such methods are generally known to those skilled in the art and generally include (i) selecting a host for antibody production, (ii) inoculating the host with a desired immunogen, (iii) fusing a cell line derived from the inoculated host with a continuously dividing cell to generate a fused cell capable of producing a monoclonal antibody that binds to the immunogen, and (iv) cloning the fused cell to obtain a hybridoma cell line.

[0069] One method of the invention involves generating hybridoma cell lines capable of producing monoclonal antibodies that bind to 3pE Aβ peptide. Hybridomas can be generated by immunizing an animal capable of generating hybridomas, such as Balb / c mice, with an initial intraperitoneal injection of a desired immunogen, such as Aβ peptide with pyroglutamate in Freund's adjuvant, followed by booster injections, for example, every 1-2 weeks. Subsequent fusion of isolated spleens can be performed using any technique commonly known to those of skill in the art, preferably using SP2 / 0 cells according to the modified procedure of Kohler and Milstein (Eur. J. Immunol., 1976; 6:292-295). Hybridomas can be screened to determine which hybridomas produce antibodies specific to 3pE Aβ peptide. Screening can be performed with standard assays, such as ELISA or RIA assays. One aspect of the invention is a method of generating hybridoma cell lines that produce monoclonal antibody BAMB31_1 or a humanized version thereof.

[0070] Monoclonal antibodies may also be produced by recombinant gene methods known in the art, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,166,452. DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies may be isolated and sequenced using conventional procedures, for example, using oligonucleotide probes that specifically bind to mouse heavy and light antibody chain genes, preferably probing DNA isolated from a monoclonal antibody hybridoma cell line that secretes an antibody specific for pyroglutamate-bearing Aβ.

[0071] Antibody fragments containing specific binding sites for amyloid β peptides can also be generated. Such fragments include, but are not limited to, F(ab')2 fragments, which can be generated by pepsin digestion of antibody molecules, and Fab fragments, which can be generated by reducing disulfide bridges of F(ab')2 fragments. Alternatively, Fab expression libraries can be constructed to allow for rapid and easy identification of monoclonal Fab fragments with the desired specificity (Huse et al., Science 256:1270-1281 (1989)). Fab, Fv, and ScFv antibody fragments can all be expressed in and secreted from E. coli, allowing for the large scale production of these fragments. Alternatively, Fab'-SH fragments can be directly recovered from E. coli and chemically coupled to form F(ab')2 fragments (Carter et.al., BioTechnology 10:163-167 (1992)). Other techniques for the generation of antibody fragments are known to those skilled in the art. Single chain Fv fragments (scFv) are also contemplated (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,761,894 and 5,587,458). Fv and sFv fragments are the only species with intact combining sites that lack constant regions and are therefore likely to exhibit reduced non-specific binding. For example, the antibody fragment may be a "linear antibody" as described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,870.

[0072] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an isolated monoclonal antibody expressed by the above hybridoma cell, which antibody is capable of specifically recognizing 3pE Aβ. The isolated monoclonal antibody can be expressed by the hybridoma cell or recombinantly expressed.

[0073] Preferably, the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the present invention selectively bind to 3pE Aβ and have little or no cross-reactivity to other Aβ or β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) that does not have 3pE. Specifically, the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the present invention selectively bind to Aβ 3pE-40 (SEQ ID NO: 40 or SEQ ID NO: 45) and Aβ 3pE-42 (SEQ ID NO: 51) peptides and have little or no cross-reactivity to other Aβ peptides or APP that do not contain 3pE.

[0074] Table 1 provides the amino acid sequences of the antibodies of the invention. The CDRs of the heavy and light chain variable regions as defined by Kabat, Chothia, and IMGT are depicted as separate sequences.

[0075] [Table 1-1]

[0076] [Table 1-2]

[0077] [Table 1-3]

[0078] [Table 1-4]

[0079] [Table 1-5]

[0080] [Table 1-6]

[0081] [Table 1-7]

[0082] [Table 1-8]

[0083] [Table 1-9]

[0084] [Table 1-10]

[0085] The terms "identical" or percent "identity," in the context of two or more nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences (e.g., an anti-3pE Aβ antibody and a polynucleotide encoding it, a 3pE Aβ polypeptide and a 3pE Aβ polynucleotide encoding it), refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a certain percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as determined using one of the following sequence comparison algorithms or by visual inspection:

[0086] For sequence comparison, typically, one sequence acts as a reference sequence to which test sequence is compared.When using sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are input into computer, subsequence coordinates are designated as necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated.Then, sequence comparison algorithm calculates the percent sequence identity of test sequence to reference sequence based on designated program parameters.

[0087] Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be determined, for example, by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482 (1981), the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443 (1970), the similarity search method of Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988), computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, WI), or by visual inspection (generally as described in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, FMAusubel et al., eds., Current Protocols, a joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates, Inc. and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., (1995 This can be done by the method of the Supplement (Ausubel).

[0088] Examples of algorithms suitable for determining percent sequence identity and sequence similarity are the BLAST and BLAST 2.0 algorithms described in Altschul et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 and Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402, respectively. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This algorithm involves first identifying high-scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence that either match when aligned with words of the same length in database sequences or meet some positive threshold score T. T is referred to as the neighborhood word score threshold (Altschul et al., supra). These initial neighborhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs that contain them. The word hits are then extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased.

[0089] For nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues, always >0) and N (penalty score for mismatching residues, always <0) are used to calculate the cumulative score. For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is ​​used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction is stopped when the cumulative alignment score falls off its maximum achieved value by an amount X, when the accumulation of one or more alignments of negative scoring residues causes the cumulative score to fall below zero, or when the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, an expectation of 10, M=5, N=-4, and a comparison of both strands. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 3, an expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff & Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915 (1989)).

[0090] In addition to calculating percent sequence identity, the BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin & Altschul, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5787 (1993)). One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the minimum sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability that a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. For example, a nucleic acid is considered to be similar to a reference sequence if the minimum sum probability in the comparison of the test nucleic acid to the reference nucleic acid is less than about 0.1, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001.

[0091] A further indication that two nucleic acid sequences or polypeptides are substantially identical is that the polypeptide encoded by the first nucleic acid is immunologically cross-reactive with the polypeptide encoded by the second nucleic acid, as described below. Thus, a polypeptide is typically substantially identical to a second polypeptide, e.g., the two peptides differ only by conservative substitutions. Another indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that the two molecules hybridize to each other under stringent conditions.

[0092] In vitro methods It should be understood that all formats of immunoassays using antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof are contemplated for use in accordance with the presently preferred embodiments, including assays in which the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is bound to a solid phase and assays in which the antibody is in a liquid medium. Immunoassay methods that may be used to detect analytes using antibodies embodying features of the invention include, but are not limited to, competitive (reagent-limited) assays in which a labeled analyte (analyte analog) and the analyte in the sample compete for an antibody, and single-site immunometric assays in which the antibody is labeled.

[0093] The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to the present invention can be used in conventional immunological techniques to detect Aβ3pE wherever present, including in biological samples for monitoring β-amyloid-related diseases and in conditioned medium from cell cultures for monitoring intracellular processing of APP. Suitable immunological techniques are well known to those skilled in the art and include, for example, ELISA, Western blot analysis, competitive or sandwich immunoassays, etc., all of which are well known to rely on the formation of antigen-antibody immune complexes, where for the purposes of the assay, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof can be detectably labeled, for example with a radioactive, enzymatic, luminescent or fluorescent label, or the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof can be immobilized on an insoluble carrier. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an immunoassay for the measurement or detection of Aβ3pE or a fragment thereof in a sample, which method comprises contacting a sample having an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to the present invention with Aβ3pE or a fragment thereof and determining whether an immune complex is formed between the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and Aβ3pE or a fragment thereof. These methods can be performed on either tissue or body fluid samples, and generally involve obtaining a sample from an individual's body, contacting the sample with an effective amount of detectably labeled antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to the present invention, and detecting the label to establish the presence of Aβ3pE or a fragment thereof in the sample. The measurement method using the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention is not particularly limited. Any measurement method may be used, as long as the amount of antigen, in particular the amount of antibody, antigen or antigen-antibody complex corresponding to the amount of Aβ3pE or a fragment thereof in the solution to be measured, is detected by chemical or physical means and calculated from a standard curve prepared by using a standard solution containing a known amount of antigen. For example, turbidimetric, competitive, immunoassay, and sandwich methods are preferably used. In terms of sensitivity and specificity, it is particularly preferred to use a sandwich method.

[0094] In the sandwich method, the test solution is reacted with an insolubilized antibody such as an insolubilized anti-Aβ3pE antibody (first reaction), and then reacted with a labeled secondary antibody (second reaction). The amount of Aβ3pE or a fragment thereof in the test solution can then be determined by assaying the activity of the labeling agent on the insolubilized carrier. The first and second reactions may be performed simultaneously or successively.

[0095] In the measurement method, a labeling substance, a radioisotope, an enzyme, a fluorescent substance, a luminescent substance, etc. are used as a labeling agent. Examples of radioisotopes include: 125 1. 131 I, 3 H and 14 C. Enzymes are usually made detectable by binding to a suitable substrate which then catalyzes a detectable reaction. Examples thereof include, for example, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, peroxidase and malate dehydrogenase, preferably horseradish peroxidase. Luminescent substances include, for example, luminol, luminol derivatives, luciferin, aequorin and luciferase. Furthermore, the avidin-biotin system can also be used to label the antibodies and immunogens of the present invention. When the immunogen or antibody is insolubilized, either physical adsorption or chemical binding, which is usually used for insolubilization or immobilization of proteins or enzymes, can be used. Examples of carriers include insoluble polysaccharides such as agarose, dextran and cellulose, synthetic resins such as polystyrene, polyacrylamide and silicon polymers, and glass.

[0096] Further embodiments for detecting or diagnosing β-amyloid related diseases include biological samples including tissues, body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, plasma, serum, urine, etc., which are contacted with a suitable amount of a primary antibody to form an immune complex. Contacting typically involves adding the sample to a solid matrix coated with the primary antibody. The complexes generated from contacting the sample with the primary antibody are separated from the sample by elution. However, other recovery methods may be used. The recovered complexes are contacted with at least one secondary antibody directed against an antigenic determinant on the antigen and capable of binding to the antigen in the complex. The antigenic determinant against which the secondary antibody is directed may be the same as the antigenic determinant against which the primary antibody is directed due to the multi-epitopic nature of the antigen entity. Either the primary antibody or the secondary antibody may be made detectable using any of the labels described above. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary antibody is made detectable. The presence of detectable antibody bound to the complex consisting of the primary antibody and the antigen bound to the secondary antibody can be readily detected using techniques known in the art. By comparing the results obtained with the biological sample with the results obtained with a control sample, the presence of altered Aβ3pE or fragment levels thereof can be determined.

[0097] In vivo methods Aspects of the invention relate to methods for preventing, ameliorating, treating, and / or reducing amyloid-β deposition in an amyloid-β associated condition, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof disclosed herein. Further aspects of the invention include pharmaceutical compositions for preventing, ameliorating, treating, and / or reducing amyloid deposition in an amyloid-β associated condition, comprising an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof disclosed herein. The methods of the invention comprise administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of one or more of the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof described herein.

[0098] In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for preventing, ameliorating, treating and / or reducing amyloid-β deposition in conditions characterized by the formation of plaques containing β-amyloid protein in humans, comprising administering, preferably peripherally, a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an antibody or an immunologically reactive fragment thereof according to the invention, which is an antibody that specifically binds to human Aβ3pE, to a human in need of such treatment. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for inhibiting the formation of amyloid plaques and / or removing amyloid plaques in humans, comprising administering, to a human subject in need of such inhibition or removal, an effective amount of an antibody according to the invention, wherein the antibody sequesters Aβ3pE peptide in the brain and induces altered Aβ3pE clearance in the brain. In a further aspect, the invention relates to such humanized antibodies, including their immunologically effective portion, and methods for their preparation.

[0099] A subject in need thereof is a human suffering from or predisposed to a condition characterized by the formation of plaques containing beta amyloid protein. In one embodiment, the condition is Alzheimer's disease. In another embodiment, the condition is dementia associated with trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome), diffuse Lewy body disease, inclusion body myositis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, or Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage with Amyloidosis of the Dutch Type (HCHWA-D).

[0100] A humanized antibody is an antibody from a non-human species whose protein sequence has been modified to increase its similarity to antibody variants naturally produced in humans. In general, the protein sequence of a humanized antibody is essentially identical to that of a human variant, except for some or all of its complementarity determining region (CDR) segments of non-human origin, which are responsible for the ability of the antibody to bind to its target antigen. The framework regions of the variable regions are replaced by corresponding human framework regions, and the non-human CDRs remain substantially intact. In some cases, a humanized antibody has a small number of substitutions in one or more of the non-human CDR regions to retain the binding affinity and / or dissociation constant of the non-human antibody.

[0101] A humanized antibody also refers to an antibody comprising a human framework and at least one CDR from a non-human antibody, in which any constant region present is substantially identical to a human immunoglobulin constant region, i.e., at least about 85%, 90%, preferably at least 95% identical or 98% identical. Thus, all parts of a humanized antibody (except for one or more CDRs) are substantially identical to the corresponding parts of a human immunoglobulin sequence. For example, humanized immunoglobulins typically do not include chimeric mouse variable region / human constant region antibodies.

[0102] Humanized antibodies have at least three potential advantages over non-human and chimeric antibodies for use in human therapy: 1) because the effector moieties are human, they may better interact with other parts of the human immune system (e.g., activating microglia to remove plaque); 2) because the human immune system should not recognize the framework or C regions of a humanized antibody as foreign, the antibody response to such an administered antibody should be lower than to a wholly foreign non-human antibody or a partially foreign chimeric antibody; and 3) administered non-human antibodies are reported to have a shorter half-life in the human circulation than the half-life of a human antibody.

[0103] In a method for treating or preventing a condition characterized by the formation of plaques containing β-amyloid protein, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof (including immunologically reactive fragment) of the present invention is administered to an individual at risk for or exhibiting an amyloid β-related condition or pathology, such as clinical or preclinical Alzheimer's disease, dementia associated with Down's syndrome, or clinical or preclinical amyloid angiopathy, using standard administration techniques. Preferably, the antibody or binding fragment thereof is administered peripherally (i.e., not administered to the central nervous system), intravenously, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, pulmonary, transdermal, intramuscular, intranasal, buccal, sublingual, or by suppository administration. The antibody or binding fragment thereof may also be administered directly to the ventricular system, spinal fluid, or brain parenchyma, and techniques for targeting to these locations are well known in the art, but it is not necessary to utilize these more complicated procedures. The antibody or binding fragment thereof of the present invention is effective when administered by simpler techniques that rely on the peripheral circulatory system. Advantages of the present invention include the ability of the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof to exert their beneficial effects even without being provided directly to the central nervous system itself.

[0104] Pharmaceutical compositions for administration will be designed to suit the selected mode of administration, and pharma- ceutically acceptable excipients, such as dispersants, buffers, surfactants, preservatives, solubilizers, isotonicity agents, stabilizers, and the like, will be used where appropriate. Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton Pa., latest edition, incorporated herein by reference, provides a general overview of formulation techniques as generally known to the skilled artisan.

[0105] It may be particularly useful to modify the solubility characteristics of the antibodies of the invention, for example by encapsulating them in liposomes or rendering them more lipophilic by blocking polar groups.

[0106] Peripheral systemic delivery by intravenous or intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection is preferred. Suitable vehicles for such injections are straightforward. However, administration may also be via mucous membranes by nasal aerosol or suppository. Suitable formulations for such administration forms are well known and typically contain surfactants that promote intermembrane transfer. Such surfactants are often derived from steroids or cationic lipids such as N-[1-(2,3-dioleoyl)propyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA), or various compounds such as cholesterol hemisuccinate, phosphatidylglycerol, etc.

[0107] The concentration of the humanized antibody in the formulation may be as little as about 0.1% to about 15 or 20% by weight, selected primarily based on fluid volume, viscosity, etc., and according to the particular mode of administration selected. Thus, a typical pharmaceutical composition for injection may be made to contain 1 mL of sterile buffered water, such as phosphate buffered saline, and 1-100 mg of the humanized antibody of the invention. The formulation may be sterile filtered after making the formulation, or may be otherwise rendered microbiologically acceptable. A typical composition for intravenous infusion may have a volume of 250 mL of fluid, e.g., sterile Ringer's solution, and an antibody concentration per mL of 1-100 mg / mL or more.

[0108] For administration of the antibody, the dosage is in the range of about 0.0001 to 100 mg / kg, preferably 0.01 to 75 mg / kg, based on the body weight of the host. For example, the dosage can be 0.02 mg / kg, 0.25 mg / kg, 0.5 mg / kg, 0.75 mg / kg, 1 mg / kg, 2 mg / kg, 3 mg / kg, 4 mg / kg, 5 mg / kg, 10 mg / kg, 15 mg / kg, 20 mg / kg, 25 mg / kg, 20 mg / kg, 35 mg / kg, 40 mg / kg, 45 mg / kg, 50 mg / kg, 55 mg / kg, 60 mg / kg, 65 mg / kg, 70 mg / kg, or 75 mg / kg based on the body weight of the host. In an embodiment, the dosage is within the range of 0.01 to 10 mg / kg, or within the range of 0.1 to 15 mg / kg, or within the range of 0.1 to 20 mg / kg, or within the range of 0.1 to 30 mg / kg, or within the range of 0.1 to 40 mg / kg, or within the range of 0.1 to 50 mg / kg, or within the range of 0.1 to 60 mg / kg, preferably at least 1 mg / kg, at least 5 mg / kg, at least 10 mg / kg, at least 20 mg / kg, at least 30 mg / kg, at least 40 mg / kg, at least 50 mg / kg, or at least 60 mg / kg. In a preferred example, the dosage may be about 10 mg / mg, about 20 mg / mg, about 30 mg / mg, about 40 mg / kg, about 50 mg / kg, about 60 mg / kg, or about 70 mg / kg. In a particularly preferred example, the antibody is administered intraperitoneally at a dose range of about 0.3 mg / kg to about 60 mg / kg. In an exemplary treatment regimen, the antibody is administered intraperitoneally at a dosage of about 10 mg / kg, about 20 mg / mg, about 30 mg / mg, about 40 mg / kg, about 50 mg / kg, or about 60 mg / kg.

[0109] As used herein, the term "about" when used in reference to a measurable value such as an amount is meant to encompass a variation of ±20% to ±0.1%, preferably ±15% or ±10%, more preferably ±5%, even more preferably ±1%, even more preferably ±0.5%, ±0.1%, such that a variation of ±0.05% or ±0.01% from a particular value is appropriate.

[0110] Exemplary treatment regimens involve administration once every two weeks, once a month, or once every three to six months. In some methods, two or more monoclonal antibodies with different binding specificities are administered simultaneously, with the dosage of each antibody administered being within the indicated range. The antibody is usually administered multiple times. The interval between doses can be weekly, monthly, or yearly. The interval can also be irregular, as indicated by measuring the blood levels of the antibody against Aβ in the subject. Alternatively, the antibody can be administered as a sustained release formulation, in which case less frequent administration is required. The dosage and frequency will vary depending on the half-life of the antibody in the patient. In general, human antibodies exhibit the longest half-life, followed by humanized antibodies, chimeric antibodies, and non-human antibodies.

[0111] Dosage and frequency of administration may vary depending on whether the treatment is preventive or curative. In preventive applications, relatively low doses are administered at relatively infrequent intervals for a long period of time. Some subjects continue to receive treatment for the rest of their lives. In curative applications, relatively high doses may be required at relatively short intervals until the progression of the disease is reduced or stopped, preferably until the subject shows partial or complete remission of the symptoms of the disease. Then, a prophylactic regimen may be administered.

[0112] In some methods, the dosage is administered to achieve a plasma antibody concentration of about 1-1000 μg / mL, and in some methods, about 25-300 μg / mL. Alternatively, the antibody can be administered as a sustained release formulation, which requires less frequent administration. The dosage and frequency will vary depending on the half-life of the antibody in the subject.

[0113] Treatment with an antibody of the invention may be a sole treatment, or may be a component or step of a combination therapeutic regimen that also uses one or more additional therapeutic agents to treat the individual.

[0114] When used in in vivo therapy, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention is administered to an individual in a therapeutically effective amount, e.g., an amount that reduces, removes, or prevents β-amyloid plaques or improves cognitive function in a subject with AD or other β-amyloid-related disease. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is administered to an individual according to known methods, such as intravenous administration, e.g., as a bolus or by continuous infusion over a period of time, by intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intracerebrospinal, subcutaneous, intraarticular, intrasynovial, intrathecal, oral, topical, or inhalation routes. The agent of the present invention may be administered, if desired, in combination with other agents that are at least partially effective in treating amyloidogenic diseases. In the case of Alzheimer's disease and related conditions in which amyloid deposits occur in the brain, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention may be administered in combination with other agents that increase the passage of the agent of the present invention across the blood-brain barrier.

[0115] In one embodiment of the present invention, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof binds to 3pE Aβ in plaque deposits. By binding to 3pE Aβ in plaque deposits, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof can induce plaque removal. Induction of plaque removal can be by activation of microglia surrounding the plaque and destabilization of the plaque by removing stable Aβ forms. Furthermore, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof can prevent the plaque seeding activity of 3pE Aβ. The possible enrichment of 3pE Aβ in plaques compared to vascular amyloid can increase the therapeutic safety margin for immunotherapy.

[0116] Kits and Devices The present invention provides kits and devices that can be used in the above-mentioned methods. Preferably, the kits and devices include an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds to 3pE Aβ. In addition, the kits may include reagents and instructions. The instructions may be, for example, printed on paper and / or provided in an electronically readable medium. Alternatively, the instructions may be provided by, for example, directing the user to an internet website designated by the manufacturer or distributor of the kit.

[0117] The reagents included in the kits of the present invention may be supplied in any type of container such that the activity of the various components is not substantially lost while the components themselves are not substantially adsorbed or altered by the material of the container.

[0118] In one embodiment, the kit or device comprises an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the invention, preferably a purified antibody, more preferably a monoclonal antibody, even more preferably an isolated monoclonal antibody that binds to the 3pE Aβ peptide. In an embodiment, the antibody is expressed by a hybridoma cell.

[0119] Embodiment In embodiment 1, a. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; b. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; c. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; d. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; e. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; f. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; g. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; h. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; i. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; j. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; k. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; l. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; or m. An isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (HCDR1), HCDR2, HCDR3, light chain complementarity determining region 1 (LCDR1), LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 56, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binds to 3pE Aβ, preferably human 3pE Aβ.

[0120] Embodiment 2 is an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of embodiment 1, comprising a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, or 21, or a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10, 12, 14, 18, 22, 53, or 55.

[0121] In embodiment 3, a. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:22; b. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10; c. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:12; d. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; e. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; f. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:16 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; g. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:20 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; h. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:17 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:18; i. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18; j. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:53; or k. The isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of embodiment 1, comprising a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:55.

[0122] Embodiment 4 is the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is chimeric.

[0123] Embodiment 5 is an isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is human or humanized.

[0124] In embodiment 6, a. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:37 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38; b. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38; c. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:37 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:52; or d. An isolated monoclonal antibody comprising a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:54.

[0125] Embodiment 7 is an isolated nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6.

[0126] Embodiment 8 is a vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of embodiment 7.

[0127] Embodiment 9 is a host cell comprising the vector of embodiment 8.

[0128] Embodiment 10 is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6, and a pharma- ceutically acceptable carrier.

[0129] Embodiment 11 is a method for treating a condition associated with the formation of plaques containing β-amyloid protein in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof described in any one of embodiments 1 to 6, or a pharmaceutical composition described in embodiment 10.

[0130] Embodiment 12 is the method of embodiment 11, wherein the condition is Alzheimer's disease.

[0131] Embodiment 13 is the method of embodiment 11, wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of dementia associated with trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome), diffuse Lewy body disease, inclusion body myositis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage with Amyloidosis of the Dutch Type (HCHWA-D).

[0132] Embodiment 14 is a method for reducing plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof described in any one of embodiments 1 to 6, or a pharmaceutical composition described in embodiment 10.

[0133] Embodiment 15 is a method for preventing the seeding activity of 3pE Aβ in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof described in any one of embodiments 1 to 6, or a pharmaceutical composition described in embodiment 10.

[0134] Embodiment 16 is a method for producing the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described in any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, comprising culturing a cell containing a nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof under conditions for producing the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, and recovering the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

[0135] Embodiment 17 is a method for producing a pharmaceutical composition comprising the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described in any one of embodiments 1 to 6, the method comprising combining the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof with a pharma- ceutical acceptable carrier to obtain the pharmaceutical composition. EXAMPLES

[0136] The invention can be further understood by consideration of the following non-limiting examples.

[0137] Example 1: Monoclonal antibody production and humanization process Three Balb / c mice (Janvier Labs) were primed with H2N-pEFRHDSGC-COOH (Eurogentec) (SEQ ID NO: 47) in complete Freund's adjuvant (Sigma, St. Louis, MO). Peptides were prepared by coupling the peptides via the COOH-terminal cysteine ​​residue to maleimide-activated bovine serum albumin (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA) using a commercially available kit such as the Imject Maleimide Activated BSA kit (Pierce, Rockford, IL) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mice were boosted every two weeks with peptides coupled to 100 μg or 200 μg BSA, initially in complete Freund's adjuvant, followed by incomplete Freund's adjuvant (Sigma).

[0138] Hybridoma and antibody production: Mice showing the highest serum titers were selected for fusion, while the spleens of the other mice were isolated and frozen in liquid nitrogen. On day 4, prior to fusion or splenectomy, all mice were boosted intraperitoneally with 100 μg of H2N-pEFRHDSGC-COOH (SEQ ID NO: 47) coupled to BSA (Merck, Kenilworth, NJ) in saline. Mouse spleen cells were fused with SP2 / 0 cells (ATCC, Manassas, VA) by a modified procedure of Kohler and Milstein (Euro. J. Immunol., 1976; 292-295). Hybridomas were seeded into 30×96 well plates and screened 10 days later by direct ELISA with 0.5 μg / well of uncoupled Aβ 3pE-40 peptide (AnaSpec, Fremont, CA). Positive cells were tested for (lack of) cross-reactivity with 0.5 μg / mL of coated Aβ1-40 peptide (AnaSpec) and immediately subcloned.

[0139] After fusion, 17 clones reacted positive in an ELISA screening directly coated with human Aβ3pE-40 synthetic peptide (SEQ ID NO: 40) and were frozen in liquid nitrogen.

[0140] All hybridomas were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Hyclone, Europe), Hybridoma Fusion Cloning Supplement (2%) (Roche, Brussels, Belgium), 2% HT (Sigma), 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 2 mM L-glutamine, and penicillin (100 U / mL) and streptomycin (50 mg / mL). All products were commercially available and purchased from Life Technologies. Cells were incubated in a humidified 8% CO2 air incubator.

[0141] Direct ELISA for antibody selection: The screening ELISA used for detection of the Aβ 3pE-40 antibodies described above was a direct ELISA in which 0.5 μg / mL of free human Aβ 3pE-40 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 40) was coated onto NUNC Maxisorp (Life Technologies) flat-bottom high-binding 96-well microtiter plates in 50 μL / well of coating buffer (10 mM Tris, 10 mM NaCl, and 10 mM NaN3, pH 8.5) overnight at 4° C.

[0142] The next day, plates were blocked with 75 μL / well of 0.1% casein in PBS (Merck) for 60 min at room temperature to reduce non-specific binding. Then, 50 μL of hybridoma supernatant was added and incubated for 1 h at 37°C. After washing, bound monoclonal antibodies were detected with 50 μL / well of sheep anti-mouse IgG conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech, Little Chalfont, United Kingdom) for 1 h at 37°C. Both reagents were diluted in 0.1% casein / PBS. Plates were washed and 50 μL of 0.42 mM 3,5,3',5'-tetramethyl-benzidine (Biorad), 0.003% (vol / vol) H2O2 (Biorad) in 100 mM citric acid (Biorad, Hercules, CA), 100 mM disodium hydrogen phosphate, pH 4.3 (Biorad) was added as substrate. Reactions were allowed to proceed for up to 15 min on a plate shaker at room temperature, after which development was stopped with 50 μL / well 2N H2SO4 (Merck) and plates were read at 450 nm in a microtiter plate reader (Thermomax, Molecular Devices). Cross-reactivity of selected monoclonal antibodies with full-sized human free Aβ 1-40 was tested in a direct ELISA identical to the screening assay.

[0143] From 17 Aβ3pE-40-reactive clones, BAMB31_1 was selected for further characterization based on affinity and selectivity (see Examples 2 and 3). This antibody was determined to have a mouse IgG1 isotype heavy chain and a mouse kappa light chain. Although mouse IgG1 Fc has only 70% sequence identity and 76% sequence similarity to mouse IgG2a Fc, these isotypes have different activities and protein profiles. Compared to mouse IgG2a, mouse IgG1 has weaker mouse Fc effector and complement functions due to weaker binding to mouse FcγRI, FcγRIII, and FcγRIV receptors and mouse C1q. Considered to be the isotype closest to human IgG1 activity, mouse IgG2a has complement, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) activities that may contribute to Aβ plaque clearance by binding to mouse FcγRI, FcγRIII, and FcγRIV receptors as well as mouse C1q.

[0144] The sequence of the BAMB31 heavy chain was changed from mouse IgG1 to mouse IgG2a to generate BAMB31_2a. The preservation of reactivity after V-region cloning was confirmed by the SPR method described below.

[0145] Humanization process: For this work, the parent antibody BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) was humanized using a procedure similar to Singh, et.al (MAbs2015;7(4):778-91), except for CDR-H2, which was delineated according to the AbM definition (Martin, AC, PNAS86:9268-9277, 1989). Briefly, the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) were identified in the mouse parent sequence. These sequences were compared to human germline and four human germline heavy chains, two human germline light chain frameworks were selected, and the mouse CDRs were grafted into the frameworks. Human J segments for the VL and VH of each parent antibody were selected by comparing the mouse and human J segment sequences to maximize sequence identity. Molecular models of the Fv regions of the parent mAbs were generated in MOE (CCG, Montreal, Canada) using default parameters. The resulting model was examined graphically to identify framework positions that were potentially important for binding and / or antibody stability. These positions were used to generate antibody libraries with human / mouse binary combinations in addition to the grafted CDRs. In the library, each chain with the grafted mouse CDRs was paired with the opposite mouse parent chain. In this way, only one chain was fitted to the human framework, and back mutations were determined based on antigen binding. The humanized VH and VL were then combined to arrive at the final antibody candidates.

[0146] Library clones were expressed as Fabs in E. coli and tested for binding to peptides by signal compared to the intact mouse parent molecule and by ELISA. Molecular signals showing >80% binding of the mouse parent were selected for sequencing. Sequences were analyzed and human-adapted heavy and light chains were selected and combined and expressed as monoclonal human IgG1 antibodies. All VH / VL humanized pairs for each antibody were expressed, purified and assessed for antigen binding, Epivax in silico immunogenetic risk, number of residues backmutated to the mouse sequence and biophysical properties.

[0147] Results: To retain parental binding, some residues had to be backmutated to the mouse sequence. Retention of binding, Epivax in silico immunogenetic risk, and biophysical properties did not depend on the number of backmutations to the mouse sequence, but the positions that were backmutated to the mouse sequence. Representative HFA mAb characterization results from this analysis are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0148] [Table 2] BAMB246 parent human IgG1 chimera Values ​​outside the desired range are listed in bold: Total number of residues backmutated to mouse sequence > 5, Epivax risk score for Hc and Lc > -10, V region synthesis Epivax risk score > -20, SEC % monomer value < 95% kd(1 / s) value > 1.00E-04, KD(M) value > 2.50E-11, Tonset (°C) < 60, Tm1 (°C) < 65, Tagg (°C) < 65

[0149] Mitigating post-translational modification risk: The parent antibody and human framework-adapted variants contained a NG post-translational deamidation modification motif in HCDR2. To address this potential issue, individual libraries were generated for both N and G residues using condensation oligos. These generated new sequences randomly introduce all 20 amino acids for each position. Each library was screened for retained binding. Mutant antibodies that showed similar binding to the mouse parent were selected for sequencing.

[0150] Results: After sequencing, both the N-S and N-G mutants had binding comparable to the parent. The lead HFA mutant was cloned and expressed as wild-type IgG1 (BAMAB674), and an IgG1 with M37Y, S39T, and T41E point mutations in the Fc region (numbering based on Hc constant region Fc IgG1 heavy chain constant region sequence GenBank accession number AEV43323) was named +YTE IgG1 (BAMB675). These mutations are known to increase affinity for FcRn and increase circulating half-life (Properties of Human IgG1s Engineered for Enhanced Binding to the Neonatal Fc Receptor (FcRn), Dall'Acqua WF., JBC, 2006). Characterization of BAMB674 and BAMB675 is shown in Table 3.

[0151] [Table 3]

[0152] [Table 4] * N=1

[0153] Example 2: Thermal stability test For the BAMB31 human framework-adapted mutants, their thermal stability was assessed using nano differential scanning fluorimetry (NanoDSF) to measure the onset of melting (Tonset), the first melting transition temperature (Tm1), and the temperature of initial aggregation detection (Tagg). Data for some of the mutants are shown in Table 2 (columns 6-8) and Table 3 (rows 10-12) and Table 3a.

[0154] Materials and Methods: Thermal stability of samples is determined using an automated Prometheus instrument. Measurements are performed by loading samples from a 384-well sample plate into 24-well capillaries. Two measurements are performed for each sample. The Prometheus NanoDSF user interface (Melting Scan tab) is used to set the experimental parameters for the run. Thermal scans of a typical IgG sample span from 20 °C to 95 °C at a rate of 1.0 °C / min. Typical concentrations of samples range from 0.3 to 1 mg / mL. Unfolding during the temperature ramp is monitored using molecular intrinsic fluorescence at 330 nm and 350 nm and recorded as a change in fluorescence intensity over time. This is called the result of the thermal scan (Tm). In parallel, using back reflection techniques, the instrument calculates the onset of aggregation (Tagg) during the thermal ramp. Thus, the NanoDSF method allows for the simultaneous measurement of conformational and colloidal stability of lead candidates, which are often monitored as indicators of long-term sample stability under a variety of conditions.

[0155] Example 3: Epivax in silico immunogenetic risk assessment In silico analysis of the V region of anti-Aβ 3pE mab was performed using EpiMatrix software (EpiVax Inc.) for predicting MHC class II binding. The software examines consecutive amino acid 9-mers to identify potential HLA class II binding sequences. The database contains the most common HLA types that represent approximately 95% of the human population. If the HLA receptor of an antigen-presenting cell binds to the agretope of a peptide, the other face of that peptide (epitope) can bind to T effector cells or T regulatory cells, which can result in the stimulation or suppression of an immune response to the protein bearing that epitope. The software generates an agretope binding score that can be adjusted for predicted T regulatory cell binding. The score is normalized for the size of the protein and the number of binding events leading to an output indicating the predicted immunogenicity of the protein.

[0156] Example 4: Analytical properties of purified mAbs The protein concentration of each purified mAb was determined by measuring the absorbance at 280 nm on a NanoDrop1000 spectrophotometer or a Trinean DropSense96 multichannel spectrophotometer and calculated using the extinction coefficient based on the amino acid sequence.

[0157] SE HPLC of the purified antibodies was performed by running the sample on a TOSOH TSKgel BioAssist G3SWxl column in 0.2M Na Phosphate pH 6.8 on a Waters Alliance HPLC at 1 mL / min for 20 min. The column eluate was monitored by absorbance at 280 nm. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0158] Example 5: Measurement of binding kinetics and affinity Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is a label-free detection method used to investigate biomolecular interactions. By monitoring small changes in mass on a sensor surface, this direct real-time binding assay provides qualitative and quantitative data about the interactions between biomolecules; i.e., equilibrium binding constants (affinity, K D ) and the kinetic constant (k a / k d ; complex association rate k a , and the dissociation rate of the complex k d ) is determined. This method is useful in the study of protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions, as well as protein-small molecule interactions. Here, the interactions between 3pE-specific antibodies and human Aβ3pE-40 (SEQ ID NO: 40) or Aβ3pE-28 (SEQ ID NO: 42), and between human Aβ1-40 (SEQ ID NO: 41) or Aβ1-28 (SEQ ID NO: 43) and rodent Aβ3pE-28 peptides (SEQ ID NOs: 45 and 46) were investigated.

[0159] Materials and Methods SPR: Mouse antibody capture kit from GE Healthcare was used for affinity testing of BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) for Aβ-3pE-40 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 40). J&JPRD / Aβ / pE3 / 1 mIgG2a (described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0142011) and mE8c mIgG2a (described in US Patent No. 9944696 and US Patent No. 8679498) were included as control antibodies. Immobilization of anti-mouse antibodies was performed via amine coupling on a CM5 sensor chip according to the manufacturer's protocol. The antibody of interest (1 μg / mL) was then captured by anti-mouse antibody to a concentration of 300 RU, followed by injection of various concentrations (3.125 nM, 6.25 nM, 12.5 nM, 25 nM and 50 nM) of human Aβ 3pE-40 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 40) diluted in running buffer (20 mM phosphate buffer containing 2.7 mM KCl, 137 mM NaCl and 0.05% surfactant P20 (Tween™ 20)). The surface was regenerated with 10 mM glycine HCl, pH 1.7 for at least 180 seconds and an additional 60 seconds. Human Aβ (1-40) peptide (SEQ ID NO: 41) was used as a negative control.

[0160] Affinity measurements were performed using an optical biosensor T200 (Biacore®). Kinetic analysis was performed according to a 1:1 binding fitting model using the Biacore T200 Evaluation Software (version 2.0).

[0161] In some cases, the binding affinity and specificity of anti-Aβ 3pE mAbs were measured by SPR performed using different instruments (Biacore T200, Biacore 8K or MASS-2 (Biacore, Inc.)) and anti-human or anti-mouse immunoglobulin biosensor surfaces. Anti-human or anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibodies were covalently coupled to the surface of a CM4 sensor chip or a CM5 sensor chip (GE Healthcare) using the manufacturer's instructions for amine coupling chemistry. Antibodies of interest are captured on anti-human or mouse immunoglobulin sensor chips to a concentration of 300-400 RU, followed by injection of Aβ peptides or proteins (e.g., human Aβ 3pE-40 (SEQ ID NO: 40), Aβ 3pE-28 (SEQ ID NO: 42), scrambled Aβ 3pE-28 (SEQ ID NO: 44), Aβ 1-28 (SEQ ID NO: 43), mouse Aβ 3pE-28 (SEQ ID NO: 46), or fibronectin) at various concentrations in HEPES-buffered saline containing 0.005% surfactant P20 (Tween™ 20). The surface was regenerated by injecting two pulses of 30 μL of 10 mM Gly pH 1.5 at 100 μL / min. Data reported are the difference in SPR signal between flow cells containing captured antibody and reference cells without captured antibody. The additional instrument contribution to the signal was removed by subtracting the data of blank injections from the reference-subtracted signal. When applicable, data were analyzed by fitting the association and dissociation phases at all concentrations (global fit) to a 1:1 binding model using Biaevaluation software (Biacore, Inc.). When not applicable, data were qualitatively evaluated for binding / no binding.

[0162] Immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded brains: For immunohistochemical analysis, after deparaffinization and rehydration of sections, antigen retrieval was performed by incubating transgenic mouse brain slides in formic acid (70% in distilled water) for 10 min, and endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked with 3% hydrogen peroxide (DAKO; (Glostrup, Denmark) S2023). Sections were incubated for 1 h with BAMB674, BAMB675, hE8L, R17L, R17, CI-C7, B12L, Antibody I or Antibody II (the latter seven antibodies are previously described in US Pat. No. 9,944,696 (B2) and US Pat. No. 8,679,498 (B2)) at different concentrations (working concentration: 2, 0.1-0.05-0.025 μg / mL) in antibody diluent with background reduction component (DAKO, S3022). After extensive washing, HRP-conjugated anti-human secondary antibody (PI-3000 (Vector labs, Burlingame, CA) - 1 / 500 in antibody diluent (DAKO, S0809)) was applied to the slides for 1 h, followed by chromogenic labeling with 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) (DAKO, K3468). Slides were counterstained with hematoxylin, dehydrated, and permanently fixed in Vectamount (H-5000, Vector Labs).

[0163] Results: Kinetic analysis of monoclonal antibody BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) confirmed affinity binding to Aβ3pE-40 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 40). No binding was detected when human Aβ-140 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 41) was applied at concentrations up to 50 nM. Sensorgrams (single cycle kinetics) showing the binding interaction of BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) to human Aβ3pE-40 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 40) are shown in Figure 1. As comparative benchmark molecules, J&JPRD / Aβ / pE3 / 1 mIgG2a and mE8c mIgG2a (Figure 2) were evaluated in the same assay, demonstrating the higher affinity of BAMB31 compared to mE8c and J&JPRD / Aβ / pE3 / 1. The equilibrium binding constants (affinity, K D ) and the kinetic constant (k a / k d) are shown in Table 4.

[0164] [Table 5]

[0165] Kinetic analysis of BAMB31 HFA mAbs (BAMB674 and BAMB675) with reduced Hc CDR2 NG deamidation risk compared to their BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) and BAMB246 (human IgG1 chimera) parents showed that they retained binding affinity for Aβ3pE-28 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 42). The equilibrium binding constants (affinity, K D ) and the kinetic constant (k a / k d ) are shown in Table 5.

[0166] Compared to the previously described humanized 3pE-specific antibodies hE8L, R17L, R17, CI-C7, B12L, Antibody I, and Antibody II (previously described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,944,696 (B2) and 8,679,498 (B2)), the affinity of the current BAMB31 HFA molecule is higher, as shown in Table 5.

[0167] [Table 6] A human chimeric antibody has a mouse variable region on a human IgG1 constant region.

[0168] [Table 7] HU-3pE-β-amyloid concentration range: 0.6-4.5 nM

[0169] Higher affinity as measured by SPR also translates into improved plaque binding. A dilution series of the primary antibodies was performed on brain sections of transgenic mouse brains by immunohistochemistry. All antibodies give visible plaque labeling at 2 μg / mL, but at different ranges. Antibodies CI-C7 and R17L did not produce visible plaque labeling at a concentration of 0.1 μg / mL, in accordance with their low affinity as measured by SPR. At a concentration of 0.05 μg / mL, BAMB674 and BAMB675 show plaque labeling, while plaque labeling is not visible at this concentration for the reference molecules (Figure 3). At a concentration of 0.025 μg / mL, visible plaque labeling is (almost completely) not visible for all molecules tested.

[0170] In conclusion, the immunohistochemical data confirm the SPR data showing higher affinity of BAMB674 and BAMB675 to the benchmark molecule.

[0171] BAMB246 (human IgG1 chimera) and the current BAMB31 HFA mAbs (BAMB674 and BAMB675) had >3 logs of selectivity over the highly homologous murine Aβ 3pE-28 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 46) and >5 logs of selectivity over fibronectin, Aβ 1-28 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 43), and Aβ 3pE-28 peptide with scrambled amino acids 3-9 (scrambled 3pE-28) (SEQ ID NO: 44). Selectivity results and equilibrium binding constants (affinity, K D ) and the kinetic constant (k a and k d ) are shown in Table 6.

[0172] [Table 8] Scrambled 3pE-28 is a human Aβ 3pE-28 peptide with scrambled amino acids 3-9. The selectivity fold was calculated by dividing the KD in Table 4 by the KD in Table 3. K ≧ 1.20E-06D In (M), no antigen binding was detected up to the maximum tested concentration of 1.2 μM.

[0173] The FcRn binding affinity of the BAMB31 HFA antibody for wild type IgG1 (BAMB674) and the +YTE IgG1 isotype (BAMB675) is shown in Table 7. The +YTE mAb (BAMB675) has approximately 3-fold higher affinity for human and cynomolgus FcRn compared to wild type IgG1 (BAMB674), which translated into a longer circulating half-life for the +YTE antibody in cynomolgus pharmacokinetic studies (Figure 11).

[0174] [Table 9] KD(M) values ​​were averaged from 5-6 independent replicates.

[0175] Example 6: Sandwich ELISA for cross-reactivity testing The cross-reactivity of the selected Aβ3pE monoclonal antibody BAMB31 with rodent Aβ3pE-40 (SEQ ID NO: 45) and human Aβ1-40 (SEQ ID NO: 41), Aβ1-42 (SEQ ID NO: 48), Aβ11pE-40 (SEQ ID NO: 49) and Aβ11pE-42 (SEQ ID NO: 50) was evaluated using synthetic peptides. The combination of BAMB31+JRF / cAβ40 / 28-HRPO was used to investigate cross-reactivity with Aβ1-40 (SEQ ID NO: 41), Aβ11pE-40 (SEQ ID NO: 49) and rodent Aβ3pE-40 (SEQ ID NO: 45), and the combination of BAMB31+JRF / cAβ42 / 26-HRPO was used to investigate cross-reactivity with Aβ1-42 (SEQ ID NO: 48) and Aβ11pE-42 (SEQ ID NO: 50). Concentrations up to 10,000 pg / mL were tested.

[0176] Materials and Methods: Standards were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (Sigma) at 0.1 mg / mL and stored at -80 °C. For use in ELISA, peptides were further diluted to 1 pg / mL in 0.1% casein in PBS. 96-well plates (Maxisorb ELISA plates; NUNC) were coated overnight at 4 °C with monoclonal antibodies from BAMB31_1 at a concentration of 1.5 μg / mL in coating buffer. The next day, plates were washed and blocked with 0.1% casein in PBS for 1-4 h at room temperature. Standards were incubated with HRPO-labeled secondary antibodies (JRF / cAβ40 / 28-HRPO or JRF / cAβ42 / 26-HRPO) overnight at 4 °C. After overnight incubation, plates were washed and assayed using a TMB peroxide EIA substrate kit (Biorad) according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

[0177] Results: BAMB31 was shown to have selective binding to Aβ3pE-40 (SEQ ID NO: 40) and Aβ3pE-42 (SEQ ID NO: 51) at concentrations up to 10 ng / mL, with no detectable cross-reactivity to human Aβ1-40 (SEQ ID NO: 41), human Aβ1-42 (SEQ ID NO: 48) and rodent Aβ3pE-40 (SEQ ID NO: 45) and human AβpE11-40 (SEQ ID NO: 49) and AβpE11-42 (SEQ ID NO: 50) (Figure 4).

[0178] Example 7: Immunohistochemistry methods to test antibody reactivity to plaques in transgenic mouse and human AD brain tissue Antibody reactivity to plaques was investigated in both formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) brain tissue as well as cryopreserved brain tissue.

[0179] Materials and Methods Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded brains: For immunohistochemical analysis, after deparaffinization and rehydration of sections, antigen retrieval was performed by incubating transgenic mouse brain slides in formic acid (70% in distilled water) for 10 min and endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked with 3% hydrogen peroxide (DAKO (Glostrup, Denmark) S2023). Sections were incubated for 1 h with BAMB246 (huIgG1 chimera), BAMB674 or BAMB675 (working concentration: 4 μg / mL in antibody diluent with background reducing component (DAKO, S3022)). After extensive washing, HRP-labeled anti-human secondary antibody (PI-3000, Vector labs-1 / 500 in antibody diluent (DAKO, S0809)) was applied to the slides for 1 h, followed by chromogenic labeling with 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) (DAKO, K3468). Slides were counterstained with hematoxylin, dehydrated, and permanently mounted in Vectamount (H-5000, Vector Labs).

[0180] Cryopreserved brain: Human brain samples were flash frozen, sliced ​​(20 μm thick) on a cryostat, and stored at -80°C before use. Sections were dried at room temperature, followed by formalin fixation, blocking of endogenous peroxidase with 3% hydrogen peroxide (DAKO (Glostrup, Denmark) S2023), and blocking for 1 h in PBS1x+0.3% Triton X-100 and 10% normal goat serum (DAKO, X0907). Primary antibody pE3 / 16 (2 μg / mL in antibody diluent with background reducing component (DAKO, S3022)) was applied to the sections for 1 h. After extensive washing, slides were incubated with HRP-conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibody (Envision, DAKO, K4000) followed by chromogenic DAB labeling (DAKO, K3468). Slides were counterstained with hematoxylin, dehydrated, and mounted in organic mounting medium (Vectamount, Vector labs). Imaging was performed with a Hamamatsu Nanozoomer (Hamamatsu Photonics, Shizuoka, Japan).

[0181] Results: Reactivity of BAMB264 (human IgG1 chimera) as well as BAMB674 and BAMB675 was demonstrated on FFPE tissues of transgenic mice (Figure 5A-F). Furthermore, BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) showed substantial plaque labeling in cryopreserved AD brain tissue (Figure 6). A substantial fraction of the plaques detected by antibody 4G8 are also labeled by BAMB31 in cryosections of human brain (Figure 5A-F). ++

[0182] Example 8: Serum antibody titers after treatment in transgenic mice Serum antibody titers were investigated after treatment with BAMB31 and the control molecule mE8c.

[0183] Materials and Methods: Aged transgenic mice (22-23 months old) expressing high concentrations of human Aβ42 and Aβ40 peptides received a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of 20 mg / kg mE8c mIgG2a, BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) or isotype control antibody mIgG2a (n=5 per treatment group). After antibody administration, whole blood was collected at intermediate time points (24 and 48 hours post-injection) via the great saphenous vein by orbital puncture at the time of sacrifice (day 4 post-injection) in MICROVETTE® collection tubes (100Z and 300Z, respectively, Sarstedt, Numbrecht, Germany). Collected whole blood was incubated at room temperature for 1-2 hours, followed by centrifugation at 10,000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4°C to separate serum from the blood clot. Serum antibody titers were determined using an allotype-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For this, Nunc MaxiSorp™ flat-bottom plates (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA) were coated with 1.5 μg / mL mouse monoclonal anti-IgG2a(a) (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) overnight at room temperature. Antibody standards of mE8c mIgG2a, BAMB31_2a (mIgG2a) and isotype control mIgG2a were individually prepared at 1 μg / mL in blocking buffer (1% BSA in PBS buffer + 0.05% Tween-20) and further diluted to 0.1 ng / mL in blocking buffer. After washing (PBS buffer + 0.05% Tween-20), samples were blocked with blocking buffer for 1 h at room temperature. Standards and pre-diluted serum samples were then incubated in the coated MAXISORP™ plates for 1 h at room temperature. After sample incubation, the plates were washed and incubated with Peroxidase-AffiniPure Goat Anti-Mouse IgG (Fcy Subclass 2a specificity) antibody for 1 hour at room temperature. The plates were washed and developed by adding TMB Peroxide EIA Substrate Kit (1 step, Pierce) to the wells.Color development was stopped after 2 min by adding 2N H2SO4 to the wells and plates were read at 450 nm using an EnVision multimode plate reader (Perkin Elmer).

[0184] Results: Serum antibody titers were measured 24 h, 48 h and 4 days after intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg / kg of antibody. The mean antibody concentrations in serum were comparable after 24 h for all antibodies investigated. For BAMB31_2a and the isotype control antibody, the decrease in antibody concentration occurred gradually over time (down to about 30% on day 4), whereas a clearly larger decrease over time could be observed for mE8c, which was down by about 97% on day 4 (Figure 7).

[0185] In conclusion, differences in the pharmacokinetic profiles of BAMB31_2a and mE8c following intraperitoneal injection in a plaque deposition mouse model were demonstrated, showing slower clearance following treatment with BAMB31_2a antibody compared to mE8c.

[0186] Example 9: Long-term efficacy studies in transgenic mouse models The efficacy of BAMB31_2a mIgG2a in reducing amyloid burden following chronic treatment, as well as its effect on microhemorrhages, was investigated in a transgenic mouse model.

[0187] Materials and Methods: PDAPP(V717F) transgenic mice (mean age 18.3 months at the start of the study) were treated with 30 mg / kg BAMB31_2a antibody (mIgG2a) intraperitoneally once a week for 12 weeks. A control group receiving mIgG2a isotype control antibody injections was included in the experiment. Animals were euthanized 7 days after the last intraperitoneal injection (mean age 21.1 months at the end of the study). Mice were perfused with PBS before harvesting. The left hemisphere (fraction 1: hippocampus, fraction 2: remaining brain without hippocampus / cerebellum / brainstem) was frozen and stored for further biochemical analysis, while the right hemisphere was fixed overnight in a formalin-based fixative, subsequently embedded in paraffin and sliced ​​with a microtome (5 μm).

[0188] To evaluate the effect on amyloid burden after chronic treatment, both biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. For biochemical analyses, brains were homogenized in ice-cold 5M guanidine-HCl and 50mM Tris / HCl extraction buffer (100mg tissue / mL extraction buffer) using Tallprep Lysing Matrix D tubes (MP Bio). After homogenization, samples were placed in an end-over-end rotating wheel for 3 hours at room temperature. The resulting homogenates were stored at -80°C before analysis with the MSD sandwich immunoassay.

[0189] Synthetic Aβ peptide standards were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (Sigma) at 0.1 mg / mL and stored at -80°C. For use in the MSD immunoassay, peptides were further diluted in 0.5 M GuHCl + 5 mM Tris-HCl-pH 8.0 (10-fold dilution of extraction buffer in 0.1% casein in PBS). GuHCl extracts were thawed and diluted 1:10 in ice-cold 0.1% casein in PBS and centrifuged at 20,000g for 20 min at 4°C. Supernatants were collected for use in the sandwich MSD assay and samples were further diluted in 0.5 M GuHCl + 5 mM Tris-HCl-pH 8.0 (10-fold dilution of extraction buffer in 0.1% casein in PBS).

[0190] 96-well sector plate standards (Meso Scale Discovery, Rockville, MD) were coated overnight at 4° C. with monoclonal antibodies at a concentration of 1.5 μg / mL in PBS. The next day, plates were washed and blocked with 0.1% casein in PBS for 2 hours at room temperature. Standards and samples were incubated with biotin-labeled secondary antibodies overnight at 4° C. After overnight incubation, plates were washed and incubated with secondary detection reagent (Streptavidin-SULFO-TAG™ labeled) for 2 hours at room temperature. Plates were washed and 2x Read Buffer T was added, after which plates were read according to the manufacturer's recommendations. 1 / Y 2Aβ concentrations were determined using the standard curve using a four-parameter logistic model with a weighting function.

[0191] The JRF / AβN / 25+4G8 biotin antibody combination was used to investigate Aβ1-x concentrations in brain homogenates.

[0192] For immunohistochemical analysis, after deparaffinization and rehydration of sections, antigen retrieval was performed by incubating slides in formic acid (70% in distilled water) for 10 min, and endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked with 3% hydrogen peroxide (DAKO, Glostrup, Denmark, S2023). Sections were incubated overnight with biotinylated 4G8 antibody (Biolegend, San Diego, CA) diluted 1 / 2000 in antibody diluent with background reducing components (DAKO, S3022). After extensive washing, streptavidin-HRP (PK6100 Elite, Vector labs) was applied to the slides for 30 min, followed by chromogenic labeling with 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) (DAKO, K3468). Slides were counterstained with hematoxylin, dehydrated, and permanently mounted in Vectamount (H-5000, Vector Labs). Images (20x) were generated using a NanoZoomer slide scanner (Hamamatsu Photonics) and analyzed with Matlab / Phaedra. Regions-of-interest (ROIs) were manually delineated according to the Franklin and Paxinos atlas (Franklin KB, Paxinos G. Mouse brain in stereotaxic coordinates. Waltham: Academic Press; 1997), and the percentage of DAB-labeled area per total area was calculated for each ROI.

[0193] To evaluate the effect on microbleeds, Perl staining was performed. Briefly, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were treated with acid ferrocyanide solution according to the protocol described below. Ferric ions (Fe3+) present in microbleeds combine with ferrocyanide, resulting in the formation of a blue pigment called Prussian blue. After deparaffinization and rehydration, sections were incubated for 30 min in a 1 / 1 mixture of 2% potassium ferrocyanide (Sigma-Aldrich) and 2% glacial hydrochloric acid (Sigma-Aldrich). Slides were rinsed three times with distilled water and then counterstained with nuclear fast red (Sigma-Aldrich), followed by rinsing with distilled water, dehydration, and fixative (Vectamount, Vector Labs). Imaging was performed with a NanoZoomer slide scanner (Hamamatsu Photonics). The number of Perl positive cells near the meninges was counted manually.

[0194] Results: Overall, a small number of microhemorrhages were observed in the baseline, isotype control, and BAMB31-treated groups (Figure 8). Biochemical analysis showed a 34% (p<0.0001) reduction in Aβ1-x concentrations in the hippocampus with BAMB31_2a compared to the isotype control antibody (Figure 9). In addition, immunohistochemistry with antibody 4G8 showed a 23% (p<0.0001) and 37% (p<0.001) reduction in Aβ1-x concentrations compared to the isotype control antibody in the hippocampus and cortex, respectively.

[0195] In conclusion, we demonstrated efficacy in reducing amyloid burden without causing an increased occurrence of microhemorrhages after chronic intraperitoneal injection with BAMB31 in a plaque deposition mouse model, indicating a favorable efficacy-to-toxicity ratio after treatment with BAMB31 antibody.

[0196] Example 10: Pharmacokinetics of BAMB31 HFA mAb The pharmacokinetics of BAMB31 HFA mAb as +YTE IgG1 (BAMB675) isotype and wild type IgG1 (BAMB674) were evaluated in cynomolgus monkeys for a direct comparison of the properties in the peripheral circulation and brain.

[0197] Materials and Methods: Three animals per group were dosed with an intravenous (iv) bolus injection of 25 mg / kg of each mAb and serum samples were collected over a 5-week period. Three additional monkeys were dosed with an iv bolus injection of 25 mg / kg of each mAb at week 6 and brain tissue was collected from each group on days 7 and 42 after dosing. In total, brain samples were collected from three cynomolgus monkeys on days 7 and 42 for each molecule.

[0198] Drug exposure analysis of BAMB674 and BAMB675 from in vivo cynomolgus serum and brain tissue samples was performed using an individual fit-for-purpose electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method with endpoint determination on a Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) Sector Imager S600. One assay format was applied for each compound and matrix, resulting in four independent methods for measuring exposure. The formats are described as follows: mAb compounds were captured and detected with anti-human Fc specific (CH2 domain) mouse mAb. For brain tissue preparation, homogenates were made by freeze-pulverizing snap-frozen tissue and diluting in buffer. Protein concentration of tissue was verified and determined using a BCA assay to obtain the final protein concentration used in the method. Raw data regression was performed in Watson LIMS software using a 5-parameter logistic (auto-estimation) fitting with 1 / Y2 standard curve weighting.

[0199] Two compartments (central (V C ) and organization (V TA multicompartment pharmacokinetic (PK) model, intercompartmental clearance (Q), and linear clearance (CL) are used to characterize the PK of BAMB674 and BAMB675 in cynomolgus monkeys. Figure 10 shows a schematic of the model.

[0200] Results: The terminal half-life for each antibody was calculated and is shown in Figure 11 along with the cynomolgus monkey data and a two-compartment model fit. The +YTE IgG1 isotype (BAMB675) had a ~1.6-fold increase in half-life compared to the wild-type IgG1 isotype (BAMB674). This correlates with the ~3-fold increase in FcRn affinity of the +YTE isotype (BAMB675) over the wild-type IgG1 mAb (BAMB674) shown in Table 5.

[0201] Brain lysate levels across regions and between mAbs are similar at day 7, but only the YTE mAb is consistently detected across brain regions and animals at day 42. The results are shown in Figure 12, which is consistent with increased exposure of the +YTE mAb at later time points.

[0202] In describing the present invention and its various embodiments, specific terms are used for the sake of clarity. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other equivalent components can be used and other methods can be developed without departing from the broad concept of the present invention. All references cited throughout this specification are incorporated by reference as if each were individually incorporated. The invention described in this specification may include the following aspects. [1] a. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; b. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; c. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; d. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; e. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; f. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; g. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; h. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; i. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; j. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 7, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; k. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 57, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; l. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; or m. An isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (HCDR1), HCDR2, HCDR3, light chain complementarity determining region 1 (LCDR1), LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 56, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binds to 3pE Ab, preferably human 3pE Ab. [2] The isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described in [1] above, comprising a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, or 21, or a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10, 12, 14, 18, 22, 53, or 55. [3] a. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:22; b. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10; c. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:12; d. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; e. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; f. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:16 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; g. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:20 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; h. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:17 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:18; i. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18; j. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:53; or k. An isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described in [1] above, comprising a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 55. [4] The isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of the above [1] to [3], wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is chimeric. [5] The isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of the above [1] to [4], wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is human or humanized. [6] a. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:37 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38; b. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38; c. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:37 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:52; or d. An isolated monoclonal antibody comprising a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:54. [7] An isolated nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of [1] to [6] above. [8] A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid described in [7] above. [9] A host cell comprising the vector described in [8] above.

[10] A pharmaceutical composition comprising the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of [1] to [6] above, and a pharma- ceutical acceptable carrier.

[11] A method for treating a condition associated with the formation of plaques containing β-amyloid protein in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described in any one of [1] to [6] above, or the pharmaceutical composition described in

[10] above.

[12] The method according to

[11] above, wherein the condition is Alzheimer's disease.

[13] The method according to

[11] above, wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of dementia associated with trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome), diffuse Lewy body disease, inclusion body myositis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage with Amyloidosis of the Dutch Type (HCHWA-D).

[14] A method for reducing plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described in any one of [1] to [6] above, or the pharmaceutical composition described in

[10] above.

[15] A method for preventing the seeding activity of 3pE Aβ in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof described in any one of [1] to [6] above, or a pharmaceutical composition described in

[10] above.

[16] A method for producing the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of the above-mentioned [1] to [6], comprising: culturing a cell containing a nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof under conditions for producing the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof; and recovering the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

[17] A method for producing a pharmaceutical composition comprising the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of the above [1] to [6], the method comprising combining the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof with a pharma- ceutical acceptable carrier to obtain the pharmaceutical composition.

Claims

1. a. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively; c. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; e. SEQ ID NOs: 56, 57, 3, 8, 5, and 6, respectively; or g. An isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (HCDR1), HCDR2, HCDR3, light chain complementarity determining region 1 (LCDR1), LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 56, 58, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binds to 3pE Aβ.

2. The isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1, comprising a heavy chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 9, or 21, or a light chain variable region having a polypeptide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10, 12, 22, 53, or 55.

3. a. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:22; b. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10; c. a heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:53; or d. A heavy chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain variable region having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:55 The isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 , comprising:

4. The isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is chimeric.

5. The isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is human or humanized.

6. An isolated monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binds to human 3pE Aβ.

7. a. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:37 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38; b. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38; c. a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:37 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:52; or d. A heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and a light chain amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:54 1. An isolated monoclonal antibody comprising: An isolated monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to 3pE Aβ.

8. An isolated nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of claim 8.

10. A host cell comprising the vector of claim 9.

11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a pharma- ceutically acceptable carrier.

12. 1. A pharmaceutical composition for use in a method of treating a condition associated with the formation of plaques containing β-amyloid protein in a subject in need thereof, comprising: The pharmaceutical composition comprises the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, a pharmaceutical composition.

13. 13. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 12, wherein the condition is Alzheimer's disease.

14. 13. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 12, wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of dementia associated with trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome), diffuse Lewy body disease, inclusion body myositis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage with Amyloidosis of the Dutch Type (HCHWA-D).

15. 1. A pharmaceutical composition for use in a method for reducing plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising: The pharmaceutical composition comprises the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, a pharmaceutical composition.

16. 1. A pharmaceutical composition for use in a method for preventing 3pE Aβ seeding activity in a subject in need thereof, comprising: The pharmaceutical composition comprises the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, a pharmaceutical composition.

17. 8. An in vitro method of producing a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising culturing a cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof under conditions to produce the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, and recovering the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

18. 8. A method for producing a pharmaceutical composition comprising the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising combining the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof with a pharma- ceutical acceptable carrier to obtain the pharmaceutical composition.

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