Compounds and methods targeting interleukin-34

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to IL-34 antibodies, compositions comprising same, and methods of using the antibodies and / or compositions to treat immune-mediated diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, e.g., Alzheimer's disease or tauopathy diseases.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods comprising antibodies against human interleukin-34 (IL-34), which are expected to be useful in the fields of neuroinflammation and acute or chronic inflammatory diseases. In particular, embodiments are expected to be useful for therapeutic and / or diagnostic applications related to Alzheimer's disease, as well as other tauopathies.

[0002] Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, affects 1% of the population between the ages of 65 and 69, increasing to 40% to 50% in those aged 95 and older. Patients with AD exhibit clear clinical symptoms, including cognitive impairment and memory deficits. In these patients, the presence of AD is confirmed by the presence of severe senile plaque burden and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the cerebral cortex during postmortem histopathological examination. Mature senile plaques are composed of extracellular β-amyloid peptides derived from enzymatic processing of amyloid precursor protein and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) derived from filaments of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates, such as neurofibrillary tangles, are associated with the degree of cognitive impairment in AD. In AD and various other tauopathies, tau aggregates appear in specific brain regions and patterns associated with disease risk, onset, and / or progression, and these regions and patterns are known to those skilled in the art.

[0003] Cytokines regulate normal homeostatic tissue function, and dysregulation of these cytokine networks is associated with pathological conditions. The central nervous system (CNS), where few blood-borne immune cells circulate, appears to be particularly vulnerable to dysregulated cytokine networks. In neurodegenerative diseases, CNS-resident cells are major producers of proinflammatory cytokines, which may contribute to dysregulated cytokine networks and neuroinflammation. CNS injury can involve the recruitment of circulating immune cells, which result in an innate immune response consisting of resident microglia, peripherally derived monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. The activation states of microglia and macrophages are not strictly pro- or anti-inflammatory but rather may have a variety of functional states. Microglia and / or peripherally derived monocytes and macrophages may acquire an anti-inflammatory phenotype, which clears necrotic debris and promotes regeneration and homeostasis. Neuronal dysfunction or injury can also activate microglia to produce proinflammatory cytokines and recruit leukocytes from the bloodstream. In neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), microglial activation is frequently observed, reflecting a tissue response to the accumulation of extracellular beta-amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates. Neuroinflammation is a key component of neurodegenerative diseases and is characterized by increased production of proinflammatory cytokines by CNS cells (Becher, B., Spath, S. & Goverman, J. Cytokine networks in neuroinflammation. Nat Rev Immunol 17, 49-59 (2017)). Neuroinflammation and microgliosis are thought to be mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases such as plaque accumulation in Alzheimer's disease and neuronal death and dysfunction in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

[0004] Microgliosis involves the abnormal proliferation and / or hypertrophy of microglia in response to inflammatory signals. Overall, IL-34 acts as a potent, pleiotropic cytokine in regulating inflammatory and immune processes and is a key regulatory cytokine for the proliferation of CNS-resident microglia during normal tissue homeostasis. IL-34 is expressed by neurons in the cortex, anterior olfactory nucleus, and hippocampus. IL-34 shows low sequence homology with CSF-1 but shares a similar general structure, and both cytokines bind to a common receptor, CSF-1R, causing receptor autophosphorylation and dimerization, followed by activation of multiple signaling pathways (A. Freuchet, et al. J Leukoc Biol 2021 Oct;110(4):771-796). IL-34 is a secreted homodimeric cytokine that acts as one of two activating ligands for CSF1R, causing receptor autophosphorylation and dimerization, followed by activation of multiple signaling pathways (see, e.g., "Structural basis for the dual recognition of helical cytokines IL-34 and CSF-1 by CSF-1R." Structure 20, 676-687, and Felix J, De Munck S, Verstraete K, Meuris L, Callewaert N, Elegheert J. et al.). Human IL-34 polypeptide is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 9,770,486 and consists of 242 amino acids including a leader sequence and 222 amino acids in the mature form (SEQ ID NO: 31).

[0005] Anti-IL-34 antibodies have been described in the art, for example, WO 2016 / 196679 details various anti-IL-34 antibodies and their potential uses, however, to date, no antibody targeting IL-34 has been approved for therapeutic use.

[0006] Thus, there remains an unmet need for alternative and / or improved anti-IL-34 antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of using them for therapeutic and / or diagnostic applications related to immune-mediated diseases in which IL-34 is involved, and / or diseases treatable with anti-IL-34 antibodies, such as neuroinflammatory disorders, and / or Alzheimer's disease. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide novel anti-human IL-34 antibodies. According to some embodiments, the present disclosure provides antibodies comprising a light chain variable region (LCVR) and a heavy chain variable region (HCVR), wherein the LCVR comprises complementarity determining regions (CDRs), LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3, and the HCVR comprises CDRs, HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3, selected from the collection of CDR combinations provided in Table 1. Sequence identifiers used herein are listed in Table 1 and throughout the specification, and sequences are provided in the amino acid and nucleotide sequence listings provided herein.

[0008] [Table 1]

[0009] Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an antibody that binds to human IL-34, wherein the antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region (VH) and a light chain variable region (VL), wherein the VH comprises heavy chain complementarity determining regions (HCDRs) HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3, and the VL comprises light chain complementarity determining regions (LCDRs) LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3, wherein HCDR1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 5, HCDR2 comprises SEQ ID NO: 6, HCDR3 comprises SEQ ID NO: 7, LCDR1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 8, LCDR2 comprises SEQ ID NO: 9, and LCDR3 comprises SEQ ID NO: 10.

[0010] Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure also provide an antibody comprising an LCVR having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 and an HCVR having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.

[0011] Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an antibody that binds to human IL-34, wherein the antibody comprises a heavy chain (HC) comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and a light chain (LC) comprising SEQ ID NO:2.

[0012] According to other embodiments, the present disclosure also provides an antibody comprising an LCVR having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and an HCVR having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the hinge region and Fc region are selected from SEQ ID NO: 32 and SEQ ID NO: 33.

[0013] As used herein, "Antibody 1" refers to an antibody having an HCDR1 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, an HCDR2 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, an HCDR3 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, an LCDR1 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8, an LCDR2 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9, an LCDR3 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, an HCVR amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, an LCVR amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, an HC amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and an LC amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. Antibody 1 can be encoded by the HC DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and the LC DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12. The framework and CDR sequences in each of the antibodies whose sequences are presented herein have been annotated using annotation rules consistent with the method of North, et al. J. Mol. Biol. 2011:406:228-256, unless otherwise specified.

[0014] According to other embodiments, the present disclosure also provides an antibody comprising an LC having an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2, and an HC having an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1.

[0015] According to other embodiments, the present disclosure also provides an antibody comprising an LC having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and an HC having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 35, further referred to herein as Antibody 2.

[0016] According to other embodiments, the present disclosure also provides an antibody comprising an LC having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and an HC having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 36, further referred to herein as Antibody 3.

[0017] According to other embodiments, the present disclosure also provides an antibody comprising an LC having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and an HC having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37, further referred to herein as Antibody 4.

[0018] The carboxy-terminal portion of each HC defines a constant region primarily responsible for effector function, and in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the antibody has one or more modifications in the constant region of each HC that reduce effector function. Preferably, embodiments of the present disclosure are IgG4 antibodies and thus comprise an IgG4 Fc region, or an Fc region derived from human IgG4, e.g., a modified IgG4 Fc region.

[0019] According to some embodiments, modifications in the constant regions of both HCs that reduce effector function and amino acid substitutions are introduced into the IgG4 hinge and Fc region. Thus, some embodiments have modifications in the constant regions of both HCs to include the amino acid alanine at both residues 230 and 231 (exemplified in the HC of Antibody 1 and SEQ ID NO: 33, respectively), and further modifications in the constant regions of both HCs to include the amino acid proline at residue 224 to promote stability (exemplified in the HC of Antibody 1 and, for example, in SEQ ID NO: 32), and deletion of the amino acid lysine at residue 443 (exemplified in the HC of SEQ ID NO: 1).

[0020] The antibodies of the present disclosure are believed to possess a particularly advantageous combination of properties over prior art anti-IL-34 antibodies, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following properties: 1) desirable association and dissociation rates; 2) potency in neutralizing human IL-34 to achieve an anti-neuroinflammatory response and in vivo efficacy; 3) sufficiently strong potency as a monotherapy for the treatment and / or prevention of immune-mediated and / or inflammatory disorders; 4) sustained duration of action; 5) sufficiently limited induction of undesired cytokine release; 6) acceptably low immunogenicity (i.e., sufficiently non-immunogenic in humans); 7) avoidance of adverse immunocompromise; and / or 8) desirable in vivo stability, physical and chemical stability, including, but not limited to, thermal stability, solubility, low self-association, and pharmacokinetic characteristics acceptable for development and / or use in the treatment of inflammatory or neuroinflammatory disorders, such as AD. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Embodiments of the present disclosure represent a significant advance over the prior art by providing compositions and methods useful for preventing, downregulating, or ameliorating inflammatory and / or neuroinflammatory-related disorders through neutralization of IL-34 using pharmacologically advantageous anti-human IL-34 antibodies, such as those provided in the embodiments described herein. The anti-human IL-34 antibodies of the present disclosure can ameliorate immune and / or inflammatory pathology or restore immune homeostasis, preferably through inhibition of the innate immune component of the immune response and / or abrogation of the activation and / or proliferation of microgliosis or other cells of the monocyte / macrophage lineage, thereby directly altering the underlying disease pathology. Clinical use of such antibodies may lead to long-term persistence of the disease being treated.

[0022] Furthermore, there is a need for diagnostic anti-human IL-34 antibodies that are specific for human IL-34, have improved binding affinity, and exhibit increased sensitivity in measuring human IL-34, as well as improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay conditions that result in minimal interference and broad dilution linearity. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, anti-human IL-34 antibodies, including human IL-34 neutralizing antibodies, that bind to human IL-34 as given by SEQ ID NO: 31 are provided. Interleukin-34 (IL-34; also known as unidentified protein C16orf77) is secreted as a homodimer consisting of a 39-kDa monomer. It does not belong to any known cytokine family. Human IL-34 is synthesized as a 242-amino acid (AA) precursor containing a 20-AA signal sequence, resulting in a 222-AA mature chain. As used herein, IL-34 refers to the mature chain. The mature chain contains one potential site for N-linked glycosylation. IL-34 is expressed in various tissues, such as the heart, brain, liver, kidney, spleen, thymus, testis, ovary, small intestine, prostate, and colon, and is most abundant in the spleen. "hIL-34" or "human IL-34," when used herein with reference to an IL-34 polypeptide, refers to wild-type human IL-34, unless otherwise specified, and preferably has the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 31, which is mature IL-34 from which the leader sequence has been removed. (See, e.g., Lin et al., Science (2008) Vol. 320, Issue 5877, pp. 807-811.)

[0023] An exemplary human IL-34 (SEQ ID NO: 31) has the amino acid sequence: NEPLEMWPLTQNEECTVTGFLRDKLQYRSRLQYMKHYFPINYKISVPYEGVFRIANVTRLQRAQVSERELRYLWVLVSLSATESVQDVLLEGHPSWKYLQEVETLLLNVQQGLTDVEVSPKVESVLSLLNAPGPNLKLVRPKALLDNCFRVMELLYCSCCKQSSVLNWQDCEVPSPQSCSPEPSLQYAATQLYPPPPWSPSSPPHSTGSVRPVRAQGEGLLP.

[0024] As used herein, a "human anti-IL34 antibody" or "anti-human IL-34 antibody" refers to an antibody that binds to human IL-34. Preferably, a "human anti-IL34 antibody" or "anti-human IL-34 antibody" administered in vitro or in vivo neutralizes IL-34 activity and / or blocks the response, e.g., results in a desired reduction in IL-34 signaling, as evidenced by at least one significantly reduced desired activity, e.g., a change in an IL-34-responsive molecule or cellular endpoint. For example, the number, density, or phenotype of microglia in the central nervous system are examples of potential IL-34-responsive molecules or cellular effects. As used herein, the terms "signaling" and "signal transduction" and "IL-34-mediated," when related to IL-34, refer to cellular and / or intercellular responses resulting from the activity of IL-34.

[0025] As used herein, the term "antibody" refers to an immunoglobulin molecule that binds to an antigen. Antibody embodiments include monoclonal, polyclonal, human, humanized, chimeric, or conjugated antibodies. Antibodies may be of any class (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, IgA) and any subclass (e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4). An exemplary antibody is an immunoglobulin G (IgG)-type antibody, composed of four polypeptide chains: two heavy chains (HC) and two light chains (LC) cross-linked via interchain disulfide bonds. LCs are classified as kappa or lambda, each characterized by a specific constant region. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include IgG1, IgG2, or IgG4 antibodies, and may further include a kappa or lambda light chain. Preferably, antibodies of the present disclosure include a light chain constant region that is a kappa constant region.

[0026] HCs are classified as gamma, mu, alpha, delta, or epsilon, which define the antibody's isotype as IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, or IgE, respectively. The amino-terminal portion of each of the four polypeptide chains contains a variable region of approximately 100 to 125 amino acids, primarily responsible for antigen recognition. The carboxy-terminal portion of each of the four polypeptide chains contains a constant region, primarily responsible for effector function. Each heavy chain consists of a heavy chain variable region (VH) and a heavy chain constant region. The heavy chain constant region contains CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. CH1 follows the HCVR, and together they form the heavy chain portion of the antigen-binding (Fab) fragment, the portion of the antibody that binds to the antigen. CH2 follows the hinge region and precedes CH3. CH3 follows CH2 and is at the carboxy-terminus of the heavy chain. The light chain constant region contains one domain, CL. CL follows the LCVR, and together they form the light chain portion of Fab.

[0027] The antibodies of the present disclosure comprise an IgG HC, which can be further classified into subclasses, e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4, and embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more modifications in the constant region of each HC that, for example, enhance or reduce effector function. As used herein, the term "Fc region" refers to the region of an antibody comprising the CH2 and CH3 domains of the antibody heavy chain. Optionally, the Fc region may include a portion or the entire hinge region of the antibody heavy chain. IgG1 is known to induce antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and the Fc mutations described herein may reduce aggregation, reduce or enhance ADCC or CDC activity (or other functions), and / or modify the pharmacokinetics of the antibody. Embodiments of the anti-human IL-34 antibodies described herein have reduced binding to FcγR and C1q receptors, thereby reducing or eliminating the cytotoxicity that can be induced by antibodies with wild-type IgG Fc regions. Thus, according to some embodiments, mutations are introduced into the Fc region at the positions described herein. Sufficiently reducing or eliminating the effector function of such anti-human IL-34 antibodies comprising modified Fc regions can improve patient safety and, in combination with the other properties described herein, can provide therapeutics with an improved profile of useful activity while avoiding undesirable activity.

[0028] When expressed in a particular biological system, an antibody is glycosylated in the Fc region. Typically, glycosylation occurs in the Fc region of an antibody at a highly conserved N-glycosylation site. N-glycans are typically linked to asparagine. Antibodies may also be glycosylated at other positions. The antibodies of the present disclosure are monoclonal antibodies. A monoclonal antibody is an antibody derived from a single copy or clone (including, for example, any eukaryotic, prokaryotic, or phage clone) and is not defined by the method by which it is produced. Monoclonal antibodies can be produced, for example, by hybridoma technology, recombinant technology, phage display technology, synthetic technology, such as CDR grafting, or a combination of such techniques or other techniques known in the art. The present disclosure contemplates that the antibodies of the present disclosure are human or humanized antibodies. The terms "human" and "humanized" in the context of monoclonal antibodies are well known to those of skill in the art (Weiner LJ, J. Immunother. 2006;29:1-9; Mallbris L, et al., J. Clin. Aesthet. Dermatol. 2016;9:13-15). Exemplary embodiments of antibodies of the present disclosure also include antibody fragments or antigen-binding fragments that comprise at least a portion of an antibody that retains the ability to specifically interact with antigen, such as Fab, Fab', F(ab')2, Fv fragments, scFv antibody fragments, disulfide-linked Fv (sdFv), Fd fragments, and linear antibodies.

[0029] The amino-terminal portions of each LC and HC contain a variable region of approximately 100-120 amino acids, primarily responsible for antigen recognition via the CDRs contained therein. The VH and VL regions can be further subdivided into hypervariable regions called complementarity-determining regions (CDRs), interspersed with more conserved regions called framework regions (FRs). The CDRs are exposed on the surface of the protein and are critical regions of the antibody for antigen-binding specificity. Each VH and VL is composed of three CDRs and four FRs, arranged from the amino terminus to the carboxy terminus in the order FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, and FR4. Herein, the three CDRs of the heavy chain are referred to as "HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3," and the three CDRs of the light chain are referred to as "LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3." The CDRs contain most of the residues that form specific interactions with the antigen. The functional ability of an antibody to bind a specific antigen is largely influenced by the six CDRs.The assignment of amino acid residues to CDRs can be performed using the methods of Kabat (Kabat et al., "Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest," National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)); Chothia (Chothia et al., "Canonical structures for the hypervariable regions of immunoglobulins," Journal of Molecular Biology, 196, 901-917 (1987); Al-Lazikani et al., "Standard conformations for the canonical structures of immunoglobulins," Journal of Molecular Biology, 273, 927-948 (1997)), North (North et al., "A New Clustering of Antibody CDR Loop Conformations," Journal of Molecular Biology, 406, 228-256 (2011)), or IMGT (the international ImMunoGeneTics This can be done according to well-known schemes, including those described in the Imgt database, available at www.imgt.org (Lefranc et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 1999;27:209-212).

[0030] For purposes of this disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the North CDR definitions are used for the assignment of amino acids to the CDR domains within the anti-IL-34 antibodies described herein and the LCVR and HCVR regions. Table 2 below provides the CDR sequences for Antibody 1 and / or antibodies of the disclosure based on the North, Kabat, Chothia, and / or IMGT rules, respectively, generated using Benchling informatics software.

[0031] [Table 2]

[0032] Antibody embodiments of the present disclosure possess a combination of pharmacologically useful and important activities and properties, in part, being able to bind human IL-34 with high affinity and high specificity, as well as other useful properties. As used herein, the term "bind," unless otherwise specified, is intended to mean the ability of a protein or molecule to form an attractive interaction with another protein or molecule, bringing the two proteins or molecules into close proximity, as determined by common methods known in the art. The phrase "specifically binds," as used herein with respect to the affinity of an anti-IL-34 antibody for human IL-34, unless otherwise specified, means a specific binding affinity of, preferably about 1×10, as determined by common methods known in the art, including by use of a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensor and / or solution equilibrium titration (SET) measured by a Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) instrument, essentially as described herein. -10 M, and even more preferably less than about 1 x 10 -10 M ~ approx. 1×10 -12 K of M D The phrase "specifically binds" also refers to the relative affinity of an anti-IL-34 antibody for human IL-34 compared to other antigens, where affinity for human IL-34 results in specific recognition of human IL-34.

[0033] Antibody embodiments of the present disclosure can be expressed and produced from constructs containing the sequences of the present embodiments by various techniques known in the art. The terms "nucleic acid" and "polynucleotide," used interchangeably herein, refer to polymers of nucleotides, including single- and / or double-stranded nucleotide-containing molecules, such as DNA, cDNA, and RNA molecules, incorporating naturally occurring nucleotides, modified nucleotides, and / or nucleotide analogs. Polynucleotides of the present disclosure can also include substrates incorporated therein, for example, by DNA or RNA polymerase or a synthetic reaction. DNA molecules of the present disclosure are DNA molecules that contain a non-naturally occurring polynucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of at least one of the polypeptides (e.g., heavy chain, light chain, variable heavy chain, and variable light chain) in an antibody of the present disclosure.

[0034] Isolated DNA encoding the HCVR or LCVR region can be converted into a full-length heavy chain gene by operably linking the DNA encoding the HCVR or LCVR to another DNA molecule encoding a heavy or light chain constant region, respectively, to form a heavy or light chain, respectively. The sequences of human and other mammalian heavy chain constant region genes are known in the art. DNA fragments encompassing these regions can be obtained, for example, by standard PCR amplification.

[0035] The polynucleotides of the present disclosure can be expressed in host cells after the sequence is operably linked to an expression control sequence. Expression vectors are typically replicable in the host organism either as episomes or as an integral part of the host chromosomal DNA. Expression vectors generally contain selectable markers, such as tetracycline, neomycin, and dihydrofolate reductase, to enable detection of those cells transformed with the desired DNA sequence. Vectors containing the polynucleotide sequence of interest (e.g., a polynucleotide encoding an antibody polypeptide and an expression control sequence) can be introduced into host cells by well-known methods, which vary depending on the type of cellular host.

[0036] Antibodies of the present disclosure can be readily produced in mammalian cells, non-limiting examples of which include CHO, NS0, HEK293, or COS cells. Host cells are cultured using techniques well known in the art. Mammalian antibody expression typically results in glycosylation. Glycosylation of antibodies is typically either N-linked or O-linked. N-linked glycosylation refers to the attachment of a carbohydrate moiety to the side chain of an asparagine residue. O-linked glycosylation refers to the attachment of a sugar, such as N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, or xylose, to a hydroxyamino acid. Typically, glycosylation occurs in the Fc region of antibodies at a highly conserved N-glycosylation site (e.g., position 297 in IgG1, according to the IMGT or EU index numbering). Glycosylation sites can be engineered to alter glycosylation (e.g., to block or reduce glycosylation, or to alter the amino acid sequence to generate additional or diverse glycosylation).

[0037] Expression of antibodies from the IgG subclass in mammals can result in clipping of the C-terminal amino acids from one or both heavy chains; for example, in the case of IgG1 antibodies, one or two C-terminal amino acids may be removed. In the case of IgG1 antibodies, the C-terminal lysine, if present, may be truncated or clipped from the heavy chain during expression. Additionally, the penultimate glycine may be similarly truncated or clipped from the heavy chain.

[0038] Expression of an antibody in a mammal can also result in modification of the N-terminal amino acid, for example, if the most N-terminal amino acid of a heavy or light chain is glutamine, it can be modified to pyroglutamic acid.

[0039] The antibody of the present disclosure or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same can be administered parenterally, non-limiting examples of which include subcutaneous administration and intravenous administration. The antibody of the present disclosure can be administered to a patient in a single dose or multiple doses together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, or excipient. The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure can be prepared by methods well known in the art (e.g., Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 22nd ed. (2012), A. Loyd et al., Pharmaceutical Press) and comprises an antibody disclosed herein and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, or excipients.

[0040] Uses of antibody embodiments of the invention: According to some embodiments, the anti-IL-34 antibodies of the present disclosure are useful for treating immune-mediated diseases. As used herein, the terms "immune-mediated disease" or "inflammatory disease or disorder" are used interchangeably and refer to an undesirable condition resulting from an inappropriate or excessive immune response, in which IL-34 inhibition results in a more homeostatic, less pathological response. The term "immune-mediated disease" or "inflammatory disorder" is meant to include such conditions, whether mediated by a cellular immune response of microglia or macrophages, or by a response of similar tissue-resident cell types, such as histiocytes, Kupffer cells, alveolar macrophages, intestinal macrophages, macrophage-like synoviocytes, or Langerhans cells. Exemplary diseases contemplated to be treated by the antibodies of the present disclosure described herein include Alzheimer's disease; tauopathy diseases; Sjogren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and / or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

[0041] In some more specific embodiments, the immune-mediated disease is Alzheimer's disease (AD). According to other embodiments of the present disclosure, the anti-IL-34 antibodies are useful for diagnostic applications of immune-mediated diseases. In some embodiments, the immune-mediated disease is at least one of AD; Sjogren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, and / or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

[0042] The present disclosure further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-IL-34 antibody of the present disclosure and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, or excipients. The present disclosure also provides a method of treating an immune-mediated disease, such as AD; Sjogren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, and / or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure.

[0043] Additionally, the present disclosure provides methods for treating immune-mediated diseases, more specifically, methods for treating immune-mediated diseases, including AD; Sjögren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, and / or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an anti-IL-34 antibody of the present disclosure.

[0044] The present disclosure also provides anti-IL-34 antibodies of the present disclosure for use in therapy. More specifically, the present disclosure provides anti-IL-34 antibodies of the present disclosure for use in the treatment of immune-mediated diseases, including AD; Sjögren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, and / or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

[0045] In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides use of an anti-IL-34 antibody of the present disclosure in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of one or more immune-mediated diseases, including AD; Sjogren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, and / or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

[0046] The antibodies of the present disclosure are useful for identifying immune-mediated disorders in which IL-34 may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disorder. In further embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods of treating an immune-mediated disease in a patient. Such methods include contacting a patient sample with an anti-IL-34 antibody and detecting binding between human IL-34 in the patient sample and the antibody, and diagnosing the patient as having, at risk for, in need of treatment for, and / or at risk for symptoms associated with an immune-mediated disease if the presence of IL-34 in the patient sample is detected above baseline levels observed in unaffected individuals (see, e.g., Xie, HH, et al. Elevated Serum Interleukin-34 Level in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Is Associated with Disease Activity. Sci Rep 8,3462 (2018). According to some more specific embodiments of the treatment methods provided herein, such methods further comprise determining a baseline value comprising the further step of contacting the control standard with a first antibody that binds to the same first epitope region of IL-34 as used in contacting the patient sample, contacting the control standard with a second antibody that has a detectable label and that binds to the same second epitope region of IL-34 as used in contacting the patient sample, and detecting the signal provided by the detectable signal. In some specific embodiments, the anti-IL-34 antibody is an anti-IL-34 antibody that binds to the LC and HC regions provided in Table 1. In some embodiments, the second antibody comprises a combination of CDRs. In further embodiments, the second antibody comprises a combination of LCVRs and HCVRs provided in Table 1. According to some embodiments, the reference value is about 10-30 pg / mL, e.g., from a CNS tissue lysate. In certain embodiments, the immune-mediated disease is one of AD; Sjogren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, and / or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In some embodiments, the patient sample is one of CSF, blood, serum, tissue lysate, or plasma.According to some embodiments, the method further comprises contacting the patient sample with a second anti-IL-34 antibody that binds to a second epitope region of IL-34 and has a detectable label, and detecting the signal provided by the detectable label. In further embodiments, the second antibody comprises a combination of LC and HC CDRs provided in Table 1. In further embodiments, the second antibody comprises a combination of LCVR and HCVR provided in Table 1. According to certain embodiments, the first and second anti-IL-34 antibodies are not bottled together.

[0047] According to some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of detecting IL-34 in a patient sample, comprising contacting the patient sample with a first antibody that binds to a first epitope region of IL-34, contacting the patient sample with a second antibody that binds to a second epitope region of IL-34 and that bears a detectable label, and detecting a signal provided by the detectable label. In some embodiments, the patient sample is one of blood, serum, tissue lysate, or plasma. According to some more specific embodiments, the first epitope region of IL-34 overlaps with the second epitope region of IL-34. Moreover, in some embodiments, the steps of contacting with the first and second antibodies occur simultaneously. In some specific embodiments, the first antibody comprises a combination of LC and HC CDRs provided in Table 1. In further embodiments, the first antibody comprises a combination of LCVR and HCVR provided in Table 1.

[0048] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for quantifying IL-34 in a patient sample is provided. Such a method includes the steps of contacting the patient sample with a first antibody that binds to a first epitope region of IL-34, contacting the patient sample with a second antibody that binds to a second epitope region of IL-34 and has a detectable label, detecting a signal provided by the detectable label, contacting a control standard with the same first antibody that binds to the first epitope region of IL-34 (used in contacting the patient sample), contacting the control standard with the same second antibody that binds to the second epitope region of IL-34 (used in contacting the patient sample) and has a detectable label, and detecting a signal provided by the detectable label. In some embodiments, the patient sample is one of blood, serum, plasma, or tissue lysate. According to some more specific embodiments, the first epitope region of IL-34 partially overlaps with the second epitope region of IL-34. Further, in some embodiments, the steps of contacting with the first and second antibodies occur simultaneously. In some specific embodiments, the first antibody comprises a combination of LC and HC CDRs provided in Table 1. In further embodiments, the first antibody comprises a combination of LCVRs and HCVRs provided in Table 1. In some specific embodiments, the second antibody comprises a combination of LC and HC CDRs provided in Table 1 or herein. In further embodiments, the second antibody comprises a combination of LCVRs and HCVRs provided in Table 1.

[0049] According to some embodiments, methods for diagnosing immune-mediated diseases are provided. Such methods include contacting a patient sample with an anti-IL-34 antibody and detecting binding between IL-34 in the patient sample and the antibody. According to some specific embodiments, the diagnostic method includes diagnosing the patient as having, at risk for, in need of treatment for, and / or at risk for a symptom associated with an immune-mediated disease if the presence of IL-34 in the patient sample is detected above a reference value. According to some more specific embodiments, such methods further include determining a reference value comprising contacting a control standard with a first antibody that binds to the same first epitope region of IL-34 as used in contacting the patient sample; contacting the control standard with a second antibody having a detectable label that binds to the same second epitope region of IL-34 as used in contacting the patient sample; and detecting the signal provided by the detectable signal. In some embodiments, the first antibody comprises a combination of LC and HC CDRs as provided in Table 1. Some embodiments of the methods for diagnosing immune-mediated diseases provided herein further include contacting a patient sample with a second anti-IL-34 antibody that binds to a second epitope region of IL-34 and has a detectable label, and detecting the signal provided by the detectable label. In some specific embodiments, the anti-IL-34 antibody comprises a combination of LC and HC CDRs as provided in Table 1. In further embodiments, the antibody comprises a combination of LCVR and HCVR as provided in Table 1. According to specific embodiments, the first epitope region of IL-34 partially overlaps with the second epitope region of IL-34. According to certain embodiments, the first and second antibodies are not bottled together. According to further embodiments, the reference value is in the approximate range of about 10-30 pg / mL from CNS tissue lysate and / or as determined by one of skill in the art for the appropriate reference group and sample source.In further embodiments, the immune-mediated disease is one of AD; a tauopathy; Sjogren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, and / or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

[0050] In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a method for determining human IL-34 levels in a body fluid sample, the method comprising: (a) contacting the body fluid with an anti-human IL-34 diagnostic monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to human IL-34 consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises light chain complementarity determining regions LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 comprising the amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO: 8), (SEQ ID NO: 9), and (SEQ ID NO: 10), respectively, and heavy chain complementarity determining regions HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3 comprising the amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO: 5), (SEQ ID NO: 6), and (SEQ ID NO: 7), respectively; (b) optionally removing any non-specifically bound monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof; and (c) detecting and / or quantitating the amount of monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to human IL-34. Preferably, the body fluid is blood, serum or plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid, and the contacting occurs ex vivo.

[0051] Tauopathy disorders include, but are not limited to, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Pick's disease (PiD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), argyrophilic grain dementia, Down syndrome, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), traumatic brain injury (TBI), frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), Guam parkinsonism-dementia complex, Niemann-Pick disease type C, and myotonic dystrophy (Li, C., Gotz, J. Tau-based therapies in neurodegeneration: opportunities and challenges. Nat Rev Drug Disov 16, 863-883 (2017).

[0052] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the patient is a human diagnosed with a medical risk, condition, or disorder, such as one of the diseases or disorders described herein, that requires treatment with the antibody described herein. If the disorder that can be treated by the method of the present disclosure is known by an established and accepted classification, such as Alzheimer's disease; tauopathy disease; Sjogren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, and / or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), these classifications can be found in various well-known medical textbooks. For example, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) currently provides diagnostic tools for identifying certain disorders described herein. Additionally, the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10) provides classifications for certain disorders described herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are alternative nomenclatures, nosologies, and classification systems for the diseases and disorders described herein, including those described in DSM-5 and ICD-10, and that terminology and classification systems evolve as medical science advances.

[0053] The term "treating" (or "treat" or "treatment") refers to slowing, hindering, arresting, mitigating, halting, reducing, or reversing the progression or severity of an existing symptom, disorder, condition, or disease in a subject. The term "subject" refers to a human. The terms "human subject" and "patient" are used interchangeably in this disclosure.

[0054] As used herein, "method of treatment" is equally applicable to the use of a composition to treat a disease or disorder described herein and / or the use of a composition in and / or for use in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a disease or disorder described herein.

[0055] The term "prevent" or "prevention" refers to the prophylactic administration of an antibody of the invention to an asymptomatic subject or a subject suffering from preclinical Alzheimer's disease to prevent the onset or progression of Alzheimer's disease.

[0056] As used herein, the term "slow progression" means to slow or arrest the progression of a disease or its symptoms in a subject.

[0057] The terms "disease characterized by Aβ deposition" or "disease characterized by Aβ deposits" are used interchangeably and are diseases pathologically characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain or cerebral vasculature. This includes diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. The clinical diagnosis, staging, or progression of Alzheimer's disease can be readily determined by the attending diagnostician or medical professional, such as one skilled in the art, by using known techniques and observing the results. This generally involves brain plaque imaging, mental or cognitive assessment (e.g., Clinical Dementia Rating-summary of boxes (CDR-SB), Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), or Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog)), or functional assessment (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADAS-Cog)). Cognitive and functional assessments can be used to determine changes in a patient's cognition (e.g., cognitive decline) and function (e.g., functional decline). Thus, a subject can be determined to have "slowly progressive" cognitive decline in accordance with the techniques described herein. In an exemplary embodiment, "slowly progressive" cognitive decline can be identified by the iADRS, where the subject's iADR declines by less than about 20, for example, over a predetermined period of time (e.g., 6, 12, 18, or 24 months). Another exemplary embodiment In some embodiments, "slowly progressive" cognitive decline can be identified by APOE-4 genotyping, where the subject is APOE-4 homozygous negative or APOE-4 heterozygous. In another exemplary embodiment, "slowly progressive" cognitive decline can be identified by MMSE, where the subject has been determined to have an MMSE score of about 27, or an MMSE decline of less than about 3 over a given period (e.g., 6, 12, 18, or 24 months). As used herein, "clinical Alzheimer's disease" refers to a diagnosed stage of Alzheimer's disease.This includes conditions diagnosed as prodromal Alzheimer's disease, mild Alzheimer's disease, moderate Alzheimer's disease, and severe Alzheimer's disease. The term "preclinical Alzheimer's disease" refers to a stage preceding clinical Alzheimer's disease, where measurable changes in biomarkers (such as CSFAβ42 levels or deposited brain plaques by amyloid PET) indicate the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease patients progressing to clinical Alzheimer's disease. This is usually before symptoms such as memory loss and confusion become noticeable. Preclinical Alzheimer's disease includes not only patients who are at high risk of developing AD because they carry one or two APOE e4 alleles, but also presymptomatic autosomal dominant carriers.

[0058] A reduction or slowing of cognitive decline can be measured by a cognitive assessment such as the Clinical Dementia Assessment-Summary of Boxes, the Mini-Mental State Examination, or the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognition. A reduction or slowing of functional decline can be measured by a functional assessment such as the ADCS-ADL.

[0059] As used herein, "mg / kg" refers to the amount of antibody or drug administered to a subject in milligrams based on the subject's body weight in kilograms. The dose is given at one time. For example, a 10 mg / kg dose of antibody to a subject weighing 70 kg is a single 700 mg dose of antibody administered in a single dose. Similarly, a 20 mg / kg dose of antibody to a subject weighing 70 kg is a 1400 mg dose of antibody administered in a single dose.

[0060] As used herein, 18Using F-flortaucipir-based quantitative analysis, a human subject has a "very low tau" burden if the tau burden is less than 1.10 SUVr (<1.10 SUVr), where quantitative analysis refers to the calculation of SUVr, which represents counts within a specific target region of interest in the brain when compared to a reference region (multiblock centroid discriminant analysis or MUBADA, see Devous et al., "Test-Retest Reproducibility for the Tau PET Imaging Agent Flortaucipir F18," J. Nucl. Med. 59:937-943 (2018)) (a parametric estimate of reference signal intensity or PERSI, see Southekal et al., "Flortaucipir F18 Quantitation Using Parametric Estimation of Reference Signal Intensity," J. Nucl. Med. 59:944-951 (2018)). As used herein, a human subject has a "very low to moderate tau" burden if the tau burden is 1.46 SUVr or less (i.e., ≦1.46 SUVr) using 18F-flortaucipir-based quantitative analysis, where quantitative analysis refers to the calculation of SUVr, which represents counts within a specific target region of interest in the brain when compared to a reference region (see MUBADA, Devous et al., "Test-Retest Reproducibility for the Tau PET Imaging Agent Flortaucipir F18," J. Nucl. Med. 59:937-943 (2018)) (see PERSI, Southekal et al., "Flortaucipir F18 Quantitation Using Parametric Estimation of Reference Signal Intensity," J. Nucl. Med. 59:944-951 (2018)).

[0061] As used herein, 18Using F-flortaucipir-based quantitative analysis, a human subject has a "low to moderate tau" burden if the tau load is between 1.10 and 1.46 (i.e., ≤1.10 SUVr and ≤1.46 SUVr). Quantitative analysis refers to the calculation of SUVr, which represents counts within a specific target region of interest in the brain compared to a reference region (MUBADA, Devous et al., "Test-Retest Reproducibility for the Tau PET Imaging Agent Flortaucipir F18," J. Nucl. Med. 59:937-943 (2018)). (PERSI, Southekal et al., "Flortaucipir F18 Quantitation Using Parametric Estimation of Reference Signal Intensity," J. Nucl. Med. 59:944-951 (2018)). Human subjects with a "low to moderate tau" load may be referred to as having an "intermediate" tau load.

[0062] As used herein, 18 Using F-flortaucipir-based quantitative analysis, a human subject has a "high tau" burden if the tau burden is greater than 1.46 SUVr (i.e., >1.46 SUVr), and quantitative analysis refers to the calculation of SUVr, which represents counts within a specific target region of interest in the brain when compared to a reference region (MUBADA, see Devous et al., "Test-Retest Reproducibility for the Tau PET Imaging Agent Flortaucipir F18," J. Nucl. Med. 59:937-943 (2018)) (PERSI, see Southekal et al., "Flortaucipir F18 Quantitation Using Parametric Estimation of Reference Signal Intensity," J. Nucl. Med. 59:944-951 (2018)).

[0063] As used herein, the term "about" means up to ±10%.

[0064] As used herein, the term "innate immunity" includes the arm of the immune response required to initiate and maintain the adaptive immune response (antibody and T cell responses), as opposed to the adaptive arm of the immune response.

[0065] An "effective amount" refers to an amount of an anti-human IL-34 antibody of the present disclosure, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising such an antibody, that will elicit the biological or medical response in a tissue, system, or human being sought by a treating medical professional, or the desired therapeutic effect. As used herein, the term "effective response" of a patient, or a patient's responsiveness to treatment, refers to the clinical or therapeutic benefit conferred on the patient upon administration of an antibody of the present disclosure. An effective amount of an antibody may vary depending on factors such as the individual's medical condition, age, sex, and weight, and the ability of the antibody to elicit a desired response in the individual. An effective amount is also an amount in which any toxic or detrimental effects of the antibody are outweighed by therapeutically beneficial effects. Such benefits include any one or more of the following: reduced levels of inflammation or immune activation, stabilization of an immune-mediated disease or disorder, or amelioration of signs or symptoms of an immune-mediated disorder. Alternatively, such benefits include any one or more of the following: increased immune tolerance of a transplanted organ; stabilized autoimmune disease or disorder; or amelioration of signs or symptoms of an autoimmune disorder.

[0066] A potential advantage of the methods disclosed herein is the potential to provide significant and / or long-lasting relief in patients suffering from immune-mediated or neuroinflammatory disorders with an acceptable safety profile, including acceptable tolerability, toxicity, and / or adverse events, so that patients benefit from an overall therapeutic approach. The efficacy of the disclosed treatments can be measured by a variety of endpoints commonly used in evaluating treatments for various immune-mediated disorders. Other approaches to determining the efficacy of any particular therapy of the present disclosure can optionally be used, including, for example, measurement and visualization of immune cell activation markers, measures of inflammation, cell cycle-dependent biomarkers, and / or measurement of various inflammatory or immune responses, or tissue-specific biomarker assessment.

[0067] An effective amount can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art using known techniques and by observing results obtained under similar circumstances. An effective amount of an anti-human IL-34 antibody of the present disclosure can be administered in a single dose or in multiple doses. Furthermore, an effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure can be administered in multiple doses in an amount that is less than the effective amount if administered only once. In determining the effective amount for a patient, several factors will be considered by the attending physician, including, but not limited to, the patient's size (e.g., body weight or mass), body surface area, age, and general health, the particular disease or disorder involved, the extent or involvement or severity of the disease or disorder, the response of the individual patient, the particular compound administered, the mode of administration, the bioavailability characteristics of the administered preparation, the selected dosing regimen, the use of concomitant medications, and other relevant circumstances known to the attending physician.

[0068] Weekly, biweekly, monthly, or quarterly parenteral (including but not limited to subcutaneous, intramuscular, and / or intravenous) doses can be from about 0.5 mg / kg to about 50 mg / kg. As used herein, "monthly" or derivatives thereof refers to a period of 28 to 31 consecutive days.

[0069] A potential advantage of the methods disclosed herein is the potential for providing significant and / or long-lasting relief in patients suffering from immune-mediated or neuroinflammatory disorders with an acceptable safety profile, including acceptable tolerability, toxicity, and / or adverse events, so that patients benefit from the overall treatment regimen. More specifically, the antibodies disclosed herein provide effective treatment while avoiding clinically undesirable immune suppression and / or immune-related adverse events, such as "cytokine storm" or significant cytokine release. The antibodies disclosed herein may be useful in treating cytokine storm, or harmful cytokine release. As used herein, "significant cytokine release" refers to a significant increase in a measurable cytokine that can be detected by methods known to those skilled in the art. For example, significant cytokine release can be detected in human blood samples by ELISA, where cytokine levels from unstimulated blood are compared with cytokine levels with blood incubated with the antibody. In some such tests, significant cytokine release can be detected, for example, if the levels of IL-6, IL-8, or IFN-γ are at least three-fold higher in blood incubated with the antibody compared to levels in unstimulated blood. Preferably, the treatment of immune-mediated disorders described in the embodiments herein is carried out wherein the patient does not experience significant cytokine release.

[0070] Antibody 1 combination: The present disclosure further provides simultaneous, separate, or sequential combinations of antibodies of the disclosure, particularly Antibody 1 and anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies, and methods of using the combination to treat diseases characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition, such as AD. Some known anti-Aβ antibodies useful in the combination include donanemab, bapineuzumab, gantenerumab, aducanumab, GSK933776, solanezumab, crenezumab, ponezumab, and lecanemab (BAN2401). The present disclosure further provides simultaneous, separate, or sequential combinations of antibody 1 and donanemab (CAS No. 1931944-80-7, SEQ ID NOs: 38 and 39), and methods of using the combination to treat diseases characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition, such as AD ("Donanemab in early Alzheimer's disease," Mintun, MA et al, New England Journal of Medicine (2021), 384(18), 1691-1704). Preferably, the combination provides for the use of antibody 1 sequentially following a course of treatment with donanemab.

[0071] As used herein, the terms "anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody," "anti-N3pG antibody," or "anti-N3pE antibody" are used interchangeably and refer to an antibody that preferentially binds to N3pGlu Aβ over Aβ1-40 or Aβ1-42. Those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that "anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies," as well as several specific antibodies, including "hE8L," "B12L," and "R17L," are identified and disclosed (along with methods for making and using) in U.S. Pat. No. 8,679,498 (B2), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. See, e.g., Table 1 in U.S. Pat. No. 8,679,498 (B2). Each of the antibodies disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,679,498 (B2), including the "hE8L," "B12L," and "R17L" antibodies, can be used as the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody of the present invention or in place of the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies described in various aspects of the present invention. The anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody of the present combination method is an antibody comprising the HC and LC of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41, respectively. Other representative species of anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies include, but are not limited to, the antibodies disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,961,972, U.S. Patent No. 10,647,759, U.S. Patent No. 9,944,696, WO 2010 / 009987(A2), WO 2011 / 151076(A2), WO 2012 / 136552(A1), and equivalents thereof (e.g., under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f)).

[0072] Those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that "anti-N3pGluAβ antibodies," and several specific antibodies, are identified and disclosed (together with methods for making and using) in U.S. Patent No. 8,961,972 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), U.S. Patent No. 10,647,759 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and U.S. Patent No. 9,944,696 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Any of the anti-N3pGluAβ antibodies disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,961,972, 9,944,696, and 10,647,759 can be used as the anti-N3pGluAβ antibody of the present invention, or in place of the anti-N3pGluAβ antibodies described in various aspects of the present invention.

[0073] Those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that several specific antibodies, including "anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies," as well as "Antibody VI," "Antibody VII," "Antibody VIII," and "Antibody IX," are identified and disclosed (along with methods for making and using such antibodies) in WO 2010 / 009987(A2), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Each of these four antibodies (e.g., "Antibody VI," "Antibody VII," "Antibody VIII," and "Antibody IX") can be used as the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody of the present invention or in place of the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies described in various embodiments of the present invention.

[0074] Those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that several specific antibodies, including "anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies," and "Antibody X" and "Antibody XI," are identified and disclosed (along with methods for making and using such antibodies) in WO 2011 / 151076(A2), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Each of these two antibodies (e.g., "Antibody X" and "Antibody XI") can be used as the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody of the present invention or in place of the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies described in various embodiments of the present invention.

[0075] Those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that several specific antibodies, including "anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies," as well as "Antibody XII" and "Antibody XIII," are identified and disclosed (along with methods for making and using such antibodies) in WO 2012 / 136552(A1), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Each of these two antibodies (e.g., "Antibody XII" and "Antibody XIII") can be used as the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody of the present invention or in place of the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies described in various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0076] Aspects of the present disclosure provide the use of a combination of an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly antibody 1, and an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, for a method of treating a disease characterized by Aβ deposition in a subject, the subject being selected based on i) tau levels / burden in the entire brain (global tau), ii) tau levels / burden in brain regions (e.g., different lobes of the brain), and / or the presence of one or two alleles of APOE e4 in the subject's genome. Diseases that can be treated or prevented using the combination methods disclosed herein include, for example, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Down's syndrome, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). The present disclosure also relates to the use of the combination provided herein to slow disease progression in subjects with early-symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the presence of intermediate brain tau burden.

[0077] Antibodies against N3pGlu Aβ are known in the art and are described herein. For example, U.S. Patent No. 8,679,498 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies disclosed therein) discloses anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibodies and methods for treating diseases such as Alzheimer's disease with the antibodies. Passive immunization through long-term chronic administration of antibodies against Aβ, including N3pGlu Aβ, found in deposits, has been shown to disrupt Aβ aggregates in the brain in various animal models and promote plaque clearance. Donanemab (disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,679,498; see also CAS No. 1931944-80-7) is an antibody against a pyroglutamic acid modification of the third amino acid of the amyloid beta (N3pGlu Aβ) epitope, which is present only in amyloid plaques in the brain. The mechanism of action of donanemab is to target and remove existing amyloid plaques, a key pathological hallmark of AD. A second neuropathological hallmark of AD is the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Aβ drives tau pathology, and more complex and synergistic interactions between Aβ and tau may emerge at later stages and promote disease progression (Busche et al., "Synergy Between Amyloid-β and Tau in Alzheimer's Disease," Nature Neuroscience 23:1183-93 (2020)).

[0078] Administration of Aβ antibodies has resulted in adverse events in humans, including amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), suggestive of vasogenic edema and crevicular effusion (ARIA-E), microhemorrhages and hemosiderin deposits (ARIA-H), injection site reactions, and the risk of immunogenicity. For example, Piazza and Winblad, “Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA) in Immunotherapy Trials for Alzheimer's Disease:Need for Prognostic Biomarkers?” Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 52:417-420 (2016); Sperling, et al., “Amyloid-related Imaging Abnormalities in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease Treated with Bapineuzumab: A Retrospective Analysis," The Lancet Neurology11.3:241-249(2012); Brashear et al., "Clinical Evaluation of Amyloid-related Imaging Abnormalities in Bapineuzumab Phase III Studies," J.of Alzheimer's Disease66.4:1409-1424(2018); Budd et al., "Clinical Development of Aducanumab, an Anti-Aβ Human Monoclonal See “Antibody Being Investigated for the Treatment of Early Alzheimer’s Disease,” The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease 4.4:255 (2017).

[0079] The disclosed combination therapy strategy for donanemab and antibody 1 involves targeting N3pGlu Aβ, specifically in amyloid plaques, in a population of early-symptomatic AD patients with pre-existing cerebral amyloid burden, and targeting neuroinflammation in these patients. The rationale is based on the amyloid hypothesis of AD, which states that Aβ generation and deposition are early and necessary events in the pathogenesis of AD. See, e.g., Selkoe, "The Origins of Alzheimer Disease: A is for Amyloid," JAMA 283:1615-1617 (2000). Clinical support for this hypothesis comes from the demonstration that parenchymal Aβ levels are elevated before AD symptoms appear and are supported by AD genetic variants that overproduce brain Aβ and genetic variants that prevent Aβ production. See, for example, Jonsson et al., "A Mutation in APP Protects Against Alzheimer's Disease and Age-Related Cognitive Decline," Nature, Vol. 488 (No. 7409): 96-99 (2012), and Fleisher et al., "Associations Between Biomarkers and Age in the Presenilin 1 E280A Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease Kindred: A Cross-sectional Study," JAMA Neurol, Vol. 72: 316-24 (2015). Thus, there is a need for improved drug combinations for treating subjects without causing or increasing problematic adverse events. Neuroinflammation is a key component of neurodegenerative diseases and is characterized by increased production of proinflammatory cytokines by CNS cells. Neuroinflammation and microgliosis are believed to be mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease and / or neuronal death and dysfunction. Microgliosis involves the abnormal proliferation and / or hypertrophy of microglia in response to inflammatory signals. IL-34 acts as a potent, pleiotropic cytokine in regulating inflammatory and immune processes and is expressed by neurons in the cortex, anterior olfactory nucleus, and hippocampus.Treatment with an N3pGlu Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, followed by simultaneous, separate, or preferably sequential treatment with Antibody 1 is believed to ameliorate the contribution of neuroinflammation and / or microgliosis to AD pathogenesis and slow or prevent the progression of the neurodegenerative process in these patients.

[0080] One aspect of the present disclosure is based on the concept that Alzheimer's disease patients with low or moderate tau, very low to moderate tau, or no high tau will respond to combination therapy with an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, such as donanemab, and an antibody of the present disclosure, such as Antibody 1. Another aspect of the present disclosure is based on the concept that Alzheimer's disease patients with one or two alleles of APOE e4 will respond to treatment with an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody. Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is based on the concept that Alzheimer's disease patients with one or two alleles of APOE e4 and low or moderate tau, very low to moderate tau, or no high tau will respond to combination therapy with an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, such as donanemab, and an antibody of the present disclosure, such as Antibody 1. Some aspects of the present disclosure are directed to diagnosing and treating patients based on their brain pathology. Selecting patients based on brain pathology not only provides a more homogenous population for clinical trials but also allows for proper identification of the stage and progression of AD, which may allow, for example, timely referral to a memory clinic, accurate and early diagnosis of AD, initiation of symptomatic treatment, future planning, and initiation of disease-modifying treatment with a combination therapy of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, such as donanemab, with an antibody of the present disclosure, such as Antibody 1.

[0081] Some aspects of the present disclosure provide combination embodiments for treating a human subject suffering from a disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain, in which the subject is first administered an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, such as donanemab, administered in two steps in combination with simultaneous, separate, or sequential treatment with an antibody of the present disclosure, such as antibody 1. In the first step, the human subject is administered one or more first doses of about 100 mg to about 700 mg of the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, with each first dose administered approximately once every four weeks. Approximately four weeks after administering the one or more first doses, in the second step, the human subject is administered one or more second doses of greater than 700 mg to about 1400 mg, with each second dose administered approximately once every four weeks. Preferably, the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is donanemab. Antibody 1 is administered simultaneously, separately, or sequentially after the course of treatment with donanemab. Preferably, antibody 1 is administered sequentially after a course of treatment with donanemab.

[0082] Some embodiments of the combination therapeutic methods relate to identifying the stage / progression of AD in a patient based on i) the overall or global tau burden in the brain of a human subject, or ii) the spread of tau in the subject's brain or a region or portion thereof.

[0083] In some embodiments, patients can be stratified / identified / selected / treated based on the amount of tau present in the subject's brain (e.g., whole brain or part of the brain). In some embodiments, patients can be stratified / identified / selected / treated based on the amount of tau present in the subject's brain (e.g., whole brain or part of the brain) and the presence of one or two alleles of APOE e4.

[0084] In other embodiments, patients are stratified / identified / selected / treated based on the stage of AD progression (e.g., based on the spread of tau in the brain). For example, in some stages, the tau burden in AD patients is isolated to regions of the temporal lobe, not including the frontal lobe or the posterolateral temporal region (PLT). In another stage of AD, the tau burden in AD patients is limited to the posterolateral temporal (PLT) or occipital regions. In yet another stage of AD, the tau burden in AD patients is present in the parietal or precuneus or frontal regions, along with tau burden in the PLT or occipital regions. In some embodiments, patients may be stratified / identified / selected / treated based on the stage of AD progression (e.g., based on the spread of tau in the brain) and based on the presence of one or two alleles of APOE e4.

[0085] Patient stratification based on the amount of tau in the brain, the progression of AD in a portion of the brain, and / or the presence of one or two alleles of APOE e4 can be used to determine, for example, whether a patient will respond to combination therapy with an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, such as donanemab, and an antibody of the disclosure, such as Antibody 1. Stratification / selection of patient populations based on the amount of tau in the brain, the progression of AD in a portion of the brain, and / or the presence of one or two alleles of APOE e4 also helps to address issues of patient heterogeneity and replicability encountered during treatment as well as during the design and conduct of clinical trials.

[0086] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides human subjects that respond to combination therapy or prevention of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, such as donanemab, with an antibody of the present disclosure, such as Antibody 1, for a disease characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain of the human subject. In some embodiments of this aspect of the disclosure, the responding human subjects include human subjects with low to moderate tau burden, very low to moderate tau burden, and / or one or two alleles of APOE e4. In some embodiments of this aspect of the disclosure, the responding human subjects exclude human subjects with high tau burden. In some embodiments of this aspect of the disclosure, the responding human subjects exclude human subjects with high tau burden and / or one or two alleles of APOE e4. In some embodiments, a combination of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, such as donanemab, and an antibody of the present disclosure, such as Antibody 1, is administered to the responding human subject for treatment or prevention of a disease characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits.

[0087] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a simultaneous, separate, or sequential combination therapy or prevention using an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, and an antibody of the disclosure, particularly antibody 1, for a disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject, comprising: i) administering to the human subject one or more first doses of about 100 mg to about 700 mg of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, wherein each first dose is administered about once every four weeks; and ii) about four weeks after the administration of the one or more first doses, administering to the human subject one or more second doses of more than 700 mg to about 1400 mg of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, wherein each second dose is administered about once every four weeks, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody comprises donanemab, and administering to the human subject an antibody of the disclosure, particularly antibody 1. Preferably, antibody 1 is administered sequentially after a course of treatment with donanemab.

[0088] To date, the clinical focus of donanemab treatment has been limited to early-symptomatic AD patients with pre-existing cerebral amyloid burden. However, a second neuropathological hallmark of AD is the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Current disease models suggest that Aβ drives tau pathology, and that more complex and synergistic interactions between Aβ and tau emerge at later stages, driving disease progression (Busche et al., "Synergy Between Amyloid-p and Tau in Alzheimer's Disease," Nature Neuroscience 23:1183-93 (2020)).

[0089] Currently, there is no disease-modifying treatment for AD. Thus, there is a need for improved methods of treating diseases, including AD, characterized by the deposition of Aβ in human subjects. Such methods should be useful for identifying patients based on whether they may have therapeutic benefit from such treatment. Furthermore, such treatments and methods should not be associated with increased cytotoxicity or other known adverse events. The present invention satisfies one or more of these needs.

[0090] Doody et al., "Phase 3 Trials of Solanezumab for Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease," NEJM, 370;4, 311-321 (2014), indicate that "no clear differences in treatment effects on efficacy measures were observed between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers." Administration of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody in combination with an antibody of the present disclosure to human subjects with one or two alleles of APOE e4 (e.g., APOE e4 carriers) is believed to provide unexpected efficacy when compared to non-carriers of one or more of those alleles. Accordingly, the present embodiments include simultaneous, separate, or sequential administration of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, in combination with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly Antibody 1, to patients with one or two APOE e4 alleles as a means of slowing cognitive decline in those patients.

[0091] According to certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing a disease characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain of a human subject determined to have a high neurological tau burden, comprising administering, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential doses, a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, and a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly antibody 1. Additionally, according to certain embodiments, the present invention provides a combined method for treating or preventing a disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject determined to have a posterior lateral temporal lobe tau burden, comprising administering, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential doses, a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, and a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly antibody 1.

[0092] According to certain embodiments, the present invention provides a combination method for treating or preventing a disease characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain of a human subject determined to have a high neurological tau burden and one or two alleles of the epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E (referred to herein as APOE e4 or APOE4), comprising administering, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential doses, a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, and a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly Antibody 1. Additionally, according to certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing a disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject determined to have a posterior lateral temporal lobe tau burden, comprising administering, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential doses, a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, and a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly Antibody 1.

[0093] According to some embodiments, the present invention provides an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, for simultaneous, separate, or sequential use with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly antibody 1, for the treatment or prevention of a disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject determined to have a high neurological tau burden, comprising administering, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential doses, a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, and a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly antibody 1. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have a high neurological tau burden and also has one or two alleles of APOE e4.

[0094] In some embodiments, the present invention provides an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, for simultaneous, separate, or sequential use with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly Antibody 1, for the treatment or prevention of a disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject who has been determined to have a posterior lateral temporal lobe tau burden. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have a posterior lateral temporal lobe tau burden and also has one or two alleles of APOEe4.

[0095] Additionally, in some embodiments, the present invention provides anti-Aβ antibodies, particularly donanemab, for simultaneous, separate, or sequential use with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly Antibody 1, to treat, prevent, or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Additionally, in some embodiments, the present invention provides anti-Aβ antibodies, particularly donanemab, for simultaneous, separate, or sequential use with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly Antibody 1, to treat, prevent, or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a human subject determined to have slowly progressive AD cognitive decline. Some embodiments of the present invention provide anti-Aβ antibodies, particularly donanemab, for simultaneous, separate, or sequential use with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly Antibody 1, to treat, prevent, or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a human subject determined to have slowly progressive AD cognitive decline and one or two alleles of APOE e4.

[0096] Further, according to some embodiments, the present disclosure provides the use of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential combination with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly antibody 1, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Further, according to some embodiments, the present disclosure provides the use of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential combination with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly antibody 1, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of a disease characterized by i) high neurological tau burden, or ii) high neurological tau burden and Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject determined to have one or two alleles of APOE e4.

[0097] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides the use of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential combination with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly antibody 1, in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing a disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject determined to have i) posterior lateral temporal lobe tau burden, or ii) posterior lateral temporal lobe tau burden and one or two alleles of APOE e4. In further embodiments, the present disclosure provides the use of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential combination with an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly antibody 1, in the manufacture of a medicament for treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a human subject determined to have i) slowly progressive AD cognitive decline, or ii) one or two alleles of APOE e4 and slowly progressive AD cognitive decline.

[0098] According to some of the embodiments provided herein, a human subject has been determined to have tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe and occipital lobe. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and frontal lobe. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and / or frontal lobe by neurological PET imaging. In some embodiments, one or more of the tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and / or frontal lobe corresponds to a neurological tau load greater than 1.46 SUVr.

[0099] According to some embodiments provided herein, a human subject has been determined to have one or two alleles of APOE e4 and a tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe and occipital lobe. In some embodiments, a human subject has been determined to have one or two alleles of APOE e4 and a tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe. In some embodiments, a human subject has been determined to have one or two alleles of APOE e4 and a tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and frontal lobe. In some embodiments, a human subject has been determined to have one or more of the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and / or frontal lobe tau burden by neurological PET imaging and one or two alleles of APOE e4. In some embodiments, one or more of the tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and / or frontal lobe corresponds to a neurological tau burden greater than 1.46 SUVr.

[0100] According to additional embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a human subject determined to have slowly progressive AD cognitive decline, comprising administering, in simultaneous, separate, or sequential doses, a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-Aβ antibody, particularly donanemab, and a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure, particularly Antibody 1. According to some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have a high neurological tau burden. According to some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have one or two alleles of APOE e4. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have a posterior lateral temporal lobe tau burden. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe and occipital lobe. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe. In some embodiments, the human subject is determined to have a tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and frontal lobe. In some embodiments, the human subject is determined to have a posterior lateral temporal lobe tau burden and one or two alleles of APOE e4. In some embodiments, the human subject is determined to have one or two alleles of APOE e4 and a tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe and occipital lobe. In some embodiments, the human subject is determined to have one or two alleles of APOE e4 and a tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe. In some embodiments, the human subject is determined to have one or two alleles of APOE e4 and a tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe.

[0101] According to embodiments of the invention provided herein, a human subject has been determined to have slowly progressive AD cognitive decline by one or more of ADAS-Cog, iADL, CDR-SB, MMSE, APOE-4 genotyping, and / or iADRS. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have slowly progressive AD cognitive decline by iADRS. In some embodiments, the iADRS has decreased by less than 20. In some embodiments, the iADRS has decreased by less than 20 over 6 months. In some embodiments, the iADRS has decreased by less than 20 over 12 months. In some embodiments, the iADRS has decreased by less than 20 over 18 months. In some embodiments, the iADRS has decreased by less than 20 over 24 months. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have slowly progressive AD cognitive decline by APOE-4 genotyping. In some embodiments, the human subject is determined to be an APOE-4 heterozygote. In some embodiments, the human subject is determined to be APOE-4 homozygote negative. In some embodiments, the human subject is determined to have AD cognitive decline by MMSE. In some embodiments, the human subject is determined to have an MMSE of greater than 27. In some embodiments, the MMSE has decreased by less than 3. In some embodiments, the MMSE has decreased by less than 3 over a 6-month period. In some embodiments, the MMSE has decreased by less than 3 over a 12-month period. In some embodiments, the MMSE has decreased by less than 3 over a 18-month period. In some embodiments, the MMSE has decreased by less than 3 over a 24-month period.

[0102] According to embodiments of the invention provided herein, a human subject has been determined to have a high neurological tau burden by neurological PET imaging. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have a high neurological tau burden of greater than 1.46 SUVr by neurological PET imaging. In some embodiments, the human subject has been determined to have a high neurological tau burden by quantification of human tau phosphorylated at threonine residue 217 ("hTau-pT217"). In some embodiments, hTau-pT217 is quantified in a biological sample of the human subject. In some embodiments, the biological sample is cerebrospinal fluid. In some embodiments, the biological sample is one of blood, plasma, or serum.

[0103] For purposes of the present invention, a human subject's tau level or burden (used interchangeably herein) can be determined using, for example, techniques or methods that detect or quantify i) neurological or brain tau deposits, ii) tau in blood, serum, and / or plasma, or iii) tau in cerebrospinal fluid. In some embodiments, neurological tau burden (whether determined via PET or via blood, serum, plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid assays) can be used to stratify subjects based on neurological tau burden (e.g., low, moderate, or high neurological tau burden).

[0104] Neurological tau burden is a PET ligand [ 18Tau imaging using radiolabeled PET compounds including [F]-flortaucipir (Leuzy et al., "Diagnostic Performance of RO948 F18 Tau Positron Emission Tomography in the Differentiation of Alzheimer Disease from Other Neurodegenerative Disorders," JAMA Neurology 77.8:955-965 (2020); Ossenkoppele et al., "Discriminative Accuracy of [ 18F]-flortaucipir Positron Emission Tomography for Alzheimer Disease vs Other Neurodegenerative Disorders,” JAMA 320, 1151-1162, doi:10.1001 / jama.2018.12917 (2018), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. PET tau images can be quantitatively assessed to estimate SUVr (standardized uptake value ratio), for example, by published methods (Pontecorvo et al., "A Multicenter Longitudinal Study of Flortaucipir (18F) in Normal Aging, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Dementia," Brain 142:1723-35 (2019); Devous et al., "Test-Retest Reproducibility for the Tau PET Imaging Agent Flortaucipir F18," Journal of Nuclear Medicine 59:937-43 (2018); Southekal et al., "Flortaucipir F18 Quantitation Using Parametric Estimation of Reference Signal Intensity,” J. Nucl. Med. 59:944-51 (2018), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), and / or can be quantitatively assessed to visually assess the patient, for example, to determine whether the patient has an AD pattern (Fleisher et al., “Positron Emission Tomography Imaging With 18[F]-flortaucipir and Postmortem Assessment of Alzheimer Disease Neuropathologic Changes,” JAMA Neurology 77:829-39 (2020), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Lower SUVr values ​​indicate lower tau burden, while higher SUVr values ​​indicate higher tau burden. In embodiments, quantitative assessment from flortaucipir scans is achieved by the automated image processing pipeline described in Southekal et al., “Flortaucipir F18 Quantitation Using Parametric Estimation of Reference Signal Intensity,” J. Nucl. Med. 59:944-951 (2018), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, counts within specific target regions in the brain (e.g., multiblock centroid discriminant analysis or MUBADA; see Devous et al., "Test-Retest Reproducibility for the Tau PET Imaging Agent Flortaucipir F18," J. Nucl. Med. 59:937-943 (2018)), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) are compared to a reference region, such as the whole cerebellum (wholeCere), cerebellar GM (cereCrus), atlas-based white matter (atlasWM), or subject-specific WM (ssWM; e.g., parametric estimate of reference signal intensity (PERSI); Southekal et al., "Flortaucipir F18 Quantitation Using Parametric Estimation of Reference Signal Intensity," J. Nucl. Med. 59:944-951 (2018)), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. An exemplary method for determining tau burden is a quantitative analysis reported as the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVr).This represents counts within a specific target region of interest in the brain (e.g., MUBADA) when compared to a reference region (e.g., using PERSI).

[0105] In some embodiments, phosphorylated tau (P-tau; phosphorylated at threonine 181 or 217, or any combination thereof) can be used to measure tau load for purposes of the present invention (Barthelemy et al., "Cerebrospinal Fluid Phospho-tau T217 Outperforms T181 as a Biomarker for the Differential Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and PET Amyloid-positive Patient Identification," Alzheimer's Res. Ther. 12, 26, doi:10.1186 / s13195-020-00596-4 (2020); Mattsson et al., "Aβ Deposition is Associated with Increases in Soluble and Phosphorylated Tau that Precede a Positive Tau PET in Alzheimer's Disease," Science Advances 6, eaaz2387 (2020), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In certain embodiments, an antibody against human tau phosphorylated at threonine residue 217 can be used to measure tau load / burden in a subject (see WO 2020 / 242963, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety). The present disclosure, in some embodiments, includes measuring tau load / burden in a subject using an anti-tau antibody disclosed in WO 2020 / 242963. The anti-tau antibody disclosed in WO 2020 / 242963 is directed against an isoform of human tau expressed in the CNS (e.g., recognizes an isoform expressed in the CNS and does not recognize an isoform of human tau that is exclusively expressed outside the CNS).

[0106] A subject is positive for amyloid deposits if amyloid is detected in the brain by methods such as amyloid imaging using radiolabeled PET compounds, or by using diagnostic methods that detect Aβ or a biomarker of Aβ. Exemplary methods that can be used to measure cerebral amyloid load / burden include, for example, the administration of florbetapir (Carpenter, et al., "The Use of the Exploratory IND in the Evaluation and Development of 18 F-PET Radiopharmaceuticals for Amyloid Imaging in the Brain: A Review of One Company's Experience,” The Quarterly Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 53.4:387 (2009), florbetaben (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; Syed et al., “[ 18 [F]Florbetaben: A Review in β-Amyloid PET Imaging in Cognitive Impairment,” CNS Drugs 29, 605-613 (2015)), and flutemetamol (Heurling et al., “Imaging β-amyloid Using [ 18 [F]Flutemetamol Positron Emission Tomography: From Dosimetry to Clinical Diagnosis,” European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 43.2:362-373 (2016). 18[F]-Florbetapir provides qualitative and quantitative measurements of cerebral plaque burden in patients, including those with prodromal AD or mild AD dementia, and can also be used to assess amyloid plaque reduction from the brain.

[0107] Additionally, cerebrospinal fluid or plasma-based analysis of β-amyloid can also be used to measure amyloid load / burden. For example, Aβ42 can be used to measure brain amyloid (Palmqvist, S. et al., "Accuracy of Brain Amyloid Detection in Clinical Practice Using Cerebrospinal Fluid Beta-amyloid 42: a Cross-validation Study Against Amyloid Positron Emission Tomography. JAMA Neurol 71, 1282-1289 (2014)), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). In some embodiments, the ratio of Aβ42 / Aβ40 or Aβ42 / Aβ38 can be used as amyloid beta biomarkers (Janelidze et al., "CSF Abeta42 / Abeta40 and Abeta42 / Abeta38 Ratios: Better Diagnostic Markers of Alzheimer Disease," Ann Clin Transl Neurol 3, 154-165 (2016)), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). In some embodiments, cerebral amyloid plaques or Aβ deposited in CSF or plasma can be used to stratify subjects into groups based on amyloid load / burden.

[0108] Additional embodiments of combination uses and methods using the antibodies of the present disclosure are provided below. Combination embodiments may refer to antibody 1, but the embodiments further include analogous methods, uses, and all limitations described herein for the antibodies of the present disclosure described herein. Combination embodiments may refer to "anti-N3pG Aβ antibodies," which refers to each of the anti-N3pG Aβ antibodies described herein; however, for clarity, these embodiments further include analogous methods, uses, and all limitations described herein for each of the anti-N3pG Aβ antibodies individually, e.g., preferably used in combination with donanemab. Provided below are additional numbered embodiments of the present disclosure, including internal references to other numbered embodiments. For clarity, these embodiments should be read individually and / or collectively with the numbered embodiments to which they refer. The embodiments described below begin with number 26. The term "course of treatment" refers to a particular patient or subject, the recited antibodies, the recited doses, the recited frequency and / or duration, the recited sequence, and any other limitations, to the extent stated in each case.

[0109] Further combination embodiments of the present disclosure include the following:

[0110] 26. A method for treating or preventing a disease characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain of a human subject, comprising administering to a human subject in need of such treatment or prevention an effective amount of an anti-N3pG Aβ antibody in combination with an effective amount of antibody 1, either simultaneously, separately or sequentially.

[0111] 27. The method of embodiment 26, wherein the anti-N3pG Aβ antibody is donanemab.

[0112] 28. The method of embodiment 26, wherein the disease is Alzheimer's disease.

[0113] 29. The method of embodiment 26, wherein the anti-N3pG Aβ antibody is donanemab and the disease is Alzheimer's disease.

[0114] 30. The method of embodiment 29, wherein antibody 1 is administered sequentially after a course of treatment with donanemab.

[0115] 31. A method for treating or preventing a disease characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain of a human subject, comprising: i) administering to a human subject one or more first doses of about 100 mg to about 700 mg of an anti-N3pG Aβ antibody, wherein each first dose is administered about once every four weeks; ii) about four weeks after administering the one or more first doses, administering to the human subject one or more second doses of greater than 700 mg to about 1400 mg of an anti-N3pG Aβ antibody, wherein each second dose is administered about once every four weeks; administering the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is donanemab; iii) administering to a human subject an effective amount of Antibody 1 simultaneously, separately or sequentially.

[0116] 32. The method of embodiment 31, wherein the human subject is administered one, two, or three doses of donanemab before receiving the second dose.

[0117] 33. The method of embodiment 31 or 32, wherein the human subject is administered a first dose of about 700 mg of donanemab.

[0118] 34. The method of any one of embodiments 31-33, wherein the human subject is administered one or more second doses of about 800 mg, about 900 mg, about 1000 mg, about 1100 mg, about 1200 mg, about 1300 mg, or about 1400 mg of donanemab.

[0119] 35. The method of any one of embodiments 31-34, wherein the human subject is administered one or more second doses of about 1400 mg of donanemab.

[0120] 36. The method of any one of embodiments 31-35, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is administered to the human subject over a course of treatment of up to 72 weeks, or until normal levels of amyloid are achieved.

[0121] 37. The method of any one of embodiments 31-36, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is administered to the human subject until the patient's amyloid plaque level is about 25 centiloids or less.

[0122] 38. The method of any one of embodiments 31-36, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is administered to the human subject for a course of treatment until amyloid plaque levels in the human subject are about 25 centiloids or less in two consecutive PET imaging scans, or about 11 centiloids or less in one PET imaging scan, optionally wherein the two consecutive PET imaging scans are separated by at least 6 months.

[0123] 39. The method of any one of embodiments 31-36, wherein the human subject is administered three 700 mg first doses of donanemab once every four weeks, followed by a 1400 mg second dose once every four weeks, over a course of up to 72 weeks of treatment.

[0124] 40. The method of any one of embodiments 31-36, wherein the human subject is administered three 700 mg first doses once every four weeks, followed by a 1400 mg second dose once every four weeks until the subject's amyloid plaque level is about 25 centiloids or less.

[0125] 41. The method of any one of embodiments 31-36, wherein the human subject is administered three 700 mg first doses of donanemab once every four weeks, followed by a 1400 mg second dose once every four weeks, until the subject's amyloid plaque levels are about 25 centiloids or less in two consecutive PET imaging scans, or about 11 centiloids or less in one PET imaging scan, optionally with at least six months between the two consecutive PET imaging scans.

[0126] 42. The method of any one of embodiments 31-41, wherein the human subject is administered a second dose of donanemab over a course of treatment sufficient to treat or prevent the disease.

[0127] 43. The method of any one of embodiments 31-42, wherein treating or preventing the disease results in i) a reduction in Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject, and / or ii) a delay in cognitive or functional decline in the human subject.

[0128] 44. The method of embodiment 43, wherein the reduction of Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject is determined by amyloid PET brain imaging or a diagnostic method that detects a biomarker of Aβ.

[0129] 45. The method of embodiment 43 or 44, wherein the second dose is administered to the human subject until Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject are reduced by about 20-100%.

[0130] 46. ​​The method of embodiment 45, wherein Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject are reduced by about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, about 75%, or about 100%.

[0131] 47. The method of any one of embodiments 31 to 44, wherein the second dose of donanemab is administered to the human subject until Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject are reduced by: i) approximately an average of about 25 centiloids to about 100 centiloids; ii) approximately an average of about 50 centiloids to about 100 centiloids; iii) approximately 100 centiloids; or iv) approximately 84 centiloids.

[0132] 48. The method of any one of embodiments 31 to 47, wherein the disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject is selected from preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD), clinical AD, prodromal AD, mild AD, moderate AD, severe AD, Down's syndrome, clinical cerebral amyloid angiopathy, or preclinical cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

[0133] 49. The method of any one of embodiments 31-48, wherein the human subject is an early symptomatic AD patient.

[0134] 50. The method of embodiment 49, wherein the human subject has prodromal AD and mild dementia due to AD.

[0135] 51. The method of any one of embodiments 26 to 50, wherein the human subject i) has been determined to have a very low to moderate tau load or has a very low to moderate tau load, ii) has been determined to have a low to moderate tau load or has a low to moderate tau load, iii) has been determined to have a very low to moderate tau load or has a very low to moderate tau load and one or two alleles of APOE e4, iv) has been determined to have a low to moderate tau load or has a low to moderate tau load and one or two alleles of APOE e4, or v) has one or two alleles of APOE e4.

[0136] 52. The method of embodiment 51, wherein the human subject has i) a very low to moderate tau load if the tau load as measured by PET brain imaging is 1.46 SUVr or less, or ii) a low to moderate tau load if the tau load as measured by PET brain imaging is 1.10 SUVr to 1.46 SUVr.

[0137] 53. The method of any one of embodiments 26 to 50, wherein the human subject i) does not have or has been determined to not have a high tau burden, or ii) carries one or two alleles of APOE e4 and does not have or has been determined to not have a high tau burden.

[0138] 54. The method of embodiment 53, wherein the human subject has a high tau burden if the tau burden, as measured by PET brain imaging, is greater than 1.46 SUVr.

[0139] 55. The method of embodiment 51 or 53, wherein the tau load of the human subject is determined using PET brain imaging or a diagnostic method that detects a tau biomarker.

[0140] 56. Use of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, simultaneously, separately or sequentially combined with antibody 1, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of a disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject, comprising: one or more first doses of about 100 mg to about 700 mg of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody are administered, each first dose being administered about once every four weeks, followed by one or more second doses of greater than 700 mg to about 1400 mg administered four weeks after the one or more first doses, each second dose being administered about once every four weeks; The anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is donanemab.

[0141] 57. The use of embodiment 56, wherein the human subject is administered one, two, or three doses of donanemab before receiving a second dose of donanemab.

[0142] 58. The use of embodiment 56 or 57, wherein the human subject receives three first doses of about 700 mg of donanemab.

[0143] 59. The use of any one of embodiments 56-58, wherein the human subject is administered one or more second doses of about 800 mg, about 900 mg, about 1000 mg, about 1100 mg, about 1200 mg, about 1300 mg, or about 1400 mg of donanemab.

[0144] 60. The use of any one of embodiments 56-59, wherein the human subject is administered one or more second doses of about 1400 mg of donanemab.

[0145] 61. The use according to any one of embodiments 56-60, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is administered to the human subject over a course of treatment of up to 72 weeks, or until normal levels of amyloid are achieved.

[0146] 62. The use according to any one of embodiments 56-61, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is administered to a human subject until the amyloid plaque level in the patient is about 25 centiloids or less.

[0147] 63. The use of any one of embodiments 56-61, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is administered to a human subject until amyloid plaque levels in the patient are about 25 centiloids or less in two consecutive PET imaging scans, or about 11 centiloids or less in one PET imaging scan, optionally wherein the two consecutive PET imaging scans are separated by at least 6 months.

[0148] 64. The use of any one of embodiments 56-61, wherein the human subject is administered three 700 mg first doses of donanemab once every four weeks, followed by a 1400 mg second dose of donanemab once every four weeks, for a period of up to 72 weeks.

[0149] 65. The use of any one of embodiments 56-61, wherein the human subject is administered three 700 mg first doses of donanemab once every four weeks, followed by a 1400 mg second dose of donanemab once every four weeks until the amyloid plaque level in the patient is about 25 centiloids or less.

[0150] 66. The use of any one of embodiments 56-61, wherein the human subject is administered three 700 mg first doses of donanemab once every four weeks, followed by a 1400 mg second dose of donanemab once every four weeks, until the patient's amyloid plaque levels are about 25 centiloids or less in two consecutive PET imaging scans, or about 11 centiloids or less in one PET imaging scan, optionally with at least six months between the two consecutive PET imaging scans.

[0151] 67. The use of any one of embodiments 56-66, wherein the human subject is administered a second dose of donanemab over a course of treatment sufficient to treat or prevent the disease.

[0152] 68. The use according to any one of embodiments 56 to 67, wherein the treatment or prevention of the disease results in i) a reduction in Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject, and / or ii) a delay in cognitive or functional decline in the human subject.

[0153] 69. The use according to embodiment 68, wherein the reduction of Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject is determined by amyloid PET brain imaging or a diagnostic method that detects a biomarker of Aβ.

[0154] 70. The use of embodiment 68 or 69, wherein the second dose of donanemab is administered to the human subject until Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject are reduced by about 20 to 100%.

[0155] 71. The use of embodiment 70, wherein Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject are reduced by about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, about 75%, or about 100%.

[0156] 72. The use according to embodiment 70 or 71, wherein Aβ deposits in the brain of the patient are reduced by 100%.

[0157] 73. The use of any one of embodiments 56 to 72, wherein the second dose of donanemab is administered to the human subject until Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject are reduced by: i) approximately an average of about 25 centiloids to about 100 centiloids; ii) approximately an average of about 50 centiloids to about 100 centiloids; iii) approximately 100 centiloids; or iv) approximately 84 centiloids.

[0158] 74. The use according to any one of embodiments 56 to 73, wherein the disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject is selected from preclinical Alzheimer's disease, clinical AD, prodromal AD, mild AD, moderate AD, severe AD, Down's syndrome, clinical cerebral amyloid angiopathy, or preclinical cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

[0159] 75. The use according to any one of embodiments 56 to 74, wherein the human subject is an early symptomatic AD patient, or the human subject has prodromal AD or mild dementia due to AD.

[0160] 76. The use of any one of embodiments 56 to 75, wherein the human subject i) has been determined to have a very low to moderate tau load or has a very low to moderate tau load, ii) has been determined to have a low to moderate tau load or has a low to moderate tau load, iii) has been determined to have a very low to moderate tau load or has a very low to moderate tau load and one or two alleles of APOE e4, iv) has been determined to have a low to moderate tau load or has a low to moderate tau load and one or two alleles of APOE e4, or v) has one or two alleles of APOE e4.

[0161] 77. The use of embodiment 76, wherein the human subject has i) a very low to moderate tau load when the tau load measured by PET brain imaging is 1.46 SUVr or less, or ii) a low to moderate tau load when the tau load measured by PET brain imaging is 1.10 SUVr to 1.46 SUVr.

[0162] 78. The use of any one of embodiments 56 to 75, wherein the human subject i) does not have a high tau burden or has been determined to not have a high tau burden, or ii) carries one or two alleles of APOE e4 and does not have a high tau burden or has been determined to not have a high tau burden.

[0163] 79. The use of embodiment 78, wherein the human subject has a high tau load if the tau load, as measured by PET brain imaging, is greater than 1.46 SUVr.

[0164] 80. The use according to embodiment 76 or 78, wherein the tau load of the human subject is determined using tau PET brain imaging or a diagnostic method that detects a biomarker of tau.

[0165] 81. A method of treating or preventing a disease characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain of a human subject who has i) been determined to have a very low to moderate tau load, or a low to moderate tau load, or ii) been determined to have a very low to moderate tau load, or a low to moderate tau load and one or two alleles of APOE e4, comprising: i) administering to a human subject one or more first doses of about 100 mg to about 700 mg of donanemab, wherein each first dose of donanemab is administered about once every four weeks; ii) administering to the human subject one or more second doses of greater than 700 mg to about 1400 mg of donanemab four weeks after administering the one or more first doses, wherein each second dose is administered about once every four weeks; and combining, simultaneously, separately or sequentially, an effective amount of Antibody 1.

[0166] 82. A method for treating or preventing a disease characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain of a human subject, comprising: determining whether the human subject has tau burden in the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, or frontal lobe of the brain; and if the human subject has tau burden in the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, or frontal lobe of the brain, i) administering to a human subject one or more first doses of about 100 mg to about 700 mg of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, wherein each first dose is administered about once every four weeks; ii) about four weeks after administering the one or more first doses, administering to the human subject one or more second doses of greater than 700 mg to about 1400 mg of an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody, wherein each second dose is administered about once every four weeks; and combining, simultaneously, separately or sequentially, an effective amount of Antibody 1.

[0167] 83. The method of embodiment 82, wherein the human subject has tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal lobe or temporal lobe of the brain.

[0168] 84. The method of embodiment 82, wherein the human subject has tau burden in the occipital lobe of the brain.

[0169] 85. The method of embodiment 82, wherein the human subject has tau burden in the parietal lobe of the brain.

[0170] 86. The method of embodiment 82, wherein the human subject has tau burden in the frontal lobe of the brain.

[0171] 87. The method of embodiment 82, wherein the human subject has tau burden in the posterolateral temporal lobe (PLT) and / or occipital lobe of the brain.

[0172] 88. The method of any one of embodiments 82-87, wherein the human subject has tau burden in the PLT or occipital regions of the brain, as well as tau burden in i) the parietal or precuneus regions, or ii) the frontal regions.

[0173] 89. The method of any one of embodiments 82-86, wherein the human subject has i) tau burden isolated to the frontal lobe, or ii) tau burden in regions of the temporal lobe that do not include the posterolateral temporal region (PLT) of the brain.

[0174] 90. The method of any one of embodiments 82-88, wherein the human subject has tau burden in the posterior lateral temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes of the brain.

[0175] 91. The method of any one of embodiments 82-88, wherein the human subject has tau burden in the posterolateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and frontal lobe of the brain.

[0176] 92. The method of any one of embodiments 82-88, wherein the human subject has tau burden in the posterolateral temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe and / or frontal lobe of the brain.

[0177] 93. The method of any one of embodiments 82-92, wherein the human subject is administered the first dose once, twice, or three times before receiving the second dose.

[0178] 94. The method of any one of embodiments 82-93, wherein the human subject is administered a first dose of about 700 mg.

[0179] 95. The method of any one of embodiments 82-94, wherein the human subject is administered one or more second doses of about 800 mg, about 900 mg, about 1000 mg, about 1100 mg, about 1200 mg, about 1300 mg, or about 1400 mg.

[0180] 96. The method of any one of embodiments 82-95, wherein the human subject is administered one or more second doses of about 1400 mg.

[0181] 97. The method of any one of embodiments 82-96, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is administered to the human subject for a period of up to 72 weeks, or until normal levels of amyloid are achieved.

[0182] 98. The method of any one of embodiments 82-97, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is administered to the human subject until the patient's amyloid plaque level is about 25 centiloids or less.

[0183] 99. The method of any one of embodiments 82-98, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody is administered to the human subject until amyloid plaque levels in the human subject are about 25 centiloids or less in two consecutive PET imaging scans, or about 11 centiloids or less in one PET imaging scan, optionally wherein the two consecutive PET imaging scans are separated by at least 6 months.

[0184] 100. The method of any one of embodiments 82-99, wherein the human subject is administered three 700 mg first doses once every four weeks, followed by a 1400 mg second dose once every four weeks for up to 72 weeks.

[0185] 101. The method of any one of embodiments 82-100, wherein a human subject is administered three 700 mg first doses once every four weeks, followed by a 1400 mg second dose once every four weeks until the amyloid plaque level in the subject is about 25 centiloids or less.

[0186] 102. The method of any one of embodiments 82-101, wherein the human subject is administered three 700 mg first doses once every four weeks, followed by a 1400 mg second dose once every four weeks, until the subject's amyloid plaque level is about 25 centiloids in two consecutive PET imaging scans or about 11 centiloids or less in one PET imaging scan, optionally with at least six months between the two consecutive PET imaging scans.

[0187] 103. The method of any one of embodiments 82-102, wherein the human subject is administered the second dose for a period sufficient to treat or prevent the disease.

[0188] 104. The method of any one of embodiments 82 to 103, wherein treating or preventing the disease results in i) a reduction in Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject, and / or ii) a delay in cognitive or functional decline in the human subject.

[0189] 105. The method of embodiment 97, wherein the reduction of Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject is determined by amyloid PET brain imaging or a diagnostic method that detects a biomarker of Aβ.

[0190] 106. The method of embodiment 97 or 98, wherein the second dose is administered to the human subject until Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject are reduced by about 20-100%.

[0191] 107. The method of embodiment 106, wherein Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject are reduced by about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, about 75%, or about 100%.

[0192] 108. The method of any one of embodiments 82 to 107, wherein the second dose is administered to the human subject until Aβ deposits in the brain of the human subject are reduced by i) approximately an average of about 25 centiloids to about 100 centiloids, ii) approximately an average of about 50 centiloids to about 100 centiloids, iii) about 100 centiloids, or iv) about 84 centiloids.

[0193] 109. The method of any one of embodiments 82 to 108, wherein the disease characterized by Aβ deposits in the brain of a human subject is selected from preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD), clinical AD, prodromal AD, mild AD, moderate AD, severe AD, Down's syndrome, clinical cerebral amyloid angiopathy, or preclinical cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

[0194] 110. The method of any one of embodiments 82-109, wherein the human subject is an early symptomatic AD patient.

[0195] 111. The method of embodiment 109, wherein the human subject has prodromal AD and mild dementia due to AD.

[0196] 112. The method of any one of embodiments 82 to 111, wherein the human subject i) has a very low to moderate tau load or has been determined to have a very low to moderate tau load, or ii) has a low to moderate tau load or has been determined to have a low to moderate tau load.

[0197] 113. The method of embodiment 112, wherein the human subject has i) very low to moderate tau load if the tau load measured by PET brain imaging is 1.46 SUVr or less, or ii) low to moderate tau load if the tau load measured by PET brain imaging is 1.10 SUVr to 1.46 SUVr.

[0198] 114. The method of any one of embodiments 82-113, wherein the human subject does not have a high tau burden or has been determined to not have a high tau burden.

[0199] 115. The method of embodiment 114, wherein the human subject has a high tau load if the tau load, as measured by PET brain imaging, is greater than 1.46 SUVr.

[0200] 116. The method of embodiment 114 or 115, wherein the tau load of the human subject is determined using PET brain imaging or a diagnostic method that detects a tau biomarker.

[0201] 117. The method of any one of embodiments 82-116, wherein the anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody comprises donanemab.

[0202] 118. The method of any one of embodiments 82 to 117, wherein the patient has one or two alleles of APOE e4.

[0203] 119. A method for reducing / preventing further increases in tau burden or slowing the rate of tau accumulation in the temporal, occipital, parietal, or frontal lobes of the human brain, comprising administering to a human subject an anti-N3pGlu Aβ antibody in simultaneous, separate, or sequential combination with an effective amount of antibody 1. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0204] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows antibody 1 neutralization of human IL-34-induced luciferase reporter activity in hCSF1R expressing 293SRE cells. [Example]

[0205] The following examples are provided to illustrate, but not limit, the claimed invention. The results of the following assays demonstrate that the exemplified monoclonal antibodies, such as antibody 1 of the present disclosure, bind to and / or neutralize IL-34 and therefore may be used to treat the immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases described herein.

[0206] Example 1: Antibody generation, expression and purification A panel of human anti-IL-34 antibodies is obtained using a fully human yeast display library and screened to identify reagents that may be effective human IL-34 neutralizing antibodies. To isolate clones with improved affinity, mutations are systematically introduced into individual complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of each antibody, and the resulting library is subjected to multiple rounds of selection with decreasing antigen concentration and / or increasing dissociation time. Individual variants are sequenced and used to construct combinatorial libraries, which are subjected to additional rounds of selection with increasing stringency to identify additive or synergistic mutation pairings between individual CDR regions. Individual combinatorial clones are sequenced and their binding characteristics determined. To further enhance affinity for IL-34, these combinatorial clones may be subjected to additional rounds of single and combinatorial mutagenesis. This screening can be performed against human or cynomolgus IL-34 to increase affinity for the species of choice. Selected antibodies can also be mutagenized to repair post-translational modifications such as isomerization while maintaining binding affinity to IL-34. Additionally, framework (FW) or CDR substitutions can be made to the antibodies to return the sequences to their germline state to reduce potential immunogenicity risks.

[0207] For example, an engineered and / or optimized anti-IL-34 antibody, designated herein as Antibody 1, has been obtained, having heavy and light chain variable region amino acid sequences, complete heavy and light chain amino acid sequences, and nucleotide sequences encoding the same as those listed below in the section entitled "Amino Acid and Nucleotide Sequence Listing." The SEQ ID NOs corresponding to these sequences, as well as the light and heavy chain CDR amino acid sequences, are shown in Table 1.

[0208] The exemplified anti-IL-34 antibodies of the present disclosure can be expressed and purified essentially as follows: Suitable host cells, such as HEK293, NS0, or CHO, can be either transiently or stably transfected with an expression system for antibody secretion using an optimal predetermined HC:LC vector ratio (such as 1:3, 1:2, or 1:1), or with a single vector system encoding both the HC and LC.

[0209] The expression plasmid contains, for example, DNA encoding the LC and HC of Antibody 1 (the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 encoding the HC of exemplified Antibody 1, and the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 encoding the LC amino acid sequence of exemplified Antibody 1), and is expressed from a suitable construct commonly used for this purpose. Clonal cell lines are grown and screened for production of Antibody 1, and then cloned cell lines are selected and established. This cell line is generated without the use of any materials containing animal components and is used for production.

[0210] The clarified medium into which the antibody is secreted can be purified by conventional techniques, such as mixed-mode ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. For example, the medium can be applied to and eluted from a Protein A or Protein G column using conventional methods; mixed-mode ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography can also be used. Soluble aggregates and multimers can be effectively removed by common techniques, including size exclusion, hydrophobic interaction, ion exchange, or hydroxyapatite chromatography. The IL-34 antibodies exemplified in the present disclosure are concentrated and / or sterile filtered using common techniques. The purity of the exemplified antibodies after these chromatography steps is greater than 95%. The anti-IL-34 antibodies exemplified in the present disclosure can be immediately frozen at -70°C or stored at 4°C for several months.

[0211] Example 2: Characterization of anti-IL-34 antibodies Binding affinity to human and cynomolgus monkey IL-34 The binding affinity of the anti-IL-34 monoclonal antibodies of the present disclosure to human and / or cynomolgus monkey (cyno) IL-34 can be determined by methods known in the art. Briefly, the binding affinity and kinetics of the antibodies are assessed by surface plasmon resonance using a BIAcore™ 8K (Cytiva) at 37°C. Binding affinity is measured by immobilizing the anti-IL-34 antibody on a BIAcore™ Sensor Chip Protein A (Cytiva) and flowing human or cynomolgus monkey IL-34, starting at 25 nM or 12.5 nM, serially diluted two-fold in HBS-EP+ buffer (Teknova). In each cycle, 200 μL of IL-34 is flowed over the immobilized antibody at 100 μL / min, followed by a 20-minute dissociation period. The chip surface is regenerated with 50 μL of pH 1.5 glycine buffer at a flow rate of 100 μL / min. The data were fit to a 1:1 Langmuir binding mode to derive k and k and calculate K. Table 3 shows the average of at least three experiments for exemplified Antibody 1 for human and cynomolgus IL-34.

[0212] [Table 3]

[0213] Example 3: In vitro functional characterization of anti-human IL-34 antibodies Antibodies of the disclosure are tested for their ability to neutralize IL-34 binding and / or activity. Neutralization of IL-34 binding and / or activity by antibodies of the disclosure can be assessed, for example, by one or more IL-34 / CSF1R receptor binding assay formats, as well as IL-34 cell-based activity assays, as described below.

[0214] Ability of Antibody 1 to Displace IL-34 from CSF1R Assays for neutralizing antibodies for IL-34 / CSF1R binding can be performed using an enzyme assay. Such assays can use recombinantly expressed CSF1R extracellular domain proteins capable of binding to IL-34. These proteins can be bound to ELISA plates to capture soluble IL-34. IL-34 can then be detected by biotinylation of the antigen and detection with either streptavidin / neutravidin-conjugated peroxidase or phosphatase enzymes. Such neutralization assays involve preincubation (e.g., 1 hour) of the antibody being evaluated with labeled IL-34 (as well as a control sample without an antibody targeting IL-34) before addition to the binding assay.

[0215] CSF1R extracellular domain protein (hCSF1R_Fc, commercially available from R&D, catalog number 329-MR, cynomolgus monkey CSF1R ECD-Fc (AAA is the linker between the CSF1R extracellular domain and Fc) (SEQ ID NO: 34)) can be bound to an ELISA plate at a concentration of 30 nM to capture soluble biotinylated IL-34 for 1 h. After washing and blocking the plate, biotinylated IL-34 can be added and then detected with streptavidin-conjugated peroxidase. To determine the concentration of antibody required to displace IL-34 from CSF1R, a concentration of labeled IL-34 near the 80% binding level (EC80) (3.7 nM) can be used in combination with various antibody concentrations (0-100 nM). After 1 h of incubation, IL-34 bound to CSF1R is detected via streptavidin-conjugated peroxidase. Antibodies were assayed (n=2) and the mean and standard deviation at each concentration were calculated. The potency of antibodies to displace IL-34 from CSF1R is reported as IC50 (nM) with calculated confidence intervals (CI) shown in Tables 4 and 5.

[0216] [Table 4]

[0217] [Table 5]

[0218] IL-34 binds to human CSF1R with an affinity of approximately 50-100 pM, requiring a high-affinity antibody to effectively neutralize this cytokine in the CNS. The results in Table 4 demonstrate that Antibody 1 has high affinity for human IL-34 and can displace IL-34 from human CSF1R with an IC50 of 0.1537 nM. The results in Table 4 demonstrate that Antibody 1 has high affinity for human IL-34, and in particular, that it exhibits affinity for human IL-34 comparable to that of hCSF1R, thus possessing binding properties that enable it to effectively neutralize IL-34 in vivo. Blocking IL-34 is believed to provide a useful tool for disease modification while avoiding the safety concerns associated with some existing immunomodulatory therapies. Therefore, neutralizing IL-34-mediated signaling represents a therapeutic approach for the management of neuroinflammation, microgliosis, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies and inflammatory disorders. (See, e.g., Lelios, I. et al. Emerging roles of IL-34 in health and disease, J Exp Med (2020) 217(3): e20190290).

[0219] Inhibition of IL-34-induced responses in vitro Neutralization of IL-34 activity by antibodies of the present disclosure can be assessed by one or more IL-34 cell-based assays, for example, as described below. The ability of antibodies of the present disclosure to neutralize human IL-34-inducible luciferase reporter activity can be assessed in 293 hCSF1R SRE cells transfected with cDNA expressing human CSF1R (Accession: NP_001275634.1). For example, 293 / SRE cells stably overexpressing human CSF1R (hCSF1R) are dissociated in 0.05% trypsin-PBS and seeded at 70,000 cells per 100 μl into tissue culture-treated 96-well plates. The next day, growth medium is removed, and cells are starved with DMEM-F12 (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium: Nutrient Mixture F-12) supplemented with 1% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS). After 24 hours of starvation, cells were treated with 100 ng / ml human IL-34 and multiple concentrations of either hCSF1R-Fc or Antibody 1 for 6 hours. After incubation, cells were lysed with 50 μl of Promega™ Glo™ Lysis Buffer (Promega™ E266A) for 5 minutes with gentle agitation. 50 ml of BrightGlo™ Luminescence Reagent (Promega™ E2620) was added and incubated on the lysed cells for 2 minutes. Luminescence was read using a Perkin Elmer Wallac 1420 Victor2™ microplate reader. The reduction in relative fluorescence units (RFU), shown in Table 7 and Figure 1, reflects the ability of Antibody 1 to neutralize human IL-34-induced luciferase activity. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of Antibody 1 for neutralizing hIL-34 is 0.04582 μg / ml. Human CSF1R-Fc was used as a positive control in this assay and inhibits luciferase activity with an IC50 of 0.09603 μg / ml.

[0220] [Table 6]

[0221] Ability of anti-IL34 antibodies to inhibit IL-34-induced expression of CD163 on human monocytes by flow cytometry: Neutralization of IL-34 can also be assessed by measuring the expression of the cell surface antigen CD163 on human monocytes after treatment with IL-34 by flow cytometry (see, for example, Boulakirba, S., et al. IL-34 and CSF-1 display equivalent macrophage differentiation ability but a different polarization potential. Sci Rep 8, 256 (2018)). CD14-positive monocytes are treated with IL-34 for 6 days, stained with an antibody for CD163, and then evaluated for CD163 expression by flow cytometry. In the experiment, the change in the number of cells expressing CD163 indicates that IL-34 treatment increases the expression of this antigen on monocytes. Addition of Antibody 1 inhibits the increase in CD163 expression. In this experiment, an isotype-matched IgG4 antibody is used as a negative control.

[0222] CD14+ human monocytes can be differentiated into macrophages by adding IL-34 (100 ng / ml). The macrophage marker CD163 can be used to monitor the degree of differentiation. This differentiation into macrophages can be inhibited by adding an anti-IL-34 antibody. CD14+ human monocytes are seeded into 6-well plates with or without IL-34. Cells are treated with an anti-IL-34 antibody, such as antibody 1, or 15 μg / ml IgG4 PAA, for a total of 6 days, with the treatment refreshed on day 3. On day 6, cells are removed from the plate with non-enzymatic cell dissociation buffer, collected, and washed with FACS buffer (PBS + 2% FBS + 0.1% sodium azide + 2% EDTA). Cells are blocked with TruStain FcX (Cat. No. 422302) for 30 minutes according to the manufacturer's recommendations. After blocking, cells are washed with FACS buffer and stained with anti-CD163-PE or IgGk isotype control-PE for 1 hour at 4°C. At the end of the incubation, cells are washed and flow analysis is performed on Accuri using a minimum of 10,000 events. Median-PE-A levels are collected per treatment. Results are shown in Table 10.

[0223] [Table 7]

[0224] Inhibition of CD163 expression on human monocytes in response to IL-34 by Antibody 1 demonstrates the ability of the disclosed antibodies to modulate monocyte / macrophage numbers and / or phenotypic differentiation responses to IL-34 and supports the use of the antibodies to treat immune-mediated diseases such as neuroinflammation and other inflammatory conditions (see, e.g., Lelios, I. et al. Emerging roles of IL-34 in health and disease, J Exp Med (2020) 217(3):e20190290).

[0225] Example 4: Characterization of the immunogenic potential of Antibody 1 Dendritic cell (DC) internalization assay Monocyte-derived DC Culturing (MDDC) CD14+ monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), cultured, and differentiated into DCs according to standard protocols. Briefly, PBMCs were isolated from LRS-WBCs using density gradient centrifugation with Ficoll (#17-1440-02, GE Healthcare) and Sepmate 50 (#15450, STEMCELL Technologies). CD14+ monocytes were isolated using positive selection with a CD14+ MicroBead Kit (#130-050-201, Miltenyi Biotec) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The cells were then cultured at 1 million / ml for 6 days with 1,000 units / ml GM-CSF and 600 units / ml IL-4 to induce immature dendritic cells (MDDCs) in RPMI medium (hereafter referred to as complete RPMI medium or medium purchased from Life Technologies) supplemented with L-glutamine and 25 mM HEPES, 10% FBS, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 1x penicillin-streptomycin, 1x non-essential amino acids, and 55 μM 2-mercaptoethanol. The medium was changed twice, on days 2 and 5. On day 6, the cells were gently harvested with a cell scraper and used for experiments. MDDCs were visually characterized for dendritic morphology by microscopy and for expression of CD14, CD11c, and HLA-DR by flow cytometry. Their ability to respond to LPS treatment was confirmed by measuring increases in CD80, CD83, and CD86 using flow cytometry.

[0226] Binding of Fab-TAMRA-QSY7 F(ab')2 fragment goat anti-human IgG (Jackson ImmunoResearch) was dual-labeled with QSY7-NHS and TAMRA-SE (Molecular Probes) to yield Fab-TAMRA-QSY7, which was used as a universal probe for tracking internalization of test substances. Each vial of F(ab')2 (approximately 1 ml at 1.3 mg / ml) was concentrated to approximately 2 mg / ml by centrifugation at 14,000 rcf for 2 minutes using an Amico Ultra-0.5 centrifugal filter device (#UFC501096, Millipore). The pH was adjusted to basic (>pH 8) with 10% (v / v) 1 M sodium bicarbonate, and 6.8 μl of a 10 mM stock solution of QSY-NHS in DMSO was added and mixed. The reaction vial was kept in the dark at room temperature for 30 minutes. The intermediate product, Fab-QSY7, was purified using a Zeba Spin desalting column (#89890, Thermo Scientific) by centrifugation at 1000 rcf for 2 minutes. The concentration and degree of labeling (DOL) were calculated by measuring absorbance at 280 nm and 560 nm using a NanoDrop (ThermoFisher). Fab-QSY7 was then concentrated to approximately 2 mg / ml by centrifugation at 14,000 rcf for 2 minutes using an Amico Ultra-0.5 centrifugal filter device. After adjusting the pH with 10% (v / v) 1 M sodium bicarbonate, 4.3 μl of 15 mM TAMRA-SE stock solution in DMSO was added and mixed. After 30 minutes in the dark at room temperature, the final product, Fab-TAMRA-QSY7, was purified and collected using a Zeba Spin desalting column by centrifugation at 1000 rcf for 2 minutes. Concentration and DOL are again quantified by reading absorbance at 280 nm, 555 nm, and 560 nm on a NanoDrop spectrophotometer. Using this protocol, approximately 300 μl of Fab-TAMRA-QSY7 at approximately 1.5 mg / ml is obtained, containing approximately two QSY7 and two TAMRA molecules per F(ab')2.

[0227] Standardized internalization assay by FACS Individual test molecules were normalized to 1 mg / ml in PBS and then further diluted to 8 μg / ml in complete RPMI medium. Fab-TAMRA-QSY7 was diluted to 5.33 μg / ml in complete RPMI medium. Equal volumes of antibody and Fab-TAMRA-QSY7 were mixed and incubated for 30 minutes at 4°C in the dark for complex formation. MDDCs were resuspended at 4 million / ml in complete RPMI medium and seeded at 50 μl per well into a 96-well round-bottom plate, to which 50 μl of antibody / probe complex was added. Cells were incubated for 24 hours at 37°C in a CO2 incubator. Cells were washed with 2% FBS PBS and resuspended in 100 μl of 2% FBS PBS containing Cytox Green live / dead dye. Data were collected on a BD LSR Fortessa X-20 and analyzed with FlowJo. Live single cells were gated and the percentage of TAMRA-fluorescent positive cells was recorded as the readout.

[0228] Data presentation and statistical analysis Molecules are tested in duplicate or triplicate on three or more donors. For each donor, the proportion of the TAMRA-positive population is considered. To allow for comparison of molecules with data generated from different donors, a normalized internalization index (NII) is used. The internalization signal is normalized to the IgG1 isotype (NII=0) and the internal positive control PC (NII=100) using the following formula:

[0229]

number

[0230] [Table 8] (See, for example, Wen, Y., Cahya, S., Zeng, W. et al. Development of a FRET-Based Assay for Analysis of mAb Internalization and Processing by Dendritic Cells in Preclinical Immunogenicity Risk Assessment. AAPS J22, 68 (2020))

[0231] MAPPs assay (MHC-associated peptide proteomics) method Primary human dendritic cells from 10 normal human donors were prepared from buffy coats by isolation of CD-14 positive cells as described and differentiated into immature dendritic cells by incubation with 20 ng / ml IL-4 and 40 ng / ml GM-CSF in complete RPMI medium containing 5% serum replacement (Thermo Fisher Scientific, catalog number A2596101) at 37°C and 5% CO for 3 days (Knierman et al., "The Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II Immunopeptidome of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein," Cell Reports, 33, 108454 (2020)). On day 4, 3 micromolar test antibodies were added to approximately 5 x 10 6 Fresh medium containing 5 μg / ml LPS was added to the cells and replaced after 5 hours of incubation to transform the cells into mature dendritic cells. The next day, mature cells were lysed in 1 ml of RIPA buffer containing protease inhibitors and DNAse. Lysates were stored at -80°C until sample analysis.

[0232] Using an automated liquid handling system, HLA-II molecules were isolated from thawed lysates using a biotinylated anti-pan-HLA class II antibody (clone Tu39). Bound receptor-peptide complexes were eluted with 5% acetic acid, 0.1% TFA. The eluted MHC-II peptides were passed through a pre-washed 10k MWCO filter to remove high molecular weight proteins. The isolated MHC-II peptides were analyzed by nanoLC / MS using a Thermo Easy 1200 nLC-HPLC system equipped with a Thermo LUMOS mass spectrometer. The separation used a 75 μm x 7 cm YMC-ODS C18 column at a flow rate of 250 nL / min and a 65-minute gradient of 0.1% formic acid in water as solvent A and 80% acetonitrile with 0.1% formic acid as solvent B. Mass analysis is performed in full scan mode at a resolution of 240,000, followed by a 3 second data-dependent MS / MS cycle consisting of an ion trap rapid scan with HCD and EThcD fragmentation.

[0233] Peptide identifications are generated through an internal proteomics pipeline (Higgs et al., "Label-free LC-MS method for the identification of biomarkers," Methods in Molecular Biology, 428, 209-230 (2008)) using multiple search algorithms without enzymatic search parameters against bovine / human databases containing test antibody sequences. Sample identification files are processed using a KNIME workflow. Peptides identified from test materials are aligned to the parent sequence. A summary of all donors is generated, annotating the percentage of donors presenting non-germline residues, the number of different regions presenting peptides with non-germline residues, and the depth of peptide presentation in each region with non-germline residues. An increased degree of non-germline peptide presentation is associated with an increased risk of immunogenicity. Results for Antibody 1 are shown in Table 12.

[0234] [Table 9]

[0235] T cell proliferation assay This assay evaluates the ability of test candidates or peptide clusters derived from MAPPs of test candidates to activate CD4+ T cells by inducing cell proliferation as described below (Walsh et al., "Post-hoc assessment of the immunogenicity of three antibodies reveals distinct immune stimulatory mechanisms," mAbs, 12, 1764829 (2020)). Cryopreserved PBMCs from 10 healthy donors were used. PBMCs were depleted of CD8+ T cells and labeled with 1 μM carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE). PBMCs were cultured at 4 × 10 in AIM-V medium (Life Technologies, Cat. No. 12055-083) containing 5% CTS™ Immune Cell SR (Gibco, Cat. No. A2596101). 6 Cells were seeded at 1000 cells / ml / well and tested in triplicate in 2.0 mL of medium containing various test substances, DMSO control, medium control, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH; positive control). Cells were cultured and incubated at 37°C with 5% CO for 7 days. On day 7, samples were stained with the following cell surface markers for viability detection by flow cytometry using a BD LSRFortessa™ equipped with a High Throughput Sampler (HTS). Data were analyzed using FlowJo® software (FlowJo, LLC, TreeStar) to calculate the cellular division index (CDI). Briefly, the CDI for each test molecule was calculated based on the percentage of CFSE-positive cells growing in stimulated wells. dim The percentage of CD4+ T cells proliferating in unstimulated wells was compared with CFSEdim The CD4+ T cell count was calculated by dividing by the percentage of CD4+ T cells. A CDI of 2.5 or greater was considered to represent a positive response. The donor frequency percentage across all donors was assessed. The results for Antibody 1 are shown in Table 13.

[0236] [Table 10]

[0237] Example 5: Antibody Pharmacokinetics in Cynomolgus Monkeys Cynomolgus monkeys were administered a single intravenous (IV) dose of 3 mg / kg of Antibody 1 in PBS (pH 7.4) at a volume of 1 mL / kg. For pharmacokinetic characterization, blood was collected from two animals / timepoint at 1, 3, 6, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 168, 240, 336, 408, 504, and 672 hours post-dose and processed into serum. Serum concentrations of Antibody 1 were determined by a qualified immunoaffinity liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Antibody 1 and a human antibody internal standard (stable isotope-labeled human IgG) were extracted from 100% cynomolgus monkey serum using a biotinylated goat anti-human IgG antibody, followed by quantification of tryptic surrogate peptides using a Q-Exactive™ Orbitrap® mass spectrometer. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated for each animal (N=2) using non-compartmental analysis (NCA), and parameters are summarized by mean values. NCA and summary statistical calculations are performed using Phoenix. As shown in Table 14, Antibody I exhibits an enhanced pharmacokinetic profile in cynomolgus monkeys.

[0238] [Table 11]

[0239] Sequence listing of amino acid and nucleotide sequences Antibody 1 heavy chain (SEQ ID NO: 1) EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSAISGSGGKTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKRGYLWHAFDHWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKYGPPCPPCPAPEAAGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLG

[0240] Light chain of Antibody 1; LC of Antibody 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2) EIVLTQSPGTLSLSPGERATLSCRASQSVSSLYLAWYQQKPGQAPRLLIYGASSRATGIPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISRLEPEDFAVYYCQVVGSSPPFTFGGGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC

[0241] HCVR of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 3) EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSAISGSGGKTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKRGYLWHAFDH

[0242] LCVR of Antibody 1; LCVR of Antibody 2 (SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPGTLSLSPGERATLSCRASQSVSSLYLAWYQQKPGQAPRLLIYGASSRATGIPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISRLEPEDFAVYYCQVVGSSPPFT

[0243] HCDR1 of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 5) AASGFTFSSYAMS

[0244] HCDR2 of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 6) AISGSGGKTY

[0245] HCDR3 of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 7) AKRGYLWHAFDH

[0246] LCDR1 (SEQ ID NO: 8) of Antibody 1 and Antibody 2 RASQSVSSLYLA

[0247] LCDR2 (SEQ ID NO: 9) of Antibody 1 and Antibody 2 YGASSRAT

[0248] LCDR3 of Antibody 1 and Antibody 2 (SEQ ID NO: 10) QVVGSSPPFT

[0249] DNA encoding the heavy chain of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 11)

[0250] DNA encoding the light chain of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 12) gaaatagttctcactcagtcccctgggacactctccctgagtccaggagaacgtgcaacactcagttgccgtgcaagccagtccgtctcatccttgtatcttgcttggtaccaacaaaaacctggacaggccccccgtcttcttatctatggtgcctccagt cgcgcaactggtattcccgaccggttcagcggcagtgggtccggcactgacttcaccctgactataagtcggttggagccagaggactttgccgtgtactattgccaagtggtgggaagctcccctcccttcactttcggcggagggaccaaggtagaaatc aaaagaactgtggcggcgccatctgtcttcatcttcccgccatctgatgagcagttgaaatccggaactgcctctgttgtgtgcctgctgaataacttcttatcccagagaggccaaagtacagtggaaggtggataacgccctccaatcgggtaactcccag gagagtgtcacagagcaggacagcaaggacagcacctacagcctcagcagcaccctgacgctgagcaaagcagactacgagaaacacaaagtctacgcctgcgaagtcacccatcagggcctgagctcgcccgtcacaaagagcttcaacagggagagtgc

[0251] HCDR1 (Kabat) of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 13) SYAMS

[0252] HCDR2 of Antibody 1 (Kabat) (SEQ ID NO: 14) AISGSGGKTYYADSVKG

[0253] HCDR3 of Antibody 1 (Kabat) (SEQ ID NO: 15) RGYLWHAFDH

[0254] LCDR1 (Kabat) of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 16) RASQSVSSLYLA

[0255] LCDR2 of Antibody 1 (Kabat) (SEQ ID NO: 17) GASSRAT

[0256] LCDR3 of Antibody 1 (Kabat) (SEQ ID NO: 18) QVVGSSPPFT

[0257] HCDR1 of Antibody 1 (Chothia) (SEQ ID NO: 19) GFTFSSY

[0258] HCDR2 of Antibody 1 (Chothia) (SEQ ID NO: 20) SGSGGK

[0259] HCDR3 of Antibody 1 (Chothia) (SEQ ID NO: 21) RGYLWHAFDH

[0260] LCDR1 of Antibody 1 (Chothia) (SEQ ID NO: 22) RASQSVSSLYLA

[0261] LCDR2 of Antibody 1 (Chothia) (SEQ ID NO: 23) GASSRAT

[0262] LCDR3 of Antibody 1 (Chothia) (SEQ ID NO: 24) QVVGSSPPFT

[0263] HCDR1 (IMGT) of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 25) GFTFSSYA

[0264] HCDR2 (IMGT) of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 26) ISGSGGKT

[0265] HCDR3 (IMGT) of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 27) AKRGYLWHAFDH

[0266] LCDR1 (IMGT) of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 28) QSVSSLY

[0267] LCDR2 (IMGT) of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 29) GAS

[0268] LCDR3 (IMGT) of Antibody 1 (SEQ ID NO: 30) QVVGSSPPFT

[0269] Human IL-34 (SEQ ID NO: 31) NEPLEMWPLTQNEECTVTGFLRDKLQYRSRLQYMKHYFPINYKISVPYEGVFRIANVTRLQRAQVSERELRYLWVLVSLSATESVQDVLLEGHPSWKYLQEVETLLLNVQQGLTDVEVSPKVESVLSLLNAPGPNLKLVRPKALLDNCFRVMELLYCSCCKQSSVLNWQDCEVPSPQSCSPEPSLQYAATQLYPPPPWSPSSPPHSTGSVRPVRAQGEGLLP

[0270] IgG4 PAA hinge region (SEQ ID NO: 32) ESKYGPPCPPCP

[0271] IgG4PAA Fc region (SEQ ID NO: 33) APEAAGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLG

[0272] Cynomolgus CSF1R ECD-Fc sequence (SEQ ID NO: 34) IPVIEPSGPELVVKPGETVTLRCVGNGSVEWDGPISPHWTLYSDGPSSVLTTNNATFQNTRTYRCTEPGDPLGGSAAIHLYVKDPARPWNVLAKEVVVFEDQDALLPCLLTDPVLEAGVSLVRLRGRPLLRHTNYSFSPWHGFIIHRAKFIQGQDYQCSALMGGRKVMSISIRLKVQKVIPGPPALTLVPAELVRIRGEAAQIVCSASNIDVDFDVFLQHNTTKLAIPQRSDFHDNRYQKVLTLSLGQVDFQHAGNYSCVASNVQGKHSTSMFFRVVESAYLDLSSEQNLIQEVTVGEGLNLKVMVEAYPGLQGFNWTYLGPFSDHQPEPKLANATTKDTYRHTFTLSLPRLKPSEAGRYSFLARNPGGWRALTFELTLRYPPEVSVIWTSINGSGTLLCAASGYPQPNVTWLQCAGHTDRCDEAQVLQVWVDPHPEVLSQEPFQKVTVQSLLTAETLEHNQTYECRAHNSVGSGSWAFIPISAGARTHPPDEAAAEPKSSDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSP

[0273] Heavy chain of Antibody 2 (SEQ ID NO: 35) EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSAISGSGGKTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKRGYLWHAFDHWGRGTLVTSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPEAEGAPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK

[0274] Heavy chain of antibody 3 (SEQ ID NO: 36) EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSAISGSGGKTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKRGYLWHAFDHWGRGTLVTSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG

[0275] Heavy chain of antibody 4 (SEQ ID NO: 37) EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSAISGSGGKTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKRGYLWHAFDHWGRGTLVTSSASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSNFGTQTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKTVERKCCVECPCPAPPVAGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTFRVVSVLTVVHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPAPIEKTISKTKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPMLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG

[0276] Heavy chain of donanemab (SEQ ID NO: 38) QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGSSVKVSCKASGYDFTRYYINWVRQAPGQGLEWMGWINPGSGNTKYNEKFKGRVTITADESTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCAREGITVYWGQGTTVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG

[0277] Light chain of donanemab (SEQ ID NO: 39) DIVMTQTPLSLSVTPGQPASISCKSSQSLLYSRGKTYLNWLLQKPGQSPQLLIYAVSKLDSGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKISRVEAEDVGVYYCVQGTHYPFTFGQGTKLEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC

[0278] Heavy chain of anti-N3pG antibody (SEQ ID NO: 40) EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYPMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSAISGSGGSTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAREGGSGSYYNGFDYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG

[0279] Light chain of anti-N3pG antibody (SEQ ID NO: 41) DIQMTQSPSTLSASVGDRVTITCRASQSLGNWLAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYQASTLESGVPSRFSGSGSGTEFTLTISSLQPDDFATYYCQHYKGSFWTFGQGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC

Claims

1. An antibody that binds to human IL-34, the antibody comprising a heavy chain variable region (VH) and a light chain variable region (VL), wherein the VH comprises heavy chain complementarity determining regions (HCDRs) HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3, and the VL comprises light chain complementarity determining regions (LCDRs) LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3; the HCDR1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 5; said HCDR2 comprising SEQ ID NO: 6; the HCDR3 comprises SEQ ID NO: 7; the LCDR1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 8; the LCDR2 comprises SEQ ID NO: 9; the LCDR3 comprises SEQ ID NO: 10; An antibody comprising an LC having an amino acid sequence that has at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2, and an HC having an amino acid sequence that has at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:

1.

2. The antibody of claim 1, wherein the VH comprises SEQ ID NO: 3 and the VL comprises SEQ ID NO:

4.

3. The antibody of claim 2, wherein the antibody comprises a heavy chain (HC) comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 and a light chain (LC) comprising SEQ ID NO:

2.

4. A nucleic acid comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12.

5. A vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 4.

6. 6. The vector of claim 5, wherein the vector comprises a first nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 and a second nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

12.

7. A composition comprising a first vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 and a second vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

12.

8. A cell comprising the vector of claim 5.

9. A cell comprising a first vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 and a second vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

12.

10. The cell of claim 8 or 9, wherein the cell is a mammalian cell.

11. 11. A process for producing an antibody, comprising culturing the cells of claim 10 under conditions such that the antibody is expressed, and recovering the expressed antibody from the culture medium.

12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody of any one of claims 1 to 3 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier.

13. A therapeutic agent for an immune-mediated disease, comprising the antibody according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

14. 14. The therapeutic agent of claim 13, wherein the immune-mediated disease is selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease; tauopathy disease; Sjogren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and / or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

15. The therapeutic agent of claim 14, wherein the immune-mediated disease is Alzheimer's disease.

16. Use of an antibody according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an immune-mediated disease.

17. 17. The use of claim 16, wherein the immune-mediated disease is selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease; tauopathy disease; Sjogren's syndrome (SS); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, kidney disease, sepsis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and / or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

18. 17. The use according to claim 16, wherein the immune-mediated disease is Alzheimer's disease.

19. 1. A method for determining the level of human IL-34 in a body fluid, the method comprising: (a) contacting the body fluid with an anti-human IL-34 diagnostic monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to human IL-34 and consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises light chain complementarity determining regions LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 having the amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO:8), (SEQ ID NO:9), and (SEQ ID NO:10), respectively; heavy chain complementarity determining regions HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3 having the amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO:5), (SEQ ID NO:6), and (SEQ ID NO:7), respectively; an LC having an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2; and an HC having an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:1; (b) optionally removing any non-specifically bound monoclonal antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof; (c) detecting and / or quantifying the amount of the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to human IL-34; The agent comprises the anti-human IL-34 diagnostic monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.

20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the body fluid is blood, serum or plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid, and the contacting occurs ex vivo.

21. 10. A pharmaceutical for use in a method for treating or preventing a disease characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain of a human subject, said pharmaceutical comprising the antibody of any one of claims 1 to 3, said method comprising administering to said human subject an anti-N3pG Aβ antibody in combination with the antibody of any one of claims 1 to 3 simultaneously, separately or sequentially.

22. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 21, wherein the anti-N3pG Aβ antibody is donanemab, and the antibody according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is the antibody according to claim 3.

23. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 21, wherein the disease is Alzheimer's disease.

24. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 21 , wherein the anti-N3pG Aβ antibody is donanemab and the disease is Alzheimer's disease.

25. The pharmaceutical described in claim 24, wherein the antibody described in claim 3 is administered sequentially after a series of treatments with donanemab.

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