Antibody Efficacy via Cholesterol Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current anti-CD20 antibodies experience reduced effector function due to cholesterol depletion, which impairs their therapeutic efficacy in treating B cell lymphoma, leukemia, and autoimmune diseases, as cholesterol levels affect antibody binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) activity.

Innovation Solution

Development of an antibody with specific CDR sequences that binds to CD20, which is administered after withdrawal from cholesterol-lowering agents, ensuring optimal serum cholesterol levels to enhance effector function and therapeutic efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cholesterol levels are reduced by cholesterol-lowering agents, then cardiovascular health is improved, but antibody binding affinity and effector function are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic efficacyVSAvoidcholesterol depletion effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by requiring withdrawal from cholesterol-lowering agents before antibody administration. This ensures that cholesterol levels are restored to optimal ranges prior to therapy, creating favorable conditions for antibody binding and effector function without requiring permanent discontinuation of cardiovascular protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by monitoring and adjusting cholesterol levels as a critical parameter. By controlling cholesterol concentration within an optimal range through timing of agent withdrawal and potential replacement, the patent optimizes both cardiovascular health and antibody therapeutic efficacy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If cholesterol levels are increased to enhance effector function, then antibody binding affinity improves, but cardiovascular health may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffector functionVSAvoidhypercholesterolemia risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing optimal cholesterol levels through controlled withdrawal from lowering agents before antibody administration. This timing strategy ensures cholesterol is sufficient for effector function while avoiding sustained hypercholesterolemia

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action through the cyclic pattern of cholesterol-lowering therapy followed by controlled withdrawal periods. This periodic adjustment allows maintenance of cardiovascular protection while creating windows of optimal cholesterol levels for antibody efficacy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If cholesterol-lowering agents are administered continuously, then cardiovascular disease risk is reduced, but CD20 expression and antibody binding are impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecardiovascular protectionVSAvoidCD20 expression
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by planning and executing withdrawal from cholesterol-lowering agents before antibody administration. This ensures CD20 expression is optimized for antibody binding while maintaining cardiovascular protection through the timing and potential replacement of these agents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The antibody's effector function is significantly increased by maintaining optimal cholesterol levels, leading to improved binding affinity and CDC activity, thereby enhancing treatment outcomes for B cell lymphoma, leukemia, and autoimmune diseases.

Implementation Method 1

Antibodies are immunoglobulins that recognize specific antigens and mediate their effects via several mechanisms, including inhibition of ligand-receptor interactions, inhibition of receptor activation, mediation of receptor internalization and activation of effector functions, such as complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectComplement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC):

Implementation Method 2

Polyak MJ et al. (2003) Leukemia, 17:1384-1389 disclose that cholesterol depletion reduced expression of the epitope of CD20 to which the anti-CD20 antibody FCM7 binds, whereas cholesterol enrichment enhanced its expression.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCholesterol depletion effect:

Implementation Method 3

Polyak MJ et al. (2003) Leukemia, 17:1384-1389 disclose that cholesterol depletion reduced expression of the epitope of CD20 to which the anti-CD20 antibody FCM7 binds, whereas cholesterol enrichment enhanced its expression.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCholesterol enrichment effect:

Implementation Method 4

Janas E et al. (2005) Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 139:439-446 show that the integrity of lipid rafts seem to play a crucial role for CD20-induced calcium influx and induction of apopotosis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCalcium influx:

Implementation Method 5

Janas E et al. (2005) Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 139:439-446 show that the integrity of lipid rafts seem to play a crucial role for CD20-induced calcium influx and induction of apopotosis, and that depletin of cholesterol with MβCD profoundly reduces apoptosis induced by Rituxan®-mediated cross-linking of CD20.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectApoptosis induction:

Data Source

PatentEP2205277B1Novel antibody therapies
Publication Date: 2017.07.26 GENMAB AS
  • EP2205277B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2205277B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2205277B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Antibody capable of mediating effector function which specifically binds to a multiple membrane spanning antigen or to an antigen which forms dimers or multimers (i) for use in combination with a cholesterol-increasing agent in the treatment of a disease or disorder associated with said antigen, wherein antibody-induced effector function has a beneficial effect on said disease ordisorder or (ii) for use in the treatment of such disease or disorder, wherein the antibody is to be administered to a subject undergoing therapy with a cholesterol-lowering agent, such as a statin, and wherein the subject is withdrawn from treatment with the cholesterol-lowering agent prior to the administration of the antibody. Furthermore, a kit of parts comprising such antibody as well as a cholesterol-increasing agent.