Bispecific Antibody Assembly via Interface Residue Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for co-administering multiple antibody therapies face challenges in stability, bioavailability, and manufacturing costs, particularly in designing suitable pharmaceutical formulations for co-formulations of antibody agents, which can lead to patient discomfort and increased regulatory and manufacturing expenses.

Innovation Solution

The method involves co-expressing nucleic acids encoding specific heavy and light chain variable and constant domains in a host cell to produce bispecific antibodies with improved specificity and stability, allowing for the combination of binding specificities and activities of two distinct therapeutic antibodies into a single compound, utilizing designed residues in the interface domains to enhance assembly and binding properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If co-formulation of multiple antibody agents is used, then fewer injections are required, but formulation stability and bioavailability become difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of injectionsVSAvoidformulation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple antibody binding specificities into a single bispecific antibody molecule, combining the functions of two separate antibodies into one therapeutic agent that can be administered as a single formulation, thereby reducing the number of injections while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite antibody structure with two different Fab regions derived from two distinct antibodies, forming a single molecule that integrates the binding capabilities of both parent antibodies while maintaining proper IgG architecture and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If separate antibody agents are administered, then formulation stability is easier to maintain, but manufacturing and regulatory costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformulation stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple therapeutic functions into a single bispecific antibody product, reducing the need to manufacture and regulate multiple separate antibody agents, thereby lowering overall manufacturing and regulatory costs while maintaining formulation stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple injections are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but patient compliance decreases due to inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidpatient compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple antibody therapies into a single bispecific antibody that can be administered as one injection, improving patient compliance and convenience while maintaining cost-effectiveness through streamlined manufacturing and regulatory processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If co-expression of multiple HC-LC pairs is used, then bisspecific antibody production is achieved, but mis-matched byproduct generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebispecific antibody productionVSAvoidassembly specificity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetric modifications at the HC-HC interface, creating distinct structural features that enable specific pairing of heavy chains and prevent mis-matched byproducts, thereby improving assembly specificity while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies localized modifications specifically at the HC-HC interface regions, altering only the relevant interface properties to enhance pairing specificity without affecting the overall structure or function of the antibody molecule

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2970435B1Methods for producing fabs and bi-specific antibodies
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 ELI LILLY & CO
  • EP2970435B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2970435B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2970435B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides methods for producing Fabs and bi-specific antibodies comprising designed residues in the interfaces of the heavy chain- light chain variable (VH/VL) domain and the heavy chain-light chain constant (CH1 /CL] domain, Fabs and bi-specific antibodies produced according to said processes and host cells encoding the same.