JCV Neutralizing Antibody Binding VP1 Sialic Acid Pocket

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) caused by JC polyomavirus (JCV) lack effective antiviral therapies, and existing antibodies may not adequately address the virus's variants with amino acid changes in the sialic acid binding pocket.

Innovation Solution

Development of a JC-virus neutralizing monoclonal antibody specific to the JCV capsid protein VP1, comprising specific CDR sequences, which can bind to multiple JCV variants, including those with amino acid changes in the sialic acid binding pocket, and is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing antibodies are used to treat PML, then treatment is provided, but they fail to effectively bind to JCV variants with amino acid changes in the sialic acid binding pocket

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidbinding capability to virus variants
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the antibody's CDR sequences (specifically CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 of both heavy and light chains) to alter its binding parameters. The optimized CDR sequences enable the antibody to maintain high affinity binding across multiple JCV variants with different amino acid substitutions in the sialic acid binding pocket, thereby resolving the contradiction between treatment reliability and adaptability to variants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a monoclonal antibody is designed to bind multiple JCV variants, then versatility against variants is improved, but specificity and neutralizing capability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding capability to virus variantsVSAvoidneutralizing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a monoclonal antibody with CDR sequences that can universally bind to multiple JCV variants (including wild-type and variants with amino acid changes at positions 55, 269, 271, 60, and 66). The antibody maintains its neutralizing capability through optimized CDR3 sequences that preserve critical interactions with the virus while accommodating variant diversity, thus achieving both versatility and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If an antibody is engineered with humanized sequences, then immunogenicity is reduced, but binding affinity and neutralizing activity may be diminished

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveimmunogenicityVSAvoidbinding affinity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by humanizing only specific regions of the antibody (framework regions and CDRs) while preserving the critical binding determinants. The CDR sequences are optimized to maintain high binding affinity to the sialic acid binding pocket across JCV variants, while the framework regions are humanized to reduce immunogenicity. This localized approach allows the antibody to achieve both low immunogenicity and high binding affinity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively reduces viral load, improves clinical scores, and shows therapeutic efficacy in treating PML by inhibiting JCV replication and infectivity across various variants, including those with mutations in the sialic acid binding pocket.

Implementation Method 1

an isolated JC-virus neutralizing monoclonal antibody against JCV capsid protein VP1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntibody-antigen binding:

Implementation Method 2

capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBlood-brain barrier penetration:

Data Source

PatentEP2828284B1JCV neutralizing antibodies
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 BIOGEN MA INC
  • EP2828284B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2828284B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2828284B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

In one aspect, the disclosure provides neutralizing antibodies against JCV and methods for the treatment of PML. In some embodiments, aspects of the invention relate to an isolated JC-vims neutralizing monoclonal antibody against JCV capsid protein VPI (JCV-VP1 ). In some embodiments, the antibody suppresses infectivity of the JC-vims. In some embodiments, the antibody binds the sialic acid binding pocket of JCV-VP1.