TNF-α Binding Antibodies with Optimized CDRs

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for improved antibodies capable of binding TNF-α with high affinity and neutralizing its biological activity to effectively treat acute and chronic immunological diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis.

Innovation Solution

Development of a novel family of TNF-α binding proteins, including CDR-grafted, humanized, and chimeric antibodies, and their fragments, which bind TNF-α with high affinity and neutralize its activity, comprising specific amino acid sequences and methods for their production and use in detecting and regulating TNF-α.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antibodies are used to bind TNF-α, then basic binding capability is achieved, but binding affinity and neutralizing capacity are insufficient for effective treatment of immunological diseases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding affinity and neutralizing capacityVSAvoidcomplexity of antibody engineering
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically modifying amino acid sequences in the variable regions of antibodies, particularly in the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs), to optimize binding affinity and neutralizing capacity against TNF-α. This involves changing specific parameters such as residue composition, charge distribution, and hydrophobicity in the antibody-antigen interface to achieve superior therapeutic efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials by creating chimeric antibodies that combine variable regions from non-human species with constant regions from human immunoglobulins. This composite structure integrates the high-affinity binding capabilities of non-human antibodies with the reduced immunogenicity of human antibodies, achieving both high reliability and improved ease of manufacture compared to fully non-human antibodies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If antibody sequences are optimized for high affinity binding, then neutralizing capacity improves, but the complexity of developing and producing these engineered antibodies increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneutralizing capacityVSAvoidcomplexity of antibody structure and production
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes neutralizing capacity by making targeted parameter changes to the antibody variable regions, specifically engineering the CDRs to achieve optimal geometric and chemical complementarity with TNF-α. This systematic parameter optimization allows for improved neutralizing capacity while maintaining a manageable level of structural complexity through rational design rather than random mutation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating humanized versions of high-affinity binding motifs identified from natural or engineered antibodies. Once an optimal binding configuration is identified, this successful design is copied and adapted into human-compatible antibody structures, allowing the complex binding capability to be replicated in a therapeutically acceptable format without redeveloping the entire antibody from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If conventional antibody structures are used, then production is simpler, but therapeutic effectiveness against immunological diseases is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectivenessVSAvoidsimplicity of antibody production
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by using composite antibody structures that combine the high productivity potential of engineered high-affinity binders with the manufacturing simplicity of conventional antibody formats. The chimeric and humanized antibody architectures maintain standard immunoglobulin folding and assembly pathways, allowing them to be produced using established manufacturing processes while delivering superior therapeutic effectiveness through optimized antigen binding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent achieves improved therapeutic effectiveness through parameter changes in the variable regions while preserving the constant region structure and overall antibody architecture that are familiar to manufacturing systems. This selective optimization of binding parameters without fundamentally altering the production-relevant structural features allows for enhanced efficacy while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8877194B2TNF-α binding proteins
Publication Date: 2014.11.04 ABBVIE INC

AI summary

TNF-α binding proteins, including chimeric, CDR-grafted, and humanized antibodies that bind TNF-α are provided. Binding proteins have high affinity for TNF-α and neutralize TNF-α activity. A binding protein can be a full-length antibody or a TNF-α-binding portion thereof. Methods of making and methods of using the binding proteins are also described. The TNF-α binding proteins are useful for detecting TNF-α and for inhibiting TNF-α activity, including in a human subject suffering from a disease or disorder in which TNF-α activity is detrimental.