Anti-CD20/CD3 T cell–dependent bispecific antibody for the treatment of B cell malignancies

LL Sun, D Ellerman, M Mathieu… - Science translational …, 2015 - science.org
LL Sun, D Ellerman, M Mathieu, M Hristopoulos, X Chen, Y Li, X Yan, R Clark, A Reyes…
Science translational medicine, 2015science.org
Bispecific antibodies and antibody fragments in various formats have been explored as a
means to recruit cytolytic T cells to kill tumor cells. Encouraging clinical data have been
reported with molecules such as the anti-CD19/CD3 bispecific T cell engager (BiTE)
blinatumomab. However, the clinical use of many reported T cell–recruiting bispecific
modalities is limited by liabilities including unfavorable pharmacokinetics, potential
immunogenicity, and manufacturing challenges. We describe a B cell–targeting anti …
Bispecific antibodies and antibody fragments in various formats have been explored as a means to recruit cytolytic T cells to kill tumor cells. Encouraging clinical data have been reported with molecules such as the anti-CD19/CD3 bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) blinatumomab. However, the clinical use of many reported T cell–recruiting bispecific modalities is limited by liabilities including unfavorable pharmacokinetics, potential immunogenicity, and manufacturing challenges. We describe a B cell–targeting anti-CD20/CD3 T cell–dependent bispecific antibody (CD20-TDB), which is a full-length, humanized immunoglobulin G1 molecule with near-native antibody architecture constructed using “knobs-into-holes” technology. CD20-TDB is highly active in killing CD20-expressing B cells, including primary patient leukemia and lymphoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. In cynomolgus monkeys, CD20-TDB potently depletes B cells in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues at a single dose of 1 mg/kg while demonstrating pharmacokinetic properties similar to those of conventional monoclonal antibodies. CD20-TDB also exhibits activity in vitro and in vivo in the presence of competing CD20-targeting antibodies. These data provide rationale for the clinical testing of CD20-TDB for the treatment of CD20-expressing B cell malignancies.
AAAS