Avidity-based binding to HER2 results in selective killing of HER2-overexpressing cells by anti-HER2/CD3

D Slaga, D Ellerman, TN Lombana, R Vij, J Li… - Science translational …, 2018 - science.org
D Slaga, D Ellerman, TN Lombana, R Vij, J Li, M Hristopoulos, R Clark, J Johnston…
Science translational medicine, 2018science.org
A primary barrier to the success of T cell–recruiting bispecific antibodies in the treatment of
solid tumors is the lack of tumor-specific targets, resulting in on-target off-tumor adverse
effects from T cell autoreactivity to target-expressing organs. To overcome this, we
developed an anti-HER2/CD3 T cell–dependent bispecific (TDB) antibody that selectively
targets HER2-overexpressing tumor cells with high potency, while sparing cells that express
low amounts of HER2 found in normal human tissues. Selectivity is based on the avidity of …
A primary barrier to the success of T cell–recruiting bispecific antibodies in the treatment of solid tumors is the lack of tumor-specific targets, resulting in on-target off-tumor adverse effects from T cell autoreactivity to target-expressing organs. To overcome this, we developed an anti-HER2/CD3 T cell–dependent bispecific (TDB) antibody that selectively targets HER2-overexpressing tumor cells with high potency, while sparing cells that express low amounts of HER2 found in normal human tissues. Selectivity is based on the avidity of two low-affinity anti-HER2 Fab arms to high target density on HER2-overexpressing cells. The increased selectivity to HER2-overexpressing cells is expected to mitigate the risk of adverse effects and increase the therapeutic index. Results included in this manuscript not only support the clinical development of anti-HER2/CD3 1Fab–immunoglobulin G TDB but also introduce a potentially widely applicable strategy for other T cell–directed therapies. The potential of this discovery has broad applications to further enable consideration of solid tumor targets that were previously limited by on-target, but off-tumor, autoimmunity.
AAAS