High affinity human antibodies to tumor antigens

US5977322A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• James D. Marks · Kensington, US
• Robert Schier · San Francisco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 13, 1996
• Grant date: Nov 2, 1999
• Expiry date: Jun 13, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2333/71
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention provides novel human antibodies that specifically bind to human c-erbB-2. In one embodiment, the antibodies are single chain antibodies initially developed by phage display against a c-erbB-2 target. The resulting antibodies (designated C6 antibodies) show improved specificity and affinity for c-erbB-2. In addition, since the C6 antibodies are both relatively small and fully human they are less immunogenic in humans than other (e.g., full-size or chimeric) anti-c-erbB-2 antibodies. The C6 antibodies may be used alone or as components of chimeric molecules that specifically target and deliver effector molecules to cells overexpressing c-erbB-2.