Fentanyl is an addictive prescription opioid that is over 80 times mora potent than morphine. The synthetic nature of fentanyl has enabled the creation of dangerous “designer drug’ analogues that escape toxicology screening, yet display comparable potency to the parent drug. Alarmingly, a large number of fatalities have been linked to overdose of fentanyl derivatives. Herein, we report an effective immunotherapy for reducing the psychoactive effects of fentanyl class drugs. A single conjugate vaccine was created that elicited high levels of antibodies with cross-reactivity for a wide panel of fentanyl analogues, Moreover, vaccinated mice gained significant protection from lethal fentanyl doses. Lastly, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based technique was established enabling drug specificity profiling of antibodies derived directly from serum. Our newly developed fentanyl vaccine and analytical methods may assist in the battle against synthetic opioid abuse.

The present disclosure provides, in part, a method of treating an autoimmune disease in a subject by reducing the number of pDCs through administration of a human interleukin-3 (IL-3)-diphtheria toxin conjugate (DT-IL3). The disclosure also generally relates to methods of monitoring the effectiveness of therapy in subjects receiving DT-IL3 for treating an autoimmune disease, and methods of determining continuing treatment of subjects receiving DT-IL3 for treating an autoimmune disease. The disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions of DT-IL3 for use in such methods.

Provided herein are HER2-targeting molecules comprising Shiga toxin A Subunit derived polypeptides having 1) de-immunization and 2) reduced, protease-cleavage sensitivity while retaining Shiga toxin function(s), such as, e.g., potent cytotoxicity via ribosome inhibition. Certain HER2-targeting molecules of the present invention exhibit reduced immunogenic potential in mammals and are well-tolerated by mammals while retaining aforementioned features. The HER2-targeting molecules of the present invention have uses for selectively killing specific cells (e.g., HER positive tumor cells); for selectively delivering cargos to specific cells (e.g., HER positive tumor cells), and as therapeutic and/or diagnostic molecules for treating and diagnosing a variety of conditions, including cancers and tumors involving the expression or over-expression of cell-surface HER2.

Disclosed herein are therapeutic constructs including a delivery particle, at least one mitotic kinase inhibitor, and at least one immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also disclosed are therapeutic constructs including a mitotic kinase inhibitor, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, and a chemical linker. These therapeutic constructs cause cancer death by both therapeutic and immune effects and promote targeted delivery of more therapeutics to the surviving cancer cells in a positive feed-back loop. They enhance therapeutic index of free drugs and can be used intratumorally or systemically. This strategy can treat broad cancer types and is particular useful for cancer without obvious receptors for cancer-targeted delivery of otherwise toxic therapeutics.

The present invention relates to novel linkers containing a 2,3-disubstituted succinic group, or 2-monosubstituted, or 2,3-disubstituted fumaric or maleic (trans (E)- or cis (Z)-butenedioic), or acetylenedicarboxyl group for conjugation of a cytotoxic agent, and/or one or more different functional molecules per linker to a cell-binding molecule, through bridge linking pairs of thiols on the cell-binding molecule specifically. The invention also relates to methods of making such linkers, and of using such linkers in making homogeneous conjugates, as well as of application of the conjugates in treatment of cancers, infections and autoimmune disorders.

Regional, tumor-targeted, cytotoxic therapy, such as D2C7-immunotoxin (D2C7-IT), not only specifically target and destroy tumor cells, but in the process initiate immune events that promote an in situ vaccine effect. The antitumor effects are amplified by immune checkpoint blockade which engenders a long-term systemic immune response that effectively eliminates all tumor cells.

The present invention relates to novel linkers containing a 2,3-disubstituted succinic group, or 2-monosubstituted, or 2,3-disubstituted fumaric or maleic (trans (E)- or cis (Z)-butenedioic), or acetylenedicarboxyl group for conjugation of a cytotoxic agent, and/or one or more different functional molecules per linker to a cell-binding molecule, through bridge linking pairs of thiols on the cell-binding molecule specifically. The invention also relates to methods of making such linkers, and of using such linkers in making homogeneous conjugates, as well as of application of the conjugates in treatment of cancers, infections and autoimmune disorders.

Single-domain antibodies that bind the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein are disclosed. The single-domain antibodies include binding domains that bind epitopes of the Spike ectodomain inside and outside the receptor binding domain. The single-domain antibodies can be used for multiple purposes including in the research, diagnosis, and prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of COVID-19.

The present invention relates to a binder-toxin fusion protein comprising at least one protein binder selected from the group consisting of an antibody an antibody fragment or derivative retaining target binding capacity, or an antibody mimetic,
a ribotoxin or -protoxin, and optionally, a peptide linker connecting a) and b) and/or a cleavable domain comprised in the protoxin (FIG. 1)

Provided herein are monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind IL-13RA2 with cross-reactivity in humans and canines. Also provided are methods of use of the antibodies in the treatment and monitoring of cancers.