The invention provides an isolated and purified nucleic acid sequence encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) directed against B-cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA). The invention also provides host cells, such as T-cells or natural killer (NK) cells, expressing the CAR and methods for destroying multiple myeloma cells.

The invention provides monoclonal antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof specific for TNFR2, and methods of using the same to treat cancer or autoimmune disorder, including combination therapy with antagonists of the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint.

The invention discloses an antibody that binds an extracellular part of human HVEM on human HVEM-expressing cells, that prevents binding of BTLA to HVEM when the antibody is bound to said extracellular part of HVEM, wherein said antibody displaces BTLA bound to said extracellular part of HVEM. The invention also discloses the use of such an antibody in combating certain diseases.

Described herein are antibody constructs comprising a 41-1BB binding domain and an antigen-binding domain that binds to a tumor-associated antigen (TAA), wherein the 4-1BB-binding domain and the TAA antigen-binding domain are linked directly or indirectly to a scaffold. The scaffold may be an Fc construct with modifications that reduce its ability to mediate effector function.

The disclosure is directed to dual variable domain immunoglobulin double-stranded RNA conjugates that are advantageous for inhibition of target gene expression, as well as compositions suitable for therapeutic use. The dual variable domain immunoglobulin comprises a first variable domain that binds to a binding target, and a second variable domain that comprises a reactive residue, where the linker is covalently conjugated to the reactive residue. The dsRNA is linked to the linker and is capable of inhibiting the expression of the target gene by RNA interference. The disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these conjugate and methods of inhibiting the expression of a target gene by administering these conjugates, e.g., for the treatment of various disease conditions.

An anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)/anti-4-1BB bispecific antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, and use thereof, are provided. The bispecific antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof may have high binding affinity to both of a BCMA protein and a 4-1BB protein and may be effectively used to prevent or treat a disease related to BCMA, 4-1BB, or both thereof (e.g., cancer).

The present invention relates generally to an isolated antibody which specifically binds human CD137, and pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use thereof, a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding said antibody, a vector comprising said nucleic acid, a host cell comprising said nucleic acid or said vector, and a method of producing said antibody.

This disclosure provides dimeric, pentameric, and hexameric Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) superfamily receptor protein binding molecules and methods of using such binding molecules to direct apoptosis-mediated killing of TNF receptor-expressing cells.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for efficiently producing a B cell population comprising B cells that recognize a specific antigen. According to the present invention, provided is a method for producing a B cell population, comprising: a step (c) of culturing a cell population comprising B cells together with a specific antigen in the absence of IL-21, in the absence of IL-4, and in the presence of a cytokine other than IL-21 and IL-4, while giving stimulation mediated by CD40 and a BAFF receptor to the cells; and a step (d) of culturing the cell population comprising B cells, while giving stimulation mediated by has to the cells, so as to obtain a B cell population comprising B cells that recognize the specific antigen.

Described herein are methods for producing and utilizing an alternative signal 1 domain to construct an optimally signaling CAR. Alternative signal 1 domains of the present technology are based on alternatives to CD3ζ, including mutated ITAMs from CD3ζ (which contains 3 IT AM motifs), truncations of CD3ζ, and alternative splice variants known as CD3s, CD3 theta, and artificial constructs engineered to express fusions between CD3s or CD30 and CD3ζ. CAR polypeptides comprising alternative signal 1 domains are utilized to engineer CAR T cells. Further, this technology related to methods of treating cancer by administering to a subject in need thereof CAR T cells comprising alternative signal 1 domains.