METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF A BINDING PARTNER OF A MULTISPECIFIC BINDER

Abstract

Herein is reported a method for the detection of free antigen of a multispecific antibody in a sample, whereby the antigen to be detected can be specifically bound by a first binding site of the multispecific antibody, comprising the step of incubating a sample comprising free antigen and multispecific antibody with an anti-idiotypic antibody, which specifically binds to a second binding specificity of the bispecific antibody, which is different from the first binding specificity, whereby the anti-idiotypic antibody is bound to a solid phase.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for the determination of the presence or amount of free antigen of a multispecific antibody in a sample comprising the free antigen and the multispecific antibody, wherein the antigen can be specifically bound by a first binding specificity of the multi specific antibody, comprising the steps of: (A) incubating the sample comprising the free antigen and the multispecific antibody with a second antigen that can be specifically bound by a second binding specificity of the multispecific antibody, which is different from the first binding specificity, to form a second antigen-multispecific antibody complex and (B) removing the second antigen-multi specific antibody complex from the sample to produce a multispecific antibody-depleted sample prior to the determination of the presence or amount of the antigen.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second antigen is conjugated to a solid phase.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second antigen is conjugated to a paramagnetic bead.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising (C) determining the presence or amount of free antigen in the multispecific-antibody depleted sample.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein determining the presence or amount of the free antigen in the multispecific antibody depleted sample comprises the following steps: (i) incubating the multispecific antibody-depleted sample with a capture antibody that specifically binds to the antigen to form a capture antibody-antigen complex, and (ii) correlating the formed capture antibody-antigen complex to the amount of the free antigen in the sample.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein determining of the presence or amount of free antigen in the multispecific antibody depleted sample comprises the following steps: (i) incubating the multi specific antibody-depleted sample with a capture antibody that specifically binds to the antigen to form a capture antibody-antigen complex, (ii) incubating the capture antibody-antigen complex with a tracer antibody to form a capture antibody-antigen-tracer antibody complex, wherein the capture antibody and the tracer antibody bind to non-overlapping epitopes on the antigen, and (iii) correlating the formed capture antibody-antigen-tracer antibody complex to the amount of the antigen in the sample.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein determining the presence or amount of the free antigen in the multispecific antibody depleted sample comprises the following steps: (i) incubating the multispecific antibody-depleted sample with a capture antibody that specifically binds to the antigen to form a capture antibody-antigen complex, (ii) incubating the capture antibody-antigen complex with a tracer antibody to form a capture antibody-antigen-tracer antibody complex, wherein the capture antibody and the tracer antibody bind to non-overlapping epitopes on the antigen, (iii) incubating the capture antibody-antigen-tracer antibody complex with a detection antibody comprising a detectable label, wherein the detection antibody specifically binds to the tracer antibody at an epitope outside the variable domains of the tracer antibody, and (iv) correlating the formed capture antibody-antigen-tracer antibody complex to the amount of the free antigen in the sample.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the multispecific antibody is a bispecific antibody that has a first binding specificity that specifically binds to a first antigen or first epitope on an antigen and that has a second binding specificity that specifically binds to a second antigen or to a second epitope on the antigen.

19-21. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0219] FIG. 1 Equilibrium between drug-bound target (antigen bound to bispecific antibody) and free target (free antigen).

[0220] FIG. 2 Depletion of c-MET bound to a bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody by use of HER3; biotinylated HER3 immobilized on streptavidin-coated magnet-beads; after incubation of these magnet beads with a sample, e.g. serum sample, bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody is bound and depleted by immobilized HER3; c-MET bound to the bispecific antibody is co-depleted; free c-MET (not-bound to the bispecific antibody) remains in the supernatant of the sample.

[0221] FIG. 3 Sandwich ELISA for detection of c-MET: biotinylated anti c-MET antibody is bound to a streptavidin coated microtiter plate; immobilized anti-c-MET antibody specifically binds free c-MET and a second, DIG-labeled anti-c-MET antibody allows detection of bound c-MET; the assay is used to detect free c-MET in the supernatant of a sample after depletion.

[0222] FIG. 4(A) Assay signal levels of c-MET before and after immuno depletion in buffer: samples with 100 ng/ml c-MET and increasing amount of bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody were prepared; complexes of bsmAb and bound c-MET were depleted with biotinylated HER3, bound to magnetic beads; the diagram shows c-MET concentrations before and after depletion determined by an ELISA.

[0223] FIG. 4(B) Assay signal levels of c-MET before and after immuno depletion in serum: samples with 100 ng/ml c-MET and increasing amount of bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody were prepared; complexes of bsmAb and bound c-MET were depleted with biotinylated HER3, bound to magnetic beads; the diagram shows c-MET concentrations before and after depletion determined by an ELISA.

[0224] FIG. 5(A) ELISA to detect the antigen of a bispecific antibody by help of the other antigen: biotinylated HER3 is bound to a streptavidin coated microtiter plate and used to immobilize bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody; c-MET is bound to immobilized bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody; a second anti c-MET antibody (DIG-labeled) together with a polyclonal, HRP labeled anti-DIG antibody allows detection of bound c-MET.

[0225] FIG. 5(B) ELISA to detect the antigen of a bispecific antibody by help of an anti-idiotypic antibody against the other binding specificity of this bispecific antibody: biotinylated anti-idiotypic antibody against the binding specificity, which specifically binds to HER3 (idmAb<HER3>-BI) is bound to a streptavidin coated microtiter plate and used to immobilize bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody; c-MET is bound to immobilized bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody; a second anti-c-MET antibody (DIG-labeled) together with a polyclonal, HRP labeled anti-DIG antibody allows detection of bound c-MET.

[0226] FIG. 6 Calibration curve of ELISA to detect the antigen of a bispecific antibody by help of the other antigen.

[0227] FIG. 7 Sandwich ELISA for detection of VEGF with an anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody (VEGF bound by a bispecific antibody): A biotinylated anti-idiotypic antibody against the ANG2 binding specificity of the bispecific antibody is bound to a streptavidin coated micro titer plate. Immobilized anti-idiotypic anti-ANG2 antibody forms a complex with the anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody. A second digoxigenin-labeled anti-VEGF antibody is used for the detection of bispecific antibody-bound VEGF.

[0228] FIG. 8 Calibration curve of an ELISA for detection of complexes of VEGF with an anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody. A dilution series from 0 ng/ml to 50 ng/ml VEGF was added to serum containing 500 g/ml anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. Samples were analyzed as described in Example 6.

[0229] FIG. 9 Sandwich ELISA for detection of complexes of ANG2 with anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody (ANG2-bound by bispecific antibody): A biotinylated anti-idiotypic antibody against the VEGF binding specificity of the bispecific antibody is bound to a streptavidin coated micro titer plate. Immobilized anti-idiotypic anti-VEGF antibody antibody forms a complex with the anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody. A second digoxigenin-labeled anti-ANG2 antibody is used for the detection of bound ANG2.

[0230] FIG. 10 Calibration curve of ELISA for detection of complexes of ANG2 with anti-ANG2NEGF antibody. A dilution series from 0 ng/ml to 5000 ng/ml ANG2 was added to serum containing 5 g/ml anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. Samples were analyzed as described in Example 7.

[0231] FIG. 11 Sandwich ELISA for detection of complexes of VEGF with anti-ANG2NEGF antibody (VEGF-bound by bispecific antibody): A biotinylated anti-VEGF antibody is bound to a streptavidin coated micro titer plate. Immobilized anti-VEGF antibody forms a complex with the anti-ANG2NEGF antibody-VEGF complex. A digoxigenin-labeled anti-idiotypic anti-ANG2 antibody antibody is used for the detection of antibody-bound complex.

[0232] FIG. 12 Calibration curve of ELISA for detection of complexes of VEGF with anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody. A dilution series from 0 ng/ml to 10 ng/ml VEGF was added to serum containing anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature.

[0233] FIG. 13 Sandwich ELISA for detection of complexes of ANG2 with anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody (ANG2-bound by bispecific antibody): Free ANG2 is converted to antibody-bound ANG2 by the incubation of the sample with a bispecific anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody. A biotinylated anti-idiotypic antibody against the VEGF binding specificity of the bispecific antibody is bound to a streptavidin coated micro titer plate. Immobilized anti-idiotypic anti-VEGF antibody antibody forms a complex with the ANG2-anti-ANG2NEGF antibody complex. A second digoxigenin-labeled anti-ANG2antibody that specifically binds to a different epitope on ANG2 than the anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody is used for the detection of total ANG2.

EXAMPLE 1

Depletion of Drug-Bound Target (Antibody-Bound Antigen) in Cases of Bispecific Drug Molecules

[0234] A) Assembly of Complexes of Bispecific Anti-c-MET/HER3 Antibody and c-MET.

[0235] A constant concentration of c-MET was incubated with increasing amount of bispecific antibody which specifically binds to c-MET with a first binding specificity and which specifically binds to HER3 with a second binding specificity (bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody) at room temperature for 1 hour. Afterwards, these samples were used as positive controls in depletion step.

B) Depletion Step

[0236] For depletion of c-MET bound to a bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody biotinylated HER3 (HER3-BI) was bound to magnetic streptavidin coated beads (SA beads) at 10 g/ml. For each sample, 600 l SA-beads were washed and separated from supernatant with a magnetic separator. About 600 l of a HER3-BI containing solution was mixed with the SA-beads and incubated for 1 h at room temperature. The excess of unbound HER3-BI was removed by 3-times washing of the beads with a magnetic separator. Afterwards, antigen coated beads were incubated with 250 l of samples containing complexes of bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody and c-MET. Samples were incubated at room temperature with shaking for 1 hour. After incubation, beads were separated from the sample with a magnetic separator. Supernatant was taken for analysis of free c-MET in ELISA (see Example 2).

EXAMPLE 2

ELISA for Detection of c-MET

[0237] A biotinylated monoclonal antibody against c-MET was coated to a streptavidin microtiter plate in the first step. The supernatant sample from the depletion step (see Example 1) was diluted 10-fold and added to the wells of the anti-c-MET antibody coated microplate. Free c-MET contained in the sample was bound by the anti-c-MET antibody coated to wells of the microplate. After 1 hour incubation time at room temperature, the sample was removed by 3-times washing of the plate. Afterwards, a monoclonal DIG-labeled anti-c-MET antibody with a different specificity, i.e. epitope, than the coating antibody was added to the wells and incubated for another hour at room temperature. After another washing step, a polyclonal HRP labeled anti-DIG antibody was added to the plate and incubated for another hour. ABTS substrate solution was used to trigger a color reaction (see FIG. 3).

EXAMPLE 3

Depletion of Drug Bound c-MET in Human Serum and Buffer

[0238] According to Example 1 bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody was diluted to a concentration of 20/10/5/1/0.5/0.1 and 0 g/ml, respectively, and incubated with a constant concentration of 100 ng/ml c-MET. Dilutions were generated in two different matrices: [0239] PBS/BSA buffer [0240] Human Pool Scrum (Trina, NHS Base matrix)

[0241] Samples were incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. Afterwards, samples were depicted as described in Example 1.

[0242] HER3-BI was used to capture complexes of c-MET with bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody.

[0243] After depletion Supernatant was measured in c-MET ELISA as described in Example 2.

[0244] As shown in. FIG. 4a, c-MET, bound to the bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody is removed by immunodepletion. In presence of 5 g/ml of bispecific antibody or higher, the c-MET signals after depletion are close to assay background signals.

[0245] Similar behavior was observed in scrum samples as shown in FIG. 4b.

EXAMPLE 4

ELISA to Detect the Antigen of a Bispecific Antibody by Help of the Other Antigen

[0246] a) Detection of the Amount of (total) c-MET in a Sample

[0247] Biotinylated HER3 was bound to a streptavidin microtiter plate in the first step. In parallel, the bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody was pre-incubated for 1 hour with a sample/standard. c-MET in the sample was bound to bifunctional anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody during pre-incubation. After washing of the streptavidin coated plate the pre-incubated mixture of c-MET and anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody was added to the plate and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. After another washing step to remove unbound components from the sample, a digoxigenin labeled anti-c-MET antibody (binding to a different epitope to c-MET as the bifunctional anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody) was added and incubated for one hour. After another washing step, a polyclonal horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeled anti-DIG antibody was added to the plate and incubated for one hour. ABTS substrate solution was used to trigger a color reaction (see FIG. 5a).

b) Detection of (Pre-Existing) Complexes of Bispecific Anti-c-MET/HER3 Antibody and c-MET in a Sample

[0248] Biotinylated HER3 was bound to a streptavidin microtiter plate in the first step. After washing of the plate samples and standards were added to the plate and incubated for one hour at room temperature. Complexes of bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody and c-MET were bound to immobilized HER3-BI. After another washing step, a digoxigenin labeled anti-c-MET antibody that specifically binds to a different epitope of c-MET as the bifunctional anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody was added and incubated for one hour. After another washing step, a polyclonal HRP labeled anti-DIG antibody was added to the plate and incubated for one hour. ABTS substrate solution was used to trigger a color reaction (see FIG. 5(A)).

EXAMPLE 5

ELISA to Detect the First Antigen of a Bispecific Antibody by Help of an Anti-Idiotypic Antibody Against the Second Binding Specificity of this Bispecific Antibody

[0249] a) Detection of the Amount of (Total) c-MET in a Sample

[0250] Biotinylated anti-idiotypic antibody against the binding specificity which specifically binds to HER3 (anti-idiotypic anti-HER3 antibody antibody-BI) is bound to a streptavidin coated microtiter plate in the first step. In parallel, the bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody is pre-incubated for one hour with a sample or standard. c-MET in the sample is specifically bound by the bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody in the pre-incubation step. After washing of the streptavidin coated plate, pre-incubated mixture of c-MET and bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody is added to the plate and incubated for one hour at room temperature. After another washing step to remove unbound components a digoxigenin labeled anti-c-MET antibody (that specifically binds to a different epitope of c-MET as the bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody is added and incubated for one hour. After another washing step, a polyclonal HRP labeled anti-DIG antibody is added to the plate and incubated for another hour. ABTS substrate solution is used to trigger a color reaction (see FIG. 5(B)).

b) Detection of (Pre-Existing) Complexes of Anti-c-MET/HER3 Antibody and c-MET in a Sample

[0251] Biotinylated anti-idiotypic antibody against the binding specificity which specifically binds to HER3 (anti-idiotypic anti-HER3 antibody antibody-BI) is bound to a streptavidin coated microtiter plate in the first step. After washing of the plate, samples and standards are added to the plate for one hour at room temperature. Complexes of anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody and c-MET is captured by immobilized anti-idiotypic antibody. After another washing step, a digoxigenin labeled anti-c-MET antibody with that specifically binds to a different epitope of c-MET as the bispecific anti-c-MET/HER3 antibody is added and incubated for one hour. After another washing step, a polyclonal HRP labeled anti-DIG antibody is added to the plate and incubated for one hour. ABTS substrate solution is used to trigger a color reaction (see FIG. 5(B)).

EXAMPLE 6

ELISA for Detection of Complexes of VEGF With an Anti-ANG2/VEGF Bispecific Antibody

[0252] A biotinylated monoclonal anti-idiotypic anti-ANG2 antibody antibody that specifically binds to the ANG2 binding specificity of an anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody was coated to a streptavidin coated micro titer plate (MTP). A sample with unknown amount of a complex of VEGF with the anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody was diluted 10-fold and added to the wells of the anti-idiotypic anti-ANG2 antibody antibody-coated MTP. The bispecific antibody specifically binding to ANG2 and VEGF was complexed by the immobilized anti-idiotypic antibody against the CDRs of the ANG2 binding specificity of the bispecific antibody. Complexes of bispecific antibody and VEGF were also bound. After one hour incubation time at room temperature the sample/supernatant was removed, followed by 3-times wash of the plate. Afterwards, a monoclonal digoxigenin-labeled anti-VEGF antibody (which binds to a different epitope on VEGF than the bispecific anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody to be detected) was added to the wells and incubated for one hour at room temperature. After a washing step, a polyclonal horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeled anti-digoxigenin antibody (anti-DIG antibody) was added to the plate and incubated for one hour. After removal of supernatant and washing, ABTS substrate solution was added for the color reaction (see FIG. 7).

EXAMPLE 7

ELISA for Detection of Complexes of ANG2 With a Bispecific Anti-ANG2/VEGF Antibody

[0253] A biotinylated monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody that specifically binds to the VEGF binding specificity of an anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody was coated to a streptavidin coated micro titer plate (MTP). A sample with unknown amount of complexes of ANG2 with the anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody was diluted 10-fold and added to the wells of the anti-idiotypic anti-VEGF antibody antibody coated MTP. The bispecific antibody specifically binding to ANG2 and VEGF was complexed by the immobilized anti-idiotypic antibody against the CDRs of VEGF binding specificity of the bispecific anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody. Complexes of bispecific antibody and ANG2 were also bound. After one hour incubation at room temperature, the sample/supernatant was removed, followed by 3-times washing of the plate. Afterwards, a monoclonal digoxigenin-labeled anti-ANG2 antibody (that specifically binds to a different epitope than the ANG2 binding specificity of the bispecific anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody) was added to the wells and incubated for one hour at room temperature. After a washing step, a polyclonal HRP labeled anti-digoxigenin antibody was added to the plate and incubated for one hour. After removal of supernatant and washing, ABTS substrate solution was added for the color reaction (see FIG. 9).

EXAMPLE 8

ELISA for Detection of Complexes of VEGF With a Bispecific Anti-ANG2/VEGF Antibody

[0254] A biotinylated monoclonal antibody against VEGF was coated to a streptavidin coated micro titer plate (MTP). After washing, a sample with unknown amount of complexes of VEGF with an anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody was diluted 10-fold and added to the wells of the anti-VEGF antibody coated MTP. The immobilized antibody against VEGF binds VEGF at a different binding site compared to the bispecific anti ANG2/VEGF antibody. Complexes of VEGF with an anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody bind to the immobilized anti VEGF antibody. After one hour incubation at room temperature, the sample/supernatant was removed, followed by 3-times washing of the plate. Afterwards, a digoxigenin labeled monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody that specifically binds to the ANG2 binding specificity of the anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody was added to the wells and incubated for one hour at room temperature. After a washing step, a polyclonal HRP labeled anti-digoxigenin antibody was added to the plate and incubated for one hour. After removal of supernatant and washing, ABTS substrate solution was added for the color reaction (see FIG. 11). A corresponding calibration curve is shown in FIG. 12.

EXAMPLE 9

ELISA for Detection of Total ANG2 by Conversion of Free ANG2 to Antibody-Bound ANG2 and Incubation With a Bispecific Anti-ANG2/VEGF Antibody

[0255] A biotinylated monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody that specifically binds to the VEGF binding specificity of an anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody was bound to a streptavidin coated micro titer plate (MTP). A first aliquot of a sample with unknown amount of ANG2 was incubated for one hour with 1.5 g/mL bispecific anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody in order to convert free ANG2 to anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody-bound ANG2. The second (i.e. the not incubated) aliquot of the sample and the antibody incubated aliquot of the sample were diluted 10-fold and added to the wells of the MTP coated with the anti-idiotypic antibody that specifically binds to the VEGF binding specificity of the bispecific antibody. The bispecific antibody was bound by the immobilized anti-idiotypic antibody. Likewise complexed ANG2 was bound via the bispecific antibody. After an incubation time of one hour at room temperature, the supernatant (=sample) was removed, followed by 3-times washing of the plate. Afterwards, a monoclonal digoxigenin-labeled anti-ANG2 antibody (that specifically binds to a different epitope than the ANG2 binding specificity of the bispecific anti-ANG2/VEGF antibody) was added to the wells and incubated for one hour at room temperature. After a washing step, a polyclonal HRP labeled anti-digoxigenin antibody was added to the plate and incubated for one hour. After removal of supernatant and washing, ABTS substrate solution was added for the color reaction (see FIG. 13). From the difference between the result obtained for the first aliquot and the result obtained for the second aliquot the amount of free ANG2 was calculated. Thus, with this assay the amount of antibody-bound ANG2 and free ANG2 was determined.