Two anti-CD22 antibodies of human origin have been generated; each has the ability to recognize CD22 on the surface of Raji cells.

CD22 is a cell surface protein that is highly expressed in a number of B cell lymphomas, such as hairy cell leukemia (HCL), non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).  Several clinical trials using anti-CD22 antibodies are ongoing.  However, all of these antibodies are murine in nature, and have the potential to elicit immune responses in patients.  The immunogenicity may adversely affect the ability to provide patients with repeated doses of a therapeutic comprising the antibody, limiting the clinical application of those therapeutics.

 

In order to address the issue of immunogenicity in a patient, NIH inventors have generated two anti-CD22 antibodies of human origin.  Each antibody has the ability to recognize CD22 on the surface of Raji cells.  Thus, these antibodies represent an attractive alternative to the murine anti-CD22 antibodies currently being tested in clinical trials.

 

Additionally, the inventors have generated a modified murine anti-CD22 antibody with increased binding affinity and solubility.  This antibody could also be a suitable alternative for the murine antibodies currently available.

 

Applications:

•    Use as an antibody therapeutic for B cell lymphomas

•    Use in an immunotoxin thereapeutic for B cell lymphomas

•    Diagnostic for the detection of CD22 positive tumors

 

Advantages:

•    Antibody against a proven target for immunotherapy

•    Fully human antibody reduces potential immunogenicity, thereby allowing repeated dosing

•    Murine antibody has increased binding affinity and solubility relative to current murine anti-CD22 antibodies

 

Benefits:

The antibody based therapeutic market is likely to grow steadily in the next decade, with the present estimate of the market at more than ten billion US dollars.  Approximately five billion US dollars are spent annually for treatment of lymphoma.  The development of a successful antibody therapeutic for B cell lymphomas would occupy a significant portion of that market as approximately eighty-five percent of all lymphomas are B cell-linked.

U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/042,329 filed 04 Apr 2008 (HHS Reference No. E-080-2008/0-US-01)

 

Inventors:

Dimiter S. Dimitrov et al. (NCI)

Licensees Sought:

Available for licensing.

 

Collaborative Research Opportunity:

The NCI CCR Nanobiology Program is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize anti-CD22 human monoclonal antibodies.  Please contact John D. Hewes, Ph.D. at 301-435-3121 or hewesj@mail.nih.gov for more information.