Antigen binding proteins

Abstract

Antigen binding proteins that bind β-amyloid peptide, in particular human β-amyloid peptide; methods of treating diseases or disorders characterised by elevated β-amyloid levels or β-amyloid deposits, particularly Alzheimer's disease and diseases or disorders affecting the eye or optic nerve characterised by elevated β-amyloid levels or β-amyloid deposits, including age related macular degeneration and glaucoma type diseases and β-amyloid dependent cataract formation, with said antigen binding proteins; pharmaceutical compositions comprising said antigen binding proteins; and methods of manufacture.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to antigen binding proteins, including antibodies, that bind β-amyloid peptide and in particular human β-amyloid peptide. The present invention also concerns methods of treating diseases or disorders characterised by elevated β-amyloid levels or β-amyloid deposits, particularly Alzheimer's disease and diseases or disorders affecting the eye or optic nerve characterised by elevated (β-amyloid levels or β-amyloid deposits, including age related macular degeneration, glaucoma type diseases and β-amyloid dependent cataract formation, with antigen binding proteins that bind β-amyloid peptide, particularly human β-amyloid peptide. Other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the description below.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of age-related cognitive decline, affecting greater than 12 million individuals worldwide (Citron M (2002) Nat. Neurosci 5, Suppl 1055-1057)...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a therapeutic antigen binding protein that recognizes an epitope of β-amyloid peptide containing residues β-amyloid peptide that contains residues β-amyloid peptide that causes Alzheimer's disease. The therapeutic antigen binding protein can be an antibody or an antigen binding fragment and derivative thereof. The CDRs of the antibody or antigen binding fragment are specific residues within the β-amyloid peptide. The therapeutic antigen binding protein can be used to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease by targeting the β-amyloid peptide.

Problems solved by technology

The potential for a disease-modifying therapy that slows and possibly halts the progression of the disease is enormous.

These considerable biological differences in the various transgenic mouse models used have made it difficult to compare the pharmacology and the efficiency of different approaches.

In this form of the disease, the degeneration of RPE results in the secondary death of macular rods and cones and in these cases this leads to the severe age-related vision loss.

In both forms of the disease, vision loss occurs due to the death of photoreceptor cells, although in wet AMD internal bleeding from the leaky vessels formed during CNV also causes vision loss.

However, currently there are no definitive means of treatment for the very prevalent atrophic form of AMD nor to prevent the progression of early dry AMD either to geographic atrophy or to wet AMD, (Petrukhin K (2007) Expert Opin Ther Targets 11: 625-639)

This may result in decreased levels of Aβcontaining drusen and / or local Aβ in the surrounding environment of the RPE and thereby interfere in both the early and later stages of AMD and treat the underlying cellular decline that causes the loss of vision.

It is a major cause of blindness in the world caused ultimately by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and decreased visual acuity.

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