Specification
TECHNICAL FIELD
5 The present invention relates to novel antibodies capable of binding specifically
to the human c-Met receptor andlor capable of specifically inhibiting the tyrosine kinase
activity of said receptor, especially monoclonal antibodies of murine, chimeric and
humanized origin, as well as the amino acid and nucleic acid sequences coding for these
antibodies. More particularly, antibodies according to the invention are capable of
10 inhibiting the c-Met dimerization. The invention likewise comprises the use of these
antibodies as a medicament for the prophylactic andior therapeutic treatment of cancers
or any pathology connected with the overexpression of said receptor as well as in
processes or kits for diagnosis of illnesses connected with the overexpression of c-Met.
The invention fmally comprises products and/or compositions comprising such
15 antibodies in combination with other antibodies and/or chemical compounds directed
against other growth factors involved in tumor progression or metastasis and/or
compounds andor anti-cancer age~xtso r agents conjugated with toxins and their use for
the prevention andlor the treatment of certain cancers.
2 0 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTIC) targeted agents such as trastuzunxdb, cetuximab,
bevacizumab, imatinib and gefitinib inhibitors have illustrated the intercst of targeting
this protein class for treatment of selected cancers.
c-Met, is the protoiypic mcmber of a sub-family of RTKs wh~ch also includes
2 5 RON and SEA. The c-Met RTK family is structurally different from other RTI< families
and is the only known high-affinity receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also
called scater factor (SF) [D.P. Bottaro et al., Science 1991, 251: 802-804; L. Naldini et
al., Eur. Mol. Biol. Org. J. 1991, 10:2867-28781. c-Met and HGF are widely expressed
in a variety of tissue and their expression is normally restricted to cells of epithelial and
30 inesenchymal origin respectively [M.F. Di Rcnzo et al., Oncogene 1991, 6:1997-2003;
E. Sonuenberg et al., J. Cell. Biol. 1993, 123:223-2351. They are both required for
norn~alm ammalian development and have 'been shown to be particularly important in
cell migration, morphogenic differentiation, and organization of the three-dimensional
tubular structures as well as growth and angiogenesis [F. Baldt et al., Nature 1995,
376:768-771; C. Schmidt et al., Nature. 1995:373:699-702; Tsarfaty et al., Science
1994,263:98-1011. While the controlled regulation of c-Met and HGF have been shown
5 to be important in mammalian development, tissue maintenance and repair [Nagayama
T, Nagayama M, Kohara S, Kamiguchi H, Shibuya M, Katoh Y, Itoh J, Shinohara Y.,
Brain Res. 2004, 5;999(2):155-66; Tahara Y, Ido A, Yamamoto S, Miyata Y, Uto H,
Hori T, Hayashi K, Tsubouchi H., J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2003, 307(1):146-511, their
dysregnlation is implicated in the progression of cancers.
10 Aberrant signalling driven by inappropriate activation of c-Met is one of the
most frequent alteration observed in human cancers and plays a crucial role in
tumorigenesis and metastasis [Birchmeier et al., Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 2003, 4:915-
925; L. Trusolino and Comoglio P. M., Nat Rev. Cancer. 2002,2(4):289-3001.
Inappropriate c-Met activation can arise by ligand-dependent and independent
15 mechanisms, which include overexpression of c-Met, andlor paracrine or autocrine
activation, or through gain in function mutation [J.G. Christensen, Burrows J. and
Salgia R., Cancer Latters. 2005, 226:l-261. However an oligomerization of c-Met
receptor, in presence or in absence of the ligand, is required to regulate the binding
affinity and binding kinetics of the lcinase toward ATP and tyrosine-containing peptide
2 0 substrates [Hays JL, Watowich SJ, Biochemistry, 2004 Aug 17* 43:10570-81. Activatcd
c-Mct recruits signalling effectors to its multidoclcing site located in the cytoplasm
domain, resulting in the activation of several lcey signalling pathways, including Ras-
MAPIC, P13K, Src and Stat3 [Gao CF, Vande Woude GF, Cell Rcs. 2005, 15(1):49-51;
Furge KA, Zbang YW, Vande Woude GF, Oncogene. 2000, 19(49):5582-91. These
2 5 pathways are essential for tunlour cell proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis and for
evading apoptosis [Furge IM, Zhang YW, Vande Woude GF, Oncogene, 2000,
19(49):5582-9; Gu El, Nee1 BG, Trends Cell Biol. 2003 Mar, 13(3):122-30; Fan S, Ma
YX, Wang JA, Yuan RQ, Meng Q, Cao Y, Laterra JJ, Goldbcrg ID, Rosen EM,
Oncogene. 2000 Apr 27, 19(18):2212-231. In addition, a uniquc facet of the c-Met
30 signalling relative to other RTK is its reported interaction with focal adhcsion
complexes and non kinase binding partners such as a6P4 intcgrins [Trusolino L,
Bertotti A, Comoglio PM, Ccll. 2001, 107:643-541, CD44v6 [Van der Voort R, Taher
TE, Wielenga VJ, Spaargaren M, Prevo R, Smit L, David G, Hartmann G, Gherardi E,
Pals ST, J Biol Chem. 1999, 274(10):6499-5061, Plexin B1 or semaphorins [Giordano
S, Corso S, Conrotto P, Artigiani S, Gilestro G, Barberis D, Tamagnone L, Comoglio
PM, Nat Cell Biol. 2002, 4(9):720-4; Conrotto P, Valdembri D, Corso S, Serini G,
5 Tarnagnone L, Comoglio PM, Bussolino F, Giordano S, Blood. 2005, 105(11):4321-9;
Conrotto P, Corso S, Gamberini S, Comoglio PM, Giordano S, Oncogene. 2004,
23:5131-71 which may further add to the complexity of regulation of cell function by
this receptor. Finally recent data demonstrate that c-Met could be involved in tumor
resistance to gefitinib or erlotinib suggesting that combination of compound targeting
10 both EGFR and c-Met might be of significant interest [Engelman JA at al., Science,
2007, 316:1039-431.
In the past few years, many different strategies have been developed to attenuate
c-Met signalling in cancer cell lines. These strategies include i) neutralizing antibodies
against c-Met or HGFISF [Cao B, Su Y, Oslcarsson M, Zhao P, Kort EJ, Fisher W,
15 Wang LM, Vande Woude GF, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001, 98(13):7443-8;
Martens T, Schmidt NO, Eckerich C, Fillbrandt R, Merchant M, Schwall R, Westphal
M, Lamszus K, Clin Cancer Res. 2006, 12(20):6144-521 or the use of HGFISF
antagonist NK4 to prevent ligand binding to c-Met [Kuba K, Matsumoto K, Date K,
Shimura H, Tanaka M, Nalcamura T, Canccr Res., 2000, 60:6737-431, ii) small ATP
2 0 binding site inhibitors to c-Met that blocli liinase activity [Christensen JG, Schrecli R,
Burrows J, Kwuganti P, Chan E, Le P, Chen J, Wang X, Ruslim L, Blalce R, Lipson
KE, Ramphal J, Do S, Cui JJ, Cherrington JM, Mendel DB, Cancer Res. 2003,63:7345-
551, iii) engineered SH2 domain polypeptide that interferes with access to the
multidocking site and RNAi or ribozyme that reduce receptor or ligand expression.
25 Most of these approaches display a selective inhibition of +Met resulting in tumor
inhibitiou and showing that c-Met could be of interest for therapcutic intervention in
cancer.
Within the molecules generated for c-Met targeting, some are antibodies.
The most extensively described is the anti-c-Met 5D5 antibody generated by
30 Genentech [W096/38557] which behavcs as a potent agonist when added alone in
various models and as an antagonist when uscd as a Fab fragme~~At. morlovalent
engineered form of this antibody described as one armcd 5D5 (OA5D5) and produced
as a recombinant protein in E. Cali is also the subject of a patent application
[W020061015371] by Genentech. However, this molecule that could not be considered
as an antibody because of its particular scarfold, displays also mutations that could be
immunogenic in humans. In terms of activity, this unglycosylated molecule is devoided
5 of effector functions and finally, no clear data demonstrate that OA5D5 inhibits
dimerization of c-Met. Moreover, when tested in the G55 in vivo model, a glioblastoma
cell line that expresses c-Met but not HGF mRNA and protein and that grows
independently of the ligand, the one armed anti-c-Met had no significant effect on G55
tumor growth suggesting that OA5D5 acts primarily by blocking HGF binding and is
10 not able to target tumors activated independently of HGF [Martens T. et al, Clin. Cancer
Res., 2006, 12(20):6144-61521.
Another antibody targeting c-Met is described by Pfizer as an antibody acting
"predominantly as c-Met antagonist, and in some instance as a c-Met agonist" [WO
2005/016382]. No data showing any effect of Pfizer antibodies on c-Plet dimerization is
15 described in this application.
One of the innovant aspects of the present invention is to generate mouse
monoclonal antibodies without intrinsic agonist activity and inhibiting c-Met
dimerization. In addition of targeting ligand-dependent tumors, this approach will also
impair ligand-independent activations of c-Met due to its overexpression or mutations
20 of the intra cellular domains which remained dependent to oligomcrization for
signalling. Another aspect of the activity of such antibodies could be a steric hindrance
for c-Met interaction with its partners that will result in impairment of c-Met functions.
These antibodies will be humanized and engineered preferentially, but not limited, as
human IgGl to get effector functions such as ADCC and CDC in addition to hnctions
2 5 linked to the specific blocltade of the c-Met receptor.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Surprisingly, for the first time, invcntors have managed to gencrate an antibody
capable of binding to c-Met but also capablc of inhibiting the c-Met dimerization. If it is
30 true that, in the prior art, it is sometimes suggested that an antibody capable of
inhibiting thc dimerization of c-Met with it6 partners could be an intcresting onc, il has
never becn dsclosed, or clcarly suggcsted, an antibody capable of doing so. Moreover,
regarding antibody specificity, it was not evident at all to succeed in the generation of
such an active antibody.
In a first aspect, a subject of the present invention is a process for the generation
and the selection of antibodies according to the invention.
5 More particularly, the invention concerns a process for the selection of an anti c-
Met antibody, or one of its functional fragments or derivatives, capable to inhibit both
ligand-dependent and ligand-independent activation of c-Met, said process comprising
the following steps:
i) screening the generated antibodies and selecting antibodies capable to bind
10 specifically to c-Met;
ii) evaluating in vitro the selected antibodies of step i) and selecting antibodies
capable to inhibit at least 50 %, preferably at least 60 %, 70 % or 80 % of tumoral cell
proliferation for at least one tumor type; and then
iii) testing the selected antibodies of step ii) and selecting antibodies capable to
15 inhibit the c-Met dimerization.
As it was explained before, the inhibition of the c-Met dimerization is a capital
aspect of the invention as such antibodies will present a real interest for a larger
population of patients. Not only ligand-dependent activated c-Met cancer, as it was the
case until the present invention, but also ligand-independent activated c-Met cancer
2 0 could be treated with antibodies generated by the proccss of the present invention.
The generation of the antibody can be realizcd by any method known by the
man skilled in the art, such as for example, fusion of a myeloma cell with spleen cells
from immunized mice or other species con~patible with the selected myeloma cells
[Kohler & Milstein, 1975, Nature, 256:495-4971. The immunized animals could include
2 5 transgenic nice with human immunoglobulin loci which then directly produce human
antibodies. Another possible embodiment could consist in using phage display
technologies to screen libraries.
The screening step i) can be realized by any method or process linown by the
man skilled in thc art. As non limitative examples, can be mentioned ELISA, BIAcore,
30 immunohistochemistly, FACS analysis and fwct~onal screens. A preferred process
consists in a screen by ELTSA on the c-Met recombinant protein and then by FACS
analysis on at least a tumoral cell llne to be sure that thc produced antibodies will be
able to also recognize the native receptor on tumor cells. This process will be described
more precisely in the following examples.
In the same way, the step ii) can also be realized classically by known method or
process such as, for example, using 3H-thymidine or any other DNA staining agent,
5 MTT, ATP evaluation, etc. A preferred tumor cell model in the present invention can
consist in the BxPC3 model.
By inhibiting c-Met dimerization, it must be understood preferably the c-Met
homodimerization.
In a preferred embodiment of the step iii) of selection of the process of the
10 invention, said step iii) consists in evaluating antibodies by BRET analysis on cells
expressing both c-Met-RLucIc-Met-YFP and selecting antibodies capable to inhibit at
least 30 %, preferably 35 %, 40 %, 45 %, 50 %, 55 % and most preferably 60 % of the
BRET signal.
The technology BRET is a technology known as being representative of the
15 protein dimerization [Angers et al., PNAS, 2000, 97:3684-891.
The technology BRET, used in the step iii) of the process, is well known by the
man sldll in the art and will be detailed in the following examples. More particularly,
BRET (Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer) is a non-radiative energy transfer
occurring betwecn a bioluminescent donor (Rcnilla Luciferase (Rluc)) and a fluorescent
20 acceptor, a mutant of GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) or YFP (Yellow fluorescent
protein). In the present case EYFP (Enhanced Yellow Fluorcscent Protein) was used.
The efficacy of transfer depends on the orientation and the distance between the donor
and the acceptor. Then, the energy transfer can occur only if the two moleculcs are in
close proximity (1-10 nm). This property is used to generate protein-protein interaction
2 5 assays. Indeed, in order to study the interaction between two pai-tners, the first one is
genetically fused to the Rcnilla Luciferase and the second one to the yellow mutant of
the GFP. Fusion proteins are generally, but not obligatoty, expressed in mammalian
cclls. In presence of its membrane permeable substrate (coelenterazine), Rluc emits blue
light. If the GFP mutant is closer that1 10 nm from the Rluc, an cnergy transfer can
3 0 occur and an additional yellow signal can be detected. The BRET signal is measured as
the ratio between the light emitted by the acceptor and the light emittcd by the donor. So
the BRET signal will increase as the hvo fusion proteins are brought into proximity or if
a conformational change bring Rluc and GFP mutant closer.
If the BRET analysis consists in a preferred embodiment, any method known by
the man slulled in the art can be used to measure c-Met dimerization. Without
limitation, the followmg technologies can be mentioned FRET (Fluorescence
5 Resonance Energy Transfer), HTRF (Homogenous Time resolved Fluorescence), FLIM
(Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy) or SW-FCCS single wavelength
fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy).
Other classical technologies could also be used, such as Coimmunoprecipitation,
Alpha screen, Chemical cross-linking, Doublc-Hybrid, Affinity
10 Chromatography, ELISA or Far western blot.
In a second aspect, a subject of the invention is an isolated antibody, or one of
its functional fragments or derivatives, being obtained by said process. Said antibody or
one of its said fragments or derivatives, is capable of binding specifically to the human
c-Met and, if necessary, preferably moreover capable of inhibiting the natural
15 attachment of its ligand HGF andlor capable of specifically iuhibiting the tyrosine
kinase activity of said c-Met, said antibody being also capable to inhib c-Met
dimerization. More particularly, said antibodies will be capable of inhibiting both
ligand-dependent and ligand-independent activation of c-Met.
The expressions "functional fragments and derivatives" will be dcfined in details
2 0 later in the present specification.
It must be understood here that the invention does not relatc to the antibodies in
natural form, that is to say they are not in their natural environment but that they have
been able to be isolated or obtained by purification from natural sources, or else
obtained by genetic recombination, or by chemical synthesis, and that they can then
2 5 contain unnatural amino acids as will be described further on.
More particularly, according to another aspect of the invention, it is claimed an
antibody, or one of its functional fragments or derivatives, said antibody bcing
characterized in that it comprises at least one complementary determining region CDR
chosen from CDRs comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID Nos. 1 to 17 and 56 to
30 61.
Any antibody, or fragments or derivatives, having at least one CDR whose
sequence has at least 80 % identity, preferably 85 %, 90 %, 95 % and 98 % identity,
after optimum alignment with the sequences SEQ ID Nos. 1 to 17 and 56 to 61 must be
understood as a equivalent and, as a consequence, as being part of the invention.
By CDR regions or CDR(s), it is intended to indicate the hypervariable regions
of the heavy and light chains of the immunoglobulins as defined by IMGT.
5 The IMGT unique numbering has been defined to compare the variable domains
whatever the antigen receptor, the chain type, or the species [Lefranc M.-P.,
Immunology Today 18, 509 (1997) / Lefranc M.-P., The Immunologist, 7, 132-136
(1999) / Lefranc, M.-P., Pommik, C., Ruiz, M., Giudicelli, V., Foulquier, E., Truong, L.,
Thouvenin-Contct, V. and Lefranc, Dev. Comp. Immunol., 27, 55-77 (2003)l. In the
10 IMGT unique numbering, the conserved amino acids always have the same position, for
instance cysteine 23 (1st-CYS), tryptophan 41 (CONSERVED-TRP), hydrophobic
amino acid 89, cysteine 104 (2nd-CYS), phenylalanine or tryptophan 118 (J-PHE or JTRP).
The IMGT unique numbering provides a standardized delimitation of the
framework regions (FR1-IMGT: positions 1 to 26, FR2-IMGT: 39 to 55, FR3-IMGT:
15 66 to 104 and FR4-IMGT: 118 to 128) and of the complementarity determining regions:
CDR1-IMGT: 27 to 38, CDR2-IMGT: 56 to 65 and CDR3-IMGT: 105 to 117. As gaps
represent unoccupied positions, the CDR-IMGT lengths (shown between brackets and
separated by dots, e.g. [8.8.13]) become crucial information. The IMGT unique
numbering is uscd in 2D graphical representations, designated as IMGT Colliers de
20 Perles [Ruiz, M. and Lefranc, M.-P., Immunogenetics, 53, 857-883 (2002) 1 Kaas, Q.
and Lefranc, M.-P., Current Bioinformatics, 2, 21-30 (2007)], and in 3D structures in
IMGT/3Dstructure-DB [Kaas, Q., Ruiz, M. and Lefranc, M.-P., T cell receptor and
MHC structural data. Nucl. Acids. Res., 32, D208-D210 (2004)l.
Three heavy chain CDRs and 3 light chain CDRs exist. The term CDR or CDRs
2 5 is used here in order to indicate, according to the case, one of these regions or several,
or even the whole, of these regions which contain the majority of the amino acid
residues responsible for the binding by afkity of the antibody for the antigen or the
epitope which it recognizes.
By "percentage of identity" between two nucleic acid or amino acid sequences
30 in the sense of the present invention, it is intendcd to indicate a pcrceniage of
nucleotides or of identical amino acid residucs between the two sequences to be
compared, obtaincd artcr the best alignment (optimum alignment), this percentagc bcing
purcly statistical and the differences between the two sequences being distributed
randomly and over their entire length. The comparisons of sequences between two
nucleic acid or amino acid sequences are traditionally carried out by comparing these
sequences after having aligned them in an optimum manner, said comparison being able
5 to be carried out by segment or by "comparison window". The optimum alignment of
the sequences for the comparison can be carried out, in addition to manually, by means
of the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman (1981) [Ad. App. Math.
2:482], by means of the local homology algorithm ofNeddleman and Wunsch (1970) [J.
Mol Bin1 4 8 4431, by means of the similarity search method of Pearson and Lipman
10 (1988) [Proc. Natl. Acad. SCI. USA 85:2444), by means of computer software using
these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics
Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, WI, or else by
BLAST N or BLAST P comparison software).
The percentage of identity between hvo nucleic acid or amino acid sequences is
15 determined by comparing these two sequences aligned in an optimum manner and in
which the nucleic acid or amino acid sequence to be compared can comprise additions
or deletions with respect to the reference sequence for an optimum alignment between
these two sequences. The percentage of identity is calculated by determining the
number of identical positions for which the nuclcotide or the amino acid rcsidue is
2 0 identical between the two sequences, by dividing this number of identical positions by
the total number of positions in the comparison window and by multiplying the result
obtained by 100 in ordcr to obtain the percentage of identity between thcsc two
sequences.
For example, it is possible to use the BLAST program, "BLAST 2 sequences"
25 (Tatusova et al., "Blast 2 scqucnces - a new tool for comparing protein and tlucleotidc
sequcnces", FEMS Microbiol Lett. 174:247-250) avallablc on the site
http://www ncbi.nlm.n~hg ov/ gorf/bl2.html, thc parameters used being those given by
default (in particular for the parameters "open gap penalty": 5, and "exte~~siogna p
penalty": 2; the matrix choscn bcing, for example, the matrix "BLOSUM 62" proposed
3 0 by the program), the percentage of idcntity between the two sequcnccs to be compared
being calculated directly by thc program.
By amino acid sequence having at least 80 %, preferably 85 %, 90 %, 95 % and
98 % identity with a reference amino acid sequence, those having, with respect to the
reference sequence, certain modifications, in particular a deletion, addition or
substitution of at least one amino acid, a truncation or ail elongation are preferred. In the
5 case of a substitution of one or more consecutive or nonconsecutive amino acid(s), the
substitutions are preferred in which the substituted amino acids are replaced by
"equivalent" amino acids. The expression "equivalent amino acids" is aimed here at
indicating any amino acid capable of being substituted with one of the amino acids of
the base structure without, however, essentially modifying the biological activities of
10 the corresponding antibodies and such as will be defined later, especially in the
examples. These equivalent amino acids can be determined either by relying on their
structural homology with the amino acids which they replace, or on results of
comparative trials of biological activity between the different antibodies capable of
being carried out.
15 By way of example, mention is made of the possibilities of substitution capable
of being carried out without resulting in a profound modification of the biological
activity of the corresponding modified antibody.
As non limitative example, the following table I is giving substitution
possibilities conceivable with a conservation of the biological activity of the modified
2 0 antibody. Thc reverse substitutions are also, of course, possible in the same conditions.
Table 1
It must bc understood here that the invention does not relate to the antibodies in
5 natural form, that is to say they are not in their natural environment but that they have
been able to be isolated or obtained hy purification from natural sources, or elsc
obtained by genetic recombination, or by chemical synthesis, and that they can then
contain unnatural amino acids as will be described further on.
According a first approach, the antibody will be defined by its heavy chain
10 scqucnce. More particularly, the antibody of the invention, or one of its functional
fragments or derivatives, is characterized in that it comprises a heavy chain comprising
at ledst one CDR chosen from CDRs comprising the amino acid sequences SEQ ID
Nos. 1 to 9 and 56 to 58.
Thc mentioned sequences are the following ones:
SEQ ID No. 1: GYIFTAYT
SEQ ID No. 2: TKPNNGLA
SEQ ID No. 3: AKSEITTEFDY
Original residu
Ala (A)
Arg (R)
Asn (N)
ASP @)
Cys (C)
Gin (Q)
Glu (G)
G~(YG I
His (H)
Ile (I)
Leu (L)
Lys
Met OLI)
Phe (F)
Pro (P)
Ser (S)
Thr (T)
Trp (W)
T Y(Y~)
Val (v)
Substitution(s)
Val, Gly, Pro
Lys, His
Gln
G lu
Ser
Asn
Asp
Ala
Arg
Leu
Ile, Val, Met
Arg
Leu
TF
Ala
Thr, Cys
S er
T yr
Phe, Trp
Leu, Ala
SEQ ID No. 4:
SEQ ID No. 5:
SEQ ID No. 6:
SEQ ID No. 7:
5 SEQ ID No. 8:
SEQ ID No. 9:
SEQ ID No. 56:
SEQ ID No. 57:
SEQ ID No. 58:
GYSFTDYT
INPYNGGT
AREEITKDFDF
GYTFTDYN
INPNNGGT
ARGRWGYYYAMDY
GYTFTSYW
INPTTGST
AIGGYGSWFAY
The CDRs of the heavy chain could be chosen randomly in the previous
sequences, i.e. SEQ ID Nos. 1 to 9 and 56 to 58.
According to a preferred aspect, the antibody of the invention, or one of its
functional fragments or derivatives, comprises a heavy chain comprising at least one
15 CDR chosen from CDR-HI, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3, wherein:
- CDR-HI comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 1,4, 7 or 56,
- CDR-H2 comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 2,5,8 or 57, and
- CDR-H3 comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 3,6,9 or 58.
According to a first embodiment of said aspect, thc antibody of the invention, or
2 0 one of its functional fragments or derivatives, comprises a heavy chain comprising
CDR-HI, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3, wherein CDR-HI comprises the amino acid sequence
SEQ ID No. 1, CDR-H2 compriscs the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 2 and CDRH3
comprises the amino acid seqncnce SEQ ID No. 3.
More particularly, said antibody, or one of its functional fragments or
25 derivatives, according to this first embodiment comprises a heavy chain of sequence
comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 18.
SEQ ID No. 18: EVQLQQSGPELVKPGASVKISCKTSGYIFTAYTMHWRSLG
ESLDWIGGTKPNNGLANYNQKFKGKATLTVDKSSSTAYMDLRSLTSEDSAVYY
CARSESTTEFDYWGQGTALTVSS
3 0
According to a second embodiment of said aspect, the antibody of the invention,
or one of its functional fragments or derivatives, compriscs a heavy chain comprising
CDR-HI, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3, wherein CDR-H I comprises the amino acid sequence
SEQ ID No. 4, CDR-H2 comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 5 and CDRH3
comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 6.
The antibody, or one of its functional fragments or derivatives, according to said
5 second embodiment will preferably comprise a heavy chain of sequence comprising the
amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 19. I
SEQ ID No. 19: EVQLQQSGPELVKPGASMKISCKASGYSFTDYTLNWVKQSH
GI 100
nucleotides) followed by 2 washes of 20 minutes at 20°C in 2 x SSC + 2% of SDS, 1
wash of 20 minutes at 20°C in 0.1 x SSC + 0.1 ?4 of SDS. The last wash is carried out
in 0.1 x SSC + 0.1 % of SDS for 30 minutes at 60°C for a probe size > 100 nucleotides.
10 The hybridization conditions of high stringency described above for a polynucleotide of
defined size can be adapted by the person slcilled in the art for oligonucleotides of
greater or smaller size, according to the teaching of Sambrook et al. (1989, Molecular
cloning: a laboratory manual. 2nd Ed. Cold Spring Harbor).
The invention likewise relates to a vector comprising a nucleic acid according to
15 the present invention.
The invention aims especially at cloning and/or expression vectors which
contain a nucleotide sequence according to the invention.
The vectors according to the invention preferably contain elements which allow^
the expression and/or the secretion of the nucleotide sequences in a determined host
2 0 cell. The vector must therefore contain a promoter, signals of initiation and termination
of translation, as well as appropriate regions of regulation of trdn~cription. It must be
able to be maintained in a stable manner in the host cell and can optionally have
particular signals which specify the secretion of the translated protein. These different
elements are chosen and optimized by the person slcilled in the art as a function of the
25 host cell used. To this effect, the nucleotide sequences according to the invention can be
inserted into autonomous replication vectors in the chosen host, or be integrative vectors
of the chosen host.
Such vectors are prepared by methods currently used by the person skilled in the
art, and the resulting clones can be introduced into an appropriate host by standard
30 mcthods, such as lipofection, electroporation, thermal shock, or chemical mcthods.
The vectors according to thc invention are, for example, vectors of plasmidic or
viral origin. They are useful for transforming host cells in order to clone or to express
the nucleotide sequences according to the invention.
The invention likewise comprises the host cells transformed by or comprising a
5 vector according to the invention.
The host cell can be chosen from prolcaryotic or eulcaryotic systems, for example
bacterial cells but likewise yeast cells or animal cells, in particular mammalian cells. It
is lilcewise possible to use insect cells or plant cells.
The invention lilcewise conccrns animals, except man, which comprise at least
10 one cell transformed according to the invention.
According to another aspect, a subject of the invention is a process for
production of an antibody, or one of its functional fragments accord~ngto the invention,
characterized in that it comprises the following stages:
a) culture in a medium and appropriate culture conditions of a host cell
15 according to the invention; and
b) the recovery of said antibodies, or one of their functional fragments, thus
produced starting from the culture medium or said cultured cells.
The cells transformed according to the invention can be used in processes for
preparation of recombinant polypeptidcs according to thc invention. The processcs for
20 preparation of a polypeptide accord~ng to the invention ~n recombinant form,
characterized in that they employ a vector andlor a cell transformed by a vector
according to the invention, are themselves comprised in the present invention.
Preferably, a cell transformed by a vector according to the invention is cultured under
conditions which allow the expression of said polypeptide and said recombinant peptide
2 5 is recovered.
As has been said, thc host cell can be chosen from proka~otico r e~~lcaryotic
systems. In particular, it is possible to identify nucleotide sequences according to the
invention, facilitating secretion in such a prolraryotic or eukaryotic system. A vector
according to the invention carrying such a sequence can therefore advantageously be
3 0 used for the production of recombinant proteins, intended to be secreted. In effect, the
purification of these recombinant proteins of interest will be facilitatcd by the fact that
they are present in the supernatant of the cell culture rather than in the interior of the
host cells.
It is likewise possible to prepare the polypeptides according to the invention by
chemical synthesis. Such a preparation process is lilcewise a subject of the invention.
5 The person skilled in the art lmows the processes of chemical synthesis, for example the
techniques employing solid phases [Steward et al., 1984, Solid phase peptide synthesis,
Pierce Chem. Company, Rockford, 11 1, 2nd ed., (1984)l or techniques using partial
solid phases, by condensation of fragments or by a classical synthesis in solution. The
polypeptides obtained by chemical synthesis and being able to contain corresponding
10 unnatural amino acids are likewise comprised in the invention.
The antibodies, or one of their functional fragments or derivatives, capable of
being obtained by a process according to the invention are likewise comprised in the
present invention.
The invention also concerns the antibody ofthe invention as a medicament.
15 The invention likewise concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising by
way of active principle a compound consisting of an antibody, or one of its functional
fragments according to the invention, preferably mixed with an excipient and/or a
pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
Another complementary embodiment of the invention consists in a composition
20 such as described above which comprises, moreover, as a combination product for
simultaneous, separate or sequential use, an anti-tumoral antibody.
Most preferably, said second anti-tumoral antibody could be chosen through
anti-IGF-IR, anti-EGFR, anti-HER2/neu, anti-VEGFR, anti-VEGF, etc., antibodies or
any other anti-tumoral antibodies known by the man skilled in the art. It is evident that
25 the use, as second antibody, of functional frapcnts or derivatives of above mentioned
antibodies is part of the invention.
As a most preferred antibody, anti-EGFR antibodies are sclected such as for
example the antibody C225 (Erbitux).
"Simultaneous use" is understood as mcaning the administration of thc two
30 compounds of the composition according to thc invcntion in a single and identical
pharmaceutical form.
"Separate use" is undcrstood as meaning the administration, at thc same time, of
the two compounds of the composition according to the invention in distinct
pharmaceutical forms.
"Sequential use" is understood as meaning the successive administration of the
two compounds of the composition according to the invention, each in a distinct
5 pharmaceutical form.
In a general fashion, the composition according to the invention considerably
increases the efficacy of the treatment of cancer. In other words, the therapeutic effect
of the anti-c-Met antibodies according to the invention is potentiated in an unexpected
manner by the administration of a cytotoxic agent. Another major subsequent advantage
10 produced by a composition according to the invention concerns the possibility of using
lower efficacious doses of active principle, which allows the risks of appearance of
secondav effects to be avoided or to be reduced, in particular the effects of the
cytotoxic agent.
In addition, this composition according to the invention would allow the
15 expected therapeutic effect to be attained more rapidly.
The composition of the invention can also be characterized in that it comprises,
moreover, as a combination product for simultaneous, separate or sequential use, a
cytotoxiclcytostatic agent.
By "anti-canccr therapeutic agents" or "cytotoxiclcytostatic agents", it is
20 intended a substance which, when administered to a subject, treats or prevents the
development of cancer in the subject's body. As non limitative example of such agents,
it can bc mentioned alkylating agents, anti-metabolites, anti-tumor antibiotics, mitotic
inhibitors, chromatin function inhibitors, anti-angiogencsis agents, anti-est~ogens, antiandrogens
or imnlunomodulators.
25 Such agents are, for example, cited in the 2001 cdition of VIDAL, on the page
devoted to the compounds attached to the cancerology and henlatology column
"Cytotoxics", thcse cytotoxic compounds cited with reference to this document are cited
here as prefcrred cytotoxic agents.
More particularly, the following agents are preferred according to the invention.
3 0 "Allylating agent" refers to any substance which can cross-link or alkylate any
molecule, preferably nuclcic acid (e.g., DNA), within a cell. Examples of akylating
agents include nitrogen mustard such as mechlorcthamine, chlorambucol, melpl~alen,
chlorydrate, pipobromen, prednimustin, disodic-phosphate or estramustine;
oxazophorins such as cyclophosphamide, altretamine, trofosfamide, sulfofosfamide or
ifosfamide; aziridines or imine-ethylenes such as thiotepa, triethylenamine or
altetramine; nitrosourea such as camustine, streptozocin, fotemustin or lomustine;
5 allcyle-sulfonates such as busulfan, treosulfan or improsulfan; triazenes such as
dacarbazine; or platinum complexes such as cis-platinum, oxaliplatin and carboplatin.
"Anti-metabolites" refer to substances that blocli cell growth andlor metabolism
by interfering with certain activities, usually DNA synthesis. Examples of antimetabolites
include methotrexate, 5-fluoruracil, floxuridine, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine,
10 capecitabine, cytarabine, fludarabine, cytosine arabinoside, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP),
6-thioguanine (6-TG), chlorodesoxyadenosine, Sazacytidine, gemcitabine, cladribine,
deoxycoformycin and pentostatin.
"Anti-tumor antibiotics" refer to compounds which may prevent or inhibit DNA,
RNA andlor protein synthesis. Examples of anti-tumor antibiotics include doxorubicin,
15 daunorubicin, idarubicin, valnibicin, mitoxantrone, dactinomycin, mithramycin,
plicamycin, mitomycin C, bleomycin, and procarbazine.
"Mitotic inhibitors" prevent normal progression of the cell cycle and mitosis. In
general, microtubule inhibitors or taxoides such as paclitaxel and docetaxel are capable
of inhibiting mitosis. Vinca aUialoid such as vinblastine, vincristine, vindcsine and
2 0 vinorelbine are also capable of inhibiting mitosis.
"Chromatin function inhibitors" or "topoisomerase inhibitors" refer to
substances which inhibit the normal function of chromatin modeling proteins such as
topoisomerase I or topoisomerasc TI. Examples of chromatin function inhibitors include,
for topoisomerase I, camptothecine and its derivatives such as topotecan or irinotecan,
2 5 and, for topoisomerase TI, etoposidc, etoposide phosphate and teniposide.
"Anti-angiogenesis agent" refers to any drug, compound, substance or agent
which inhibits growth of blood vessels. Exemplary anti-angiogenesis agents include, but
are by no means limited to, razoxin, marimastat, batimastat, prinomastat, tanomastat,
ilomastat, CGS-27023A, halofuginon, COL-3, neovastat, BMS-275291, thalidomide,
30 CDC 501, DMXAA, L-651582, squalamine, endostatin, SU5416, SU6668, interferonalpha,
EMD121974, interleuliin-12, TM862, angiostatin and vitaxin.
"Anti-estrogen" or "anti-estrogenic agent" rcfcr to any substance which reduces,
antagonizes or inhibits the action of estrogen. Examples of anti-estrogen agents are
tamoxifen, toremifene, raloxifene, droloxifene, iodoxyfene, anastrozole, letrozole, and
exemestane.
"Anti-androgens" or "anti-androgen agents" refer to any substance which
5 reduces, antagonizes or inhibits the action of an androgen. Examples of anti-androgens
are flutamide, nilutamide, bicalutamide, sprironolactone, cyproterone acetate,
finasteride and cimitidine.
"Immunomodulators" are substances which stimulate the immune system.
Examples ofimmunomodulators include interferon, interleukin such as
10 aldesleukine, OCT-43, denileukin diflitox and interleukin-2, tumoral necrose fators such
as tasonermine or others immunomodulators such as lentinan, sizofiran, roquinimex,
pidotimod, pegademase, thymopentine, poly I:C or levamisole in conjunction with 5-
fluorouracil.
For more detail, the man sltill in the art could refer to the manual edited by the
15 "Association Fran~aise des Enseignants de Chimie ThQapeutiquen and entitled "trait6
de chimie thbrapeutique, vol. 6, M6dicaments antitumoraux et perspectives dans le
traitement des cancers, edition TEC & DOC, 2003".
Can also be mentioned as chemical agents or cytotoxic agents, all liinase
inhibitors such as, for examplc, gefitinib or erlotinib.
2 0 In a particularly preferred embodiment, said composition as a combination
product according to the invention is characterized in that said cytotoxic agent is
coupled chemically to said antibody for simultaneous use.
In order to facilitate the coupling bctwcen said cytotoxic agent and said antibody
according to the invention, it is especially possible to introduce spacer molecules
25 between the two compounds to be coupled, such as poly(alky1ene) glycols like
polyethylene glycol, or else amino acids, or, in another embodiment, to use active
derivatives of said cytotoxic agents into which would have been introduced functions
capable of reacting with said antibody according to the invention. These coupling
techniques are well laown to the person skilled in the art and will not be expanded upon
3 0 in the present description.
The invention relates, in another aspect, to a composition characterized in that
one, at least, of said antibodies, or one of their functional fragments or derivatives, is
conjugated with a cell toxin and/or a radioelement.
Preferably, said toxin or said radioelement is capable of inhibiting at least one
5 cell activity of cells expressing the c-Met, in a more preferred manner capable of
preventing the growth or the proliferation of said cell, especially of totally inactivating
said cell.
Preferably also, said toxin is an enterobacterial toxin, especially Pseudomonas
exotoxin A.
10 The radioelements (or radioisotopes) preferably conjugated to the antibodies
employed for the therapy are radioisotopes which emit gamma rays and preferably
iodineI3', yttriumg0, gold'gg, palladium'00, copper6', bismuth2'' and antimon?". The
radioisotopes which emit beta and alpha rays can likewise be used for the therapy.
By toxin or radioelement conjugated to at least one antibody, or one of its
15 functional fragments, according to the invention, it is intended to indicate any means
allowing said toxin or said radioelement to bind to said at least one antibody, especially
by covalent coupling between the two compounds, with or without introduction of a
linking molecule.
Among the agents allowing binding in a chcmical (covalent), electrostatic or
20 noncovalent manner of all or part of the components of the conjugate, mention may
particularly be made of benzoquinone, carbodiimide and more particularly EDC (1-
ethyl-3-[3-dimethyl-aminopropyll-carbodiimide hydrochloride), dimaleimide, dithiobisnitrobenzoic
acid (DTNB), N-succinimidyl S-acetyl thio-acetate (SATA), the bridging
agents having one or more phenylazide groups reacting with the ultraviolets (U.V.) and
2 5 preferably N-[-4-(azidosalicylamino)butyl]-3'-(2'-pyridyldithio)-propionainide (APDP),
N-succinimid-yl 3-(2-pyridy1dithio)propionate (SPDP), 6-hydrazino-nicotinamide
(HYNIC).
Another form of coupling, especially for the radioelements, can consist in the
use of a bifunctional ion chelator.
30 Among these chelatcs, it is possible to mention the chelates derived from EDTA
(ethylenediaminctetraacetic acid) or from DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)
which have been developed for binding metals, cspccially radioactive metals, and
immunoglobulins. Thus, DTPA and its derivatives can be substituted by different
groups on the carbon chain in order to increase the stability and the rigidity of the
ligand-metal complex (Krejcarek et al. (1977); Brechbiel et al. (1991); Gansow (1991);
US patent 4,831,175).
5 For example diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and its derivatives,
which have been widely used in medicme and in biology for a long time either in their
free form, or in the form of a complex with a metallic ion, have the remarlcable
characteristic of forming stable chelates with metallic ions and of being coupled with
proteins of therapeutic or diagnostic interest such as antibodies for the devclopment of
10 radioimrnunoconjugates in cancer therapy (Meases et al., (1984); Gansow et al. (1990)).
Likewise preferably, said at least one antibody forming said conjugate according
to the invention is chosen from its fimctional fragments, especially the fragments
amputated of their Fc component such as the scFv fragments.
As already mentioned, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
15 cytotoxiclcytostatic agent or said toxin andlor a radioelement is coupled chemically to
at least one of the elements of said composition for simultaneous use.
The present invention comprises the described composition as a medicament.
The present invention moreover comprises the use of the composition according
to the invention for the preparation of a medicament.
2 0 In another aspect, the invention deals with the use of an antibody, or one of its
functional fragments or derivatives, and/or of a composition as above described for the
preparation of a medicament intended to inhibit the growth andor the proliferation of
tumor cells.
Another aspect of the invention consists in the use of an antibody, or one of its
2 5 functional fragments or derivatives andlor of a composition, as described above or the
use above mentioned, for the preparation of a medicament intended for the prevention
or for the treatment of cancer.
Is also comprises in the present invention a method intended to inhibit the
growth andlor the proliferation of tumor cells in a patient comprising the administration
30 to a paticnt in need thereof of an antibody, or one of its functional fragments or
derivatives according to the invention, an antibody produced by an hybridoma
according to the invention or a composition according to the invention.
WE CLAIM:
1. An isolated antibody, or one of its functional divalent fragments capable of
binding to the c-Met, characterized in that said isolated antibody or said
functional divalent fragments is selected from:
5 a) an antibody comprising a heavy chain comprising CDR-HI, CDR-HZ and CDR-H3
comprising respectively the amino acid sequence SEQ ID Nos. 56, 57 and 58;
and a light chain comprising CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 comprising
respectively the amino acid sequence SEQ ID Nos. 59, 60 and 61;
b) an antibody comprising a heavy chain comprising CDR-HI, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3
10 comprising respectively the amino acid sequence SEQ ID Nos. 4, 5 and 6; and a
light chain comprising CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 comprising respectively the
amino acid sequence SEQ ID Nos. 13, 11 and 14; and
c) an antibody comprising a heavy chain comprising CDR-HI, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3
comprising respectively the amino acid sequence SEQ ID Nos. 7, 8 and 9; and a
light chain comprising CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 comprising respectively the
amino acid sequence SEQID Nos. 15, 16 and 17.
2. The antibody of claim 1, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments,
characterized in that said isolated antibody or said functional divalent fragments
is selected from:
20 a) an antibody comprising a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence
SEQ ID No. 63 and a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID
No. 62;
b) an antibody comprising a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence
SEQ ID No. 19 and a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID
No. 22; and
c) an antibody comprising a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence
SEQ ID No. 20 and a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID
No. 23.
3. A murine hybridoma capable of secreting an antibody as claimed in claim 2,
30 characterized in that said murine hybridoma is selected from:
a) the murine hybridoma deposited at the CNCM, lnstitut Pasteur, Paris, on
March 14, 2007 under the number 1-3724;
93
b) the murine hybridoma deposited at the CNCM, lnstitut Pasteur, Paris, on
March 14, 2007 under the number 1-3732; and
c) the murine hybridoma deposited at the CNCM, lnstitut Pasteur, Paris, on July
6, 2007 under the number 1-3786.
5 4. The antibody of claim 1 or 2, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments,
characterized in that it consists in a monoclonal antibody.
5. The antibody of claim 4, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments,
characterized in that said antibody is a chimeric antibody and moreover
comprises the light chain and heavy chain constant regions derived from an
10 antibody of a species heterologous to the mouse.
6. The chimeric antibody of claim 5, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments,
characterized in that said heterologous species is man.
7. The humanized antibody of claim 6, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments
or, characterized in that the light chain and heavy chain constant regions derived
15 from a human antibody are respectively for the light chain the kappa region and
for the heavy chain the gamma-I, gamma-2 or gamma-4 region.
8. The antibody of one of claims 1 to 7, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments,
characterized in that it is capable to bind specifically to c-Met.
9. The antibody of claim 8, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments,
20 characterized in that it is capable to inhibit ligand-dependent and ligandindependent
activation of c-Met.
10.The antibody of claim 9, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments,
characterized in that it inhibits the c-Met dimerization.
11. The antibody of claim 10, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments,
25 characterized in that it inhibits at least 50 % of tumoral cell proliferation for at
least one tumor type.
12. An isolated nucleic acid, characterized in that it is chosen from the following
nucleic acids:
a) a nucleic acid, DNA or RNA, coding for an antibody, or one of its functional
divalent fragments, as claimed in claim 1 or 2;
b) a nucleic acid comprising a DNA sequence comprising the sequences SEQ ID
No. 64, SEQ ID No. 65, SEQ ID No. 66 and the sequences SEQ ID No. 67, SEQ ID No.
5 68 and SEQ ID No. 69, or a DNA sequence comprising the sequences of SEQ ID No.
27, SEQ ID No. 28, SEQ ID No. 29 and the sequences SEQ ID No. 36, SEQ ID No. 34
and SEQ ID No. 37, or a DNA sequence comprising the sequences of SEQ ID No. 30,
SEQ ID No. 31, SEQ ID No. 32 and the sequences SEQ ID No. 38, SEQ ID No. 39 and
SEQ ID No. 40;
10 c) a nucleic acid comprising a DNA sequence comprising the sequences SEQ ID
No. 70 and SEQ ID No. 71, or a DNA sequence comprising the sequences of SEQ ID
No. 42 and SEQ ID No. 45, or a DNA sequence comprising the sequences of SEQ ID
No. 43 and SEQ ID No. 46;
d) the corresponding RNA nucleic acids of the nucleic acids as defined in b) or c);
15 and
e) the complementary nucleic acids of the nucleic acids as defined in a), b) and
c).
13. A vector comprising a nucleic acid as claimed in claim 12.
14. A host cell with the exception of a transformed host cell within a human,
20 comprising a vector as claimed in claim 13.
15. A transgenic animal with the exception of human comprising at least one cell
transformed by a vector as claimed in claim 14.
16. A process for production of an antibody, or one of i t s functional divalent
fragments, as claimed in one of claims 1, 2 and 4-11, characterized in that it
25 comprises the following stages:
a) culture in a medium and appropriate culture conditions of a cell as claimed in
claim 14; and
b) the recovery of said antibodies, or one of their functional divalent fragments,
thus produced starting from the culture medium or said cultured cells.
17. The antibody of claims 1, 2 and 4-11, or obtained by the process of claim 16, as a
medicament.
18. A pharmaceutical conlposition comprising by way of active principle a compound
consisting of an antibody, or one of i t s functional divalent fragments, as claimed
5 in one of claims 1, 2 and 4-1 1, or obtained by the process of claim 16.
19. The composition of claim 18, characterized in that it comprises, moreover, as a
combination product for simultaneous, separate or sequential use, a
cytotoxic/cytostatic agent.
20. The composition of claim 19, characterized in that said cytotoxic or cytostatic
10 agent i s coupled chemically to said antibody.
21. The composition of claim 19 or 20, wherein said cytotoxic agent is selected in the
group consisting of alkylating agents, anti-metabolites, anti-tumor antibiotics,
mitotic inhibitors, chromatin function inhibitors, anti-angiogenesis agents, antiestrogenic
agents, anti-androgen agents or immunomodulators.
15 22. The composition of claim 21, wherein said cytotoxic agent is a mitotic inhibitor.
23. A method of in vitro diagnosis of illnesses induced by an overexpression or an
underexpression of the c-Met receptor starting from a biological sample in which
the abnormal presence of c-Met receptor is suspected, characterized in that said
method comprises:
20 a) a step wherein said biological sample i s contacted with an antibody of claims
1, 2 and 4-11, or obtained by the process of claim 16, or of an antibody produced
by hybridoma of claim 3, it being possible for said antibody to be, i f necessary,
Labeled; and
b) a step wherein the overexpression or an underexpression of the c-Met receptor
25 i s determined by the demonstration of the c-Metlantibody complex formed in
step a).