Abstract: There is disclosed a method and pharmaceutical composition for treating or mitigating the side effects of cytotoxic cancer therapy for carcinoma-type cancers tumors including administering a thiol-based chemoproctectant agent and administering a cytotoxic agent having a targeting means to the Lewis Y glycoproteins.

Abstract: Fully human antibodies against a specific antigen can be prepared by administering the antigen to a transgenic animal which has been modified to produce such antibodies in response to antigenic challenge, but whose endogenous loci have been disabled. Various subsequent manipulations can be performed to obtain either antibodies per se or analogs thereof.

Abstract: Provided are specific antibodies which are capable of modulating T cell activity and uses thereof. In particular, antibodies and binding fragments thereof are described, which react with a specific domain of biliary glycoprotein (BGP), also known as CD66a, CEACAM1 and C-CAM1, and which are capable of suppressing the cytolytic activity of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIELs). Furthermore, compositions comprising said antibodies are provided and methods of modulating immune cell proliferation, and treating immune response related diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to agents that bind CD23 and that can be used in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune or allergic diseases.

Abstract: A mutant bispecific antibody that includes (a) a human hinge constant region from IgG having one or more amino acid mutations in the CH2 domain, (b) two scFvs; and (c) two Fvs has been constructed. This type of antibody displays enhanced clearance, which has been found to be particularly useful in the context of pre-targeting methods.

Abstract: Chimeric molecules that contain at least one pathogen-detection domain and at least one effector domain, and their methods of use in preventing or treating a pathogen infection in a cell or organism are described. The pathogen-detection domain and effector domain of the chimeric molecules are domains not typically found in nature to be associated together. Agents are also described herein having at least one pathogen-interacting molecular structure and at least one effector-mediating molecular structure, the agent being one that is non-naturally-occurring in a cell. The methods of prevention and treatment described herein are effective for a broad spectrum of pathogens and exhibit little or no toxic side-effects. Assays for the detection of a pathogen, pathogen component, or product produced or induced by a pathogen, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of inhibitors of the expressed proteins of TCF target genes whose expression is regulated by TCF/&bgr;-catenin complexes for the preparation of a therapeutical composition for the treatment of cancers in which TCF/&bgr;-catenin signaling is deregulated. Such inhibitors can be antibodies, small molecules, antisense RNA and dsRNA for use in RNAi. The invention also relates to these inhibitors per se.

Abstract: This invention relates to the diagnosis and treatment of cancerous diseases, particularly to the mediation of cytotoxicity of tumor cells; and most particularly to the use of cancerous disease modifying antibodies (CDMAB), optionally in combination with one or more chemotherapeutic agents, as a means for initiating the cytotoxic response. The invention further relates to binding assays which utilize the CDMABs of the instant invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing vascular-associated disorders.

Abstract: Antibody molecules specific for surface structures of antigen presenting cells that have been modified to include an antigen moiety at a specific site therein to produce novel conjugate antibody molecules are disclosed. These conjugate molecules are produced by genetic modification of genes encoding light and heavy chains of the surface structure specific antibody, and expression in mammalian cells to produce the conjugate antibody. The conjugate antibody retained specificity for antigen presenting cells and contained the antigen moiety. The conjugate antibody molecules deliver the antigen to antigen presenting cells to produce an enhanced immune response to a host immunized therewith. The conjugate antibody molecules and nucleic acid molecules encoding them are useful as antigens and as immunogene in diagnostic and prophylactic applications.

Abstract: The invention provides antibodies for a mutant form of the epidermal growth factor receptor known as EGFRvIII. This mutant is found only or primarily on the surface of glioblastoma cells, and on cells of breast, ovarian and non-small cell lung carcinomas. The antibodies provided by the invention have higher affinity for EGFRvIII, and form immunotoxins with higher cytotoxicity and yield, than prior art antibodies, including the scFv designated MR1. In particular, the invention provides an antibody, designated MR1-1, which mutates MR1 in the CDR3 of the VH and VL chains to provide an antibody with especially good cytotoxicity. The invention provides additional antibodies in which MR1 is mutated in the CDR1 and 2 of VH or VL, or both, with better binding to EGFRvIII than that of the parental MR1 antibody.

Abstract: Anti-TNF antibodies, fragments and regions thereof which are specific for human tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF&agr;) and are useful in vivo diagnosis and therapy of a number of TNF&agr;-mediated pathologies and conditions, as well as polynucleotides coding for murine and chimeric antibodies, methods of producing the antibody, methods of use of the anti-TNF antibody, or fragment, region or derivative thereof, in immunoassays and immunotherapeutic approaches are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides stabilized preparations containing an antibody in a glycine buffer and/or a histidine buffer and also provides processes for preparing a protein-containing stabilized preparation, comprising adjusting the pH with a basic amino acid or a basic amino acid derivative or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A method of treatment of disease by inhibition of cellular secretory processes is provided. The method has particular application in the treatment of diseases dependent upon the exocytotic activity of endocrine cells, exocrine cells, inflammatory cells, cells of the immune system, cells of the cardiovascular system, and bone cells. Agents and compositions therefor, as well as methods for manufacturing these agents and compositions, are provided. In a preferred embodiment a clostridial neurotoxin, substantially devoid of holotoxin binding affinity for neuronal cells of the presynaptic muscular junction, is associated with a targeting moiety. The targeting moiety is selected such that the clostridial toxin conjugate so formed may be directed to a non-neuronal target cell to which the conjugate may bind. Following binding, a neurotoxin component of the conjugate, which is capable of inhibition of cellular secretion, passes into the cytosol of the target cell by cellular internalisation mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an antibody, to an antibody specifically reacting with plasma cells, to genes which encode such antibodies, to antigens which are labeled by such an antibody, to additional antibodies directed against said antigens and to methods for producing said antibodies and to uses of such antibodies. In addition, the present invention relates to single-chain multifunctional polypeptides comprising (a) a first domain comprising a binding site of the antibodies defined herein and (b) a second domain comprising a binding site of an immunoglobulin chain or an antibody specifically recognizing the CD3 antigen. Furthermore, compositions and kits comprising the compounds of the invention are disclosed. Preferably said compositions are pharmaceutical or diagnostic compositions.

Abstract: Methods for treating B cell malignancies, in particular B cell leukemia and lymphoma, using an anti-CD80 antibody alone or in combination with an anti-CD20 antibody or chemotherapy is provided. These methods result in a synergistic anti-tumor response.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel immunotoxins and methods of treating neoplastic diseases. These immunotoxins are comprised of a conjugation of an antigen binding region exhibiting binding specificity for the CD33 protein and a cell growth modulator. The immunotoxins of the present invention specifically and selectively kill tumor cells that are characterized by the expression of CD33 antigen. Thus, the novel immunotoxins would be useful in treating human leukemias, both acute and chronic, and other myelodysplastic syndromes.

Abstract: Methods and related immunoglobulin peptides and fragments thereof are disclosed that enhance the cell-mediated immune response of a patient to deposits of amyloid fibrils. These methods exploit the opsonizing effect of antibodies directed toward amyloid material or its component parts.

Abstract: A method for correcting quantitative DNA measurements in a tissue section in which an operator measures, using an image analysis apparatus, the DNA content, profile area, and profile perimeter data for a plurality of nuclei and truncated nuclei in a Feulgen-stained histologic tissue section. The operator then operates a computer program embodying a method of analyzing ploidy measurements in a tissue section. The program includes a routine for obtaining an eccentricity index, which reflects the shape of each of the profiles of the nuclei and truncated nuclei in the tissue section. The program uses the eccentricity index of each nucleus and truncated nucleus to improve the accuracy of the calculation of the DNA content of the whole nuclei that existed in the tissue prior to making the tissue section, and to improve the discrimination of subpopulations of nuclei of different DNA content.

Abstract: Antibodies that bind with a B-cell antigen provide an effective means to treat autoimmune disorders. Antibodies and fragments, which may be conjugated or naked, are used alone or in multimodal therapies. The antibodies may be bispecific antibodies which may be produced recombinantly as fusion proteins, or as hybrid, polyspecific antibodies.

Abstract: A cell-free method for translation and assembly of retroviral, particularly HIV, capsid and capsid intermediates is disclosed. Also disclosed are novel HIV capsid assembly intermediates and novel host proteins which bind to such assembly intermediates. The invention also includes a screening method for compounds that alter retrovirus capsid assembly, and a method of treating HIV using compounds which inhibit the HIV capsid assembly pathway.

Abstract: A remedy for interstitial pneumonia, comprising at least one, or two or more kinds of an interleukin 18 inhibitor and/or an interleukin 2 inhibitor as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A polypeptide self-antigen useful in a tumor-specific vaccine mimics one or more epitopes of an antigen uniquely expressed by cells of the tumor. The polypeptide is preferably produced in a plant that has been transformed or transfected with nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide and is obtainable from the plant in correctly folded, preferably soluble form without a need for denaturation and renaturation. This plant-produced polypeptide is immunogenic without a need for exogenous adjuvants or other immunostimulatory materials. The polypeptide is preferably an scFv molecule that bears the idiotype of the surface immunoglobulin of a non-Hodgkin's (or B cell) lymphoma. Upon administration to a subject with lymphoma, the plant-produced, tumor-unique scFv polypeptide induces an idiotype-specific antibody or cell-mediated immune response against the lymphoma.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel DNA and amino acid sequences of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised against lymphoblastoid cells and peptides to which the mAbs bind to. The invention also concerns diagnostic assays using said antibodies or peptides for detecting individuals with a high probability of having a malignant disease and, at times, for detecting an individual having a specific malignant disease. The invention further concerns pharmaceutical compositions comprising the mAbs or peptides of the invention for use in the treatment of various malignant diseases as well as methods for the treatment of malignant diseases using the mAbs or peptides of the invention.

Abstract: A method is provided for expressing a mammalian antigen in transformed plants to provide a source of plant material for oral or enteral administration to a mammal to produce tolerance to the antigen.

Abstract: Disclosed are the surprising discoveries that aminophospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine, are stable and specific markers accessible on the luminal surface of tumor blood vessels, and that the administration of an anti-aminophospholipid antibody alone is sufficient to induce thrombosis, tumor necrosis and tumor regression in vivo. This invention therefore provides anti-aminophospholipid antibody-based methods and compositions for use in the specific destruction of tumor blood vessels and in the treatment of solid tumors. Although various antibody conjugates and combinations are thus provided, the use of naked, or unconjugated, anti-phosphatidylserine antibodies is a particularly important aspect of the invention, due to simplicity and effectiveness of the approach.