Abstract: Provided herein are chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), such as those specific for BCMA, that have improved properties, including increased CAR T cell binding to BCMA and improved CAR T cell killing of BCMA-expressing cancer cells. Use of the CARs in immune cells (e.g., T cells), compositions (e.g., CARs and nucleic acid constructs encoding the same), and methods are also contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of the Chemokine (C—C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) as a biomarker to stratify or identify populations of patients suffering from interleukin-23 (IL23)-mediated diseases (e.g., Crohn's disease) responsive to treatment with an, anti-IL23 antagonist (including, e.g., anti-IL23 antibodies). Levels of CCL20 above or below a predetermined threshold can be used, for example, (i) to determine whether a patient with an IL23-mediated disease or disorder such a Crohn's disease is eligible or non-eligible for treatment with a therapeutic agent, (ii) to determine whether treatment with a certain agent should be commenced, suspended, or modified, (iii) to diagnose whether the IL23-mediated disease is treatable or not treatable with a specific therapeutic agent, or (iv) to predict the outcome of treating the IL23-mediated disease with a specific therapeutic agent. CCL20 can be used in combination with other IL23 pathway biomarkers such as IL22 and/or lipocalin-2 (LCN2).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for decreasing a nasal polyp score in a subject. The methods include administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutic composition comprising an interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) antagonist such as an anti-IL-4R antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof.

Abstract: The invention features multi-specific protein complexes with one domain comprising IL-15 or a functional variant and a binding domain specific to a disease antigen, immune checkpoint or signaling molecule.

Abstract: A method of treating an IL-12/23-related disease in a patient using an increasing dosing interval, comprises increasing the dosing interval of IL-12/IL-23 antibody to a patient, wherein the antibody is administered initially and after 4 weeks, after 16 weeks and after 28 weeks, and increasing the dosing interval after 28 weeks to an increased interval, e.g., every 16, 20 or 24 weeks.

Abstract: Disclosed are biomarker panels for evaluating subjects at risk of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) early after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In particular, the present disclosure relates to the use of one or more of ST2, ANG2, L-Ficolin, HA, and VCAM1 for prognosing, diagnosing, and/or treating SOS.

Abstract: The invention features combination therapies using an IL-15-based superagonist complex and an antibody to effectively treat subjects with cancer and infectious diseases.

Abstract: The invention features multi-specific protein complexes with one domain comprising IL-15 or a functional variant, a cytokine receptor or cytokine ligand, and a binding domain specific to a disease antigen, immune checkpoint or signaling molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating moderate-to-severe or severe atopic dermatitis (AD). The methods of the present invention comprise administering to a subject in need thereof one or more doses of an interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) inhibitor such as an anti-IL-4R antibody. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention are used to treat severe AD in a patient whose disease is not controlled with systemic therapy (e.g., cyclosporine A) or when such therapy is inadvisable.

Abstract: The present application provides fibronectin based scaffold proteins associated with improved stability. The application also relates to stable formulations of fibronectin based scaffold proteins and the use thereof in diagnostic, research and therapeutic applications. The application further relates to cells comprising such proteins, polynucleotides encoding such proteins or fragments thereof, and to vectors comprising such polynucleotides.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of evaluating a subject, e.g., a subject at risk for or suffering from a pKal-mediated or bradykinin-mediated disorder, based on values (e.g., percentages) of intact and/or cleaved kininogen in a sample of the subject. Provided methods permit analysis of patients with plasma kallikrein-mediated angioedema (KMA), or other diseases mediated by pKal useful in the evaluation and treatment. Such methods can involve the use of a detection agent that preferentially binds cleaved kininogen or intact kininogen.

Abstract: The disclosure provides antibody agents that bind to a programmed death-1 (PD-1) protein. Particular immunoglobulin heavy chain polypeptide and immunoglobulin light chain polypeptide sequences are explicitly provided. Also provided are related nucleic acids, vectors, compositions, and methods of using the anti-PD-1 antibody agent to treat a disorder or disease that is responsive to PD-1 inhibition, such as cancer or an infectious disease.

Abstract: A group of peptides is provided which activate or inhibit toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and may be used to modulate inflammatory signaling and host defense pathways. The peptides were derived in silico and tested in vitro in cell cultures. These peptides may be used in the preparation of immunomodulatory compositions such as vaccine adjuvants and in pharmaceutical compositions for immunomodulation of the innate immune system such as vaccine adjuvants. The peptides may also be used in the preparation of TLR4 activators, TLR4 inhibitors and MD2 labels, e.g., for research purposes.

Abstract: The present invention provides innovative proteins that bind to insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR), as well as other important proteins. The invention also provides innovative proteins in pharmaceutical preparations and derivatives of such proteins and the uses of same in diagnostic, research and therapeutic applications. The invention further provides cells comprising such proteins, polynucleotide encoding such proteins or fragments thereof, and vectors comprising the polynucleotides encoding the innovative proteins.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to suppression of cellular transformation and dysplasia by topical application of Lefty. In particular, the present disclosure provides compositions and methods for topically applying Lefty to treat and prevent cancers.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies that bind and inhibit activation of human Notch3 are disclosed. The antibodies can be used to treat cell proliferative diseases and disorders, including certain forms of cancer, associated with activation and/or overexpression of Notch3.

Abstract: The present invention discloses IL-13 antibody, method of its preparation and use thereof. The IL-13 antibody comprises one or more of heavy chain CDR1, heavy chain CDR2 and heavy chain CDR3 of heavy chain variable region of the IL-13 antibody, and/or one or more of light chain CDR1, light chain CDR2, and light chain CDR3 of light chain variable region of the IL-13 antibody. The IL-13 antibody has a high affinity and can significantly inhibit the secretion of thymus activation-regulated chemokine and periostin as well as the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 induced by IL-13, it can significantly inhibit airway hyperresponsiveness in mice induced by IL-13, and therefore can be used in the preparation of drugs for preventing or treating IL-13 expression or dysfunction related diseases.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to antigen-specific immunoconjugates for selectively delivering effector moieties that influence cellular activity. More specifically, the invention provides novel immunoconjugates comprising a first antigen binding moiety, an Fc domain and a single effector moiety. In addition, the present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding such immunoconjugates, and vectors and host cells comprising such polynucleotides. The invention further relates to methods for producing the immunoconjugates of the invention, and to methods of using these immunoconjugates in the treatment of disease.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing infections are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises measuring the amount of each of the polypeptides TRAIL, CRP, IP10 and at least one additional polypeptide selected from the group consisting of IL-6 and PCT.

Abstract: Provided herein are activatable anti-human CTLA-4 antibodies comprising a heavy chain comprising a VH domain and a light chain comprising a masking moiety (MM), a cleavable moiety (CM), and a VL domain. Such activatable anti-human CTLA-4 antibodies have CTLA-4 binding activity in the tumor microenvironment, where the masking moiety is removed by proteolytic cleavage of the cleavable moiety by tumor-specific proteases, but exhibit greatly reduced binding to CTLA-4 outside the tumor. In this way, the activatable anti-human CTLA-4 antibodies of the present invention retain anti-tumor activity while reducing the side effects associated with anti-CTLA-4 activity outside the tumor.