Abstract: Provided are antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind specifically to human complement factor C2 and are capable of inhibiting activation of the classical and lectin pathways of the complement system. The antibodies and antigen-binding fragment exhibit improved manufacturability, pharmacokinetics, and antigen sweeping. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments, nucleic acids and vectors encoding the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments, host cells comprising the nucleic acids or vectors, and methods of making and using the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments. The antibodies and antigen-binding fragments can be used to inhibit the classical pathway of complement activation in a subject, e.g., a human. The antibodies and antigen-binding fragments can also be used to inhibit the lectin pathway of complement activation in a subject, e.g., a human.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antagonists, particularly antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof, that bind to the protein galectin-10, particularly human galectin-10. The galectin-10 antagonists disrupt the crystallization of galectin-10 and are therefore useful in methods of preventing and treating diseases and conditions wherein the pathology is linked to the formation/presence of Charcot-Leyden crystals (CLCs).

Abstract: The present invention provides binding molecules (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof) that specifically bind to and inhibit the biological activity of IL-6 (e.g., human, mouse and non-human primate IL-6). In a preferred embodiment, the antibodies or antigen binding fragments of the invention bind to IL-6 and inhibit its binding to an IL-6 receptor. Such antibodies or antigen binding fragments are particularly useful for treating IL-6-associated diseases or disorders (e.g., inflammatory disease and cancer).

Abstract: The present invention relates to antagonists, particularly antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof, that bind to the protein galectin-10, particularly human galectin-10. The galectin-10 antagonists disrupt the crystallization of galectin-10 and are therefore useful in methods of preventing and treating diseases and conditions wherein the pathology is linked to the formation/presence of Charcot-Leyden crystals (CLCs).

Abstract: The present invention relates to combination therapies and to their use in the treatment of chronic airway disease, particularly use in the treatment of asthma. The combination therapies comprise (i) an antagonist of IL-5:IL-5R and (ii) an antagonist of IL-4:IL-4R and/or an antagonist of IL-13:IL-13R. The present invention also provides bispecific antibodies comprising an antigen binding domain that binds to IL-4R? and an antigen binding domain that binds to IL-5. The bispecific antibodies may be used for the treatment of chronic airway disease, particularly asthma.

Abstract: Provided are antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind specifically to human complement factor C2 and are capable of inhibiting activation of the classical and lectin pathways of the complement system. The antibodies and antigen-binding fragment exhibit improved manufacturability, pharmacokinetics, and antigen sweeping. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments, nucleic acids and vectors encoding the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments, host cells comprising the nucleic acids or vectors, and methods of making and using the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments. The antibodies and antigen-binding fragments can be used to inhibit the classical pathway of complement activation in a subject, e.g., a human. The antibodies and antigen-binding fragments can also be used to inhibit the lectin pathway of complement activation in a subject, e.g., a human.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antagonists, particularly antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof, that bind to the protein galectin-10, particularly human galectin-10. The galectin-10 antagonists disrupt the crystallization of galectin-10 and are therefore useful in methods of preventing and treating diseases and conditions wherein the pathology is linked to the formation/presence of Charcot-Leyden crystals (CLCs).

Abstract: The present invention provides binding molecules (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof) that specifically bind to and inhibit the biological activity of IL-6 (e.g., human, mouse and non-human primate IL-6). In a preferred embodiment, the antibodies or antigen binding fragments of the invention bind to IL-6 and inhibit its binding to an IL-6 receptor. Such antibodies or antigen binding fragments are particularly useful for treating IL-6-associated diseases or disorders (e.g., inflammatory disease and cancer).

Abstract: The present invention relates to bispecific and other multispecific antigen binding constructs. In certain aspects, the invention relates to bispecific antigen binding constructs comprising a single domain antibody (VHH) antigen binding region fused to an IgG Fc domain; a heavy chain-Fc domain portion of a conventional IgG antibody, and a light chain portion of a conventional IgG antibody. The bispecific antigen binding constructs of the invention are capable of targeting two different antigens separately or in a protein complex.

Abstract: Provided are novel FcRn antagonist compositions comprising a variant Fc region that binds specifically to FcRn with increased affinity and reduced pH dependence relative to the native Fc region. Also provided are FcRn antagonists with enhanced CD16 binding affinity. Also provided are methods of treating antibody-mediated disorders (e.g. autoimmune diseases) using the these FcRn antagonist compositions, nucleic acids encoding the FcRn antagonist compositions, recombinant expression vectors and host cells for making the FcRn antagonist compositions, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the FcRn antagonist compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides binding molecules (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof) that specifically bind to and inhibit the biological activity of IL-6 (e.g., human, mouse and non-human primate IL-6). In a preferred embodiment, the antibodies or antigen binding fragments of the invention bind to IL-6 and inhibit its binding to an IL-6 receptor. Such antibodies or antigen binding fragments are particularly useful for treating IL-6-associated diseases or disorders (e.g., inflammatory disease and cancer).

Abstract: Provided are novel FcRn antagonist compositions comprising a variant Fc region that binds specifically to FcRn with increased affinity and reduced pH dependence relative to the native Fc region. Also provided are FcRn antagonists with enhanced CD16 binding affinity. Also provided are methods of treating antibody-mediated disorders (e.g. autoimmune diseases) using the these FcRn antagonist compositions, nucleic acids encoding the FcRn antagonist compositions, recombinant expression vectors and host cells for making the FcRn antagonist compositions, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the FcRn antagonist compositions.

Abstract: Provided are chimeric, camelid-human (e.g., llama-human) polypeptides comprising a first antigenic polypeptide portion and a second antigenic polypeptide portion wherein the first antigenic portion is a derived from a first portion of a camelid (e.g., llama) and the second antigenic portion is a human polypeptide homolog of a second portion of the camedid antigen. The chimeric polypeptides are useful inter alia for epitope mapping and generation of antibodies that bind to a desired region of human antigen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amino acid sequences that are directed against (as defined herein) human cellular receptors for viruses and/or bacteria such as e.g. Nanobodies specifically recognizing hCD4, hCXCR4, hCCR5, hTLR4, human alphaV integrin, human beta3 integrin, human beta1 integrin, human alpha2 integrin, hCD81, hSR-BI, hClaudin-1, hClaudin-6 and hClaudin-9, as well as to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins and polypeptides, that comprise or essentially consist of one or more such amino acid sequences. Amino acid sequences of the present invention may be used to prevent human cell entry of HIV, HCV, adenoviruses, hantavirus, herpesvirus, echo-virus 1 and others.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amino acid sequences that are directed against G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), as well as to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins and polypeptides, that comprise or essentially consist of one or more such amino acid sequences. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding such amino acid sequences and; to methods for preparing such amino acid sequences and polypeptides; to host cells expressing or capable of expressing such amino acid sequences or polypeptides; to compositions, and in particular to pharmaceutical compositions, that comprise such amino acid sequences, polypeptides, nucleic acids and/or host cells; and to uses of such amino acid sequences or polypeptides, nucleic acids, host cells and/or compositions, in particular for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: Provided are novel methods of reducing the serum levels of Fc-containing agents (e.g., antibodies and immunoadhesins) in a subject. These methods generally comprise administering to the subject an effective amount of an isolated FcRn-antagonist that binds specifically to FcRn with increased affinity and reduced pH dependence relative to the native Fc region. The disclosed methods are particularly useful for treating antibody-mediated disorders (e.g. autoimmune diseases).

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof derived from antibodies raised by DNA immunization of host animals, particularly camelids (e.g. llama). The antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof bind to proteins which may be particularly large in size (at least 1115 amino acids in length), or have at least 8 transmembrane domains, or are naturally encoded by nucleotide sequences which are difficult to replicate in standard or common E. coli strains. The present invention also relates to antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof which bind to ion channels, in particular the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7. Methods of raising antibodies against particular protein targets by a process of DNA immunization are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amino acid sequences that are directed against (as defined herein) G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and in particular to CXCR4 and CXCR7, as well as to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins and polypeptides, that comprise or essentially consist of one or more such amino acid sequences (also referred to herein as “amino acid sequences of the invention”, “compounds of the invention”, and “polypeptides of the invention”, respectively). Furthermore, the invention provides a new method of making amino acid sequences that are directed against transmembrane protein, and in particular for multiple spanning transmembrane proteins for which the native conformation cannot be reproduced in other “in vitro” system (e.g. GPCRs in general).

Abstract: The present invention relates to amino acid sequences that are directed against (as defined herein) human cellular receptors for viruses and/or bacteria such as e.g. Nanobodies specifically recognizing hCD4, hCXCR4, hCCR5, hTLR4, human alphaV integrin, human beta3 integrin, human beta1 integrin, human alpha2 integrin, hCD81, hSR-BI, hClaudin-1, hClaudin-6 and hClaudin-9, as well as to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins and polypeptides, that comprise or essentially consist of one or more such amino acid sequences. Said amino acid sequences may be used to prevent human cell entry of HIV, HCV, adenoviruses, hantavirus, herpesvirus, echo-virus 1 and others.

Abstract: The present application relates to amino acid sequences that are directed against and/or that can specifically bind to metalloproteinases from the ADAM family, as well as to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins and polypeptides, that comprise or essentially consist of one or more such amino acid sequences, and to methods of preparing the same.