Abstract: Novel methods for the identification and/or sequencing of proteins are provided. These methods are particularly suited to screening antibody libraries and in preferred embodiments make use of mass spectrometry techniques for direct or indirect sequencing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel T cell assay methods, in particular where T cell responses to test antigens are increased by removal of regulatory T cells. Novel assays where the timing of incubation with antigens or other samples is varied in order to optimize detection of T cell responses are described. The invention has particular application for measurement of human T cell responses to pharmaceuticals, allergens, irritants or other substances.

Abstract: The invention relates to the modification of antibodies reactive to human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) to result in anti-TNF alpha antibodies that are substantially non-immunogenic or less immunogenic than any non-modified parental antibody when used in vivo. The invention relates also to peptide molecules comprising T-cell epitopes of the V-regions of the parental antibody which are modified by amino acid alteration in order to reduce or eliminate said T-cell epitopes.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to carrier molecules derived from one animal or avian species or strains and which are substantially non-immunogenic when exposed to an immune system from a species or strain of another animal or avian creature. More particularly, the present invention provides deimmunized immunointeractive molecules and even more particular deimmunized antibodies for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Modified antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof, to the extracellular domain of human prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) are provided. The modified anti-PSMA antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof, have been rendered less immunogenic compared to their unmodified counterparts to a given species, e.g., a human. Pharmaceutical compositions including the aforesaid antibodies, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors and host cells for making such antibodies and fragments are also disclosed. Methods of using the antibodies of the invention to detect human PSMA, or to ablate or kill a PSMA-expressing cell, e.g., a PSMA-expressing cancer or prostatic cell, either in vitro or in vivo, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates a modified human interferon beta (INF?) which is less immunogenic than human INF? (SEQ ID NO: 1) when administered in vivo to a human. The modified human INF? comprises an amino acid residue sequence that differs from SEQ ID NO: 1 by an amino acid residue substitution selected from the group consisting of L57A, L57C, L57D L57E, L57G, L57H, L57K, L57N, L57P, L57Q, L57R, L57S, and L57T and an additional substitution selected from the group consisting of the H140A, H140C, H140G, and H140P.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cytotoxically active CD3 specific binding construct comprising a first domain specifically binding to human CD3 and an Ig-derived second binding domain. Furthermore, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD3 specific binding construct of the invention is provided. Further aspects of the invention are vectors and host cells comprising said nucleic acid sequence, a process for the production of the construct of the invention and composition comprising said construct. The invention also provides the use of said constructs for the preparation of pharmacutical compositions for the treatment of particular diseases, a method for the treatment of particular diseases and a kit comprising the binding construct of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to carrier molecules derived from one animal or avian species or strains and which are substantially non-immunogenic when exposed to an immune system from a species or strain of another animal or avian creature. More particularly, the present invention provides deimmunized immunointeractive molecules and even more particular deimmunized antibodies for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides for modified forms of anti-CD52 antibodies with reduced numbers of potential T-cell epitopes that are expected to display decreased immunogenicity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel approach for identification of T-cell epitopes, that give rise to an immune reaction in a living host. By means of this novel method biological compounds can be generated which have a no or at least a reduced immunogenicity when exposed to the immune system of a given species and compared with the relevant non-modified entity. Thus the invention relates also to novel biological molecules, especially proteins and antibodies, obtained by the method according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides modified forms of bouganin protein having biological activity and a reduced propensity to activate human T cells as compared to the non-modified bouganin protein. The invention also provides T-cell epitope peptides of bouganin, and modified T-cell epitope peptides of bouganin which have a reduced propensity to activate human T cells as compared to the non-modified T-cell epitope peptide. The invention also provides cytotoxins having the having a ligand that binds to a cancer cells attached to the modified bouganin proteins. Also provided are methods of inhibiting or destroying mammalian cancer cells using the cytotoxins of the invention and pharmaceutical compositions for treating human cancer.

Abstract: A method of preparing a modified granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) protein having reduced immunogenicity relative to human G-CSF comprises the steps of (i) identifying one or more potential T-cell epitopes within the amino acid sequence of human G-CSF (SEQ ID NO: 1); (ii) designing at least one sequence variant of at least one potential T-cell epitope identified in step (i), wherein the sequence variant eliminates or substantially reduces the MHC class II binding activity of the potential T-cell epitope; (iii) preparing, by recombinant DNA techniques, at least one modified G-CSF protein including a sequence variant designed in step (ii); (iv) evaluating at least one modified G-CSF protein prepared in step (iii) for G-CSF activity and immunogenicity; and (v) selecting a modified G-CSF protein evaluated in step (iv) that has substantially the same therapeutic G-CSF biological activity as, but substantially less immunogenicity than, human G-CSF.

Abstract: A modified interferon beta (INF?) is provided, which is less immunogenic than human INF? (SEQ ID NO: 1) when administered to a human in vivo. The modified INF? comprises an amino acid residue sequence that differs from SEQ ID NO: 1 by a substitution at one or more residues of SEQ ID NO: 1. Preferred substitutions are at residues selected from the group consisting of residue 50, 59, 60, 62, 63, 66, 67, 69, 70, 125, 126, 129, 130, 132, 133, and 138. Examples of suitable substitutions include F50A, L57A, I59A, Y60N, M62A, L63A, I66T, F67H, I69A, F70A, Y125A, Y126A, I129A, L130A, Y132S, L133A, Y138H, and Y138A.

Abstract: Novel methods for the identification and/or sequencing of proteins are provided. These methods are particularly suited to screening antibody libraries and in preferred embodiments make use of mass spectrometry techniques for direct or indirect sequencing.

Abstract: The invention provides modified forms of bouganin protein having biological activity and a reduced propensity to activate human T cells as compared to the non-modified bouganin protein. The invention also provides T-cell epitope peptides of bouganin, and modified T-cell epitope peptides of bouganin which have a reduced propensity to activate human T cells as compared to the non-modified T-cell epitope peptide. The invention also provides cytotoxins having the having a ligand that binds to a cancer cells attached to the modified bouganin proteins. Also provided are methods of inhibiting or destroying mammalian cancer cells using the cytotoxins of the invention and pharmaceutical compositions for treating human cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides for modified forms of anti-CD52 antibodies with reduced numbers of potential T-cell epitopes that are expected to display decreased immunogenicity.

Abstract: The invention relates to artificial modified proteins, preferably fusion proteins, having a reduced immunogenicity compared to the parent non-modified molecule when exposed to a species in vivo. The invention relates, above all, to novel immunoglobulin fusion proteins which essentially consist of an immunoglobulin molecule or a fragment thereof covalently fused via its C-terminus to the N-terminus of a biologically active non-immunoglobulin molecule, preferably a polypeptide or protein or a biologically active fragment thereof. In a specific embodiment, the invention relates to fusion proteins consisting of an Fc portion of an antibody which is fused as mentioned to the non-immunological target molecule which elicits biological or pharmacological efficacy. The molecules of the invention have amino acid sequences which are altered in one or more amino acid residue positions but have in principal the same biological activity as compared with the non-altered molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies which are directed to the EGF receptor (HER1) to be administered especially to humans and in particular for therapeutic use in tumors. The antibodies are modified whereby the modification results in a reduced propensity for the antibody to elicit an immune response upon administration to the human subject. The invention in particular relates to the modification of anti-EGFR antibody 425 in its different forms and fragments thereof to result in Mab 425 variants that are substantially non-immunogenic or less immunogenic than any non-modified counterpart when used in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to carrier molecules derived from one animal or avian species or strains and which are substantially non-immunogenic when exposed to an immune system from a species or strain of another animal or avian creature. More particularly, the present invention provides deimmunized immunointeractive molecules and even more particular deimmunized antibodies for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Modified antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof, to the extracellular domain of human prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) are provided. The modified anti-PSMA antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof, have been rendered less immunogenic compared to their unmodified counterparts to a given species, e.g., a human. Pharmaceutical compositions including the aforesaid antibodies, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors and host cells for making such antibodies and fragments are also disclosed. Methods of using the antibodies of the invention to detect human PSMA, or to ablate or kill a PSMA-expressing cell, e.g., a PSMA-expressing cancer or prostatic cell, either in vitro or in vivo, are also provided.