Abstract: Compositions and methods for determining circulating biomolecules before, during, and/or after treatment of a patient with an anti-cancer or anti-tumor drug (or putative drug) are described. Methods of treatments based on the compositions and methods described herein are also provided. Noninvasive methods and kits are provided for assessing the efficacy of an anti-cancer therapy for killing or damaging cancer cells. Embodiments are used to determine the cancer-killing efficacy of an anti-cancer drug in a patient, to optimize the selection of an anti-cancer drug for treatment of a patient, to adjust the dosage of an anti-cancer drug for treatment of a particular cancer in a patient and for identifying useful anti-cancer therapeutics for any one particular type of cancer.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for determining circulating biomolecules before, during, and/or after treatment of a patient with an anti-cancer or anti-tumor drug (or putative drug) are described. Methods of treatments based on the compositions and methods described herein are also provided. Noninvasive methods and kits are provided for assessing the efficacy of an anti-cancer therapy for killing or damaging cancer cells. Embodiments are used to determine the cancer-killing efficacy of an anti-cancer drug in a patient, to optimize the selection of an anti-cancer drug for treatment of a patient, to adjust the dosage of an anti-cancer drug for treatment of a particular cancer in a patient and for identifying useful anti-cancer therapeutics for any one particular type of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies that bind to Activin A and methods of using the same. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the antibodies are fully human antibodies that bind to Activin A with high affinity. The antibodies of the invention are useful for the treatment of diseases and disorders characterized by decreased muscle mass or strength, such as sarcopenia, cachexia, muscle injury, muscle wasting/atrophy, cancer, fibrosis, and weight loss. The antibodies of the invention are also useful in combination with GDF8 binding proteins for the treatment of diseases and disorders characterized by decreased muscle mass or strength. The antibodies of the invention are also useful for the prevention, treatment, or amelioration of disorders and diseases caused by, promoted by, exacerbated by, and/or aggravated by Activin A, such as renal fibrosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating inflammatory diseases, or conditions associated with, or resulting in part from, elevated levels of IL-33 and IL-4, in particular inflammatory lung disorders. The methods of the present invention comprise administering to a subject in need thereof one or more therapeutically effective doses of an IL-33 antagonist alone or in combination with one or more therapeutically effective doses of an IL-4R antagonist. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention include use of the antagonists to treat any inflammatory disease or condition mediated in part by enhanced IL-33-mediated signaling and IL-4-mediated signaling.

Abstract: Genetically modified non-human animals are provided that may be used to model human hematopoietic cell development, function, or disease. The genetically modified non-human animals comprise a nucleic acid encoding human IL-6 operably linked to an IL-6 promoter. In some instances, the genetically modified non-human animal expressing human IL-6 also expresses at least one of human M-CSF, human IL-3, human GM-CSF, human SIRPa or human TPO. In some instances, the genetically modified non-human animal is immunodeficient. In some such instances, the genetically modified non-human animal is engrafted with healthy or diseased human hematopoietic cells. Also provided are methods for using the subject genetically modified non-human animals in modeling human hematopoietic cell development, function, and/or disease, as well as reagents and kits thereof that find use in making the subject genetically modified non-human animals and/or practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: Non-human animals with humanized immunoglobulin loci and methods of using them in vaccine design are described, as well as methods for making broadly neutralizing antibodies against infectious agents and pathogens are provided. Non-human animals with humanized immunoglobulin loci used in B-cell-lineage immunogen design in vaccine development are provided, as are methods of carrying out such design.

Abstract: Genetically modified non-human animals are provided that may be used to model human hematopoietic cell development, function, or disease. The genetically modified non-human animals comprise a nucleic acid encoding human IL-6 operably linked to an IL-6 promoter. In some instances, the genetically modified non-human animal expressing human IL-6 also expresses at least one of human M-CSF, human IL-3, human GM-CSF, human SIRPa or human TPO. In some instances, the genetically modified non-human animal is immunodeficient. In some such instances, the genetically modified non-human animal is engrafted with healthy or diseased human hematopoietic cells. Also provided are methods for using the subject genetically modified non-human animals in modeling human hematopoietic cell development, function, and/or disease, as well as reagents and kits thereof that find use in making the subject genetically modified non-human animals and/or practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: Genetically modified non-human animals are provided that may be used to model human hematopoietic cell development, function, or disease. The genetically modified non-human animals comprise a nucleic acid encoding human IL-6 operably linked to an IL-6 promoter. In some instances, the genetically modified non-human animal expressing human IL-6 also expresses at least one of human M-CSF, human IL-3, human GM-CSF, human SIRPa or human TPO. In some instances, the genetically modified non-human animal is immunodeficient. In some such instances, the genetically modified non-human animal is engrafted with healthy or diseased human hematopoietic cells. Also provided are methods for using the subject genetically modified non-human animals in modeling human hematopoietic cell development, function, and/or disease, as well as reagents and kits thereof that find use in making the subject genetically modified non-human animals and/or practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides VEGF antagonists with improved pharmacokinetic properties. According to certain embodiments, a fusion polypeptide capable of antagonizing VEGF activity is provided comprising a modified extracellular ligand binding domain of a VEGF receptor fused to a multimerizing component.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for making one or more targeted genetic modifications at a target genomic locus by employing homologous recombination facilitated by single or double-strand break at or near the target genomic locus. Compositions and methods for promoting efficiency of homologous recombination between an LTVEC and a target genomic locus in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells using engineered nucleases are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for making one or more targeted genetic modifications at a target genomic locus by employing homologous recombination facilitated by single or double-strand break at or near the target genomic locus. Compositions and methods for promoting efficiency of homologous recombination between an LTVEC and a target genomic locus in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells using engineered nucleases are also provided.

Abstract: Genetically modified mice comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human M-CSF protein are provided. Also provided are genetically modified mice comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human M-CSF protein that have been engrafted with human cells such as human hematopoietic cells, and methods for making such engrafted mice. These mice find use in a number of applications, such as in modeling human immune disease and pathogen infection; in in vivo screens for agents that modulate hematopoietic cell development and/or activity, e.g. in a healthy or a diseased state; in in vivo screens for agents that are toxic to hematopoietic cells; in in vivo screens for agents that prevent against, mitigate, or reverse the toxic effects of toxic agents on hematopoietic cells; in in vivo screens of human hematopoietic cells from an individual to predict the responsiveness of an individual to a disease therapy, etc.

Abstract: Multivalent antigen-binding proteins comprising two or three or four or more immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain binding domains are provided, as are methods for making them, nucleic acid constructs, and cell lines for making them. Proteins comprising two or three or four or more different heavy chain variable domains that lack an immunoglobulin variable domain are provided. Proteins comprising two or three or four or more different heavy chain variable domains that associate with the same immunoglobulin light chain variable domain are also provided.

Abstract: A method for engineering and utilizing large DNA vectors to target, via homologous recombination, and modify, in any desirable fashion, endogenous genes and chromosomal loci in eukaryotic cells. These large DNA targeting vectors for eukaryotic cells, termed LTVECs, are derived from fragments of cloned genomic DNA larger than those typically used by other approaches intended to perform homologous targeting in eukaryotic cells. Also provided is a rapid and convenient method of detecting eukaryotic cells in which the LTVEC has correctly targeted and modified the desired endogenous gene(s) or chromosomal locus (loci) as well as the use of these cells to generate organisms bearing the genetic modification.

Abstract: Multivalent antigen-binding proteins comprising two or three or four or more immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain binding domains are provided, as are methods for making them, nucleic acid constructs, and cell lines for making them. Proteins comprising two or three or four or more different heavy chain variable domains that lack an immunoglobulin variable domain are provided. Proteins comprising two or three or four or more different heavy chain variable domains that associate with the same immunoglobulin light chain variable domain are also provided.

Abstract: A method of detecting and isolating cells that produce a secreted protein of interest (POI) that has an immunoglobulin CH3 domain and/or substituted CH3 domain, comprising: a) constructing a cell line transiently or stably expressing a cell surface capture molecule, which binds the POI, by transfecting the cell line with a nucleic acid that encodes such cell surface capture molecule; b) transfecting said cell simultaneously or subsequently with a second nucleic acid that encodes a POI wherein such POI is secreted; c) detecting the surface-displayed POI by contacting the cells with a detection molecule, which binds the POI; and d) isolating cells based on the detection molecule.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for modifying a rat genomic locus of interest using a large targeting vector (LTVEC) comprising various endogenous or exogenous nucleic acid sequences as described herein. Compositions and methods for generating a genetically modified rat comprising one or more targeted genetic modifications in their germline are also provided. Compositions and methods are provided which comprise a genetically modified rat or rat cell comprising a targeted genetic modification in the rat interleukin-2 receptor gamma locus, the rat ApoE locus, the rat Rag2 locus, the rat Rag1 locus and/or the rat Rag2/Rag1 locus. The various methods and compositions provided herein allows for these modified loci to be transmitted through the germline.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating angiogenic eye disorders by sequentially administering multiple doses of a VEGF antagonist to a patient. The methods of the present invention include the administration of multiple doses of a VEGF antagonist to a patient at a frequency of once every 8 or more weeks. The methods of the present invention are useful for the treatment of angiogenic eye disorders such as age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, central retinal vein occlusion, branch retinal vein occlusion, and corneal neovascularization.

Abstract: A method for engineering and utilizing large DNA vectors to target, via homologous recombination, and modify, in any desirable fashion, endogenous genes and chromosomal loci in eukaryotic cells. These large DNA targeting vectors for eukaryotic cells, termed LTVECs, are derived from fragments of cloned genomic DNA larger than those typically used by other approaches intended to perform homologous targeting in eukaryotic cells. Also provided is a rapid and convenient method of detecting eukaryotic cells in which the LTVEC has correctly targeted and modified the desired endogenous gene(s) or chromosomal locus (loci) as well as the use of these cells to generate organisms bearing the genetic modification.

Abstract: The present invention provides VEGF antagonists with improved pharmacokinetic properties. According to certain embodiments, a fusion polypeptide capable of antagonizing VEGF activity is provided comprising a modified extracellular ligand binding domain of a VEGF receptor fused to a multimerizing component.