Abstract: An antibody capable of binding to a specific region of glypican 3, as well as a humanized antibody created based on that antibody are disclosed. The anti-GPC3 antibody of the invention has a higher ADCC activity and CDC activity compared with those of a conventional antibody. The antibody of the present invention is useful as a cell growth inhibitor, an anticancer agent and an agent for diagnosis of cancers.

Abstract: Methods are described for modifying the isoelectric point of an antibody while retaining its antigen-binding activity, comprising modifying the charge of at least one exposable amino acid residue on the surface of the complementarity determining region (CDR). The disclosure also provides methods for purifying multispecific antibodies, comprising modifying isoelectric point, and methods for improving the plasma pharmacokinetics of antibodies with a modified isoelectric point. The disclosure further provides antibodies with a modified isoelectric point, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies as an active ingredient, and methods for producing the antibodies and compositions.

Abstract: The present inventors successfully obtained anti-NR10 antibodies having an effective neutralizing activity against NR10. The anti-NR10 antibodies provided by the present invention are useful as, for example, pharmaceuticals for treating or preventing inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising second-generation molecules that are superior than TOCILIZUMAB, by altering the amino acid sequences of the variable and constant regions of TOCILIZUMAB, which is a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor IgG1 antibody, to enhance the antigen-neutralizing ability and increase the pharmacokinetics, so that the therapeutic effect is exerted with a less frequency of administration, and the immunogenicity, safety and physicochemical properties (stability and homogeneity) are improved. The present invention also provides methods for producing these pharmaceutical compositions. The present inventors have successfully generated second-generation molecules that are superior to TOCILIZUMAB by appropriately combining amino acid sequence alterations in the CDR domains, variable regions, and constant regions.

Abstract: The inventors successfully produced anti-Epiregulin antibodies showing cross-species reactivity between cynomolgus monkey (non-human animals) and human, anti-Epiregulin antibodies with suppressed chemical degradation, anti-Epiregulin antibodies with lowered isoelectric point, anti-Epiregulin antibodies with increased thermal denaturation midpoint temperature, and anti-Epiregulin antibodies with reduced amount of aggregate by performing appropriate amino acid residue substitutions in the variable-region sequences of the humanized EP27 antibody which inhibits growth of cancer cells by exhibiting cytotoxic activity and neutralizing activity against human Epiregulin-expressing cancer cells.

Abstract: The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a sample for comprehensively and accurately analyzing gene expression in a single cell or a few cells, for example, by a large-scale DNA sequencer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and highly reliable cell collection system with high throughput and improved in cell collection efficiency. In the present invention, one or more pores are formed in a cell collection plate. One surface of the plate can be directly introduced in e.g., a petri dish, so as to be in contact with a solution containing cells. In this case, means for obtaining an optical image of collected cells from its rear surface is provided to improve reliability and convenience during a cell collection process. Alternatively, the vicinities of the pores in the cell collection plate are only hydrophilized and the other region is made water repellent to improve the efficiency of cell collection.

Abstract: The present inventors successfully obtained anti-NR10 antibodies having an effective neutralizing activity against NR10. The anti-NR10 antibodies provided by the present invention are useful as, for example, pharmaceuticals for treating or preventing inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: The present inventors succeeded in discovering specific amino acid mutations in the variable region, framework region, and constant region of TOCILIZUMAB, and this enables to reduce immunogenicity risk and the heterogeneity originated from disulfide bonds in the hinge region, as well as to improve antigen binding activity, pharmacokinetics, stability under acidic conditions, and stability in high concentration preparations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modified antibody which contains two or more H chain V regions and two or more L chain V regions of monoclonal antibody and can transduce a signal into cells by crosslinking TPO receptor to thereby exert TPO agonist action. The modified antibody can be used as a TPO signal transduction agonist and, therefore, useful as a remedy for various diseases such as platelet-reduction-related blood diseases, thrombopenia following chemotherapy for cancer or leukemia, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modified antibody which contains two or more H chain V regions and two or more L chain V regions of monoclonal antibody and can transduce a signal into cells by crosslinking a cell surface molecule(s) to thereby serve as an agonist.

Abstract: A method of modulating the plasma half-life of anti-glypican 3 antibody, a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the anti-glypican 3 antibody that has a plasma half-life that has been modulated, a method of preparing the anti-glypican 3 antibody and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-glypican 3 antibody as an active ingredient are provided. Disclosed is a method of modulating the plasma half-life of anti-glypican 3 antibody by modifying an amino acid residue that is exposed on the surface of the anti-glypican 3 antibody; and anti-glypican 3 antibody that has a plasma half-life that has been modulated by amino acid residue modification, a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the anti-glypican 3 antibody, and a method of preparing the anti-glypican 3 antibody and producing a pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-glypican 3 antibody as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present inventors successfully obtained anti-NR10 antibodies having an effective neutralizing activity against NR10. The anti-NR10 antibodies provided by the present invention are useful as, for example, pharmaceuticals for treating or preventing inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising second-generation molecules that are superior than TOCILIZUMAB, by altering the amino acid sequences of the variable and constant regions of TOCILIZUMAB, which is a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor IgG1 antibody, to enhance the antigen-neutralizing ability and increase the pharmacokinetics, so that the therapeutic effect is exerted with a less frequency of administration, and the immunogenicity, safety and physicochemical properties (stability and homogeneity) are improved. The present invention also provides methods for producing these pharmaceutical compositions. The present inventors have successfully generated second-generation molecules that are superior to TOCILIZUMAB by appropriately combining amino acid sequence alterations in the CDR domains, variable regions, and constant regions.

Abstract: A method of modulating the plasma half-life of anti-glypican 3 antibody, a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the anti-glypican 3 antibody that has a plasma half-life that has been modulated, a method of preparing the anti-glypican 3 antibody and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-glypican 3 antibody as an active ingredient are provided. Disclosed is a method of modulating the plasma half-life of anti-glypican 3 antibody by modifying an amino acid residue that is exposed on the surface of the anti-glypican 3 antibody; and anti-glypican 3 antibody that has a plasma half-life that has been modulated by amino acid residue modification, a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the anti-glypican 3 antibody, and a method of preparing the anti-glypican 3 antibody and producing a pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-glypican 3 antibody as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Promoter activities were examined by comparing combinations of promoters and enhancers derived from various genes. A hybrid promoter comprising a combination of a CMV enhancer and a mammalian ?-actin promoter, or the post-transcriptional regulatory region of the genomic sequence Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus (WPRE) and a mammalian ?-actin promoter was found to be stronger than existing promoters. Furthermore, the activities of the ?-actin promoters could be enhanced by coexpressing the oncogene product Ras, which is a transactivator.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising second-generation molecules that are superior than TOCILIZUMAB, by altering the amino acid sequences of the variable and constant regions of TOCILIZUMAB, which is a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor IgG1 antibody, to enhance the antigen-neutralizing ability and increase the pharmacokinetics, so that the therapeutic effect is exerted with a less frequency of administration, and the immunogenicity, safety and physicochemical properties (stability and homogeneity) are improved. The present invention also provides methods for producing these pharmaceutical compositions. The present inventors have successfully generated second-generation molecules that are superior to TOCILIZUMAB by appropriately combining amino acid sequence alterations in the CDR domains, variable regions, and constant regions.

Abstract: IgM can be obtained in the form of a pentamer by placing the genes encoding the H, L, and J chains on the same vector to transform appropriate host cells. The gene encoding the J chain may be introduced by co-transfection. When no J chain is expressed, the IgM is produced as a hexamer. The transformants obtained according to the present invention achieve a high yield of IgM. The present invention also provides methods which enable separation and quantification of polymeric IgM.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to decrease the immunogenicity of mouse-derived anti-AXL antibodies in humans by humanizing them. The present invention provides antibodies that can bind to a specific region in Anexelekto (AXL) and humanized antibodies that are produced based on such antibodies. The anti-AXL antibodies of the present invention have high antitumor activity, and are useful as agents for decreasing the AXL expression level, antitumor agents, and diagnostic agents for cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modified antibody which contains two or more H chain V regions and two or more L chain V regions of monoclonal antibody and can transduce a signal into cells by crosslinking TPO receptor to thereby exert TPO agonist action. The modified antibody can be used as a TPO signal transduction agonist and, therefore, useful as a remedy for various diseases such as platelet-reduction-related blood diseases, thrombopenia following chemotherapy for cancer or leukemia, etc.