Immunoconjugates of an anti-pd-1 antibody with a mutant il-2 or with il-15

IMMUNOCONJUGATES OF AN ANTI-PD-1 ANTIBODY WITH A MUTANT IL-2 OR WITH IL-15

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to immunoconjugates, particularly immunoconjugates 5 comprising a mutant interleukin-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-1. In addition, the invention relates to polynucleotide molecules encoding the immunoconjugates, and vectors and host cells comprising such polynucleotide molecules. The invention further relates to methods for producing the mutant immunoconjugates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and uses thereof.

Background

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), also known as T cell growth factor (TCGF), is a 15.5 kDa globular glycoprotein playing a central role in lymphocyte generation, survival and homeostasis. It has a length of 133 amino acids and consists of four antiparallel, amphiphatic α-helices that form a 15 quaternary structure indispensable of its function (Smith, Science 240, 1169-76 (1988); Bazan,

Science 257, 410-413 (1992)). Sequences of IL-2 from different species are found under NCBI RefSeq Nos. NP000577 (human), NP032392 (mouse), NP446288 (rat) or NP517425 (chimpanzee).

IL-2 mediates its action by binding to IL-2 receptors (IL-2R), which consist of up to three 20 individual subunits, the different association of which can produce receptor forms that differ in their affinity to IL-2, Association of the a (CD25), β (CD 122), and γ (y_c, CD 132) subunits results in a trimeric, high-affinity receptor for IL-2. Dimeric IL-2 receptor consisting of the β and γ subunits is termed intermediate-affinity IL-2R. The a subunit forms the monomeric low affinity IL-2 receptor. Although the dimeric intermediate-affinity IL-2 receptor binds IL-2 with 25 approximately 100-fold lower affinity than the trimeric high-affinity receptor, both the dimeric and the trimeric IL-2 receptor variants are able to transmit signal upon IL-2 binding (Minami et al., Annu Rev Immunol 11, 245-268 (1993)). Hence, the «-subunit. CD25, is not essential for IL2 signalling. It confers high-affinity binding to its receptor, whereas the /3 subunit, CD 122, and the γ-subunit are crucial for signal transduction (Krieg et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci 107, 11906-11 30 (2010)). Trimeric IL-2 receptors including CD25 are expressed by (resting) CD4⁺ forkhead box

P3 (FoxP3)⁺ regulatory T (T_reg) cells. They are also transiently induced on conventional activated T cells, whereas in the resting state these cells express only dimeric IL-2 receptors. Treg cells

1 OCT 2019 consistently express the highest level of CD25 in vivo (Fontenot et al., Nature Immunol 6, 114251 (2005)).

IL-2 is synthesized mainly by activated T-cells, in particular CD4⁺ helper T cells. It stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of T cells, induces the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes 5 (CTLs) and the differentiation of peripheral blood lymphocytes to cytotoxic cells and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, promotes cytokine and cytolytic molecule expression by T cells, facilitates the proliferation and differentiation of B-cells and the synthesis of immunoglobulin by B-cells, and stimulates the generation, proliferation and activation of natural killer (NK) cells (reviewed e.g. in Waldmann, Nat Rev Immunol 6, 595-601 (2009); Olejniczak 10 and Kasprzak, Med Sei Monit 14, RAI 79-89 (2008); Malek, Annu Rev Immunol 26, 453-79 (2008)).

Its ability to expand lymphocyte populations in vivo and to increase the effector functions of these cells confers antitumor effects to IL-2, making IL-2 immunotherapy an attractive treatment option for certain metastatic cancers. Consequently, high-dose IL-2 treatment has been approved 15 for use in patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

However, IL-2 has a dual function in the immune response in that it not only mediates expansion and activity of effector cells, but also is crucially involved in maintaining peripheral immune tolerance.

A major mechanism underlying peripheral self-tolerance is IL-2 induced activation-induced cell 20 death (AICD) in T cells. AICD is a process by which fully activated T cells undergo programmed cell death through engagement of cell surface-expressed death receptors such as CD95 (also known as Fas) or the TNF receptor. When antigen-activated T cells expressing a high-affinity IL-2 receptor (after previous exposure to IL-2) during proliferation are restimulated with antigen via the T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex, the expression of Fas ligand 25 (FasL) and/or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is induced, making the cells susceptible for Fasmediated apoptosis. This process is IL-2 dependent (Lenardo, Nature 353, 858-61 (1991)) and mediated via STAT5. By the process of AICD in T lymphocytes tolerance can not only be established to self-antigens, but also to persistent antigens that are clearly not part of the host’s makeup, such as tumor antigens.

Moreover, IL-2 is also involved in the maintenance of peripheral CD4⁺ CD25⁺ regulatory T (T_reg) cells (Fontenot et al., Nature Immunol 6, 1142-51 (2005); D’Cruz and Klein, Nature Immunol 6,

1152-59 (2005); Maloy and Powrie, Nature Immunol 6, 1171-72 (2005), which are also known as suppressor T cells. They suppress effector T cells from destroying their (self-)target, either through cell-cell contact by inhibiting T cell help and activation, or through release of immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL-10 or TGF-/3. Depletion of Leg cells was shown to enhance IL-2 induced anti-tumor immunity (Imai et al., Cancer Sci 98, 416-23 (2007)).

Therefore, IL-2 is not optimal for inhibiting tumor growth, because in the presence of IL-2 either the CTLs generated might recognize the tumor as self and undergo AICD or the immune response might be inhibited by IL-2 dependent T_reg cells.

A further concern in relation to IL-2 immunotherapy are the side effects produced by recombinant human IL-2 treatment. Patients receiving high-dose IL-2 treatment frequently experience severe cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, neurological, cutaneous, haematological and systemic adverse events, which require intensive monitoring and in-patient management. The majority of these side effects can be explained by the development of so-called vascular (or capillary) leak syndrome (VLS), a pathological increase in vascular permeability leading to fluid extravasation in multiple organs (causing e.g. pulmonary and cutaneous edema and liver cell damage) and intravascular fluid depletion (causing a drop in blood pressure and compensatory increase in heart rate). There is no treatment of VLS other than withdrawal of IL-2. Low-dose IL-2 regimens have been tested in patients to avoid VLS, however, at the expense of suboptimal therapeutic results. VLS was believed to be caused by the release of pro inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a from IL-2-activated NK cells, however it has recently been shown that IL-2-induced pulmonary edema resulted from direct binding of IL-2 to lung endothelial cells, which expressed low to intermediate levels of functional αβγ IL-2 receptors (Krieg et al., Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 107, 11906-11 (2010)).

Several approaches have been taken to overcome these problems associated with IL-2 immunotherapy. For example, it has been found that the combination of IL-2 with certain antiIL-2 monoclonal antibodies enhances treatment effects of IL-2 in vivo (Kamimura et al., J Immunol 177, 306-14 (2006); Boyman et al., Science 311, 1924-27 (2006)). In an alternative approach, IL-2 has been mutated in various ways to reduce its toxicity and/or increase its efficacy. Hu et al. (Blood 101, 4853-4861 (2003), US Pat. Publ. No. 2003/0124678) have substituted the arginine residue in position 38 of IL-2 by tryptophan to eliminate IL-2’s vasopermeability activity. Shanafelt et al. (Nature Biotechnol 18, 1197-1202 (2000)) have mutated asparagine 88 to arginine to enhance selectivity for T cells over NK cells. Heaton et al.

(Cancer Res 53, 2597-602 (1993); US Pat. No. 5,229,109) have introduced two mutations, Arg38Ala and Phe42Lys, to reduce the secretion of proin fl ammatory cytokines from NK cells. Gillies et al. (US Pat. Publ. No. 2007/0036752) have substituted three residues of IL-2 (Asp20Thr, Asn88 Arg, and Gin 126Asp) that contribute to affinity for the intermediate-affinity IL-2 receptor to reduce VLS. Gillies et al. (WO 2008/0034473) have also mutated the interface of IL-2 with CD25 by amino acid substitution Arg38Trp and Phe42Lys to reduce interaction with CD25 and activation of T_reg cells for enhancing efficacy. To the same aim, Wittrup et al. (WO 2009/061853) have produced IL-2 mutants that have enhanced affinity to CD25, but do not activate the receptor, thus act as antagonists. The mutations introduced were aimed at disrupting the interaction with the β- and/or γ-subunit of the receptor.

A particular mutant IL-2 polypeptide, designed to overcome the above-mentioned problems associated with IL-2 immunotherapy (toxicity caused by the induction of VLS, tumor tolerance caused by the induction of AICD, and immunosuppression caused by activation of T_re£ cells), is described in WO 2012/107417. Substitution of the phenylalanine residue at position 42 by alanine, the tyrosine residue at position 45 by alanine and the leucine residue at position 72 of IL-2 by glycine essentially abolishes binding of this mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the α-subunit of the IL-2 receptor (CD25).

Further to the above-mentioned approaches, IL-2 immunotherapy may be improved by selectively targeting IL-2 to tumors, e.g. in the form of immunoconjugates comprising an antibody that binds to an antigen expressed on tumor cells. Several such immunoconjugates have been described (see e.g. Ko et al., J Immunother (2004) 27, 232-239; Klein et al., Oncoimmunology (2017) 6(3), el277306).

Tumors may be able, however, to escape such targeting by shedding, mutating or downregulating the target antigen of the antibody. Moreover, tumor-targeted IL-2 may not come into optimal contact with effector cells such as cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), in tumor microenvironments that actively exclude lymphocytes.

Thus there remains a need to further improve IL-2 immunotherapy. An approach, which may circumvent the problems of tumor-targeting, is to target IL-2 directly to effector cells, in particular CTLs.

Ghasemi et al. have described a fusion protein of IL-2 and an NKG2D binding protein (Ghashemi et aL, Nat Comm (2016) 7, 12878), for targeting IL-2 to NKG2D-bearing cells such as natural killer (NK) cells.

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1 or CD279) is an inhibitory member of the CD28 family of receptors, that also includes CD28, CTLA-4, ICOS and BTLA. PD-1 is a cell surface receptor and is expressed on activated B cells, T cells, and myeloid cells (Okazaki et al (2002) Curr. Opin. Immunol. 14: 391779-82; Bennett et al. (2003) J Immunol 170:711-8). The structure of PD-1 is a monomeric type 1 transmembrane protein, consisting of one immunoglobulin variable-like extracellular domain and a cytoplasmic domain containing an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (1TIM) and an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based switch motif (ITSM). Two ligands for PD-1 have been identified, PD-L1 and PD-L2, that have been shown to downregulate T cell activation upon binding to PD-1 (Freeman et al (2000) J Exp Med 192: 1027-34; Latchman et al (2001) Nat Immunol 2:261-8; Carter etal (2002) Eur J Immunol 32:634-43). Both PD-L1 and PD-L2 are B7 homologs that bind to PD-1, but do not bind to other CD28 family members. One ligand for PD-1, PD-L1 is abundant in a variety of human cancers (Dong et al (2002) Nat. Med 8:787-9). The interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 results in a decrease in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, a decrease in T-cell receptor mediated proliferation, and immune evasion by the cancerous cells (Dong et al. (2003) J. Mol. Med. 81:281-7; Blank et al. (2005) Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 54:307-314; Konishi et al. (2004) Clin. Cancer Res. 10:5094100). Immune suppression can be reversed by inhibiting the local interaction of PD-1 with PD-L1, and the effect is additive when the interaction of PD-1 with PD-L2 is blocked as well (Iwai et al. (2002) Proc. Nat 7. Acad. ScL USA 99: 12293-7; Brown et al. (2003) J. Immunol. 170:1257-66).

Antibodies that bind to PD-1 are described e.g. PCT patent application no. PCT/EP2016/073248.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a novel approach of targeting a mutant form of IL-2 with advantageous properties for immunotherapy directly to immune effector cells, such as cytotoxic T lymphocytes, rather than tumor cells. Targeting to immune effector cells is achieved by conjugation of the mutant IL-2 molecule to an antibody that binds to PD-1.

The IL-2 mutant used in the present invention has been designed to overcome the problems associated with IL-2 immunotherapy, in particular toxicity caused by the induction of VLS, tumor tolerance caused by the induction of AICD, and immunosuppression caused by activation of T_reg cells. In addition to circumventing escape of tumors from tumor-targeting as mentioned above, targeting of the IL-2 mutant to immune effector cells may further increase the preferential activation of CTLs over immunosuppressive T_reg cells. By using an antibody that binds to PD-1, the suppression of T-cell activity induced by the interaction of PD-1 with its ligand PD-L1 may additionally be reversed, thus further enhancing the immune response.

An IL-2 fusion protein comprising the anti-PD-Ll antibody atezolizumab has been described by Chen et al. (Chen et al., Biochem Biophys Res Comm (2016) 480, 160-165).

Of note, the immunoconjugate of the invention, comprising an antibody that binds to PD-1, shows significantly superior anti-tumor efficacy in vivo as compared to a similar immunoconjugate targeting PD-L1 (see Example 3 hereinbelow).

In a general aspect, the invention provides an immunoconjugate comprising an antibody that 10 binds to PD-1 and a polypeptide that signals through IL-2RPy. The polypetide signaling through

IL-2Rpy is particularly an IL-2 polypetide or an IL-15 polypeptide. In a first aspect, the invention provides an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-I, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human IL-2 molecule comprising the amino acid substitutions F42A, Y45A and L72G (numbering relative to the human IL-2 15 sequence SEQ ID NO: 19).

In a further aspect, the invention provides an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-1, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human IL-2 molecule comprising the amino acid substitutions F42A, Y45A and L72G (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence SEQ ID NO: 19); and wherein the antibody comprises (a) a 20 heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising a HVR-H1 comprising the amino acid sequence of

SEQ ID NO:1, a HVR-H2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, a HVR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOG, and a FR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 at positions 71-73 according to Kabat numbering, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising a HVR-L1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ 25 ID NO:4, a HVR-L2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOG, and a HVR-L3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOG, or wherein the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising a HVR-H1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, a HVR-H2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, and a HVR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) 30 comprising a HVR-L1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, a HVR-L2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, and a HVR-L3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13.

In another aspect, the invention provides an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-1, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human

IL-2 molecule comprising the amino acid substitutions F42A, Y45A and L72G (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence SEQ ID NO; 19); and wherein the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO; 14, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, and SEQ ID NO: 18.

In some embodiments of the immunoconjugate according to the invention, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide further comprises the amino acid substitution T3A and/or the amino acid substitution C125A. In some embodiments, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20. In some embodiments, the immunoconjugate comprises not more than one mutant IL-2 polypeptide. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an Fc domain composed of a first and a second subunit. In some such embodiments, the Fc domain is an IgG class, particularly an IgGi subclass, Fc domain, and/or the Fc domain is a human Fc domain. In some embodiments, the antibody is an IgG class, particularly an IgGi subclass immunoglobulin.

In some embodiments wherein the immunoconjugate comprises an Fc domain, the Fc domain comprises a modification promoting the association of the first and the second subunit of the Fc domain. In some embodiments, in the CH3 domain of the first subunit of the Fc domain an amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a larger side chain volume, thereby generating a protuberance within the CH3 domain of the first subunit which is positionable in a cavity within the CH3 domain of the second subunit, and in the CH3 domain of the second subunit of the Fc domain an amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a smaller side chain volume, thereby generating a cavity within the CH3 domain of the second subunit within which the protuberance within the CH3 domain of the first subunit is positionable. In some embodiments, in the first subunit of the Fc domain the threonine residue at position 366 is replaced with a tryptophan residue (T366W), and in the second subunit of the Fc domain the tyrosine residue at position 407 is replaced with a valine residue (Y407V) and optionally the threonine residue at position 366 is replaced with a serine residue (T366S) and the leucine residue at position 368 is replaced with an alanine residue (L368A) (numberings according to Kabat EU index). In some such embodiments, in the first subunit of the Fc domain additionally the serine residue at position 354 is replaced with a cysteine residue (S354C) or the glutamic acid residue at position 356 is replaced with a cysteine residue (E356C), and in the second subunit of the Fc domain additionally the tyrosine residue at position 349 is replaced by a cysteine residue (Y349C) (numberings according to Kabat EU index). In some embodiments, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is fused at its amino-terminal amino acid to the carboxy-terminal amino acid of one of the subunits of the Fc domain, particularly the first subunit of the Fc domain, optionally through a linker peptide. In some such embodiments, the linker peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:21.

In some embodiments wherein the immunoconjugate comprises an Fc domain, the Fc domain comprises one or more amino acid substitution that reduces binding to an Fc receptor, particularly an Fey receptor, and/or effector function, particularly antibody-dependent cellmediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), In some such embodiments, said one or more amino acid substitution is at one or more position selected from the group of L234, L235, and P329 (Kabat 10 EU index numbering). In some embodiments, each subunit of the Fc domain comprises the amino acid substitutions L234A, L235A and P329G (Kabat EU index numbering).

In some embodiments, the immunoconjugate according to the invention comprises a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:22, a polypeptide comprising an amino 15 acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 or SEQ ID NO:24, and a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:25. In some embodiments, the immunoconjugate essentially consists of a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an IgGi immunoglobulin molecule, joined 20 by a linker sequence.

The invention further provides one or more isolated polynucleotide encoding an immunoconjugate of the invention, one or more vector (particularly expression vector) comprising said polynucleotides, and host cells comprising said polynucleotide(s) or said vector(s).

Also provided is a method of producing an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-1, comprising (a) culturing the host cell of the invention under conditions suitable for the expression of the immunoconjugate, and optionally (b) recovering the immunoconjugate. Also provided by the invention is an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-1, produced by said 30 method.

The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunoconjugate of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and methods of using an immunoconjugate of the invention.

In particular, the invention encompasses an immunoconjugate according to the invention for use as a medicament, and for use in the treatment of a disease. In a particular embodiment, said disease is cancer.

Also encompassed by the invention is the use of an immunoconjugate according to the invention 5 in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease. In a particular embodiment, said disease is cancer.

Further provided is a method of treating disease in an individual, comprising administering to said individual a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an immunoconjugate according to the invention in a pharmaceutically acceptable form. In a 10 particular embodiment, said disease is cancer.

Also provided is a method of stimulating the immune system of an individual, comprising administering to said individual an effective amount of a composition comprising an immunoconjugate according to the invention in a pharmaceutically acceptable form.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Definitions

Terms are used herein as generally used in the art, unless otherwise defined in the following.

The term “interleukin-2” or “IL-2” as used herein, refers to any native IL-2 from any vertebrate source, including mammals such as primates (e.g. humans) and rodents (e.g., mice and rats), 20 unless otherwise indicated. The term encompasses unprocessed IL-2 as well as any form of IL-2 that results from processing in the cell. The term also encompasses naturally occurring variants of IL-2, e.g. splice variants or allelic variants. The amino acid sequence of an exemplary human IL-2 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 19. Unprocessed human IL-2 additionally comprises an Nterminal 20 amino acid signal peptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, which is absent in 25 the mature IL-2 molecule.

The term IL-2 mutant or mutant IL-2 polypeptide as used herein is intended to encompass any mutant forms of various forms of the IL-2 molecule including full-length IL-2, truncated forms of IL-2 and forms where IL-2 is linked to another molecule such as by fusion or chemical conjugation. Full-length when used in reference to IL-2 is intended to mean the mature, natural 30 length IL-2 molecule. For example, full-length human IL-2 refers to a molecule that has 133 amino acids (see e.g. SEQ ID NO: 19). The various forms of IL-2 mutants are characterized in having a at least one amino acid mutation affecting the interaction of IL-2 with CD25. This mutation may involve substitution, deletion, truncation or modification of the wild-type amino acid residue normally located at that position. Mutants obtained by amino acid substitution are preferred. Unless otherwise indicated, an IL-2 mutant may be referred to herein as a mutant IL-2 peptide sequence, a mutant IL-2 polypeptide, a mutant IL-2 protein or a mutant IL-2 analog.

Designation of various forms of IL-2 is herein made with respect to the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 19. Various designations may be used herein to indicate the same mutation. For example a mutation from phenylalanine at position 42 to alanine can be indicated as 42A, A42, A42, F42A, or Phe42Ala.

By a “human IL-2 molecule” as used herein is meant an IL-2 molecule comprising an amino acid 10 sequence that is at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95% or at least about 96% identical to the human IL-2 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19. Particularly, the sequence identity is at least about 95%, more particularly at least about 96%. In particular embodiments, the human IL-2 molecule is a full-length IL-2 molecule.

The term “amino acid mutation” as used herein is meant to encompass amino acid substitutions, deletions, insertions, and modifications. Any combination of substitution, deletion, insertion, and modification can be made to arrive at the final construct, provided that the final construct possesses the desired characteristics, e.g. reduced binding to CD25. Amino acid sequence deletions and insertions include amino- and/or carboxy-terminal deletions and insertions of 20 amino acids. An example of a terminal deletion is the deletion of the alanine residue in position 1 of full-length human IL-2. Preferred amino acid mutations are amino acid substitutions. For the purpose of altering e.g. the binding characteristics of an IL-2 polypeptide, non-conservative amino acid substitutions, i.e. replacing one amino acid with another amino acid having different structural and/or chemical properties, are particularly preferred. Preferred amino acid substitions 25 include replacing a hydrophobic by a hydrophilic amino acid. Amino acid substitutions include replacement by non-naturally occurring amino acids or by naturally occurring amino acid derivatives of the twenty standard amino acids (e.g. 4-hydroxyproline, 3-methylhistidine, ornithine, homoserine, 5-hydroxylysine). Amino acid mutations can be generated using genetic or chemical methods well known in the art. Genetic methods may include site-directed 30 mutagenesis, PCR, gene synthesis and the like. It is contemplated that methods of altering the side chain group of an amino acid by methods other than genetic engineering, such as chemical modification, may also be useful.

As used herein, a ‘wild-type” form of IL-2 is a form of IL-2 that is otherwise the same as the mutant IL-2 polypeptide except that the wild-type form has a wild-type amino acid at each amino acid position of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide. For example, if the IL-2 mutant is the full-length IL-2 (i.e. IL-2 not fused or conjugated to any other molecule), the wild-type form of this mutant is full-length native IL-2. If the IL-2 mutant is a fusion between IL-2 and another polypeptide encoded downstream of IL-2 (e.g. an antibody chain) the wild-type form of this IL-2 mutant is IL-2 with a wild-type amino acid sequence, fused to the same downstream polypeptide. Furthermore, if the IL-2 mutant is a truncated form of IL-2 (the mutated or modified sequence within the non-truncated portion of IL-2) then the wild-type form of this IL-2 mutant is a similarly truncated IL-2 that has a wild-type sequence. For the purpose of comparing IL-2 receptor binding affinity or biological activity of various forms of IL-2 mutants to the corresponding wild-type form of IL-2, the term wild-type encompasses forms of IL-2 comprising one or more amino acid mutation that does not affect IL-2 receptor binding compared to the naturally occurring, native IL-2, such as e.g. a substitution of cysteine at a position corresponding to residue 125 of human IL-2 to alanine. In some embodiments wild-type IL-2 for the purpose of the present invention comprises the amino acid substitution C125A (see SEQ ID NO: 29). In certain embodiments according to the invention the wild-type IL-2 polypeptide to which the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is compared comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19. In other embodiments the wild-type IL-2 polypeptide to which the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is compared comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29.

The term “CD25 or “Of-subunit of the IL-2 receptor” as used herein, refers to any native CD25 from any vertebrate source, including mammals such as primates (e.g. humans) and rodents (e.g., mice and rats), unless otherwise indicated. The term encompasses “full-length”, unprocessed CD25 as well as any form of CD25 that results from processing in the cell. The term also encompasses naturally occurring variants of CD25, e.g. splice variants or allelic variants. In certain embodiments CD25 is human CD25. The amino acid sequence of human CD25 is found e.g. in UniProt entry no. P01589 (version 185).

The term “high-affinity IL-2 receptor” as used herein refers to the heterotrimeric form of the IL2 receptor, consisting of the receptor γ-subunit (also known as common cytokine receptor γsubunit, y_c, or CD 132, see UniProt entry no. Pl4784 (version 192)), the receptor 0-subunit (also known as CD 122 or p70, see UniProt entry no. P31785 (version 197)) and the receptor ossubunlt (also known as CD25 or p55, see UniProt entry no. P01589 (version 185)). The term “intermediate-affinity IL-2 receptor” by contrast refers to the IL-2 receptor including only the γ subunit and the β-subunit, without the α-subunit (for a review see e.g. Olejniczak and Kasprzak, Med Sci Monit 14, RA 179-189 (2008)).

“Affinity” refers to the strength of the sum total of non-covalent interactions between a single binding site of a molecule (e.g., a receptor) and its binding partner (e.g., a ligand). Unless 5 indicated otherwise, as used herein, “binding affinity” refers to intrinsic binding affinity which reflects a 1:1 interaction between members of a binding pair (e.g., an antigen binding moiety and an antigen, or a receptor and its ligand). The affinity of a molecule X for its partner Y can generally be represented by the dissociation constant (Ko), which is the ratio of dissociation and association rate constants (k_otr and k_on, respectively). Thus, equivalent affinities may comprise 10 different rate constants, as long as the ratio of the rate constants remains the same. Affinity can be measured by well established methods known in the art, including those described herein. A particular method for measuring affinity is Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR).

The affinity of the mutant or wild-type IL-2 polypeptide for various forms of the IL-2 receptor can be determined in accordance with the method set forth in the WO 2012/107417 by surface 15 plasmon resonance (SPR), using standard instrumentation such as a BIAcore instrument (GE

Healthcare) and receptor subunits such as may be obtained by recombinant expression (see e.g. Shanafelt et al., Nature Biotechnol 18, 1197-1202 (2000)). Alternatively, binding affinity of IL-2 mutants for different forms of the IL-2 receptor may be evaluated using cell lines known to express one or the other such form of the receptor. Specific illustrative and exemplary 20 embodiments for measuring binding affinity are described hereinafter.

By “regulatory T cell” or “Treg cell” is meant a specialized type of CD4⁺ T ceil that can suppress the responses of other T cells. Treg cells are characterized by expression of the osubunit of the IL-2 receptor (CD25) and the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) (Sakaguchi, Annu Rev Immunol 22, 531-62 (2004)) and play a critical role in the induction and maintenance of 25 peripheral self-tolerance to antigens, including those expressed by tumors. T_reg cells require IL-2 for their function and development and induction of their suppressive characteristics.

As used herein, the term “effector cells” refers to a population of lymphocytes that mediate the cytotoxic effects of IL-2. Effector cells include effector T cells such as CD8⁺cytotoxic T cells, NK cells, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and macrophages/monocytes.

As used herein, the term “PD1”, “human PD1”, “PD-1” or “human PD-1” (also known as Programmed cell death protein 1, or Programmed Death 1) refers to the human protein PD1 (SEQ ID NO: 27, protein without signal sequence) / (SEQ ID NO: 28, protein with signal sequence). See also UniProt entry no. QI5116 (version 156). As used herein, an antibody binding to PD-1”, specifically binding to PD-1”, “that binds to PD-1” or “anti-PD-1 antibody” refers to an antibody that is capable of binding PD-1, especially a PD-1 polypeptide expressed on a cell surface, with sufficient affinity such that the antibody is useful as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic agent in targeting PD-1. In one embodiment, the extent of binding of an anti-PD-l antibody to an unrelated, non-PD-1 protein is less than about 10% of the binding of the antibody to PD-1 as measured, e.g., by radioimmunoassay (RIA) or flow cytometry (FACS) or by a Surface Plasmon Resonance assay using a biosensor system such as a Biacore® system. In certain embodiments, an antibody that binds to PD-1 has a KD value of the binding affinity for binding to human PD-1 of <1 μΜ, <100 nM, <10 nM, <1 nM, <0.1 nM, <0.01 nM, or < 0.001 nM (e.g. 10'^K M or less, e.g. from 10'⁸ M to 10'¹³ M, e.g., from IO'⁹ M to IO'¹³ M). In one embodiment, the KD value of the binding affinity is determined in a Surface Plasmon Resonance assay using the Extracellular domain (ECD) of human PD-1 (PD-l-ECD, see SEQ ID NO: 43) as antigen.

By specific binding is meant that the binding is selective for the antigen and can be discriminated from unwanted or non-specific interactions. The ability of an antibody to bind to a specific antigen (e.g. PD-1) can be measured either through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or other techniques familiar to one of skill in the art, e.g. surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique (analyzed e.g. on a BIAcore instrument) (Liljeblad et al., Glyco J 17, 323-329 (2000)), and traditional binding assays (Heeley, Endocr Res 28, 217-229 (2002)). In one embodiment, the extent of binding of an antibody to an unrelated protein is less than about 10% of the binding of the antibody to the antigen as measured, e.g., by SPR. The antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate described herein specifically binds to PD-l.

As used herein, term polypeptide refers to a molecule composed of monomers (amino acids) linearly linked by amide bonds (also known as peptide bonds). The term polypeptide refers to any chain of two or more amino acids, and does not refer to a specific length of the product. Thus, peptides, dipeptides, tripeptides, oligopeptides, protein, amino acid chain, or any other term used to refer to a chain of two or more amino acids, are included within the definition of polypeptide, and the term polypeptide may be used instead of, or interchangeably with any of these terms. The term polypeptide is also intended to refer to the products of post-expression modifications of the polypeptide, including without limitation glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, or modification by non-naturally occurring amino acids. A polypeptide may be derived from a natural biological source or produced by recombinant technology, but is not necessarily translated from a designated nucleic acid sequence. It may be generated in any manner, including by chemical synthesis. Polypeptides may have a defined three-dimensional structure, although 5 they do not necessarily have such structure. Polypeptides with a defined three-dimensional structure are referred to as folded, and polypeptides which do not possess a defined threedimensional structure, but rather can adopt a large number of different conformations, and are referred to as unfolded.

By an isolated polypeptide or a variant, or derivative thereof is intended a polypeptide that is 10 not in its natural milieu. No particular level of purification is required. For example, an isolated polypeptide can be removed from its native or natural environment. Recombinantly produced polypeptides and proteins expressed in host cells are considered isolated for the purpose of the invention, as are native or recombinant polypeptides which have been separated, fractionated, or partially or substantially purified by any suitable technique.

‘‘Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity with respect to a reference polypeptide sequence is defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in a candidate sequence that are identical with the amino acid residues in the reference polypeptide sequence, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity, and not considering any conservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. Alignment for 20 purposes of determining percent amino acid sequence identity can be achieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, Clustal W, Megalign (DNASTAR) software or the FASTA program package. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for aligning sequences, including any algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full length of the sequences being compared. For purposes herein, however, % amino acid sequence identity values are generated using the ggsearch program of the FASTA package version 36.3.8c or later with a BLOSUM50 comparison matrix. The FASTA program package was authored by W. R. Pearson and D. J. Lipman (1988), “Improved Tools for Biological Sequence Analysis”, PNAS 85:2444-2448; W. R. Pearson (1996) “Effective protein sequence comparison Meth. Enzymol.

266:227- 258; and Pearson et. al. (1997) Genomics 46:24-36, and is publicly available from http://fasta.bioch.virginia.edu/fasta_www2/fasta_down.shtml. Alternatively, a public server accessible at http://fasta.bioch.virginia.edu/fasta_www2/index.cgi can be used to compare the sequences, using the ggsearch (global protein:protein) program and default options (BLOSUM50;

open: -10; ext: -2; Ktup = 2) to ensure a global, rather than local, alignment is performed. Percent amino acid identity is given in the output alignment header.

The term polynucleotide refers to an isolated nucleic acid molecule or construct, e.g. messenger RNA (mRNA), virally-derived RNA, or plasmid DNA (pDNA). A polynucleotide 5 may comprise a conventional phosphodi ester bond or a non-conventional bond (e.g. an amide bond, such as found in peptide nucleic acids (PNA). The term nucleic acid molecule refers to any one or more nucleic acid segments, e.g. DNA or RNA fragments, present in a polynucleotide.

By isolated nucleic acid molecule or polynucleotide is intended a nucleic acid molecule, DNA 10 or RNA, which has been removed from its native environment. For example, a recombinant polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide contained in a vector is considered isolated for the purposes of the present invention. Further examples of an isolated polynucleotide include recombinant polynucleotides maintained in heterologous host cells or purified (partially or substantially) polynucleotides in solution. An isolated polynucleotide includes a polynucleotide 15 molecule contained in cells that ordinarily contain the polynucleotide molecule, but the polynucleotide molecule is present extrachromosomally or at a chromosomal location that is different from its natural chromosomal location. Isolated RNA molecules include in vivo or in vitro RNA transcripts of the present invention, as well as positive and negative strand forms, and double-stranded forms. Isolated polynucleotides or nucleic acids according to the present 20 invention further include such molecules produced synthetically. In addition, a polynucleotide or a nucleic acid may be or may include a regulatory element such as a promoter, ribosome binding site, or a transcription terminator.

“Isolated polynucleotide (or nucleic acid) encoding [e.g. an immunoconjugate of the invention]” refers to one or more polynucleotide molecules encoding antibody heavy and light chains and/or 25 IL-2 polypeptides (or fragments thereof), including such polynucleotide molecule(s) in a single vector or separate vectors, and such nucleic acid molecule(s) present at one or more locations in a host cell.

The term expression cassette refers to a polynucleotide generated recombinantly or synthetically, with a series of specified nucleic acid elements that permit transcription of a 30 particular nucleic acid in a target cell. The recombinant expression cassette can be incorporated into a plasmid, chromosome, mitochondrial DNA, plastid DNA, virus, or nucleic acid fragment. Typically, the recombinant expression cassette portion of an expression vector includes, among other sequences, a nucleic acid sequence to be transcribed and a promoter. In certain embodiments, the expression cassette comprises polynucleotide sequences that encode immunoconjugates of the invention or fragments thereof.

The term “vector” or expression vector refers to a DNA molecule that is used to introduce and direct the expression of a specific gene to which it is operably associated in a cell. The term includes the vector as a self-replicating nucleic acid structure as well as the vector incorporated into the genome of a host cell into which it has been introduced. The expression vector of the present invention comprises an expression cassette. Expression vectors allow transcription of large amounts of stable mRNA. Once the expression vector is inside the cell, the ribonucleic acid molecule or protein that is encoded by the gene is produced by the cellular transcription and/or translation machinery. In one embodiment, the expression vector of the invention comprises an expression cassette that comprises polynucleotide sequences that encode immunoconjugates of the invention or fragments thereof.

The terms host cell, host cell line, and host cell culture are used interchangeably and refer to cells into which exogenous nucleic acid has been introduced, including the progeny of such cells. Host cells include transformants and transformed cells, which include the primary transformed cell and progeny derived therefrom without regard to the number of passages. Progeny may not be completely identical in nucleic acid content to a parent cell, but may contain mutations. Mutant progeny that have the same function or biological activity as screened or selected for in the originally transformed cell are included herein. A host cell is any type of cellular system that can be used to generate the immunoconjugates of the present invention. Host cells include cultured cells, e.g. mammalian cultured cells, such as HEK. cells, CHO cells, BHK cells, NSO cells, SP2/0 cells, YO myeloma cells, P3X63 mouse myeloma cells, PER cells, PER.C6 cells or hybridoma cells, yeast cells, insect cells, and plant cells, to name only a few, but also cells comprised within a transgenic animal, transgenic plant or cultured plant or animal tissue.

The term antibody herein is used in the broadest sense and encompasses various antibody structures, including but not limited to monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g. bispecific antibodies), and antibody fragments so long as they exhibit the desired antigen binding activity.

The term monoclonal antibody as used herein refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e. the individual antibodies comprised in the population are identical and/or bind the same epitope, except for possible variant antibodies, e.g., containing naturally occurring mutations or arising during production of a monoclonal antibody preparation, such variants generally being present in minor amounts. In contrast to polyclonal antibody preparations, which typically include different antibodies directed against different 5 determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody of a monoclonal antibody preparation is directed against a single determinant on an antigen. Thus, the modifier “monoclonal” indicates the character of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies, and is not to be construed as requiring production of the antibody by any particular method. For example, the monoclonal antibodies to be used in accordance with the present 10 invention may be made by a variety of techniques, including but not limited to the hybridoma method, recombinant DNA methods, phage-display methods, and methods utilizing transgenic animals containing all or part of the human immunoglobulin loci, such methods and other exemplary methods for making monoclonal antibodies being described herein.

An isolated antibody is one which has been separated from a component of its natural environment, i.e. that is not in its natural milieu. No particular level of purification is required. For example, an isolated antibody can be removed from its native or natural environment. Recombinantly produced antibodies expressed in host cells are considered isolated for the purpose of the invention, as are native or recombinant antibodies which have been separated, fractionated, or partially or substantially purified by any suitable technique. As such, the 20 immunoconjugates of the present invention are isolated. In some embodiments, an antibody is purified to greater than 95% or 99% purity as determined by, for example, electrophoretic (e.g., SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing (IEF), capillary electrophoresis) or chromatographic (e.g., ion exchange or reverse phase HPLC) methods. For review of methods for assessment of antibody purity, see, e.g., Flatman et al., J. Chromatogr. B 848:79-87 (2007).

The terms “foil-length antibody,” “intact antibody,” and “whole antibody” are used herein interchangeably to refer to an antibody having a structure substantially similar to a native antibody structure.

An antibody fragment refers to a molecule other than an intact antibody that comprises a portion of an intact antibody that binds the antigen to which the intact antibody binds. Examples 30 of antibody fragments include but are not limited to Fv, Fab, Fab', Fab’-SH, F(ab’)2, diabodies, linear antibodies, single-chain antibody molecules (e.g, scFv), and single-domain antibodies. For a review of certain antibody fragments, see Holliger and Hudson, Nature Biotechnology

23:1126-1136 (2005). For a review of scFv fragments, see e.g. Pluckthun, in The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, vol. 113, Rosenburg and Moore eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 269-315 (1994); see also WO 93/16185; and U.S. Patent Nos. 5,571,894 and 5,587,458. For discussion of Fab and F(ab’)? fragments comprising salvage receptor binding epitope residues and having increased in vivo half-life, see U.S. Patent No. 5,869,046. Diabodies are antibody fragments with two anti gen-binding sites that may be bivalent or bi sped fie. See, for example, EP 404,097; WO 1993/01161; Hudson et al., Nat Med 9, 129-134 (2003); and Hollinger et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90, 6444-6448 (1993). Triabodies and tetrabodies are also described in Hudson et al., Nat Med 9, 129-134 (2003). Single-domain antibodies are antibody fragments comprising all or a portion of the heavy chain variable domain or all or a portion of the light chain variable domain of an antibody. In certain embodiments, a single-domain antibody is a human single-domain antibody (Domantis, Inc., Waltham, MA; see e.g. U.S. Patent No. 6,248,516 B1). Antibody fragments can be made by various techniques, including but not limited to proteolytic digestion of an intact antibody as well as production by recombinant host cells (e.g. E. coli or phage), as described herein.

The term “immunoglobulin molecule” refers to a protein having the structure of a naturally occurring antibody. For example, immunoglobulins of the IgG class are heterotetrameric glycoproteins of about 150,000 daltons, composed of two light chains and two heavy chains that are disulfide-bonded. From N- to C-terminus, each heavy chain has a variable domain (VH), also called a variable heavy domain or a heavy chain variable region, followed by three constant domains (CHI, CH2, and CH3), also called a heavy chain constant region. Similarly, from N- to C-terminus, each light chain has a variable domain (VL), also called a variable light domain or a light chain variable region, followed by a constant light (CL) domain, also called a light chain constant region. The heavy chain of an immunoglobulin may be assigned to one of five types, called a (IgA), δ (IgD), ε (IgE), γ (IgG), or μ (IgM), some of which may be further divided into subtypes, e.g. γι (IgGi), 72 (IgGz), 73 (IgGs), 74 (IgG-O,(IgAj) and c& (IgA?). The light chain of an immunoglobulin may be assigned to one of two types, called kappa (k) and lambda (λ), based on the amino acid sequence of its constant domain. An immunoglobulin essentially consists of two Fab molecules and an Fc domain, linked via the immunoglobulin hinge region.

The term antigen binding domain refers to the part of an antibody that comprises the area which specifically binds to and is complementary to part or all of an antigen. An antigen binding domain may be provided by, for example, one or more antibody variable domains (also called antibody variable regions). Particularly, an antigen binding domain comprises an antibody light chain variable domain (VL) and an antibody heavy chain variable domain (VH).

The term “variable region” or “variable domain” refers to the domain of an antibody heavy or light chain that is involved in binding the antibody to antigen. The variable domains of the heavy chain and light chain (VH and VL, respectively) of a native antibody generally have similar structures, with each domain comprising four conserved framework regions (FRs) and three hypervariable regions (HVRs). See, e.g., Kindt et al,, Kuby Immunology, 6^th ed., W.H. Freeman and Co,, page 91 (2007). A single VH or VL domain may be sufficient to confer antigen-binding specificity. As used herein in connection with variable region sequences, Kabat numbering’' refers to the numbering system set forth by Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (1991).

As used herein, the amino acid positions of all constant regions and domains of the heavy and light chain are numbered according to the Kabat numbering system described in Kabat, et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th ed., Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (1991), referred to as “numbering according to Kabat” or “Kabat numbering” herein. Specifically the Kabat numbering system (see pages 647-660 of Kabat, et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th ed., Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (1991)) is used for the light chain constant domain CL of kappa and lambda isotype and the Kabat EU index numbering system (see pages 661 -723) is used for the heavy chain constant domains (CHI, Hinge, CH2 and CH3), which is herein further clarified by referring to “numbering according to Kabat EU index” in this case.

The term “hypervariable region” or “HVR”, as used herein, refers to each of the regions of an antibody variable domain which are hypervariable in sequence (“complementarity determining regions” or “CDRs”) and/or form structurally defined loops (“hypervariable loops”) and/or contain the antigen-contacting residues (“antigen contacts”). Generally, antibodies comprise six HVRs; three in the VH (Hl, H2, H3), and three in the VL (Li, L2, L3). Exemplary HVRs herein include:

(a) hypervariable loops occurring at amino acid residues 26-32 (LI), 50-52 (L2), 91-96 (L3), 26-32 (Hl), 53-55 (H2), and 96-101 (H3) (Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987));

(b) CDRs occurring at amino acid residues 24-34 (LI), 50-56 (L2), 89-97 (L3), 3l-35b (Hl), 50-65 (H2), and 95-102 (H3) (Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (1991));

(c) antigen contacts occurring at amino acid residues 27c-36 (LI), 46-55 (L2), 89-96 (L3), 5 30-35b (Hl), 47-58 (H2), and 93-101 (H3) (MacCallum et al. J. Mol. Biol. 262: 732-745 (1996));

and (d) combinations of (a), (b), and/or (c), including HVR amino acid residues 46-56 (L2), 47-56 (L2), 48-56 (L2), 49-56 (L2), 26-35 (Hl), 26-35b (Hl), 49-65 (H2), 93-102 (H3), and 94102 (H3).

Unless otherwise indicated, HVR residues and other residues in the variable domain (e.g., FR residues) are numbered herein according to Kabat et al„ supra.

Framework or FR” refers to variable domain residues other than hypervariable region (HVR) residues. The FR of a variable domain generally consists of four FR domains: FR1, FR2, FR3, and FR4. Accordingly, the HVR and FR sequences generally appear in the following order in 15 VH (or VL): FR1-H1(L1)-FR2-H2(L2)-FR3-H3(L3)-FR4.

A “humanized” antibody refers to a chimeric antibody comprising amino acid residues from nonhuman HVRs and amino acid residues from human FRs. In certain embodiments, a humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the HVRs (e.g., CDRs) correspond to those of a non-human 20 antibody, and all or substantially all of the FRs correspond to those of a human antibody. Such variable domains are referred to herein as “humanized variable region”. A humanized antibody optionally may comprise at least a portion of an antibody constant region derived from a human antibody. In some embodiments, some FR residues in a humanized antibody are substituted with corresponding residues from a non-human antibody (e.g., the antibody from which the HVR 25 residues are derived), e.g., to restore or improve antibody specificity or affinity. A “humanized form” of an antibody, e.g. of a non-human antibody, refers to an antibody that has undergone humanization. Other forms of humanized antibodies” encompassed by the present invention are those in which the constant region has been additionally modified or changed from that of the original antibody to generate the properties according to the invention, especially in regard to 30 C1 q binding and/or Fc receptor (FcR) binding.

A “human antibody” is one which possesses an amino acid sequence which corresponds to that of an antibody produced by a human or a human cell or derived from a non-human source that utilizes human antibody repertoires or other human antibody-encoding sequences. This definition of a human antibody specifically excludes a humanized antibody comprising non-human anti gen-binding residues. In certain embodiments, a human antibody is derived from a nonhuman transgenic mammal, for example a mouse, a rat, or a rabbit. In certain embodiments, a human antibody is derived from a hybridoma cell line. Antibodies or antibody fragments isolated from human antibody libraries are also considered human antibodies or human antibody fragments herein.

The “class” of an antibody or immunoglobulin refers to the type of constant domain or constant region possessed by its heavy chain. There are five major classes of antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, and several of these may be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgGi, IgG?, IgGj, IgG4, IgAi, and IgA?. The heavy chain constant domains that correspond to the different classes of immunoglobulins are called α. δ, ε, γ, and μ, respectively.

The term “Fc domain” or “Fc region” herein is used to define a C-terminal region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain that contains at least a portion of the constant region. The term includes native sequence Fc regions and variant Fc regions. Although the boundaries of the Fc region of ail IgG heavy chain might vary slightly, the human IgG heavy chain Fc region is usually defined to extend from Cys226, or from Pro230, to the carboxyl-terminus of the heavy chain. However, antibodies produced by host cells may undergo post-translational cleavage of one or more, particularly one or two, amino acids from the C-terminus of the heavy chain. Therefore an antibody produced by a host cell by expression of a specific nucleic acid molecule encoding a full-length heavy chain may include the full-length heavy chain, or it may include a cleaved variant of the full-length heavy chain (also referred to herein as a “cleaved variant heavy chain”). This may be the case where the final two C-terminal amino acids of the heavy chain are glycine (G446) and lysine (K447, numbering according to Kabat EU index). Therefore, the Cterminal lysine (Lys447), or the C-terminal glycine (Gly446) and lysine (K.447), of the Fc region may or may not be present. Amino acid sequences of heavy chains including Fc domains (or a subunit of an Fc domain as defined herein) are denoted herein without C-terminal glycine-lysine dipeptide if not indicated otherwise. In one embodiment of the invention, a heavy chain including a subunit of an Fc domain as specified herein, comprised in an immunoconjugate according to the invention, comprises an additional C-terminal glycine-lysine dipeptide (G446 and K447, numbering according to EU index of Kabat). In one embodiment of the invention, a heavy chain including a subunit of an Fc domain as specified herein, comprised in an immunoconjuate according to the invention, comprises an additional C-terminal glycine residue (G446, numbering according to EU index of Kabat). Compositions of the invention, such as the pharmaceutical compositions described herein, comprise a population of immunoconjugates of the invention. The population of immunoconjugates may comprise molecules having a fulllength heavy chain and molecules having a cleaved variant heavy chain. The population of immunoconjugates may consist of a mixture of molecules having a full-length heavy chain and molecules having a cleaved variant heavy chain, wherein at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80% or at least 90% of the immunoconjugates have a cleaved variant heavy chain. In one embodiment of the invention, a composition comprising a population of immunoconjugates of the invention comprises an immunoconjugate comprising a heavy chain including a subunit of an Fc domain as specified herein with an additional C-terminal glycine-lysine dipeptide (G446 and K447, numbering according to EU index of Kabat). In one embodiment of the invention, a composition comprising a population of immunoconjugates of the invention comprises an immunoconjugate comprising a heavy chain including a subunit of an Fc domain as specified herein with an additional C-terminal glycine residue (G446, numbering according to EU index of Kabat). In one embodiment of the invention, such a composition comprises a population of immunoconjugates comprised of molecules comprising a heavy chain including a subunit of an Fc domain as specified herein; molecules comprising a heavy chain including a subunit of a Fc domain as specified herein with an additional C-terminal glycine residue (G446, numbering according to EU index of Kabat); and molecules comprising a heavy chain including a subunit of an Fc domain as specified herein with an additional C-terminal glycine-lysine dipeptide (G446 and K447, numbering according to EU index of Kabat). Unless otherwise specified herein, numbering of amino acid residues in the Fc region or constant region is according to the EU numbering system, also called the EU index, as described in Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 1991 (see also above). A “subunit” of an Fc domain as used herein refers to one of the two polypeptides forming the dimeric Fc domain, i.e. a polypeptide comprising C-terminal constant regions of an immunoglobulin heavy chain, capable of stable self-association. For example, a subunit of an IgG Fc domain comprises an IgG CH2 and an IgG CH3 constant domain.

A “modification promoting the association of the first and the second subunit of the Fc domain” is a manipulation of the peptide backbone or the post-translational modifications of an Fc domain subunit that reduces or prevents the association of a polypeptide comprising the Fc domain subunit with an identical polypeptide to form a homodimer. A modification promoting association as used herein particularly includes separate modifications made to each of the two Fc domain subunits desired to associate (i.e. the first and the second subunit of the Fc domain), wherein the modifications are complementary to each other so as to promote association of the two Fc domain subunits. For example, a modification promoting association may alter the structure or charge of one or both of the Fc domain subunits so as to make their association sterically or electrostatically favorable, respectively. Thus, (hetero)dimerization occurs between a polypeptide comprising the first Fc domain subunit and a polypeptide comprising the second Fc domain subunit, which might be non-identical in the sense that further components fused to each of the subunits (e.g. antigen binding moieties) are not the same. In some embodiments the 10 modification promoting association comprises an amino acid mutation in the Fc domain, specifically an amino acid substitution. In a particular embodiment, the modification promoting association comprises a separate amino acid mutation, specifically an amino acid substitution, in each of the two subunits of the Fc domain.

The term “effector functions¹’ when used in reference to antibodies refers to those biological 15 activities attributable to the Fc region of an antibody, which vary with the antibody isotype.

Examples of antibody effector functions include: Clq binding and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), Fc receptor binding, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), cytokine secretion, immune complexmediated antigen uptake by antigen presenting cells, down regulation of cell surface receptors (e.g. B cell receptor), and B cell activation.

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) is an immune mechanism leading to the lysis of antibody-coated target cells by immune effector cells. The target cells are cells to which antibodies or derivatives thereof comprising an Fc region specifically bind, generally via the protein part that is N-terminal to the Fc region. As used herein, the term “reduced ADCC” is 25 defined as either a reduction in the number of target cells that are lysed in a given time, at a given concentration of antibody in the medium surrounding the target cells, by the mechanism of ADCC defined above, and/or an increase in the concentration of antibody in the medium surrounding the target cells, required to achieve the lysis of a given number of target cells in a given time, by the mechanism of ADCC. The reduction in ADCC is relative to the ADCC 30 mediated by the same antibody produced by the same type of host cells, using the same standard production, purification, formulation and storage methods (which are known to those skilled in the art), but that has not been engineered. For example the reduction in ADCC mediated by an antibody comprising in its Fc domain an amino acid substitution that reduces ADCC, is relative to the ADCC mediated by the same antibody without this amino acid substitution in the Fc domain. Suitable assays to measure ADCC are well known in the art (see e.g. PCT publication no. WO 2006/082515 or PCT publication no. WO 2012/130831).

An “activating Fc receptor” is an Fc receptor that following engagement by an Fc domain of an 5 antibody elicits signaling events that stimulate the receptor-bearing cell to perform effector functions. Human activating Fc receptors include FcyRIIIa (CD 16a), FcyRI (CD64), FcyRIIa (CD32), and FcoRl (CD89).

As used herein, the terms “engineer, engineered, engineering”, are considered to include any manipulation of the peptide backbone or the post-translational modifications of a naturally 10 occurring or recombinant polypeptide or fragment thereof. Engineering includes modifications of the amino acid sequence, of the glycosylation pattern, or of the side chain group of individual amino acids, as well as combinations of these approaches.

“Reduced binding”, for example reduced binding to an Fc receptor or CD25, refers to a decrease in affinity for the respective interaction, as measured for example by SPR. For clarity, the term 15 includes also reduction of the affinity to zero (or below the detection limit of the analytic method), i.e. complete abolishment of the interaction. Conversely, “increased binding” refers to an increase in binding affinity for the respective interaction.

As used herein, the term immunoconjugate refers to a polypeptide molecule that includes at least one IL-2 molecule and at least one antibody. The IL-2 molecule can be joined to the 20 antibody by a variety of interactions and in a variety of configurations as described herein. In particular embodiments, the IL-2 molecule is fused to the antibody via a peptide linker. Particular immunoconjugates according to the invention essentially consist of one IL-2 molecule and an antibody joined by one or more linker sequences.

By “fused” is meant that the components (e.g. an antibody and an IL-2 molecule) are linked by 25 peptide bonds, either directly or via one or more peptide linkers.

As used herein, the terms first and second with respect to Fc domain subunits etc., are used for convenience of distinguishing when there is more than one of each type of moiety. Use of these terms is not intended to confer a specific order or orientation of the immunoconjugate unless explicitly so stated.

An effective amount of an agent refers to the amount that is necessary to result in a physiological change in the cell or tissue to which it is administered.

A therapeutically effective amount of an agent, e.g. a pharmaceutical composition, refers to an amount effective, at dosages and for periods of time necessary, to achieve the desired therapeutic 5 or prophylactic result. A therapeutically effective amount of an agent for example eliminates, decreases, delays, minimizes or prevents adverse effects of a disease.

An “individual” or “subject” is a mammal. Mammals include, but are not limited to, domesticated animals (e.g. cows, sheep, cats, dogs, and horses), primates (e.g. humans and nonhuman primates such as monkeys), rabbits, and rodents (e.g. mice and rats). Particularly, the 10 individual or subject is a human.

The term pharmaceutical composition refers to a preparation which is in such form as to permit the biological activity of an active ingredient contained therein to be effective, and which contains no additional components which are unacceptably toxic to a subject to which the composition would be administered.

A “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to an ingredient in a pharmaceutical composition, other than an active ingredient, which is nontoxic to a subject. A pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes, but is not limited to, a buffer, excipient, stabilizer, or preservative.

As used herein, “treatment” (and grammatical variations thereof such as “treat” or “treating”) refers to clinical intervention in an attempt to alter the natural course of a disease in the 20 individual being treated, and can be performed either for prophylaxis or during the course of clinical pathology. Desirable effects of treatment include, but are not limited to, preventing occurrence or recurrence of disease, alleviation of symptoms, diminishment of any direct or indirect pathological consequences of the disease, preventing metastasis, decreasing the rate of disease progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission or improved 25 prognosis. In some embodiments, immunoconjugates of the invention are used to delay development of a disease or to slow the progression of a disease.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

Mutant IL-2 polypeptide

The immunoconjugates according to the present invention comprise a mutant IL-2 polypeptide having advantageous properties for immunotherapy. In particular, pharmacological properties of IL-2 that contribute to toxicity but are not essential for efficacy of IL-2 are eliminated in the mutant IL-2 polypeptide. Such mutant IL-2 polypeptides are described in detail in WO 5 2012/107417, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As discussed above, different forms of the IL-2 receptor consist of different subunits and exhibit different affinities for IL-2. The intermediate-affinity IL-2 receptor, consisting of the β and γ receptor subunits, is expressed on resting effector cells and is sufficient for IL-2 signaling. The high-affinity IL-2 receptor, additionally comprising the α-subunit of the receptor, is mainly expressed on regulatory 10 T (Trcg) cells as well as on activated effector cells where its engagement by IL-2 can promote T_regcell-mediated immunosuppression or activation-induced cell death (AICD), respectively. Thus, without wishing to be bound by theory, reducing or abolishing the affinity of IL-2 to the ofsubunit of the IL-2 receptor should reduce IL-2 induced downregulation of effector cell function by regulatory T cells and development of tumor tolerance by the process of AICD. On the other 15 hand, maintaining the affinity to the intermediate-affinity IL-2 receptor should preserve the induction of proliferation and activation of effector cells like NK and T cells by IL-2.

The mutant interleukin-2 (IL-2) polypeptide comprised in the immunoconjugate according to the invention comprises at least one amino acid mutation that abolishes or reduces affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the α-subunit of the IL-2 receptor and preserves affinity of the mutant 20 IL-2 polypeptide to the intermediate-affinity IL-2 receptor each compared to a wild-type IL-2 polypeptide.

Mutants of human IL-2 (hIL-2) with decreased affinity to CD25 may for example be generated by amino acid substitution at amino acid position 35, 38, 42, 43, 45 or 72 or combinations thereof (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence SEQ ID NO: 19). Exemplary amino acid 25 substitutions include K35E, K35A, R38A, R38E, R38N, R38F, R38S, R38L, R38G, R38Y,

R38W, F42L, F42A, F42G, F42S, F42T, F42Q, F42E, F42N, F42D, F42R, F42K, K43E, Y45A, Y45G, Y45S, Y45T, Y45Q, Y45E, Y45N, Y45D, Y45R, Y45K, L72G, L72A, L72S, L72T, L72Q, L72E, L72N, L72D, L72R, and L72K. Particular IL-2 mutants useful in the immunoconjugates of the invention comprise an amino acid mutation at an amino acid position 30 corresponding to residue 42, 45, or 72 of human IL-2, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment said amino acid mutation is an amino acid substitution selected from the group of F42A, F42G, F42S, F42T, F42Q, F42E, F42N, F42D, F42R, F42K, Y45A, Y45G, Y45S, Y45T, Y45Q, Y45E, Y45N, Y45D, Y45R, Y45K, L72G, L72A, L72S, L72T, L72Q, L72E, L72N,

L72D, L72R, and L72K, more specifically an amino acid substitution selected from the group of F42A, Y45A and L72G. These mutants exhibit substantially similar binding affinity to the intermediate-affinity IL-2 receptor, and have substantially reduced affinity to the ot-subunit of the IL-2 receptor and the high-affinity IL-2 receptor compared to a wild-type form of the IL-2 5 mutant.

Other characteristics of useful mutants may include the ability to induce proliferation of IL-2 receptor-bearing T and/or NK cells, the ability to induce IL-2 signaling in IL-2 receptor-bearing T and/or NK cells, the ability to generate interferon (IFN)-y as a secondary cytokine by NK cells, a reduced ability to induce elaboration of secondary cytokines - particularly IL-10 and TNF-a10 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), a reduced ability to activate regulatory T cells, a reduced ability to induce apoptosis in T cells, and a reduced toxicity profile in vivo.

Particular mutant IL-2 polypeptides useful in the invention comprise three amino acid mutations that abolish or reduce affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the α-subunit of the IL-2 receptor but preserve affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the intermediate affinity IL-2 15 receptor. In one embodiment said three amino acid mutations are at positions corresponding to residue 42, 45 and 72 of human IL-2. In one embodiment said three amino acid mutations are amino acid substitutions. In one embodiment said three amino acid mutations are amino acid substitutions selected from the group of F42A, F42G, F42S, F42T, F42Q, F42E, F42N, F42D, F42R, F42K, Y45A, Y45G, Y45S, Y45T, Y45Q, Y45E, Y45N, Y45D, Y45R, Y45K, L72G, 20 L72A, L72S, L72T, L72Q, L72E, L72N, L72D, L72R, and L72K. In a specific embodiment said three amino acid mutations are amino acid substitutions F42A, Y45A and L72G (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19).

In certain embodiments said amino acid mutation reduces the affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the α-subunit of the IL-2 receptor by at least 5-fold, specifically at least 10-fold, 25 more specifically at least 25-fold. In embodiments where there is more than one amino acid mutation that reduces the affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the of-subunit of the IL-2 receptor, the combination of these amino acid mutations may reduce the affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the α-subunit of the IL-2 receptor by at least 30-fold, at least 50-fold, or even at least 100-fold. In one embodiment said amino acid mutation or combination of amino acid 30 mutations abolishes the affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the ce-subunit of the IL-2 receptor so that no binding is detectable by surface plasmon resonance.

Substantially similar binding to the intermediate-affinity receptor, i.e. preservation of the affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to said receptor, is achieved when the IL-2 mutant exhibits greater than about 70% of the affinity of a wild-type form of the IL-2 mutant to the intermediateaffinity IL-2 receptor. IL-2 mutants of the invention may exhibit greater than about 80% and 5 even greater than about 90% of such affinity.

Reduction of the affinity of IL-2 for the ossubunit of the IL-2 receptor in combination with elimination of the O-glycosylation of IL-2 results in an IL-2 protein with improved properties. For example, elimination of the O-glycosylation site results in a more homogenous product when the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is expressed in mammalian cells such as CHO or HEK cells.

Thus, in certain embodiments the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises an additional amino acid mutation which eliminates the O-glycosylation site of IL-2 at a position corresponding to residue 3 of human IL-2. In one embodiment said additional amino acid mutation which eliminates the O-glycosylation site of IL-2 at a position corresponding to residue 3 of human IL-2 is an amino acid substitution. Exemplary amino acid substitutions include T3A, T3G, T3Q, T3E, T3N, T3D, 15 T3R, T3K, and T3P. In a specific embodiment, said additional amino acid mutation is the amino acid substitution T3A.

In certain embodiments the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is essentially a full-length IL-2 molecule. In certain embodiments the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human IL-2 molecule. In one embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 with at least one amino 20 acid mutation that abolishes or reduces affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the α-subunit of the IL-2 receptor but preserve affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the intermediate affinity IL-2 receptor, compared to an IL-2 polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 19 without said mutation. In another embodiment, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29 with at least one amino acid mutation that abolishes or reduces affinity of the mutant 25 IL-2 polypeptide to the «-subunit of the IL-2 receptor but preserve affinity of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the intermediate affinity IL-2 receptor, compared to an IL-2 polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 29 without said mutation.

In a specific embodiment, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide can elicit one or more of the cellular responses selected from the group consisting of: proliferation in an activated T lymphocyte cell, 30 differentiation in an activated T lymphocyte cell, cytotoxic T cell (CTL) activity, proliferation in an activated B cell, differentiation in an activated B cell, proliferation in a natural killer (NK) cell, differentiation in a NK cell, cytokine secretion by an activated T cell or an NK cell, and NK/lymphocyte activated killer (LAK) antitumor cytotoxicity.

In one embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide has a reduced ability to induce IL-2 signaling in regulatory T cells, compared to a wild-type IL-2 polypeptide. In one embodiment the mutant IL2 polypeptide induces less activation-induced cell death (AICD) in T cells, compared to a wildtype IL-2 polypeptide. In one embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide has a reduced toxicity profile in vivo, compared to a wild-type IL-2 polypeptide. In one embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide has a prolonged serum half-life, compared to a wild-type IL-2 polypeptide.

A particular mutant IL-2 polypeptide useful in the invention comprises four amino acid substitutions at positions corresponding to residues 3, 42, 45 and 72 of human IL-2. Specific amino acid substitutions are T3A, F42A, Y45A and L72G. As demonstrated in WO 2012/107417, said quadruple mutant IL-2 polypeptide exhibits no detectable binding to CD25, reduced ability to induce apoptosis in T cells, reduced ability to induce IL-2 signaling in T_reg cells, and a reduced toxicity profile in vivo. However, it retains ability to activate IL-2 signaling in effector cells, to induce proliferation of effector cells, and to generate IFN-γ as a secondary cytokine by NK cells.

Moreover, said mutant IL-2 polypeptide has further advantageous properties, such as reduced surface hydrophobicity, good stability, and good expression yield, as described in WO 2012/107417. Unexpectedly, said mutant IL-2 polypeptide also provides a prolonged serum halflife, compared to wild-type IL-2.

IL-2 mutants useful in the invention, in addition to having mutations in the region of IL-2 that forms the interface of IL-2 with CD25 or the glycosylation site, also may have one or more mutations in the amino acid sequence outside these regions. Such additional mutations in human IL-2 may provide additional advantages such as increased expression or stability. For example, the cysteine at position 125 may be replaced with a neutral amino acid such as serine, alanine, threonine or valine, yielding C125S IL-2, Cl25A IL-2, C125T IL-2 or Cl 25V IL-2 respectively, as described in U.S. Patent no. 4,518,584. As described therein, one may also delete the Nterminal alanine residue of IL-2 yielding such mutants as des-Al C125S or des-Al C125A. Alternatively or conjunctively, the IL-2 mutant may include a mutation whereby methionine normally occurring at position 104 of wild-type human IL-2 is replaced by a neutral amino acid such as alanine (see U.S. Patent no. 5,206,344). The resulting mutants, e. g., des-Al M104A IL-2, des-Al M104A C125S IL-2, M104A IL-2, M104A C125A IL-2, des-Al M104A C125A IL-2, or

M104A C125S IL-2 (these and other mutants may be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,116,943 and in Weiger et al., Eur J Biochem 180, 295-300 (1989)) may be used in conjunction with the particular IL-2 mutations of the invention.

Thus, in certain embodiments the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises an additional amino acid mutation at a position corresponding to residue 125 of human IL-2. In one embodiment said additional amino acid mutation is the amino acid substitution Cl25A.

The skilled person will be able to determine which additional mutations may provide additional advantages for the purpose of the invention. For example, he will appreciate that amino acid mutations in the IL-2 sequence that reduce or abolish the affinity of IL-2 to the intermediateaffinity IL-2 receptor, such as D20T, N88R or QI26D (see e.g. US 2007/0036752), may not be suitable to include in the mutant IL-2 polypeptide according to the invention.

In one embodiment, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises no more than 12, no more than 11, no more than 10, no more than 9, no more than 8, no more than 7, no more than 6, or no more than 5 amino acid mutations as compared to the corresponding wild-type IL-2 sequence, e.g. the human IL-2 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19. In a particular embodiment, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises no more than 5 amino acid mutations as compared to the corresponding wild-type IL-2 sequence, e.g. the human IL-2 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.

In one embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20. In one embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide consists of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.

Immunoconjugates

Immunoconjugates as described herein comprise an IL-molecule and an antibody. Such immunoconjugates significantly increase the efficacy of IL-2 therapy by directly targeting IL-2 e.g. into a tumor microenvironment. According to the invention, an antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate can be a whole antibody or immunoglobulin, or a portion or variant thereof that has a biological function such as antigen specific binding affinity.

The general benefits of immunoconjugate therapy are readily apparent. For example, an antibody comprised in an immunoconjugate recognizes a tumor-specific epitope and results in targeting of the immunoconjugate molecule to the tumor site. Therefore, high concentrations of IL-2 can be delivered into the tumor microenvironment, thereby resulting in activation and proliferation of a variety of immune effector cells mentioned herein using a much lower dose of the immunoconjugate than would be required for unconjugated IL-2. Moreover, since application of IL-2 in form of immunoconjugates allows lower doses of the cytokine itself, the potential for undesirable side effects of IL-2 is restricted, and targeting the IL-2 to a specific site in the body by means of an immunoconjugate may also result in a reduction of systemic exposure and thus less side effects than obtained with unconjugated IL-2. In addition, the increased circulating halflife of an immunoconjugate compared to unconjugated IL-2 contributes to the efficacy of the immunoconjugate. However, this characteristic of IL-2 immunoconjugates may again aggravate potential side effects of the IL-2 molecule: Because of the significantly longer circulating halflife of IL-2 immunoconjugate in the bloodstream relative to unconjugated IL-2, the probability for IL-2 or other portions of the fusion protein molecule to activate components generally present in the vasculature is increased. The same concern applies to other fusion proteins that contain IL2 fused to another moiety such as Fc or albumin, resulting in an extended half-life of IL-2 in the circulation. Therefore an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide as described herein and in WO 2012/107417, with reduced toxicity compared to wild-type forms of IL-2, is particularly advantageous.

As described hereinabove, targeting IL-2 directly to immune effector cells rather than tumor cells maybe advantageous for IL-2 immunotherapy.

Accordingly, the invention provides a mutant IL-2 polypeptide as described hereinbefore, and an antibody that binds to PD-1. In one embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide and the antibody form a fusion protein, i.e. the mutant IL-2 polypeptide shares a peptide bond with the antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an Fc domain composed of a first and a second subunit. In a specific embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is fused at its amino-terminal amino acid to the carboxy-terminal amino acid of one of the subunits of the Fc domain, optionally through a linker peptide. In some embodiments, the antibody is a full-length antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody is an immunoglobulin molecule, particularly an IgG class immunoglobulin molecule, more particularly an IgG। subclass immunoglobulin molecule. In one such embodiment, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide shares an amino-terminal peptide bond with one of the immunoglobulin heavy chains. In certain embodiments the antibody is an antibody fragment. In some embodiments the antibody is a Fab molecule or a scFv molecule. In one embodiment the antibody is a Fab molecule. In another embodiment the antibody is a scFv molecule. The immunoconjugate may also comprise more than one antibody. Where more than one antibody is comprised in the immunoconjugate, e.g. a first and a second antibody, each antibody can be independently selected from various forms of antibodies and antibody fragments.

² ° 1 9 0 0 5 7 9 6 n . _n⁰ ’ Zff_(s

For example, the first antibody can be a Fab molecule and the second antibody can be a scFv molecule. In a specific embodiment each of said first and said second antibodies is a scFv molecule or each of said first and said second antibodies is a Fab molecule. In a particular embodiment each of said first and said second antibodies is a Fab molecule. In one embodiment each of said first and said second antibodies binds to PD-1.

Immunoconjugate Formats

Exemplary immunoconjugate formats are described in PCT publication no. WO 2011/020783, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. These immunoconjugates comprise at least two antibodies. Thus, in one embodiment, the immunoconjugate according to the present invention comprises a mutant IL-2 polypeptide as described herein, and at least a first and a second antibody. In a particular embodiment, said first and second antibody are independently selected from the group consisting of an Fv molecule, particularly a scFv molecule, and a Fab molecule. In a specific embodiment, said mutant IL-2 polypeptide shares an amino- or carboxyterminal peptide bond with said first antibody and said second antibody shares an amino- or carboxy-terminal peptide bond with either i) the mutant IL-2 polypeptide or ii) the first antibody. In a particular embodiment, the immunoconjugate consists essentially of a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and first and second antibodies, particularly Fab molecules, joined by one or more linker sequences. Such formats have the advantage that they bind with high affinity to the target antigen (PD-1), but provide only monomeric binding to the IL-2 receptor, thus avoiding targeting the immunoconjugate to IL-2 receptor bearing immune cells at other locations than the target site. In a particular embodiment, a mutant IL-2 polypeptide shares a carboxy-terminal peptide bond with a first antibody, particularly a first Fab molecule, and further shares an amino-terminal peptide bond with a second antibody, particularly a second Fab molecule. In another embodiment, a first antibody, particularly a first Fab molecule, shares a carboxy-terminal peptide bond with a mutant IL-2 polypeptide, and further shares an amino-terminal peptide bond with a second antibody, particularly a second Fab molecule. In another embodiment, a first antibody, particularly a first Fab molecule, shares an amino-terminal peptide bond with a first mutant IL-2 polypeptide, and further shares a carboxy-terminal peptide with a second antibody, particularly a second Fab molecule. In a particular embodiment, a mutant IL-2 polypeptide shares a carboxyterminal peptide bond with a first heavy chain variable region and further shares an aminoterminal peptide bond with a second heavy chain variable region. In another embodiment a mutant IL-2 polypeptide shares a carboxy-terminal peptide bond with a first light chain variable region and further shares an amino-terminal peptide bond with a second light chain variable region. In another embodiment, a first heavy or light chain variable region is joined by a carboxy-terminal peptide bond to a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and is further joined by an aminoterminal peptide bond to a second heavy or light chain variable region. In another embodiment, a first heavy or light chain variable region is joined by an amino-terminal peptide bond to a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and is further joined by a carboxy-terminal peptide bond to a second heavy or light chain variable region. In one embodiment, a mutant IL-2 polypeptide shares a carboxyterminal peptide bond with a first Fab heavy or light chain and further shares an amino-terminal peptide bond with a second Fab heavy or light chain. In another embodiment, a first Fab heavy or light chain shares a carboxy-terminal peptide bond with a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and further shares an amino-terminal peptide bond with a second Fab heavy or light chain. In other embodiments, a first Fab heavy or light chain shares an amino-terminal peptide bond with a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and further shares a carboxy-terminal peptide bond with a second Fab heavy or light chain. In one embodiment, the immunoconjugate comprises a mutant IL-2 polypeptide sharing an amino-terminal peptide bond with one or more scFv molecules and further sharing a carboxy-terminal peptide bond with one or more scFv molecules.

Particularly suitable formats for the immunoconjugates according to the present invention, however comprise an immunoglobulin molecule as antibody. Such immunoconjugate formats are described in WO 2012/146628, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the immunoconjugate comprises a mutant IL-2 polypeptide as described herein and an immunoglobulin molecule that binds to PD-1, particularly an IgG molecule, more particularly an IgGi molecule. In one embodiment the immunoconjugate comprises not more than one mutant IL-2 polypeptide. In one embodiment the immunoglobulin molecule is human. In one embodiment, the immunoglobulin molecule comprises a human constant region, e.g. a human CHI, CH2, CH3 and/or CL domain. In one embodiment, the immunoglobulin comprises a human Fc domain, particularly a human IgGi Fc domain. In one embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide shares an amino- or carboxy-terminal peptide bond with the immunoglobulin molecule. In one embodiment, the immunoconjugate essentially consists of a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an immunoglobulin molecule, particularly an IgG molecule, more particularly an IgG] molecule, joined by one or more linker sequences. In a specific embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is fused at its amino-terminal amino acid to the carboxy-terminal amino acid of one of the immunoglobulin heavy chains, optionally through a linker peptide.

The mutant IL-2 polypeptide may be fused to the antibody directly or through a linker peptide, comprising one or more amino acids, typically about 2-20 amino acids. Linker peptides are known in the art and are described herein. Suitable, non-immunogenic linker peptides include, for example, (G4S)_n, (SG-iln, (G4S)_n or G4(SG4)n linker peptides, “n” is generally an integer from 1 to 10, typically from 2 to 4. In one embodiment the linker peptide has a length of at least 5 amino acids, in one embodiment a length of 5 to 100, in a further embodiment of 10 to 50 amino acids. In a particular embodiment, the linker peptide has a length of 15 amino acids. In one embodiment the linker peptide is (GxS)_n or (GxS)_nG_m with G=glycine, S=serine, and (x=3, n= 3, 4, 5 or 6, and m-0, 1, 2 or 3) or (x=4, n=2, 3,4 or 5 and m= 0, 1, 2 or 3), in one embodiment x4 and n=2 or 3, in a further embodiment x=4 and n=3. In a particular embodiment the linker peptide is (648)3 (SEQ ID NO: 21). In one embodiment, the linker peptide has (or consists of) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21.

In a particular embodiment, the immunoconjugate comprises a mutant IL-2 molecule and an immunoglobulin molecule, particularly an IgGi subclass immunoglobulin molecule, that binds to PD-1, wherein the mutant IL-2 molecule is fused at its amino-terminal amino acid to the carboxy-terminal amino acid of one of the immunoglobulin heavy chains through the linker peptide of SEQ ID NO: 21.

In a particular embodiment, the immunoconjugate comprises a mutant IL-2 molecule and an antibody that binds to PD-I, wherein the antibody comprises an Fc domain, particularly a human IgGi Fc domain, composed of a first and a second subunit, and the mutant IL-2 molecule is fused at its amino-terminal amino acid to the carboxy-terminal amino acid of one of the subunits of the Fc domain through the linker peptide of SEQ ID NO: 21.

PD-1 antibodies

The antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate of the invention binds to PD-1, particularly human PD-1, and is able to direct the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to a target site where PD-I is expressed, particularly to a T cell that expresses PD-1, for example associated with a tumor.

Suitable PD-1 antibodies that may be used in the immunoconjugate of the invention are described in PCT patent application no. PCT/EP2016/073248, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The immunoconjugate of the invention may comprise two or more antibodies, which may bind to the same or to different antigens. In particular embodiments, however, each of these antibodies binds to PD-1. In one embodiment, the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate of the invention is monospecific. In a particular embodiment, the immunoconjugate comprises a single, monospecific antibody, particularly a monospecific immunoglobulin molecule.

The antibody can be any type of antibody or fragment thereof that retains specific binding to PD1, particularly human PD-1. Antibody fragments include, but are not limited to, Fv molecules, scFv molecule, Fab molecule, and F(ab'):> molecules. In particular embodiments, however, the antibody is a full-length antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an Fc domain, composed of a first and a second subunit. In some embodiments, the antibody is an immunoglobulin, particularly an IgG class, more particularly an IgGi subclass immunoglobulin.

In some embodiments, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

In some embodiments, the antibody comprises a HVR-H1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, a HVR-H2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, a HVR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, a FR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 at positions 71-73 according to Kabat numbering, a HVR-L1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, a HVR-L2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and a HVR-L3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.

In some embodiments, the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising a HVR-H1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, a HVR-H2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, a HVR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, and a FR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 at positions 71-73 according to Kabat numbering, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising a HVR-L1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, a HVR-L2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and a HVR-L3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6. In some embodiments, the heavy and/or light chain variable region is a humanized variable region. In some embodiments, the heavy and/or light chain variable region comprises human framework regions (FR).

In some embodiments, the antibody comprises a HVR-H1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, a HVR-H2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, a HVR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, a HVR-L1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, a HVR-L2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, and a HVR-L3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13.

In some embodiments, the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising a HVR-H1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, a HVR-H2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, and a HVR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising a HVR-L1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, a HVR-L2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, and a HVR-L3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13. In some embodiments, the heavy and/or light chain variable region is a humanized variable region. In some embodiments, the heavy and/or light chain variable region comprises human framework regions (FR).

In some embodiments, the antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises a light chain variable region (VL) comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, and SEQ ID NO: 18. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, and SEQ ID NO: 18.

In a particular embodiment, the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15.

In some embodiments, the antibody is a humanized antibody. In one embodiment, the antibody is an immunoglobulin molecule comprising a human constant region, particularly an IgG class immunoglobulin molecule comprising a human CHI, CH2, CH3 and/or CL domain. Exemplary sequences of human constant domains are given in SEQ ID NOs 31 and 32 (human kappa and lambda CL domains, respectively) and SEQ ID NO: 33 (human IgGl heavy chain constant domains CH1-CH2-CH3). In some embodiments, the antibody comprises a light chain constant region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 or SEQ ID NO: 32, particularly the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises a heavy chain constant region comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33. Particularly, the heavy chain constant region may comprise amino acid mutations in the Fc domain as described herein.

Fc domain

In particular embodiments, the antibody comprised in the immunconjugates according to the invention comprises an Fc domain, composed of a first and a second subunit. The Fc domain of an antibody consists of a pair of polypeptide chains comprising heavy chain domains of an immunoglobulin molecule. For example, the Fc domain of an immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecule 10 is a dimer, each subunit of which comprises the CH2 and CH3 IgG heavy chain constant domains. The two subunits of the Fc domain are capable of stable association with each other. In one embodiment the immunoconjugate of the invention comprises not more than one Fc domain. In one embodiment the Fc domain of the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate is an IgG Fc domain. In a particular embodiment the Fc domain is an IgGi Fc domain. In another 15 embodiment the Fc domain is an IgG4 Fc domain. In a more specific embodiment, the Fc domain is an IgG4 Fc domain comprising an amino acid substitution at position S228 (Kabat EU index numbering), particularly the amino acid substitution S228P. This amino acid substitution reduces in vivo Fab arm exchange of IgG4 antibodies (see Stubenrauch et al., Drug Metabolism and Disposition 38, 84-91 (2010)). In a further particular embodiment the Fc domain is a human Fc 20 domain. In an even more particular embodiment, the Fc domain is a human IgGi Fc domain. An exemplary sequence of a human IgGi Fc region is given in SEQ ID NO: 30.

Fc domain modifications promoting heterodimerization

Immunoconjugates according to the invention comprise a mutant IL-2 polypeptide, particularly a single (not more than one) mutant IL-2 polypeptide, fused to one or the other of the two subunits 25 of the Fc domain, thus the two subunits of the Fc domain are typically comprised in two nonidentical polypeptide chains. Recombinant co-expression of these polypeptides and subsequent dimerization leads to several possible combinations of the two polypeptides. To improve the yield and purity of the immunoconjugate in recombinant production, it will thus be advantageous to introduce in the Fc domain of the antibody a modification promoting the association of the 30 desired polypeptides.

Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the Fc domain of the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate according to the invention comprises a modification promoting the association of the first and the second subunit of the Fc domain. The site of most extensive protein-protein interaction between the two subunits of a human IgG Fc domain is in the CH3 domain of the Fc domain. Thus, in one embodiment said modification is in the CH3 domain of the Fc domain.

There exist several approaches for modifications in the CH3 domain of the Fc domain in order to 5 enforce heterodimerization, which are well described e.g. in WO 96/27011, WO 98/050431,

EP 1870459, WO 2007/110205, WO 2007/147901, WO 2009/089004, WO 2010/129304, WO 2011/90754, WO 2011/143545, WO 2012058768, WO 2013157954, WO 2013096291. Typically, in all such approaches the CH3 domain of the first subunit of the Fc domain and the CH3 domain of the second subunit of the Fc domain are both engineered in a complementary 10 manner so that each CH3 domain (or the heavy chain comprising it) can no longer homodimerize with itself but is forced to heterodimerize with the complementarily engineered other CH3 domain (so that the first and second CH3 domain heterodimerize and no homodimers between the two first or the two second CH3 domains are formed).

In a specific embodiment said modification promoting the association of the first and the second 15 subunit of the Fc domain is a so-called “knob-into-hole” modification, comprising a “knob” modification in one of the two subunits of the Fc domain and a “hole” modification in the other one of the two subunits of the Fc domain.

The knob-into-hole technology is described e.g. in US 5,731,168; US 7,695,936; Ridgway et al., Prot Eng 9, 617-621 (1996) and Carter, J Immunol Meth 248, 7-15 (2001). Generally, the 20 method involves introducing a protuberance (“knob”) at the interface of a first polypeptide and a corresponding cavity (“hole”) in the interface of a second polypeptide, such that the protuberance can be positioned in the cavity so as to promote heterodimer formation and hinder homodimer formation. Protuberances are constructed by replacing small amino acid side chains from the interface of the first polypeptide with larger side chains (e.g. tyrosine or tryptophan).

Compensatory cavities of identical or similar size to the protuberances are created in the interface of the second polypeptide by replacing large amino acid side chains with smaller ones (e.g. alanine or threonine).

Accordingly, in a particular embodiment, in the CH3 domain of the first subunit of the Fc domain of the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate an amino acid residue is replaced 30 with an amino acid residue having a larger side chain volume, thereby generating a protuberance within the CH3 domain of the first subunit which is positionable in a cavity within the CH3 domain of the second subunit, and in the CH3 domain of the second subunit of the Fc domain an amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a smaller side chain volume, thereby generating a cavity within the CH3 domain of the second subunit within which the protuberance within the CH3 domain of the first subunit is positionable.

Preferably said amino acid residue having a larger side chain volume is selected from the group consisting of arginine (R), phenylalanine (F), tyrosine (Y), and tryptophan (W).

Preferably said amino acid residue having a smaller side chain volume is selected from the group consisting of alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), and valine (V).

The protuberance and cavity can be made by altering the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptides, e.g. by site-specific mutagenesis, or by peptide synthesis.

In a specific embodiment, in the CH3 domain of the first subunit of the Fc domain (the “knobs” 10 subunit) the threonine residue at position 366 is replaced with a tryptophan residue (T366W), and in the CH3 domain of the second subunit of the Fc domain (the “hole” subunit) the tyrosine residue at position 407 is replaced with a valine residue (Y407V). In one embodiment, in the second subunit of the Fc domain additionally the threonine residue at position 366 is replaced with a serine residue (T366S) and the leucine residue at position 368 is replaced with an alanine 15 residue (L368A) (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In yet a further embodiment, in the first subunit of the Fc domain additionally the serine residue at position 354 is replaced with a cysteine residue (S354C) or the glutamic acid residue at position 356 is replaced with a cysteine residue (E356C) (particularly the serine residue at position 354 is replaced with a cysteine residue), and in the second subunit of the Fc domain 20 additionally the tyrosine residue at position 349 is replaced by a cysteine residue (Y349C) (numberings according to Kabat EU index). Introduction of these two cysteine residues results in formation of a disulfide bridge between the two subunits of the Fc domain, further stabilizing the dimer (Carter, J Immunol Methods 248, 7-15 (2001)).

In a particular embodiment, the first subunit of the Fc domain comprises the amino acid 25 substitutions S354C and T366W, and the second subunit of the Fc domain comprises the amino acid substitutions Y349C, T366S, L368A and Y407V (numbering according to Kabat EU index). In some embodiments, the second subunit of the Fc domain additionally comprises the amino acid substitutions H435R and Y436F (numbering according to Kabat EU index).

In a particular embodiment the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is fused (optionally through a linker 30 peptide) to the first subunit of the Fc domain (comprising the “knob” modification). Without wishing to be bound by theory, fusion of the mutant IL-2 polypeptide to the knob-containing subunit of the Fc domain will (further) minimize the generation of immunoconjugates comprising two mutant IL-2 polypeptides (steric clash of two knob-containing polypeptides).

Other techniques of CH3-modification for enforcing the heterodimerization are contemplated as alternatives according to the invention and are described e.g. in WO 96/27011, WO 98/050431, EP 1870459, WO 2007/110205, WO 2007/147901, WO 2009/089004, WO 2010/129304, WO 2011/90754, WO 2011/143545, WO 2012/058768, WO 2013/157954, WO 2013/096291.

In one embodiment the heterodimerization approach described in EP 1870459, is used altemativeiy. This approach is based on the introduction of charged amino acids with opposite charges at specific amino acid positions in the CH3/CH3 domain interface between the two subunits of the Fc domain. One preferred embodiment for the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate of the invention are amino acid mutations R409D; K370E in one of the two 10 CH3 domains (of the Fc domain) and amino acid mutations D399K; E357K in the other one of the CH3 domains of the Fc domain (numbering according to Kabat EU index).

In another embodiment, the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate of the invention comprises amino acid mutation T366W in the CH3 domain of the first subunit of the Fc domain and amino acid mutations T366S, L368A, Y407V in the CH3 domain of the second subunit of 15 the Fc domain, and additionally amino acid mutations R409D; K370E in the CH3 domain of the first subunit of the Fc domain and amino acid mutations D399K; E357K in the CH3 domain of the second subunit of the Fc domain (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In another embodiment, the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate of the invention comprises amino acid mutations S354C, T366W in the CH3 domain of the first subunit of the Fc 20 domain and amino acid mutations Y349C, T366S, L368A, Y407V in the CH3 domain of the second subunit of the Fc domain, or said antibody comprises amino acid mutations Y349C, T366W in the CH 3 domain of the first subunit of the Fc domain and amino acid mutations S354C, T366S, L368A, Y407V in the CH3 domains of the second subunit of the Fc domain and additionally amino acid mutations R409D; K370E in the CH3 domain of the first subunit of the 25 Fc domain and amino acid mutations D399K; E357K in the CH3 domain of the second subunit of the Fc domain (all numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In one embodiment, the heterodimerization approach described in WO 2013/157953 is used altemativeiy. In one embodiment, a first CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutation T366K and a second CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutation L351D (numberings according to 30 Kabat EU index). In a further embodiment, the first CH3 domain comprises further amino acid mutation L351K. In a further embodiment, the second CH3 domain comprises further an amino acid mutation selected from Y349E, Y349D and L368E (preferably L368E) (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In one embodiment, the heterodimerization approach described in WO 2012/058768 is used alternatively. In one embodiment, a first CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutations L351Y, Y407A and a second CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutations T366A, K409F. In a further embodiment, the second CH3 domain comprises a further amino acid mutation at position T411, D399, S400, F405, N390, or K392, e.g. selected from a) T411N, T411R, T411Q, T411K, T411D, T411E or T4UW, b) D399R, D399W, D399Y or D399K, c) S400E, S400D, S400R, or S400K, d) F405I, F405M, F405T, F405S, F405V or F405W, e) N390R, N390K or N390D, f) K392V, K392M, K392R, K392L, K392F or K392E (numberings according to Kabat EU index). In a further embodiment, a first CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutations L351Y, Y407A and a second CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutations T366V, K409F. In a further embodiment a first CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutation Y407A and a second CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutations T366A, K409F. In a further embodiment, the second CH3 domain further comprises amino acid mutations K392E, T411E, D399R and S400R (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In one embodiment the heterodimerization approach described in WO 2011/143545 is used alternatively, e.g. with the amino acid modification at a position selected from the group consisting of 368 and 409 (numbering according to Kabat EU index).

In one embodiment, the heterodimerization approach described in WO 2011/090762, which also uses the knobs-into-holes technology described above, is used alternatively. In one embodiment, a first CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutation T366W and a second CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutation Y407A. In one embodiment, a first CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutation T366Y and a second CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutation Y407T (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In one embodiment, the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate or its Fc domain is of IgG₂subclass and the heterodimerization approach described in WO 2010/129304 is used alternatively.

In an alternative embodiment, a modification promoting association of the first and the second subunit of the Fc domain comprises a modification mediating electrostatic steering effects, e.g. as described in PCT publication WO 2009/089004. Generally, this method involves replacement of one or more amino acid residues at the interface of the two Fc domain subunits by charged amino acid residues so that homodimer formation becomes electrostatically unfavorable but heterodimerization electrostatically favorable. In one such embodiment, a first CH3 domain comprises amino acid substitution of K392 or N392 with a negatively charged amino acid (e.g. glutamic acid (E), or aspartic acid (D), preferably K392D or N392D) and a second CH3 domain comprises amino acid substitution of D399, E356, D356, or E357 with a positively charged amino acid (e.g. lysine (K) or arginine (R), preferably D399K, E356K, D356K, or E357K, and more preferably D399K and E356K). In a further embodiment, the first CH3 domain further comprises amino acid substitution of K409 or R409 with a negatively charged amino acid (e.g. glutamic acid (E), or aspartic acid (D), preferably K409D or R409D). In a further embodiment, the first CH3 domain further or alternatively comprises amino acid substitution of K439 and/or K.370 with a negatively charged amino acid (e.g. glutamic acid (E), or aspartic acid (D)) (all numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In yet a further embodiment, the heterodimerization approach described in WO 2007/147901 is used alternatively. In one embodiment, a first CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutations K253E, D282K, and K322D and a second CH3 domain comprises amino acid mutations D239K, E240K, and K292D (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In still another embodiment, the heterodimerization approach described in WO 2007/110205 can be used alternatively.

In one embodiment, the first subunit of the Fc domain comprises amino acid substitutions K392D and K409D, and the second subunit of the Fc domain comprises amino acid substitutions D356K and D399K (numbering according to Kabat EU index).

Fc domain modifications reducing Fc receptor binding and/or effector function

The Fc domain confers to the immunoconjugate favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including a long serum half-life which contributes to good accumulation in the target tissue and a favorable tissue-blood distribution ratio. At the same time it may, however, lead to undesirable targeting of the immunoconjugate to cells expressing Fc receptors rather than to the preferred antigen-bearing cells. Moreover, the co-activation of Fc receptor signaling pathways may lead to cytokine release which, in combination with the IL-2 polypeptide and the long half-life of the immunoconjugate, results in excessive activation of cytokine receptors and severe side effects upon systemic administration. In line with this, conventional IgG-IL-2 immunoconjugates have been described to be associated with infusion reactions (see e.g. King et al., J Clin Oncol 22, 4463-4473 (2004)). Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the Fc domain of the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate according to the invention exhibits reduced binding affinity to an Fc receptor and/or reduced effector function, as compared to a native IgGi Fc domain. In one such embodiment the Fc domain (or the antibody comprising said Fc domain) exhibits less than 50%, preferably less than 20%, more preferably less than 10% and most preferably less than 5% of the binding affinity to an Fc receptor, as compared to a native IgGi Fc domain (or an antibody comprising a native IgGi Fc domain), and/or less than 50%, preferably less than 20%, more preferably less than 10% and most preferably less than 5% of the effector function, as compared to a native IgGi Fc domain domain (or an antibody comprising a native IgGi Fc domain). In one embodiment, the Fc domain domain (or an antibody comprising said Fc domain) does not substantially bind to an Fc receptor and/or induce effector function. In a particular embodiment the Fc receptor is an Fey receptor. In one embodiment the Fc receptor is a human Fc receptor. In one embodiment the Fc receptor is an activating Fc receptor. In a specific embodiment the Fc receptor is an activating human Fey receptor, more specifically human FcyRIIIa. Fey RI or FcyRIIa, most specifically human FcyRIIIa. In one embodiment the effector function is one or more selected from the group of CDC, ADCC, ADCP, and cytokine secretion. In a particular embodiment the effector function is ADCC. In one embodiment the Fc domain domain exhibits substantially similar binding affinity to neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), as compared to a native IgGi Fc domain domain. Substantially similar binding to FcRn is achieved when the Fc domain (or an antibody comprising said Fc domain) exhibits greater than about 70%, particularly greater than about 80%, more particularly greater than about 90% of the binding affinity of a native IgGi Fc domain (or an antibody comprising a native IgGj Fc domain) to FcRn.

In certain embodiments the Fc domain is engineered to have reduced binding affinity to an Fc receptor and/or reduced effector function, as compared to a non-engineered Fc domain. In particular embodiments, the Fc domain of the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate comprises one or more amino acid mutation that reduces the binding affinity of the Fc domain to an Fc receptor and/or effector function. Typically, the same one or more amino acid mutation is present in each of the two subunits of the Fc domain. In one embodiment the amino acid mutation reduces the binding affinity of the Fc domain to an Fc receptor. In one embodiment the amino acid mutation reduces the binding affinity of the Fc domain to an Fc receptor by at least 2fold, at least 5-fold, or at least 10-fold. In embodiments where there is more than one amino acid mutation that reduces the binding affinity of the Fc domain to the Fc receptor, the combination of these amino acid mutations may reduce the binding affinity of the Fc domain to an Fc receptor by at least 10-fold, at least 20-fold, or even at least 50-fold. In one embodiment the antibody comprising an engineered Fc domain exhibits less than 20%, particularly less than 10%, more particularly less than 5% of the binding affinity to an Fc receptor as compared to an antibody comprising a non-engineered Fc domain. In a particular embodiment the Fc receptor is an Fey receptor. In some embodiments the Fc receptor is a human Fc receptor. In some embodiments the Fc receptor is an activating Fc receptor. In a specific embodiment the Fc receptor is an activating human Fey receptor, more specifically human FcyRIIIa, Fey RI or FcyRIIa, most specifically human FcyRIIIa. Preferably, binding to each of these receptors is reduced. In some embodiments binding affinity to a complement component, specifically binding affinity to Ciq, is also reduced. In one embodiment binding affinity to neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is not reduced. Substantially similar binding to FcRn, i.e. preservation of the binding affinity of the Fc 5 domain to said receptor, is achieved when the Fc domain (or an antibody comprising said Fc domain) exhibits greater than about 70% of the binding affinity of a non-engineered form of the Fc domain (or an antibody comprising said non-engineered form of the Fc domain) to FcRn. The Fc domain, or antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate of the invention comprising said Fc domain, may exhibit greater than about 80% and even greater than about 90% of such affinity. In 10 certain embodiments the Fc domain of the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate is engineered to have reduced effector function, as compared to a non-engineered Fc domain. The reduced effector function can include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: reduced complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), reduced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), reduced antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), reduced 15 cytokine secretion, reduced immune complex-mediated antigen uptake by antigen-presenting cells, reduced binding to NK cells, reduced binding to macrophages, reduced binding to monocytes, reduced binding to polymorphonuclear cells, reduced direct signaling inducing apoptosis, reduced crosslinking of target-bound antibodies, reduced dendritic cell maturation, or reduced T cell priming. In one embodiment the reduced effector function is one or more selected 20 from the group of reduced CDC, reduced ADCC, reduced ADCP, and reduced cytokine secretion. In a particular embodiment the reduced effector function is reduced ADCC. In one embodiment the reduced ADCC is less than 20% of the ADCC induced by a non-engineered Fc domain (or an antibody comprising a non-engineered Fc domain).

In one embodiment the amino acid mutation that reduces the binding affinity of the Fc domain to 25 an Fc receptor and/or effector function is an amino acid substitution. In one embodiment the Fc domain comprises an amino acid substitution at a position selected from the group of E233, L234, L235, N297, P331 and P329 (numberings according to Rabat EU index). In a more specific embodiment the Fc domain comprises an amino acid substitution at a position selected from the group of L234, L235 and P329 (numberings according to Rabat EU index). In some 30 embodiments the Fc domain comprises the amino acid substitutions L234A and L235A (numberings according to Rabat EU index). In one such embodiment, the Fc domain is an IgGi Fc domain, particularly a human IgGi Fc domain. In one embodiment the Fc domain comprises an amino acid substitution at position P329. In a more specific embodiment the amino acid substitution is P329A or P329G, particularly P329G (numberings according to Rabat EU index).

In one embodiment the Fc domain comprises an amino acid substitution at position P329 and a further amino acid substitution at a position selected from E233, L234, L235, N297 and P331 (numberings according to Kabat EU index). In a more specific embodiment the further amino acid substitution is E233P, L234A, L235A, L235E, N297A, N297D or P331S. In particular embodiments the Fc domain comprises amino acid substitutions at positions P329, L234 and L235 (numberings according to Kabat EU index). In more particular embodiments the Fc domain comprises the amino acid mutations L234A, L235A and P329G (“P329G LALA”, “PGLALA” or “LALAPG”). Specifically, in particular embodiments, each subunit of the Fc domain comprises the amino acid substitutions L234A, L235A and P329G (Kabat EU index numbering), i.e. in each of the first and the second subunit of the Fc domain the leucine residue at position 234 is replaced with an alanine residue (L234A), the leucine residue at position 235 is replaced with an alanine residue (L235A) and the proline residue at position 329 is replaced by a glycine residue (P329G) (numbering according to Kabat EU index). In one such embodiment, the Fc domain is an IgGi Fc domain, particularly a human IgGi Fc domain. The “P329G LALA” combination of amino acid substitutions almost completely abolishes Fey receptor (as well as complement) binding of a human IgGi Fc domain, as described in PCT publication no. WO 2012/130831, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. WO 2012/130831 also describes methods of preparing such mutant Fc domains and methods for determining its properties such as Fc receptor binding or effector functions.

IgG4 antibodies exhibit reduced binding affinity to Fc receptors and reduced effector functions as compared to IgGi antibodies. Hence, in some embodiments the Fc domain of the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate of the invention is an IgG4 Fc domain, particularly a human IgG4 Fc domain. In one embodiment the IgG4 Fc domain comprises amino acid substitutions at position S228, specifically the amino acid substitution S228P (numberings according to Kabat EU index). To further reduce its binding affinity to an Fc receptor and/or its effector function, in one embodiment the IgG4 Fc domain comprises an amino acid substitution at position L235, specifically the amino acid substitution L235E (numberings according to Kabat EU index). In another embodiment, the IgGi Fc domain comprises an amino acid substitution at position P329, specifically the amino acid substitution P329G (numberings according to Kabat EU index). In a particular embodiment, the IgGi Fc domain comprises amino acid substitutions at positions S228, L235 and P329, specifically amino acid substitutions S228P, L235E and P329G (numberings according to Kabat EU index). Such IgGi Fc domain mutants and their Fey receptor binding properties are described in PCT publication no. WO 2012/130831, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In a particular embodiment, the Fc domain exhibiting reduced binding affinity to an Fc receptor and/or reduced effector function, as compared to a native IgGi Fc domain, is a human IgGi Fc domain comprising the amino acid substitutions L234A, L235A and optionally P329G, or a human IgG4 Fc domain comprising the amino acid substitutions S228P, L235E and optionally P329G (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In certain embodiments N-glycosylation of the Fc domain has been eliminated. In one such embodiment, the Fc domain comprises an amino acid mutation at position N297, particularly an amino acid substitution replacing asparagine by alanine (N297A) or aspartic acid (N297D) (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

In addition to the Fc domains described hereinabove and in PCT publication no. WO 2012/130831, Fc domains with reduced Fc receptor binding and/or effector function also include those with substitution of one or more of Fc domain residues 238, 265, 269, 270, 297, 327 and 329 (U.S. Patent No. 6,737,056) (numberings according to Kabat EU index). Such Fc mutants include Fc mutants with substitutions at two or more of amino acid positions 265, 269, 270, 297 and 327, including the so-called “DANA” Fc mutant with substitution of residues 265 and 297 to alanine (US Patent No. 7,332,581).

Mutant Fc domains can be prepared by amino acid deletion, substitution, insertion or modification using genetic or chemical methods well known in the art. Genetic methods may include site-specific mutagenesis of the encoding DNA sequence, PCR, gene synthesis, and the like. The correct nucleotide changes can be verified for example by sequencing.

Binding to Fc receptors can be easily determined e.g. by ELISA, or by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) using standard instrumentation such as a BIAcore instrument (GE Healthcare), and Fc receptors such as may be obtained by recombinant expression. Alternatively, binding affinity of Fc domains or antibodies comprising an Fc domain for Fc receptors may be evaluated using cell lines known to express particular Fc receptors, such as human NK cells expressing Fcyllla receptor.

Effector function of an Fc domain, or an antibody comprising an Fc domain, can be measured by methods known in the art. Examples of in vitro assays to assess ADCC activity of a molecule of interest are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,500,362; Hellstrom et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83, 7059-7063 (1986) and Hellstrom et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82, 1499-1502 (1985); U.S. Patent No. 5,821,337; Bruggemann et al., J Exp Med 166, 1351-1361 (1987). Alternatively, nonradioactive assays methods may be employed (see, for example, ACT I™ non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay for flow cytometry (CellTechnology, Inc. Mountain View, CA); and CytoTox 96® non-rad ioactive cytotoxicity assay (Promega, Madison, WI)). Useful effector cells for such assays include peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and Natural Killer (NK) cells. Alternatively, or additionally, ADCC activity of the molecule of interest may be assessed in vivo, e.g. in a animal model such as that disclosed in Clynes et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95, 652656(1998).

In some embodiments, binding of the Fc domain to a complement component, specifically to Clq, is reduced. Accordingly, in some embodiments wherein the Fc domain is engineered to have reduced effector function, said reduced effector function includes reduced CDC. Clq binding assays may be carried out to determine whether the Fc domain, or antibody comprising the Fc domain, is able to bind Clq and hence has CDC activity. See e.g., Clq and C3c binding ELISA in WO 2006/029879 and WO 2005/100402. To assess complement activation, a CDC assay may be performed (see, for example, Gazzano-Santoro et al., J Immunol Methods 202, 163 (1996); Cragg et al„ Blood 101, 1045-1052 (2003); and Cragg and Glennie, Blood 103, 27382743 (2004)).

FcRn binding and in vivo clearance/half life determinations can also be performed using methods known in the art (see, e.g., Petkova, S.B. et aL, Int'i. Immunol. 18(12):1759-1769 (2006); WO 2013/120929).

Particular aspects of the invention

In one aspect, the invention provides an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-1, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human IL-2 molecule comprising the amino acid substitutions F42A, Y45A and L72G (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence SEQ ID NO: 19); and wherein the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15.

In one aspect, the invention provides an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-I, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human IL-2 molecule comprising the amino acid substitutions T3A, F42A, Y45A, L72G and C125A (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence SEQ ID NO: 19); and wherein the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15.

In one aspect, the invention provides an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide 5 and an antibody that binds to PD-I, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20; and wherein the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15.

In one embodiment according to any of the above aspects of the invention, the antibody is an IgG class immunoglobulin, comprising a human IgG) Fc domain composed of a first and a second subunit, wherein in the first subunit of the Fc domain the threonine residue at position 366 is replaced with a tryptophan residue (T366W), and in the second subunit of the Fc domain the tyrosine 15 residue at position 407 is replaced with a valine residue (Y407V) and optionally the threonine residue at position 366 is replaced with a serine residue (T366S) and the leucine residue at position 368 is replaced with an alanine residue (L368A) (numberings according to Kabat EU index), and wherein further each subunit of the Fc domain comprises the amino acid substitutions 20 L234A, L235A and P329G (Kabat EU index numbering).

In this embodiment, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide may be fused at its amino-terminal amino acid to the carboxy-terminal amino acid of the first subunit of the Fc domain, through a linker peptide of SEQ ID NO: 21.

In one aspect, the invention provides an immunoconjugate comprising a polypeptide comprising 25 an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or

100% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:22, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 or SEQ ID NO:24, and a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to 30 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:25.

Polynucleotides

The invention further provides isolated polynucleotides encoding an immunoconjugate as described herein or a fragment thereof. In some embodiments, said fragment is an antigen 5 binding fragment.

The polynucleotides encoding immunoconjugates of the invention may be expressed as a single polynucleotide that encodes the entire immunoconjugate or as multiple (e.g., two or more) polynucleotides that are co-expressed. Polypeptides encoded by polynucleotides that are coexpressed may associate through, e.g., disulfide bonds or other means to form a functional 10 immunoconjugate. For example, the light chain portion of an antibody may be encoded by a separate polynucleotide from the portion of the immunoconjugate comprising the heavy chain portion of the antibody and the mutant IL-2 polypeptide. When co-expressed, the heavy chain polypeptides will associate with the light chain polypeptides to form the immunoconjugate. In another example, the portion of the immunoconjugate comprising one of the two Fc domain 15 subunits and the mutant IL-2 polypeptide could be encoded by a separate polynucleotide from the portion of the immunoconjugate comprising the the other of the two Fc domain subunits. When co-expressed, the Fc domain subunits will associate to form the Fc domain.

In some embodiments, the isolated polynucleotide encodes the entire immunoconjugate according to the invention as described herein. In other embodiments, the isolated polynucleotide 20 encodes a polypeptide comprised in the immunoconjugate according to the invention as described herein.

In one embodiment, an isolated polynucleotide of the invention encodes the heavy chain of the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate (e.g. an immunoglobulin heavy chain), and the mutant IL-2 polypeptide. In another embodiment, an isolated polynucleotide of the invention 25 encodes the light chain of the antibody comprised in the immunoconjugate.

In certain embodiments the polynucleotide or nucleic acid is DNA. In other embodiments, a polynucleotide of the present invention is RNA, for example, in the form of messenger RNA (mRNA). RNA of the present invention may be single stranded or double stranded.

Recombinant Methods

Mutant IL-2 polypeptides useful in the invention can be prepared by deletion, substitution, insertion or modification using genetic or chemical methods well known in the art. Genetic methods may include site-specific mutagenesis of the encoding DNA sequence, PCR, gene synthesis, and the like. The correct nucleotide changes can be verified for example by 5 sequencing. In this regard, the nucleotide sequence of native IL-2 has been described by

Taniguchi et al. (Nature 302, 305-10 (1983)) and nucleic acid encoding human IL-2 is available from public depositories such as the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville MD). The sequence of native human IL-2 is shown in SEQ ID NO; 19. Substitution or insertion may involve natural as well as non-natural amino acid residues. Amino acid modification includes 10 well known methods of chemical modification such as the addition of glycosylation sites or carbohydrate attachments, and the like.

Immunoconjugates of the invention may be obtained, for example, by solid-state peptide synthesis (e.g. Merrifield solid phase synthesis) or recombinant production. For recombinant production one or more polynucleotide encoding the immunoconjugate (fragment), e.g., as 15 described above, is isolated and inserted into one or more vectors for further cloning and/or expression in a host cell. Such polynucleotide may be readily isolated and sequenced using conventional procedures. In one embodiment a vector, preferably an expression vector, comprising one or more of the polynucleotides of the invention is provided. Methods which are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing the 20 coding sequence of an immunoconjugate (fragment) along with appropriate transcriptional/translational control signals. These methods include in vitro recombinant DNA techniques, synthetic techniques and in vivo recombination/genetic recombination. See, for example, the techniques described in Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning; A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y. (1989); and Ausubel et al., Current 25 Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience,

N.Y (1989). The expression vector can be part of a plasmid, virus, or may be a nucleic acid fragment. The expression vector includes an expression cassette into which the polynucleotide encoding the immunoconjugate (fragment) (i.e. the coding region) is cloned in operable association with a promoter and/or other transcription or translation control elements. As used 30 herein, a coding region is a portion of nucleic acid which consists of codons translated into amino acids. Although a stop codon (TAG, TGA, or TAA) is not translated into an amino acid, it may be considered to be part of a coding region, if present, but any flanking sequences, for example promoters, ribosome binding sites, transcriptional terminators, introns, 5’ and 3' untranslated regions, and the like, are not part of a coding region. Two or more coding regions can be present in a single polynucleotide construct, e.g. on a single vector, or in separate polynucleotide constructs, e.g. on separate (different) vectors. Furthermore, any vector may contain a single coding region, or may comprise two or more coding regions, e.g. a vector of the 5 present invention may encode one or more polypeptides, which are post- or co-translationally separated into the final proteins via proteolytic cleavage. In addition, a vector, polynucleotide, or nucleic acid of the invention may encode heterologous coding regions, either fused or unfused to a polynucleotide encoding the immunoconjugate of the invention, or variant or derivative thereof. Heterologous coding regions include without limitation specialized elements or motifs, 10 such as a secretory signal peptide or a heterologous functional domain. An operable association is when a coding region for a gene product, e.g. a polypeptide, is associated with one or more regulatory sequences in such a way as to place expression of the gene product under the influence or control of the regulatory sequence(s). Two DNA fragments (such as a polypeptide coding region and a promoter associated therewith) are operably associated if induction of 15 promoter function results in the transcription of mRNA encoding the desired gene product and if the nature of the linkage between the two DNA fragments does not interfere with the ability of the expression regulatory sequences to direct the expression of the gene product or interfere with the ability of the DNA template to be transcribed. Thus, a promoter region would be operably associated with a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide if the promoter was capable of effecting 20 transcription of that nucleic acid. The promoter may be a cell-specific promoter that directs substantial transcription of the DNA only in predetermined cells. Other transcription control elements, besides a promoter, for example enhancers, operators, repressors, and transcription termination signals, can be operably associated with the polynucleotide to direct cell-specific transcription. Suitable promoters and other transcription control regions are disclosed herein. A 25 variety of transcription control regions are known to those skilled in the art. These include, without limitation, transcription control regions, which function in vertebrate cells, such as, but not limited to, promoter and enhancer segments from cytomegaloviruses (e.g. the immediate early promoter, in conjunction with intron-A), simian virus 40 (e.g. the early promoter), and retroviruses (such as, e.g. Rous sarcoma virus). Other transcription control regions include those 30 derived from vertebrate genes such as actin, heat shock protein, bovine growth hormone and rabbit /3-globin, as well as other sequences capable of controlling gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Additional suitable transcription control regions include tissue-specific promoters and enhancers as well as inducible promoters (e.g. promoters inducible tetracyclins). Similarly, a variety of translation control elements are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These include, but are not limited to ribosome binding sites, translation initiation and termination codons, and elements derived from viral systems (particularly an internal ribosome entry site, or IRES, also referred to as a CITE sequence). The expression cassette may also include other features such as an origin of replication, and/or chromosome integration elements such as 5 retroviral long terminal repeats (LTRs), or adeno-associated viral (AAV) inverted terminal repeats (ITRs).

Polynucleotide and nucleic acid coding regions of the present invention may be associated with additional coding regions which encode secretory or signal peptides, which direct the secretion of a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide of the present invention. According to the signal 10 hypothesis, proteins secreted by mammalian cells have a signal peptide or secretory leader sequence which is cleaved from the mature protein once export of the growing protein chain across the rough endoplasmic reticulum has been initiated. Those of ordinary skill in the art are aware that polypeptides secreted by vertebrate cells generally have a signal peptide fused to the N-tenninus of the polypeptide, which is cleaved from the translated polypeptide to produce a 15 secreted or mature form of the polypeptide. For example, human IL-2 is translated with a 20 amino acid signal sequence at the N-terminus of the polypeptide, which is subsequently cleaved off to produce the mature, 133 amino acid human IL-2, In certain embodiments, the native signal peptide, e.g. the IL-2 signal peptide or an immunoglobulin heavy chain or light chain signal peptide is used, or a functional derivative of that sequence that retains the ability to direct the 20 secretion of the polypeptide that is operably associated with it. Alternatively, a heterologous mammalian signal peptide, or a functional derivative thereof, may be used. For example, the wild-type leader sequence may be substituted with the leader sequence of human tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) or mouse /3-glucuronidase.

DNA encoding a short protein sequence that could be used to facilitate later purification (e.g. a 25 histidine tag) or assist in labeling the immunoconjugate may be included within or at the ends of the immunoconjugate (fragment) encoding polynucleotide.

In a further embodiment, a host cell comprising one or more polynucleotides of the invention is provided. In certain embodiments a host cell comprising one or more vectors of the invention is provided. The polynucleotides and vectors may incorporate any of the features, singly or in 30 combination, described herein in relation to polynucleotides and vectors, respectively. In one such embodiment a host cell comprises (e.g. has been transformed or transfected with) one or more vector comprising one or more polynucleotide that encodes the immunoconjugate of the invention. As used herein, the term host cell refers to any kind of cellular system which can be engineered to generate the immunoconjugates of the invention or fragments thereof. Host cells suitable for replicating and for supporting expression of immunoconjugates are well known in the art. Such cells may be transfected or transduced as appropriate with the particular expression 5 vector and large quantities of vector containing cells can be grown for seeding large scale fermenters to obtain sufficient quantities of the immunoconjugate for clinical applications. Suitable host cells include prokaryotic microorganisms, such as E. coli, or various eukaryotic cells, such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), insect cells, or the like. For example, polypeptides may be produced in bacteria in particular when glycosylation is not needed. After 10 expression, the polypeptide may be isolated from the bacterial cell paste in a soluble fraction and can be further purified. In addition to prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes such as filamentous fungi or yeast are suitable cloning or expression hosts for polypeptide-encoding vectors, including fungi and yeast strains whose glycosylation pathways have been “humanized”, resulting in the production of a polypeptide with a partially or fully human glycosylation pattern. See Gemgross, 15 Nat Biotech 22, 1409-1414 (2004), and Li et al., Nat Biotech 24, 210-215 (2006). Suitable host cells for the expression of (glycosylated) polypeptides are also derived from multicellular organisms (invertebrates and vertebrates). Examples of invertebrate cells include plant and insect cells. Numerous baculoviral strains have been identified which may be used in conjunction with insect cells, particularly for transfection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells. Plant cell cultures can 20 also be utilized as hosts. See e.g. US Patent Nos. 5,959,177, 6,040,498, 6,420,548, 7,125,978, and 6,417,429 (describing PLANTIBODIES™ technology for producing antibodies in transgenic plants). Vertebrate cells may also be used as hosts. For example, mammalian cell lines that are adapted to grow in suspension may be useful. Other examples of useful mammalian host cell lines are monkey kidney CV1 line transformed by SV40 (COS-7); human embryonic kidney line (293 or 293T cells as described, e.g., in Graham et al., J Gen Virol 36, 59 (1977)), baby hamster kidney cells (BHK), mouse sertoli cells (TM4 cells as described, e.g., in Mather, Biol Reprod 23, 243-251 (1980)), monkey kidney cells (CV1), African green monkey kidney cells (VERO-76), human cervical carcinoma cells (HELA), canine kidney cells (MDCK), buffalo rat liver cells (BRL 3A), human lung cells (W138), human liver cells (Hep G2), mouse mammary tumor cells (MMT 060562), TRI cells (as described, e.g., in Mather et al., Annals N.Y. Acad Sci 383, 44-68 (1982)), MRC 5 cells, and FS4 cells. Other useful mammalian host cell lines include Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, including dhfr CHO cells (Urlaub et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77, 4216 (1980)); and myeloma cell lines such as YO, NS0, P3X63 and Sp2/0. For a review of certain mammalian host cell lines suitable for protein production, see, e.g., Yazaki and

Wu, Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 248 (B.K.C. Lo, ed., Humana Press, Totowa, NJ), pp. 255-268 (2003). Host cells include cultured cells, e.g., mammalian cultured cells, yeast cells, insect cells, bacterial cells and plant cells, to name only a few, but also cells comprised within a transgenic animal, transgenic plant or cultured plant or animal tissue. In one embodiment, the 5 host cell is a eukaryotic cell, preferably a mammalian cell, such as a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell, a human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell or a lymphoid cell (e.g., Y0, NSO, Sp20 cell).

Standard technologies are known in the art to express foreign genes in these systems. Cells expressing a mutant-IL-2 polypeptide fused to either the heavy or the light chain of an antibody may be engineered so as to also express the other of the antibody chains such that the expressed 10 mutant IL-2 fusion product is an antibody that has both a heavy and a light chain.

In one embodiment, a method of producing an immunoconjugate according to the invention is provided, wherein the method comprises culturing a host cell comprising one or more polynucleotide encoding the immunoconjugate, as provided herein, under conditions suitable for expression of the immunoconjugate, and optionally recovering the immunoconjugate from the 15 host cell (or host cell culture medium).

In the immunoconjugate of the invention, the mutant IL-2 polypeptide may be genetically fused to the antibody, or may be chemically conjugated to the antibody. Genetic fusion of the IL-2 polypeptide to the antibody can be designed such that the IL-2 sequence is fused directly to the polypeptide or indirectly through a linker sequence. The composition and length of the linker 20 may be determined in accordance with methods well known in the art and may be tested for efficacy. Particular linker peptides are described herein. Additional sequences may also be included to incorporate a cleavage site to separate the individual components of the fusion if desired, for example an endopeptidase recognition sequence. In addition, an IL-2 fusion protein may also be synthesized chemically using methods of polypeptide synthesis as is well known in 25 the art (e.g. Merrifield solid phase synthesis). Mutant IL-2 polypeptides may be chemically conjugated to other molecules, e.g. antibodies, using well known chemical conjugation methods. Bi-functional cross-linking reagents such as homofunctional and heterofunctional cross-linking reagents well known in the art can be used for this purpose. The type of cross-linking reagent to use depends on the nature of the molecule to be coupled to IL-2 and can readily be identified by 30 those skilled in the art. Alternatively, or in addition, mutant IL-2 and/or the molecule to which it is intended to be conjugated may be chemically derivatized such that the two can be conjugated in a separate reaction as is also well known in the art.

The immunoconjugates of the invention comprise an antibody. Methods to produce antibodies are well known in the art (see e.g. Harlow and Lane, Antibodies, a laboratory manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988). Non-naturally occurring antibodies can be constructed using solid phase-peptide synthesis, can be produced recombinant!y (e.g. as described in U.S. patent 5 No. 4,186,567) or can be obtained, for example, by screening combinatorial libraries comprising variable heavy chains and variable light chains (see e.g. U.S. Patent. No. 5,969,108 to McCafferty). Immunoconjugates, antibodies, and methods for producing the same are also described in detail e.g. in PCT publication nos. WO 2011/020783, WO 2012/107417, and WO 2012/146628, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Any animal species of antibody may be used in the immunoconjugates of the invention. Nonlimiting antibodies useful in the present invention can be of murine, primate, or human origin. If the immunoconjugate is intended for human use, a chimeric form of antibody may be used wherein the constant regions of the antibody are from a human. A humanized or fully human form of the antibody can also be prepared in accordance with methods well known in the art (see 15 e. g. U.S. Patent No. 5,565,332 to Winter). Humanization may be achieved by various methods including, but not limited to (a) grafting the non-human (e.g., donor antibody) CDRs onto human (e.g. recipient antibody) framework and constant regions with or without retention of critical framework residues (e.g. those that are important for retaining good antigen binding affinity or antibody functions), (b) grafting only the non-human specificity-determining regions (SDRs or a20 CDRs; the residues critical for the antibody-antigen interaction) onto human framework and constant regions, or (c) transplanting the entire non-human variable domains, but cloaking them with a human-like section by replacement of surface residues. Humanized antibodies and methods of making them are reviewed, e.g., in Almagro and Fransson, Front. Biosci. 13:16191633 (2008), and are further described, e.g., in Riechmann et al„ Nature 332:323-329 (1988);

Queen et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 86:10029-10033 (1989); US Patent Nos. 5, 821,337, 7,527,791, 6,982,321, and 7,087,409; Kashmiri et al., Methods 36:25-34 (2005) (describing specificity determining region (SDR) grafting); Padlan, Mol. Immunol. 28:489-498 (1991) (describing “resurfacing”); Dall’Acqua et al., Methods 36:43-60 (2005) (describing “FR shuffling”); and Osbourn et al,, Methods 36:61-68 (2005) and Klimka et al., Br. J. Cancer, 30 83:252-260 (2000) (describing the “guided selection” approach to FR shuffling). Human framework regions that may be used for humanization include but are not limited to: framework regions selected using the best-fit method (see, e.g., Sims et al. J. Immunol. 151:2296 (1993)); framework regions derived from the consensus sequence of human antibodies of a particular subgroup of light or heavy chain variable regions (see, e.g., Carter et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:4285 (1992); and Presta et al. J. Immunol., 151:2623 (1993)); human mature (somatically mutated) framework regions or human germ line framework regions (see, e.g., Almagro and Fransson, Front. Biosci. 13:1619-1633 (2008)); and framework regions derived from screening FR libraries (see, e.g., Baca et al., J. Biol. Chern. 272:10678-10684 (1997) and Rosoketal., J. Biol. Chern. 271:22611-22618 (1996)).

Human antibodies can be produced using various techniques known in the art. Human antibodies are described generally in van Dijk and van de Winkel, Curr Opin Pharmacol 5, 368-74 (2001) and Lonberg, Curr Opin Immunol 20, 450-459 (2008). Human antibodies may be prepared by administering an immunogen to a transgenic animal that has been modified to produce intact human antibodies or intact antibodies with human variable regions in response to antigenic challenge. Such animals typically contain all or a portion of the human immunoglobulin loci, which replace the endogenous immunoglobulin loci, or which are present extrachromosomally or integrated randomly into the animal’s chromosomes. In such transgenic mice, the endogenous immunoglobulin loci have generally been inactivated. For review of methods for obtaining human antibodies from transgenic animals, see Lonberg, Nat. Biotech. 23:1117-1125 (2005). See also, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 6,075,181 and 6,150,584 describing XENOMOUSE™ technology; U.S. Patent No. 5,770,429 describing HuMab® technology; U.S. Patent No. 7,041,870 describing K.-M MOUSE® technology, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2007/0061900, describing VelociMouse® technology). Human variable regions from intact antibodies generated by such animals may be further modified, e.g., by combining with a different human constant region.

Human antibodies can also be made by hybridoma-based methods. Human myeloma and mousehuman heteromyeloma cell lines for the production of human monoclonal antibodies have been described. (See, e.g., Kozbor J. Immunol., 133: 3001 (1984); Brodeur et al., Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques and Applications, pp. 51-63 (Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1987); and Boemer et al., J. Immunol., 147: 86 (1991).) Human antibodies generated via human B-cell hybridoma technology are also described in Li et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 103:3557-3562 (2006). Additional methods include those described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 7,189,826 (describing production of monoclonal human IgM antibodies from hybridoma cell lines) and Ni, Xiandai Mianyixue, 26(4):265-268 (2006) (describing human-human hybridomas). Human hybridoma technology (Trioma technology) is also described in Vollmers and Brandiem, Histology and Histopathology, 20(3):927-937 (2005) and Vollmers and Brandlein, Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, 27(3):185-91 (2005).

Human antibodies may also be generated by isolation from human antibody libraries, as described herein.

Antibodies useful in the invention may be isolated by screening combinatorial libraries for antibodies with the desired activity or activities. Methods for screening combinatorial libraries are reviewed, e.g,, in Lerner et al. in Nature Reviews 16:498-508 (2016). For example, a variety of methods are known in the art for generating phage display libraries and screening such libraries for antibodies possessing the desired binding characteristics. Such methods are reviewed, e.g.. in Frenzel et al. in mAbs 8:1177-1194 (2016); Bazan et al. in Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics 8:1817-1828 (2012) and Zhao et al. in Critical Reviews in Biotechnology’ 36:276-289 (2016) as well as in Hoogenboom et al. in Methods in Molecular Biology 178:1-37 (O’Brien et al., ed., Human Press, Totowa, NJ, 2001) and in Marks and Bradbury in Methods in Molecular Biology 248:161-175 (Lo, ed., Human Press, Totowa, NJ, 2003).

In certain phage display methods, repertoires of VH and VL genes are separately cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and recombined randomly in phage libraries, which can then be screened for anti gen-binding phage as described in Winter et al. in Annual Review of Immunology 12: 433-455 (1994). Phage typically display antibody fragments, either as singlechain Fv (scFv) fragments or as Fab fragments. Libraries from immunized sources provide highaffinity antibodies to the immunogen without the requirement of constructing hybridomas. Alternatively, the naive repertoire can be cloned (e.g., from human) to provide a single source of antibodies to a wide range of non-self and also self antigens without any immunization as described by Griffiths et al. in EMBO Journal 12: 725-734 (1993). Finally, naive libraries can also be made synthetically by cloning unrearranged V-gene segments from stem cells, and using PCR primers containing random sequence to encode the highly variable CDR3 regions and to accomplish rearrangement in vitro, as described by Hoogenboom and Winter in Journal of Molecular Biology 227: 381-388 (1992). Patent publications describing human antibody phage libraries include, for example: US Patent Nos. 5,750,373; 7,985,840; 7,785,903 and 8,679,490 as well as US Patent Publication Nos. 2005/0079574, 2007/0117126, 2007/0237764 and 2007/0292936. Further examples of methods known in the art for screening combinatorial libraries for antibodies with a desired activity or activities include ribosome and mRNA display, as well as methods for antibody display and selection on bacteria, mammalian cells, insect cells or yeast cells. Methods for yeast surface display are reviewed, e.g., in Scholler et al. in Methods in Molecular Biology 503:135-56 (2012) and in Cherf et al. in Methods in Molecular biology 1319:155-175 (2015) as well as in the Zhao et al. in Methods in Molecular Biology 889:73-84 (2012). Methods for ribosome display are described, e.g., in He et al. in Nucleic Acids Research 25:5132-5134 (1997) and in Hanes et al. inPNAS 94:4937-4942 (1997).

Further chemical modification of the immunoconjugate of the invention may be desirable. For example, problems of immunogenicity and short half-life may be improved by conjugation to substantially straight chain polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polypropylene glycol (PPG) (see e.g. WO 87/00056).

Immunoconjugates prepared as described herein may be purified by art-known techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, gel electrophoresis, affinity chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, and the like. The actual conditions used to purify a particular protein will depend, in part, on factors such as net charge, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity etc., and will be apparent to those having skill in the art. For affinity chromatography purification an antibody, ligand, receptor or antigen can be used to which the immunoconjugate binds. For example, an antibody which specifically binds the mutant IL-2 polypeptide may be used. For affinity chromatography purification of immunoconjugates of the invention, a matrix with protein A or protein G may be used. For example, sequential Protein A or G affinity chromatography and size exclusion chromatography can be used to isolate an immunoconjugate essentially as described in the Examples. The purity of the immunoconjugate can be determined by any of a variety of well known analytical methods including gel electrophoresis, high pressure liquid chromatography, and the like.

Compositions, Formulations, and Routes of Administration

In a further aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an immunoconjugate as described herein, e.g., for use in any of the below therapeutic methods. In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition comprises any of the immunoconjugates provided herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition comprises any of the immunoconjugates provided herein and at least one additional therapeutic agent, e.g., as described below.

Further provided is a method of producing an immunoconjugate of the invention in a form suitable for administration in vivo, the method comprising (a) obtaining an immunoconjugate according to the invention, and (b) formulating the immunoconjugate with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, whereby a preparation of immunoconjugate is formulated for administration in vivo.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a therapeutically effective amount of immunoconjugate dissolved or dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The 5 phrases pharmaceutical or pharmacologically acceptable refers to molecular entities and compositions that are generally non-toxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, i.e. do not produce an adverse, allergic or other untoward reaction when administered to an animal, such as, for example, a human, as appropriate. The preparation of a pharmaceutical composition that contains immunoconjugate and optionally an additional active ingredient will 10 be known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, as exemplified by

Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed. Mack Printing Company, 1990, incorporated herein by reference. Moreover, for animal (e.g., human) administration, it will be understood that preparations should meet sterility, pyrogenicity, general safety and purity standards as required by FDA Office of Biological Standards or corresponding authorities in other countries. Preferred 15 compositions are lyophilized formulations or aqueous solutions. As used herein, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes any and all solvents, buffers, dispersion media, coatings, surfactants, antioxidants, preservatives (e.g. antibacterial agents, antifungal agents), isotonic agents, absorption delaying agents, salts, preservatives, antioxidants, proteins, drugs, drug stabilizers, polymers, gels, binders, excipients, disintegration agents, lubricants, sweetening 20 agents, flavoring agents, dyes, such like materials and combinations thereof, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art (see, for example, Remington’s Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed. Mack Printing Company, 1990, pp. 1289-1329, incorporated herein by reference). Except insofar as any conventional carrier is incompatible with the active ingredient, its use in the therapeutic or pharmaceutical compositions is contemplated.

An immunoconjugate of the invention (and any additional therapeutic agent) can be administered by any suitable means, including parenteral, intrapulmonary, and intranasal, and, if desired for local treatment, intralesional administration. Parenteral infusions include intramuscular, intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous administration. Dosing can be by any suitable route, e.g. by injections, such as intravenous or subcutaneous injections, depending in part on whether the administration is brief or chronic.

Parenteral compositions include those designed for administration by injection, e.g. subcutaneous, intradermal, intralesional, intravenous, intraarterial intramuscular, intrathecal or intraperitoneal injection. For injection, the immunoconjugates of the invention may be formulated in aqueous solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hanks' solution, Ringer's solution, or physiological saline buffer. The solution may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents. Alternatively, the 5 immunoconjugates may be in powder form for constitution with a suitable vehicle, e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water, before use. Sterile injectable solutions are prepared by incorporating the immunoconjugates of the invention in the required amount in the appropriate solvent with various of the other ingredients enumerated below, as required. Sterility may be readily accomplished, e.g., by filtration through sterile filtration membranes. Generally, dispersions are 10 prepared by incorporating the various sterilized active ingredients into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and/or the other ingredients. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, suspensions or emulsion, the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum-drying or freeze-drying techniques which yield a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered liquid medium thereof. The liquid medium should be suitably buffered if necessary and the liquid diluent first rendered isotonic prior to injection with sufficient saline or glucose. The composition must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage, and preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. It will be appreciated that endotoxin contamination should be kept minimally at a safe level, for example, less that 0.5 ng/mg protein.

Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to: buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid and methionine; preservatives (such as octadecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; hexamethonium chloride; benzalkonium chloride; benzethonium chloride; phenol, butyl or benzyl alcohol; alkyl parabens such as methyl or propyl paraben; catechol; resorcinol; cyclohexanol; 3-pentanol; and m-cresol);

low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, histidine, arginine, or lysine; monosaccharides, di saccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugars such as sucrose, mannitol, trehalose or sorbitol;

salt-forming counter-ions such as sodium; metal complexes (e.g. Zn-protein complexes); and/or non-ionic surfactants such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). Aqueous injection suspensions may contain compounds which increase the viscosity of the suspension, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, dextran, or the like. Optionally, the suspension may also contain suitable stabilizers or agents which increase the solubility of the compounds to allow for the preparation of highly concentrated solutions. Additionally, suspensions of the active compounds may be prepared as appropriate oily injection suspensions. Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles include fatty oils such as sesame oil, or synthetic fatty acid esters, such as ethyl cleats or triglycerides, or liposomes.

Active ingredients may be entrapped in microcapsules prepared, for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacial polymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose or gelatinmicrocapsules and poly-(methylmethacylate) microcapsules, respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example, liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nanoparticles and nanocapsules) or in macroemulsions. Such techniques are disclosed in Remington's 10 Pharmaceutical Sciences (18th Ed. Mack Printing Company, 1990). Sustained-release preparations may be prepared. Suitable examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the polypeptide, which matrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g. films, or microcapsules. In particular embodiments, prolonged absorption of an injectable composition can be brought about by the use 15 in the compositions of agents delaying absorption, such as, for example, aluminum monostearate, gelatin or combinations thereof.

In addition to the compositions described previously, the immunoconjugates may also be formulated as a depot preparation. Such long acting formulations may be administered by implantation (for example subcutaneously or intramuscularly) or by intramuscular injection.

Thus, for example, the immunoconjugates may be formulated with suitable polymeric or hydrophobic materials (for example as an emulsion in an acceptable oil) or ion exchange resins, or as sparingly soluble derivatives, for example, as a sparingly soluble salt.

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the immunoconjugates of the invention may be manufactured by means of conventional mixing, dissolving, emulsifying, encapsulating, 25 entrapping or lyophilizing processes. Pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in conventional manner using one or more physiologically acceptable carriers, diluents, excipients or auxiliaries which facilitate processing of the proteins into preparations that can be used pharmaceutically. Proper formulation is dependent upon the route of administration chosen.

The immunoconjugates may be formulated into a composition in a free acid or base, neutral or 30 salt form. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are salts that substantially retain the biological activity of the free acid or base. These include the acid addition salts, e.g., those formed with the free amino groups of a proteinaceous composition, or which are formed with inorganic acids such as for example, hydrochloric or phosphoric acids, or such organic acids as acetic, oxalic, tartaric or mandelic acid. Salts formed with the free carboxyl groups can also be derived from inorganic bases such as for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium or ferric hydroxides; or such organic bases as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, histidine or procaine.

Pharmaceutical salts tend to be more soluble in aqueous and other protic solvents than are the corresponding free base forms.

Therapeutic Methods and Compositions

Any of the immunoconjugates provided herein may be used in therapeutic methods. 10 Immunoconjugates of the invention may be used as immunotherapeutic agents, for example in the treatment of cancers.

For use in therapeutic methods, immunoconjugates of the invention would be formulated, dosed, and administered in a fashion consistent with good medical practice. Factors for consideration in this context include the particular disorder being treated, the particular mammal being treated, 15 the clinical condition of the individual patient, the cause of the disorder, the site of delivery of the agent, the method of administration, the scheduling of administration, and other factors known to medical practitioners.

Immunoconjugates of the invention may be particularly useful in treating disease states where stimulation of the immune system of the host is beneficial, in particular conditions where an 20 enhanced cellular immune response is desirable. These may include disease states where the host immune response is insufficient or deficient. Disease states for which the immunoconjugates of the invention may be administered comprise, for example, a tumor or infection where a cellular immune response would be a critical mechanism for specific immunity. The immunoconjugates of the invention may be administered per se or in any suitable pharmaceutical composition.

In one aspect, immunoconjugates of the invention for use as a medicament are provided. In further aspects, immunoconjugates of the invention for use in treating a disease are provided. In certain embodiments, immunoconjugates of the invention for use in a method of treatment are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunoconjugate as described herein for use in the treatment of a disease in an individual in need thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an immunoconjugate for use in a method of treating an individual having a disease comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of the

PI 2 0 ' 9 0 0 5 7 g 6 ⁰ ’ OCT 2019 immunoconjugate. In certain embodiments the disease to be treated is a proliferative disorder. In a particular embodiment the disease is cancer. In certain embodiments the method further comprises administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of at least one additional therapeutic agent, e.g., an anti-cancer agent if the disease to be treated is cancer. In further embodiments, the invention provides an immunoconjugate for use in stimulating the immune system. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an immunoconjugate for use in a method of stimulating the immune system in an individual comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of the immunoconjugate to stimulate the immune system. An “individual” according to any of the above embodiments is a mammal, preferably a human. “Stimulation of the immune system” according to any of the above embodiments may include any one or more of a general increase in immune function, an increase in T cell function, an increase in B cell function, a restoration of lymphocyte function, an increase in the expression of IL-2 receptors, an increase in T cell responsiveness, an increase in natural killer cell activity or lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity, and the like.

In a further aspect, the invention provides for the use of an i mm unconjugate of the invention in the manufacture or preparation of a medicament. In one embodiment, the medicament is for the treatment of a disease in an individual in need thereof. In one embodiment, the medicament is for use in a method of treating a disease comprising administering to an individual having the disease a therapeutically effective amount of the medicament. In certain embodiments the disease to be treated is a proliferative disorder. In a particular embodiment the disease is cancer. In one embodiment, the method further comprises administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of at least one additional therapeutic agent, e.g., an anti-cancer agent if the disease to be treated is cancer. In a further embodiment, the medicament is for stimulating the immune system. In a further embodiment, the medicament is for use in a method of stimulating the immune system in an individual comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of the medicament to stimulate the immune system. An “individual” according to any of the above embodiments may be a mammal, preferably a human. “Stimulation of the immune system” according to any of the above embodiments may include any one or more of a general increase in immune function, an increase in T cell function, an increase in B cell function, a restoration of lymphocyte function, an increase in the expression of IL-2 receptors, an increase in T cell responsiveness, an increase in natural killer cell activity or lymphokineactivated killer (LAK) cell activity, and the like.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a disease in an individual. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering to an individual having such disease a therapeutically effective amount of an immunoconjugate of the invention. In one embodiment a composition is administered to said invididual, comprising the immunoconjugate of the invention in a pharmaceutically acceptable form. In certain embodiments the disease to be treated is a proliferative disorder. In a particular embodiment the disease is cancer. In certain embodiments the method further comprises administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of at least one additional therapeutic agent, e.g., an anti-cancer agent if the disease to be treated is cancer. In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for stimulating the immune system in an individual, comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of an immunoconjugate to stimulate the immune system. An “individual” according to any of the above embodiments may be a mammal, preferably a human. “Stimulation of the immune system” according to any of the above embodiments may include any one or more of a general increase in immune function, an increase in T cell function, an increase in B cell function, a restoration of lymphocyte function, an increase in the expression of IL-2 receptors, an increase in T cell responsiveness, an increase in natural killer cell activity or lymphokineactivated killer (LAK) cell activity, and the like.

In certain embodiments the disease to be treated is a proliferative disorder, particularly cancer. Non-limiting examples of cancers include bladder cancer, brain cancer, head and neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, blood cancer, skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, bone cancer, and kidney cancer. Other cell proliferation disorders that may be treated using an immunoconjugate of the present invention include, but are not limited to neoplasms located in the: abdomen, bone, breast, digestive system, liver, pancreas, peritoneum, endocrine glands (adrenal, parathyroid, pituitary, testicles, ovary, thymus, thyroid), eye, head and neck, nervous system (central and peripheral), lymphatic system, pelvic, skin, soft tissue, spleen, thoracic region, and urogenital system. Also included are pre-cancerous conditions or lesions and cancer metastases. In certain embodiments the cancer is chosen from the group consisting of kidney cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, head and neck cancer, prostate cancer and bladder cancer. A skilled artisan readily recognizes that in many cases the immunoconjugates may not provide a cure but may only provide partial benefit. In some embodiments, a physiological change having some benefit is also considered therapeutically beneficial. Thus, in some embodiments, an amount of immunoconjugate that provides a physiological change is considered an effective amount or a therapeutically effective amount. The subject, patient, or individual in need of treatment is typically a mammal, more specifically a human.

In some embodiments, an effective amount of an immunoconjugate of the invention is 5 administered to a cell. In other embodiments, a therapeutically effective amount of an immunoconjugates of the invention is administered to an individual for the treatment of disease.

For the prevention or treatment of disease, the appropriate dosage of an immunoconjugate ot the invention (when used alone or in combination with one or more other additional therapeutic agents) will depend on the type of disease to be treated, the route of administration, the body 10 weight of the patient, the type of molecule (e.g. comprising an Fc domain or not), the severity and course of the disease, whether the immunoconjugate is administered for preventive or therapeutic purposes, previous or concurrent therapeutic interventions, the patient's clinical history and response to the immunoconjugate, and the discretion of the attending physician.. The practitioner responsible for administration will, in any event, determine the concentration of 15 active ingredient(s) in a composition and appropriate dose(s) for the individual subject. Various dosing schedules including but not limited to single or multiple administrations over various time-points, bolus administration, and pulse infusion are contemplated herein.

The immunoconjugate is suitably administered to the patient at one time or over a series of treatments. Depending on the type and severity of the disease, about 1 pg/kg to 15 mg/kg (e.g. 20 0.1 mg/kg - 10 mg/kg) of immunoconjugate can be an initial candidate dosage for administration to the patient, whether, for example, by one or more separate administrations, or by continuous infusion. One typical daily dosage might range from about 1 pg/kg to 100 mg/kg or more, depending on the factors mentioned above. For repeated administrations over several days or longer, depending on the condition, the treatment would generally be sustained until a desired 25 suppression of disease symptoms occurs. One exemplary dosage of the immunoconjugate would be in the range from about 0.005 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg. In other non-limiting examples, a dose may also comprise from about 1 microgram/kg/body weight, about 5 microgram/kg/body weight, about 10 microgram/kg/body weight, about 50 microgram/kg/body weight, about 100 microgram/kg/body weight, about 200 microgram/kg/body weight, about 350 30 microgram/kg/body weight, about 500 microgram/kg/body weight, about 1 milligram/kg/body weight, about 5 milligram/kg/body weight, about 10 milligram/kg/body weight, about 50 milligram/kg/body weight, about 100 milligram/kg/body weight, about 200 milligram/kg/body weight, about 350 milligram/kg/body weight, about 500 milligram/kg/body weight, to about 1000 mg/kg/body weight or more per administration, and any range derivable therein. In nonlimiting examples of a derivable range from the numbers listed herein, a range of about 5 mg/kg/body weight to about 100 mg/kg/body weight, about 5 microgram/kg/body weight to 5 about 500 milligram/kg/body weight, etc., can be administered, based on the numbers described above. Thus, one or more doses of about 0.5 mg/kg, 2.0 mg/kg, 5.0 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg (or any combination thereof) may be administered to the patient. Such doses may be administered intermittently, e.g. every week or every three weeks (e.g. such that the patient receives from about two to about twenty, or e.g. about six doses of the immunoconjugate). An initial higher 10 loading dose, followed by one or more lower doses may be administered. However, other dosage regimens may be useful. The progress of this therapy is easily monitored by conventional techniques and assays.

The immunoconjugates of the invention will generally be used in an amount effective to achieve the intended purpose. For use to treat or prevent a disease condition, the immunoconjugates of 15 the invention, or pharmaceutical compositions thereof, are administered or applied in a therapeutically effective amount. Determination of a therapeutically effective amount is well within the capabilities of those skilled in the art, especially in light of the detailed disclosure provided herein.

For systemic administration, a therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially from in 20 vitro assays, such as cell culture assays. A dose can then be formulated in animal models to achieve a circulating concentration range that includes the IC50 as determined in cell culture. Such information can be used to more accurately determine useful doses in humans.

Initial dosages can also be estimated from in vivo data, e.g., animal models, using techniques that are well known in the art. One having ordinary skill in the art could readily optimize 25 administration to humans based on animal data.

Dosage amount and interval may be adjusted individually to provide plasma levels of the immunoconjugates which are sufficient to maintain therapeutic effect. Usual patient dosages for administration by injection range from about 0.1 to 50 mg/kg/day, typically from about 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/day. Therapeutically effective plasma levels may be achieved by administering multiple 30 doses each day. Levels in plasma may be measured, for example, by HPLC.

In cases of local administration or selective uptake, the effective local concentration of the immunoconjugates may not be related to plasma concentration. One having skill in the art will be able to optimize therapeutically effective local dosages without undue experimentation.

A therapeutically effective dose of the immunoconjugates described herein will generally 5 provide therapeutic benefit without causing substantial toxicity. Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of an immunoconjugate can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell culture or experimental animals. Cell culture assays and animal studies can be used to determine the LD50 (the dose lethal to 50% of a population) and the ED50 (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of a population). The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic 10 index, which can be expressed as the ratio LD50/ED50. Immunoconjugates that exhibit large therapeutic indices are preferred. In one embodiment, the immunoconjugate according to the present invention exhibits a high therapeutic index. The data obtained from cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in formulating a range of dosages suitable for use in humans. The dosage lies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED50 with 15 little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon a variety of factors, e.g., the dosage form employed, the route of administration utilized, the condition of the subject, and the like. The exact formulation, route of administration and dosage can be chosen by the individual physician in view of the patient's condition. (See, e.g., Fingl et al., 1975, In: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Ch. 1, p. 1, incorporated herein by reference in its 20 entirety).

The attending physician for patients treated with immunoconjugates of the invention would know how and when to terminate, interrupt, or adjust administration due to toxicity, organ dysfunction, and the like. Conversely, the attending physician would also know to adjust treatment to higher levels if the clinical response were not adequate (precluding toxicity). The 25 magnitude of an administered dose in the management of the disorder of interest will vary with the severity of the condition to be treated, with the route of administration, and the like. The severity of the condition may, for example, be evaluated, in part, by standard prognostic evaluation methods. Further, the dose and perhaps dose frequency will also vary according to the age, body weight, and response of the individual patient.

The maximum therapeutic dose of an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide as described herein may be increased from those used for an immunoconjugate comprising wildtype IL-2.

Other Agents and Treatments

The immunoconjugates according to the invention may be administered in combination with one or more other agents in therapy. For instance, an immunoconjugate of the invention may be co5 administered with at least one additional therapeutic agent. The term therapeutic agent encompasses any agent administered to treat a symptom or disease in an individual in need of such treatment. Such additional therapeutic agent may comprise any active ingredients suitable for the particular indication being treated, preferably those with complementary activities that do not adversely affect each other. In certain embodiments, an additional therapeutic agent is an 10 immunomodulatory agent, a cytostatic agent, an inhibitor of cell adhesion, a cytotoxic agent, an activator of cell apoptosis, or an agent that increases the sensitivity of cells to apoptotic inducers. In a particular embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an anti-cancer agent, for example a microtubule disruptor, an antimetabolite, a topoisomerase inhibitor, a DNA intercalator, an alkylating agent, a hormonal therapy, a kinase inhibitor, a receptor antagonist, an activator of 15 tumor cell apoptosis, or an antiangiogenic agent.

Such other agents are suitably present in combination in amounts that are effective for the purpose intended. The effective amount of such other agents depends on the amount of immunoconjugate used, the type of disorder or treatment, and other factors discussed above. The immunoconjugates are generally used in the same dosages and with administration routes as 20 described herein, or about from 1 to 99% of the dosages described herein, or in any dosage and by any route that is empirically/clinically determined to be appropriate.

Such combination therapies noted above encompass combined administration (where two or more therapeutic agents are included in the same or separate compositions), and separate administration, in which case, administration of the immunoconjugate of the invention can occur 25 prior to, simultaneously, and/or following, administration of the additional therapeutic agent and/or adjuvant. Immunoconjugates of the invention may also be used in combination with radiation therapy.

Articles of Manufacture

In another aspect of the invention, an article of manufacture containing materials useful for the treatment, prevention and/or diagnosis of the disorders described above is provided. The article of manufacture comprises a container and a label or package insert on or associated with the container. Suitable containers include, for example, bottles, vials, syringes, IV solution bags, etc. The containers may be formed from a variety of materials such as glass or plastic. The container holds a composition which is by itself or combined with another composition effective for treating, preventing and/or diagnosing the condition and may have a sterile access port (for example the container may be an intravenous solution bag or a vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle). At least one active agent in the composition is an immunoconjugate of the invention. The label or package insert indicates that the composition is used for treating the condition of choice. Moreover, the article of manufacture may comprise (a) a first container with a composition contained therein, wherein the composition comprises an immunoconjugate of the invention; and (b) a second container with a composition contained therein, wherein the composition comprises a further cytotoxic or otherwise therapeutic agent. The article of manufacture in this embodiment of the invention may further comprise a package insert indicating that the compositions can be used to treat a particular condition. Alternatively, or additionally, the article of manufacture may further comprise a second (or third) container comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable buffer, such as bacteriostatic water for injection (BWFI), phosphate-buffered saline, Ringer’s solution and dextrose solution. It may further include other materials desirable from a commercial and user standpoint, including other buffers, diluents, filters, needles, and syringes.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the IgG-IL-2 immunoconjugate format, comprising mutant IL-2 polypeptide.

Figure 2. Binding of PDl-IL2v to CD4 T cells (A) and CD8 T cells (B) within PHA activated PBMCs, in comparison to PD1 IgG and CEA-IL2v.

Figure 3. Proliferation of NK cells (A), CD8 T cells (B) and CD4 T ceils (C) within PBMCs with PDl-IL2v, CEA-IL2v, and the combination of PD1 IgG plus CEA-IL2v. PD1 IgG was included as control.

Figure 4. Activation of NK cells (A), CD8 T cells (B) and CD4 T cells (C) within PBMCs with PDl-IL2v, CEA-IL2v, and the combination of PD1 IgG plus CEA-IL2v. PD1 IgG was included as control. CD25 expression on NK cells, CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells was used as a marker of activation.

Figure 5. Proliferation of PHA pre-activated CD8 T cells (A) and CD4 T cells (B) within PBMCs with PDl-IL2v, CEA-IL2v, and the combination of PD1 IgG plus CEA-IL2. PD1 IgG was included as control.

Figure 6. Activation of PHA pre-stimulated CD8 T cells (A) and CD4 T cells (B) within PBMCs 5 with PDl-IL2v, CEA-IL2v, and the combination of PD1 IgG plus CEA-IL2v. PD1 IgG was included as control. CD25 expression on CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells was used as a marker of activation.

Figure 7. Proliferation of the human NK cell line NK92 induced by PD-Ll-IL2v in comparison to CEA-IL2v (A), or by PD-Ll-IL2v in comparison to PDl-IL2v (B), measured after 2 days.

Figure 8. Binding of PD-Ll-muIL2v and PD-L1 mulgGl to the PD-L1 positive mouse T cell line CTLL2.

Figure 9. Proliferation of the murine PD-L1 positive T cell line CTLL2 induced by PDl-muIL2v in comparison to CEA-muIL2v (A), or by PDl-muIL2v in comparison to PD-Ll-muIL2v (B), determined after 3 days.

Figure 10. Results of an efficacy experiment with PDl-IL2v, PD-Ll-IL2v or PD1 and PD-L1 antibodies as single agents. The Panc02-H7-Fluc transfectant pancreatic carcinoma cell line was injected into the pancreas of Black 6 mice to study survival in a pancreatic orthotopic syngeneic model.

Figure 11. Results of an efficacy experiment with PDl-IL2v, PD-Ll-IL2v or PD1 and PD-L1 antibodies as single agents. The Panc02-H7-Fluc transfectant pancreatic carcinoma cell line was injected into the pancreas in Black 6 mice to study survival in a pancreatic orthotopic syngeneic model by means of bioluminescence.

Figure 12. Ability of CD4 T cells to secrete IL-2 (A), IL-2 and IFN-γ (B) or IFN-γ (C) upon 48 hours recall with CMV immunogenic protein pp65 in presence of either anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-Ll alone, in combination with IL-2v, or as fusion proteins.

Figure 13. Differentiation state of virus-specific CD4 T cells secreting only IL-2 (A), both IL-2 and IFN-γ (B), or only IFN-γ (C and D) upon 48 hours recall with CMV immunogenic protein pp65 in presence of either anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-Ll alone, in combination with IL-2v, or as fusion proteins.

Figure 14. Competitive binding assay of PD1 and PDl-IL2v to activated conventional and regulatory T cells. Delta of the frequency bound on T_COnv versus T_reg (Figure 14A) and binding to Tconv and T_reg (Figure 14B).

Figure 15. PDl-IL2v reversion of T_reg supression of T_conv. Percentage of suppression by T_reg of granzyme B (Figure 15A) and interferon-γ (Figure 15B) secreted by T_COnv after 5 days of coculture.

Figure 16. Results of an efficacy experiment comparing muPDl-lL2v to muFAP-lL2v and muPD-1 antibodies as single agents and in combination.

Figure 17. Results of an efficacy experiment comparing muPDl-IL2v to FAP-IL2v, muPDl and their combination.

Figure 18A and 18B. Immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for anti-mouse CD3 (Figure 18A) and the T cell quantification analysis (Figure 18B).

Figure 19. Immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for anti-mouse PD1.

Figure 20. Immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for anti-mouse ICOS.

Figure 21. Results of an efficacy experiment comparing muPDl-IL2v to FAP-IL2v and muPDl as single agents and in combination.

Figure 22. Results of an efficacy experiment comparing muPDl-IL2v to FAP-IL2v, muPDl and their combination with two different doses.

Figure 23. Immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for anti-mouse CD3.

Figure 24A and 24B. Immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for anti-mouse CD8 (Figure 24A) and the T cell quantification analysis (Figure 24B).

Figure 25A and 25B. Immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for antiGranzyme B (Figure 25A) and Granzyme B marker area quantification analysis (Figure 25B).

Figure 26A and 26B. Immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for anti-mouse PD1 (Figure 26A) and the PD1 positive cell quantification analysis (Figure 26B).

Figure 27A-D. Ability of CD4 T cells to secrete IL-2 (A), IL-2 and 1FN- 7 (B) or IFN- 7 (C) and to proliferate (D) upon 48hours recall with CMV immunogenic protein pp65 in presence of either anti-PD-1 alone, in combination with IL-2v, or as fusion protein.

Figure 28. Differentiation state, as per expression of CD45RO and CD62L, of virus-specific CD4 T ceils secreting IFN- γ upon 48 hours recall with CMV immunogenic protein pp65 in presence of either anti-PD-1 alone, in combination with IL-2v, or as fusion protein.

Figure 29A-D. STAT5 assay on resting PBMCs of a first donor (CD8 T-cells (A), NK. cells (B), 5 CD4 T-cells (C) and regulatory T-cells (D)).

Figure 30A-D. STAT5 assay on resting PBMCs of a second donor (CD4 T-cells (A), CD8 Tcells (B), regulatory T-cells (C) and NK cells (D)).

Figure 31A-D. STAT5 assay on resting PBMCs of a third donor (CD8 T-cells (A), NK cells (B), CD4 T-cells (C) and regulatory T-cells (D)).

Figure 32A-D. STAT5 assay on resting PBMCs of a fourth donor (CD8 T-cells (A), NK cells (B), CD4 T-cells (C) and regulatory T-cells (D).

Amino Acid Sequences

<td></td><td> Amino Acid Sequence</td><td> SEQ ID NO</td>

<td> PD-1 minimal HVR-H1</td><td> SSYT</td><td> 1</td>

<td> PD-1 minimal HVR-H2</td><td> SGGGRDIY</td><td> 2</td>

<td> PD-1 minimal HVR-H3</td><td> GRVYF</td><td> 3</td>

<td> PD-1 minimal HVR-L1</td><td> TSDNSF</td><td> 4</td>

<td> PD-1 minimal HVR-L2</td><td> RSSTLES</td><td> 5</td>

<td> PD-1 minimal HVR-L3</td><td> NYDVPW</td><td> 6</td>

<td> fragment of FR-H3 (RDN at Kabat pos. 71-73)</td><td> RDN</td><td> 7</td>

<td> PD-1 HVR-HI</td><td> GFSFSSY</td><td> 8</td>

<td> PD-1 HVR-H2</td><td> GGR</td><td> 9</td>

<td> PD-1 HVR-H3</td><td> TGRVYFALD</td><td> 10</td>

<td> PD-1 HVR-L1</td><td> SESVDTSDNSF</td><td> 11</td>

<td> PD-1 HVR-L2</td><td> RSS</td><td> 12</td>

<td> PD-1 HVR-L3</td><td> NYDVPW</td><td> 13_______</td>

<td> PD-i VH (1, 2, 3, 4)</td><td> EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFSFSSYTMSWVRQ APGKGLEWVATISGGGRDIYYPDSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTL YLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCVLLTGRVYFALDSWGQGTLVT vss</td><td> 14</td>

<td> PD-1 VL(1)</td><td> DIVMTQSPDSLAVSLGERATINCKASESVDTSDNSFIHWY QQKPGQSPKLLIYRSSTLESGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSL QAEDVAVYYCQQNYDVPWTFGQGTKVEIK</td><td> 15</td>

<td> PD-1 VL (2)</td><td> DVVMTQSPLSLPVTLGQPASISCRASESVDTSDNSFIHWY QQRPGQSPRLLIYRSSTLESGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKISRV EAEDVGVYYCQQNYDVPWTFGQGTKVEIK</td><td> 16</td>

<td> PD-1 VL(3)</td><td> EIVLTQSPATLSLSPGERATLSCRASESVDTSDNSFIHWYQ QKPGQSPRLLIYRSSTLESGIPARFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLEP EDFAVYYCQQNYDVPWTFGQGTKVEIK</td><td> 17</td>

<td> PD-1 VL (4)</td><td> EIVLTQSPATLSLSPGERATLSCRASESVDTSDNSFIHWYQ QKPGQSPRLLIYRSSTLESG1PARFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLEP EDFAVYYCQQNYDVPWTFGQGTKVEIK</td><td> 18</td>

<td> Human IL-2</td><td> APTSSSTKKTQLQLEHLLLDLQMILNGINNYKNPKLTRML TFKFYMPKKATELKHLQCLEEELKPLEEVLNLAQSKNFHL RPRDLISNINVIVLELKGSETTFMCEYADETATIVEFLNRW ITFCQS1ISTLT</td><td> 19</td>

<td> Human IL-2 (T3A, F42A, Y45Y, L72G, C125A)</td><td> APASSSTKKTQLQLEHLLLDLQMILNGINNYKNPKLTRML TAKFAMPKKATELKHLQCLEEELKPLEEVLNGAQSKNFH LRPRDL1SNINVIVLELKGSETTFMCEYADETATIVEFLNR WITFAQSIISTLT</td><td> 20</td>

<td> linker</td><td> GGGGSGGGGSGGGGS</td><td> 21</td>

<td> PD-1 IL2vHC with IL2v (Fc knob, LALAPG)</td><td> evqllesggglvqpggslrlscaasgfsfssytmswvrqapgkglewvatisgggrdiyy pdsvkgrftisrdnskntlylqmnslraedtavyycvlltgrvyfaldswgqgtlvtvssas tkgpsv fplapsskstsggtaal gel vkdyfpepvtvswnsgaltsgvhtfpavlqssgl y slssvvtvpssslgtqtyicnvnhkpsntkvdkkvepkscdkthtcppcpapeaaggps vflfppkpkdtlmisrtpevtcvvvdvshedpevkfnwyvdgvevhnaktkpreeqy nstyrvvsvltvlhqdwlngkeykckvsnkalgapiektiskakgqprepqvytlppcr deltknqvslwclvkgfypsdiavewesngqpennykttppvldsdgsfflyskltvdk srwqqgnv fscsvmhealhnhytqksl si spgggggsggggsggggsapassstkktq Iqlehllldlqmilnginnyknpkltnnltakfampkkatelkhlqcleeelkpleevlng aqsknfhlrprdlisninvivlelkgsettfmceyadetativeflnrwitfaqsiistlt</td><td> 22</td>

<td> PD-1 IL2v — HC without IL2v (Fc hole, LALAPG)</td><td> evqllesggglvqpggslrlscaasgfsfssytmswvrqapgkglewvatisgggrdiyy pdsvkgrftisrdnskntlylqmnslraedtavyycvlltgrvyfaldswgqgtlvtvssas tkgpsviplapsskstsggtaalgclvkdyfpepvtvswnsgaltsgvhtfpavlqssgly slssvvtvpssslgtqtyicnvnhkpsntkvdkkvepkscdkthtcppcpapeaaggps vflfppkpkdtlmisrtpevtcvvvdvshedpevkfnwyvdgvevhnaktkpreeqy nstyrvvsvltvlhqdwlngkeykckvsnkalgapiektiskakgqprepqvctlppsr deltknqvslscavkgfypsdiavewesngqpennykttppvldsdgsfflvskltvdks rwq q gnvfscs vmhealhnhytqkslsl sp______</td><td> 23</td>

<td> PD-1 IL2vHC without IL2v (Fc hole, LALAPG, HYRF)</td><td> evql 1 esgggl vqpggslrlscaasgfsfssytmswvrqapgkgle w vatisgggrdi yy pdsvkgrftisrdnskntlylqmnslraedtavyycvlltgrvyfaldswgqgtlvtvssas tkgpsvfplapsskstsggtaalgclvkdyfpepvtvswnsgaltsgvhtfpavlqssgly slssvvtvpssslgtqtyicnvnhkpsntkvdkkvepkscdkthtcppcpapeaaggps vfl fppkpkdtlmi srtpevtcvwd vshedpevkfnwyvdgvevhnaktkpreeq y nstyrvvsvltvlhqdwlngkeykckvsnkalgapiektiskakgqprepqvctlppsr deltknqvslscavkgfypsdiavewesngqpennykttppvldsdgsfflvskltvdks rwqqgnvfscsvmhealhnrftqkslslsp</td><td> 24</td>

<td> PD-1 IL2vLC</td><td> divmtqspdslavslgeratinckasesvdtsdnsfihwyqqkpgqspklliyrsstlesg vpdrfsgsgsgtdftltisslqaedvavyycqqnydvpwtfgqgtkveikrtvaapsvfif ppsdeqlksgtasvvcllnnfypreakvqwkvdnalqsgnsqesvteqdskdstyslsst Itlskadyekhkvyacevthqglsspvtksfhrgec</td><td> 25</td>

<td> hIL-2 signal peptide</td><td> MYRMQLLSCIALSLALVTNS</td><td> 26</td>

<td> hPD-1 (without signal sequence)</td><td> PGWFLDSPDRPWNPPTFSPALLVVTEGDNATFTCSFSNTS ESFVLNWYRMSPSNQTDKLAAFPEDRSQPGQDCRFRVTQ LPNGRDFHMSVVRARRNDSGTYLCGAISLAPKAQIKESLR AELRVTERRAEVPTAHPSPSPRPAGQFQTLVVGVVGGLLG SLVLLVWVLAVICSRAARGTIGARRTGQPLKEDPSAVPVF SVDYGELDFQWREKTPEPPVPCVPEQTEYATIVFPSGMGT SSPARRGSADGPRSAQPLRPEDGHCSWPL</td><td> 27</td>

<td> hPD-1 (with signal sequence)</td><td> MQIPQAPWPVVWAVLQLGWRPGWFLDSPDRPWNPPTFS PALLVVTEGDNATFTCSFSNTSESFVLNWYRMSPSNQTDK LAAFPEDRSQPGQDCRFRVTQLPNGRDFHMSVVRARRND SGTYLCGAISLAPK.AQIKESLRAELRVTERRAEVPTAHPSP SPRPAGQFQTLVVGVVGGLLGSLVLLVWVLAVICSRAAR GTIGARRTGQPLKEDPSAVPVFSVDYGELDFQWREKTPEP PVPCVPEQTEYATIVFPSGMGTSSPARRGSADGPRSAQPL RPEDGHCSWPL</td><td> 28</td>

<td> Human IL-2 (C125A)</td><td> APTSSSTKKTQLQLEHLLLDLQMILNGINNYKNPKLTRML TFKFYMPKKATELKHLQCLEEELKPLEEVLNLAQSKNFHL RPRDLISNINVIVLELKGSETTFMCEYADETATIVEFLNRW ITFAQSIISTLT</td><td> 29</td>

<td> Human IgGl Fc domain</td><td> DKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTC VVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNST YRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRW QQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSP</td><td> 30</td>

<td> Human kappa CL domain</td><td> RTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQ WKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADY EKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC</td><td> 31</td>

<td> Human lambda CL domain</td><td> QPKAAPSVTLFPPSSEELQANKATLVCLISDFYPGAVTVA WKADSSPVKAGVETTTPSKQSNNKYAASSYLSLTPEQWK SHRSYSCQVTHEGSTVEKTVAPTECS_______________</td><td> 32</td>

<td> Human IgGi heavy chain constant region (CH1CH2-CH3)</td><td> ASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVS WNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQT YICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGG PSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNW YVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLN GKEYKCKVSNKALPAP1EKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSR DELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTT PPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALH NHYTQKSLSLSP</td><td> 33</td>

<td> Murine surrogate PD1 IL2v-HC with IL2v</td><td> evqlqesgpglvkpsqslsltcsvtgysitssyrwnwirkfpgnrlewmgyinsagisny npslkrrisitrdtsknqfflqvnsvttedaatyycarsdnmgttpftywgqgtlvtvssakt tppsvyplapgsaaqtnsmvtlgclvkgyfpepvtvtwnsgslssgvhtfpavlqsdlyt Isssvtvpsstwpsqtvtcnvahpasstkvdkkivprdcgckpcictvpevssvfifppk pkdvltitltpkvtcvvvaiskddpevqfswfvddvevhtaqtkpreeqinstfrsvselp imhqdwl ngkefkcrvnsaafgapi ektisktkgrpkapqvyti pppkeqmakdkvs Itcmitnffpeditvewqwngqpaenydntqpimdtdgsyfvysdlnvqksnweag ntftcsvlheglhnhhtekslshspgggggsggggsggggsapassstssstaeaqqqqq qqqqqqqhleqllmdlqellsrmenymlklprmltakfalpkqatelkdlqcledelgpl rhvldgtqsksfqledaenfisnirvtvvklkgsdntfecqfddesatvvdflrrwiafaqsi istspq</td><td> 34</td>

<td> Murine surrogate PD1 lL2v - HC without IL2v</td><td> evqlqesgpglvkpsqsisltcsvtgysitssyrwnwirkfpgnrlewmgyinsagisny npslkrrisitrdtsknqfflqvnsvttedaatyycarsdnmgttpftywgqgtlvtvssakt tppsvyplapgsaaqtnsmvtlgclvkgyfpepvtvtwnsgslssgvhtfpavlqsdlyt Isssvtvpsstwpsqtvtcnvahpasstkvdkkivprdcgckpcictvpevssvfifppk pkdvltitltpkvtcvwaiskddpevqfswfvddvevhtaqtkpreeqinstfrsvselp imhqdwlngkefkcrvnsaafgapiektisktkgrpkapqvytipppkkqmakdkvs Itcmitnffpeditvewqwngqpaenykntqpimktdgsyfvysklnvqksnweag ntftcsvlheglhnhhtekslshsp</td><td> 35</td>

<td> Murine surrogate PD1 IL2v - LC</td><td> divmtqgtlpnpvpsgesvsitcrssksllysdgktylnwylqrpgqspqlliywmstra sgvsdrfsgsgsgtdftlkisgveaedvgiyycqqglefptfgggtklelkrtdaaptvsifp psseqltsggasvvcflnnfypkdinvkwkidgserqngvlnswtdqdskdstysmss tltltkdeyerhnsytceathktstspivksfhmec</td><td> 36</td>

<td> PD-L1 IL2vHC with IL2v (Fc knob, LALAPG)</td><td> EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSDSWIHWVRQ APGKGLEWVAWISPYGGSTYYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNT AYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARRHWPGGFDYWGQGTLVT VSAASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPV TVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLG TQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPEA AGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCWVDVSHEDPEVK FNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQD WLNGKEYKCKVSNKALGAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTL PPCRDELTK.NQVSLWCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENN YKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMH EALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSAPASSST KKTQLQLEHLLLDLQMILNGINNYKNPKLTRMLTAKFAM PKKATELKHLQCLEEELKPLEEVLNGAQSKNFHLRPRDLI SNINVIVLELKGSETTFMCEYADETATIVEFLNRWITFAQSI ISTLT_________________</td><td> 37</td>

<td> PD-L1 IL2v — HC without IL2v (Fc hole, LALAPG)</td><td> EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSDSWIHWVRQ APGKGLEWVAWISPYGGSTYYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNT AYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARRHWPGGFDYWGQGTLVT VSAASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPV TVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLG TQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPEA AGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVK FNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQD WLNGKEYKCKVSNKALGAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVCTL PPSRDELTKNQVSLSCAVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNY KTTPPVLDSDGSFFLVSK.LTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHE ALHNHYTQKSLSLSP</td><td> 38</td>

<td> PD-L1 IL2vLC</td><td> D1QMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVSTAVAWYQQK PGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPE DFATYYCQQYLYHPATFGQGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPS DEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNS QESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTH QGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC</td><td> 39</td>

<td> Murine surrogate PDL1 IL2v-HC with IL2v</td><td> EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSDSWIHWVRQ APGKGLEWVAWISPYGGSTYYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNT AYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARRHWPGGFDYWGQGTLVT VSAAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYFPEP VTVTWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVPSSTWP SETVTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPCICTVPEVSS VFIFPPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCVVVA1SKDDPEVQFSWFVD DVEVHTAQTQPREEQFNSTFRSVSELPIMHQDWLNGKEF KCRVNSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPKEQMA KDKVSLTCMITDFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYDNTQPIM DTDGSYFVYSDLNVQKSNWEAGNTFTCSVLHEGLHNHH TEKSLSHSPGGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSAPASSSTSSSTAEAQ QQQQQQQQQQQHLEQLLMDLQELLSRMENYRNLKLPRM LTAKFALPKQATELKDLQCLEDELGPLRHVLDGTQSKSFQ LEDAENFISNIRVTVVKLKGSDNTFECQFDDESATVVDFL RRW1AFAQSHSTSPQ</td><td> 40</td>

<td> Murine surrogate PDL1 IL2v-HC without IL2v</td><td> EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSDSWIHWVRQ APGKGLEWVAWISPYGGSTYYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNT AYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARRHWPGGFDYWGQGTLVT VSAAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYFPEP VTVTWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVPSSTWP SETVTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPC1CTVPEVSS VFIFPPKPKDVLT1TLTPKVTCVVVAISKDDPEVQFSWFVD DVEVHTAQTQPREEQFNSTFRSVSELPIMHQDWLNGKEF KCRVNSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPKKQMA KDKVSLTCMITDFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYKNTQPIM KTDGSYFVYSKLNVQKSNWEAGNTFTCSVLHEGLHNHH TEKSLSHSP</td><td> 41</td>

<td> Murine surrogate PDL1 IL2v-LC</td><td> DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVSTAVAWYQQK PGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPE DFATYYCQQYLYHPATFGQGTKVEIKRADAAPTVSIFPPS SEQLTSGGASVVCFLNNFYPKDINVKWKIDGSERQNGVL NSWTDQDSKDSTYSMSSTLTLTKDEYERHNSYTCEATHK TSTSPIVKSFNRNEC</td><td> 42</td>

<td> hPD-1 Extracellular Domain (ECD)</td><td> PGWFLDSPDRPWNPPTFSPALLVVTEGDNATFTCSFSNTS ESFVLNWYRMSPSNQTDKLAAFPEDRSQPGQDCRFRVTQ LPNGRDFHMSVVRARRNDSGTYLCGAISLAPKAQIKESLR AELRVTERRAEVPTAHPSPSPRPAGQFQTLV</td><td> 43</td>

<td> muCEA HC- Fc (DD)mulL2v</td><td> QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFTEFGMNWVR QAPGQGLEWMGWINTKTGEATYVEEFKGRVTFTTDTSTS TAYMELRSLRSDDTAVYYCARWDFAYYVEAMDYWGQG TTVTVSSAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYF PEPVTVTWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVPSST WPSQTVTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPCICTVPEV SSVFIFPPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCVVVAISKDDPEVQFSWF VDDVEVHTAQTKPREEQINSTFRSVSELPIMHQDWLNGK EFKCRVNSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPKEQM AKDKVSLTCMITNFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYDNTQPI MDTDGSYFVYSDLNVQKSNWEAGNTFTCSVLHEGLHNH HTEKSLSHSPGGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSAPASSSTSSSTAEA QQQQQQQQQQQQHLEQLLMDLQELLSRMENYRNLKLPR MLTAKFALPKQATELKDLQCLEDELGPLRHVLDGTQSKS FQLEDAENFISN1RVTVVKLKGSDNTFECQFDDESATVVD FLRRWIAFAQSIISTSPQ</td><td> 44</td>

<td> muCEA HC- Fc (KK)muIL2v</td><td> QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFTEFGMNWVR QAPGQGLEWMGWINTKTGEATYVEEFKGRVTFTTDTSTS TAYMELRSLRSDDTAVYYCARWDFAYYVEAMDYWGQG TTVTVSSAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYF PEPVTVTWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVPSST WPSQTVTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPCICTVPEV SSVFIFPPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCVVVAISKDDPEVQFSWF VDDVEVHTAQTKPREEQINSTFRSVSELPIMHQDWLNGK EFKCRVNSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPKKQM AKDKVSLTCMITNFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYKNTQPI MKTDGSYFVYSKLNVQKSNWEAGNTFTCSVLHEGLHNH HTEKSLSHSPGK</td><td> 45</td>

<td> muCEA LC</td><td> DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCKASAAVGTYVAWYQQK PGKAPKLLIYSASYRKRGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPE DFATYYCHQYYTYPLFTFGQGTKLEIKRADAAPTVSIFPPS SEQLTSGGASVVCFLNNFYPKDINVKWKIDGSERQNGVL NSWTDQDSKDSTYSMSSTLTLTKDEYERHNSYTCEATHK TSTSPIVKSFNRNEC</td><td> 46</td>

<td> muFAP HCFc (DD)muIL2v</td><td> EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQ APGKGLEWVSAIIGSGASTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTL YLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKGWFGGFNYWGQGTLVTVS SAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYFPEPVTV TWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVPSSTWPSQT VTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPCICTVPEVSSVF1F PPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCVVVAISKDDPEVQFSWFVDDVE VHTAQTKPREEQINSTFRSVSELPIMHQDWLNGKEFKCRV NSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPKEQMAKDKV SLTCMITNFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYDNTQPIMDTDG SYFVYSDLNVQKSNWEAGNTFTCSVLHEGLHNHHTEKSL SHSPGGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSAPASSSTSSSTAEAQQQQQ QQQQQQQHLEQLLMDLQELLSRMENYRNLKLPRMLTAK FALPKQATELKDLQCLEDELGPLRHVLDGTQSKSFQLEDA ENFISNIRVTVVKLKGSDNTFECQFDDESATVVDFLRRWI AFAQSIISTSPQ</td><td> 47</td>

<td> muFAP HCFc (KK)</td><td> EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQ APGKGLEWVSAIIGSGASTYYADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTL YLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKGWFGGFNYWGQGTLVTVS SAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYFPEPVTV TWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVPSSTWPSQT VTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPCICTVPEVSSVF1F PPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCVVVAISKDDPEVQFSWFVDDVE VHTAQTKPREEQINSTFRSVSELPIMHQDWLNGKEFKCRV NSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPKKQMAKDKV SLTCMITNFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYKNTQPIMKTDG SYFVYSKLNVQKSNWEAGNTFTCSVLHEGLHNHHTEKSL SHSPGK</td><td> 48</td>

<td> muFAP LC</td><td> EIVLTQSPGTLSLSPGERATLSCRASQSVTSSYLAWYQQKP GQAPRLLINVGSRRATGIPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISRLEPED FAVYYCQQGIMLPPTFGQGTKVEIKRADAAPTVSIFPPSSE QLTSGGASVVCFLNNFYPKDINVKWKIDGSERQNGVLNS WTDQDSKDSTYSMSSTLTLTKDEYERHNSYTCEATHKTS TSPIVKSFNRNEC</td><td> 49</td>

<td> anti-muPDlHCmIgG2aLALAPG</td><td> EVQLQESGPGLVKPSQSLSLTCSVTGYSITSSYRWNWIRK FPGNRLEWMGYINSAGISNYNPSLKRRISITRDTSKNQFFL QVNSVTTEDAATYYCARSDNMGTTPFTYWGQGTLVTVS SASTTAPSVYPLAPVCGDTTGSSVTLGCLVKGYFPEPVTL TWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVTSSTWPSQSI TCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIEPRGPTIKPCPPCKCPAPNAAGG PSVFIFPPKIKDVLMISLSPIVTCVVVDVSEDDPDVQISWFV NFJVEVHTAQTQTHREDYNSTLRVVSALPIQHQDWMSGK EFKCKVNNKDLGAPIERTISKPKGSVRAPQVYVLPPPEEE MTKKQVTLTCMVTDFMPEDIYVEWTNNGKTELNYKNTE PVLDSDGSYFMYSKLRVEKKNWVERNSYSCSVVHEGLH NHHTTKSFSRTPGK |</td><td> 50</td>

<td> anti muPDlLC</td><td> DIVMTQGTLPNPVPSGESVSITCRSSKSLLYSDGKTYLNW YLQRPGQSPQLLIYWMSTRASGVSDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKI SGVEAEDVGIYYCQQGLEFPTFGGGTKLELKRTDAAPTVS IFPPSSEQLTSGGASVVCFLNNFYPKDINVKWKIDGSERQN GVLNSWTDQDSKDSTYSMSSTLTLTKDEYERHNSYTCEA THKTSTSPIVKSFNRNEC</td><td> 51</td>

Examples

The following are examples of methods and compositions of the invention. It is understood that various other embodiments may be practiced, given the general description provided above.

Example 1

Example 1A. Preparation of PDl-IL2v fusion proteins

The expression cassette for the antibody heavy chain - interleukin-2 (IL-2) fusion protein [heavy chain variable region of anti-human PD-1 antibody, human IgGi heavy chain (bearing mutations L234A, L235A and P329G (EU numbering) for removal of effector functions, and mutations S354C and T366W (EU numbering) for heterodimerization (“knob”)), (648)3 linker, and human IL-2v (bearing the mutations T3A, F42A, Y45A, L72G and C125A)], the expression cassette for the antibody heavy chain [heavy chain variable region of anti-human PD-1 antibody, and human IgGi heavy chain (bearing mutations L234A, L235A and P329G (EU numbering) for removal of effector functions, mutations Y349C, T366S, L368A and Y410V (EU numbering) for heterodimerization (“hole”), and optionally mutations H435R and Y436F (EU numbering)] and the expression cassette for the antibody light chain [light chain variable region of anti-human PD-1 antibody, and human Ckappa constant region] and was produced by gene-synthesis.

They were each cloned via Hindlll and Nhel digestion into an expression vector under the control of the CMV-promoter followed by Intro nA and terminated by BGH-poly A signal. The vector further contained a bacterial ampicillin resistance gene and an origin of replication from E.coli.

The human PDl-IL-2v fusion protein (SEQ ID NOs 22, 24 and 25) was generated by cotransfection of HEK293F cells (Invitrogen) with the above-described vectors in the ratio of 1:1:1 in shaking flasks. After one week supernatant was harvested and filtrated through sterile filters.

The fusion protein was purified from the supernatant by a combination of Protein A affinity chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. The obtained product was characterized for identity by mass spectrometry and analytical properties such as purity by capillary electrophoresis (CE-SDS), monomer content and stability.

The murine surrogate PDl-IL2v fusion protein (SEQ ID NOs 34-36) was produced analogously.

The surrogate molecule comprises a murine IgGi anti-mouse PD-1 antibody (bearing Fc 5 mutations for removal of effector function and for heterodimerization) and murine interleukin-2 with analogous mutations to the human molecule.

Both fusion proteins could be produced in good yields and are stable.

Example IB. Preparation of PD-Ll-lL2v fusion proteins

The expression cassette for the antibody heavy chain - interleukin-2 (IL-2) fusion protein [heavy chain variable region of anti-human PD-L1 antibody, human IgGi heavy chain (bearing mutations L234A, L235A and P329G (EU numbering) for removal of effector functions, and mutations S354C and T366W (EU numbering) for heterodimerization (“knob”)), (648)3 linker, and human IL-2v (bearing the mutations T3A, F42A, Y45A, L72G and C125A)], the expression cassette for the antibody heavy chain [heavy chain variable region of anti-human PD-L1 antibody, and human IgGi heavy chain (bearing mutations L234A, L235A and P329G (EU numbering) for removal of effector functions, mutations Y349C, T366S, L368A and Y410V (EU numbering) for heterodimerization (“hole”))], and the expression cassette for the antibody light chain [light chain variable region of anti-human PD-L1 antibody, and human Cka_Ppa constant region] were produced by gene-synthesis. The antibody expression was driven by a chimeric MPSV promoter and a synthetic polyA signal sequence was located at the 3’ end of the CDS. In addition each vector contained an EBV OriP sequence.

The molecules were produced by co-transfecting HEK293-EBNA cells growing in suspension with the mammalian expression vectors using polyethylenimine. The cells were transfected with 25 the corresponding expression vectors in a 1:1:2 ratio (“vector heavy chain (VH-CH1-CH2-CH3IL2v)” : “vector heavy chain (VH-CH1-CH2-CH3)” : “vector light chain (VL-CL)”).

For transfection HEK293 EBNA cells are cultivated in suspension in serum free Excell culture medium containing 6mM L-glutamine and 250mg/l G418 culture medium. For the production in 600 ml tubespin flasks (max. working volume 400 mL) 600 million HEK293 EBNA cells were seeded 24 hours before transfection. For transfection, cells were centrifuged for 5 min by 210 x g, and supernatant was replaced by 20 ml pre-wanned CD CHO medium. Expression vectors were mixed in 20 ml CD CHO medium to a final amount of 400 pg DNA. After addition of 1080 pl PEI solution (2.7 pg/ml), the mixture was vortexed for 15 s and subsequently incubated for 10 min at room temperature. Afterwards cells were mixed with the DNA/PEI solution, transferred to a 600 ml tubespin flask and incubated for 3 hours at 37 °C in an incubator with a 5% CO2 atmosphere. After the incubation time 360 ml Excell + 6 mM L-glutamine + 5g/L Pepsoy + l.OmM VPA medium were added and cells were cultivated for 24 hours. One day after transfection 7% Feed 7 was added. After 7 days cultivation, supernatant was collected for 5 purification by centrifugation for 20 - 30 min at 3600 x g (Sigma 8K centrifuge), the solution was sterile filtered (0.22 mm filter) and sodium azide in a final concentration of 0.01% (w/v) was added. The solution was kept at 4°C.

The human PD-Ll-IL2v construct (SEQ ID NOs 37-39) was purified by one affinity step with proteinA (MabSelectSure, GE Healthcare) followed by size exclusion chromatography (HiLoad 10 16/60 Superdex 200, GE Healthcare). For affinity chromatography supernatant was loaded on a

HiTrap ProteinA HP column (CV=5 mL, GE Healthcare) equilibrated with 25 ml 20 mM sodium phosphate, 20 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.5. Unbound protein was removed by washing with at least 10 column volumes 20 mM sodium phosphate, 20 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.5 and target protein was eluted in 6 column volumes 20 mM sodium citrate, 100 mM sodium chloride, 100 15 mM glycine, 0.01% Tween20 pH 3.0. Protein solution was neutralized by adding 1/10 of 0.5M sodium phosphate, pH 8.0. Target protein was concentrated and filtered prior to loading on a HiLoad Superdex 200 column (GE Healthcare) equilibrated with 20 mM histidine, 140 mM sodium chloride, pH 6.0, 0.01% Tween20.

The murine PD-Ll-IL2v construct (SEQ ID NOs 40-42) was likewise purified by one affinity 20 step with proteinA (MabSelectSure, GE Healthcare) followed by size exclusion chromatography (HiLoad 16/60 Superdex 200, GE Healthcare). For affinity chromatography supernatant was mixed 1:1 with 2 M glycine, 0.6 M NaCl pH 8.6 and loaded on a HiTrap ProteinA HP column (CV=5 mL, GE Healthcare) equilibrated with 25 ml 1 M glycine, 0.3 M NaCl pH 8.6. Unbound protein was removed by washing with at least 10 column volumes of 1 M glycine, 0.3 M NaCl 25 pH 8.6 and target protein was eluted in 6 column volume of 1 M glycine, 0.3 M NaCl pH 4.0.

Protein solution was neutralized by adding 1/10 of 0.5 M sodium phosphate, pH 8.0. Target protein was concentrated and filtered prior to loading on a HiLoad Superdex 200 column (GE Healthcare) equilibrated with 20 mM histidine, 140 mM sodium chloride, pH 6.0, 0.01% Tween20.

The final preparation of human PD-Ll-IL2v contained 99% monomer (determined on a TSKgel G3000 SW XL analytical size-exclusion column (Tosoh) in 25 mM K2HPO4, 125 mM NaCl, 200 mM L-arginine monohydrocloride, 0.02 % (w/v) NaNj, pH 6.7 running buffer at 25°C) and had 100% purity (determined by non-reduced SDS capillary electrophoresis on a Caliper LabChip GXII system (Caliper lifescience) used according to the manufacturer’s instruction). The production yield was 23 mg/L. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed a mostly correctly assembled molecule with traces (&lt;5%) of molecules without interleukin-2 (mass spectrometry performed on an Agilent LC-MS system (Agilent Technologies) with a NUCLEOGEL RP10008, 250 mm x 4.6 mm column (MACHEREY-NAGEL GmbH) and an acetonitrile-formic acid 5 gradient).

For the murine surrogate PD-Ll-IL2v, the monomer content was of 96%, the purity 100% and the production yield 3.8 mg/L.

Example IC. Prepartion of murine surrogate CEA-IL2v and murine surrogate FAP-IL2v

A murinized surrogate molecule of the CEA-targeted IL-2 variant immunocytokine CEA-IL2v, termed muCEA-muIL2v (also termed muCEA-IL2v), was generated for use in vivo tumor models in fully immunocompetent mice in order to reduce the formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADA). In addition, a murinized chimeric version of the FAP-targeted IL-2 variant immunocytokine FAP-IL2v, termed muFAP-muIL2v (also termed muFAP-IL2v), respectively, 15 was generated for use in vivo tumor models in fully immunocompetent mice in order to reduce the formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADA). In the murinized surrogate molecules, the Fc domain knob-into-holes mutations were replaced by DDKK mutations on muIgGl and the LALA P329G mutations were replaced by DAPG mutations on muIgGl (as disclosed in PCT application WO 2016/0330350 Al, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety).

For example, muCEA-muIL2v is characterized by the following features. As parental antibody a human-mouse chimeric IgGi antibody is applied with human(ized) variable regions, but murine constant regions. In order to avoid potential immunogenicity the corresponding Black 6 allotype was used (sequence published by Mouse Genomes Project). Binding to muIL2Rawas abolished by three mutations homologous to those identified in human IL-2v and the respective O25 glycosylation site was removed: T23A (Ο-Glyco), F76A, Y79A, L106G. In addition, like in aldesleukin the cysteine residue was mutated to avoid aggregation by a CI60A mutation (numbering based on UniProt ID P04351 including the signal peptide), Although muIgGl already has reduced FcyR binding, binding to murine FcyRs was completely abolished by introduction of the DAPG mutations (D265A, P329G), while muFcRn binding is retained. muIL30 2v was fused via a non-immunogenic (G4S)2-connector only to the C-terminus of one heavy chain of the muIgGl antibody. In order to achieve this, the immunocytokine was engineered using electrostatic steering via DDKK mutations in the Fc domain to allow heterodimerization in the mouse background.

The polypeptide sequences of muCEA-muIL2v are as follows:

Heavy chain with DD mutation and with fused muIL2v (SEQ ID NO:44): QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFTEFGMNWVRQAPGQGLEWMGWINTKTG EATYVEEFKGRVTFTTDTSTSTAYMELRSLRSDDTAVYYCARWDFAYYVEAMDYWGQ GTTVTVSSAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYFPEPVTVTWNSGSLSSGVH

TFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVPSSTWPSQTVTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPCICTV PEVSSVFIFPPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCVWAISKDDPEVQFSWFVDDVEVHTAQTKPREE QINSTFRSVSELPIMHQDWLNGKEFKCRVNSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPK EQMAKDKVSLTCMITNFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYDNTQPIMDTDGSYFVYSDLNVQ KSNWEAGNTFTCSVLHEGLHNHHTEKSLSHSPGGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSAPASSSTSSST

AEAQQQQQQQQQQQQHLEQLLMDLQELLSRMENYRNLKLPRMLTAKFALPKQATELK DLQCLEDELGPLRHVLDGTQSKSFQLEDAENFISNIRVTVVKLKGSDNTFECQFDDESAT VVDFLRRWIAFAQSIISTSPQ

Heavy chain with KK mutation (SEQ ID NO:45):

QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFTEFGMNWVRQAPGQGLEWMGWINTKTG

EATYVEEFKGRVTFTTDTSTSTAYMELRSLRSDDTAVYYCARWDFAYYVEAMDYWGQ GTTVTVSSAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYFPEPVTVTWNSGSLSSGVH TFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVPSSTWPSQTVTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPCICTV PEVSSVFIFPPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCWVAISKDDPEVQFSWFVDDVEVHTAQTKPREE QINSTFRSVSELPIMHQDWLNGKEFKCRVNSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPK

KQMAKDKVSLTCMITNFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYKNTQPIMKTDGSYFVYSKLNV QKSNWEAGNTFTCSVLHEGLHNHHTEKSLSHSPGK

Light chain (SEQ ID NO:46):

DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCKASAAVGTYVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASYRKRGVP SRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCHQYYTYPLFTFGQGTKLEIKRADAAPTVSIFPP

SSEQLTSGGASVVCFLNNFYPKDINVKWKIDGSERQNGVLNSWTDQDSKDSTYSMSSTL TLTKDEYERHNSYTCEATHKTSTSPIVKSFNRNEC

The polypeptide sequences of muFAP-muIL2v are as follows:

Heavy chain with DD mutation and with fused muIL2v (SEQ ID NO:47):

EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSA1IGSGASTY

YADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKGWFGGFNYWGQGTLVTVS SAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYFPEPVTVTWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQ SDLYTLSSSVTVPSSTWPSQTVTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPCICTVPEVSSVFI FPPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCVVVAISKDDPEVQFSWFVDDVEVHTAQTKPREEQINSTFRS

VSELPIMHQDWLNGKEFKCRVNSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPKEQMAKD

KVSLTCMITNFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYDNTQPIMDTDGSYFVYSDLNVQKSNWEA GNTFTCSVLHEGLHNHHTEKSLSHSPGGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSAPASSSTSSSTAEAQQQ QQQQQQQQQHLEQLLMDLQELLSRMENYRNLKLPRMLTAKFALPKQATELKDLQCLE DELGPLRHVLDGTQSKSFQLEDAENFISNIRVTVVKLKGSDNTFECQFDDESATVVDFLR 5 RWIAFAQSIISTSPQ

Heavy chain with KK mutation (SEQ ID NO:48):

EVQLLESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSSYAMSWVRQAPGKGLEWVSAIIGSGASTY YADSVKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKGWFGGFNYWGQGTLVTVS SAKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYFPEPVTVTWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQ

SDLYTLSSSVTVPSSTWPSQTVTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPRDCGCKPCICTVPEVSSVFI FPPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCVVVAISKDDPEVQFSWFVDDVEVHTAQTKPREEQINSTFRS VSELPIMHQDWLNGKEFKCRVNSAAFGAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPKKQMAKD KVSLTCMITNFFPEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYKNTQPIMKTDGSYFVYSKLNVQKSNWEA GNTFTCSVLHEGLHNHHTEKSLSHSPGK

Light chain (SEQ ID NO:49):

EIVLTQSPGTLSLSPGERATLSCRASQSVTSSYLAWYQQKPGQAPRLLINVGSRRATGIPD RFSGSGSGTDFTLTISRLEPEDFAVYYCQQGIMLPPTFGQGTKVEIKRADAAPTVSIFPPSS EQLTSGGASVVCFLNNFYPKDINVKWKIDGSERQNGVLNSWTDQDSKDSTYSMSSTLT LTKDEYERHNSYTCEATHKTSTSPIVKSFNRNEC

The polypeptide sequences of muPDl are as follows:

Heavy chain (SEQ ID NO:50):

EVQLQESGPGLVKPSQSLSLTCSVTGYSITSSYRWNWIRKFPGNRLEWMGYINSAGISNY NPSLKRRISITRDTSKNQFFLQVNSVTTEDAATYYCARSDNMGTTPFTYWGQGTLVTVS SASTTAPSVYPLAPVCGDTTGSSVTLGCLVKGYFPEPVTLTWNSGSLSSGVHTFPAVLQS

DLYTLSSSVTVTSSTWPSQSITCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIEPRGPTIKPCPPCKCPAPNAAGG PSVFIFPPKIKDVLMISLSPIVTCVVVDVSEDDPDVQISWFVNNVEVHTAQTQTHREDYN STLRVVSALPIQHQDWMSGKEFKCKVNNKDLGAPIERTISKPKGSVRAPQVYVLPPPEEE MTKKQVTLTCMVTDFMPEDIYVEWTNNGKTELNYKNTEPVLDSDGSYFMYSKLRVEK KNW VERNSYSCSVVHEGLHNHHT TKSFSRTPGK

Light chain (SEQ ID NO:51):

DIVMTQGTLPNPVPSGESVSITCRSSKSLLYSDGKTYLNWYLQRPGQSPQLLIYWMSTRA SGVSDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKISGVEAEDVGIYYCQQGLEFPTFGGGTKLELKRTDAAPTVS IFPPSSEQLTSGGASVVCFLNNFYPKDINVKWKIDGSERQNGVLNSWTDQDSKDSTYSM SSTLTLTKDEYERHNSYTCEATHKTSTSPIVKSFNRNEC

The immunoconjugates prepared in this Example were further used in the following Examples.

Example 2

Example 2A, Binding of PDl-IL2v to activated CD8 and CD4 T cells

Freshly isolated PBMCs from healthy human donors were stimulated overnight with CD3 and CD28 to induce upregulation of PD1 on T cells. PBMCs were seeded in medium (RPMI1640, 10% FCS, 2 mM Glutamine) into cell culture flasks that were coated for I h at 37°C with 1 pg/ml CD3 (clone OK.T3, #317304, BioLegend). CD28 was added in solution to the PBMCs at a 10 concentration of 2 pg/ml (clone CD28.2, #302914, BioLegend). On the next day PBMCs were harvested and transferred into a 96 well round bottom plate (200’000 cells per well). The cells were washed with FACS buffer (PBS, 2% FBS, 5 mM EDTA, 0.025% NaNs) and stained with 40 μ] of the indicated molecules (PD1 IgG, PDl-IL2v and CEA-IL2v) in FACS buffer for 30 min at 4°C. The cells were washed twice with FACS buffer to remove unbound molecules. Then 15 40 μΐ of the diluted PE anti-human Fc specific secondary antibody (#109-116-170, Jackson

ImmunoResearch) was added to the cells. After 30 min incubation at 4°C the cells were washed twice with FACS buffer. To detect T cells, PBMCs were stained with 40 μΐ of a mixture of CD3 FITC (clone UCHT1, #300406, BioLegend), CD4 APC (clone RPA-T4, 300514, BioLegend) and CD8 BV421 (clone RPA-T8, #301036, BioLegend) for 30 min at 4°C. The unbound 20 antibodies were removed by washing twice with FACS buffer. Finally the cells were fixed with 1% PFA in FACS buffer and measured using a BD Fortessa gating on CD3+CD4+ cells (CD4 T cells) and CD3+CD8+ cells (CD8 T cells).

As shown in Figure 2, PDl-IL2v and the corresponding PD1 IgG bind similarly to CD4 and CD8 T cells. An analogous immunocytokine: CEA-IL2v, targeted to CEA on tumor cells instead 25 of PD1 served as an untargeted control to compare to the effect of IL2v based immunocytokine alone that are not targeted to PD1.

Example 2B. Activation and proliferation of T cells and NK cells with PDl-IL2v

Freshly isolated PBMCs from healthy human donors were incubated overnight and then labeled 30 with CFSE (5(6)-Carboxyfluorescein diacetate N-succinimidyl ester, #21888, Sigma-Aldrich).

Briefly 30 million PBMCs were washed once with PBS. In parallel the CSFE stock solution (2 mM in DMSO) was diluted 1:20 in PBS. PBMCs were resuspended in 30 ml prewarmed PBS, 30 μΐ of the CFSE solution was added and the cells were mixed immediately. For an optimal labeling the cells were incubated for 15 min at 37°C. Then 10 ml prewarmed medium (RPMI1640, 10% FCS, 1 % Glutamine) were added to stop the labeling reaction. The cells were spun down for 10 min at 400 x g and resuspended in 20 ml fresh medium and incubated for additional 30 min at 37°C. Finally the cells were washed once with medium and resuspended in 5 fresh medium at I million cells per ml. The labeled PBMCs were seeded in a 96 well round bottom plate (200’000 cells per well) and treated for 5 days with the indicated molecules (PD1IL2v, CEA-IL2v, PD1 IgG, and the combination of PD1 IgG plus CEA-IL2v). After the incubation the cells were washed once with FACS buffer and stained with 20 μΐ of a mixture of CD3 APC/Cy7 (clone UCHT1, #300426, BioLegend), CD56 APC (clone HCH56, 3#18310, 10 BioLegend), CD4 PE (clone RPA-T4, #300508, BioLegend) and CD25 BV421 (clone M-A251.

BioLegend) in FACS buffer for 30 min at 4°C. Afterwards PBMCs were washed twice with FACS buffer before fixing them with 1% PFA in FACS buffer and measuring the fluorescence with a BD Fortessa. Proliferation was determined by measuring CFSE dilution of CD8 T cells (CD3+CD4-), CD4 T cells (CD3+CD4+) and NK cells (CD3-CD56+).

As shown in Figure 3, the activity of PDl-IL2v is comparable to the activity of CEA-IL2v, and CEA-IL2v in combination with PD1 IgG. PD1 IgG alone has no activity in this setting.

Figure 4 shows that PD1 -IL2v induces activation (as measured by upregulation of CD25) of NK cells, CD8 T cells and CD4 T cells. The activation induced by CEA-IL2v and the combination of CEA-IL2v with PD1 IgG is similar. PD1 IgG alone does not induce activation in this setting.

Example 2C. Activation and proliferation of pre-activated CD8 and CD4 T cells with PD1IL2v

Freshly isolated PBMCs from healthy human donors were labeled with CFSE (5(6)Carboxyfluorescein diacetate N-succinimidyl ester, #21888, Sigma-Aldrich). Briefly 30 million 25 PBMCs were washed once with PBS. In parallel the CSFE stock solution (2 mM in DMSO) was diluted 1:20 in PBS. PBMCs were resuspended in 30 ml prewarmed PBS, 30 μΐ of the CFSE solution was added and the cells were mixed immediately. For an optimal labeling the cells were incubated for 15 min at 37°C. Then 10 ml prewarmed medium (RPMI1640, 10% FCS, 1 % Glutamine) were added to stop the labeling reaction. The cells were spun down for 10 min at 400 30 x g and resuspended in 20 ml fresh medium and incubated for additional 30 min at 37°C. Finally the cells were washed once with medium and resuspended in fresh medium at 1 million cells per ml. The CFSE labeled PBMCs were pre-activated overnight with 1 pg/ml PHA (#L8902, SigmaAldrich) to induce upregulation of PD-1 on T cells. On the next day the pre-activated PBMCs were collected and counted. The PBMCs were then seeded in a 96 well round bottom plate (200’000 cells per well) and treated for 4 days with the indicated molecules (PDl-IL2v, CEAIL2v, PD1 IgG, and the combination of PD1 IgG plus CEA-IL2v). After the incubation the cells were washed once with FACS buffer and stained with 20 μΐ of a mixture of CD3 APC/Cy7 (clone UCHT1, #300426, BioLegend), CD8 APC (clone SKI, BioLegend) and CD25 BV421 5 (clone M-A251, BioLegend) in FACS buffer for 30 min at 4°C. Afterwards PBMCs were washed twice with FACS buffer before fixing them with 1% PFA in FACS buffer and measuring the fluorescence with a BD Fortessa. Proliferation was determined by measuring CFSE dilution of CD8 T cells (CD3+CD8+) and CD4 T cells (CD3+CD8-).

Figure 5 shows that PDl-IL2v induces proliferation of PHA activated CD8 and CD4 T cells 10 which express PD-1. The activity is comparable to CEA-lL2v and the combination of CEA-IL2v with PD1 IgG. PD1 IgG alone has no activity in this setting. No additional effect of PD-1 blocking can be observed in this setting probably due to the absence of PD-L1 positive tumor cells.

As shown in Figure 6, PDl-IL2v induces activation of PHA activated CD8 and CD4 T cells 15 which express PD-1 (using CD25 expression as a marker of activation). CEA-IL2v and the combination of CEA-IL2v with PDI IgG induce a comparable activation of T cells. PD1 IgG alone has no activity in this setting. No additional effect of PD-1 blocking can be observed in this setting probably due to the absence of PD-L1 positive tumor cells.

Example 2D. Proliferation of NK92 with PDl-IL2v and PD-Ll-IL2v

NK92 cells were harvested, counted and assessed for viability. Cells were washed three times with PBS to remove residual IL-2 and were re-suspended in medium (RPMI1640, 10% FCS, 1% Glutamine) without IL-2. The washed NK92 cells were incubated for two hours in cell incubator (IL-2 starvation). After starvation, cells were re-suspended in fresh medium without IL2- to 25 200’000 cells per ml and 50 μΐ of the cell suspension was transferred in a 96-well cell culture treated flat bottom plate and supplemented with 50 μΐ of the diluted antibodies (in medium without IL-2), Proleukin (1.5 pg/ml final concentration) or medium (control wells) to reach a final volume of 100 μΐ per well. The plate was incubated for 2 days in the incubator. After 2 days the CellTiter-Glo (Promega) reagents and the cell culture plate were equilibrated to room 30 temperature. The CellTiter-Glo solution was prepared as described in the manufacturer’s instructions and 100 μΐ of the solution was added to each well. After 10 min of incubation remaining aggregates were re-suspended by pipetting and 150 μΐ of the mixture was transferred to a white flat bottom plate. The luminescence was measured with Tecan Spark 10M multimode reader.

Figure 7A shows that PD-Ll-IL2v induces proliferation of NK.92 cells as efficiently as CEAIL2v. Figure 7B shows that PD-Ll-IL2v and PDl-IL2v have the same activity in inducing proliferation of NK92 cells. NK92 cells are PD1 negative.

Example 2E. Binding of PD-Ll-IL2v to CTLL2 cells

The murine T cell line CTLL2 expresses PD-L1. These cells were used to test binding of PD-L1IL2v (murine surrogate) to PD-L1. The cells were harvested, viability was checked and they were transferred into a 96 well round bottom plate (200’000 cells per well). The cells were washed with FACS buffer (PBS, 2% FBS, 5 mM EDTA, 0.025% NaNs) and stained with 40 μΐ of the indicated molecules in FACS buffer for 30 min at 4°C. The cells were washed twice with FACS buffer to remove unbound molecules. Then 40 μΐ of the diluted APC anti-mouse Fc specific secondary antibody (#115-136-071, Jackson ImmunoResearch) was added to the cells. After 30 min incubation at 4 °C the cells were washed twice with FACS buffer. The cells were analyzed with a BD LSR Fortessa.

Figure 8 shows that PD-Ll-IL2v binds as good as the corresponding PD-L1 mulgd to CTLL2 cells. These cells are PD1 negative.

Example 2F. Proliferation of CTLL2 cells with PDl-IL2v and PD-Ll-IL2v

CTLL2 cells were harvested, counted and assessed for viability. The cells were washed three times with PBS (to remove residual IL-2), re-suspended in medium (RPMI1640, 10% FCS, 1% Glutamine) without IL-2 and incubated for two hours in cell incubator (IL-2 starvation). After starvation, 200’000 CTLL2 cells per ml were re-suspended in fresh medium without IL2 and 50 μΐ of cell suspension transferred in a 96-well cell culture treated flat bottom plate. 50 μΐ of diluted murine surrogate PDl-IL2v, murine surrogate PD-Ll-IL2v, murine surrogate CEA-IL2v, diluted Proleukin (1.5 gg/ml final concentration) or medium alone (all using IL-2-free medium) were added to wells to a final volume of 100 μΐ/well. Samples were incubated for 3 days in cells incubator and proliferation was assessed using CellTiter-Glo according to manufacturer’s instructions. Briefly, 100 μΐ reagents were added to each well and incubated for 10 min. Remaining aggregates were re-suspended by pipetting and 150 μΐ of mixture were transferred to a white flat bottom plate. The luminescence was measured with Tecan Spark 10M multimode reader.

Figure 9A shows that PD-Ll-IL2v induces proliferation of CTLL2 cells. The activity seems to be higher compared to CEA-IL2v probably due to the expression of PD-L1 on CTLL2 cells. Figure 9B again shows that PDl-lL2v induces proliferation of CTLL2 cells. The activity seems to be lower compared to PD-Ll-IL2v probably because these cells express only PD-L1 but not PD1,

Example 3

In vivo efficacy of PDl-IL2v and PD-Ll-IL2v in a syngeneic mouse tumor model

The PDl-IL2v and PD-Ll-IL2v immunoconjugates (murine surrogates) were tested alone and in comparison to corresponding PD1 and PD-L1 antibodies for their anti-tumoral efficacy in the Panc02-Fluc syngeneic model,

Panc02-H7 cells (mouse pancreatic carcinoma) were originally obtained from the MD Anderson 10 cancer center (Texas, USA) and after expansion deposited in the Roche-Glycart internal cell bank. PancO2-H7-Fluc cell line was produced in house by calcium transfection and sub-cloning techniques. Panc02-H7-Fluc was cultured in RPMI medium containing 10% FCS (Sigma), 500 gg/ml hygromicin and 1% of Glutamax. The cells were cultured at 37°C in a water-saturated atmosphere at 5% CO?. Passage 23 was used for transplantation. Cell viability was 90.4%. IxlO⁵15 cells per animal were injected into the pancreas of Black 6 mice using a 0.3 ml tuberculin syringe (BD Biosciences, Germany). For this a small incision was made at the left abdominal site of anesthetized mice. The peritoneal wall was opened and the pancreas carefully isolated with forceps. Ten microliters (lx 10⁵ Panc02-H7-Fluc cells in RPMI medium) cell suspension was injected in the tail of the pancreas. Peritoneal wall and skin wounds were closed using 5/0 20 resolvable sutures.

Female Black 6 mice aged 10-12 weeks at the start of the experiment (Charles Rivers, Lyon, France) were maintained under specific-pathogen-free condition with daily cycles of 12 h light / 12 h darkness according to committed guidelines (GV-Solas; Felasa; TierschG). The experimental study protocol was reviewed and approved by local government (ZHI93/2014).

After arrival, animals were maintained for one week to get accustomed to the new environment and for observation. Continuous health monitoring was carried out on a regular basis.

Mice were injected intra-pancreatically on study day 0 with IxlO⁵ Panc02-Fluc cells, randomized and weighed. One week after the tumor cell injection mice were injected i.v. with PDl-IL2v, PD-Ll-IL2v or PD1 and PD-L1 antibodies, once weekly for four weeks.

All mice were injected i.v. with 200 μΐ of the appropriate solution. The mice in the vehicle group were injected with histidine buffer and the treatment groups with the murine surrogate PDl-IL2v and PD-Ll-IL2v conjugates or the corresponding PD1 and PD-L1 antibodies, diluted with histidine buffer as appropriate. The amount of antibodies injected per mouse in mg/kg was the following: 1.5 mg/kg PDl-IL2v and PD-Ll-IL2v, 10 mg/kg PD1 and PD-L1 antibodies.

Figure 10 and Table 1 show that PDl-IL2v mediated significantly superior efficacy in terms of enhanced median and overall survival compared to all other single agents tested, notably including PD-L1 -IL2v.

Table 1. Median and overall survival of Black 6 mice treated with PDl-IL2v, PD-Ll-IL2v, PD1 or PD-L1 antibody, in the Panc02-Fluc syngeneic tumor model.

<td> Groups</td><td> Median Survival in days</td><td> ρ-value vs control</td><td> Overals survival</td>

<td> muPDl-IL2v</td><td> Not reached</td><td> &lt;0.0001***</td><td> 7/8</td>

<td> muPD-Ll-IL2v</td><td> 43</td><td> 0.0045*</td><td> 0/8</td>

<td> muPDl</td><td> 58</td><td> 0.0002**</td><td> 0/8</td>

<td> muPD-Ll</td><td> 28</td><td> 0.0985</td><td> 0/8</td>

<td> Vehicle</td><td> 24</td><td> 1</td><td> 0/8</td>

For Bioluminescence imaging by 1VIS® SPECTRUM, the mice were injected intra-peritoneally with 150 mg/kg of D-Luciferin 10 minutes before bioluminescence imaging acquisition (BLI) and later anesthetized with 4% isoflurane. Subsequently the mice were transferred into an isolation chamber, which is positioned into the IVIS® spectrum. In vivo BLI acquisitions were performed by acquiring the luminescence signal for 10-50 seconds. Data was stored as Radiance (photons)/sec/cm2/sr. In vivo BLI data analysis was performed with the Living Image® 4.4 software and represented by a tumor inhibition curve.

Figure 11 shows PDl-IL2v superior efficacy in terms of decreasing the bioluminescence signal (photons/second) compared to all other groups, notably including PD-Ll-IL2v. As early as after the first therapy administration at day 7 a reduction in the Panc02-Fluc bioluminescence signal was detected by IVIS® Spectrum in several treated groups, but only PDl-IL2v show a complete disappearance of the BLI signal in most mice that lasted the entire duration of the experiment, indicative of a complete response in 7 out of 8 mice.

Example 4

Effect of IL-2v delivery to exhausted virus-specific T cells through either PD-1 or PD-L1 blockade

PD-1 expression has been described for the first time on exhausted virus-specific T cells as a consequence of chronic-exposure to viral antigens and it has been associated with T-cell inability to mount an effective anti-viral response. Virus-specific CD4 T cells able to simultaneously secrete IL-2 and IFN-γ confer protection from viral re-activation in chronic infections. Indeed, the polyfunctional signature of CD4 T cells has been associated with viral-control in healthy individuals infected by Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) as well as in those individuals infected with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who remain symptoms-ffee for several years.

In the context of chronic viral infections, we therefore developed an in-vitro assay to evaluate the effect of PD-1 and PD-L1 targeting to deliver a mutated version of IL-2 (IL-2v) to dysfunctional antigen-specific T cells. To avoid restrictions on the amount of suitable donors for our assay, we opted for a CMV immunogenic viral-protein (pp65) as re-call antigen for T cells given that roughly 80% of the population is CMV-seropositive. Hence, we stimulated healthy human donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with CMV-pp65 for a couple of hours before adding our constructs at the concentration of 10 pg/ml. 43 hours later we blocked the protein transport from the Golgi by adding Golgi Plug (Brefeldin A) and Golgi Stop (Monensin) and incubated the cells at 37°C for additional 5 hours. The cells were then washed, stained on the surface with anti-human CD3, CD4, CD8, CD62L and CD45RO antibodies before being fixed/permeabilized with Fix/Perm Buffer (BD Bioscience). At last we performed intracellular staining for IL-2, IFN-γ and Ki67 (both from eBioscience).

We observed that both PDl-IL2v and PD-Ll-IL2v, as well as the combination of the corresponding IgG antibodies with IL-2v, increased, at comparable levels, the frequencies of polyfunctional (Figure 12B) and IL-2 and IFN-γ mo no functional (Figure 12A and 12C, respectively) CD4 T cells, providing an enhanced effect as compared to anti-PD-1 and anti-PDL1 blockade, respectively. The expanded populations in the polyfunctional (Figure 13B) and IFN-γ mono functional CD4 T cells (Figure 13C and 13D) show an effector-memory (CD45RO⁺CD62L) and terminally differentiated effector profile (CD45RO‘ CD62L). Conversely, the IL2-monofunctional CD4 T cells induced by PD-L1 antagonism, and further expanded by the codelivery of IL-2v, display a naive signature (CD62L⁺ CD45RO) (Figure 13A).

We can conclude that delivering IL-2v to the exhausted CMV-specific CD4 T cells through the PDl-IL-2v fusion protein resulted in the expansion of a long-lived protective virus-specific population characterized by the ability to co-secrete IL-2 and IFN-γ.

Example 5

Example 5A. Preferential binding of PDl-IL2v to activated conventional T cells over activated regulatory T cells

The binding properties of PDl-IL2v to activated conventional and regulatory T cells were assessed in a competitive binding assay. CI)4 CD25⁺ CD127^dim Regulatory T cells (Treg) were isolated with the two-step Regulatory T cell Isolation Kit (Miltenyi, #130-094-775). In parallel the CD4⁺ CD25 conventional T cells (TCOnv) were isolated by collecting the negative fraction of a CD25 positive selection (Miltenyi, #130-092-983) followed by a CD4⁺ enrichment (Miltenyi, #130-045-101). The Tconv were labelled with CFSE (eBioscience, #65-0850-84) and the Treg were labelled with Cell Trace Violet (ThermoFisher scientific, C34557) to track the proliferation of both populations. Tconv and T_reg were together seeded into a culture plate that were coated overnight at 4°C with 1 /zg/ml CD3 (clone OKT3, #317315, BioLegend). CD28 was added in solution at a concentration of 1 pg/ml CD28 (clone CD28.2, #302923, BioLegend). After 5 days of stimulation a binding assay was conducted with PDl (0376) and PDl-IL2v (0590), which were both labelled in-house with AF647.

The PDl-IL2v bispecific antibody shows a comparable binding profile as PDl (Figure 14A and 14B). Figure 14A shows the Delta of the frequency of a given antibody bound on Tconv versus Treg within the same sample. Each symbol represents a separate donor, horizontal lines indicate medians with N=4. Both molecules show higher binding capacity to T_COnv over T_reg due to higher expression levels of PD-1 on Tconv than on Treg (Figure 14B; data from one representative donor showing the binding to T_conv (black line) and T_reg (grey)). Hence the PDl-IL2v bispecific antibody maintains the binding properties of PDl despite the IL2v being coupled to the antibody.

Example 5B. Rescue of Tconv effector function upon PDl-IL2v treatment in Treg suppression assay

In a next step it was tested, if the PDl-IL2v can reverse the T_reg suppression of Tconv. Therefore a suppressive-function assay was established, where T_COn_V and T_reg are cultured together for 5 days, with or without blocking antibodies, in presence of CD4' CD25 from an unrelated donor for allospecific stimulation. For this purpose T_COnv and T_reg were isolated and labelled as described above. The accumulation of cytokines in the Golgi complex was enhanced by applying Protein Transport Inhibitors (GolgiPlug #555029, BD and GolgiStop #554724, BD) for 5 hours prior to the FACS staining.

The ability of the proliferated T_conv to secrete granzyme B (GrzB; Figure 15A) and interferon gamma (IFNy; Figure 15B) in presence and absence of T_reg was measured. The T_reg suppression was calculated with the following formula:

zo cytokine suppression 100-(2 ^ cytokineTconv+Treg±t&gt;iocking annt&gt;odv)/(%&gt; cytokine Team· unireated) *100)

PI 2 0 1 9 0 0 5 7 9 6 ° ⁷ °CT 20_1s , where % cytokinerconv+Treg±bhckmg antibody is the level of cytokine secreted by Tconv in the presence of Treg± blocking antibody, % cytokinerconv untreated is the level of cytokine secreted by T_COnv in the absence of Treg. In Figure 15 A and 15B, each symbol represents a separate donor, horizontal 5 lines indicate medians with N=5, dotted lines at 0% represents no suppression by T_reg. P was calculated using one-way ANOVA (*p&lt;0.05, **p&lt;0.01, ***p&lt;0.001, ****p&lt;0.0001).

Figure 15A shows that the treatment with the PD1 antibody (0376) results in a median of 47.7% of Tconv function suppression, compared to a median of 68.6 % suppression in the untreated group (no statistical significance). Likewise the blocking of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction with 10 Atezolizumab, Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab showed the same tendency as for the PDI antibody. Interestingly DP47-IL2v (median = -11.3%, p = 0.0011) and PDl-IL2v (median = 43.6%, p &lt; 0.0001) rescued T_conv GrzB effector function from T_reg suppression. Furthermore PDl-IL2v was even significantly (ρ=Ό.0026) more potent than PDI antibody alone.

In parallel the same analysis were performed for INFy suppression of T_conv by T_rCg (Figure 15B).

DP47-IL2v (median^ 51.77%, p= 0.0251) and PDML2v (median= 31.23%, p= &lt;0.0001) rescued Tconv IFNy effector function from Treg suppression.

Example 6

In vivo efficacy of PDl-IL2v immuno-conjugates in a syngeneic model of mouse tumor cell 20 lines compared to PDI and FAP-IL2v antibodies as single agents and in combination

The murine surrogate PDl-IL2v immuno-conjugate (muPDl-IL2v) was tested in comparison to a combination of murine surrogate PDI and murine surrogate FAP-IL2v (muFAP-IL2v) for its anti-tumoral efficacy in a syngeneic model. The syngeneic model used was the Panc02-Fluc pancreatic Syngeneic Model.

The murine surrogate PDl-IL2v immuno-conjugate was tested in the mouse pancreatic Panc02Fluc transfectant cell line intra-pancreatically injected into Black 6 mice. Panc02-H7 cells (mouse pancreatic carcinoma) were originally obtained from the MD Anderson cancer center (Texas, USA) and after expansion deposited in the Roche-Glycart internal cell bank. Panc02-H7Fluc cell line was produced in house by calcium transfection and sub-cloning techniques.

Panc02-H7-Fluc was cultured in RPMI medium containing 10% FCS (Sigma), 500 pg/ml hygromicin and 1% of Glutamax. The cells were cultured at 37°C in a water-saturated atmosphere at 5% CO?. Passage 23 was used for transplantation. Cell viability was 87.5 %. IxlO⁵ cells per animal were injected into the pancreas of the mice using a 0.3 ml tuberculin syringe (BD Biosciences, Germany). For this a small incision was made at the left abdominal site of anesthetized Black 6 mouse. The peritoneal wall was opened and the pancreas carefully isolated with forceps. Ten microliters (IxlO⁵ Panc02-H7-Fluc cells in RPMI medium) cell suspension was injected in the tail of the pancreas. Peritoneal wall and skin wounds were closed using 5/0 resolvable sutures.

Female Black 6 mice aged 10-12 weeks at the start of the experiment (Charles Rivers, Lyon, France) were maintained under specific-pathogen-free condition with daily cycles of 12 h light / 12 h darkness according to committed guidelines (GV-Solas; Felasa; TierschG). The experimental study protocol was reviewed and approved by local government (ZH193/2014). After arrival, animals were maintained for one week to accustomize to the new environment and for observation. Health monitoring was carried out on a regular basis.

Mice were injected intra-pancreatically on study day 0 with IxlO⁵ Panc02-Fluc cells, randomized and weighed. One week after the tumor cell injection mice were injected intravenously with two different doses of PDI-IL2v and compared to the combination of PD1 and FAP-IL2v antibodies, once per week for four weeks.

All mice were injected intravenously with 200 μΐ of the appropriate solution. The mice in the vehicle group were injected with Histidine Buffer and the treatment groups with the PDl-IL2v (0.5 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg), PD1 (10 mg/kg) and FAP-IL2v (2.5 mg/kg) antibodies or the combination of PD1 and FAP-IL2v (lOmg/kg PD1 and 2.5 mg/kg FAP-IL2v) antibodies. To obtain the appropriate amount of immuno-conjugates per 200 μΐ, the stock solutions were diluted with Histidine Buffer when necessary according to Table 2.

Table 2. Compounds, doses, formulation buffers and stock solution concentration.

<td> Compound</td><td> Dose</td><td> Formulation buffer</td><td> Concentration of stock solution (mg/mL)</td>

<td> muPDl-IL2v</td><td> 10 μ% and 30 μg</td><td> 20 mM Histidine, 140 mM NaCl, 0.01% Tween20; pH6.0</td><td> 3.63</td>

<td> muFAP -IL2v</td><td> 50/tg</td><td> 20 mM Histidine, 140 mM NaCl, 0.01% Tween20; pH6.0</td><td> 4.91</td>

<td> muPDl</td><td> 200 fig</td><td> 20 mM Histidine, 140 mM NaCl, 0.01% Tween20; pH6.0</td><td> 5.84</td>

For Bioluminescence imaging by I VIS® SPECTRUM, the mice are injected intra-peritoneal 25 with 150 mg/kg of D-Luciferin 10 minutes before bioluminescence imaging acquisition (BLI) and later anesthetized with 4% isoflurane. Subsequently the mice are transferred into an isolation chamber, which is positioned into the IVIS® spectrum. In vivo BLI acquisitions are performed by acquiring the luminescence signal for 10-50 seconds. Data is stored as Radiance (photons)/sec/cm²/sr. In vivo BLI data’s analysis is performed with the Living Image® 4.4 software and represented by a tumor inhibition curve.

To evaluate the immune-pharmacodynamic by histology, 3 mice per group were sacrificed 4 5 days after the first therapy by neck dislocation. The pancreas tumors were harvested and fix immediately in formalin 10%. The tissue was left in formalin solution overnight and later processed for FFPET (Leica 1020, Germany). 4 pm paraffin sections were subsequently cut in a microtome (Leica RM2235, Germany). Mouse CD3, PD1 and ICOS immunohistochemistry was performed in the Leica autostainer (Leica ST5010, Germany) following the manufacture’s 10 protocols. Images were scanned with Olympus scanner.

Figure 16 shows the results of an efficacy experiment comparing murine surrogate PDl-IL2v to murine surrogate FAP-IL2v and murine surrogate PD-1 antibodies as single agents and in combination. The Panc02-H7-Fluc transfectant pancreatic carcinoma cell line was injected into the pancreas in Black 6 mice to study survival in a pancreatic orthotopic syngeneic model. The 15 amount of antibodies injected per mouse in mg/kg is the following: 0.5 and 1 mg/kg murine surrogate PDl-IL2v, 10 mg/kg murine surrogate PDI and 2.5 mg/kg murine surrogate FAP-IL2v antibodies. The antibodies were injected intravenously once per week for 4 weeks. Significant superior median and overall survival was observed in the 0.5 and 1 mg/kg murine surrogate PD1IL2v compared to all other single agents and the combination of murine surrogate PD-1 and 20 murine surrogate FAP-IL2v. Figure 16 and Table 3 show that both doses of PDl-IL2v mediated superior efficacy in terms of enhanced median and overall survival compared to all other single agents, as well as the combination of PDI and FAP-IL2v.

Table 3: Median and overall survival of Black 6 mice treated with PDl-IL2v, PDI, FAP-IL2v 25 and a combination of PD-1 and FAP-IL2v antibody, in the Panc02-Fluc syngeneic tumor model.

<td> Groups</td><td> Median Survival in days</td><td> p-value vs control</td><td> Overall survival</td>

<td> muPDl-IL2v (0.5 mg/kg)</td><td> Not reached</td><td> &lt;0.0001***</td><td> 4/7</td>

<td> muPDl-IL2v(l mg/kg)</td><td> Not reached</td><td> &lt;0.0001***</td><td> 7/7</td>

<td> muPDl (10 mg/kg)</td><td> 63</td><td> 0.0014*</td><td> 0/7</td>

<td> muFAP-IL2v</td><td> 45</td><td> 0.0941</td><td> 0/6</td>

<td> muPD-1 and muFAP-IL2v</td><td> 75</td><td> 0.0002***</td><td> 1/7</td>

<td> Vehicle</td><td> 37</td><td> 1</td><td> 0/6</td>

Figure 17 shows the results of an efficacy experiment comparing murine surrogate PDl-IL2v to FAP-IL2v, murine surrogate PD1 and their combination. The Panc02-H7-Fluc transfectant pancreatic carcinoma cell line was injected into the pancreas in Black 6 mice to study survival in a pancreatic orthotopic syngeneic model by means of bioluminescence. As early as after the first 5 therapy administration at day 7 a reduction in the Panc02-Fluc bioluminescence signal was detected by IVIS® Spectrum in several treated groups, but only PDl-IL2v show a complete disappearance of the BLI signal in most mice that lasted the whole duration of the experiment, indicative of a complete response in 4 out of 7 mice for the 0.5 mg/kg dose and 7 out of 7 mice for the 1 mg/kg dose. Figure 17 shows that both doses of PDl-IL2v mediated superior efficacy in 10 terms of decreasing the bioluminescence signal (photons/second) compared to all other single agent and the combination group.

Figures 18A and 18B show the results of immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for anti-mouse CD3 (Figure 18A) and the T cell quantification analysis (Figure 18B). Immunohistochemistry staining of CD3 T cells was performed on Black 6 mouse pancreas 15 tumors derived from the indicated treatment groups. Tissue samples were prepared for immunohistochemical staining: tumors were harvested from animals after treatment administration, fix in formalin 10% (Sigma, Germany) and later processed for FFPET (Leica 1020, Germany). 4 μιη paraffin sections were subsequently cut in a microtome (Leica RM2235, Germany). Mouse CD3 immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-mouse CD3 (Diagnostic 20 Biosystem, Germany) in the Leica autostainer (Leica ST5010, Germany) following the manufacture’s protocols. Images were scanned with Olympus scanner. Quantification of muCD3 positive T cells was performed with Definiens software (Definiens, Germany). Statistics were analyzed by one way ANOVA with multiple comparison tests. As early as after the first therapy administration, at day 4, a significant increase in the number of CD3 positive T cells was 25 detected in the PDl-IL2v treated groups compared to vehicle group. A tendency to increase in

CD3 positive cells was also seen in the combination of murine surrogate PD1 and murine surrogate FAP-IL2v with respect to vehicle, but was not significant. Figure 18A and 18B show that PDl-IL2v elicited an increase in CD3 infiltration in the pancreatic tumor 4 days after the first therapy compared to all groups.

Figure 19 shows the results of immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for antimouse PDI. Immunohistochemistry staining of PD1 positive T cells was performed on Black 6 mouse pancreas tumors derived from the indicated treatment groups. Tissue samples were prepared for immunohistochemical staining: tumors were harvested from animals after treatment administration, fix in formalin 10% (Sigma, Germany) and later processed for FFPET (Leica

1020, Germany). 4 μιη paraffin sections were subsequently cut in a microtome (Leica RM2235, Germany). Mouse PD1 immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-mouse PDI (R&amp;D System, Germany) in the Leica autostainer (Leica ST5010, Germany) following the manufacture’s protocols. Images were scanned with Olympus scanner. As early as after the first 5 therapy administration, at day 4, a very high increase in the number of PDI positive T cells was detected in the PDl-IL2v treated groups compared to vehicle group. Also a moderate increase in PDI positive cells was seen in the combination of murine surrogate PDI and murine surrogate FAP-IL2v when compared to vehicle. Figure 19 shows that PDl-IL2v elicited an increase in PDI positive T cell infiltration in the pancreatic tumor 4 days after the first therapy compared to 10 all groups.

Figure 20 shows the results of immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for antimouse ICOS. Immunohistochemistry staining of ICOS positive T cells was performed on Black 6 mouse pancreas tumors derived from the indicated treatment groups. Tissue samples were prepared for immunohistochemical staining; tumors were harvested from animals after treatment 15 administration, fix in formalin 10% (Sigma, Germany) and later processed for FFPET (Leica 1020, Germany). 4 pm paraffin sections were subsequently cut in a microtome (Leica RM2235, Germany). Mouse ICOS immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-mouse ICOS (My Biosource, Germany) in the Leica autostainer (Leica ST5010, Germany) following the manufacture’s protocols. Images were scanned with Olympus scanner. As early as after the first 20 therapy administration, at day 4, a decrease in the number of ICOS positive T cells was detected in the PDl-IL2v treated groups compared to vehicle group. Figure 20 shows PDl-IL2v elicited a decreased in ICOS positive T cell infiltration in the pancreatic tumor 4 days after the first therapy compared to all groups.

Example 7

In vivo Efficacy of PDl-IL2v Im mu no-conjugates in a syngeneic model of Mouse Tumor Cell Lines compared to PDI and FAP-IL2v antibodies (two different doses) as single agents and in combination.

PDl-IL2v immune-conjugate was tested in comparison to murine surrogate PDI plus murine 30 surrogate FAP-IL2v combination with two different doses for its anti-tumoral efficacy in one syngeneic model. The syngeneic model used was the Panc02-Fluc pancreatic Syngeneic Model. The murine surrogate PDl-IL2v immune-conjugate was tested in the mouse pancreatic Panc02Fluc transfectant cell line intra-pancreatically injected into Black 6 mice. Panc02-H7 cells (mouse pancreatic carcinoma) were originally obtained from the MD Anderson cancer center (Texas, USA) and after expansion deposited in the Roche-Glycart internal cell bank. Panc02-H7Flue cell line was produced in house by calcium transfection and sub-cloning techniques. Panc02-H7-Fluc was cultured in RPMI medium containing 10% FCS (Sigma), 500 pg/ml hygromicin and 1% of Glutamax. The cells were cultured at 37°C in a water-saturated atmosphere at 5 % CO?. Passage 16 was used for transplantation. Cell viability was 83.3 %. IxlO⁵ cells per animal were injected into the pancreas of the mice using a 0.3 ml tuberculin syringe (BD Biosciences, Germany). For this a small incision was made at the left abdominal site of anesthetized Black 6 mouse. The peritoneal wall was opened and the pancreas carefully isolated with forceps. Ten microliters (IxlO⁵ Panc02-H7-Fluc cells in RPMI medium) cell suspension was injected in the tail of the pancreas. Peritoneal wall and skin wounds were closed using 5/0 resolvable sutures.

Female Black 6 mice aged 10-12 weeks at the start of the experiment (Charles Rivers, Lyon, France) were maintained under specific-pathogen-free condition with daily cycles of 12 h light / 12 h darkness according to committed guidelines (GV-Solas; Felasa; TierschG). The experimental study protocol was reviewed and approved by local government (ZHI93/2014). After arrival, animals were maintained for one week to get accustomed to the new environment and for observation. Continuous health monitoring was carried out on a regular basis.

Mice were injected intra-pancreatically on study day 0 with IxlO⁵ Panc02-Fluc cells, randomized and weighed. One week after the tumor cell injection mice were injected intravenously with PDl-IL2v and compare to the combination of PD1 + FAP-IL2v Mabs with two different doses, once weekly for three weeks.

All mice were injected intravenously with 200 μΐ of the appropriate solution. The mice in the vehicle group were injected with Histidine Buffer and the treatment groups with the PDl-IL2v (1 mg/kg), PD1 (10 mg/kg) and FAP-IL2v (0.625 mg/kg or 1.25 mg/kg) antibodies or the combination of PD1 + FAP-IL2v (10 mg/kg + 1.25 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg + 0.625 mg/kg) antibodies. To obtain the appropriate amount of immune-conjugates per 200 μΐ, the stock solutions were diluted with Histidine Buffer when necessary according to Table 4.

Table 4. Compounds, doses, formulation buffers and stock solution concentration.

<td> Compound</td><td> Dose</td><td> Formulation buffer</td><td> Concentration of stoc solution (mg/mL)</td>

<td> muPDl-IL2v</td><td> 10 gg and 30</td><td> 20 mM Histidine, 140 mM NaCl, 0.01%Tween20; pH6.0</td><td> 3.63</td>

<td> muFAP-IL2v</td><td> 50 pg</td><td> 20 mM Histidine, 140 mM NaCl, 0.01% Tween20; pH6.0</td><td> 4.91</td>

<td> muPDl</td><td> 200 pg</td><td> 20 mM Histidine, 140 mM NaCl, 0.01% Tween20; pH6.0</td><td> 5.84</td>

For Bio luminescence imaging by I VIS® SPECTRUM, the mice are injected intra-peritoneal with 150 mg/kg of D-Luciferin 10 minutes before bioluminescence imaging acquisition (BLI) and later anesthetized with 4% isofl urane. Subsequently the mice are transferred into an isolation chamber, which is positioned into the IVIS® spectrum. In vivo BLI acquisitions are performed by acquiring the luminescence signal for 10-50 seconds. Data is stored as Radiance (photons)/sec/cm²/sr. In vivo BLI data’s analysis is performed with the Living Image® 4.4 software and represented by a tumor inhibition curve.

To evaluate the immune-pharmacodynamic by histology, 3 mice from selected groups were sacrificed 4 days after the first therapy by neck dislocation. The pancreas tumors were harvested and fix immediately in formalin 10%. The tissue was left in formalin solution overnight and later processed for FFPET (Leica 1020, Germany). 4 pm paraffin sections were subsequently cut in a microtome (Leica RM2235, Germany). Mouse CD3, CD8, PD1 and Granzyme B immunohistochemistry was performed in the Leica autostainer (Leica ST5010, Germany) following the manufacture’s protocols. Images were scanned with Olympus scanner.

Figure 21 and Table 5 show the results of an efficacy experiment comparing muPDl-IL2v to muFAP-IL2v and muPD-1 antibodies as single agents and in combination. The Panc02-H7-Fluc transfectant pancreatic carcinoma cell line was injected into the pancreas in Black 6 mice to study survival in a pancreatic orthotopic syngeneic model. The amount of antibodies injected per mouse in mg/kg is the following: 1 mg/kg muPDl-IL2v, 10 mg/kg muPDl and 0.625 or 1.25 mg/kg muFAP-IL2v antibodies. The antibodies were injected intravenously once per week for 4 weeks. Significant superior median and overall survival was observed in the 1 mg/kg muPDlIL2v compared to all other single agents and the combination of muPD-1 + muFAP-IL2v at both doses tested. Thus, it can be concluded that PDl-IL2v mediated superior efficacy in terms of enhanced median and overall survival compared to all other single agents, as well as the combinations of PD1 + FAP-IL2v at both doses tested.

Table 5: Median and overall survival of Black 6 mice treated with PDl-IL2v, PD1, FAP-IL2v and a combination of PD-1 and FAP-IL2v antibody, in the Panc02-Fluc syngeneic tumor model.

<td> Groups</td><td> Median Survival in days</td><td> p-value vs control</td><td> Overall survival</td>

100

<td> Vehicle</td><td> 30</td><td> 1.0000</td><td> 0/6</td>

<td> 1 mg/kg muPD-l-IL2v</td><td> Not reached</td><td> &lt;0.0001***</td><td> 6/6</td>

<td> 10 mg/kg muPDl + 0.625 mg/kg muFAP-IL2v</td><td> 62</td><td> 0.0053*</td><td> 1/6</td>

<td> 10 mg/kg muPD 1 + 1.25 mg/kg muFAP-IL2v</td><td> 86</td><td> 0.0005**</td><td> 0/6</td>

<td> 0.625 mg/kg muFAP-IL2v</td><td> 36</td><td> 0.2607</td><td> 0/6</td>

<td> 1.25 mg/kg muFAP-IL2v</td><td> 31</td><td> 0.6834</td><td> 0/6</td>

<td> 10 mg''kg muPDl</td><td> 48</td><td> 0.0005**</td><td> 0/6</td>

Figure 22 shows the results of an efficacy experiment comparing muPDl-IL2v to FAP-IL2v, muPDl and their combination with two different doses. The Panc02-H7-Fluc transfectant pancreatic carcinoma cell line was injected into the pancreas in Black 6 mice to study survival in 5 a pancreatic orthotopic syngeneic model by means of bioluminescence. During the course of the study a reduction in the Panc02-Fluc bioluminescence signal was detected by IVIS® Spectrum in several treated groups, but only muPDI-IL2v therapy showed a complete disappearance of the BLI signal in all mice that lasted the whole duration of the experiment, indicative of a complete response in all 6 mice. Figure 22 shows that PDl-IL2v mediated superior efficacy in terms of 10 decreasing the bioluminescence signal (photons/second) compared to all other single agent and the combination groups.

Figure 23 shows the results of immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for antimouse CD3. Immunohistochemistry staining of CD3 T cells was performed on Black 6 mouse 15 pancreas tumors derived from the indicated treatment groups. Tissue samples were prepared for immunohistochemical staining: tumors were harvested from animals after treatment administration, fix in formalin 10% (Sigma, Germany) and later processed for FFPET (Leica 1020, Germany). 4 gm paraffin sections were subsequently cut in a microtome (Leica R.M2235, Germany). Mouse CD3 immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-mouse CD3 (Diagnostic 20 Biosystem, Germany) in the Leica autostainer (Leica ST5010, Germany) following the manufacture’s protocols. Images were scanned with Olympus scanner. As early as after the first therapy administration, at day 4, a very high increase in the number of CD3 positive T cells was detected in the muPDl-IL2v treated groups compared to vehicle group. Also a moderate increase in CD3 positive cells was seen in all the other therapeutic groups when compared to vehicle.

101

Figure 23 shows that PDl-IL2v elicited an increase in CD3 positive T cell infiltration in the pancreatic tumor 4 days after the first therapy compared to all groups.

Figure 24A and 24B and table 6 show the results of immunohistochemical images of pancreas 5 tumors stained for anti-mouse CD8 (Figure 24A) and the T cell quantification analysis (Figure

24B). Immunohistochemistry staining of CD8 T cells was performed on Black 6 mouse pancreas tumors derived from the indicated treatment groups. Tissue samples were prepared for immunohistochemical staining: tumors were harvested from animals after treatment administration, fix in formalin 10% (Sigma, Germany) and later processed for FFPET (Leica 10 1020, Germany). 4 pm paraffin sections were subsequently cut in a microtome (Leica RM2235, Germany). Mouse CD8 immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-mouse CDS (Serotec, Germany) in the Leica autostainer (Leica ST5010, Germany) following the manufacture’s protocols. Images were scanned with Olympus scanner. Quantification of muCD8 positive T cells was performed with Definiens software (Definiens, Germany). Statistics were analyzed by 15 one way ANOVA with multiple comparison tests. As early as after the first therapy administration, at day 4, a significant increase in the number of CD8 positive T cells was detected in the muPDl-IL2v treated groups compared to all other groups. A tendency to increase in CD8 positive cells was also seen in all other therapeutic groups tested, but was not significant. Thus, Figure 24A and 24B show that PDl-IL2v elicited an increase in CD8 infiltration in the 20 pancreatic tumor 4 days after the first therapy compared to all groups.

Table 6. CD8 positive T-cells.

<td> Groups</td><td> Number of CD8 positive T cells/mm²</td><td> p-value vs control</td>

<td> muPDl-lL2v 1 mg/kg</td><td> 4914</td><td> 0.0032**</td>

<td> muPDl 10 mg/kg</td><td> 974</td><td> 0,7395</td>

<td> muFAP-IL2v 1.25 mg/kg</td><td> 872</td><td> 0.8066</td>

<td> muPD-1 10 mg/kg + muFAP-IL2v 1.25 mg/kg</td><td> 1899</td><td> 0.2703</td>

<td> Vehicle</td><td> 590</td><td> 1</td>

Figure 25A and 25B and table 7 show the results of immunohistochemical images of pancreas 25 tumors stained for anti-Granzyme B (5A) and Granzyme B marker area quantification analysis (5B). Immunohistochemistry staining of Granzyme B was performed on Black 6 mouse pancreas tumors derived from the indicated treatment groups. Tissue samples were prepared for

102 immunohistochemical staining: tumors were harvested from animals after treatment administration, fix in formalin 10% (Sigma, Germany) and later processed for FFPET (Leica 1020, Germany). 4 pm paraffin sections were subsequently cut in a microtome (Leica RM2235, Germany). Mouse Granzyme B immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-mouse

Granzyme B (Abeam, Germany) in the Leica autostainer (Leica ST5010, Germany) following the manufacture’s protocols. Images were scanned with Olympus scanner. Quantification of Granzyme B marker area was performed with Definiens software (Definiens, Germany). Statistics were analyzed by one way AN OVA with multiple comparison tests. As early as after the first therapy administration, at day 4, a significant increase in Granzyme B was detected in the muPDl-IL2v treated groups compared to all other groups. A tendency to increase in Granzyme B marker area was also seen in all other therapeutic groups tested, but was not significant. Thus, Figure 25A and 25B show that PDl-IL2v elicited an increase in Granzyme B positive area in the pancreatic tumor 4 days after the first therapy compared to all groups.

Table 7. Granzyme B positive area.

<td> Groups</td><td> % of Granzyme B positive area</td><td> p-value vs control</td>

<td> muPD1-IL2v 1 mg/kg</td><td> 16.67</td><td> 0.0006**</td>

<td> muPDl 10 mg/kg</td><td> 1.867</td><td> 0.6709</td>

<td> muFAP-IL2v 1.25 mg/kg</td><td> 1.533</td><td> 0.7442</td>

<td> muPD-1 10 mg/kg + muFAP-IL2v 1.25 mg/kg</td><td> 2.033</td><td> 0.6355</td>

<td> Vehicle</td><td> 0.44</td><td> 1</td>

Figure 26A and 26B and table 8 present the results of immunohistochemical images of pancreas tumors stained for anti-mouse PD1 (Figure 26A) and the PD1 positive cell quantification analysis (Figure 26B). Immunohistochemistry staining of PD1 cells was performed on Black 6 mouse pancreas tumors derived from the indicated treatment groups. Tissue samples were prepared for immunohistochemical staining: tumors were harvested from animals after treatment administration, fix in formalin 10% (Sigma, Germany) and later processed for FFPET (Leica 1020, Germany). 4 pm paraffin sections were subsequently cut in a microtome (Leica RM2235, Germany). Mouse PD1 immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-mouse PD1 (Serotec,

Germany) in the Leica autostainer (Leica ST5010, Germany) following the manufacture’s protocols. Images were scanned with Olympus scanner. Quantification of muPDl positive cells was performed with Definiens software (Definiens, Germany). Statistics were analyzed by one

103 way ANOVA with multiple comparison tests. As early as after the first therapy administration, at day 4, a significant increase in the number of PD1 positive cells was detected in the muPDlIL2v treated groups compared to all other groups. A tendency to increase in PD1 positive cells was also seen in all other therapeutic groups tested, but was not significant. Thus, Figure 26A and 26B show that PDl-IL2v elicited an increase in PD1 positive cells in the pancreatic tumor 4 days after the first therapy compared to all groups.

Table 8, PD1 positive cells.

<td> Groups</td><td> Number of PD1 positive ceils/mm¹</td><td> p-value vs control</td>

<td> muPDl-IL2v 1 mg/kg</td><td> 6628</td><td> 0.0004**</td>

<td> muPD 1 10 mg/kg</td><td> 1582</td><td> 0.5331</td>

<td> muFAP-IL2v 1.25 mg/kg</td><td> 1350</td><td> 0.6705</td>

<td> muPD-1 10 mg/kg + muFAP-lL2v 1.25 mg/kg</td><td> 3038</td><td> 0.0803</td>

<td> Vehicle</td><td> 858</td><td> I</td>

Example 7

Effect of IL-2v delivery to exhausted virus-specific T cells through PD-1 blockade

PD-1 expression has been described for the first time on exhausted virus-specific T cells as result of chronic-exposure to viral antigens and it has been associated with T-cell inability to mount an 15 effective anti-viral response. Virus-specific CD4 T cells able to simultaneously secrete IL-2 and

IFN- 7' confer protection from viral re-activation in chronic infections. Indeed, the polyfunctional signature of CD4 T cells has been associated with viral-control in healthy individuals infected by Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) as well as in those individuals infected with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), who remain 20 symptoms-free for several years.

In the context of chronic viral infections, we therefore developed an in-vitro assay to evaluate the effect of PD-1 targeting to deliver a mutated version of IL-2 (IL-2v) to dysfunctional antigenspecific T cells. To avoid restrictions on the amount of suitable donors for our assay, we opted for a CMV immunogenic viral-protein (pp65) as re-call antigen for T cells given that roughly 25 80% of the population is CMV-seropositive. Hence, we stimulated healthy human donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with CMV-pp65 (Miltenyi) in presence of our constructs at the concentration of 10 ^g/ml. 43 hours later we blocked the protein transport from

104 the Golgi by adding Golgi Plug (BD Bioscience, Brefeldin A) and Golgi Stop (BD Bioscience, Monensin) and incubated the cells at 37°C for additional 5 hours. The cells were then washed, stained on the surface with anti-human CD3, CD4, CD8, CD62L and CD45RO antibodies before being fixed/permeabilized with the FoxP3 Transcription Factor Staining Buffer Set (eBioscience).

At last we performed intracellular staining for IL-2, IFN- γ and Ki67 (all from eBioscience) to measure cell proliferation.

Figure 27 shows the ability of CD4 T cells to secrete IL-2 (A), IL-2 and IFN-γ (B) or IFN-γ (C) and to proliferate (D) upon 48hours recall with CMV immunogenic protein pp65 in presence of either anti-PD-1 alone, in combination with IL-2v, or as fusion protein. We observed a trend in 10 PDl-lL2v ability to increase the frequencies of polyfunctional CD4 T cells, able to co-secrete

IL-2 and IFN-γ (Figure 2IB), and a significant increase in the IFN-γ single secreting population (Figure 2IC), when compared with samples treated with pp65 and anti-PDl. Conversely, the combination ofpp65 and untarget IL-2v (DP47-lL2v) increased the frequencies of IL-2 monofunctional CD4 T cells (Figure 21 A). As expected all cells treated with targeted or untargeted IL15 2v proliferated as indicated by the positivity to Ki67 staining.

Figure 28 shows differentiation state, as per expression of CD45RO and CD62L, of virusspecific CD4 T cells secreting IFN-γ upon 48 hours recall with CMV immunogenic protein pp65 in presence of either anti-PD-1 alone, in combination with IL-2v, or as fusion protein. A phenotype characterization of the expanded IFN-y-secreting virus-specific CD4 T cells (Figure 20 22) revealed an effector-memory (CD45RO+CD62L-) profile. We can conclude that delivering

IL-2v to exhausted CMV-specific CD4 T cells through the PDl-IL2v fusion protein results in the expansion of a long-lived protective virus-specific population characterized by a differentiated memory profile and the ability to secrete both IL-2 and IFN-γ.

Example 8

Example 8A. Cell activation of donors 1 and 2 (pSTAT5 assay)

Freshly isolated PBMCs from healthy donors were seeded in warm medium (RPMI 1640, 10% FCS, 2 mM Glutamine) into a 96 well round bottom plate (200’000 cells/well). The plates were centrifuged at 300 g for 10 min and the supernatant was removed. The cells were re-suspended in 30 50 pl medium containing the IL2 molecules and stimulated for 20 min at 37°C. To preserve the phosphorylation status, the cells were immediately fixed after stimulation with equal amount of pre-warmed Cytofix buffer (554655, BD Bioscience) for 10 min at 37°C. Afterwards the plates were centrifuged for 10 min at 300 g and the supernatant was removed. To allow intracellular staining, the cells were permeabilized in 200 pl Phosflow Perm buffer III (558050, BD

105

Bioscience) for 30 min at 4°C. Then the cells were washed twice with 150 μΐ cold FACS buffer and split in two 96 well round bottom plates and stained each with 20 μΐ of the antibody mix I or Π for 60 min in the fridge. Antibody mix I was used to stain pSTAT5 in CD4 T cells and regulatory T cells and antibody mix II was used to stain pSTAT5 in CD8 T cells and NK cells.

Afterwards the cells were washed twice with FACS buffer and re-suspended in 200 μΐ FACS buffer containing 2 % PFA per well. The analysis was performed using a BD Fortessa flow cytometer.

The FACS antibody mixes according to table 9 and table 10 were used.

Table 9. FACS antibody mix I (CD4 T cells and regulatory T cells)

<td> Antibody</td><td> Volume/sample</td>

<td> CD4 PE/Cy7, clone SK.3, mouse IgGi, κ (557852, BD Bioscience)</td><td> 0.5 μΐ / well</td>

<td> CD25 APC, clone M-A251, mouse IgG I, κ (356110, BioLegend)</td><td> 4 μΐ / well</td>

<td> PE Mouse anti-Human FoxP3 Clone 259D/C7 (560046, BD Bioscience)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

<td> A488 pSTAT5 (pY694), clone 47, mouse IgGi (562075, BD Bioscience)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

Table 10. FACS antibody mix II (CD8 T cells and NK cells)

<td> Antibody</td><td> Volume/sample</td>

<td> CD3 PE/Cy7, clone UCHT1, mouse IgGi, κ (300420, BioLegend)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

<td> CD56 APC. clone HCD56, mouse IgG I, κ (318310, BioLegend)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

<td> CD8 PE, clone HIT8a, mouse IgGi (555635, BD Bioscience)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

<td> A488 pSTAT5 (pY694), clone 47, mouse IgGi (BD Bioscience)</td><td> 1 μΙ / well</td>

Figure 29 shows STAT5 phosphorylation in CD8 T-cells (A), NK cells (B), CD4 T-cells (C) and 15 regulatory T-cells (D) upon treatment of resting PBMCs of donor 1 with PDl-IL2v, FAP-IL2v and FAP-IL2wt. All three tested molecules are equally potent on CD8 T-cells, NK cells and CD4 T-cells (excluding Tregs). FAP-IL2wt is more potent in inducing STAT5 phosphorylation in Tregs followed by PDl-IL2v. FAP-IL2v has the lowest activity on Tregs.

Figure 30 shows STAT5 phosphorylation in CD4 T-cells (A), CD8 T-cells (B), regulatory T20 cells (C) and NK cells (D) upon treatment of resting PBMCs of donor 2 with FAP-IL2v, PDI106

IL2c, FAP-IL2wt and PDl-TIM3-IL2v. All four tested molecules are comparable active on CD8 T-cells, NK cells and CD4 T-cells (excluding Tregs). FAP-IL2wt is more potent in inducing STAT5 phosphorylation in Tregs followed by PDl-IL2v. FAP-IL2v has the lowest activity on Tregs.

Example 8B. Cell activation of donors 3 and 4 (pSTATS assay)

Frozen PBMCs isolated from healthy donors were thawed and cultured overnight at 37°C. On the next day the cells were seeded in warm medium (RPMII640, 10% FCS, 2 mM Glutamine) into a 96 well round bottom plate (200’000 cells/well). The plates were centrifuged at 300 g for 10 min and the supernatant was removed. The cells were re-suspended in 50 μΐ medium containing the IL2 molecules and stimulated for 20 min at 37°C. To preserve the phosphorylation status, the cells were immediately fixed after stimulation with equal amount of pre-warmed Cytofix buffer (554655, BD Bioscience) for 10 min at 37°C. Afterwards the plates were centrifuged for 10 min at 300 g and the supernatant was removed. To allow intracellular staining, the cells were permeabilized in 200 μΐ Phosflow Penn buffer III (558050, BD Bioscience) for 30 min at 4°C. Then the cells were washed twice with 150 μΐ cold FACS buffer and split in two 96 well round bottom plates and stained each with 20 μΐ of the antibody mix I or II for 60 min in the fridge. Antibody mix I was used to stain pSTAT5 in CD4 T cells and regulatory T cells and antibody mix II was used to stain pSTAT5 in CD8 T cells and NK cells. Afterwards the cells were washed twice with FACS buffer and re-suspended in 200 μΐ FACS buffer containing 2 % PFA per well. The analysis was performed using a BD Fortessa flow cytometer. The FACS antibody mixes according to table 11 and table 12 were used.

Table 11. FACS antibody mix I (CD4 T cells and regulatory T cells)

<td> Antibody</td><td> Volume/sample</td>

<td> CD4 PE/Cy7, clone SK3, mouse IgGi, κ (557852, BD Bioscience)</td><td> 0.5 μΐ / well</td>

<td> CD25 APC, clone M-A251, mouse IgG 1, κ (356110, BioLegend)</td><td> 4 μΐ / well</td>

<td> PE Mouse anti-Human FoxP3 Clone 259D/C7 (560046, BD Bioscience)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

<td> A488 pSTAT5 (pY694), clone 47, mouse IgGi (562075, BD Bioscience)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

Table 12. FACS antibody mix II (CD8 T cells and NK cells)

<td> Antibody</td><td> Volume/sample</td>

107

<td> CD3 PE/Cy7, clone UCHT1, mouse IgGl, κ (300420, BioLegend)</td><td> 1 pl 1 well</td>

<td> CD56 APC, clone HCD56, mouse IgGl, κ (318310, BioLegend)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

<td> CD8 PE, clone HIT8a, mouse IgGl (555635, BD Btoscience)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

<td> A488 pSTAT5 (pY694), clone47, mouse IgGl (BD Bioscience)</td><td> 1 μΐ / well</td>

Figure 31 shows STAT5 phosphorylation in CD8 T-cells (A), NK cells (B), CD4 T-cells (C) and regulatory T-cells (D) upon treatment of resting PBMCs of donor 3 with FAP-IL2v, PDl-IL2v, FAP-IL2wt, PDl-TIM3-IL2v. All four tested molecules are comparable active on CD8 T-cells, 5 NK cells and CD4 T-cells (excluding Tregs). FAP-IL2wt is more potent in inducing STAT5 phosphorylation in Tregs followed by PDl-IL2v. FAP-IL2v has the lowest activity on Tregs.

Figure 32 shows STAT5 phosphorylation in CD8 T-cells (A), NK cells (B), CD4 T-cells (C) and regulatory T-cells (D) upon treatment of resting PBMCs of donor 4 with FAP-IL2v, PDl-IL2v, FAP-IL2wt, PDl-TIM3-IL2v. All four tested molecules are comparable active on CD8 T cells, 10 NK cells and CD4 T cells (excluding Tregs). FAP-IL2wt is more potent in inducing STAT5 phosphorylation in Tregs followed by PDl-IL2v. FAP-IL2v has the lowest activity on Tregs.

Further Aspects of the invention

I. An immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD15 1, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human IL-2 molecule comprising the amino acid substitutions F42A, Y45A and L72G (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence SEQ ID NO: 19).

2. An immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD20 1, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human IL-2 molecule comprising the amino acid substitutions F42A, Y45A and L72G (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence SEQ ID NO: 19); and wherein the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising a HVR-H1 25 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:I, a HVR-H2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, a HVR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, and a FR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 at positions 71-73 according to Kabat numbering, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising a HVR-L1

108 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, a HVR-L2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and a HVR-L3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.

3. An immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD5 1, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human IL-2 molecule comprising the amino acid substitutions F42A, Y45A and L72G (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence SEQ ID NO: 19); and wherein the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising a HVR-H1 10 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, a HVR-H2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, and a HVR-H3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising a HVR-L1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, a HVR-L2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, and a HVR-L3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13.

4. An immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD1, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is a human IL-2 molecule comprising the amino acid substitutions F42A, Y45A and L72G (numbering relative to the human IL-2 sequence SEQ ID NO: 19); and wherein the antibody comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14, and (b) a light chain variable region (VL) comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID

NO: 17, and SEQ ID NO: 18.

5. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide further comprises the amino acid substitution T3A and/or the amino acid substitution C125A.

6. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 5, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.

7. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein the immunoconjugate comprises not more than one mutant IL-2 polypeptide.

8. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein the antibody comprises an Fc domain composed of a first and a second subunit.

109

9. The immunoconjugate of aspect 8, wherein the Fc domain is an IgG class, particularly an IgGi subclass, Fc domain.

10. The immunoconjugate of aspect 8 or 9, wherein the Fc domain is a human Fc domain.

11. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 10, wherein the antibody is an IgG class, 5 particularly an IgGi subclass immunoglobulin.

12. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 8 to 11, wherein the Fc domain comprises a modification promoting the association of the first and the second subunit of the Fc domain.

13. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 8 to 12, wherein in the CH3 domain of the first subunit of the Fc domain an amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a 10 larger side chain volume, thereby generating a protuberance within the CH3 domain of the first subunit which is positionable in a cavity within the CH3 domain of the second subunit, and in the CH3 domain of the second subunit of the Fc domain an amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a smaller side chain volume, thereby generating a cavity within the CH3 domain of the second subunit within which the protuberance within the CH3 domain of the 15 first subunit is positionable.

14. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 8 to 13, wherein in the first subunit of the Fc domain the threonine residue at position 366 is replaced with a tryptophan residue (T366W), and in the second subunit of the Fc domain the tyrosine residue at position 407 is replaced with a valine residue (Y407V) and optionally the threonine residue at position 366 is replaced with a 20 serine residue (T366S) and the leucine residue at position 368 is replaced with an alanine residue (L368A) (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

15. The immunoconjugate of aspect 14, wherein in the first subunit of the Fc domain additionally the serine residue at position 354 is replaced with a cysteine residue (S354C) or the glutamic acid residue at position 356 is replaced with a cysteine residue (E356C), and in the second subunit of 25 the Fc domain additionally the tyrosine residue at position 349 is replaced by a cysteine residue (Y349C) (numberings according to Kabat EU index).

16. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 8 to 15, wherein the mutant IL-2 polypeptide is fused at its amino-terminal amino acid to the carboxy-terminal amino acid of one of the subunits of the Fc domain, particularly the first subunit of the Fc domain, optionally through a linker 30 peptide.

17. The immunoconjugate of aspect 16, wherein the linker peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO:21.

18. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 8 to 16, wherein the Fc domain comprises one or more amino acid substitution that reduces binding to an Fc receptor, particularly an Fey

110 receptor, and/or effector function, particularly antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).

19. The immunoconjugate of aspect 18, wherein said one or more amino acid substitution is at one or more position selected from the group of L234, L235, and P329 (Kabat EU index 5 numbering).

20. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 8 to 19, wherein each subunit of the Fc domain comprises the amino acid substitutions L234A, L235A and P329G (Kabat EU index numbering).

21. The immunoconjugate of any one of claims 1 to 20, comprising a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:22, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 or SEQ ID NO:24, and a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%. 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:25.

22. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 21, essentially consisting of a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an IgGi immunoglobulin molecule, joined by a linker sequence.

23. One or more isolated polynucleotide encoding the immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 22.

24. One or more vector, particularly expression vector, comprising the polynucleotide(s) of 20 aspect 23.

25. A host cell comprising the polynucleotide(s) of aspect 23 or the vector(s) of aspect 24.

26. A method of producing an immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-1, comprising (a) culturing the host cell of aspect 25 under conditions suitable for the expression of the immunoconjugate, and optionally (b) recovering the 25 immunoconjugate.

27. An immunoconjugate comprising a mutant IL-2 polypeptide and an antibody that binds to PD-1, produced by the method of aspect 26.

28. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 22 or 27 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

29. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 22 or 27 for use as a medicament.

30. The immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 22 or 27 for use in the treatment of a disease.

31. The immunoconjugate for use in the treatment of a disease of aspect 30, wherein said disease is cancer.

Ill

32. Use of the immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 22 or 27 in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease.

33. The use of aspects 32, wherein said disease is cancer.

34. A method of treating a disease in an individual, comprising administering to said individual a 5 therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising the immunoconjugate of any one of aspects 1 to 22 or 27 in a pharmaceutically acceptable form.

35. The method of aspect 34, wherein said disease is cancer.

36. A method of stimulating the immune system of an individual, comprising administering to said individual an effective amount of a composition comprising the immunoconjugate of any 10 one of aspects 1 to 22 or 27 in a pharmaceutically acceptable form.

37. The invention as described hereinbefore.

* * *

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and 15 example for purposes of clarity of understanding, the descriptions and examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. The disclosures of all patent and scientific literature cited herein are expressly incorporated in their entirety by reference.

112

SEQUENCE LISTING &lt;110&gt; F. Hofftnann-La Roche AG &lt;120&gt; Immunoconjugates &lt;130&gt; P34189 &lt;160&gt; 51 &lt;170&gt; Patentin version 3.5 &lt;210&gt; 1 &lt;211&gt; 4 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic construct &lt;400&gt; I

Ser Ser Tyr Thr 1 &lt;210&gt; 2 &lt;211&gt; 8 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic construct &lt;400&gt; 2

Ser Gly Gly Gly Arg Asp He Tyr 1 5 &lt; 210&gt; 3 &lt; 211&gt; 5 &lt; 212&gt; PRT &lt; 213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 3

Gly Arg Vai Tyr Phe

113 &lt;210&gt; 4 &lt;211&gt; 6 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 4

Thr Ser Asp Asn Ser Phe &lt;210&gt; 5 &lt;211&gt; 7 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 5

Arg Ser Ser Thr Leu Glu Ser

5 &lt;210&gt; 6 &lt;211&gt; 6 &lt;2I2&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223 &gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 6

Asn Tyr Asp Vai Pro Trp 1 5 &lt;210&gt; 7 &lt;211&gt; 3 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

114 &lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 7

Arg Asp Asn

I &lt;210&gt; 8 &lt;211&gt; 7 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 8

Gly Phe Ser Phe Ser Ser Tyr 1 5 &lt;210&gt; 9 &lt;211&gt; 3 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 9

Gly Gly Arg 1 &lt;210&gt; 10 &lt;211&gt; 9 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 10

Thr Gly Arg Val Tyr Phe Ala Leu Asp 1 5 &lt;210&gt; 11

115 &lt;211&gt; 11 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220 &lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400 11

Ser Glu Ser Vai Asp Thr Ser Asp Asn Ser Phe

5 10 &lt;210&gt; 12 &lt;211&gt; 3 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 12

Arg Ser Ser

1 &lt;210&gt; 13 &lt;211&gt; 6 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 13

Asn Tyr Asp Vai Pro Trp 1 5 &lt;210&gt; 14 &lt;211&gt; 120 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 14

116

Glu Vai Gin Leu Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 1015

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Phe Ser Ser Tyr

2530

Thr Met Ser Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai

4045

Ala Thr lie Ser Gly Gly Gly Arg Asp He Tyr Tyr Pro Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr He Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr 65 70 7580

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Vai Leu Leu Thr Gly Arg Vai Tyr Phe Ala Leu Asp Ser Trp Gly Gin

100 105110

Gly Thr Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser

115120 &lt;210&gt; 15 &lt;21I&gt; 111 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 15

Asp He Vai Met Thr Gin Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ala Vai Ser Leu Gly

10 15

Glu Arg Ala Thr He Asn Cys Lys Ala Ser Glu Ser Vai Asp Thr Ser

25 30

Asp Asn Ser Phe He His Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Gin Ser Pro

117

4045

Lys Leu Leu He Tyr Arg Ser Ser Thr Leu Glu Ser Gly Vai Pro Asp 50 5560

Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr He Ser 65 70 7580

Ser Leu Gin Ala Glu Asp Vai Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Asn Tyr 85 9095

Asp Vai Pro Trp Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Vai Glu He Lys

100 105110 &lt;2I0&gt; 16 &lt;211&gt; 111 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;2I3&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 16

Asp Vai Vai Met Thr Gin Ser Pro Leu Ser Leu Pro Vai Thr Leu Gly 15 1015

Gin Pro Ala Ser He Ser Cys Arg Ala Ser Glu Ser Vai Asp Thr Ser

2530

Asp Asn Ser Phe Ue His Trp Tyr Gin Gin Arg Pro Gly Gin Ser Pro

4045

Arg Leu Leu He Tyr Arg Ser Ser Thr Leu Glu Ser Gly Vai Pro Asp 50 5560

Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Lys lie Ser 65 70 7580

Arg Vai Glu Ala Glu Asp Vai Gly Vai Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Asn Tyr 85 9095

118

Asp Vai Pro Trp Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Vai Glu He Lys 100 105 110 &lt;210&gt; 17 &lt;211&gt; 111 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 17

Glu He Vai Leu Thr Gin Ser Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly 15 1015

Glu Arg Ala Thr Leu Ser Cys Arg Ala Ser Glu Ser Vai Asp Thr Ser 20 2530

Asp Asn Ser Phe He His Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Gin Ser Pro

4045

Arg Leu Leu He Tyr Arg Ser Ser Thr Leu Glu Ser Gly He Pro Ala 30 50 5560

Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr He Ser 65 70 7580

Ser Leu Glu Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Asn Tyr 85 9095

Asp Vai Pro Trp Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Vai Glu He Lys 100 105110 &lt;210&gt; 18 &lt;211&gt; 111 &lt;2I2&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct

P12 0 19005796 ° ' OCT 2019

119 &lt;400&gt; 18

Glu He Vai Leu Thr Gin Ser Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly 15 1015

Glu Arg Ala Thr Leu Ser Cys Arg Ala Ser Glu Ser Vai Asp Thr Ser

2530

Asp Asn Ser Phe He His Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Gin Ser Pro

4045

Arg Leu Leu He Tyr Arg Ser Ser Thr Leu Glu Ser Gly lie Pro Ala 50 5560

Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr He Ser 65 70 7580

Ser Leu Glu Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Asn Tyr 85 9095

Asp Vai Pro Trp Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Vai Glu He Lys

100 105110 &lt;210&gt; 19 &lt;211&gt; 133 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Homo sapiens &lt;400&gt; 19

Ala Pro Thr Ser Ser Ser Thr Lys Lys Thr Gin Leu Gin Leu Glu His 15 1015

Leu Leu Leu Asp Leu Gin Met He Leu Asn Gly He Asn Asn Tyr Lys

2530

Asn Pro Lys Leu Thr Arg Met Leu Thr Phe Lys Phe Tyr Met Pro Lys

4045

Lys Ala Thr Glu Leu Lys His Leu Gin Cys Leu Glu Glu Glu Leu Lys

120

55 60

Pro Leu Glu Glu Vai Leu Asn Leu Ala Gin Ser Lys Asn Phe His Leu

70 7580

Arg Pro Arg Asp Leu He Ser Asn lie Asn Vai He Vai Leu Glu Leu 85 9095

Lys Gly Ser Glu Thr Thr Phe Met Cys Glu Tyr Ala Asp Glu Thr Ala

100 105110

Thr He Vai Glu Phe Leu Asn Arg Trp He Thr Phe Cys Gin Ser He

115 120125

He Ser Thr Leu Thr

130 &lt;210&gt; 20 &lt;21I&gt; 133 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 20

Ala Pro Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Lys Lys Thr Gin Leu Gin Leu Glu His 15 1015

Leu Leu Leu Asp Leu Gin Met lie Leu Asn Gly He Asn Asn Tyr Lys 20 2530

Asn Pro Lys Leu Thr Arg Met Leu Thr Ala Lys Phe Ala Met Pro Lys 35 4045

Lys Ala Thr Glu Leu Lys His Leu Gin Cys Leu Glu Glu Glu Leu Lys 50 5560

Pro Leu Glu Glu Vai Leu Asn Gly Ala Gin Ser Lys Asn Phe His Leu 65 70 7580

121

Arg Pro Arg Asp Leu He Ser Asn He Asn Vai He Vai Leu Glu Leu 85 9095

Lys Gly Ser Glu Thr Thr Phe Met Cys Glu Tyr Ala Asp Glu Thr Ala

100 105110

Thr He Vai Glu Phe Leu Asn Arg Trp lie Thr Phe Ala Gin Ser He

115 120125

He Ser Thr Leu Thr

130 &lt;210&gt; 21 &lt;211&gt; 15 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 21

Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser 15 10 15 &lt;210&gt; 22 &lt;211&gt; 597 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 22

Glu Vai Gin Leu Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 10 15

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Phe Ser Ser Tyr

25 30

Thr Met Ser Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai

122

40 45

Ala Thr He Ser Gly Gly Gly Arg Asp He Tyr Tyr Pro Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr He Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr 65 70 7580

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Vai Leu Leu Thr Gly Arg Vai Tyr Phe Ala Leu Asp Ser Trp Gly Gin

100 105110

Gly Thr Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Vai

115 120125

Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala

130 135140

Leu Gly Cys Leu Vai Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Ser 145 150 155160

Trp Asn Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai

165 170175

Leu Gin Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Vai Vai Thr Vai Pro

180 185190

Ser Ser Ser Leu Gly Thr Gin Thr Tyr He Cys Asn Vai Asn His Lys

195 200205

Pro Ser Asn Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys Vai Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp

210 215220

Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Ala Ala Gly Gly

225 230 235240

123

Pro Ser Vai Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met He 245 250255

Ser Arg Thr Pro Glu Vai Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Asp Vai Ser His Glu

260 265270

Asp Pro Glu Vai Lys Phe Asn Trp Tyr Vai Asp Gly Vai Glu Vai His

275 280285

Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu Gin Tyr Asn Ser Thr Tyr Arg

290 295300

Vai Vai Ser Vai Leu Thr Vai Leu His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys

305 310 315320

Glu Tyr Lys Cys Lys Vai Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Gly Ala Pro He Glu

325 330335

Lys Thr He Ser Lys Ala Lys Gly Gin Pro Arg Glu Pro Gin Vai Tyr

340 345350

Thr Leu Pro Pro Cys Arg Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gin Vai Ser Leu

355 360365

Trp Cys Leu Vai Lys Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp He Ala Vai Glu Trp

370 375380

Glu Ser Asn Gly Gin Pro Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Vai

385 390 395400

Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe Phe Leu Tyr Ser Lys Leu Thr Vai Asp

405 410415

Lys Ser Arg Trp Gin Gin Gly Asn Vai Phe Ser Cys Ser Vai Met His

420 425430

Glu Ala Leu His Asn His Tyr Thr Gin Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro

435 440445

124

Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser

450 455460

Ala Pro Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Lys Lys Thr Gin Leu Gin Leu Glu His

465 470 475480

Leu Leu Leu Asp Leu Gin Met He Leu Asn Gly He Asn Asn Tyr Lys

485 490495

Asn Pro Lys Leu Thr Arg Met Leu Thr Ala Lys Phe Ala Met Pro Lys

500 505510

Lys Ala Thr Glu Leu Lys His Leu Gin Cys Leu Glu Glu Glu Leu Lys

515 520525

Pro Leu Glu Glu Val Leu Asn Gly Ala Gin Ser Lys Asn Phe His Leu

530 535540

Arg Pro Arg Asp Leu He Ser Asn He Asn Val He Val Leu Glu Leu 545 550 555560

Lys Gly Ser Glu Thr Thr Phe Met Cys Glu Tyr Ala Asp Glu Thr Ala

565 570575

Thr He Val Glu Phe Leu Asn Arg Trp He Thr Phe Ala Gin Ser He

580 585590

He Ser Thr Leu Thr

595 &lt;210&gt; 23 &lt;21I&gt; 448 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt; 213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt; 223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt; 400&gt; 23

125

Glu Vai Gin Leu Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 1015

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Phe Ser Ser Tyr

2530

Thr Met Ser Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai

4045

Ala Thr He Ser Gly Gly Gly Arg Asp He Tyr Tyr Pro Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr He Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr 65 70 7580

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Vai Leu Leu Thr Gly Arg Vai Tyr Phe Ala Leu Asp Ser Trp Gly Gin

100 105110

Gly Thr Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Vai

115 120125

Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala

130 135140

Leu Gly Cys Leu Vai Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Ser 145 150 155160

Trp Asn Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai 165 170175

Leu Gin Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Vai Vai Thr Vai Pro 180 185190

Ser Ser Ser Leu Gly Thr Gin Thr Tyr He Cys Asn Vai Asn His Lys

195 200205

126

Pro Ser Asn Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys Vai Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp

210

215

220

Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Ala Ala Gly Gly

225 230 235240

Pro Ser Vai Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met He 245 250255

Ser Arg Thr Pro Glu Vai Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Asp Vai Ser His Glu

260 265270

Asp Pro Glu Vai Lys Phe Asn Trp Tyr Vai Asp Gly Vai Glu Vai His

275 280285

Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu Gin Tyr Asn Ser Thr Tyr Arg

290 295300

Vai Vai Ser Vai Leu Thr Vai Leu His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys

305 310 315320

Glu Tyr Lys Cys Lys Vai Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Gly Ala Pro He Glu

325 330335

Lys Thr lie Ser Lys Ala Lys Gly Gin Pro Arg Glu Pro Gin Vai Cys

340 345350

Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser Arg Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gin Vai Ser Leu

355 360365

Ser Cys Ala Vai Lys Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp He Ala Vai Glu Trp

370 375380

Glu Ser Asn Gly Gin Pro Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Vai

385 390 395400

Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe Phe Leu Vai Ser Lys Leu Thr Vai Asp

405 410415

127

Lys Ser Arg Trp Gin Gin Gly Asn Vai Phe Ser Cys Ser Vai Met His

420 425 430

Glu Ala Leu His Asn His Tyr Thr Gin Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro

435 440 445 &lt;2I0&gt; 24 &lt;211&gt; 448 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 24

Glu Vai Gin Leu Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 1015

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Phe Ser Ser Tyr

2530

Thr Met Ser Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai 30 35 4045

Ala Thr He Ser Gly Gly Gly Arg Asp He Tyr Tyr Pro Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr He Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr

70 7580

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Vai Leu Leu Thr Gly Arg Vai Tyr Phe Ala Leu Asp Ser Trp Gly Gin

100 105110

Gly Thr Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Vai

115 120 125

128

Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala

130

135

140

Leu Gly Cys Leu Vai Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Ser 145 150 155160

Trp Asn Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai

165 170175

Leu Gin Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Vai Vai Thr Vai Pro

180 185190

Ser Ser Ser Leu Gly Thr Gin Thr Tyr He Cys Asn Vai Asn His Lys

195 200205

Pro Ser Asn Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys Vai Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp

210 215220

Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Ala Ala Gly Gly

225 230 235240

Pro Ser Vai Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met lie

245 250255

Ser Arg Thr Pro Glu Vai Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Asp Vai Ser His Glu

260 265270

Asp Pro Glu Vai Lys Phe Asn Trp Tyr Vai Asp Gly Vai Glu Vai His

275 280285

Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu Gin Tyr Asn Ser Thr Tyr Arg

290 295300

Vai Vai Ser Vai Leu Thr Vai Leu His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys

305 310 315320

Glu Tyr Lys Cys Lys Vai Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Gly Ala Pro He Glu

325 330335

129

Lys Thr He Ser Lys Ala Lys Gly Gin Pro Arg Glu Pro Gin Vai Cys

340 345350

Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser Arg Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gin Vai Ser Leu

355 360365

Ser Cys Ala Vai Lys Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp He Ala Vai Glu Trp

370 375380

Glu Ser Asn Gly Gin Pro Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Vai

385 390 395400

Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe Phe Leu Vai Ser Lys Leu Thr Vai Asp

405 410415

Lys Ser Arg Trp Gin Gin Gly Asn Vai Phe Ser Cys Ser Vai Met His

420 425430

Glu Ala Leu His Asn Arg Phe Thr Gin Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro

435 440445 &lt;210&gt; 25 &lt;211&gt; 218 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 25

Asp He Vai Met Thr Gin Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ala Vai Ser Leu Gly 15 1015

Glu Arg Ala Thr He Asn Cys Lys Ala Ser Glu Ser Vai Asp Thr Ser 20 2530

Asp Asn Ser Phe He His Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Gin Ser Pro 35 4045

130

Lys Leu Leu He Tyr Arg Ser Ser Thr Leu Glu Ser Gly Vai Pro Asp 50 5560

Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr He Ser 65 70 7580

Ser Leu Gin Ala Glu Asp Vai Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Asn Tyr 85 9095

Asp Vai Pro Trp Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Vai Glu He Lys Arg

100 105110

Thr Vai Ala Ala Pro Ser Vai Phe He Phe Pro Pro Ser Asp Glu Gin

115 120125

Leu Lys Ser Gly Thr Ala Ser Vai Vai Cys Leu Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr

130 135140

Pro Arg Glu Ala Lys Vai Gin Trp Lys Vai Asp Asn Ala Leu Gin Ser

145 150 155160

Gly Asn Ser Gin Glu Ser Vai Thr Glu Gin Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr

165 170175

Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Ser Lys Ala Asp Tyr Glu Lys

180 185190

His Lys Vai Tyr Ala Cys Glu Vai Thr His Gin Gly Leu Ser Ser Pro

195 200205

Vai Thr Lys Ser Phe Asn Arg Gly Glu Cys

210215 &lt;210&gt; 26 &lt;211&gt; 20 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Homo sapiens &lt;400&gt; 26

131

Met Tyr Arg Met Gin Leu Leu Ser Cys He Ala Leu Ser Leu Ala Leu 15 10 15

Vai Thr Asn Ser &lt;210&gt; 27 &lt;211&gt; 268 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Homo sapiens &lt;400&gt; 27

Pro Gly Trp Phe Leu Asp Ser Pro Asp Arg Pro Trp Asn Pro Pro Thr 15 1015

Phe Ser Pro Ala Leu Leu Vai Vai Thr Glu Gly Asp Asn Ala Thr Phe

2530

Thr Cys Ser Phe Ser Asn Thr Ser Glu Ser Phe Vai Leu Asn Trp Tyr

4045

Arg Met Ser Pro Ser Asn Gin Thr Asp Lys Leu Ala Ala Phe Pro Glu 50 5560

Asp Arg Ser Gin Pro Gly Gin Asp Cys Arg Phe Arg Vai Thr Gin Leu 65 70 7580

Pro Asn Gly Arg Asp Phe His Met Ser Vai Vai Arg Ala Arg Arg Asn 85 9095

Asp Ser Gly Thr Tyr Leu Cys Gly Ala He Ser Leu Ala Pro Lys Ala

100 105110

Gin He Lys Glu Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Leu Arg Vai Thr Glu Arg Arg

115 120125

Ala Glu Vai Pro Thr Ala His Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Arg Pro Ala Gly

130 135140

132

Gin Phe Gin Thr Leu Vai Vai Gly Vai Vai Gly Gly Leu Leu Gly Ser 145 150 155160

Leu Vai Leu Leu Vai Trp Vai Leu Ala Vai He Cys Ser Arg Ala Ala

165 170175

Arg Gly Thr He Gly Ala Arg Arg Thr Gly Gin Pro Leu Lys Glu Asp

180 185190

Pro Ser Ala Vai Pro Vai Phe Ser Vai Asp Tyr Gly Glu Leu Asp Phe

195 200205

Gin Trp Arg Glu Lys Thr Pro Glu Pro Pro Vai Pro Cys Vai Pro Glu

210 215220

Gin Thr Glu Tyr Ala Thr He Vai Phe Pro Ser Gly Met Gly Thr Ser

225 230 235240

Ser Pro Ala Arg Arg Gly Ser Ala Asp Gly Pro Arg Ser Ala Gin Pro

245 250255

Leu Arg Pro Glu Asp Gly His Cys Ser Trp Pro Leu

260265 &lt;210&gt; 28 &lt;211&gt; 288 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Homo sapiens &lt;400&gt; 28

Met Gin He Pro Gin Ala Pro Trp Pro Vai Vai Trp Ala Vai Leu Gin 15 1015

Leu Gly Trp Arg Pro Gly Trp Phe Leu Asp Ser Pro Asp Arg Pro Trp 20 2530

Asn Pro Pro Thr Phe Ser Pro Ala Leu Leu Vai Vai Thr Glu Gly Asp 35 4045

133

Asn Ala Thr Phe Thr Cys Ser Phe Ser Asn Thr Ser Glu Ser Phe Vai 50 5560

Leu Asn Trp Tyr Arg Met Ser Pro Ser Asn Gin Thr Asp Lys Leu Ala 65 70 7580

Ala Phe Pro Glu Asp Arg Ser Gin Pro Gly Gin Asp Cys Arg Phe Arg 85 9095

Vai Thr Gin Leu Pro Asn Gly Arg Asp Phe His Met Ser Vai Vai Arg

100 105110

Ala Arg Arg Asn Asp Ser Gly Thr Tyr Leu Cys Gly Ala He Ser Leu

115 120125

Ala Pro Lys Ala Gin He Lys Glu Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Leu Arg Vai

130 135140

Thr Glu Arg Arg Ala Glu Vai Pro Thr Ala His Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro 145 150 155160

Arg Pro Ala Gly Gin Phe Gin Thr Leu Vai Vai Gly Vai Vai Gly Gly

165 170175

Leu Leu Gly Ser Leu Vai Leu Leu Vai Trp Vai Leu Ala Vai lie Cys

180 185190

Ser Arg Ala Ala Arg Gly Thr He Gly Ala Arg Arg Thr Gly Gin Pro

195 200205

Leu Lys Glu Asp Pro Ser Ala Vai Pro Vai Phe Ser Vai Asp Tyr Gly

210 215220

Glu Leu Asp Phe Gin Trp Arg Glu Lys Thr Pro Glu Pro Pro Vai Pro

225 230 235240

Cys Vai Pro Glu Gin Thr Glu Tyr Ala Thr lie Vai Phe Pro Ser Gly

245 250255

134

Met Gly Thr Ser Ser Pro Ala Arg Arg Gly Ser Ala Asp Gly Pro Arg

260 265 270

Ser Ala Gin Pro Leu Arg Pro Glu Asp Gly His Cys Ser Trp Pro Leu

275 280 285 &lt;210&gt; 29 &lt;211&gt; 133 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;2I3&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 29

Ala Pro Thr Ser Ser Ser Thr Lys Lys Thr Gin Leu Gin Leu Glu His 15 1015

Leu Leu Leu Asp Leu Gin Met lie Leu Asn Gly He Asn Asn Tyr Lys

2530

Asn Pro Lys Leu Thr Arg Met Leu Thr Phe Lys Phe Tyr Met Pro Lys 35 4045

Lys Ala Thr Glu Leu Lys His Leu Gin Cys Leu Glu Glu Glu Leu Lys 50 5560

Pro Leu Glu Glu Vai Leu Asn Leu Ala Gin Ser Lys Asn Phe His Leu 65 70 7580

Arg Pro Arg Asp Leu He Ser Asn He Asn Vai He Vai Leu Glu Leu 85 9095

Lys Gly Ser Glu Thr Thr Phe Met Cys Glu Tyr Ala Asp Glu Thr Ala

100 105110

Thr lie Vai Glu Phe Leu Asn Arg Trp lie Thr Phe Ala Gin Ser He

115 120125

135

He Ser Thr Leu Thr

130 &lt;210&gt; 30 &lt;21i&gt; 225 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Homo sapiens &lt;400&gt; 30

Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Gly 15 1015

Gly Pro Ser Vai Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met

2530

He Ser Arg Thr Pro Glu Vai Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Asp Vai Ser His

4045

Glu Asp Pro Glu Vai Lys Phe Asn Trp Tyr Vai Asp Gly Vai Glu Vai 50 5560

His Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu Gin Tyr Asn Ser Thr Tyr 65 70 7580

Arg Vai Vai Ser Vai Leu Thr Vai Leu His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly 85 9095

Lys Glu Tyr Lys Cys Lys Vai Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro He

100 105110

Glu Lys Thr He Ser Lys Ala Lys Gly Gin Pro Arg Glu Pro Gin Vai

115 120125

Tyr Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser Arg Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gin Vai Ser

130 135140

Leu Thr Cys Leu Vai Lys Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp He Ala Vai Glu 145 150 155160

136

Trp Glu Ser Asn Gly Gin Pro Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro

165 170175

Vai Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe Phe Leu Tyr Ser Lys Leu Thr Vai

180 185190

Asp Lys Ser Arg Tip Gin Gin Gly Asn Vai Phe Ser Cys Ser Vai Met

195 200205

His Glu Ala Leu His Asn His Tyr Thr Gin Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser

210 215220

Pro

225 &lt;210&gt; 31 &lt;211&gt; 107 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Homo sapiens &lt;400&gt; 31

Arg Thr Vai Ala Ala Pro Ser Vai Phe He Phe Pro Pro Ser Asp Glu 15 1015

Gin Leu Lys Ser Gly Thr Ala Ser Vai Vai Cys Leu Leu Asn Asn Phe 20 2530

Tyr Pro Arg Glu Ala Lys Vai Gin Trp Lys Vai Asp Asn Ala Leu Gin

4045

Ser Gly Asn Ser Gin Glu Ser Vai Thr Glu Gin Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser

5560

Thr Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Ser Lys Ala Asp Tyr Glu 65 70 7580

Lys His Lys Vai Tyr Ala Cys Glu Vai Thr His Gin Gly Leu Ser Ser 85 9095

137

Pro Vai Thr Lys Ser Phe Asn Arg Gly Glu Cys

100

105 &lt;210&gt; 32 &lt;211&gt; 105 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Homo sapiens &lt;400&gt; 32

Gin Pro Lys Ala Ala Pro Ser Vai Thr Leu Phe Pro Pro Ser Ser Glu 15 1015

Glu Leu Gin Ala Asn Lys Ala Thr Leu Vai Cys Leu He Ser Asp Phe

2530

Tyr Pro Gly Ala Vai Thr Vai Ala Trp Lys Ala Asp Ser Ser Pro Vai

4045

Lys Ala Gly Vai Glu Thr Thr Thr Pro Ser Lys Gin Ser Asn Asn Lys

5560

Tyr Ala Ala Ser Ser Tyr Leu Ser Leu Thr Pro Glu Gin Trp Lys Ser 65 70 7580

His Arg Ser Tyr Ser Cys Gin Vai Thr His Glu Gly Ser Thr Vai Glu 85 9095

Lys Thr Vai Ala Pro Thr Glu Cys Ser

100105 &lt;210&gt; 33 &lt;211&gt; 328 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Homo sapiens &lt;400&gt; 33

Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Vai Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys 15 10 15

138

Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly Cys Leu Vai Lys Asp Tyr

2530

Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Ser Trp Asn Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser

4045

Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai Leu Gin Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser 10 50 5560

Leu Ser Ser Vai Vai Thr Vai Pro Ser Ser Ser Leu Gly Thr Gin Thr 65 70 7580

Tyr He Cys Asn Vai Asn His Lys Pro Ser Asn Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys 85 9095

Lys Vai Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys 100 105110

Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Vai Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro

115 120125

Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met He Ser Arg Thr Pro Glu Vai Thr Cys

130 135140

Vai Va! Vai Asp Vai Ser His Glu Asp Pro Glu Vai Lys Phe Asn Trp 145 150 155160

Tyr Vai Asp Gly Vai Glu Vai His Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu 165 170175

Glu Gin Tyr Asn Ser Thr Tyr Arg Vai Vai Ser Vai Leu Thr Vai Leu 180 185190

His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Tyr Lys Cys Lys Vai Ser Asn

195 200205

Lys Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro He Glu Lys Thr He Ser Lys Ala Lys Gly

210 215220

139

Gin Pro Arg Glu Pro Gin Val Tyr Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser Arg Asp Glu

225 230 235240

Leu Thr Lys Asn Gin Val Ser Leu Thr Cys Leu Val Lys Gly Phe Tyr

245 250255

Pro Ser Asp lie Ala Val Glu Trp Glu Ser Asn Gly Gin Pro Glu Asn 260 265270

Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Val Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe Phe

275 280285

Leu Tyr Ser Lys Leu Thr Val Asp Lys Ser Arg Trp Gin Gin Gly Asn 290 295300

Val Phe Ser Cys Ser Val Met His Glu Ala Leu His Asn His Tyr Thr

305 310 315320

Gin Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro

325 &lt;2I0&gt; 34 &lt;211&gt; 607 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 34

Glu Val Gin Leu Gin Glu Ser Gly Pro Gly Leu Val Lys Pro Ser Gin

1015

Ser Leu Ser Leu Thr Cys Ser Val Thr Gly Tyr Ser He Thr Ser Ser 45 20 2530

Tyr Arg Trp Asn Trp He Arg Lys Phe Pro Gly Asn Arg Leu Glu Tip

4045

140

Met Gly Tyr He Asn Ser Ala Gly He Ser Asn Tyr Asn Pro Ser Leu 50 5560

Lys Arg Arg He Ser lie Thr Arg Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Gin Phe Phe

70 7580

Leu Gin Vai Asn Ser Vai Thr Thr Glu Asp Ala Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys 10 85 9095

Ala Arg Ser Asp Asn Met Gly Thr Thr Pro Phe Thr Tyr Trp Gly Gin

100 105110

Gly Thr Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Ser Vai

115 120125

Tyr Pro Leu Ala Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Gin Thr Asn Ser Met Vai Thr

130 135140

Leu Gly Cys Leu Vai Lys Gly Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Thr

145 150 155160

Trp Asn Ser Gly Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai 30 165 170175

Leu Gin Ser Asp Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ser Ser Ser Vai Thr Vai Pro Ser 180 185190

Ser Thr Trp Pro Ser Gin Thr Vai Thr Cys Asn Vai Ala His Pro Ala 195 200205

Ser Ser Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys He Vai Pro Arg Asp Cys Gly Cys 210 215220

Lys Pro Cys lie Cys Thr Vai Pro Glu Vai Ser Ser Vai Phe He Phe

225 230 235240

Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Vai Leu Thr lie Thr Leu Thr Pro Lys Vai 50 245 250255

141

Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Ala He Ser Lys Asp Asp Pro Glu Vai Gin Phe

260 265270

Ser Trp Phe Vai Asp Asp Vai Glu Vai His Thr Ala Gin Thr Lys Pro

275 280285

Arg Glu Glu Gin lie Asn Ser Thr Phe Arg Ser Vai Ser Glu Leu Pro

290 295300

He Met His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Phe Lys Cys Arg Vai 305 310 315320

Asn Ser Ala Ala Phe Gly Ala Pro He Glu Lys Thr lie Ser Lys Thr

325 330335

Lys Gly Arg Pro Lys Ala Pro Gin Vai Tyr Thr He Pro Pro Pro Lys

340 345350

Glu Gin Met Ala Lys Asp Lys Vai Ser Leu Thr Cys Met He Thr Asn

355 360365

Phe Phe Pro Glu Asp He Thr Vai Glu Trp Gin Trp Asn Gly Gin Pro

370 375380

Ala Glu Asn Tyr Asp Asn Thr Gin Pro He Met Asp Thr Asp Gly Ser

385 390 395400

Tyr Phe Vai Tyr Ser Asp Leu Asn Vai Gin Lys Ser Asn Trp Glu Ala

405 410415

Gly Asn Thr Phe Thr Cys Ser Vai Leu His Glu Gly Leu His Asn His

420 425430

His Thr Glu Lys Ser Leu Ser His Ser Pro Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser

435 440445

Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Ala Pro Ala Ser Ser Ser

450 455460

142

Thr Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala Glu Ala Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin

465 470 475480

Gin Gin Gin Gin His Leu Glu Gin Leu Leu Met Asp Leu Gin Glu Leu

485 490495

Leu Ser Arg Met Glu Asn Tyr Arg Asn Leu Lys Leu Pro Arg Met Leu

500 505510

Thr Ala Lys Phe Ala Leu Pro Lys Gin Ala Thr Glu Leu Lys Asp Leu 515 520525

Gin Cys Leu Glu Asp Glu Leu Gly Pro Leu Arg His Vai Leu Asp Gly

530 535540

Thr Gin Ser Lys Ser Phe Gin Leu Glu Asp Ala Glu Asn Phe lie Ser 545 550 555560

Asn He Arg Vai Thr Vai Vai Lys Leu Lys Gly Ser Asp Asn Thr Phe 565 570575

Glu Cys Gin Phe Asp Asp Glu Ser Ala Thr Vai Vai Asp Phe Leu Arg 580 585590

Arg Trp He Ala Phe Ala Gin Ser He lie Ser Thr Ser Pro Gin

595 600605 &lt;210&gt; 35 &lt;211&gt; 442 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 35

Glu Vai Gin Leu Gin Glu Ser Gly Pro Gly Leu Vai Lys Pro Ser Gin 50 1 5 10 15

143

Ser Leu Ser Leu Thr Cys Ser Vai Thr Gly Tyr Ser He Thr Ser Ser

2530

Tyr Arg Trp Asn Trp lie Arg Lys Phe Pro Gly Asn Arg Leu Glu Trp

4045

Met Gly Tyr He Asn Ser Ala Gly He Ser Asn Tyr Asn Pro Ser Leu

5560

Lys Arg Arg He Ser He Thr Arg Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Gin Phe Phe 15 65 70 7580

Leu Gin Vai Asn Ser Vai Thr Thr Glu Asp Ala Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Ala Arg Ser Asp Asn Met Gly Thr Thr Pro Phe Thr Tyr Trp Gly Gin 100 105110

Gly Thr Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Ser Vai 115 120125

Tyr Pro Leu Ala Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Gin Thr Asn Ser Met Vai Thr

130 135140

Leu Gly Cys Leu Vai Lys Gly Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Thr 35 145 150 155160

Trp Asn Ser Gly Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai 165 170175

Leu Gin Ser Asp Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ser Ser Ser Vai Thr Vai Pro Ser 180 185190

Ser Thr Trp Pro Ser Gin Thr Vai Thr Cys Asn Vai Ala His Pro Ala 195 200205

Ser Ser Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys He Vai Pro Arg Asp Cys Gly Cys

210 215220

144

Lys Pro Cys He Cys Thr Vai Pro Glu Vai Ser Ser Vai Phe lie Phe

225 230 235240

Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Vai Leu Thr He Thr Leu Thr Pro Lys Vai

245 250255

Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Ala lie Ser Lys Asp Asp Pro Glu Vai Gin Phe

260 265270

Ser Trp Phe Vai Asp Asp Vai Glu Vai His Thr Ala Gin Thr Lys Pro

275 280285

Arg Glu Glu Gin He Asn Ser Thr Phe Arg Ser Vai Ser Glu Leu Pro

290 295300

He Met His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Phe Lys Cys Arg Vai

305 310 315320

Asn Ser Ala Ala Phe Gly Ala Pro He Glu Lys Thr He Ser Lys Thr

325 330335

Lys Gly Arg Pro Lys Ala Pro Gin Vai Tyr Thr lie Pro Pro Pro Lys

340 345350

Lys Gin Met Ala Lys Asp Lys Vai Ser Leu Thr Cys Met He Thr Asn

355 360365

Phe Phe Pro Glu Asp He Thr Vai Glu Trp Gin Trp Asn Gly Gin Pro

370 375380

Ala Glu Asn Tyr Lys Asn Thr Gin Pro He Met Lys Thr Asp Gly Ser

385 390 395400

Tyr Phe Vai Tyr Ser Lys Leu Asn Vai Gin Lys Ser Asn Trp Glu Ala

405 410415

Gly Asn Thr Phe Thr Cys Ser Vai Leu His Glu Gly Leu His Asn His ^pIZ 0 1 9 0 0 5 / 9 6 0 1 _Ocj145

420

425

430

His Thr Glu Lys Ser Leu Ser His Ser Pro

435

440 &lt;210&gt; 36 &lt;211&gt; 218 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 36

Asp He Vai Met Thr Gin Gly Thr Leu Pro Asn Pro Vai Pro Ser Gly 15 1015

Glu Ser Vai Ser He Thr Cys Arg Ser Ser Lys Ser Leu Leu Tyr Ser

2530

Asp Gly Lys Thr Tyr Leu Asn Trp Tyr Leu Gin Arg Pro Gly Gin Ser

4045

Pro Gin Leu Leu He Tyr Trp Met Ser Thr Arg Ala Ser Gly Vai Ser 50 5560

Asp Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Lys He 65 70 7580

Ser Gly Vai Glu Ala Glu Asp Vai Gly He Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Gly 85 9095

Leu Glu Phe Pro Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Leu Lys Arg

100 105110

Thr Asp Ala Ala Pro Thr Vai Ser He Phe Pro Pro Ser Ser Glu Gin

115 120125

Leu Thr Ser Gly Gly Ala Ser Vai Vai Cys Phe Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr

130 135140

146

Pro Lys Asp He Asn Vai Lys Trp Lys He Asp Gly Ser Glu Arg Gin

145 150 155160

Asn Gly Vai Leu Asn Ser Trp Thr Asp Gin Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr

165 170175

Tyr Ser Met Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Thr Lys Asp Glu Tyr Glu Arg

180 185190

His Asn Ser Tyr Thr Cys Glu Ala Thr His Lys Thr Ser Thr Ser Pro

195 200205

He Vai Lys Ser Phe Asn Arg Asn Glu Cys

210215 &lt;210&gt; 37 &lt;211&gt; 595 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 37

Glu Vai Gin Leu Vai Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 1015

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Asp Ser

2530

Trp He His Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai

4045

Ala Trp He Ser Pro Tyr Gly Gly Ser Thr Tyr Tyr Ala Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr He Ser Ala Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Thr Ala Tyr 65 70 7580

147

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Ala Arg Arg His Trp Pro Gly Gly Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gin Gly Thr

100 105110

Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ala Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Vai Phe Pro

115 120125

Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly

130 135140

Cys Leu Vai Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Ser Trp Asn 145 150 155160

Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai Leu Gin

165 170175

Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Vai Vai Thr Vai Pro Ser Ser

180 185190

Ser Leu Gly Thr Gin Thr Tyr He Cys Asn Vai Asn His Lys Pro Ser

195 200205

Asn Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys Vai Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr

210 215220

His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Ala Ala Gly Gly Pro Ser

225 230 235240

Vai Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met He Ser Arg

245 250255

Thr Pro Glu Vai Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Asp Vai Ser His Glu Asp Pro

260 265270

Glu Vai Lys Phe Asn Trp Tyr Vai Asp Gly Vai Glu Vai His Asn Ala

275 280285

148

Lys Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu Gin Tyr Asn Ser Thr Tyr Arg Vai Vai

290 295300

Ser Vai Leu Thr Vai Leu His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Tyr

305 310 315320

Lys Cys Lys Vai Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Gly Ala Pro He Glu Lys Thr

325 330335

He Ser Lys Ala Lys Gly Gin Pro Arg Glu Pro Gin Vai Tyr Thr Leu

340 345350

Pro Pro Cys Arg Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gin Vai Ser Leu Trp Cys

355 360365

Leu Vai Lys Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp lie Ala Vai Glu Trp Glu Ser

370 375380

Asn Gly Gin Pro Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Vai Leu Asp 385 390 395400

Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe Phe Leu Tyr Ser Lys Leu Thr Vai Asp Lys Ser

405 410415

Arg Trp Gin Gin Gly Asn Vai Phe Ser Cys Ser Vai Met His Glu Ala

420 425430

Leu His Asn His Tyr Thr Gin Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly Gly

435 440445

Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Ala Pro

450 455460

Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Lys Lys Thr Gin Leu Gin Leu Glu His Leu Leu

465 470 475480

Leu Asp Leu Gin Met He Leu Asn Gly lie Asn Asn Tyr Lys Asn Pro

149

485 490495

Lys Leu Thr Arg Met Leu Thr Ala Lys Phe Ala Met Pro Lys Lys Ala

500 505510

Thr Glu Leu Lys His Leu Gin Cys Leu Glu Glu Glu Leu Lys Pro Leu

515 520525

Glu Glu Vai Leu Asn Gly Ala Gin Ser Lys Asn Phe His Leu Arg Pro

530 535540

Arg Asp Leu He Ser Asn He Asn Vai He Vai Leu Glu Leu Lys Gly 545 550 555560

Ser Glu Thr Thr Phe Met Cys Glu Tyr Ala Asp Glu Thr Ala Thr He 565 570575

Vai Glu Phe Leu Asn Arg Trp He Thr Phe Ala Gin Ser He He Ser

580 585590

Thr Leu Thr

595 &lt;210&gt; 38 &lt;211&gt; 446 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 38

Glu Vai Gin Leu Vai Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 1015

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Asp Ser

2530

Trp He His Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai 35 4045

150

Ala Trp He Ser Pro Tyr Gly Gly Ser Thr Tyr Tyr Ala Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr lie Ser Ala Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Thr Ala Tyr 65 70 7580

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Ala Arg Arg His Trp Pro Gly Gly Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gin Gly Thr

100 105110

Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ala Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Vai Phe Pro

115 120125

Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly

130 135140

Cys Leu Vai Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Ser Trp Asn 145 150 155160

Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai Leu Gin

165 170175

Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Vai Vai Thr Vai Pro Ser Ser

180 185190

Ser Leu Gly Thr Gin Thr Tyr He Cys Asn Vai Asn His Lys Pro Ser

195 200205

Asn Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys Vai Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr

210 215220

His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Ala Ala Gly Gly Pro Ser

225 230 235240

Vai Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met He Ser Arg

151

245 250255

Thr Pro Glu Vai Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Asp Vai Ser His Glu Asp Pro

260 265270

Glu Vai Lys Phe Asn Trp Tyr Vai Asp Gly Vai Glu Vai His Asn Ala

275 280285

Lys Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu Gin Tyr Asn Ser Thr Tyr Arg Vai Vai

290 295300

Ser Vai Leu Thr Vai Leu His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Tyr

305 310 315320

Lys Cys Lys Vai Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Gly Ala Pro He Glu Lys Thr

325 330335

He Ser Lys Ala Lys Gly Gin Pro Arg Glu Pro Gin Vai Cys Thr Leu

340 345350

Pro Pro Ser Arg Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gin Vai Ser Leu Ser Cys

355 360365

Ala Vai Lys Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp He Ala Vai Glu Trp Glu Ser

370 375380

Asn Gly Gin Pro Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Vai Leu Asp

385 390 395400

Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe Phe Leu Vai Ser Lys Leu Thr Vai Asp Lys Ser

405 410415

Arg Trp Gin Gin Gly Asn Vai Phe Ser Cys Ser Vai Met His Glu Ala

420 425430

Leu His Asn His Tyr Thr Gin Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro

435 440445

152 &lt;210&gt; 39 &lt;211&gt; 214 &lt; 212&gt; PRT &lt; 213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt; 223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt; 400&gt; 39

Asp lie Gin Met Thr Gin Ser Pro Ser Ser Leu Ser Ala Ser Vai Gly 15 1015

Asp Arg Vai Thr He Thr Cys Arg Ala Ser Gin Asp Vai Ser Thr Ala

2530

Vai Ala Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Lys Ala Pro Lys Leu Leu lie

4045

Tyr Ser Ala Ser Phe Leu Tyr Ser Gly Vai Pro Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly 50 5560

Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr He Ser Ser Leu Gin Pro

70 7580

Glu Asp Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Tyr Leu Tyr His Pro Ala 85 9095

Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Vai Glu He Lys Arg Thr Vai Ala Ala

100 105110

Pro Ser Vai Phe He Phe Pro Pro Ser Asp Glu Gin Leu Lys Ser Gly

115 120125

Thr Ala Ser Vai Vai Cys Leu Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr Pro Arg Glu Ala

130 135140

Lys Vai Gin Trp Lys Vai Asp Asn Ala Leu Gin Ser Gly Asn Ser Gin 145 150 155160

Glu Ser Vai Thr Glu Gin Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Tyr Ser Leu Ser

153

165 170 175

Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Ser Lys Ala Asp Tyr Glu Lys His Lys Vai Tyr

180 185 190

Ala Cys Glu Vai Thr His Gin Gly Leu Ser Ser Pro Vai Thr Lys Ser

195 200 205

Phe Asn Arg Gly Glu Cys 210 &lt;210&gt; 40 &lt;211&gt; 605 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 40

Glu Vai Gin Leu Vai Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 1015

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Asp Ser 20 2530

Trp He His Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai 35 4045

Ala Trp lie Ser Pro Tyr Gly Gly Ser Thr Tyr Tyr Ala Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr lie Ser Ala Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Thr Ala Tyr

70 7580

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Ala Arg Arg His Trp Pro Gly Gly Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gin Gly Thr

100 105110

154

Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ala Ala Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Ser Val Tyr Pro

115 120125

Leu Ala Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Gin Thr Asn Ser Met Val Thr Leu Gly

130 135140

Cys Leu Val Lys Gly Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Val Thr Val Thr Trp Asn 145 150 155160

Ser Gly Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Val His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gin

165 170175

Ser Asp Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ser Ser Ser Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser Thr

180 185190

Trp Pro Ser Glu Thr Val Thr Cys Asn Val Ala His Pro Ala Ser Ser 195 200205

Thr Lys Val Asp Lys Lys He Val Pro Arg Asp Cys Gly Cys Lys Pro 210 215220

Cys He Cys Thr Val Pro Glu Val Ser Ser Val Phe lie Phe Pro Pro 225 230 235240

Lys Pro Lys Asp Val Leu Thr He Thr Leu Thr Pro Lys Val Thr Cys

245 250255

Val Val Val Ala lie Ser Lys Asp Asp Pro Glu Val Gin Phe Ser Trp 40 260 265270

Phe Val Asp Asp Val Glu Val His Thr Ala Gin Thr Gin Pro Arg Glu 275 280285

Glu Gin Phe Asn Ser Thr Phe Arg Ser Val Ser Glu Leu Pro He Met 290 295300

His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Phe Lys Cys Arg Val Asn Ser

155

305 310 315320

Ala Ala Phe Gly Ala Pro lie Glu Lys Thr He Ser Lys Thr Lys Gly

325 330335

Arg Pro Lys Ala Pro Gin Vai Tyr Thr He Pro Pro Pro Lys Glu Gin

340 345350

Met Ala Lys Asp Lys Vai Ser Leu Thr Cys Met He Thr Asp Phe Phe

355 360365

Pro Glu Asp He Thr Vai Glu Trp Gin Trp Asn Gly Gin Pro Ala Glu

370 375380

Asn Tyr Asp Asn Thr Gin Pro He Met Asp Thr Asp Gly Ser Tyr Phe 385 390 395400

Vai Tyr Ser Asp Leu Asn Vai Gin Lys Ser Asn Trp Glu Ala Gly Asn

405 410415

Thr Phe Thr Cys Ser Vai Leu His Glu Gly Leu His Asn His His Thr

420 425430

Glu Lys Ser Leu Ser His Ser Pro Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly

435 440445

Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Ala Pro Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser

450 455460

Ser Ser Thr Ala Glu Ala Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin

465 470 475480

Gin Gin His Leu Glu Gin Leu Leu Met Asp Leu Gin Glu Leu Leu Ser

485 490495

Arg Met Glu Asn Tyr Arg Asn Leu Lys Leu Pro Arg Met Leu Thr Ala

500 505510

156

Lys Phe Ala Leu Pro Lys Gin Ala Thr Glu Leu Lys Asp Leu Gin Cys

515 520525

Leu Glu Asp Glu Leu Gly Pro Leu Arg His Vai Leu Asp Gly Thr Gin

530 535540

Ser Lys Ser Phe Gin Leu Glu Asp Ala Glu Asn Phe He Ser Asn He 545 550 555560

Arg Vai Thr Vai Vai Lys Leu Lys Gly Ser Asp Asn Thr Phe Glu Cys

565 570575

Gin Phe Asp Asp Glu Ser Ala Thr Vai Vai Asp Phe Leu Arg Arg Trp

580 585590 lie Ala Phe Ala Gin Ser He He Ser Thr Ser Pro Gin

595 600605 &lt;210&gt; 41 &lt;211&gt; 440 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 41

Glu Vai Gin Leu Vai Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 1015

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Asp Ser 20 2530

Trp He His Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai 35 4045

Ala Trp He Ser Pro Tyr Gly Gly Ser Thr Tyr Tyr Ala Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr He Ser Ala Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Thr Ala Tyr

157

70 7580

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Ala Arg Arg His Trp Pro Gly Gly Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gin Gly Thr

100 105110

Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ala Ala Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Ser Vai Tyr Pro

115 120125

Leu Ala Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Gin Thr Asn Ser Met Vai Thr Leu Gly

130 135140

Cys Leu Vai Lys Gly Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Thr Trp Asn 145 150 155160

Ser Gly Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai Leu Gin

165 170175

Ser Asp Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ser Ser Ser Vai Thr Vai Pro Ser Ser Thr

180 185190

Trp Pro Ser Glu Thr Vai Thr Cys Asn Vai Ala His Pro Ala Ser Ser

195 200205

Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys He Vai Pro Arg Asp Cys Gly Cys Lys Pro

210 215220

Cys He Cys Thr Vai Pro Glu Vai Ser Ser Vai Phe He Phe Pro Pro

225 230 235240

Lys Pro Lys Asp Vai Leu Thr He Thr Leu Thr Pro Lys Vai Thr Cys

245 250255

Vai Vai Vai Ala He Ser Lys Asp Asp Pro Glu Vai Gin Phe Ser Trp

260 265270

158

Phe Vai Asp Asp Vai Glu Vai His Thr Ala Gin Thr Gin Pro Arg Glu

275 280285

Glu Gin Phe Asn Ser Thr Phe Arg Ser Vai Ser Glu Leu Pro He Met

290 295300

His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Phe Lys Cys Arg Vai Asn Ser

305 310 315320

Ala Ala Phe Gly Ala Pro lie Glu Lys Thr He Ser Lys Thr Lys Gly

325 330335

Arg Pro Lys Ala Pro Gin Vai Tyr Thr lie Pro Pro Pro Lys Lys Gin

340 345350

Met Ala Lys Asp Lys Vai Ser Leu Thr Cys Met He Thr Asp Phe Phe

355 360365

Pro Glu Asp He Thr Vai Glu Trp Gin Trp Asn Gly Gin Pro Ala Glu

370 375380

Asn Tyr Lys Asn Thr Gin Pro He Met Lys Thr Asp Gly Ser Tyr Phe

385 390 395400

Vai Tyr Ser Lys Leu Asn Vai Gin Lys Ser Asn Trp Glu Ala Gly Asn

405 410415

Thr Phe Thr Cys Ser Vai Leu His Glu Gly Leu His Asn His His Thr

420 425430

Glu Lys Ser Leu Ser His Ser Pro

435440 &lt;210&gt; 42 &lt;211&gt; 214 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct

159 &lt;400&gt; 42

Asp He Gin Met Thr Gin Ser Pro Ser Ser Leu Ser Ala Ser Vai Gly 15 1015

Asp Arg Vai Thr He Thr Cys Arg Ala Ser Gin Asp Vai Ser Thr Ala

2530

Vai Ala Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Lys Ala Pro Lys Leu Leu He

4045

Tyr Ser Ala Ser Phe Leu Tyr Ser Gly Vai Pro Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly 50 5560

Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr lie Ser Ser Leu Gin Pro 65 70 7580

Glu Asp Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Tyr Leu Tyr His Pro Ala 85 9095

Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Vai Glu He Lys Arg Ala Asp Ala Ala

100 105110

Pro Thr Vai Ser He Phe Pro Pro Ser Ser Glu Gin Leu Thr Ser Gly

115 120125

Gly Ala Ser Vai Vai Cys Phe Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr Pro Lys Asp He

130 135140

Asn Vai Lys Trp Lys He Asp Gly Ser Glu Arg Gin Asn Gly Vai Leu 145 150 155160

Asn Ser Trp Thr Asp Gin Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Tyr Ser Met Ser

165 170175

Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Thr Lys Asp Glu Tyr Glu Arg His Asn Ser Tyr

180 185190

160

Thr Cys Glu Ala Thr His Lys Thr Ser Thr Ser Pro He Vai Lys Ser

195 200 205

Phe Asn Arg Asn Glu Cys 210 &lt;210&gt; 43 &lt;211&gt; 150 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Homo sapiens &lt;400&gt; 43

Pro Gly Trp Phe Leu Asp Ser Pro Asp Arg Pro Trp Asn Pro Pro Thr 1 5 1015

Phe Ser Pro Ala Leu Leu Vai Vai Thr Glu Gly Asp Asn Ala Thr Phe 20 2530

Thr Cys Ser Phe Ser Asn Thr Ser Glu Ser Phe Vai Leu Asn Trp Tyr 35 4045

Arg Met Ser Pro Ser Asn Gin Thr Asp Lys Leu Ala Ala Phe Pro Glu 50 5560

Asp Arg Ser Gin Pro Gly Gin Asp Cys Arg Phe Arg Vai Thr Gin Leu 65 70 7580

Pro Asn Gly Arg Asp Phe His Met Ser Vai Vai Arg Ala Arg Arg Asn 85 9095

Asp Ser Gly Thr Tyr Leu Cys Gly Ala He Ser Leu Ala Pro Lys Ala

100 105110

Gin He Lys Glu Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Leu Arg Vai Thr Glu Arg Arg

115 120125

Ala Glu Vai Pro Thr Ala His Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Arg Pro Ala Gly

130 135140

161

Gin Phe Gin Thr Leu Vai

145 150 &lt;210&gt; 44 &lt;211&gt; 608 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 44

Gin Vai Gin Leu Vai Gin Ser Gly Ala Glu Vai Lys Lys Pro Gly Ala

1015

Ser Vai Lys Vai Ser Cys Lys Ala Ser Gly Tyr Thr Phe Thr Glu Phe

20 2530

Gly Met Asn Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Gin Gly Leu Glu Trp Met 35 4045

Gly Trp He Asn Thr Lys Thr Gly Glu Ala Thr Tyr Vai Glu Glu Phe 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Vai Thr Phe Thr Thr Asp Thr Ser Thr Ser Thr Ala Tyr

70 7580

Met Glu Leu Arg Ser Leu Arg Ser Asp Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys

9095

Ala Arg Trp Asp Phe Ala Tyr Tyr Vai Glu Ala Met Asp Tyr Trp Gly

100 105110

Gin Gly Thr Thr Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Ser 115 120125

Vai Tyr Pro Leu Ala Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Gin Thr Asn Ser Met Vai 130 135140

Thr Leu Gly Cys Leu Vai Lys Gly Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai

162

145 150 155 160

Thr Trp Asn Ser Gly Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala

165 170175

Vai Leu Gin Ser Asp Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ser Ser Ser Vai Thr Vai Pro

180 185190

Ser Ser Thr Trp Pro Ser Gin Thr Vai Thr Cys Asn Vai Ala His Pro

195 200205

Ala Ser Ser Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys He Vai Pro Arg Asp Cys Gly

210 215220

Cys Lys Pro Cys lie Cys Thr Vai Pro Glu Vai Ser Ser Vai Phe He 225 230 235240

Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Vai Leu Thr He Thr Leu Thr Pro Lys

245 250255

Vai Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Ala He Ser Lys Asp Asp Pro Glu Vai Gin

260 265270

Phe Ser Trp Phe Vai Asp Asp Vai Glu Vai His Thr Ala Gin Thr Lys

275 280285

Pro Arg Glu Glu Gin He Asn Ser Thr Phe Arg Ser Vai Ser Glu Leu

290 295300

Pro He Met His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Phe Lys Cys Arg

305 310 315320

Vai Asn Ser Ala Ala Phe Gly Ala Pro He Glu Lys Thr lie Ser Lys

325 330335

Thr Lys Gly Arg Pro Lys Ala Pro Gin Vai Tyr Thr He Pro Pro Pro

340 345350

163

Lys Glu Gin Met Ala Lys Asp Lys Vai Ser Leu Thr Cys Met He Thr

355 360365

Asn Phe Phe Pro Glu Asp lie Thr Vai Glu Trp Gin Trp Asn Gly Gin

370 375380

Pro Ala Glu Asn Tyr Asp Asn Thr Gin Pro He Met Asp Thr Asp Gly

385 390 395400

Ser Tyr Phe Vai Tyr Ser Asp Leu Asn Vai Gin Lys Ser Asn Trp Glu

405 410415

Ala Gly Asn Thr Phe Thr Cys Ser Vai Leu His Glu Gly Leu His Asn

420 425430

His His Thr Glu Lys Ser Leu Ser His Ser Pro Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly

435 440445

Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Ala Pro Ala Ser Ser

450 455460

Ser Thr Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala Glu Ala Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin

465 470 475480

Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin His Leu Glu Gin Leu Leu Met Asp Leu Gin Glu

485 490495

Leu Leu Ser Arg Met Glu Asn Tyr Arg Asn Leu Lys Leu Pro Arg Met

500 505510

Leu Thr Ala Lys Phe Ala Leu Pro Lys Gin Ala Thr Glu Leu Lys Asp

515 520525

Leu Gin Cys Leu Glu Asp Glu Leu Gly Pro Leu Arg His Vai Leu Asp

530 535540

Gly Thr Gin Ser Lys Ser Phe Gin Leu Glu Asp Ala Glu Asn Phe He

545 550 555560

164

Ser Asn lie Arg Vai Thr Vai Vai Lys Leu Lys Gly Ser Asp Asn Thr

565 570575

Phe Glu Cys Gin Phe Asp Asp Glu Ser Ala Thr Vai Vai Asp Phe Leu

580 585590

Arg Arg Trp He Ala Phe Ala Gin Ser lie He Ser Thr Ser Pro Gin

595 600605 &lt;210&gt; 45 &lt;211&gt; 445 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 45

Gin Vai Gin Leu Vai Gin Ser Gly Ala Glu Vai Lys Lys Pro Gly Ala 15 1015

Ser Vai Lys Vai Ser Cys Lys Ala Ser Gly Tyr Thr Phe Thr Glu Phe

2530

Gly Met Asn Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Gin Gly Leu Glu Trp Met

4045

Gly Trp He Asn Thr Lys Thr Gly Glu Ala Thr Tyr Vai Glu Glu Phe

5560

Lys Gly Arg Vai Thr Phe Thr Thr Asp Thr Ser Thr Ser Thr Ala Tyr 65 70 7580

Met Glu Leu Arg Ser Leu Arg Ser Asp Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Ala Arg Trp Asp Phe Ala Tyr Tyr Vai Glu Ala Met Asp Tyr Trp Gly

100 105110

165

Gin Gly Thr Thr Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Ser

115 120125

Vai Tyr Pro Leu Ala Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Gin Thr Asn Ser Met Vai

130 135140

Thr Leu Gly Cys Leu Vai Lys Gly Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai 145 150 155160

Thr Trp Asn Ser Gly Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala

165 170175

Vai Leu Gin Ser Asp Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ser Ser Ser Vai Thr Vai Pro

180 185190

Ser Ser Thr Trp Pro Ser Gin Thr Vai Thr Cys Asn Vai Ala His Pro 195 200205

Ala Ser Ser Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys He Vai Pro Arg Asp Cys Gly

210 215220

Cys Lys Pro Cys He Cys Thr Vai Pro Glu Vai Ser Ser Vai Phe He 225 230 235240

Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Vai Leu Thr He Thr Leu Thr Pro Lys

245 250255

Vai Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Ala He Ser Lys Asp Asp Pro Glu Vai Gin

260 265270

Phe Ser Trp Phe Vai Asp Asp Vai Glu Vai His Thr Ala Gin Thr Lys

275 280285

Pro Arg Glu Glu Gin He Asn Ser Thr Phe Arg Ser Vai Ser Glu Leu

290 295300

Pro He Met His Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Phe Lys Cys Arg

305 310 315320

166

Vai Asn Ser Ala Ala Phe Gly Ala Pro Ue Glu Lys Thr Ue Ser Lys

325 330335

Thr Lys Gly Arg Pro Lys Ala Pro Gin Vai Tyr Thr He Pro Pro Pro

340 345350

Lys Lys Gin Met Ala Lys Asp Lys Vai Ser Leu Thr Cys Met He Thr

355 360365

Asn Phe Phe Pro Glu Asp He Thr Vai Glu Trp Gin Trp Asn Gly Gin

370 375380

Pro Ala Glu Asn Tyr Lys Asn Thr Gin Pro He Met Lys Thr Asp Gly 385 390 395400

Ser Tyr Phe Vai Tyr Ser Lys Leu Asn Vai Gin Lys Ser Asn Trp Glu 405 410415

Ala Gly Asn Thr Phe Thr Cys Ser Vai Leu His Glu Gly Leu His Asn 420 425430

His His Thr Glu Lys Ser Leu Ser His Ser Pro Gly Lys

435 440445 &lt;210&gt; 46 &lt;21I&gt; 215 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 46

Asp lie Gin Met Thr Gin Ser Pro Ser Ser Leu Ser Ala Ser Vai Gly 45 1 5 10 15

Asp Arg Vai Thr lie Thr Cys Lys Ala Ser Ala Ala Vai Gly Thr Tyr 20 25 30

167

Val Ala Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Lys Ala Pro Lys Leu Leu He

4045

Tyr Ser Ala Ser Tyr Arg Lys Arg Gly Val Pro Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly

5560

Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr He Ser Ser Leu Gin Pro

65 70 7580

Glu Asp Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys His Gin Tyr Tyr Thr Tyr Pro Leu 85 9095

Phe Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu He Lys Arg Ala Asp Ala 100 105110

Ala Pro Thr Val Ser He Phe Pro Pro Ser Ser Glu Gin Leu Thr Ser 115 120125

Gly Gly Ala Ser Val Val Cys Phe Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr Pro Lys Asp 130 135140

He Asn Val Lys Trp Lys He Asp Gly Ser Glu Arg Gin Asn Gly Val

145 150 155160

Leu Asn Ser Trp Thr Asp Gin Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Tyr Ser Met 165 170175

Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Thr Lys Asp Glu Tyr Glu Arg His Asn Ser 180 185190

Tyr Thr Cys Glu Ala Thr His Lys Thr Ser Thr Ser Pro lie Val Lys 195 200205

Ser Phe Asn Arg Asn Glu Cys

210215 &lt;210&gt; 47 &lt;211&gt; 604 &lt;2I2&gt; PRT

168 &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 47

Glu Vai Gin Leu Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 1015

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Ser Tyr

2530

Ala Met Ser Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai

4045

Ser Ala He He Gly Ser Gly Ala Ser Thr Tyr Tyr Ala Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr He Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr 65 70 7580

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Ala Lys Gly Trp Phe Gly Gly Phe Asn Tyr Trp Gly Gin Gly Thr Leu

100 105110

Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Ser Vai Tyr Pro Leu

115 120125

Ala Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Gin Thr Asn Ser Met Vai Thr Leu Gly Cys

130 135140

Leu Vai Lys Gly Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Thr Trp Asn Ser 145 150 155160

Gly Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai Leu Gin Ser

165 170175

169

Asp Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ser Ser Ser Vai Thr Vai Pro Ser Ser Thr Trp

180 185190

Pro Ser Gin Thr Vai Thr Cys Asn Vai Ala His Pro Ala Ser Ser Thr

195 200205

Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys lie Vai Pro Arg Asp Cys Gly Cys Lys Pro Cys

210 215220

He Cys Thr Vai Pro Glu Vai Ser Ser Vai Phe He Phe Pro Pro Lys

225 230 235240

Pro Lys Asp Vai Leu Thr lie Thr Leu Thr Pro Lys Vai Thr Cys Vai

245 250255

Vai Vai Ala He Ser Lys Asp Asp Pro Glu Vai Gin Phe Ser Trp Phe

260 265270

Vai Asp Asp Vai Glu Vai His Thr Ala Gin Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu

275 280285

Gin He Asn Ser Thr Phe Arg Ser Vai Ser Glu Leu Pro He Met His

290 295300

Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Phe Lys Cys Arg Vai Asn Ser Ala

305 310 315320

Ala Phe Gly Ala Pro He Glu Lys Thr lie Ser Lys Thr Lys Gly Arg

325 330335

Pro Lys Ala Pro Gin Vai Tyr Thr He Pro Pro Pro Lys Glu Gin Met

340 345350

Ala Lys Asp Lys Vai Ser Leu Thr Cys Met He Thr Asn Phe Phe Pro

355 360365

Glu Asp He Thr Vai Glu Trp Gin Trp Asn Gly Gin Pro Ala Glu Asn

370 375380

170

Tyr Asp Asn Thr Gin Pro He Met Asp Thr Asp Gly Ser Tyr Phe Vai 385 390 395400

Tyr Ser Asp Leu Asn Vai Gin Lys Ser Asn Trp Glu Ala Gly Asn Thr

405 410415

Phe Thr Cys Ser Vai Leu His Glu Gly Leu His Asn His His Thr Glu

420 425430

Lys Ser Leu Ser His Ser Pro Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly

435 440445

Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Ala Pro Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Ser

450 455460

Ser Thr Ala Glu Ala Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin Gin

465 470 475480

Gin His Leu Glu Gin Leu Leu Met Asp Leu Gin Glu Leu Leu Ser Arg

485 490495

Met Glu Asn Tyr Arg Asn Leu Lys Leu Pro Arg Met Leu Thr Ala Lys

500 505510

Phe Ala Leu Pro Lys Gin Ala Thr Glu Leu Lys Asp Leu Gin Cys Leu

515 520525

Glu Asp Glu Leu Gly Pro Leu Arg His Vai Leu Asp Gly Thr Gin Ser

530 535540

Lys Ser Phe Gin Leu Glu Asp Ala Glu Asn Phe He Ser Asn He Arg 545 550 555560

Vai Thr Vai Vai Lys Leu Lys Gly Ser Asp Asn Thr Phe Glu Cys Gin

565 570575

Phe Asp Asp Glu Ser Ala Thr Vai Vai Asp Phe Leu Arg Arg Trp He

580 585590

171

Ala Phe Ala Gin Ser lie He Ser Thr Ser Pro Gin

595 600 &lt;210&gt; 48 &lt;211&gt; 441 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 48

Glu Vai Gin Leu Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Vai Gin Pro Gly Gly 15 1015

Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Ser Tyr 20 2530

Ala Met Ser Trp Vai Arg Gin Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Vai 35 4045

Ser Ala He lie Gly Ser Gly Ala Ser Thr Tyr Tyr Ala Asp Ser Vai 50 5560

Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr He Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr 65 70 7580

Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Ala Lys Gly Trp Phe Gly Gly Phe Asn Tyr Trp Gly Gin Gly Thr Leu loo 105 no

Val Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Ser Vai Tyr Pro Leu

115 120125

Ala Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Gin Thr Asn Ser Met Val Thr Leu Gly Cys

130 135140

172

Leu Vai Lys Gly Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Vai Thr Trp Asn Ser 145 150 155160

Gly Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai Leu Gin Ser

165 170175

Asp Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ser Ser Ser Vai Thr Vai Pro Ser Ser Thr Trp

180 185190

Pro Ser Gin Thr Vai Thr Cys Asn Vai Ala His Pro Ala Ser Ser Thr 15 195 200205

Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys He Vai Pro Arg Asp Cys Gly Cys Lys Pro Cys 210 215220 lie Cys Thr Vai Pro Glu Vai Ser Ser Vai Phe lie Phe Pro Pro Lys

225 230 235240

Pro Lys Asp Vai Leu Thr He Thr Leu Thr Pro Lys Vai Thr Cys Vai 245 250255

Vai Vai Ala He Ser Lys Asp Asp Pro Glu Vai Gin Phe Ser Trp Phe 260 265270

Vai Asp Asp Vai Glu Vai His Thr Ala Gin Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu

275 280285

Gin lie Asn Ser Thr Phe Arg Ser Vai Ser Glu Leu Pro lie Met His 290 295300

Gin Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Phe Lys Cys Arg Vai Asn Ser Ala

305 310 315320

Ala Phe Gly Ala Pro He Glu Lys Thr He Ser Lys Thr Lys Gly Arg 325 330335

Pro Lys Ala Pro Gin Vai Tyr Thr Ue Pro Pro Pro Lys Lys Gin Met 340 345350

173

Ala Lys Asp Lys Vai Ser Leu Thr Cys Met He Thr Asn Phe Phe Pro

355 360365

Glu Asp He Thr Vai Glu Trp Gin Trp Asn Gly Gin Pro Ala Glu Asn

370 375380

Tyr Lys Asn Thr Gin Pro He Met Lys Thr Asp Gly Ser Tyr Phe Vai

385 390 395400

Tyr Ser Lys Leu Asn Vai Gin Lys Ser Asn Trp Glu Ala Gly Asn Thr

405 410415

Phe Thr Cys Ser Vai Leu His Glu Gly Leu His Asn His His Thr Glu

420 425430

Lys Ser Leu Ser His Ser Pro Gly Lys

435440 &lt;210&gt; 49 &lt;211&gt; 215 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;2I3&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 49

Glu He Vai Leu Thr Gin Ser Pro Gly Thr Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly 15 1015

Glu Arg Ala Thr Leu Ser Cys Arg Ala Ser Gin Ser Vai Thr Ser Ser 20 2530

Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Gin Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu 35 4045

He Asn Vai Gly Ser Arg Arg Ala Thr Gly He Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser 50 5560

174

Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr He Ser Arg Leu Glu 65 70 7580

Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Vai Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Gly He Met Leu Pro 85 9095

Pro Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Vai Glu He Lys Arg Ala Asp Ala

100 105110

Ala Pro Thr Vai Ser He Phe Pro Pro Ser Ser Glu Gin Leu Thr Ser

115 120125

Gly Gly Ala Ser Vai Vai Cys Phe Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr Pro Lys Asp 130 135140

He Asn Vai Lys Trp Lys He Asp Gly Ser Glu Arg Gin Asn Gly Vai 145 150 155160

Leu Asn Ser Trp Thr Asp Gin Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Tyr Ser Met 165 170175

Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Thr Lys Asp Glu Tyr Glu Arg His Asn Ser

180 185190

Tyr Thr Cys Glu Ala Thr His Lys Thr Ser Thr Ser Pro He Vai Lys 35 195 200205

Ser Phe Asn Arg Asn Glu Cys 210215 &lt;210&gt; 50 &lt;211&gt; 450 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 50

175

Glu Vai Gin Leu Gin Glu Ser Gly Pro Gly Leu Vai Lys Pro Ser Gin 15 1015

Ser Leu Ser Leu Thr Cys Ser Vai Thr Gly Tyr Ser He Thr Ser Ser

2530

Tyr Arg Trp Asn Trp He Arg Lys Phe Pro Gly Asn Arg Leu Glu Trp 10 35 4045

Met Gly Tyr He Asn Ser Ala Gly He Ser Asn Tyr Asn Pro Ser Leu 50 5560

Lys Arg Arg He Ser He Thr Arg Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Gin Phe Phe

70 7580

Leu Gin Vai Asn Ser Vai Thr Thr Glu Asp Ala Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys 85 9095

Ala Arg Ser Asp Asn Met Gly Thr Thr Pro Phe Thr Tyr Trp Gly Gin

100 105110

Gly Thr Leu Vai Thr Vai Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Thr Ala Pro Ser Vai 30 115 120125

Tyr Pro Leu Ala Pro Vai Cys Gly Asp Thr Thr Gly Ser Ser Vai Thr 130 135140

Leu Gly Cys Leu Vai Lys Gly Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Vai Thr Leu Thr

145 150 155160

Trp Asn Ser Gly Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Vai His Thr Phe Pro Ala Vai 165 170175

Leu Gin Ser Asp Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ser Ser Ser Vai Thr Vai Thr Ser

180 185190

Ser Thr Trp Pro Ser Gin Ser lie Thr Cys Asn Vai Ala His Pro Ala

195 200205

176

Ser Ser Thr Lys Vai Asp Lys Lys He Glu Pro Arg Gly Pro Thr He 210 215220

Lys Pro Cys Pro Pro Cys Lys Cys Pro Ala Pro Asn Ala Ala Gly Gly

225 230 235240

Pro Ser Vai Phe He Phe Pro Pro Lys He Lys Asp Vai Leu Met lie

245 250255

Ser Leu Ser Pro He Vai Thr Cys Vai Vai Vai Asp Vai Ser Glu Asp 15 260 265270

Asp Pro Asp Vai Gin He Ser Trp Phe Vai Asn Asn Vai Glu Vai His 275 280285

Thr Ala Gin Thr Gin Thr His Arg Glu Asp Tyr Asn Ser Thr Leu Arg 290 295300

Vai Vai Ser Ala Leu Pro lie Gin His Gin Asp Trp Met Ser Gly Lys 305 310 315320

Glu Phe Lys Cys Lys Vai Asn Asn Lys Asp Leu Gly Ala Pro lie Glu

325 330335

Arg Thr lie Ser Lys Pro Lys Gly Ser Vai Arg Ala Pro Gin Vai Tyr 35 340 345350

Vai Leu Pro Pro Pro Glu Glu Glu Met Thr Lys Lys Gin Vai Thr Leu 355 360365

Thr Cys Met Vai Thr Asp Phe Met Pro Glu Asp He Tyr Vai Glu Trp 370 375380

Thr Asn Asn Gly Lys Thr Glu Leu Asn Tyr Lys Asn Thr Glu Pro Vai

385 390 395400

Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser Tyr Phe Met Tyr Ser Lys Leu Arg Vai Glu

405 410415

177

Lys Lys Asn Trp Vai Glu Arg Asn Ser Tyr Ser Cys Ser Vai Vai His

420 425 430

Glu Gly Leu His Asn His His Thr Thr Lys Ser Phe Ser Arg Thr Pro

435 440 445

Gly Lys

450 &lt;210&gt; 51 &lt;211&gt; 218 &lt;212&gt; PRT &lt;213&gt; Artificial Sequence &lt;220&gt;

&lt;223&gt; Synthetic Construct &lt;400&gt; 51

Asp He Vai Met Thr Gin Gly Thr Leu Pro Asn Pro Vai Pro Ser Gly 15 1015

Glu Ser Vai Ser He Thr Cys Arg Ser Ser Lys Ser Leu Leu Tyr Ser 30 20 2530

Asp Gly Lys Thr Tyr Leu Asn Trp Tyr Leu Gin Arg Pro Gly Gin Ser 35 4045

Pro Gin Leu Leu lie Tyr Trp Met Ser Thr Arg Ala Ser Gly Vai Ser 50 5560

Asp Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Lys He 65 70 7580

Ser Gly Vai Glu Ala Glu Asp Vai Gly lie Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin Gly

9095

Leu Glu Phe Pro Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Leu Lys Arg 50 100 105110

178

Thr Asp Ala Ala Pro Thr Vai Ser He Phe Pro Pro Ser Ser Glu Gin

115

120

125

Leu Thr Ser Gly Gly Ala Ser Vai Vai Cys Phe Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr

130 135140

Pro Lys Asp He Asn Vai Lys Trp Lys lie Asp Gly Ser Glu Arg Gin

145 150 155160

Asn Gly Vai Leu Asn Ser Trp Thr Asp Gin Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr

165 170175

Tyr Ser Met Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Thr Lys Asp Glu Tyr Glu Arg

180 185190

His Asn Ser Tyr Thr Cys Glu Ala Thr His Lys Thr Ser Thr Ser Pro

195 200205

He Vai Lys Ser Phe Asn Arg Asn Glu Cys

210215