Title of Invention

IMMUNOGLOBULINS

Abstract The present invention relates to antibodies to NOGO, pharmaceutical formulations containing them and to the use of such antibodies in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neurological diseases/disorder.
Full Text Immunoglobulins
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to immunoglobulins, particularly antibodies
that bind to NOGO and neutralise the activity thereof, polynucleotides encoding
such antibodies, pharmaceutical formulations containing said antibodies and to
the use of such antibodies in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neurological
diseases. Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the description below.
Background of the Invention
Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the Western World.
There is no approved therapy for the treatment of stroke other than tissue
plasminogen (t-PA) which has to be administered within 3 hours of onset
following a computer tomography (CT) scan to exclude haemorrhage. To date
most therapeutic agents directed towards the treatment of acute stroke (i.e.
neuroprotection), have predominantly involved targeting glutamate receptors and
their down stream signalling pathways known to be involved in acute cell death.
However to date these strategies have proved unsuccessful in clinical trials and
are often associated with dose-limiting side effects (Hill & Hachinski, The Lancet,
352 : (suppl III) 10-14 (1998)). Therefore there is a need for novel approaches
directed towards the amelioration of cell death following the cessation of blood
flow. Neuroprotection is the ability of a treatment to prevent or ameliorate
neuronal cell loss in response to an insult or disease process. This may be
achieved by targeting the neurons directly or indirectly by preventing glial
(including oligodendrocyte) cell loss.
Following the onset of stroke, some degree of spontaneous functional
recovery is observed in many patients, suggesting that the brain has the (albeit
limited) ability to repair and/or remodel following injury. Agents that have the
potential to enhance this recovery may therefore allow intervention to be made
much later (potentially days) following the onset of cerebral ischaemia. Agents
which are able to offer both acute neuroprotection and enhance functional

recovery may provide significant advantages over current potential
neuroprotective strategies.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterised by the presence of two
diagnostic features of pathology. These are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary
tangles composed of aggregated beta-amyloid peptide (A4O and A42) and
hyperphosphorylated tau respectively (Dawbarn & Allen 2001 Neurobiology of
Alzheimer's Disease OUP).
A comprehensive study has shown a strong link in patients between beta-
amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline (Naslund et al, JAMA, March 22/29,
2000, Vol.283, No;12, page 1571-1577). This is consistent with genetic and
epidemiological studies that suggest that some mutations in APP and presenilin
genes can predispose to early onset AD, which mutations also enhance the
levels of Ap40 and Ap42 peptide, including the ratio thereof.
Cleavage of the type I transmembrane amyloid precursor protein (APP) by
two distinct proteases designated beta- and gamma-secretase is necessary for
the formation of beta-amyloid peptide. The molecular identity of beta-secretase
as the aspartyl-protease Asp2/BACE1 has been confirmed (Hussain et al
Mol.Cell.NeuroSci. 16, 609-619 (2000); Vassar et al, Science (1999), Oct.22; 286
(5440):735-741). The nature of gamma-secretase remains the source of some
debate and is likely to consist of a high molecular weight complex consisting of at
least the following proteins: presenilins, Aph1, Pen2 and nicastrin (reviewed in
Medina & Dotti Cell Signalling 2003 15(9):829-41).
The processing of APP within the CNS is likely to occur within a number of
cell-types including neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia. While
the overall rate of APP processing in these cells will be influenced by the relative
level of expression of APP, BACE1/Asp2, presenilin-1 and -2, Aph1, Pen2 and
nicastrin.
Furthermore, additional factors regulating the subcellular location of APP
can also influence its processing as shown by the finding that mutation of the
YENP motif in the APP cytoplasmic domain which blocks its endocytosis reduces
beta-amyloid production (Perez et al 1999 J Biol Chem 274 (27) 18851-6).
Retention of the APP-beta-CTF in the ER by the addition of the KKQN retention
motif is sufficient to reduce amyloid production in transfected cells (Maltese et al

2001 J Biol Chem 276 (23) 20267-20279). Conversely, elevation of endocytosis,
by overexpression of Rab5 is sufficient to elevate amyloid secretion from
transfected cells (Grbovic et al 2003 J Biol Chem 278 (33) 31261-31268).
Consistent with these findings further studies have shown that reduction of
cellular cholesterol levels (a well known risk factor for AD) reduced beta-amyloid
formation. This change was dependent on altered endocytosis as demonstrated
by the use of the dominant negative dynamin mutants (K44A) and
overexpression of the Rab5 GTPase activating protein RN-Tre (Ehehalt et al
2003 J Cell Biol 160 (1) 113-123).
Cholesterol rich microdomains or rafts are also an important cellular site of
beta-amyloid production and APP, BACE1 and components of the gamma-
secretase complex have all been shown to transiently reside within rafts.
Antibody cross-linking of APP and BACE1 towards cholesterol rich rafts was able
to elevate beta-amyloid production (Ehehalt et al 2003 J Cell Biol 160 (1) 113-
123). Expression of GPI-anchored BACE1, which is exclusively targeted to lipid
rafts, is similarly able to elevate APP cleavage and beta-amyloid production
(Cordy et al 2003 PNAS 100(20) 11735-11740).
The mechanisms underlying functional recovery after a stroke or other
neurodamaging event or disease, are currently unknown. The sprouting of
injured or non-injured axons has been proposed as one possible mechanism.
However, although in vivo studies have shown that treatment of spinal cord injury
or stroke with neurotrophic factors results in enhanced functional recovery and a
degree of axonal sprouting, these do not prove a direct link between the degree
of axonal sprouting and extent of functional recovery (Jakeman, et al. 1998, Exp.
Neurol. 154: 170-184, Kawamata et al. 1997, Proc Natl Acad. Sci. USA.,
94:8179-8184, Ribotta, et al. 2000, J Neurosci. 20: 5144-5152). Furthermore,
axonal sprouting requires a viable neuron. In diseases such as stroke which is
associated with extensive cell death, enhancement of functional recovery offered
by a given agent post stroke may therefore be through mechanisms other than
axonal sprouting such as differentiation of endogenous stem cells, activation of
redundant pathways, changes in receptor distribution or excitability of neurons or
glia (Fawcett & Asher, 1999, Brain Res. Bulletin, 49: 377-391, Homer & Gage,
2000, Nature 407 963-970).

The limited ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to repair following
injury is thought in part to be due to molecules within the CNS environment that
have an inhibitory effect on axonal sprouting (neurite outgrowth). CNS myelin is
thought to contain inhibitory molecules (Schwab ME and Caroni P (1988) J.
Neurosci. 8, 2381-2193). Two myelin proteins, myelin-associated glycoprotein
(MAG) and NOGO have been cloned and identified as putative inhibitors of
neurite outgrowth (Sato S. et al (1989) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm.163,1473-
1480; McKerracher L et al (1994) Neuron 13, 805-811; Mukhopadhyay G et al
(1994) Neuron 13, 757-767; Torigoe K and Lundborg G (1997) Exp. Neurology
150, 254-262; Schaferetal (1996) Neuron 16, 1107-1113; WO9522344;
WO9701352; Prinjha R et al (2000) Nature 403, 383-384; Chen MS et al (2000)
Nature 403,434-439; GrandPre T et al (2000) Nature 403, 439-444;
US005250414A; WO200005364A1; WO0031235).
Three forms of human NOGO have been identified: NOGO-A having 1192
amino acid residues (GenBank accession no. AJ251383); NOGO-B, a splice
variant which lacks residues 186 to 1004 in the putative extracellular domain
(GenBank accession no. AJ251384) and a shorter splice variant, NOGO-C,
which also lacks residues 186 to 1004 and also has smaller, alternative amino
terminal domain (GenBank accession no. AJ251385) (Prinjha et al (2000) supra).
Inhibition of the CNS inhibitory proteins such as NOGO may provide a
therapeutic means to ameliorate neuronal damage and promote neuronal repair
and growth thereby potentially assisting recovery from neuronal injury such as
that sustained in stroke. Examples of such NOGO inhibitors may include small
molecules, peptides and antibodies.
It has been reported that a murine monoclonal antibody, IN-1, that was
raised against NI-220/250, a myelin protein which is a potent inhibitor of neurite
growth (and subsequently shown to be fragment of NOGO-A), promotes axonal
regeneration (Caroni, P and Schwab, ME (1988) Neuron 1 85-96; Schnell, L and
Schwab, ME (1990) Nature 343 269-272; Bregman, BS et al (1995) Nature 378
498-501 and Thallmair, M et al (1998) Nature Neuroscience 1 124-131). It has
also been reported that NOGO-A is the antigen for IN-1 (Chen et al (2000)
Nature 403 434-439). Administration of IN-1 Fab fragment or humanised IN-1 to
rats that have undergone spinal cord transection, enhanced recovery (Fiedler, M

et al (2002) Protein Eng 15 931-941; Brosamle, C et al (2000) J. Neuroscience
20 8061-8068).
Monoclonal antibodies which bind to NOGO are described in WO
04/052932 and WO2005028508. WO 04/052932 discloses a murine antibody
11C7 which binds to certain forms of human NOGO with high affinity.
Patent application WO05/061544 also discloses high affinity monoclonal
antibodies, including a murine monoclonal antibody 2A10, and generally
discloses humanised variants thereof, for example H1L11 (the sequences for the
H1 and L11 are provided in SEQ ID NOs. 33 and 34 respectively (VH or VL
sequences only)). The antibodies disclosed bind to human NOGO-A with high
affinity. The murine 2A10 antibody (and CDR-grafted humanised variants thereof)
are characterised by the following complementarity determining region (CDR)
sequences (as determined using the Kabat methodology (Kabat et al. (1991)
"Sequences of proteins of immunological interest"; Fifth Edition; US Department
of Health and Human Services; NIH publication No 91-3242)) within their light
and heavy chain variable regions:

WO05/061544 further discloses "analogues" of the antibodies that
comprise the CDRs of Tables 1 and 2 above, such "analogues" the have same

antigen binding specificity and/or neutralizing ability as the donor antibody from
which they were derived.
Despite the art providing high affinity anti-NOGO antibodies, it remains a
highly desirable goal to isolate and develop alternative, or improved,
therapeutically useful monoclonal antibodies that bind and inhibit the activity of
human NOGO.
The process of neurodegeneration underlies many neurological
diseases/disorders including, but not limited to, acute diseases such as stroke
(ischemic or haemorrhagic), traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury as well
as chronic diseases including Alzheimer's disease, frontp-temporal dementias
(tauopathies), peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease (CJD), Schizophrenia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple
sclerosis, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis and inclusion body myositis.
Consequently the anti-NOGO monoclonal antibodies, and the like, of the present
invention may be useful in the treatment of these diseases/disorders. Antibodies
for the treatment of the above mentioned disease/disorders are provided by the
present invention and described in detail below.
Brief Summary of the Invention
The invention provides specific heavy chain variable regions, and
antibodies or fragments thereof comprising the said specific heavy chain variable
regions and a light chain variable region that allows, when paired with the heavy
chain variable regions, the Fv dimer to bind human NOGO-A with high affinity,
and thereby neutralise the activity of human NOGO-A.
The heavy chain variable regions of the present invention may be
formatted, together with light chain variable regions to allow binding to human
NOGO-A, in the conventional immunoglobulin manner (for example, human IgG,
IgA, IgM etc.) or in any other fragment thereof or "antibody-like" format that binds
to human NOGO-A (for example, single chain Fv, diabodies, Tandabs™ etc (for
a summary of alternative "antibody" formats see Holliger and Hudson, Nature
Biotechnology, 2005, Vol 23, No. 9,1126-1136)).
A heavy chain variable region comprising a third CDR consisting
essentially of the amino acid residues GQGY wherein the CDR contains at least

one substitution within the GQGY core sequence, the substitutions being
selected from the following substitutions: where the G in the first position is
replaced by R, I, W or M; the Q in the second position is replaced by D, I, A, L, V
or S; the G in the third position is replaced by W, N, Y, S, L or F; and the Y Fn the
fourth position is replaced by W.
In another embodiment, the third heavy chain CDR (CDR H3) only
contains one substitutions to yield the following CDR H3: RQGY (SEQ ID
NO.75), IQGY (SEQ ID NO.76), MQGY (SEQ ID NO.45), GDGY (SEQ ID
NO.77), GIGY (SEQ ID NO.78), GSGY (SEQ ID NO.79), GQNY (SEQ ID NO.80),
GQYY (SEQ ID NO.81), GQSY (SEQ ID NO.62), GQLY (SEQ ID NO.82), GQFY
(SEQ ID NO.83), GQGW (SEQ ID NO.84), WQGY(SEQ ID NO.86), GAGY(SEQ
ID NO.87), GLGY(SEQ ID NO.88), GVGY(SEQ ID NO.89), GQWY(SEQ ID
NO.90).
In another embodiment, the heavy chain variable regions above further
contain the other CDRs listed in Table 2, i.e. CDR H1 (SEQ ID NO. 1) and CDR
H2 (SEQ ID NO.2).
The antibodies of the present invention, or fragments thereof, retain
the human NOGO binding activity of antibodies that comprise the CDR H3:
GQGY, in terms of their activity as measured in ELISA and Biacore experiments,
and in some cases the activity in these experiments is increased.
Human or humanised heavy chain variable regions containing G95M (substitution
numbering by Kabat)
In one embodiment of the present invention, the heavy chain variable
regions of the present invention comprise the CDRs defined in Table 3 (as
defined by Kabat):
Table 3:


In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a human or
humanised heavy chain variable region comprising each of the CDRs listed in
Table 3. In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a
humanised heavy chain variable region comprising the CDRs listed in Table 3
within the larger sequence of a human heavy chain variable region. In yet
another embodiment the humanised heavy chain variable region comprises the
CDRs listed in Table 3 within an acceptor antibody framework having greater
than 40% identity in the framework regions, or greater than 50%, or greater than
60%, or greater than 65% identity to the murine 2A10 donor antibody heavy
chain variable region (SEQ ID NO.7).
When the CDRs of Table 3 are all used, in one embodiment the heavy
chain variable region sequence is sequence H98 provided as SEQ ID NO. 66
(H98 VH is the equivalent of H1 VH (SEQ ID NO.33) differing only in that the
CDR H3 is MQGY in H98 instead of GQGY as found in H1).
In one aspect of the present invention the antibodies comprise a heavy
chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 66 (H98
variable region) further comprising a number of substitutions at one or more of
positions 38, 40,48, 67, 68, 70, 72,74, and 79; wherein each substituted amino
acid residue is replaced with the amino acid residue at the equivalent position in
SEQ ID NO 7 (the heavy chain variable region of the donor antibody 2A10) and
the number of substitutions is between 1 and 9. In other embodiments the
number of substitutions is 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8 or 9.
In this context the substitutions that are described are equivalent in
concept to "back-mutations" where the human framework amino acid residues in
specific positions within the H98 sequence are back-mutated to the amino acid
residues in the equivalent position within the 2A10 donor antibody sequence.
Unless specifically stated otherwise to the contrary herein, when a
numerical position of an amino acid residue found within a specific sequence is
mentioned in this document, for example "position 12", it is intended that the
skilled reader assigns the first amino acid in the sequence the position "1" and
counts from position one and identifies the amino acid which is in the desired
position, in this example the twelfth amino acid residue in the sequence. The
skilled reader will notice that this numbering system does not correspond with the

Kabat numbering system which is often used to define amino acid positions
within antibody sequences.
For optimal binding affinity, it was found for the humanisation of the mouse
antibody 2A10 (the VH for which is SEQ ID NO. 7) that the pair of amino acid
residues in positions 48 and 68, should be I and A respectively (as they exist in
2A10) or M and V respectively (as they exist in H98). It is expected that the
above finding is also of relevance to the humanisation of the G95M variant of
2A10.
The following table includes details of three different heavy chain variable
(VH) regions which may form part of the antibodies of the present invention. Each
of the disclosed VH is based on the H98 VH (SEQ ID NO. 66) further comprising
the substitutions mentioned in the table (Table 4) where the H98 residue at the
relevant position is substituted with the 2A10 residue at that position (in the table,
"-" means that there is no substitution in that position, and so the residue remains
as in the sequence of H98):

In one embodiment of the present invention, therefore, the heavy chain
variable regions (VH) of the present invention are H26 VH (SEQ ID NO. 47), H27
VH (SEQ ID NO. 48) and H28 VH (SEQ ID NO. 49)



Human or Humanised heavy chain variable regions including G101S (substitution
numbering by Kabat)
In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a human
or humanised heavy chain variable region which comprises CDRs defined in
Table 5:

In one embodiment the CDRs of Table 5 are incorporated within a human
heavy chain variable region sequence. In another embodiment the humanised
heavy chain variable region comprises the CDRs listed in Table 5 within an
acceptor antibody framework having greater than 40% identity in the framework
regions, or greater than 50%, or greater than 60%, or greater than 65% identity to
the murine 2A10 donor antibody heavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO.7).
In another embodiment the CDRs of Table 5 are inserted into a human
heavy chain variable region to give the following sequence (H99):

In other embodiments, further back mutations are added to the H99 VH
sequence in any one of positions (denoted by numerical residue position) 38, 40.
48, 67, 68, 70, 72, 74 or 79; wherein each substituted amino acid residue is
replaced with the amino acid residue at the equivalent position in SEQ ID NO 7

(the heavy chain variable region of the donor antibody 2A10) and the number of
substitutions is between 1 and 9. In other embodiments the number of
substitutions is 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8 or 9. H99 VH is the
equivalent of H1 VH (SEQ ID NO.33) differing only in that the CDR H3 is GQSY
in H99 instead of GQGY as found in H1.
For optimal binding affinity, it was found for the humanisation of the mouse
antibody 2A10 (the VH for which is SEQ ID NO. 7) that the pair of amino acid
residues in positions 48 and 68, should be I and A respectively (as they exist in
2A10) or M and V respectively (as they exist in H98). It is expected that the
above finding is also of relevance to the humanisation of the G95M variant of
2A10.
In one embodiment the back mutations are located in the positions
indicated in Table 6 below where the H99 residue at the relevant position is
substituted with the 2A10 residue at that position (in the table,"-" means that
there is no substitution in that position, and so the residue remains as in the
sequence of H1):

Antibodies or fragments that comprise the human or humanised heavy chain
variable regions and light chain variable regions
The VH constructs of the present invention may be paired with a light
chain to form a human NOGO-A binding unit (Fv) in any format, including a
conventional IgG antibody format having full length (FL) variable and constant
domain heavy chain sequences. Examples of full length (FL) lgG1 heavy chain
sequences comprising the VH constructs of the present invention and inactivating

mutations in positions 235 and 237 (EU Index numbering) to render the antibody
non-lytic are SEQ ID NOs 53, 54 and 55.

The light chain variable region sequence that forms an Fv with the heavy
chain variable region sequences of the present invention may be any sequence
that allows the Fv to bind to Human NOGO-A.
In one embodiment of the present invention the light chain variable region
is the 2A10 light chain (see WO 05/061544), the light chain variable region of
which is provided herein as SEQ ID NO. 8 or humanised variants thereof.
Humanised variants of the 2A10 light chain preferably contain all of the light

chain variable region CDRs that are described in Table 1 grafted onto a human
light chain variable region acceptor framework. In one embodiment the
humanised light chain variable regions are L11 (SEQ ID NO.34), L13 (SEQ ID
NO.13 ) or L16 (SEQ ID NO.14). Alternative light chain variable regions that are
based on L13 and L16, which comprise specific substitutions in kabat positions
37 and/or 45, are provided in Table 7.

In another embodiment the full length (FL) light chain sequences are
L11FL (SEQ ID NO.36), L13 FL (SEQ ID NO.17) or L16 FL (SEQ ID NO.18).
In another embodiment the antibodies, fragments or functional equivalents
thereof comprise a VH sequence selected from H26, H27, H28, H100, H101 and
H102; in combination with any one of the following VL sequences L11, L13, L16,
L100, L101, L102, L103, L104, and L105. It is intended that all possible

combinations of the listed heavy chain variable regions and light chain variable
regions be specifically disclosed (e.g. H28L104 et. al.).
In particular embodiments the antibodies, fragments or functional
equivalents thereof comprise the following variable region pairs:
H27L16 (SEQ ID NO.48 + SEQ ID NO.14)
H28L13 (SEQ ID NO.49 + SEQ ID NO.13)
H28L16 (SEQ ID NO.49 + SEQ ID NO.14)
In another embodiment the antibodies of the present invention comprise
the following full length sequences:
H27FL L16FL (SEQ ID NO. 54 + SEQ ID NO.18)
H28FL L13FL (SEQ ID NO. 55 + SEQ ID NO.17)
H28FL L16FL (SEQ ID NO. 55 + SEQ ID NO.18)
In one embodiment the antibody of the present invention comprises
H27L16 (SEQ ID NO.48 + SEQ ID NO.14), or is the full length antibody H28FL
L16FL (SEQ ID NO. 55 + SEQ ID NO.18).
In another embodiment, the antibody or fragment thereof binds to the
same human NOGO epitope as H28L16, or competes with the binding of H28L16
to human NOGO, characterised in both instances in that the competing antibody,
or fragment thereof, is not the murine antibody 2A10 or a human or humanised
variant thereof comprising a CDR H3 having the sequence GQGY (SEQ ID
NO.3) or a sequence containing one amino acid substitution in the CDR H3.
In particular embodiments the antibodies, fragments or functional
equivalents thereof comprise the following variable region pairs:
H100L16 (SEQ ID NO.63 + SEQ ID NO.14)
H101L13 (SEQ ID NO.64 + SEQ ID NO.13)
H102L16 (SEQ ID NO.65 + SEQ ID NO.14)
Epitope Mapping and further antibodies that bind to the same epitope
In another embodiment there is provided an antibody, or fragment thereof,
that is capable of binding to human NOGO protein, or fragment thereof such as
as a GST-NOGO-A56 protein (SEQ ID NO.32), in an ELISA assay, wherein the

binding of the antibody, or fragment thereof, to the human NOGO protein, or
fragment thereof, in the ELISA assay is reduced in the presence of a peptide
having the following sequence VLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ ID NO. 60), and is not
reduced in the presence of an irrelevant peptide, for instance a peptide from
human NOGO that does not overlap with SEQ ID NO.60 (such as SEQ ID NO.
85, YESIKHEPENPPPYEE), characterised in that the antibody or fragment
thereof is not an antibody comprising a heavy chain variable domain having a
CDR H3 consisting of the amino acid residues GQGY or analogues thereof
having one amino acid substitution in the CDR H3. Alternatively the competing
peptide is TPSPVLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ ID NO. 73) or VLPDIVMEAPLNSAVP
(SEQ ID NO. 74). In addition, the antibody that binds to the same epitope as the
antibodies, or fragments thereof, may be an antibody that does not comprise all
of the CDRs listed in Tables 1 and 2, or any antibody that comprises a set of
CDRs that has 80% or greater homology to the CDRs listed in Tables 1 and 2
combined, or Tables 1 or 2 alone.
In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided an
antibody or fragment thereof, that is capable of binding in an ELISA assay to a
region of human NOGO protein consisting of the polypeptide sequence of
VLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ ID NO. 60), characterised in that the antibody, or
fragment thereof is not an antibody comprising a variable heavy domain having
CDR H3 consisting of the amino acid residues GQGY or analogues thereof
having one amino acid substitution in the CDR H3. Alternatively the antibody or
fragment thereof is capable of binding to TPSPVLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ ID NO.
73) or VLPDIVMEAPLNSAVP (SEQ ID NO. 74). In addition, the antibody that
binds to the same epitope as the antibodies, or fragments thereof, may be an
antibody that does not comprise all of the CDRs listed in Tables 1 and 2, or any
antibody that comprises a set of CDRs that has 80% or greater homology to the
CDRs listed in Tables 1 and 2 combined, or Tables 1 or 2 alone.
In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a
method of obtaining an antibody, or binding fragment thereof, that binds to
human NOGO epitope VLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ ID NO. 60), comprising
immunising a mammal with said peptide and isolating cells capable of producing
an antibody which binds to said peptide. In another embodiment of the present

invention there is provided a method of obtaining an isolated antibody, or binding
fragment thereof, that binds to human NOGO epitope VLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ ID
NO. 60) comprising screening a library which comprises a plurality of antibodies
or binding fragments thereof, each being isolatable from the library together with
a nucleotide sequence that encodes the antibody or binding fragment thereof, by
the binding of the antibody, or binding fragment thereof to the NOGO epitope
VLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ ID NO. 60).
Pharmaceutical compositions
A further aspect of the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition
comprising an anti-NOGO antibody of the present invention or functional
fragment or equivalent thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable
diluent or carrier.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of treatment
or prophylaxis of stroke (particularly ischemic stroke) and other neurological
diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease, and treatment of a patient suffering
from a mechanical trauma to the CNS (such as spinal chord injury), in a human
which comprises administering to said human in need thereof an effective
amount of an anti-NOGO antibody of the invention or functional fragments
thereof.
In another aspect, the invention provides the use of an anti-NOGO
antibody of the invention or a functional fragment thereof in the preparation of a
medicament for treatment or prophylaxis of stroke (particularly ischemic stroke)
and other neurological diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease and treatment
of a patient suffering from a mechanical trauma to the CNS (such as spinal chord
injury).
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting
neurodegeneration and/or promoting functional recovery in a human patient
afflicted with, or at risk of developing, a stroke (particularly ischemic stroke) or
other neurological disease, in particular Alzheimer's disease, and treatment of a
patient suffering from a mechanical trauma to the CNS (such as spinal chord
injury), which comprises administering to said human in need thereof an effective

amount of an anti-NOGO antibody of the invention or a functional fragment
thereof.
In a yet further aspect, the invention provides the use of an anti-NOGO
antibody of the invention or a functional fragment thereof in the preparation of a
medicament for inhibiting neurodegeneration and/or promoting functional
recovery in a human patient afflicted with, or at risk of developing, a stroke and
other neurological disease, in particular Alzheimer's disease and treatment of a
patient suffering from a mechanical trauma to the CNS (such as spinal chord
injury).
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention are described
further in the detailed description and the preferred embodiments thereof.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The heavy chain variable regions of the invention may be formatted into
the structure of a natural antibody or functional fragment or equivalent thereof.
The antibody may therefore comprise the VH regions of the invention formatted
into a full length antibody, a (Fab )2 fragment, a Fab fragment, or equivalent
thereof (such as scFV, bi- tr- or tetra-bodies, Tandabs, etc.), when paired with an
appropriate light chain. The antibody may be an lgG1, lgG2, lgG3, or lgG4; or
IgM; IgA, IgE or IgD or a modified variant thereof. The constant domain of the
antibody heavy chain may be selected accordingly. The light chain constant
domain may be a kappa or lambda constant domain. Furthermore, the antibody
may comprise modifications of all classes eg IgG dimers, Fc mutants that no
longer bind Fc receptors or mediate Clq binding. The antibody may also be a
chimeric antibody of the type described in WO86/01533 which comprises an
antigen binding region and a non-immunoglobulin region.
The constant region is selected according to the functionality required.
Normally an lgG1 will demonstrate lytic ability through binding to complement
and/or will mediate ADCC (antibody dependent cell cytotoxicity). An lgG4 will be
preferred if a non-cytotoxic blocking antibody is required. However, lgG4
antibodies can demonstrate instability in production and therefore it may be more
preferable to modify the generally more stable lgG1. Suggested modifications
are described in EP0307434 preferred modifications include at positions 235 and

237. The invention therefore provides a lytic or a non-lytic form of an antibody
according to the invention.
In preferred forms therefore the antibody of the invention is a full length
(i.e. H2L2 tetramer) non-lytic lgG1 antibody having the heavy chain variable
regions described herein.
In a further aspect, the invention provides polynucleotides encoding the
heavy chain variable regions as described herein.
"NOGO" refers to any NOGO polypeptide, including variant forms. This
includes, but is not limited to, NOGO-A having 1192 amino acid residues
(GenBank accession no. AJ251383); NOGO-B, a splice variant which lacks
residues 186 to 1004 in the putative extracellular domain (GenBank accession
no. AJ251384) and a shorter splice variant, NOGO-C, which also lacks residues
186 to 1004 and also has smaller, alternative amino terminal domain (GenBank
accession no. AJ251385) (Prinjha et al (2000) supra). All references to "NOGO"
herein is understood to include any and all variant forms of NOGO such as
NOGO-A and the splice variants described, unless a specific form is indicated.
"Neutralising" and grammatical variations thereof refers to inhibition, either
total or partial, of NOGO function including its binding to neurones and inhibition
of neurite growth.
The terms Fv, Fc, Fd, Fab, or F(ab)2 are used with their standard
meanings (see, e.g., Harlow et al., Antibodies A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring
Harbor Laboratory, (1988)).
A "chimeric antibody" refers to a type of engineered antibody which
contains a naturally-occurring variable region (light chain and heavy chains)
derived from a donor antibody in association with light and heavy chain constant
regions derived from an acceptor antibody.
A "humanized antibody" refers to a type of engineered antibody having its
CDRs derived from a non-human donor immunoglobulin, the remaining
immunoglobulin-derived parts of the molecule being derived from one (or more)
human immunoglobulin(s). In addition, framework support residues may be
altered to preserve binding affinity (see, e.g., Queen et al., Proc. Natl Acad Sci
USA, 86:10029-10032 (1989), Hodgson etal., Bio/Technology, 9:421 (1991)). A
suitable human acceptor antibody may be one selected from a conventional

database, e.g., the KABAT® database, Los Alamos database, and Swiss Protein
database, by homology to the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the donor
antibody (in this case the murine donor antibody 2A10). A human antibody
characterized by a homology to the framework regions of the donor antibody (on
an amino acid basis) may be suitable to provide a heavy chain constant region
and/or a heavy chain variable framework region for insertion of the donor CDRs
(see Table 1 for the 2A10 CDRs for insertion into the acceptor framework). A
suitable acceptor antibody capable of donating light chain constant or variable
framework regions may be selected in a similar manner. It should be noted that
the acceptor antibody heavy and light chains are not required to originate from
the same acceptor antibody. The prior art describes several ways of producing
such humanised antibodies - see for example EP-A-0239400 and EP-A-054951.
The term "donor antibody" refers to a non-human antibody which
contributes the amino acid sequences of its variable regions, CDRs, or other
functional fragments or analogs thereof to the humanised antibody, and thereby
provide the humanised antibody with the antigenic specificity and neutralizing
activity characteristic of the donor antibody.
The term "acceptor antibody" refers to an antibody heterologous to the
donor antibody, which provides the the amino acid sequences of its heavy and/or
light chain framework regions and/or its heavy and/or light chain constant regions
to the humanised antibody. The acceptor antibody may be" derived from any
mammal provided that it is non-immunogenic in humans. Preferably the acceptor
antibody is a human antibody.
Alternatively, humanisation maybe achieved by a process of "veneering".
A statistical analysis of unique human and murine immunoglobulin heavy and
light chain variable regions revealed that the precise patterns of exposed
residues are different in human and murine antibodies, and most individual
surface positions have a strong preference for a small number of different
residues (see Padlan E.A. era/; (1991) Mol.lmmunol.28, 489-498 and Pedersen
J.T. et a/(1994) J.Mol.Biol. 235; 959-973). Therefore it is possible to reduce the
immunogenicity of a non-human Fv by replacing exposed residues in its
framework regions that differ from those usually found in human antibodies.
Because protein antigenicity can be correlated with surface accessibility,

replacement of the surface residues may be sufficient to render the mouse
variable region "invisible" to the human immune system (see also Mark G.E. etal
(1994) in Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology vol. 113: The pharmacology
of monoclonal Antibodies, Springer-Verlag, pp105-134). This procedure of
humanisation is referred to as "veneering" because only the surface of the
antibody is altered, the supporting residues remain undisturbed. A further
alternative approach is set out in WO04/006955.
"CDRs" are defined as the complementarity determining region amino acid
sequences of an antibody which are the hypervariable regions of immunoglobulin
heavy and light chains. See, e.g., Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of
Immunological Interest, 4th Ed., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
National Institutes of Health (1987). There are three heavy chain and three light
chain CDRs (or CDR regions) in the variable portion of an immunoglobulin.
Thus, "CDRs" as used herein refers to all three heavy chain CDRs, or all three
light chain CDRs (or both all heavy and all light chain CDRs, if appropriate).
The structure and protein folding of the antibody may mean that other residues
are considered part of the antigen binding region and would be understood to be
so by a skilled person. See for example Chothia et al., (1989) Conformations of
immunoglobulin hypervariable regions; Nature 342, p877-883.
A bispecific antibody is an antibody having binding specificities for at least
two different epitopes. Methods of making such antibodies are known in the art.
Traditionally, the recombinant production of bispecific antibodies is based on the
coexpression of two immunoglobulin H chain-L chain pairs, where the two H
chains have different binding specificities see Millstein etal, Nature 305 537-539
(1983), WO93/08829 and Traunecker et al EMBO, 10, 1991, 3655-3659.
Because of the random assortment of H and L chains, a potential mixture of ten
different antibody structures are produced of which only one has the desired
binding specificity. An alternative approach involves fusing the variable domains
with the desired binding specificities to heavy chain constant region comprising at
least part of the hinge region, CH2 and CH3 regions. It is preferred to have the
CH1 region containing the site necessary for light chain binding present in at
least one of the fusions. DNA encoding these fusions, and if desired the L chain
are inserted into separate expression vectors and are then cotransfected into a

suitable host organism. It is possible though to insert the coding sequences for
two or all three chains into one expression vector. In one preferred approach,
the bispecific antibody is composed of a H chain with a first binding specificity in
one arm and a H-L chain pair, providing a second binding specificity in the other
arm, see WO94/04690. See also Suresh et al Methods in Enzymology 121, 210,
1986.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a bispecific
therapeutic antibody wherein at least one binding specificity of said antibody
binds to human NOGO at the epitope described in SEQ ID NO. 60. In another
embodiment of the present invention the bispecific antibody comprises the heavy
chain variable region CDR H3 sequence MQGY (SEQ ID NO. 45). In another
embodiment the bispecific antibody comprises the following pairs of heavy and
light chain variable regions: H27L16 (SEQ ID NO.48 + SEQ ID NO. 14), H28L13
(SEQ ID NO.49 + SEQ ID NO.13) or H28L16 (SEQ ID NO.49 + SEQ ID NO.14).
The antibodies of the present invention may be produced by transfection
of a host cell with an expression vector comprising the coding sequence for the
antibodies of the invention. An expression vector or recombinant plasmid is
produced by placing these coding sequences for the antibody in operative
association with conventional regulatory control sequences capable of controlling
the replication and expression in, and/or secretion from, a host cell. Regulatory
sequences include promoter sequences, e.g., CMV promoter, and signal
sequences, which can be derived from other known antibodies. Similarly, a
second expression vector can be produced having a DNA sequence which
encodes a complementary antibody light or heavy chain. Preferably this second
expression vector is identical to the first except insofar as the coding sequences
and selectable markers are concerned, so to ensure as far as possible that each
polypeptide chain is functionally expressed. Alternatively, the heavy and light
chain coding sequences for the altered antibody may reside on a single vector.
A selected host cell is co-transfected by conventional techniques with both
the first and second vectors (or simply transfected by a single vector) to create
the transfected host cell of the invention comprising both the recombinant or
synthetic light and heavy chains. The transfected cell is then cultured by
conventional techniques to produce the engineered antibody of the invention.

The antibody which includes the association of both the recombinant heavy chain
and/or light chain is screened from culture by appropriate assay, such as ELISA
or RIA. Similar conventional techniques may be employed to construct other
altered antibodies and molecules.
One useful expression system is a glutamate synthetase system (such as
sold by Lonza Biologies), particularly where the host cell is CHO or NSO (see
below). Polynucleotide encoding the antibody is readily isolated and sequenced
using conventional procedures (e.g. oligonucleotide probes). Vectors that may be
used include plasmid, virus, phage, transposons, minichromsomes of which
plasmids are a typical embodiment. Generally such vectors further include a
signal sequence, origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer
element, a promoter and transcription termination sequences operably linked to
the light and/or heavy chain polynucleotide so as to facilitate expression.
Polynucleotide encoding the light and heavy chains may be inserted into
separate vectors and introduced (e.g. by electroporation) into the same host cell
or, if desired both the heavy chain and light chain can be inserted into the same
vector for transfection into the host cell. Thus according to one embodiment of
the present invention there is provided a process of constructing a vector
encoding the light and/or heavy chains of a therapeutic antibody or antigen
binding fragment thereof of the invention, which method comprises inserting into
a vector, a polynucleotide encoding either a light chain and/or heavy chain of a
therapeutic antibody of the invention.
In another embodiment there is provided a polynucletotide encoding a
humanised heavy chain variable region having the sequence set forth as
SEQ.I.D.NO: 47, 48 or 49.
In another embodiment there is provided a polynucleotide encoding a humanised
heavy chain having the sequence set forth as SEQ.I.D.NO: 53, 54 or 55.
It will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art that due to the
redundancy of the genetic code, alternative polynucleotides to those disclosed
herein are also available that will encode the polypeptides of the invention.
Suitable vectors for the cloning and subcloning steps employed in the
methods and construction of the compositions of this invention may be selected
by one of skill in the art For example, the conventional pUC series of cloning

vectors may be used. One vector, pUC19, is commercially available from supply
houses, such as Amersham (Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom) or Pharmacia
(Uppsala, Sweden). Additionally, any vector which is capable of replicating
readily, has an abundance of cloning sites and selectable genes (e.g., antibiotic
resistance), and is easily manipulated may be used for cloning. Thus, the
selection of the cloning vector is not a limiting factor in this invention.
Other preferable vector sequences include a poly A signal sequence, such as
from bovine growth hormone (BGH) and the betaglobin promoter sequence
(betaglopro). The expression vectors useful herein may be synthesized by
techniques well known to those skilled in this art. Typical selection genes
encode proteins that (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins e.g.
ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate or tetracycline or (b) complement auxiotrophic
deficiencies or supply nutrients not available in the complex media. The
selection scheme may involve arresting growth of the host cell. Cells, which
have been successfully transformed with the genes encoding the therapeutic
antibody of the present invention, survive due to e.g. drug resistance conferred
by the selection marker. Another example is the so-called DHFR selection
marker wherein transformants are cultured in the presence of methotrexate.
CHO cells are a particularly useful cell line for the DHFR selection. Methods of
selecting transformed host cells and amplifying the cell copy number of the
transgene include using the DHFR system see Kaufman R.J. et al J.Mol.Biol.
(1982) 159, 601-621, for review, see Werner RG, Noe W, Kopp K.Schluter M,"
Appropriate mammalian expression systems for biopharmaceuticals",
Arzneimittel-Forschung. 48(8):870-80, 1998 Aug. A further example is the
glutamate synthetase expression system (Lonza Biologies). A suitable selection
gene for use in yeast is the trp1 gene; see Stinchcomb et al Nature 282, 38,
1979.
The components of such vectors, e.g. replicons, selection genes,
enhancers, promoters, signal sequences and the like, may be obtained from
commercial or natural sources or synthesized by known procedures for use in
directing the expression and/or secretion of the product of the recombinant DNA
in a selected host. Other appropriate expression vectors of which numerous

types are known in the art for mammalian, bacterial, insect, yeast, and fungal
expression may also be selected for this purpose.
The present invention also encompasses a cell line transfected with a
recombinant plasmid containing the coding sequences of the antibodies or
equivalents of the present invention. Host cells useful for the cloning and other
manipulations of these cloning vectors are also conventional. However, most
desirably, cells from various strains of E. coli are used for replication of the
cloning vectors and other steps in the construction of altered antibodies of this
invention.
Suitable host cells or cell lines for the expression of the antibody of the
invention are preferably mammalian cells such as NSO, Sp2/0, CHO (e.g. DG44),
COS, a fibroblast cell (e.g., 3T3), and myeloma cells, and more preferably a CHO
or a myeloma cell. Human cells may be used, thus enabling the molecule to be
modified with human glycosylation patterns. Alternatively, other eukaryotic cell
lines may be employed. The selection of suitable mammalian host cells and
methods for transformation, culture, amplification, screening and product
production and purification are known in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook et al., cited
above.
Bacterial cells may prove useful as host cells suitable for the expression of
the antibodies or fragments thereof (such as recombinant Fabs or ScFvs) of the
present invention (see, e.g., Pluckthun, A., Immunol. Rev., 130:151-188 (1992)).
However, due to the tendency of proteins expressed in bacterial cells to be in an
unfolded or improperly folded form or in a non-glycosylated form, any
recombinant fragment produced in a bacterial cell would have to be screened for
retention of antigen binding ability. If the molecule expressed by the bacterial cell
was produced in a properly folded form, that bacterial cell would be a desirable
host. For example, various strains of E. coli used for expression are well-known
as host cells in the field of biotechnology. Various strains of B. subtilis,
Streptomyces, other bacilli and the like may also be employed in this method.
Where desired, strains of yeast cells known to those skilled in the art are
also available as host cells, as well as insect cells, e.g. Drosophila and
Lepidoptera and viral expression systems. See, e.g. Miller et al., Genetic
Engineering, 8:277-298, Plenum Press (1986) and references cited therein.

The general methods by which the vectors may be constructed, the
transfection methods required to produce the host cells of the invention, and
culture methods necessary to produce the antibody of the invention from such
host cell are all conventional techniques. Typically, the culture method of the
present invention is a serum-free culture method, usually by culturing cells
serum-free in suspension. Likewise, once produced, the antibodies of the
invention may be purified from the cell culture contents according to standard
procedures of the art, including ammonium sulfate precipitation, affinity columns,
column chromatography, gel electrophoresis and the like. Such techniques are
within the skill of the art and do not limit this invention. For example, preparation
of antibodies are described in WO 99/58679 and WO 96/16990.
Yet another method of expression of the antibodies may utilize expression
in a transgenic animal, such as described in U. S. Patent No. 4,873,316. This
relates to an expression system using the animal's casein promoter which when
transgenically incorporated into a mammal permits the female to produce the
desired recombinant protein in its milk.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing
an antibody of the invention which method comprises the step of culturing a host
cell transformed or transfected with a vector encoding the light and/or heavy
chain of the antibody of the invention and recovering the antibody thereby
produced.
Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing vectors encoding antibodies of
the invention are prokaroytic, yeast or higher eukaryotic cells. Suitable
prokaryotic cells include eubacteria e.g. enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia
e.g. E. Co//(for example ATCC 31,446; 31,537; 27,325), Enterobacter, Erwinia,
Klebsiella Proteus, Salmonella e.g. Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia e.g.
Serratia marcescans and Shigella as well as Bacilli such as B.subtilis and
B.licheniformis (see DD 266 710), Pseudomonas such as P.aeruginosa and
Streptomyces. Of the yeast host cells, Saccharomyces cerevisiae,
schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces (e.g. ATCC 16,045; 12,424;
24178; 56,500), yarrowia (EP402, 226), Pichia Pastoris (EP183, 070, see also
Peng et al J.Biotechnol. 108 (2004) 185-192), Candida, Trichoderma reesia

(EP244, 234;, Penicillin, Tolypocladium and Aspergillus hosts such as A.nidulans
and A.niger are also contemplated.
Although Prokaryotic and yeast host cells are specifically contemplated by
the invention, typically however, host cells of the present invention are vertebrate
cells. Suitable vertebrate host cells include mammalian cells such as COS-1
(ATCC No.CRL 1650) COS-7 (ATCC CRL 1651), human embryonic kidney line
293, baby hamster kidney cells (BHK) (ATCC CRL. 1632), BHK570 (ATCC NO:
CRL 10314), 293 (ATCC NO.CRL 1573), Chinese hamster ovary cells CHO (e.g.
CHO-K1, ATCC NO: CCL 61, DHFR-CHO cell line such as DG44 (see Urlaub et
al, (1986) Somatic Cell Mol.Genet.12, 555-556)), particularly those CHO cell lines
adapted for suspension culture, mouse sertoli cells, monkey kidney cells, African
green monkey kidney cells (ATCC CRL-1587), HELA cells, canine kidney cells
(ATCC CCL 34), human lung cells (ATCC CCL 75), Hep G2 and myeloma or
lymphoma cells e.g. NSO (see US 5,807,715), Sp2/0, Y0.
Thus in one embodiment of the invention there is provided a stably
transformed host cell comprising a vector encoding a heavy chain and/or light
chain of the therapeutic antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof as
described herein. Typically such host cells comprise a first vector encoding the
light chain and a second vector encoding said heavy chain.
Host cells transformed with vectors encoding the therapeutic antibodies of
the invention or antigen binding fragments thereof may be cultured by any
method known to those skilled in the art. Host cells may be cultured in spinner
flasks, roller bottles or hollow fibre systems but it is preferred for large scale
production that stirred tank reactors are used particularly for suspension cultures.
Typically the stirred tankers are adapted for aeration using e.g. spargers, baffles
or low shear impellers. For bubble columns and airlift reactors direct aeration
with air or oxygen bubbles maybe used. Where the host cells are cultured in a
serum free culture media it is preferred that the media is supplemented with a cell
protective agent such as pluronic F-68 to help prevent cell damage as a result of
the aeration process. Depending on the host cell characteristics, either
microcarriers maybe used as growth substrates for anchorage dependent cell
lines or the cells maybe adapted to suspension culture (which is typical). The
culturing of host cells, particularly vertebrate host cells may utilise a variety of

operational modes such as fed-batch, repeated batch processing (see Drapeau
et al (1994) cytotechnology 15: 103-109), extended batch process or perfusion
culture. Although recombinantly transformed mammalian host cells may be
cultured in serum-containing media such media comprising fetal calf serum
(FCS), it is preferred that such host cells are cultured in synthetic serum -free
media such as disclosed in Keen et a/(1995) Cytotechnology 17:153-163, or
commercially available media such as ProCHO-CDM or UltraCHO™ (Cambrex
NJ, USA), supplemented where necessary with an energy source such as
glucose and synthetic growth factors such as recombinant insulin. The serum-
free culturing of host cells may require that those cells are adapted to grow in
serum free conditions. One adaptation approach is to culture such host cells in
serum containing media and repeatedly exchange 80% of the culture medium for
the serum-free media so that the host cells learn to adapt in serum free
conditions (see e.g. Scharfenberg K et al (1995) in Animal Cell technology:
Developments towards the 21st century (Beuvery E.C. et al eds), pp619-623,
Kluwer Academic publishers).
Antibodies of the invention secreted into the media may be recovered and
purified from the media using a variety of techniques to provide a degree of
purification suitable for the intended use. For example the use of therapeutic
antibodies of the invention for the treatment of human patients typically mandates
at least 95% purity, more typically 98% or 99% purity compared to the culture
media comprising the therapeutic antibodies. In the first instance, cell debris
from the culture media is typically removed using centrifugation followed by a
clarification step of the supernatant using e.g. microfiltration, ultrafiltration and/or
depth filtration. A variety of other techniques such as dialysis and gel
electrophoresis and chromatographic techniques such as hydroxyapatite (HA),
affinity chromatography (optionally involving an affinity tagging system such as
polyhistidine) and/or hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC, see US 5,
429,746) are available. In one embodiment, the antibodies of the invention,
following various clarification steps, are captured using Protein A or G affinity
chromatography followed by further chromatography steps such as ion exchange
and/or HA chromatography, anion or cation exchange, size exclusion
chromatography and ammonium sulphate precipitation. Typically, various virus

removal steps are also employed (e.g. nanofiltration using e.g. a DV-20 filter).
Following these various steps, a purified (typically monoclonal) preparation
comprising at least 75mg/ml or greater e.g. 100mg/ml or greater of the antibody
of the invention or antigen binding fragment thereof is provided and therefore
forms an embodiment of the invention. Suitably such preparations are
substantially free of aggregated forms of antibodies of the invention.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of
producing an anti-NOGO antibody of the present invention which specifically
binds to and neutralises the activity of human NOGD-A which method comprises
the steps of;
(a) providing a first vector encoding a heavy chain of the antibody;
(b) providing a second vector encoding the light chain of the antibody;
(c) tranforming a mammalian host cell (e.g. CHO) with said first and
second vectors;
(d) culturing the host cell of step (c) under conditions conducive to the
secretion of the antibody from said host cell into said culture media;
(e) recovering the secreted antibody of step (d).
Once expressed by the desired method, the antibody is then examined for
in vitro activity by use of an appropriate assay. Presently conventional ELISA
assay formats are employed to assess qualitative and quantitative binding of the
antibody to NOGO. Additionally, other in vitro assays may also be used to verify
neutralizing efficacy prior to subsequent human clinical studies performed to
evaluate the persistence of the antibody in the body despite the usual clearance
mechanisms.
Other modifications to the antibodies of the present invention include
glycosylation variants of the antibodies of the invention. Glycosylation of
antibodies at conserved positions in their constant regions is known to have a
profound effect on antibody function, particularly effector functioning such as
those described above, see for example, Boyd et a/ (1996), Mol.Immunol. 32,
1311-1318. Glycosylation variants of the therapeutic antibodies or antigen
binding fragments thereof of the present invention wherein one or more
carbonhydrate moiety is added, substituted, deleted or modified are

contemplated. Introduction of an asparagine-X-serine or asparagine-X-threonine
motif creates a potential site for enzymatic attachment of carbanhydrate moieties
and may therefore be used to manipulate the glycosylation of an antibody. In
Raju et al (2001) Biochemistry 40, 8868-8876 the terminal sialyation of a TNFR-
IgG immunoadhesin was increased through a process of regalactosylation and/or
resialylation using beta-1,4-galactosyltransferace and/or alpha, 2,3
sialyltransferase. Increasing the terminal sialylation is believed to increase the
half-life of the immunoglobulin. Antibodies, in common with most glycoproteins,
are typically produced in nature as a mixture of glycoforms. This mixture is
particularly apparent when antibodies are produced in eukaryotic, particularly
mammalian cells. A variety of methods have been developed to manufacture
defined glycoforms, see Zhang et al Science (2004), 303, 371, Sears et al,
Science, (2001) 291, 2344, Wacker et al (2002) Science, 298 1790, Davis et al
(2002) Chem.Rev. 102, 579, Hang et al (2001) Acc.Chem.Res 34, 727. Thus the
invention concerns a plurality of therapeutic (typically monoclonal) antibodies
(which maybe of the IgG isotype, e.g. lgG1) as described herein comprising a
defined number (e.g. 7 or less, for example 5 or less such as two or a single)
glycoform(s) of said antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof.
The therapeutic agents of this invention may be administered as a
prophylactic or following the stroke event/on-set of clinical symptoms, or as
otherwise needed. The dose and duration of treatment relates to the relative
duration of the molecules of the present invention in the human circulation, and
can be adjusted by one of skill in the art depending upon the condition being
treated and the general health of the patient. It is envisaged that repeated dosing
(e.g. once a week or once every two weeks) over an extended time period (e.g.
four to six months) maybe required to achieve maximal therapeutic efficacy.
The mode of administration of the therapeutic agent of the invention may
be any suitable route which delivers the agent to the host. The antibodies, and
pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are particularly useful for parenteral
administration, i.e., subcutaneously (s.c), intrathecally, intraperitoneally (i.p.),
intramuscularly (i.m.), intravenously (i.v.), or intranasally (i.n.).
Therapeutic agents of the invention may be prepared as pharmaceutical
compositions containing an effective amount of the antibody of the invention as

an active ingredient in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In the prophylactic
agent of the invention, an aqueous suspension or solution containing the
engineered antibody, preferably buffered at physiological pH, in a form ready for
injection is preferred. The compositions for parenteral administration will
commonly comprise a solution of the antibody of the invention or a cocktail
thereof dissolved in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, preferably an aqueous
carrier. A variety of aqueous carriers may be employed, e.g., 0.9% saline, 0.3%
glycine, and the like. These solutions are sterile and generally free of particulate
matter. These solutions may be sterilized by conventional, well known
sterilization techniques (e.g., filtration). The compositions may contain
pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances as required to approximate
physiological conditions such as pH adjusting and buffering agents, etc. The
concentration of the antibody of the invention in such pharmaceutical formulation
can vary widely, i.e., from less than about 0.5%, usually at or at least about 1 % to
as much as 15 or 20% by weight and will be selected primarily based on fluid
volumes, viscosities, etc., according to the particular mode of administration
selected.
Thus, a pharmaceutical composition of the invention for intramuscular
injection could be prepared to contain 1 mL sterile buffered water, and between
about 1 ng to about 100 mg, e.g. about 50 ng to about 30 mg or more preferably,
about 5 mg to about 25 mg, of an antibody of the invention. Similarly, a
pharmaceutical composition of the invention for intravenous infusion could be
made up to contain about 250 ml of sterile Ringer's solution, and about 1 to about
30 and preferably 5 mg to about 25 mg of an engineered antibody of the
invention per ml of Ringer's solution. Actual methods for preparing parenterally
administrable compositions are well known or will be apparent to those skilled in
the art and are described in more detail in, for example, Remington's
Pharmaceutical Science, 15th ed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton,
Pennsylvania. For the preparation of intravenously administrable antibody
formulations of the invention see Lasmar U and Parkins D "The formulation of
Biopharmaceutical products", Pharma. Sci.Tech.today, page 129-137, Vol.3 (3rd
April 2000), Wang, W "Instability, stabilisation and formulation of liquid protein
Pharmaceuticals", Int. J. Pharm 185 (1999) 129-188, Stability of Protein

Pharmaceuticals Part A and B ed Ahem T.J., Manning M.C., New York, NY:
Plenum Press (1992), Akers.M.J. "Excipient-Drug interactions in Parenteral
Formulations", J.Pharm Sci 91 (2002) 2283-2300, Imamura, K et al "Effects of
types of sugar on stabilization of Protein in the dried state", J Pharm Sci 92
(2003) 266-274,lzutsu, Kkojima, S. "Excipient crystalinity and its protein-
structure-stabilizing effect during freeze-drying", J Pharm. Pharmacol, 54 (2002)
1033-1039, Johnson, R, "Mannitol-sucrose mixtures-versatile formulations for
protein lyophilization", J. Pharm. Sci, 91 (2002) 914-922.
Ha,E Wang W, Wang Y.j. "Peroxide formation in polysorbate 80 and
protein stability", J. Pharm Sci, 91, 2252-2264,(2002) the entire contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference and to which the reader is specifically
referred.
It is preferred that the therapeutic agent of the invention, when in a
pharmaceutical preparation, be present in unit dose forms. The appropriate
therapeutically effective dose will be determined readily by those of skill in the art.
To effectively treat stroke and other neurological diseases in a human, one dose
within the range of 700 to 3500 mg per 70 kg body weight of an antibody of this
invention is envisaged to be administered parenterally, preferably s.c, i.v. or i.m.
(intramuscularly). Such dose may, if necessary, be repeated at appropriate time
intervals selected as appropriate by a physician.
The antibodies described herein can be lyophilized for storage and
reconstituted in a suitable carrier prior to use. This technique has been shown to
be effective with conventional immunoglobulins and art-known lyophilization and
reconstitution techniques can be employed.
In another aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition
comprising anti-NOGO antibody of the present invention or a functional fragment
thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for treatment or prophylaxis of
stroke and other neurological diseases.
In a yet further aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical
composition comprising the anti-NOGO antibody of the present invention or a
functional fragment thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for
inhibiting neurodegeneration and/or promoting functional recovery in a human
patient suffering, or at risk of developing, a stroke or other neurological disease.

The invention further provides a method of treatment or prophylaxis of
stroke (particularly ischemic stroke) and other neurological diseases/disorders, in
particular Alzheimer's disease, in a human which comprises administering to said
human in need thereof an effective amount of an anti-NOGO antibody of the
present invention or a functional fragment thereof. Antibodies of the invention
may be used in methods of treatment to slow or halt the progression and/or onset
of Alzheimer's disease in addition to (or as an alternative to) treating established
disease in a human patient.
Further the invention provides the use of an anti-NOGO antibody of the
present invention, or a functional fragment thereof, in the preparation of a
medicament for treatment or prophylaxis of stroke and other neurological
diseases/disorders, in particular Alzheimer's disease.
The invention also provides a method of inhibiting neurodegeneration
and/or promoting functional recovery in a human patient suffering, or at risk of
developing, a stroke or other neurological disease/disorder, in particular
Alzheimer's disease, which comprises administering to said human in need
thereof an effective amount of an anti-NOGO antibody of the present invention or
a functional fragment thereof.
In addition the invention provides the use of an anti-NOGO antibody of the
present invention or a functional fragment thereof in the preparation of a
medicament for inhibiting neurodegeneration and/or promoting functional
recovery in a human patient afflicted with, or at risk of developing, a stroke and
other neurological disease/disorder, in particular Alzheimer's disease.
The invention further provides a method of treating or prophylaxis of stroke
or other neurological disease/disorder, in particular Alzheimer's disease, in a
human comprising the step of parenteral administration of a therapeutically
effective amount of an anti-NOGO antibody of the present invention. Preferably
the said anti-NOGO antibody is administered intravenously.
Neurological diseases or disorders as used hereinabove includes, but is
not limited to traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, fronto-temporal dementias
(tauopathies), peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease,
and in particular Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS).

The invention also provides a method of promoting axonal sprouting
comprising the step of contacting a human axon with an anti-NOGO antibody of
the present invention. This method may be performed in-vitro or in-vivo,
preferably the method is performed in-vivo.
In a further aspect therefore there is provided a method of treating stroke
(particularly ischemic stroke), brain injury, spinal cord injury, fronto-temporal
dementias (tauopathies), peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease,
Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis and in particular Alzheimer's disease in a
human patient which method comprises the intravenous administration of a
therapeutically effective amount of an anti-NOGO antibody of the invention.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of
promoting axon sprouting of neurons within the central nervous system of a
human subject (e.g. patient) which method comprises administering (e.g.
intravenously administering) a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-NOGO
antibody of the present invention.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of an
anti-NOGO antibody of the present invention (e.g. an anti-NOGO antibody
comprising the CDRs set forth herein) in the manufacture of an intravenously
administrable medicament for the treatment of stroke (particularly ischemic
stroke), brain injury, spinal cord injury, fronto-temporal dementias (tauopathies),
peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and in
particular Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) in a human patient.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of
regenerating axon processes in neurons of the central nervous system in a
human patient afflicted with (or susceptible to) stroke (particularly ischemic
stroke), brain injury, spinal cord injury, fronto-temporal dementias (tauopathies),
peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple
sclerosis and in particular Alzheimer's disease which method comprises the step
of administering (e.g. intravenously) a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-
NOGO antibody of the present invention.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided the use of an anti-
NOGO antibody of the present invention in the manufacture of an intravenously

administrable pharmaceutical composition for regenerating axon processes in
neurons of the central nervous system in a human patient afflicted with (or
susceptible to) stroke (particularly ischemic stroke), brain injury, spinal cord
injury, fronto-temporal dementias (tauopathies), peripheral neuropathy,
Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis and in particular
Alzheimer's disease.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of
modulating the production of an amyloidogenic peptide comprising contacting a
cell which is expressing the precursor from which the amyloidogenic peptide is
derived and a NOGO polypeptide (e.g. human NOGO-A) with an anti-NOGO
antibody of the present invention. In typical embodiments, the precursor is APP.
In further typical embodiments the amyloidogenic peptide is Ap, most preferably
Ap40, Ap42 or a combination of both.
As used herein, the term "functional recovery" refers to a motor and/or
sensory and/or behavioural improvement in a subject following e.g. an ischemic
event or injury or on-set of clinical symptoms. Functional recovery in humans
may be evaluated by instruments designed to measure elemental neurological
functions such as motor strength, sensation and coordination, cognitive functions
such as memory, language and the ability to follow directions, and functional
capacities such as basic activities of daily living or instrumental activities.
Recovery of elemental neurological function can be measured with instruments
such as the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), recovery of cognitive function can be
measured with neuropsychological tests such as Boston Naming Test, Trail-
making Tests, and California Verbal Learning Test, and activities of daily living
may be measured with instruments such as the ADCS/ADL (Alzheimer's Disease
Clinical Studies/Activities of Daily Living) scale or the Bristol Activities of Daily
Living Scale, all tests and scales known in the art.
The following examples illustrate but do not limit the invention.
Example 1. Construction and expression of humanised anti-NOGO antibodies
Humanised VH and VL constructs were prepared de novo by build up of
overlapping oligonucleotides including restriction sites for cloning into Rld and
Rln mammalian expression vectors (or any other suitable expression vector for

expression of proteins in mammalian cells) as well as a human signal sequence.
Hind III and Spe I restriction sites were introduced to frame the VH domain
containing the CAMPATH-1H signal sequence for cloning into Rid containing the
human v1 mutated constant region to prevent ADCC and CDC activity (L235A
and G237A- EU Index numbering system). Hind III and BsiWI restriction sites
were introduced to frame the VL domain containing the CAMPATH-1H signal
sequence for cloning into Rln containing the human kappa constant region.
CAMPATH-1H signal sequence: MGWSCIILFLVATATGVHS (SEQ.ID.NO:31)
Plasmids encoding human IgG heavy chain amino acid sequences,
wherein the CDR were that described in table 2, were produced. Plasmids
encoding human IgG heavy chain amino acid sequences, wherein the CDRs
were that described in table 3, were produced from those existing earlier
plasmids by introducing
single point mutations, G95M (Kabat numbering), using the Quickchange kit
(Stratagene).
The following table discloses which full length heavy chain protein
sequences were made in the plasmid vectors and which of the sequences were
paired, in the sense that the only difference in the amino acid sequences of the
paired full length (FL) heavy chain sequences was a substitution at G95M (kabat
numbering) within the CDR H3 of the variable region:

Plasmids encoding the heavy chains were then co-transfected into CHO
cells (for details see example 2) with the one of the following full length light chain
sequences: L11 FL (SEQ ID NO. 36), L13 FL (SEQ ID NO. 17), or L16 FL(SEQ
ID NO. 18).

In parallel a chimera termed HcLc (which is the chimera of 2A10 (SEQ ID
NO. 9 and 10 - the full length chains comprising the 2A10 murine VH (SEQ ID
NO. 7) and VL (SEQ ID NO.8) and human IgG constant regions)) was produced.
Example 2, Antibody expression in CHO cells
Rid and Rln plasmids (or other vectors suitable for use in mammalian
cells) encoding the heavy and light chains respectively were transiently co-
transfected into CHO cells and expressed at small scale or large scale to
produce antibody. Alternatively the same plasmids were co-transfected into
DHFR- CHO cells by electroporation and a stable polyclonal population of cells
expressing the appropriate antibody were selected using a nucleoside-free media
(Rid contains the DHFR gene, Rln contains a neomycin selection marker). In
some assays, antibodies were assessed directly from the tissue culture
supernatant. In other assays, recombinant antibody was recovered and purified
by affinity chromatography on Protein A sepharose.
Example 3, Humanised anti-NOGO antibody binds to NOGO
GST-human NOGO-A56 (see example 5) at 0.05-1 ug/ml in PBS was
coated onto Nunc Immunosorp plates (100ul per well) at4°C overnight. Wells
were rinsed once with TBS + 0.05% Tween (TBST) then incubated with 2% BSA
in TBST to block non-specific binding sites at room temperature for 1hour.
Antibodies were diluted in TBST + 2% BSA to 10ug/ml and 1/2 dilutions made
from this. Antibodies were added to wells in duplicate and incubated at room
temperature for 1 hour. Wells were washed three times with TBST then incubated
with anti-human kappa peroxidase conjugate (1:2000) for 1 hour. The wells were
washed three times with TBST and then incubated with 100ul OPD peroxidase
substrate (Sigma) per well for 10 minutes. The colour reaction was stopped by
the addition of 25ul concentrated H2SO4. Optical density at 490nm was measured
using a plate reader. Background values read from wells with no antibody were
subtracted.

Figures 1-4 illustrate the dose-dependent binding of humanised antibodies
in comparison with the chimera (termed HcLc which is the chimera of 2A10
(comprising the 2A10 murine VH (SEQ ID NO. 7) and VL (SEQ ID NO.8) and
human IgG constant regions)) to GST-human NOGO-A56 (see Example 5 for
details) in an ELISA assay. The Y-axis shows the measured optical density (OD)
at 490nm, a quantitative measure of antibody captured in the wells. The X-axis
shows the concentration of antibody used (mcg/ml) per well at each data point.
The antibody material used in Figures 1-4 is purified antibody generated
by either the polyclonal expression system or large scale transient transfections.
In these cases, IgG levels were quantified by ELISA and optical density.
The results from the experiments shown in Figures 1-4 shows that the
inclusion of the G95M mutation improves the performance of the antibody. The
only exception is H27L16 shown in Figure 3 and 4 which performed very poorly.
We believe that this data resulted from an unidentified technical problem with the
H27L16 assay, since H27L16 has otherwise consistently performed well in other
assays (in ELISA shown in Figures 1 and 2, and in BIAcore assays (Tables 9 and
10)). H27L16 has also been shown to work very well in later experiments (see
Figures 11 and 12).
Example 4, Antibody quantification protocol
Nunc Immunosorp plates were coated with a goat anti-human IgG chain
capture antibody (Sigma #13382) at 2ug/ml in Bicarbonate buffer (Sigma #C3041)
and incubated overnight at 4°C. The plates were washed twice with TBS
containing 0.05% Tween20 (TBST) and blocked with 200ul TBST containing 2%
(or from 1-3%) BSA (block buffer) for 1 hr at room temperature. The plates were
washed twice with TBST. Tissue culture supernatants containing antibody were
titrated across the plate in 2-fold dilution steps into block buffer and incubated at
room temperature for 1 hr. The plates were washed three times with TBST. HRP
conjugated antibody H23 (goat anti-human kappa chain, Sigma #A7164) was
diluted 1:2000 in TBST and 100ul added to each well. The plates were incubated
at room temperature for 1hr. The plates were washed three times with TBST and
developed with 100ul of Fast-OPD substrate (Sigma #P9187). Colour was
allowed to develop for 5-1 Omins after which time the ELISA was stopped with

25ul 3M H2SO4. The absorbance at 490nM was read plate and antibody
concentration determined by. reference to a standard curve.
Example 5, Production ofNOGO-A Fragment (NOGO-A56. SEQ.ID.NO:32)
A cDNA sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising arnino acids 586-
785 and a GST tag(SEQ.I.D.NO:32) of human NOGO-A was created by cloning a
cDNA encoding amino acids 586-785 of human NOGO-A into the BamHI-Xhol
sites of pGEX-6P1 to generate a GST-tagged fusion protein designated GST-
human-NOGO-A56. Plasmid was expressed in BL21 cells in 2XTY medium with
100ug/ml ampicillin following induction with IPTG to 0.5mM at 37C for 3hours.
Cell pellets were lysed by sonication and the fusion protein purified using
Glutathione-sepharose (Amersham Pharmacia) following manufacturers
instructions. Purified protein was eluted using reduced glutathione and
extensively dialysed against PBS, quantitated using BSA standards and a
BioRad coomassie based protein assay and then stored in aliquots at -80C.
Example 6, BiaCore Analysis of humanised Anti NOGO Monoclonal Antibodies
The binding kinetics of the anti-NOGO monoclonal antibody (mAb) to
recombinantly expressed GST-human NOGO-A was analysed using the
Biacore3000 biosensor or BIAcore T100. The hNOGO-A chip was prepared as
follows:
Method
GST-human NOGO-A56 was immobilised to a CM5 chip by primary amine
coupling using the Biacore Wizard program designed for targeted immobilisation
levels. The CM5 sensor surface was activated by passing a solution of 50mM N-
hydroxy-succinimide (NHS) and 200mM N-ethyl-N'-dimethylaminopropyl
carbonide (EDC). Then GST-human NOGO-A56in sodium acetate buffer, pH5.0
or pH 4.5, was passed over the chip and immobilised. After immobilisation was
complete any still activated esters were blocked by an injection of 1M
ethanolamine hydrochloride, pH8.5.
The anti-NOGO mAbs were diluted down in HBS-EP (10mM HEPES, pH
7.4,150mM NaCI, 3mM EDTA, and 0.005% P-20 surfactant) for the BIAcore
3000 or HBS-EP+ (10mM HEPES, pH 7.4,150mM NaCI, 3mM EDTA, and 0.05%

P-20 surfactant) in the case of the T100 and binding studies were carried out at
range of defined antibody concentrations. All runs were referenced against a
blanked sensor surface (one that had been activated and blocked as described
earlier but had no addition of ligand). Analysis of binding was carried out using
the BIAevaluation kinetic analysis software version 4.1 for the BIAcore 3000 and
T100 kinetic analysis software version 1.0. Biacore analysis of other antibodies
of the invention essentially followed the same protocol as described herein.
Unless otherwise stated, the BIAcore experiments were performed at 25°C.
In the following Results section each data table represents the results
obtained from an individual experiment.



Example 7: BiaCore Analysis of humanised Anti NOGO Monoclonal Antibodies
using off-rate ranking
The GST-human NOGO-A56 chip was prepared as for kinetic analysis.
Cell supernatants where taken directly from transient transfections of CH0-K1
cells. These were passed directly over the sensor surface and the interaction
measured. A mock transfected cell supernatant was used for double referencing
to remove any artefacts due to the tissue culture media. All runs were referenced
against a blanked sensor surface (one that had been activated and blocked as
described earlier but had no addition of ligand). Analysis of binding was carried
out using the BIAevaluation kinetic analysis software version 4.1.
Example 8: Peotide Mapping
47 overlapping peptides spanning the NOGO-A56 portion of GST-human
NOGO-A56 domain (SEQ ID NO. 32) were obtained (from Mimotope™). The

peptides are 16 amino acids in length with a twelve amino acid overlap with the
adjacent peptide (each peptide further comprising a biotin-SGSG sequence at
the N-terminus) with the exception of the first peptide which has a GSG-biocytin
tag at the C-terminus. The peptides were used to epitope map the binding site of
2A10andH28L16.
Method for epitope mapping:
Streptavidin at 5(ig/rnl in sterile water was coated onto Nunc immunosorp
plates (100 |il per well) at 37°C overnight. The plates were rinsed 3 times with
PBS containing 0.05% Tween (PBST) then blocked with 3% BSA in PBST at 4°C
overnight. The plates were washed 3 times with PBST. Peptides were then
added to the wells at a concentration of approximately 10 fig/ml (diluted in 3%
BSA in PBST) and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. The plates were
washed 3 times with PBST then incubated for 1 hour with anti-NOGO antibodies
diluted to 5 fj.g/ml in 3% BSA in PBST. The plates were washed 3 times with
PBST then incubated with anti-human or anti-mouse kappa peroxidase conjugate
(1:1000, diluted in 3% BSA in PBST) for 1 hour. The plates were washed 3 times
with PBST and then incubated with 100 ^l OPD peroxidase substrate (Sigma) per
well for 10 minutes. The colour reaction was stopped by the addition of 50 ^l 3
molar H2SO4. Absorbance at 490 nm was measured using a plate reader.
The results are shown in figures 5 (epitope mapping using H28L16), figure
6 (epitope mapping using 2A10). Figures 5 and 6 show the results of the epitope
mapping of 2A10 and H28L16, respectively. The data shown indicates that 2A10
and H28L16 bind to peptides 6 and 7 of which the NOGO specific portion is given
in SEQ ID NO.73 and SEQ ID NO.74 respectively, both of which contain the
sequence VLPDIVMEAPLN. These results indicate that VLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ
ID NO.60) contains the binding epitope of 2A10 and H28L16.
Example 9: Comparison ofHcLc and HcLc containing the G95M mutation of the
CDRH3
A modified variant of HcLc was constructed from existing expression
plasmids by introducing a single point mutation, G95M (Kabat numbering), using

the Quikchange kit (Stratagene). The protein sequence of the variable heavy
domain He (G95M) protein is given in SEQ ID 59.
Hc(G95M)Lc was expressed in CHO cells as described previously. The
antibody was quantified as described in Example 4. Figures 7 and Figure 8 show
a comparison of the binding activity of Hc(G95M)Lc and HcLc as determined
using a human NOGO-A binding ELISA when NOGO was coated onto Nunc
immunosorp plates at 0.05 (Figure 7) and 1 ug/ml (Figure 8). Table below shows
a comparison of the binding affinities of Hc(G95M)Lc and HcLc.

The data demonstrates that the G95M substitution within CDR H3 not only
increases the binding activity of the humanised antibodies (H6L13), but also the
murine donor antibody 2A10 (HcLc).
Example 10: Construction and testing of NOGO antibodies containing
substitutions in CDR H3
A panel of 90 heavy chain variable regions was created by single point
mutations in the residues contained in the CDR H3, or the preceding Leucine.
Specifically, vectors encoding a heavy chain (based on H6FL, SEQ ID NO. 15)
were made encoding heavy chain variable regions where each amino acid
residue in CDR H3 and the preceding Leucine was substituted (using the
Quikchange kit (Stratagene)) with all other naturally occurring amino acids,
excluding cysteine, and expressed in conjunction with a light chain (L13FL, SEQ
ID NO. 17) to give 90 different antibodies. These antibodies were assayed for
binding to NOGO in ELISA and Biacore experiments.

Figures 9 and 10 show a comparison of the binding activity of the variants
of H6FL in comparison to H6FL L13FL. Tables 14 and 15 show a comparison of
the off-rate kinetics as measured by Biacore - only the results for those
antibodies that had a measurable off rate in the Biacore assay and had
comparable binding activity to H6L13 in ELISA are shown.

Conclusions
The results indicate that the antibodies which retain the binding properties of the
murine 2A10, and the GQGY containing antibody H6L13, are those containing
following CDR H3: RQGY, IQGY, MQGY, GDGY, GIGY, GSGY, GQNY, GQYY,
GQSY, GQLY, GQFY, GQGW, WQGY, GAGY, GLGY, GVGY, GQWY.
Example 11, Comparison of GQGY containing mab (H20L16) with G95M variant
mabs (H27L16 and H28L13 and H28L16)
The antibodies listed in Table 15 were manufactured as described above.

Table 15 - humanised 2A10 anti-Nogo-A antibodies giving the total number of
back-mutations for the whole antibody (2x heavy chain + 2x light chain).

In vitro binding characteristics
In an attempt to rank the antibodies, their binding properties were
investigated in a range of assays including ELISA, reverse format ELISA,
competition ELISA, Biacore and by flow cytometry.
11.1 Binding to recombinant human NOGO-A in ELISA
The ability of the antibodies to bind recombinant human Nogo-A (GST-
human Nogo-A 56) was investigated by various related ELISA assays (performed
in a related, but slightly different, protocol as that described in Example 3). In the
first assay, the recombinant Nogo-A is directly coated to the plate at various
different antigen concentrations. The results of the direct binding ELISA when the
antigen is loaded at 1mcg/ml or 0.05mcg/ml are shown in Figure 11A and Figure
11B respectively. The data confirms that all the antibodies show comparable
binding activity to recombinant human Nogo-A when compared with the chimeric
form of the parental antibody (HcLc). At higher antigen coating concentrations,
all antibodies yield a similar EC50 value. In contrast, at a lower antigen coating
concentration the assay was able to discriminate between the antibodies.
Although saturation curves were not obtained, a trend analysis on the lines
revealed the following rank order: H27L16>H28L16, H28L13, H20L16.
In a parallel experiment, the format of the assay was reversed. In this
format, the antibody is captured on to the plate and the binding of the
recombinant human Nogo-A (GST-human Nogo-A-56) detected using the GST
tag. The results of the reverse format ELISA are shown in Figure 12. The data

confirms that all the antibodies show comparable binding activity to recombinant
human Nogo-A when compared with the chimeric form of the parental antibody
(HcLc). This format of the binding ELISA did not distinguish between the
antibodies.
11.2 Competition ELISA
The ability of the antibodies to compete directly with the parental antibody
for the same epitope on human Nogo-A was assessed using a competition
ELISA. The recombinant human Nogo-A (GST-human Nogo-A 56) was coated
onto the plates. The parental antibody 2A10 and the humanised antibodies were
pre-mixed prior to adding to the plates. The binding of 2A10 was quantified using
an anti-mouse IgG-HRP conjugate (Dakocytomation, #P0260). The results
shown in Figure 13 confirm that all four antibodies can compete with 2A10. This
suggests that the humanised antibodies and parental antibody recognise an
overlapping epitope on human Nogo-A. Furthermore, the activity of the
humanised antibodies is comparable or better than the chimera HcLc. The
results indicate that H27L16, H28L16 and H28L13 are more potent than H20L16.
11.3 Biacore Affinity measurements
Biacore was used to determine affinities and rank antibodies using two
different methodologies. In the first approach, the recombinant Nogo-A was
coupled to the surface of the chip and anti-Nogo-A antibodies passed over this
surface. In the second approach, Protein A was used to capture the antibody
onto the surface of the chip over which the recombinant GST-human Nogo-A56
was passed. The results shown in Table 16 were obtained by coupling the
antigen to the surface and confirm that all four antibodies show
comparable/better affinity than the parental antibody (HcLc). Based on the
average of six independent runs, the antibodies rank in the following order in
terms of overall affinity: H27L16>H28L16>H28L13>H20L16, consistent with the
rank order of the direct binding ELISA (Figure 11B). In the case of H27L16 and
H28L16, the humanised antibodies demonstrate 2-3x higher affinity that the
parental antibody (HcLc).

Table 16 - Binding kinetics of the anti-Nogo-A humanised antibodies to
recombinant human Nogo-A (GST-human Nogo-A 56) as determined using the
Biacore TWO. The antigen was bound to the CMS chip by primary amine
coupling. The antibodies were flowed over a various concentrations (0.125-
8nM). The values show the mean and standard deviation (in brackets) of six
independent runs carried out in duplicate. Each completed data set was
analysed independently prior to the calculation of mean and standard deviation.
**Only 11 sets of data analysed forH20L16 as one set could not be analysed.

In a similar manner to the ELISA, the kinetics of antibody binding to
recombinant human Nogo-A (GST-human Nogo-A 56) was also assessed in a
reverse format (see Example 11.1). In this assay, the humanised antibodies
were captured onto the CM5 chip by Protein A. The averaged results for six
independent runs are shown in Table 17. Consistent with the reverse format
ELISA, all the humanised Nogo-A antibodies show similar binding kinetics to the
chimera (HcLc) in the reverse format Biacore.

Table 17-Reverse format binding kinetics of the anti-Nogo-A humanised
antibodies to recombinant human Nogo-A (GST Nogo-A. 5+6) as determined
using the Biacore T100. Protein A was immobilised to approximately 4000RUs by
primary amine and used to capture 200-300RUs of the sample antibodies.
Recombinant human Nogo-A was passed over at various concentrations (0.125-
8nM). The values show the mean and standard deviation (in brackets) of three
independent runs in duplicate. Each data set was independently analysed prior
to the calculation of the mean and standard deviation.

11.4 Binding to native human NOG O
To demonstrate that the humanised antibodies bind to native human
Nogo-A with a profile comparable to the parental antibody, two flow cytometry
based assays were developed. In the first assay, a CHO-K1-based cell line
expressing human Nogo-A extracellular domain on the cell surface was
generated. Binding of the humanised anti-Nogo-A antibodies was assessed by
flow cytometry using a PE-labelled anti-human IgG (Sigma, #P8047). Figure 14
below shows a typical profile for the anti-Nogo-A antibodies on the CHO-Nogo-A
cell line. Whilst the assay is not sensitive enough to distinguish between the
antibodies, the results confirm that all four antibodies can recognise cell surface
expressed human Nogo-A at levels comparable to that of the chimera. None of
the antibodies recognise the parental cell line (CHO-K1 - data not shown).
In the second assay, the ability of the humanised antibodies to bind native
Nogo-A was assessed using a human neuroblastoma cell line - IMR32. This cell
line is characterised by high intracellular/low cell surface levels of Nogo-A
protein. In an attempt to increase the binding signal, the assay was set-up to

detect intracellular Nogo-A (ER-resident). IMR32 cells were permeabilised and
fixed prior to staining with the anti-Nogo-A humanised antibodies. Binding of the
antibodies to Nogo-A was detected using an anti-human IgG-PE labelled
secondary (Sigma, #P8047). The results, shown in Figure 15 below, confirm
that all the antibodies bind to intracellular Nogo-A at levels comparable or higher
than the parental antibody HcLc. These data, in conjunction with the results from
the CHO-Nogo-A cell line, confirm that the humanised antibodies can recognise a
more native form of the Nogo-A protein at levels comparable or better than the
chimera, HcLc. The assays are not sufficiently sensitive to rank the antibody
panel.
11.5 Neurite-outgrowth assays
Humanised anti-Nogo-A antibodies were tested for their ability to
neutralise neurite-outgrowth (NO) inhibitory activity of Nogo-A in an assay that is
based on quantifying NO as described previously. Antibodies tested in the assay
were selected on the basis of their binding kinetics for Nogo-A. High affinity
humanised antibodies namely, H28L16, H27L16, H20L16 and for reference their
parental antibodies 2A10 (mouse monoclonal) and HcLc (human mouse chimera)
were tested for Nogo-A neutralisation. For comparison, antibody 11C7 (see
Example 13) was also tested in the assay.
In order to test the neutralising activity of selected humanised antibodies,
wells coated with human recombinant GST-human Nogo-A56 and treated with
varying concentrations of antibodies at 37°C for 1h prior to the addition of
cerebellum granular neurons (CGNs). Control wells were treated with HBSS.
Average neurite length per neurite was measured for each well. Figure 16 shows
the results for the humanised antibodies tested in the assay. A panel of control
antibodies (control IgG, purified mouse IgG; Campath and another irrelevant
humanised antibodies) used to confirm the specificity of the activity. As a further
control, the same humanised antibodies were titrated onto GST coated plates.
The results confirm that H28L16, H27L16 and H20L16 reverse Nogo-A-mediated
inhibition of neurite outgrowth to a similar degree observed for the parental
antibodies (2A10 and HcLc). The effects appear to be robust and stable and
were seen with H28L16 in eight out of eleven independent neurite-outgrowth

experiments. In contrast, the humanised antibodies do not increase neurite-
outgrowth on GST coated plates and the panel of control antibodies do not show
any dose dependent reversal of inhibition, confirming that the effect of the
humanised antibodies is specific for Nogo-A-mediated inhibition. The data
presented for the neurtite outgrowth is selected from number of repeat
experiments. Whilst a number of the repeats which are not shown appeared to be
variable in nature, it is believed that the data shown reflects a true activity of the
antibodies of the present invention in reducing the inhibitory effect of NOGO in
the neurite outgrowth assay.
Example 12, Further characterisation ofH28L16
12.1 Binding to full-length recombinant Nogo-A
The ability of the antibodies to bind full-length extracellular domain
recombinant human Nogo-A (GST-human Nogo-A-ECD) was investigated by a
direct binding ELISA assay. In this case the ECD was a splice variant falling
within the region of approximately position 186-1004 of human NOGO A (the
portion beginning DETFAL (SEQ ID NO.95) and ending with ELSKTS (SEQ ID
NO.96)).
The recombinant GST-human Nogo-A-ECD was directly coated to the
plate at 1ug/ml. The data shown in Figure 17 confirms that H28L16 can
recognise GST-human Nogo-A-ECD as levels comparable or better than the
parental (HcLc) or H20L16.
12.2 Inhibition of Fc functionality
To improve the safety profile of the candidate, residues L235 and G237
within the CH2 domain of the heavy chain constant region (EU Index system)
were mutated to alanine residues thus reducing the likelihood of triggering
antibody-mediated immunological effector functions. Reduced human C1q
binding was used as a surrogate for inhibition of Fc functionality. Figure 18
below shows that H28L16 has significantly reduced C1q binding activity,
compared to Campath-lgG1 (wild-type) and comparable to a Campath lgG1
construct bearing the same mutations (Fc-mutated antibody (Fc-)) and Campath

lgG4. These data suggest that the CH2-domain mutations present in H28L16 will
significantly reduce the likelihood of triggering Fc mediated effector functions.
12.3 Orthologue binding
To confirm that H28L16 shows binding activity to various orthologues of
Nogo-A, comparable to that of the parental antibody (HcLc), a series of binding
assays were performed. Figure 19 A-D below shows the results of a direct
binding ELISA to recombinant NOGO (GST-human Nogo-A 56) from rat (SEQ ID
NO.94), cynomolgus (SEQ ID NO. 92), marmoset (SEQ ID NO. 93) and squirrel
monkey respectively (SEQ ID NO. 91). In all cases, H28L16 shows activity
comparable or better than the chimeric antibody (HcLc). The calculated EC50
values are very similar to those calculated for binding to human recombinant
Nogo-A.
The kinetics of binding of H28L16 to the various orthologues of Nogo-A in
comparison to HcLc and 11C7 was determined using the Biacore. Table 18 and
Table 19 below show the kinetics of binding in two different formats of the assay.
Where the recombinant Nogo-A was coupled directly to the CM5 chip (Table 18),
the binding kinetics for rat, cynomolgus monkey, squirrel monkey and marmoset
are very similar to that for human (range = 0.33-0.67nM). When the format of
the assay was reversed and the antibodies are captured onto the chip using
Protein A (Table 19), the binding affinity of H28L16 to rat Nogo-A is
approximately 4-fold lower than for human Nogo-A. A similar trend is observed
for cynomolgus Nogo-A (8.5x lower affinity than human) and the other primate
orthologues (12-17x lower affinity than human). The chimeric antibody HcLc
shows a similar profile of binding to the orthologues of Nogo-A in both
orientations of the assay. Since it is unclear which assay format best represents
the in vivo situation, the primary conclusions that can be drawn from this study
are 1) H28L16 has retained the orthologue cross-reactivity profile associated with
the chimeric antibody HcLc and 2) the affinity of HcLc for rat and cynomolgus
Nogo-A is within 4-fold and 8.5-fold of the affinity for human Nogo-A and under
certain conditions may be very similar.

Table 18 - Binding kinetics ofH28L16, 11C7 and HcLc to the recombinant
orthologues of human Nogo-A as determined using the Biacore T100.
Approximately 140-180RUs of the various Nogo-A orthologues were captured to
the CM5 chip by primary amine coupling. The antibodies were flowed over a
various concentrations (0.125-8nM). The values show the mean and standard
deviation (in brackets) of 1-2 independent runs carried out in duplicate with each
data set independently analysed prior to calculation of the mean and standard
deviation. *One set of curves was discarded due to uninterprelable curves for
antibody 11C7.


Table 19 - Reverse format binding kinetics ofH28L16, 11C7 and HcLc to the
recombinant orthologues of human Nogo-A as determined on the Biacore 7100.
Protein A was immobilised on the surface at about 4000RUs and anti-Nogo-A
antibodies were captured at approximately 300-400RUs. The recombinant
proteins (GST- NOGO-A56) were flowed over a various concentrations (0.125-
64nM) dependent on the construct. All the runs were done in duplicates. The
values show the mean and standard deviation (in brackets) of 1-3 independent
runs with each run done in duplicate and each data set analysed independently
prior to calculation of the mean and standard deviation.

12.4 Physical properties
The physicochemical properties of H28L16 and H20L16 were assessed by
SEC-HPLC and SDS-PAGE. SEC-HPLC was carried out at 1 .Oml/minute using
100mM sodium phosphate, 400mM sodium chloride pH 6.8 and a TSK G3000
SW xl 30cm x 7.8mm stainless steel column with detection at 214nm and 280nm.
SDS-PAGE was carried out on a 4-20% Novex Tris-HCL gel loading 10ug
product and staining with Sypro Ruby. C-IEF was carried out on a Beckman
MDQ using pH 3.5-10 ampholines.

The following results were obtained:
Table 20 - Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) HPLC analysis of the anti-Nogo-A
antibodies. The values shown are percentages of the antibody assigned to each of the
three different species.

Table 21 - SDS-PAGE analysis of the anti-Nogo-A antibodies. The values shown are
percentages Of the antibody found in the major bands.

The SEC-HPLC data suggests that H20L16 is more susceptible to
aggregation than H28L16 (H28L16). If the data reported here were to be
repeated at large scale, this could impact the ability of the manufacturing process
to produce material of acceptable quality for clinical use (>95% monomer). The
SDS-PAGE data shows both candidates are acceptable with both showing a
typical profile.
Example 13, Comparison of H28L16 with 11C7
A murine anti-Nogo-A antibody designated 11C7 is described in
WO2004052932, which was raised to a peptide epitope. A chimeric 11C7 was
made based on the sequence information provided in WO2004052932. To
compare the binding epitopes of 2A10 and 11C7, a competition ELISA was

established to investigate if 11C7 and 2A10 recognise an overlapping epitope on
Nogo-A. As shown in Figure 20 below, HcLc (the chimeric form of 2A10) was
able to compete with 2A10 for binding to human recombinant Nogo-A whereas
11C7 showed no competition with 2A10, even at concentrations of up to
100mcg/ml.
Example 14: Competition ELISA to demonstrate the ability ofpeptides to
compete directly with human NOGO-5+6 for binding to NOGO H28L16
Method for competition ELISA
The ability of peptides to compete directly with NOGO-A (GST-human
Nogo-A56) for binding to NOGO H28L16 was assessed using a competition
ELISA. Rabbit anti-human IgG (Sigma, #1-9764) at 5g/ml in bicarbonate buffer
was coated onto Nunc immunosorp plates (100 ul per well) at 4°C overnight.
The plates were rinsed 3 times with TBS containing 0.05% Tween (TBST) then
blocked with 1% BSA in TBST at room temperature for 1 hour. H28L16 was then
captured onto the plate (1ug/ml, diluted in 1% BSA in TBST, 50ul per well) at
room temperature for 1 hour. The plates were washed 3 times with TBST.
Peptides (from 0 to 100g/ml) and GST-human NOGO-A56 at a concentration of
1ug/ml (diluted in 1% BSA in TBST) were pre-mixed prior to addition into the
wells and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. The plates were washed 3
times with TBST then incubated for 1 hour with rabbit anti-GST peroxidase
conjugate (Sigma, #A7340,1:2000, diluted in 1% BSA in TBST) for 1 hour. The
plates were washed 3 times with TBST and then incubated with 50 I OPD
peroxidase substrate (Sigma) per well for 10 minutes. The colour reaction was
stopped by the addition of 25 I concentrated H2SO4. Absorbance at 490 nm was
measured using a plate reader.
The results shown in Figure 21 confirm that peptides 6 and 7, which were
positive in the epitope mapping ELISA (Example 8) can compete with GST-
human NOGO-A56 binding to H28L16. This suggests that the peptides which
were positive in the epitope mapping study contain an epitope for H28L16
binding. Peptides 16 and 17 (which contain NOGO peptides, but not overlapping

with peptides 6 or 7), which do not contain the proposed epitope, do not compete
with NOGO-5+6.
Example 15: ELISA analysis of a humanised Anti NOGO Monoclonal Antibody
based on the NOGO antibody variant G101S/Q37R
G101S (also known as H100 (SEQ ID NO.63)), a modified variant of the
heavy chain variable region of H6 (SEQ ID NO.11) was generated by introducing
a single substitution, G101S (Kabat numbering) into CDR H3 as described
above. Similarly, Q37R, a modified variant of the light chain variable region of
L13 (SEQ ID NO. 13) were generated by introducing a single substitution (Kabat
numbering Q37R) into the framework region (to form L100). The protein
sequence of the variable light domain Q37R is given in SEQ ID NO. 67.
Genes encoding full length versions of the heavy and light chains
containing the G101S/Q37R substitutions were expressed in CHO cells as
described previously and assayed in a direct binding ELISA as described
previously.
The results of the direct binding ELISA when the antigen is loaded at
0.05ug/ml are shown in Figure 22. The data confirms that antibody H100L100
shows comparable binding activity to recombinant GST-human NOGO-A56 when
compared with H27L16 and that H100L100 has an improved binding profile when
comDared to H6L13. Corresponding EC50 values are shown in the table below:


Example 16: BiaCore Analysis of humanised Anti NOGO Monoclonal Antibodies
based on the CDR H3 variant G101S
H100, A modified variant of the heavy chain variable region of H6 (SEQ ID
NO.11) was generated by introducing a single substitution, G101S (Kabat
numbering) into CDR H3. The protein sequence of the variable heavy domain
H100 protein is given in SEQ ID NO.63. Similarly, L100 and L101, modified
variants of the light chain variable region of L13 (SEQ ID NO. 13) were generated
by introducing a single substitution (Kabat numbering Q37R and Q45R
respectively) into the framework region. The protein sequences of the variable
light domains L100 and L101 proteins are given in SEQ ID NO.67 and SEQ ID
NO.68 respectively.
Full length versions of H100L100 and H100L101 were expressed in CHO
cells as described previously. Table 23 shows a comparison of the binding
affinities of H6L13 with H100L100and H100L101 and indicates that H100L100
and H100L101 have an improved binding affinity when compared with H6L13. In
this example, the method was performed essentially as described in Example 6
where the CM5 chip was activated by passing the NHS and EDC solutions over
the chip at 5 I /ml for 7 minutes and the NOGO was suspended in 10nM sodium
acetate buffer (pH 4.5) before passing over the chip.
Table 23 - Biacore measurements for the G101S variants of the H6 variable
heavy chain in combination with variants of the L13 variable light chain in
comparison with H6L13.






























CLAIMS
1. A heavy chain variable region comprising a third CDR consisting
essentially of the amino acid residues GQGY wherein the CDR contains at least
one.substitution within the GQGY core sequence, the substitutions being
selected from the following substitutions: where the G in the first position is
replaced by R, I, W or M; the Q in the second position is replaced by D, I, A, L, V
or S; the G in the third position is replaced by W, N, Y, S, L or F; and the Y in the
fourth position is replaced by W.
2. A heavy chain variable region as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a
single substitution to the GQGY sequence to yield one of the following CDR H3:
RQGY (SEQ ID NO.75), IQGY (SEQ ID NO.76), MQGY (SEQ ID NO.45), GDGY
(SEQ ID NO.77), GIGY (SEQ ID NO.78), GSGY (SEQ ID NO.79), GQNY (SEQ
ID NO.80), GQYY (SEQ ID N0.81), GQSY (SEQ ID NO.62), GQLY (SEQ ID
NO.82), GQFY (SEQ ID NO.83), GQGW (SEQ ID NO.84), WQGY(SEQ ID
NO.86), GAGY(SEQ ID NO.87), GLGY(SEQ ID NO.88), GVGY(SEQ ID NO.89),
GQWY(SEQ ID NO.90).
3. A heavy chain variable region as claimed in claim 2 wherein the CDR H3
is MQGY or GQSY.
4. A heavy chain variable region as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein the heavy chain variable region comprises the sequence SYWMH as
CDR H1 (SEQ ID NO. 1) and NINPSNGGTNYNEKFKS as CDR H2 (SEQ ID
NO.2).
5. A heavy chain variable region as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4
wherein the heavy chain variable region is a humanised sequence.
6. A heavy chain variable region as claimed in claim 5 wherein the acceptor
heavy chain variable region sequence has at least 40% identity in the framework
regions to the 2A10 donor antibody heavy chain variable region sequence given
in SEQ ID NO.7.
7. A heavy chain variable region as claimed in claim 6 wherein the heavy
chain variable region has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 66 (H98
variable region) or SEQ ID NO. 61 (H99 variable region), further comprising a
number of substitutions at one or more of numerical positions 38,40, 67, 68, 70,

72, 74, and 79; wherein each substituted amino acid residue is replaced with the
amino acid residue at the equivalent position in SEQ ID NO 7.
8. A heavy chain variable region as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7,
having the amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO.47 (H26), SEQ ID NO.48
(H27), SEQ ID NO.49 (H28), SEQ ID NO. 63 (H100), SEQ ID NO. 54 (H101),
SEQ ID NO. 65 (H102).
9. An isolated antibody, or fragment thereof, capable of binding to human
NOGO-A comprising a heavy chain variable region as claimed in any one of
claims 1 to 8 and a light chain variable region.
10. An isolated antibody or fragment thereof as claimed in claim 7 comprising
the following heavy and light chain variable region pairs: H27L16 (SEQ ID NO.48
+ SEQ ID NO.14), H28L.13 (SEQ ID NO.49 + SEQ ID NO.13), H28L16 (SEQ ID
NO.49 + SEQ ID NO.14).
11. An isolated antibody comprising the following heavy and light chain
sequences H27FL L16FL (SEQ ID NO. 54 + SEQ ID NO.18), H28FL L13FL
(SEQ ID NO. 55 + SEQ ID NO.17), H28FL L16FL (SEQ ID NO. 55 + SEQ ID
NO.18).
12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-NOGO antibody or
fragment thereof comprising the heavy chain variable regions claimed in any one
of claims 1 to 8 or the antibodies or fragments thereof as claimed in claims 9 to
11, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.
13. Use of an anti-NOGO antibody or fragment thereof as claimed in any one
of claims 1 to 8 or the antibodies or fragments thereof as claimed in claims 9 to
11, in the preparation of a medicament for treatment or prophylaxis of stroke and
other neurological diseases/disorders or for the treatment of a patient suffering
from a mechanical trauma to the central or peripheral nervous system.
14. A method for the treatment or prophylaxis of stroke or other neurological
disease/disorder or for the treatment of a patient suffering from a mechanical
trauma to the central or peripheral nervous system, in a human comprising the
step of parenteral administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-
NOGO antibody or fragment thereof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 or the
antibodies or fragments thereof as claimed in claims 9 to 11.

15. An antibody or fragment thereof that is capable of binding to a region of
human NOGO protein consisting of the polypeptide sequence of
VLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ ID NO. 60), characterised in that the antibody, or
fragment thereof is not an antibody comprising a variable heavy domain having
CDR H3 consisting of the amino acid residues GQGY or analogues thereof
having one amino acid substitution therein.
16. A polynucletotide that encodes the polypeptides having the sequence set
forth in SEQ ID NOs. 47, 48, 49, 53, 54 or 55.
17. An antibody, or fragment thereof, that is capable of binding to human
NOGO protein in an ELISA assay, wherein the binding of the antibody, or
fragment thereof, to human NOGO protein is reduced in the presence of a
peptide having the following sequence VLPDIVMEAPLN (SEQ ID NO. 60), and is
not reduced in the presence of an irrelevant peptide, characterised in that the
antibody or fragment thereof is not an antibody comprising a heavy chain variable
domain having a CDR H3 consisting of the amino acid residues GQGY or
analogues thereof having one amino acid substitution therein.

The present invention relates to antibodies to NOGO, pharmaceutical formulations containing them and to the use
of such antibodies in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neurological diseases/disorder.

Documents:

02423-kolnp-2008-abstract.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-claims.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-correspondence others.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-description complete.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-drawings.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-form 1.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-form 3.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-form 5.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-gpa.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-international publication.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-international search report.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-pct priority document notification.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-pct request form.pdf

02423-kolnp-2008-sequence listing.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(09-10-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(09-10-2012)-SEQUENCE LISTING.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(26-03-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(26-03-2012)-FORM-1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(26-03-2012)-FORM-2.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(26-03-2012)-OTHERS.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(26-03-2012)-SEQUENCE LISTING.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(26-06-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(26-08-2011)-CLAIMS.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(26-08-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(26-08-2011)-FORM 13.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(27-01-2012)-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(27-01-2012)-ASSIGNMENT.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(27-01-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(27-01-2012)-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(27-01-2012)-FORM 1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(27-01-2012)-FORM 2.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(27-01-2012)-OTHERS.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(27-01-2012)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-(27-11-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-ABSTRACT-1.1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-ABSTRACT.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-AMANDED CLAIMS-1.1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf

2423-kolnp-2008-assignment.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE)-1.1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-DRAWINGS.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECIEVED.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-FORM 1-1.1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-FORM 1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-FORM 13.pdf

2423-kolnp-2008-form 18.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-FORM 2-1.1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-FORM 2.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-OTHERS-1.1.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-OTHERS.pdf

2423-KOLNP-2008-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

abstract-02423-kolnp-2008.jpg


Patent Number 255711
Indian Patent Application Number 2423/KOLNP/2008
PG Journal Number 12/2013
Publication Date 22-Mar-2013
Grant Date 18-Mar-2013
Date of Filing 16-Jun-2008
Name of Patentee GLAXO GROUP LIMITED
Applicant Address GLAXO WELLCOME HOUSE, BERKELEY AVENUE, GREENFORD, MIDDLESEX UB6 0NN
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 CLEGG, STEPHANIE JANE GLAXOSMITHKLINE GUNNELS WOOD ROAD, STEVENAGE HERTFORDSHIRE SG1 2NY
2 GERMASCHEWSKI, VOLKER GLAXOSMITHKLINE GUNNELS WOOD ROAD, STEVENAGE HERTFORDSHIRE SG1 2NY
3 HAMBLIN, PAUL ANDREW GLAXOSMITHKLINE GUNNELS WOOD ROAD, STEVENAGE HERTFORDSHIRE SG1 2NY
4 KOPSIDAS, GEORGE EVOGENIX LIMITED 343 ROYAL PARADE, PARKVILLE, MELBOURNE VICTORIA 3052
5 MCADAM, RUTH GLAXOSMITHKLINE GUNNELS WOOD ROAD, STEVENAGE HERTFORDSHIRE SG1 2NY
6 PRINJHA, RABINDER KUMAR GLAXOSMITHKLINE NEW FRONTIERS SCIENCE PARK SOUTH THIRD AVENUE, HARLOW, ESSEX CM19 5AW
7 ELLIS, JONATHAN HENRY GLAXOSMITHKLINE GUNNELS WOOD ROAD, STEVENAGE HERTFORDSHIRE SG1 2NY
PCT International Classification Number C07K 16/00
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2006/069737
PCT International Filing date 2006-12-14
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 0525662.3 2005-12-16 U.K.