Dual anti-idiotypic purification of a novel, native-format biparatopic anti-MET antibody with improved in vitro and in vivo efficacy

Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 22:6:31621. doi: 10.1038/srep31621.

Abstract

Bispecific antibodies are of great interest due to their ability to simultaneously bind and engage different antigens or epitopes. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to assemble, produce and/or purify them. Here we present an innovative dual anti-idiotypic purification process, which provides pure bispecific antibodies with native immunoglobulin format. Using this approach, a biparatopic IgG1 antibody targeting two distinct, HGF-competing, non-overlapping epitopes on the extracellular region of the MET receptor, was purified with camelid single-domain antibody fragments that bind specifically to the correct heavy chain/light chain pairings of each arm. The purity and functionality of the anti-MET biparatopic antibody was then confirmed by mass spectrometry and binding experiments, demonstrating its ability to simultaneously target the two epitopes recognized by the parental monoclonal antibodies. The improved MET-inhibitory activity of the biparatopic antibody compared to the parental monoclonal antibodies, was finally corroborated in cell-based assays and more importantly in a tumor xenograft mouse model. In conclusion, this approach is fast and specific, broadly applicable and results in the isolation of a pure, novel and native-format anti-MET biparatopic antibody that shows superior biological activity over the parental monospecific antibodies both in vitro and in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bispecific* / immunology
  • Antibodies, Bispecific* / isolation & purification
  • Antibodies, Bispecific* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological* / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological* / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / isolation & purification
  • Immunoglobulin G / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / immunology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • MET protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met