Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus

Abstract

The present invention relates to the identification and cloning of a novel neutralizing human monoclonal antibody to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus. The invention provides such antibodies, fragments of such antibodies retaining RSV-binding ability, chimeric antibodies retaining RSV-binding ability, and pharmaceutical compositions including such antibodies. The invention further provides for isolated nucleic acids encoding the antibodies of the invention and host cells transformed therewith. Finally, the invention provides for diagnostic and therapeutic methods employing the antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention.

1 . A pharmaceutical preparation comprising
 a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and   a substantially pure antibody selectively binding an RSV F glycoprotein epitope, wherein   said antibody includes a heavy chain CDR3 region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7.   
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 1  wherein
 said antibody comprises an Fd fragment.   
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 1  wherein
 said antibody comprises an Fab fragment.   
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 1  wherein
 said antibody includes a heavy chain CDR2 region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.   
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 1  wherein
 said antibody includes a heavy chain CDR1 region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.   
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 1  wherein
 said antibody includes a heavy chain Fd region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.   
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 3  wherein
 said antibody includes a light chain CDR3 region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15.   
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 3  wherein
 said antibody includes a light chain CDR2 region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13.   
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 3  wherein
 said antibody includes a light chain CDR1 region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11.   
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 3  wherein
 said antibody includes a light chain region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 1  wherein said antibody consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 7. 
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical preparation comprising
 a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and   a vector including a regulatory sequence operably joined to an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an antibody selected from the group consisting of the antibody of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         14 . A method for the treatment of active RSV disease comprising
 administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         15 . A method for prophylactic treatment against infection by RSV comprising
 administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         16 . A method for the treatment of active RSV disease comprising
 administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 13 .   
     
     
         17 . A method for prophylactic treatment against infection by RSV comprising
 administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 13 .