Antibodies Directed to Angiopoietin-2 And Uses Thereof

Abstract

Antibodies directed to the antigen Ang-2 and uses of such antibodies are described. In particular, fully human monoclonal antibodies directed to the antigen Ang-2. Nucleotide sequences encoding, and amino acid sequences comprising, heavy and light chain immunoglobulin molecules, particularly sequences corresponding to contiguous heavy and light chain sequences spanning the framework regions and/or complementarity determining regions (CDR's), specifically from FR1 through FR4 or CDR1 through CDR3. Hybridomas or other cell lines expressing such immunoglobulin molecules and monoclonal antibodies.

1 . A targeted binding agent that binds to Angiopoietin-2 with a Kd of less than 100 picomolar (pM), wherein said targeted binding agent is a fully human monoclonal antibody selected from the group consisting of:
 a. mAb 3.19.3 (ATCC Accession Number PTA-7260);   b. mAb 3.3.2 (ATCC Accession Number PTA-7258); and   c. mAb 5.88.3 (ATCC Accession Number PTA-7259).   
     
     
         2 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The targeted binding agent of claim  0 , in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         15 . A nucleic acid molecule encoding the targeted binding agent of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         17 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating a malignant tumor in an animal, comprising administering to said animal in need thereof a therapeutically effective dose of the targeted binding agent of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said animal is human. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said malignant tumor is selected from the group consisting of: melanoma, small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, glioma, hepatocellular (liver) carcinoma, thyroid tumor, gastric (stomach) cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, glioblastoma, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and epidermoid carcinoma. 
     
     
         22 . A method of treating Angiopoietin-2 induced angiogenesis, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof a therapeutically effective dose of the targeted binding agent of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said animal is human. 
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An antagonist of the biological activity of Angiopoietin-2, wherein the antagonist does not bind to the ATP-binding site of Tie-2. 
     
     
         27 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The antagonist of  claim 26 , wherein the antagonist binds to the Tie-2 receptor. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The antagonist of  claim 26 , wherein the antagonist is an antibody. 
     
     
         32 . The antagonist of  claim 31 , wherein the antagonist is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         33 . The antagonist of  claim 32 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a fully human monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         34 . The antagonist of  claim 33 , wherein the fully human monoclonal antibody is antibody 3.19.3 (ATCC Accession Number PTA-7260) or 3.3.2 (ATCC Accession Number PTA-7258) or 5.88.3 (ATCC Accession Number PTA-7259). 
     
     
         35 . The antagonist of  claim 26 , wherein the antagonist is an antibody that binds to the same epitope as the fully human monoclonal antibody 3.19.3 (ATCC Accession Number PTA-7260) or 3.3.2 (ATCC Accession Number PTA-7258) or 5.88.3 (ATCC Accession Number PTA-7259).