Nucleic acids encoding anti-il-23 antibodies

Abstract

The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reducing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-17, IL-23 via it's p19 subunit or both IL-17 and IL-23 (via p19). IL-17 and IL-23 are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof which specifically binds to a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:
 a) a light chain variable region comprising:
 i) a light chain CDR1 comprising amino acid residues 23 to 36 of SEQ ID NO:1014; 
 ii) a light chain CDR2 comprising amino acid residues 52 to 58 of SEQ ID NO:1014; and 
 iii) a light chain CDR3 comprising amino acid residues 91 to 102 of SEQ ID NO:1014; and 
   b) a heavy chain variable region comprising:
 i) a heavy chain CDR1 comprising amino acid residues 31 to 35 of SEQ ID NO:1015; 
 ii) a heavy chain CDR2 comprising amino acid residues 50 to 66 of SEQ ID NO:1015; and 
 iii) a heavy chain CDR3 comprising amino acid residues 99 to 112 of SEQ ID NO:1015. 
   
     
     
         2 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements:
 a) a transcription promoter;   b) a DNA segment comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 ; and   c) a transcription terminator.   
     
     
         3 . A host cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         4 . A method of producing an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising:
 culturing a cell according to  claim 3  under conditions wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment encoded by the DNA segment is expressed; and   recovering the antibody or antigen-binding fragment.