Interleukin-31 Monoclonal Antibody

Abstract

An isolated antibody that specifically binds to at least one of canine Interleukin-31 (IL-31) or feline IL-31 is provided. Such antibodies can be in the form of diagnostic and/or veterinary compositions useful for treating a pruritic and/or allergic condition in dogs or cats.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated antibody that specifically binds to at least one of a canine IL-31 or a feline IL-31, wherein said antibody reduces, inhibits, or neutralizes an IL-31-mediated pruritic or allergic condition. 
     
     
         2 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         3 . The antibody of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody is chimeric. 
     
     
         4 . The antibody of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody is caninized or felinized. 
     
     
         5 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody reduces, inhibits, or neutralizes IL-31 activity in a dog or cat. 
     
     
         6 . A veterinary composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A method of treating an IL-31-mediated pruritic or allergic condition in a subject, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody of  claim 1  to the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the IL-31-mediated pruritic or allergic condition is a pruritic condition selected from the group consisting of atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, scleroderma, and pruritis. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pruritic condition is atopic dermatitis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pruritic condition is pruritis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the IL-31-mediated pruritic or allergic condition is an allergic condition selected from the group consisting of allergic dermatitis, summer eczema, urticaria, heaves, inflammatory airway disease, recurrent airway obstruction, airway hyper-responsiveness, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, and inflammatory processes resulting from autoimmunity. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody is administered biweekly or monthly. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody is administered subcutaneously at 1.0 mg/ml. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the subject is a dog or a cat. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subject is a dog. 
     
     
         16 . A method of inhibiting IL-31 activity in a dog or cat by administering an antibody according to  claim 5  to the dog or cat. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antibody is administered biweekly or monthly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antibody is administered subcutaneously at 1.0 mg/ml. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antibody is administered to a dog.