Methods of Suppressing Rheumatoid Arthritis Using An Anti-IL-6 Antibody

Abstract

Anti-IL-6 antibodies and antirheumatics are useful to treat and suppress IL-6 related conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for suppressing rheumatoid arthritis in an animal, comprising:
 administering a composition comprising an effective amount of an IL-6 antibody and a composition comprising an effective amount of an antirheumatic to said animal, wherein the IL-6 antibody comprises at least one light chain variable region and one heavy chain variable region, said light chain variable region comprising:   a complementarity determining region light chain 1 (CDRL1) amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:132 comprising the sequence S-X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -V-X 5 -Y-M-Y, wherein X 1  is A or G, X 2  is S or R, X 3  is H, I, S, or Y, X 4  is S or Y, and X 5  is S or F;   a CDRL2 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:133 comprising the sequence D-X 6 -S-X 7 -L-X 8 -S, wherein X 6  is F, L, M, or T, X 7  is N or E, and X 8  is A or T; and   a CDRL3 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:134 comprising the sequence X 9 -X 10 -W-S-G-Y-P-Y-T, wherein X 9  is M, C, or S, and X 10  is Q or C;   
       said heavy chain variable region comprising:
 a complementarity determining region heavy chain 1 (CDRH1) amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:135 comprising the sequence G-F-X 11 -X 12 -S-X 13 -F-A-X 14 -S, wherein X 11  is T or Q, X 12  is F, S, or T, X 13  is S or P, and X 14  is L or M; 
 a CDRH2 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:136 comprising the sequence K-X 15 -S-X 16 -G-G-S-X 17 -X 18 -Y-X 19 -X 20 -D-T-X 21 -X 22 -X 23 , wherein X 15  is A or I, X 16  is S or P, X 17  is Y or W, X 18  is T, E, or Y, X 19  is Y or F, X 20  is P, S, D, or F, X 21  is V or D, X 22  is T or A, and X 23  is G or P; and 
 a CDRH3 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:137 comprising the sequence Q-L-W-G-X 24 -Y-A-L-D-X 25 , wherein X 24  is S, Y, T, or N, and X 25  is Y, T, F, or I. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount of antibody is about 0.001-50 mg/kilogram of said animal. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said administering is by subcutaneous method. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  1 , wherein the antirheumatic is methotrexate and is administered, prior, concurrently or after administering the antibody. 
     
     
         5 . A method for suppressing rheumatoid arthritis in an animal, comprising:
 administering a composition comprising an effective amount of an IL-6 antibody and a composition comprising an effective amount of an antirheumatic to said animal, wherein the IL-6 antibody comprises a light chain variable region amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:97 and a heavy chain variable region amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:99.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said effective amount of antibody is about 0.001-50 mg/kilogram of said animal. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said administering is by subcutaneous method. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  5 , wherein the antirheumatic is methotrexate and is administered, prior, concurrently or after administering the antibody. 
     
     
         9 . A method for suppressing rheumatoid arthritis in an animal, comprising:
 administering a composition comprising an effective amount of an IL-6 antibody and a composition comprising an effective amount of an antirheumatic to said animal, wherein the IL-6 antibody comprises a complementarity determining region light chain 1 (CDRL1) amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, a CDRL2 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:21, a CDRL3 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29, a complementarity determining region heavy chain 1 (CDRH1) amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:39, a CDRH2 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:59, and a CDRH3 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:89.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said effective amount of antibody is about 0.001-50 mg/kilogram of said animal. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said administering is by subcutaneous method. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  9 , wherein the antirheumatic is methotrexate and is administered, prior, concurrently or after administering the antibody.