Anti-gm-csf antibodies

Abstract

The present invention provides recombinant antigen-binding regions, antibodies and functional fragments thereof that are specific for GM-CSF, which plays an integral role in various disorders or conditions. These antibodies, accordingly, can be used to treat, for example, inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Antibodies of the invention also can be used in the diagnostics field, as well as for further investigating the role of GM-CSF in the progression of various disorders. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences encoding the foregoing antibodies, vectors containing the same, pharmaceutical compositions and kits with instructions for use.

1 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method of treatment of an inflammatory disease, comprising administering to a human in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) binding protein comprising:
 (a) a variable heavy (VH) region comprising a sequence at least 95% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20; and   (b) a variable light (VL) region comprising a sequence at least 95% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 40.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the inflammatory disease is rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, or shock. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the inflammatory disease is rheumatoid arthritis. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the GM-CSF binding protein is an isolated antibody. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the isolated antibody is an IgG. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the IgG is an IgG1. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the isolated antibody is a synthetic human antibody. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the VH of the isolated antibody comprises a CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 20; and the VL of the isolated antibody comprises a CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 of SEQ ID NO: 40. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the GM-CSF binding protein is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the GM-CSF binding protein is administered intravenously. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the GM-CSF binding protein comprises:
 (a) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20; and   (b) a VL region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 40.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the inflammatory disease is rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, or shock. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the inflammatory disease is rheumatoid arthritis. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the GM-CSF binding protein is an isolated antibody. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the isolated antibody is an IgG. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the IgG is an IgG1. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the isolated antibody is a synthetic human antibody. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the GM-CSF binding protein is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the GM-CSF binding protein is administered intravenously. 
     
     
         51 . A method of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, comprising administering to a human in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) binding protein which is an isolated synthetic human IgG1 antibody comprising:
 (a) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20; and   (b) a VL region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 40.