Novel ankyrin repeat binding proteins and their uses

Abstract

The present invention relates to recombinant binding proteins comprising one or more designed ankyrin repeat domains with binding specificity for coronavirus spike proteins, nucleic acids encoding such proteins, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such proteins or nucleic acids, and the use of such proteins, nucleic acids or pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment of coronavirus diseases, particularly diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of treating a coronavirus infection in a subject, the method comprising the step of administering an effective amount of at least one binding protein to a subject in need thereof;
 wherein the binding protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, 5, and 6.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein comprises the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 3, 5 and 6. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein comprises the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 3, 5, 6, and 47. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein comprises a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 31. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein comprises a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 31. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein comprises a sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 31. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the binding protein comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the coronavirus infection is caused by SARS-CoV-2. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the coronavirus infection is caused by a variant of SARS-CoV-2. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of administering the binding protein to the subject is repeated. 
     
     
         40 . A method of treating a coronavirus infection in a subject, the method comprising the step of administering an effective amount of at least one binding protein to a subject in need thereof;
 wherein the binding protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the coronavirus infection is caused by SARS-CoV-2. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the coronavirus infection is caused by a variant of SARS-CoV-2. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the step of administering the binding protein to the subject is repeated. 
     
     
         44 . A binding protein comprising an amino acid sequence, wherein the amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, 5, and 6. 
     
     
         45 . The binding protein of  claim 44 , wherein the binding protein further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47. 
     
     
         46 . The binding protein of  claim 44 , wherein the binding protein comprises a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 31. 
     
     
         47 . The binding protein of  claim 44 , wherein the binding protein comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31. 
     
     
         48 . A nucleic acid encoding the binding protein of  claim 44 . 
     
     
         49 . The nucleic acid of  claim 48 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 74. 
     
     
         50 . A binding protein comprising an amino acid sequence, wherein the amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, 76, and 77. 
     
     
         51 . The binding protein of  claim 50 , wherein the binding protein further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47. 
     
     
         52 . The binding protein of  claim 50 , wherein the binding protein comprises a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 75. 
     
     
         53 . The binding protein of  claim 50 , wherein the binding protein comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 75. 
     
     
         54 . A nucleic acid encoding the binding protein of  claim 50 . 
     
     
         55 . The nucleic acid of  claim 54 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 78. 
     
     
         56 . A method of treating a coronavirus infection in a subject, the method comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the binding protein of  claim 50  to a subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the coronavirus infection is caused by SARS-CoV-2. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the coronavirus infection is caused by a variant of SARS-CoV-2. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the step of administering the binding protein to the subject is repeated.