Immunotoxin Conjugates for Use in Therapy

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes novel conjugates, termed "Duotoxins," that combine an immunotoxin (an antibody or antibody fragment fused to a bacterial toxin such as Pseudomonas exotoxin or diphtheria toxin) with a therapeutic small molecule agent, such as a microtubule-targeting anti-cancer drug (e.g., mertansine/DM1 or monomethyl auristatin). These Duotoxins are engineered to simultaneously deliver two synergistic, cell-killing agents directly to targeted tumor or immune cells, offering enhanced efficacy and reduced toxic side effects compared to current therapies that use either immunotoxins or antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) alone.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Targeted treatment of various cancers, including but not limited to lymphoma, leukemia, ovarian, breast, lung, prostate, colon, kidney, pancreatic, mesothelioma, liver, urothelial, stomach, and cervical cancers.
• Targeted therapy for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, Sjögren’s syndrome, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• Adjunct treatment in combination with surgery or radiotherapy for cancer patients.
• Preclinical and clinical research on improving drug delivery and therapeutic index of cell-targeted therapies.
• Development of safer, more potent biologic drugs for cell-based diseases by reducing systemic toxicity and increasing selectivity.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Simultaneous delivery of two synergistically acting drugs (immunotoxin and cytostatic/cytotoxic agent) directly to diseased cells increases efficacy compared to single-agent therapies.
• Reduces off-target toxicity and side effects by specifically targeting disease-associated cell surface proteins (e.g., CD22, mesothelin, HER2, FLT3, CD138).
• Dual drug action can overcome resistance mechanisms that limit effectiveness of single agents.
• Allows for lower overall drug dosages, thus minimizing adverse systemic reactions.
• Flexible design: the antibody binding domain can be engineered to target different cell surface markers for various diseases.
• Continuous administration formats further improve therapeutic outcomes by extending drug exposure at target sites.
• Applicable to both cancer and autoimmune diseases, broadening potential clinical use.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to conjugates comprising an immunotoxin linked to a therapeutic agent, wherein said immunotoxin comprises a binding domain fused to an adenosine diphosphate (ADP) ribosylating toxin, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said conjugates, and methods for the preparation of said immunotoxins.