IP Library Granted Patent US 12679886
Granted Patent B2
US 12679886 · App. 17/909,578 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Serum albumin binding nanobody compositions and methods for using the same

Inventors: Yi Shi (Wexford, PA); Zhuolun Shen (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
C07K16/18A61P35/00C07K14/55A61K38/00A61K2039/505C07K2317/34C07K2317/565C07K2317/569C07K2317/92C07K2319/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679886
App. No.
17/909,578
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing the stability of recombinant nanobodies. Also disclosed herein are recombinant nanobodies comprising an IL-2 polypeptide that bind serum albumin and uses thereof for treating cancers.

Claims (34)

1 . A recombinant nanobody comprising a human serum albumin (HSA) binding polypeptide and an interleukin-2 (IL-2) polypeptide, wherein the HSA binding polypeptide specifically binds to an HSA epitope selected from the group consisting of epitope 1, epitope 2, epitope 3, and epitope 4,

wherein epitope 1 comprises, as determined starting from amino acid residue 25 of SEQ ID NO: 1, the amino acid residues 298-307, 311, 332-341, and 371-386 of SEQ ID NO: 1,

wherein epitope 2 comprises, as determined starting from amino acid residue 25 of SEQ ID NO: 1, the amino acid residues 5-13, 62-67, 93-99, and 228-266 of SEQ ID NO: 1,

wherein epitope 3 comprises, as determined starting from amino acid residue 25 of SEQ ID NO: 1, the amino acid residues 226-230 and 298-337 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and

wherein epitope 4 comprises, as determined starting from amino acid residue 25 of SEQ ID NO: 1, the amino acid residues 33-38 and 111-145 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and

wherein the HSA binding polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and SEQ ID NO: 4.

2 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the HSA binding polypeptide specifically binds to a human HSA and a mouse serum albumin.

3 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the IL-2 polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 103, or a functional fragment thereof.

4 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the HSA binding polypeptide is linked to the IL-2 polypeptide via a linker.

5 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 4 , wherein the linker comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.

6 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant nanobody is less than about 50 kDa.

7 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the HSA binding polypeptide does not decrease an affinity between the IL-2 polypeptide and an IL-2 receptor thereof.

8 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant nanobody comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, and SEQ ID NO: 9.

9 . A method of treating a cancer responsive to interleukin-2 (IL-2) in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant nanobody comprising a human serum albumin (HSA) binding polypeptide and an IL-2 polypeptide, wherein the HSA binding polypeptide specifically binds to an HSA epitope selected from the group consisting of epitope 1, epitope 2, epitope 3, and epitope 4,

wherein epitope 1 comprises, as determined starting from amino acid residue 25 of SEQ ID NO: 1, the amino acid residues 298-307, 311, 332-341, and 371-386 of SEQ ID NO: 1,

wherein epitope 2 comprises, as determined starting from amino acid residue 25 of SEQ ID NO: 1, the amino acid residues 5-13, 62-67, 93-99, and 228-266 of SEQ ID NO: 1,

wherein epitope 3 comprises, as determined starting from amino acid residue 25 of SEQ ID NO: 1, the amino acid residues 226-230 and 298-337 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and

wherein epitope 4 comprises, as determined starting from amino acid residue 25 of SEQ ID NO: 1, the amino acid residues 33-38 and 111-145 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and

wherein the HSA binding polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and SEQ ID NO: 4.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the HSA binding polypeptide specifically binds to a human HSA and a mouse serum albumin.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the IL-2 polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 103, or a functional fragment thereof.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the HSA binding polypeptide is linked to the IL-2 polypeptide via a linker.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the linker comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the recombinant nanobody is less than about 50 kDa.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the HSA binding polypeptide does not decrease an affinity between the IL-2 polypeptide and an IL-2 receptor thereof.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the recombinant nanobody comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, and SEQ ID NO: 9.

17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the recombinant nanobody has an in vivo half-life about 100 times higher than a natural IL-2 polypeptide.

18 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of melanoma and renal carcinoma.

19 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the HSA binding polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

20 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the HSA binding polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.

21 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the HSA binding polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

22 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant nanobody comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7.

23 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant nanobody comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.

24 . The recombinant nanobody of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant nanobody comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9.