Human antibody molecules for IL-13

1. An isolated specific binding member for human IL-13, comprising an antibody antigen-binding site which is composed of a human antibody VH fragment and a human antibody VL fragment and which comprises a set of CDRs HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3, wherein the VH fragment comprises HCDR1, HCDR2 and HCDR3 and the VL fragment comprises LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3, wherein the set of CDRs consists of a set of CDRs comprising:

the BAK278D6 set of CDRs, defined wherein the HCDR1 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, the HCDR2 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, the HCDR3 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, the LCDR1 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, the LCDR2 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, and the LCDR3 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, wherein the set of CDRs has a substitution selected from the group consisting of (1) S for N at HCDR3 residue 99; (2) for N at LCDR1 residue 27; or (3) S for N at HCDR3 residue 99 and I for N at LCDR1 residue 27.

2. An isolated specific binding member according to claim 1 wherein there are two substitutions compared with the BAK278D6 set of CDRs, at HCDR3 residue 99 and LCDR1 residue 27.

3. An isolated specific binding member according to claim 1 wherein HCDR1, HCDR2 and HCDR3 of the VH fragment are within a germ-line framework and/or LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3 of the VL fragment are within a germ-line framework.

4. An isolated specific binding member according to claim 3 wherein the HCDR1, HCDR2 and HCDR3 of the VH fragment are within germ-line framework VH1 DP14.

5. An isolated specific binding member according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3 of the VL fragment are within germ-line framework VL Vλ3 3h.

6. An isolated specific binding member according to claim 1 which binds a human IL-13 variant in which arginine at position 130 is replaced by glutamine.

7. An isolated specific binding member according to claim 1 which binds non-human primate IL-13.

8. An isolated specific binding member according to claim 7 wherein the non-human primate IL-13 is rhesus or cynomolgus.

9. A specific binding member according to claim 4 comprising the BAK502G9 VH fragment (SEQ ID NO: 15).

10. A specific binding member according to claim 4 further comprising the BAK502G9 VL fragment (SEQ ID NO: 16).

11. A specific binding member according to claim 9 further comprising the BAK502G9 VL fragment (SEQ ID NO: 16).

12. A specific binding member according to claim 1 that binds IL-13 with affinity equal to or better than the affinity of an IL-13 antigen-binding site formed by the BAK502G9 VH fragment (SEQ ID NO: 15) and the BAK502G9 VL fragment (SEQ ID NO: 16), the affinity of the specific binding member and the affinity of the antigen-binding site being as determined under the same conditions.

13. A specific binding member according to claim 1 that neutralizes human IL-13.

14. A specific binding member according to claim 13 that neutralizes human IL-13, with a potency equal to or better than the potency of a IL-13 antigen-binding site formed by the BAK502G9 VH fragment (SEQ ID NO: 15) and the BAK502G9 VL fragment (SEQ ID NO: 16), the potency of the specific binding member and the potency of the antigen-binding site being as determined under the same conditions.

15. A specific binding member according to claim 1 that comprises an scFv antibody molecule.

16. A specific binding member according to claim 1 that comprises an antibody constant region.

17. A specific binding member according to claim 16 that comprises a whole antibody.

18. A specific binding member according to claim 17 wherein the whole antibody has an IgG4 isotype.

19. A specific binding member according to claim 9 that comprises a whole antibody.

20. A specific binding member according to claim 19 wherein the whole antibody has an IgG4 isotype.

21. A composition comprising a specific binding member according to claim 1 , and at least one additional component.

22. A composition according to claim 21 comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, vehicle or carrier.

23. A method comprising binding a specific binding member that binds IL-13 according to claim 1 to human IL-13 or a fragment of human IL-13, wherein said binding takes place in vitro.

24. A method of treatment of a disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and Hodgkin's lymphoma, the method comprising administering a specific binding member according to claim 1 to a patient with the disease.

25. A specific binding member comprising the BAK502G9 VH fragment (SEQ ID NO:15) and the BAK502G9 VL fragment (SEQ ID NO:16).

26. A specific binding member according to claim 25 that comprises an scFv antibody molecule.

27. A specific binding member according to claim 25 that comprises an antibody constant region.

28. A specific binding member according to claim 27 that comprises a whole antibody.

29. A specific binding member according to claim 28 wherein the whole antibody has an IgG4 isotype.

30. A composition comprising a specific binding member according to claim 25 , and at least one additional component.

31. A composition according to claim 30 comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, vehicle or carrier.

32. A method comprising binding a specific binding member that binds IL-13 according to claim 25 to human IL-13 or a fragment of human IL-13, wherein said binding takes place in vitro.

33. A method of treatment of a disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and Hodgkin's lymphoma, the method comprising administering a specific binding member according to claim 25 to a patient with the disease or disorder.

34. An isolated antibody for human IL-13, or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, specifically binds to IL-13 and comprises:

(a) a VH CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7;

(b) a VH CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;

(c) a VH CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9;

(d) a VL CDR1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10;

(e) a VL CDR2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11; and

(f) a VL CDR3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12.

35. The isolated antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, according to claim 34 , wherein the antibody is a human monoclonal antibody.

36. The isolated antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, according to claim 34 , wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody, or a fully human antibody.

37. The isolated antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, according to claim 34 , wherein the fragment is an scFv or an Fab.

38. An isolated antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or the antigen binding fragment specifically binds IL-13 and comprises a heavy chain variable fragment having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 and comprises a light chain variable fragment having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:16.

39. The antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, according to claim 38 , wherein the antibody is a human monoclonal antibody.

40. The antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, according to claim 38 , wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody, or a fully human antibody.

41. The antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, according to claim 38 , wherein the fragment is an scFv or an Fab.

42. A composition comprising the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, according to claim 34 , claim 39 or claim 40 .

43. The composition of claim 42 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, vehicle or carrier.

44. A method of treatment of a disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and Hodgkin's lymphoma, the method comprising administering the antibody, or binding fragment thereof, according to claim 34 or claim 38 .

45. The method of claim 44 , wherein the disease or disorder is asthma.