Humanized anti-IL-6 antibodies

1. An isolated antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6, comprising a heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 153 a light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 68 and a constant region derived from one or more human antibodies.

2. An isolated antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6, comprising a heavy chain and light chain complementarity determining regions (CDRs) derived by affinity maturation from the variable regions of BA399, and a constant region derived from one or more human antibodies.

3. The antibody or fragment according to claim 1 , wherein said antibody or fragment competitively inhibits in vivo the binding to human IL-6 of an anti IL-6 murine antibody.

4. The anti-IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 according to claim 1 , wherein said antibody or specified portion or variant binds IL-6 with an affinity (K d ) of at least 10 −9 M.

5. The IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 according to claim 1 , wherein said antibody or specified portion or variant binds IL-6 with an affinity (K d ) of at least 10 −11 M.

6. The IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 according to claim 1 , wherein said antibody or specified portion or variant binds with an affinity (K d ) of at least 10 −12 M.

7. The IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 according to claim 1 , wherein said antibody or specified portion or variant substantially neutralizes at least one activity of at least one IL-6.

8. The IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 according to claim 7 , wherein said activity is at least one selected from the group consisting of inhibition of IL-6 mediated MCP-1 production, inhibition of IL-6 signaling in THP-1 human monocytic leukemia cells, inhibition of IL-6 induced serum amyloid A production from HepG2 cells, and inhibition of rhIL-6 induced cell proliferation.

9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an isolated IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 according to claim 1 , and a carrier or diluent.

10. The composition according to claim 9 , further comprising at least one compound or protein selected from at least one of TNF antagonist, an antirheumatic, a muscle relaxant, a narcotic, a non-steroid anti-inflamatory drug (NSAID), an analgesic, an anesthetic, a sedative, a local anesthetic, a neuromuscular blocker, an antimicrobial, an antipsoriatic, a corticosteriod, an anabolic steroid, a diabetes related agent, a mineral, a nutritional, a thyroid agent, a vitamin, a calcium related hormone, an antidiarrheal, an antitussive, an antiemetic, an antiulcer, a laxative, an anticoagulant, an erythropieitin, a filgrastim, a sargramostim, an immunization, an immunoglobulin, an immunosuppressive, a growth hormone, a hormone replacement drug, an estrogen receptor modulator, a mydriatic, a cycloplegic, an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, a mitotic inhibitor, a radiopharmaceutical, an antidepressant, antimanic agent, an antipsychotic, an anxiolytic, a hypnotic, a sympathomimetic, a stimulant, donepezil, tacrine, an asthma medication, a beta agonist, an inhaled steroid, a leukotriene inhibitor, a methylxanthine, a cromolyn, an epinephrine or analog, dornase alpha, a cytokine, a cytokine antagonist, and an anti-TNFα or IL-12/IL-23 monoclonal antibody.

11. An isolated fully human antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 thereof, wherein said antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 binds the same epitope or antigenic region as an anti-IL-6 antibody or fragment according to claim 1 .

12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one anti-IL-6 antibody or fragment according to claim 1 , and at least one carrier selected from sterile water, sterile buffered water, or at least one preservative selected from the group consisting of phenol, m-cresol, p-cresol, o-cresol, chlorocresol, benzyl alcohol, phenylmercuric nitrite, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde, chlorobutanol, magnesium chloride, alkylparaben, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, sodium dehydroacetate and thimerosal, or mixtures thereof, in an aqueous diluent.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the concentration of anti-IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 is about 0.1 mg/ml to about 100 mg/ml.

14. The composition of claim 12 , further comprising an isotonicity agent.

15. The composition of claim 12 , further comprising a physiologically acceptable buffer.

16. A kit comprising at least one anti-IL-6 antibody or fragment according to claim 1 in lyophilized form in a first container, and an optional second container comprising sterile water, sterile buffered water, or at least one preservative selected from the group consisting of phenol, m-cresol, p-cresol, o-cresol, chlorocresol, benzyl alcohol, phenylmercuric nitrite, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde, chlorobutanol, magnesium chloride, alkylparaben, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, sodium dehydroacetate and thimerosal, or mixtures thereof in an aqueous diluent.

17. The kit of claim 16 , wherein the concentration of anti-IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 is reconstituted to a concentration of about 0.1 mg/ml to about 500 mg/ml.

18. The kit of claim 16 , further comprising an isotonicity agent.

19. The kit of claim 16 , further comprising a physiologically acceptable buffer.

20. An article of manufacture for human pharmaceutical use, comprising packaging material and a container comprising a solution or a lyophilized form of at least one IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 according to claim 1 .

21. The article of manufacture of claim 20 , wherein said container is a glass or plastic container having a stopper for multi-use administration.

22. A method for producing an anti-IL-6 antibody or fragment according to claim 1 , comprising expressing said antibody or fragment in an isolated host cell transformed with a nucleotide sequence encoding said antibody or fragment and recovering such antibody or fragment therefrom.

23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein said isolated host cell is a mammalian cell, a plant cell or a yeast cell.

24. At least one anti-IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment that binds to human IL-6 produced by a method according to claim 22 .