Antibodies and derivatives thereof
An anti-TrkA antibody is provided that comprises: a) a variable heavy chain comprising a sequence selected from any of BXhVH1, BXhVH2, BXhVH3, BXhVH4, BXhVH5, or HuVHWOv as shown in FIG. 1 a ; or from variants of any of said sequences and/or b) a variable light chain comprising a sequence selected from any of BXhVL1, BXhVL2, BXhVL3, BXhVL4, BXhVL5, BXhVL6, BXhVL7 or BXhVL8; as shown in FIG. 1 b , or from variants of any of said sequences. TrkA-binding derivatives are also provided. Antibodies or derivatives of the present invention are useful in a number of therapies, including pain therapy.
1. An anti-TrkA antibody comprising:
a) a variable heavy chain consisting of the sequence BXhVH5 (SEQ ID NO: 5); and
b) a variable light chain consisting of the sequence BXhVL1(SEQ ID NO: 7);
or an antigen binding fragment thereof.
2. The antibody of claim 1 that is PEGylated.
3. The antibody of claim 1 in immobilised form.
4. The antibody of claim 1 for use in medicine.
5. A method for the treatment of pain, said method comprising:
administering to a subject the antibody of claim 1 .
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the pain is chronic pain.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the pain is acute pain.
8. A combination of the antibody of claim 1 and an analgesic, for simultaneous, sequential or concerted administration in medicine.
9. A combination of the antibody of claim 1 and NGF, for simultaneous, sequential or concerted administration in medicine.
10. A combination of the antibody of claim 1 and a further anti-TrkA antibody or derivative thereof, for simultaneous, sequential or concerted administration in medicine.
11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody of claim 1 and another pharmaceutically active agent.
13. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 12 ; wherein said another agent is one or more of:
a) an analgesic agent
b) another anti-TrkA antibody or derivative thereof
c) NGF
d) an anti-cancer agent.
14. The antibody of claim 1 for use in diagnosis or prognosis.
15. The antibody of claim 1 for use in the diagnosis or prognosis of a condition involving aberrant expression of TrkA or an aberrant activity involving TrkA.
16. An antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof according to claim 1 for use in the diagnosis or prognosis of any of the diseases or disorders selected from the group consisting of: chronic pain and acute pain.
17. A method comprising obtaining a biological sample and contacting the sample to detect binding of an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof according to claim 1 thereto.
18. A method according to claim 17 further comprising comparing the results for binding of said antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof to said sample with a positive or negative control sample.
19. A non-human transgenic mammal that expresses the antibody of claim 1 or that can be induced to provide such expression.
20. A kit of parts comprising the antibody of claim 1 together with instructions directing the use thereof by a subject as an analgesic.