Anti-IL-6 antibody for use in the treatment of cachexia
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods and compositions, especially subcutaneous and intravenous composition using antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat cachexia, fever, weakness and/or fatigue in a patient in need thereof. In preferred embodiments, the anti-IL-6 antibodies will be humanized and/or will be aglycosylated. Also, in preferred embodiments these patients will comprise those exhibiting (or at risk of developing) an elevated serum C-reactive protein level. In another preferred embodiment, the patient's survivability or quality of life will preferably be improved.
1. A method for treating or inhibiting cachexia in a patient receiving chemotherapy, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of an anti-IL-6 antibody or an IL-6 binding antibody fragment comprising the variable light (V L ) chain CDR1 of SEQ ID NO:4, CDR2of SEQ ID NO:5 and CDR3 of SEQ ID NO:6, and the variable heavy (V H ) chain CDR1 of SEQ ID NO:7, CDR2 of SEQ ID NO:8 or 120, and CDR3 of SEQ ID NO:9, wherein the patient has been diagnosed with cancer and the chemotherapy agent is selected from VEGF antagonists, EGFR antagonists, platins, taxols, irinotecan,5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, leucovorin, steroids, cyclophosphamide, melphalan, vinca alkaloids, vinblastine, mustines, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, radiotherapy, sex hormone antagonists, selective androgen receptor modulators, selective estrogen receptor modulators, PDGF antagonists, TNF antagonists, IL-1 antagonists, interleukins, IL-12R antagonists, Toxin conjugated monoclonal antibodies, tumor antigen specific monoclonal antibodies, Erbitux™, Avastin™, Pertuzumab, anti-CD20 antibodies, Rituxan®, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, DXL625, Herceptin®, or any combination thereof.