Cross-linkers and their uses

1. A method of treating a cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a cell-binding agent-drug conjugate of formula (II)

wherein:

CB represents a cell-binding agent;

D represents the drug linked to the cell-binding agent by a disulfide, thioether, thioester, peptide, hydrazone, ester, ether, carbamate, or amide bond;

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 are the same or different and are H, linear alkyl having from 1-6 carbon atoms, branched or cyclic alkyl having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, linear, branched or cyclic alkenyl or alkynyl having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, a charged substituent selected from anions selected from SO 3 − , X—SO 3 − , OPO 3 2− , X—OPO 3 2− , PO 3 2− , X—PO 3 2− , CO 2 —, and cations selected from a nitrogen containing heterocycle, N + R 11 R 12 R 13 and X—N + R 11 R 12 R 13 , or a phenyl; wherein:

R 11 , R 12 and R 13 are same or different and are H, linear alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, branched or cyclic alkyl having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms and X represents phenyl or a linear alkyl from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or branched or cyclic alkyl having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms;

l, m and n are 0 or an integer from 1 to 4;

Z is absent or a polyethyleneoxy unit of formula (OCH 2 CH 2 ) p , wherein p is an integer from 2 to about 1000; or F1-E1-P-E2-F2 unit in which E1 and E2 are the same or different and are C═O, O, or NR 14 , wherein R 14 is H, a linear alkyl having from 1-6 carbon atoms, a branched or cyclic alkyl having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, a linear, branched or cyclic alkenyl or alkynyl having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms; P is a peptide unit between 2 and 20 amino acids in length, wherein E1 or E2 can be linked to the peptide through the terminal nitrogen, terminal carbon or through a side chain of one of the amino acids of the peptide; and F1 and F2 are the same or different and are absent or an polyethyleneoxy unit of formula (OCH 2 CH 2 ) p , wherein p is an integer from 2 to about 1000, provided that when Z is not F1-E1-P-E2-F2, at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is a charged substituent-; and

Y represents a carbonyl, thioether, amide, disulfide, or hydrazone group; and

q represents an integer from 1 to 20.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cytotoxic drug is selected from maytansinoids, CC-1065 analogs, morpholino doxorubicin, taxanes, calicheamicins, auristatins, pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer, siRNA or a combination thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of any of the above.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell-binding agent binds to target cells selected from tumor cells, virus infected cells, microorganism infected cells, parasite infected cells, autoimmune cells, activated cells, myeloid cells, activated T-cells, B cells, or melanocytes, cells expressing one or more of IGF-IR, CanAg, EGFR, EphA2 receptor, MUC1, MUC16, VEGF, TF, EpCAM, CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD6, CD11, CD11a, CD18, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD26, CD30, CD33, CD37, CD38, CD40, CD44, CD56, CD79, CD105, CD138, EphA receptors, EphB receptors, EGFr, EGFRvIII, HER2/neu, HER3, mesothelin, cripto, alpha v beta 3 integrin, alpha v beta 5 integrin, alpha v beta 6 integrin, Apo2, and C242 antigens; and cells expressing insulin growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, or folate receptor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell-binding agent is an antibody, a single chain antibody, an antibody fragment that binds to a target cell, a monoclonal antibody, a single chain monoclonal antibody, or a monoclonal antibody fragment that binds the target cell, a chimeric antibody, a chimeric antibody fragment that binds to the target cell, a domain antibody, a domain antibody fragment that binds to the target cell, adnectins that mimic antibodies, DARPins, a lymphokine, a hormone, a vitamin, a growth factor, a colony stimulating factor, or a nutrient-transport molecule.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the antibody is a resurfaced antibody, a resurfaced single chain antibody, or a resurfaced antibody fragment thereof.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody, a single chain monoclonal antibody, or a monoclonal antibody fragment thereof.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the antibody is a human antibody, a humanized antibody or a resurfaced antibody, a humanized single chain antibody, or a humanized antibody fragment thereof.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody, a chimeric antibody fragment, a domain antibody, or a domain antibody fragment thereof.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the antibody is My9-6, B4, C242, N901, DS6, CNTO 95, B-B4, trastuzumab, pertuzumab, bivatuzumab, sibrotuzumab, pertuzumab, or rituximab or an antibody that binds EpCAM, EphA2 receptor, CD38,or IGF-IR.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the tumor cells are selected from breast cancer cells, prostate cancer cells, ovarian cancer cells, colorectal cancer cells, gastric cancer cells, squamous cancer cells, small-cell lung cancer cells, and testicular cancer cells.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 9 , and R 10 is a charged substituent selected from SO 3 − , X—SO 3 − , OPO 3 2− , X—OPO 3 2− , N + R 11 R 12 R 13 and X—N + R 11 R 12 R 13 , and the rest are H; l, g and m are each 0; and n is 1.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 9 , and R 10 is SO 3 − or X—SO 3 − , the rest are H; l, g and m are each 0; and n is 1.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate is represented by any one of the following formulas:

wherein D′-SH is the cytotoxic drug, and CB′-NH— represents the cell-binding agent linked to Y.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the conjugate is represented by the following formula:

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the cytotoxic drug is a maytansinoid.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the cytotoxic drug is DM1 or DM4.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the cytotoxic drug is DM4.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate is represented by the following formula:

wherein D′-SH represents the cytotoxic drug, q represents an integer from 1 to 20, and CB′-NH represents the cell-binding agent linked to Y.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from a cancer of the blood, plasma, lung, breast, colon, prostate, kidney, pancreas, brain, bone, ovary, testes, and lymphatic organs.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the cell-binding agent is an antibody that binds to a folate receptor.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the folate receptor is FOLR1 (folate receptor 1).