Ligands that potentiate the bioactivity of gonadotropins

1. A follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ligand which potentiates the bioactivity of FSH, of luteinizing hormone (LH), and of chorionic gonadotropin (CG),

wherein said ligand is (A) an antibody or (B) an antibody fragment, and

wherein:

when the ligand is the antibody:

the heavy chain variable domain of the antibody contains the following CDRs:

VH-CDR1, consisting of the sequence GFTFSDFY (SEQ ID NO: 9);

VH-CDR2, consisting of the sequence SRNKAKDYTT (SEQ ID NO: 10); and

VH-CDR3, consisting of the sequence ARDARFAY (SEQ ID NO: 11);

and

the light chain variable domain of the antibody contains the following CDRs:

VL-CDR1, consisting of the sequence QSLLYSSNQKNY (SEQ ID NO: 12);

VL-CDR2, consisting of the sequence WAS; and

VL-CDR3, consisting of the sequence QQYYSYPRT (SEQ ID NO: 13);

and

when the ligand is the antibody fragment:

the heavy chain variable domain of the antibody fragment contains the following CDRs:

VH-CDR1, consisting of the sequence GFTFSDFY (SEQ ID NO: 9);

VH-CDR2, consisting of the sequence SRNKAKDYTT (SEQ ID NO: 10);

VH-CDR3, consisting of the sequence ARDARFAY (SEQ ID NO: 11); and optionally

the light chain variable domain of the antibody fragment contains the following CDRs:

VL-CDR1, defined by the sequence QSLLYSSNQKNY (SEQ ID NO: 12);

VL-CDR2, defined by the sequence WAS;

VL-CDR3, defined by the sequence QQYYSYPRT (SEQ ID NO: 13).

2. The ligand as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ligand is chosen from the group consisting of Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fv, dsFv, scFv, diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies, domain V H H, light chain variable domain, and heavy chain variable domain.

3. The ligand as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that the peptide sequence of the scFv is the sequence SEQ ID NO: 20.

4. The ligand as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the ligand is the CA5 monoclonal antibody produced by the CNCM 1-4801 hybridoma.

5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a ligand as claimed in claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

6. The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

7. A ligand-gonadotropin complex chosen from:

a complex of a ligand as claimed in claim 1 with FSH; or

a complex of a ligand as claimed in claim 1 with LH or the chorionic gonadotropin (CG) hormone.

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a complex as claimed in claim 7 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

9. The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

10. A follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ligand which potentiates the bioactivity of FSH, of luteinizing hormone (LH), and of chorionic gonadotropin (CG),

wherein said ligand is (A) an antibody or (B) an antibody fragment, and

wherein:

when the ligand is the antibody:

the heavy chain variable domain of the antibody contains the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 or 47; and

the light chain variable domain of the antibody contains the sequence SEQ ID NO: 4 or 45;

and

when the ligand is the antibody fragment

the heavy chain variable domain of the antibody fragment contains the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 or 47; and/or

the light chain variable domain of the antibody fragment contains the sequence SEQ ID NO: 4 or 45.

11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a ligand as claimed in claim 10 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

12. The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

13. A ligand-gonadotropin complex chosen from:

a complex of a ligand as claimed in claim 10 with FSH; or

a complex of a ligand as claimed in claim 10 with LH or the chorionic gonadotropin (CG)

hormone.

14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a complex as claimed in claim 13 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

15. A follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ligand which potentiates the bioactivity of FSH, of luteinizing hormone (LH), and of chorionic gonadotropin (CG),

wherein said ligand is (A) an antibody or (B) an antibody fragment, and wherein:

the heavy chain variable domain of the antibody or the antibody fragment contains the following CDRs:

VH-CDR1, consisting of the sequence GFTFNTYA (SEQ ID NO: 14);

VH-CDR2, consisting of the sequence IRSKSNNYAT (SEQ ID NO: 15); and

VH-CDR3, consisting of the sequence VRQDYYGSSYFDY (SEQ ID NO: 16); and

the light chain variable domain of the antibody or the antibody fragment contains the following CDRs:

VL-CDR1, consisting of the sequence QSISDY (SEQ ID NO: 17);

VL-CDR2, consisting of the sequence YAS; and

VL-CDR3, consisting of the sequence QNGHSFPYT (SEQ ID NO: 18).

16. The ligand as claimed in claim 15 , characterized in that the ligand is the CH10 monoclonal antibody produced by the CNCM 1-4802 hybridoma.

17. The ligand as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the ligand is chosen from the group consisting of Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fv, dsFv, scFv, diabodies, triabodies, and tetrabodies.

18. The ligand as claimed in claim 17 , characterized in that the peptide sequence of the scFv is the sequence SEQ ID NO: 22.

19. A ligand-gonadotropin complex chosen from:

a complex of a ligand as claimed in claim 15 with FSH;

a complex of a ligand as claimed in claim 15 with LH or the chorionic gonadotropin (CG) hormone.

20. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a complex as claimed in claim 19 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

21. The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

22. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a ligand as claimed in claim 15 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

23. The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 22 , further comprising an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

24. A method of inducing ovulation or polyovulation in a female mammal in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the female mammal an effective amount of the ligand of claim 1 , 10 , or 15 or of the complex of claim 7 , 19 or 13 , and optionally an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

25. A method of increasing circulating endogenous progesterone level in a female mammal in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the female mammal an effective amount of the ligand of claim 1 , 10 , or 15 or of the complex of claim 7 , 19 or 13 , and optionally an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

26. A method of treating infertility or hypofertility in a mammal in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of the ligand of claim 1 , 10 , or 15 or of the complex of claim 7 , 19 or 13 , and optionally an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

27. A method of stimulating procreation in a healthy female mammal in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the female mammal an effective amount of the ligand of claim 1 , 10 , or 15 or of the complex of claim 7 , 19 or 13 , and optionally an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

28. A method of reducing the likelihood of infertility or hypofertility in a mammal in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of the ligand of claim 1 , 10 , or 15 or of the complex of claim 7 , 19 or 13 , wherein the mammal is not suffering from infertility or hypofertility, and optionally an FSH, an LH and/or a CG.

29. A follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ligand which potentiates the bioactivity of FSH, of luteinizing hormone (LH), and of chorionic gonadotropin (CG),

wherein said ligand is an antibody fragment, and wherein:

the heavy chain variable domain of the antibody fragment contains the sequence SEQ ID NO: 6; or

wherein said ligand is an antibody or antibody fragment, and wherein:

the heavy chain variable domain of the antibody or the antibody fragment contains the sequence SEQ ID NO: 6 and the light chain variable domain of the antibody or the antibody fragment contains the sequence SEQ ID NO: 8.