Antigen-binding polypeptides directed against CD38

1. A polypeptide construct comprising:

a first immunoglobulin single variable domain (ISVD) that specifically binds to CD38 with an EC 50 value of less than 200 nM, and

a second ISVD that specifically binds to CD38 with an EC 50 value of less than 200 nM,

wherein said first ISVD binds a first epitope of CD38 and said second ISVD binds a second epitope of CD38, wherein said first epitope is different from said second epitope,

the polypeptide construct further comprising a CH2 and a CH3 constant domain and optionally the polypeptide construct comprises one or more other groups, residues, moieties or binding units, optionally linked via one or more peptidic linkers,

wherein said first ISVD and said second ISVD each comprises 3 complementarity determining regions (CDRs), in which:

(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 117-174;

(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 233-290; and

(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 349-406.

2. The polypeptide construct according to claim 1 , wherein said first or second ISVD is chosen from the group consisting of

ISVDs represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 58.

3. The polypeptide construct according to claim 1 , wherein each set of 3 CDRs of said first ISVD and said second ISVD is selected from the group consisting of:

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 117, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 233 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 349;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 118, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 234 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 350;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 119, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 235 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 351;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 120, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 236 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 352;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 121, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 237 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 353;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 122, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 238 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 354;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 123, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 239 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 355;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 124, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 240 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 356;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 125, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 241 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 357;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 126, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 242 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 358;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 127, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 243 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 359;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 128, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 244 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 360;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 129, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 245 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 361;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 130, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 246 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 362;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 131, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 247 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 363;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 132, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 248 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 364;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 133, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 249 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 365;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 134, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 250 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 366;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 135, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 251 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 367;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 136, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 252 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 368;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 137, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 253 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 369;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 138, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 254 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 370;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 139, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 255 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 371;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 140, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 256 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 372;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 141, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 257 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 373;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 142, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 258 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 374;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 143, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 259 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 375;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 144, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 260 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 376;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 145, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 261 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 377;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 146, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 262 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 378;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 147, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 263 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 379;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 148, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 264 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 380;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 149, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 265 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 381;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 150, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 266 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 382;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 151, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 267 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 383;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 152, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 268 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 384;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 153, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 269 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 385;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 154, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 270 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 386;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 155, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 271 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 387;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 156, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 272 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 388;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 157, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 273 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 389;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 158, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 274 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 390;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 159, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 275 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 391;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 160, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 276 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 392;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 161, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 277 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 393;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 162, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 278 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 394;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 163, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 279 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 395;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 164, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 280 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 396;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 165, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 281 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 397;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 166, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 282 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 398;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 167, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 283 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 399;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 168, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 284 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 400;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 169, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 285 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 401;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 170, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 286 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 402;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 171, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 287 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 403;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 172, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 288 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 404;

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 173, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 289 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 405; and

CDR1 is SEQ ID NO: 174, CDR2 is SEQ ID NO: 290 and CDR3 is SEQ ID NO: 406.

4. The polypeptide construct according to claim 1 ,

wherein said first ISVD essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and said 3 CDRs, in which:

(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 131, 132, 134, 140, 144, 146, 150, 151, 152, 153, 155, and 158, and

(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 247, 248, 250, 256, 260, 262, 266, 267, 268, 269, 271, and 274, and

(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 363, 364, 366, 372, 376, 378, 382, 383, 384, 385, 387, and 390; and

said second ISVD essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and said 3 CDRs, in which:

(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 129, 163, 164, 165, and 166, and

(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 245, 279, 280, 281, and 282, and

(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 361, 395, 396, 397, and 398; or

wherein said first ISVD essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and said 3 CDRs, in which:

(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 131, 132, 134, 140, 144, 146, 150, 151, 152, 153, 155, and 158, and

(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 247, 248, 250, 256, 260, 262, 266, 267, 268, 269, 271, and 274, and

(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 363, 364, 366, 372, 376, 378, 382, 383, 384, 385, 387, and 390; and

said second ISVD essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and said 3 CDRs, in which:

(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 117, 119, 120, 125, 126, 136, 159, 160, 161, 162, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, and 174, and

(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 233, 235, 236, 241, 242, 252, 275, 276, 277, 278, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, and 290, and

(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 349, 351, 352, 357, 358, 368, 391, 392, 393, 394, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, and 406; or

wherein said first ISVD essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and said 3 CDRs, in which:

(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 129, 163, 164, 165, and 166, and

(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 245, 279, 280, 281, and 282, and

(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 361, 395, 396, 397, and 398; and

said second ISVD essentially consists of 4 framework regions (FR1 to FR4, respectively) and said 3 CDRs, in which:

(i) CDR1 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 117, 119, 120, 125, 126, 136, 159, 160, 161, 162, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, and 174, and

(ii) CDR2 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 233, 235, 236, 241, 242, 252, 275, 276, 277, 278, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, and 290, and

(iii) CDR3 is chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 349, 351, 352, 357, 358, 368, 391, 392, 393, 394, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, and 406.

5. The polypeptide construct according to claim 1 ,

wherein the EC 50 in a FACS assay is 190 pM or less; and/or

wherein said polypeptide binds to CD38 with an IC 50 of at most 100 nM as determined by a competition FACS; and/or

wherein said polypeptide binds to CD38 with an IC 50 which is at least 10% better than the IC 50 of a benchmark.

6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide construct according to claim 1 .

7. The polypeptide construct according to claim 1 ,

wherein the EC 50 in a FACS assay is less than 16 pM; and/or

wherein said polypeptide binds to CD38 with an IC 50 of at most 2 nM as determined by a competition FACS; and/or

wherein said polypeptide binds to CD38 with an IC 50 which is at least 50% better than the IC 50 of a benchmark.

8. The polypeptide construct according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second ISVDs each specifically bind to human CD38 (SEQ ID NO: 465).

9. The polypeptide construct according to claim 1 , wherein said first epitope on CD38 does not overlap with said second epitope on CD38.

10. A nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide construct according to claim 1 .

11. An expression vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule according to claim 10 .

12. A host cell comprising a nucleic acid molecule according to claim 10 .

13. A method for the recombinant production of a polypeptide, comprising (a) culturing the host cell of claim 12 under conditions which allow the expression of the nucleic acid molecule; and (b) isolating the polypeptide from the culture.

14. A method of therapeutic treatment comprising administering, to a subject in need thereof, a pharmaceutically active amount of a polypeptide construct according to claim 1 for therapeutic treatment of a disease which is characterized by increased CD38 expression.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said disease which is characterized by increased CD38 expression is a hyperproliferative disease or an autoimmune disease.

16. A method of therapeutic treatment comprising administering, to a subject in need thereof, a pharmaceutically active amount of a polypeptide construct according to claim 1 for therapeutic treatment of Burkitt's lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CIVIL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), CD38-expressing solid tumor, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, Graves' disease, Sjögren's syndrome, polymyositis, bullous pemphigoid, glomerulonephritis, vasculitis or asthma, Barraquer-Simons Syndrome, autoimmune heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, ischemia-reperfusion injuries or rejection of transplanted organs.

17. A method for determining competitor polypeptides competing with a polypeptide represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1-58, comprising

determining binding of said competitor polypeptide in the presence of polypeptide represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1-58 to CD38;

detecting a competitor polypeptide when the binding to CD38 of said competitor polypeptide is reduced by at least 10% in the presence of a polypeptide represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1-58, compared to the binding to CD38 of the competitor in the absence of the polypeptide represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1-58.