Antibodies to IL-6 and use thereof
The present invention is directed to antibodies and fragments thereof and humanized versions thereof having binding specificity for IL-6. Another embodiment of this invention relates to the antibodies described herein, and binding fragments thereof, comprising the sequences of the V H , V L and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. The invention also contemplates conjugates of anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. The invention also contemplates methods of making said anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to the use of anti-IL-6 antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with IL-6. These antibodies may bind at least one of soluble IL-6, cell surface expressed IL-6, IL-6/IL-6R and/or prevent the association of IL-6 and IL-6R, the association of IL-6/IL-6R and gp130 and or the formation of IL-6/IL-6R/gp130 multimers and thereby inhibit a biological effect associated with any of the foregoing.
1. A method of treating inflammation associated with elevated IL-6, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment which comprises a variable light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 709 and a variable heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 657 to a subject in need thereof, wherein inflammation is reduced.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 702 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 704.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment comprises a light chain constant region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 586.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment comprises a heavy chain constant region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 588.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment is a single chain antibody.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment comprises IgG1 constant regions.
7. A method of treating inflammation associated with elevated IL-6, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment which comprises a variable light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 709 and a variable heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 656 to a subject in need thereof, wherein inflammation is reduced.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 702.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment comprises a light chain constant region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 586.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment is a single chain antibody.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the anti-human IL-6 antibody or anti-human IL-6 antibody fragment comprises IgG1 constant regions.