Neutralizing anti-influenza binding molecules and uses thereof

1. An isolated binding molecule which specifically binds to influenza A virus and influenza B virus, comprising:

(a) a first binding domain that is capable of binding to influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) and neutralizing at least one group 1 subtype and at least 1 group 2 subtype of influenza A virus, wherein the first binding domain includes a set of six CDRs: HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, LCDR3 in which the set of six CDRs has an amino acid sequence selected from:

(i) an amino acid sequence of: HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 8, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 9, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 10, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 3, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 4 and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 5; and

(ii) an amino acid sequence of: HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 18, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 19, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 20, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 13, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 14, LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 15; and

(b) a second binding domain that is capable of binding to influenza B virus hemagglutinin (HA) and neutralizing influenza B virus in at least two phylogenetically distinct lineages, wherein the second binding domain includes a set of six CDRs: HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, LCDR3 in which the set of six CDRs has an amino acid sequence selected from:

(i) an amino acid sequence of: HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 28, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 29, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 30, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 23, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 24 and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 25;

(ii) an amino acid sequence of: HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 44, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 45, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 46, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 39, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 40 and LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 41; and

(iii) an amino acid sequence of: HCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 60, HCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 61, HCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 62, LCDR1 of SEQ ID NO.: 55, LCDR2 of SEQ ID NO.: 56, LCDR3 of SEQ ID NO.: 57.

2. The isolated binding molecule according to claim 1 , wherein the first binding domain is capable of neutralizing one or more influenza A virus group 1 subtypes selected from: H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11, H12, H13, H16, H17, and H18; and one or more influenza A virus group 2 subtypes selected from: H3, H4, H7, H10, H14 and H15.

3. The isolated binding molecule according to claim 1 , wherein the second binding domain is capable of neutralizing influenza B virus in both Yamagata and Victoria lineages.

4. The isolated binding molecule according to claim 1 , wherein the first binding domain comprises a VH and a VL that is at least 75% identical to an amino acid sequence of a VH and a VL, respectively, selected from:

(a) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 7 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 2; and

(b) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 17 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 12.

5. The isolated binding molecule according to claim 1 , wherein the second binding domain comprises a VH and a VL that is at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence of a VH and a VL, respectively, selected from:

(a) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 27 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 22;

(b) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 33 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 32;

(c) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 36 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 35;

(d) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 43 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 38;

(e) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 49 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 48;

(f) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 52 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 51;

(g) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 59 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 54; and

(h) a VH of SEQ ID NO.: 65 and a VL of SEQ ID NO.: 64.

6. The isolated binding molecule according to claim 1 , wherein the binding molecule is a bispecific antibody.

7. The isolated binding molecule according to claim 6 , wherein the first binding domain comprises an anti-influenza A virus Fv domain and the second binding domain comprises an anti-influenza B virus scFv molecule.

8. The isolated binding molecule according to claim 7 , wherein the Fv domain of the first binding domain comprises a heavy chain (HC) comprising a polypeptide chain having an amino terminus and a carboxy terminus and a light chain (LC) comprising a polypeptide chain having an amino terminus and a carboxy terminus, and

(a) the second binding domain is covalently linked to the carboxy-terminus of the HC of the first binding domain;

(b) the second binding domain is covalently linked to the amino-terminus of the HC of the first binding domain;

(c) the second binding domain is covalently linked to the amino-terminus of the LC of the first binding domain; or

(d) the second binding domain is covalently intercalated in the polypeptide chain of the HC of the first binding domain.

9. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid which encodes the isolated binding molecule according to claim 1 .

10. A vector comprising the polynucleotide of claim 9 .

11. A host cell comprising the polynucleotide of claim 9 .

12. A composition comprising the isolated binding molecule according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

13. A method for manufacturing an isolated binding molecule according to claim 1 , comprising culturing a host cell under conditions suitable for expression of the binding molecule.

14. A method for prophylaxis or treatment of influenza A infection, influenza B infection, or a combination thereof in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of an isolated binding molecule according to claim 1 to the subject.