Pyrrolobenzodiazepine-antibody conjugates

1. A method of treating cancer comprising administering to a patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising a conjugate of formula (I):

Ab-(DL) p   (I)

and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient.

wherein:

Ab is an antibody that binds to AXL comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, wherein the antibody comprises a VH domain comprising a VH CDR3 with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, a VH CDR2 with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, and a VH CDR1 with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5: and a VL domain comprising a VL CDR3 with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, a VL CDR2 with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9, and a VL CDR 1 with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;

DL is

wherein:

X is selected from the group comprising: a single bond, —CH 2 — and —C 2 H 4 —;

n is from 1 to 8;

m is 0 or 1;

R 7 is either methyl or phenyl;

when there is a double bond between C2 and C3, R 2 is selected the group consisting of:

(ia) C 5-10 aryl group, optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group comprising: halo, nitro, cyano, ether, carboxy, ester, C 1-7 alkyl, C 3-7 heterocyclyl and bis-oxy-C 1-3 alkylene;

(ib) C 1-5 saturated aliphatic alkyl;

(ic) C 3-6 saturated cycloalkyl;

(id)

wherein each of R 21 , R 22 and R 23 are independently selected from H, C 1-3 saturated alkyl, C 2-3 alkenyl, C 2-3 alkynyl and cyclopropyl, where the total number of carbon atoms in the R 2 group is no more than 5;

(ie)

wherein one of R 25a and R 25b is H and the other is selected from: phenyl, which phenyl is optionally substituted by a group selected from halo, methyl, methoxy; pyridyl; and thiophenyl; and

(if)

where R 24 is selected from: H; C 1-3 saturated alkyl; C 2-3 alkenyl; C 2-3 alkynyl; cyclopropyl; phenyl, which phenyl is optionally substituted by a group selected from halo, methyl, methoxy; pyridyl; and thiophenyl;

when there is a single bond between C2 and C3, R 2 is

where R 26a and R 26b are independently selected from H, F, C 1-4 saturated alkyl, C 2-3 alkenyl, which alkyl and alkenyl groups are optionally substituted by a group selected from C 1-4 alkyl amido and C 1-4 alkyl ester; or, when one of R 26a and R 26b is H, the other is selected from nitrile and a C 1-4 alkyl ester;

when there is a double bond between C2′ and C3′, R 12 is selected the group consisting of:

(iia) C 5-10 aryl group, optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group comprising: halo, nitro, cyano, ether, carboxy, ester, C 1-7 alkyl, C 3-7 heterocyclyl and bis-oxy-C 1-3 alkylene;

(iib) C 1-5 saturated aliphatic alkyl;

(iic) C 3-6 saturated cycloalkyl;

(iid)

wherein each of R 31 , R 32 and R 33 are independently selected from H, C 1-3 saturated alkyl, C 2-3 alkenyl, C 2-3 alkynyl and cyclopropyl, where the total number of carbon atoms in the R 12 group is no more than 5;

(iie)

wherein one of R 35a and R 35b is H and the other is selected from: phenyl, which phenyl is optionally substituted by a group selected from halo, methyl, methoxy; pyridyl; and thiophenyl; and

(iif)

where R 24 is selected from: H; C 1-3 saturated alkyl; C 2-3 alkenyl; C 2-3 alkynyl; cyclopropyl; phenyl, which phenyl is optionally substituted by a group selected from halo, methyl, methoxy; pyridyl; and thiophenyl;

when there is a single bond between C2′ and C3′, R 12 is

where R 36a and R 36b are independently selected from H, F, C 1-4 saturated alkyl, C 2-3 alkenyl, which alkyl and alkenyl groups are optionally substituted by a group selected from C 1-4 alkyl amido and C 1-4 alkyl ester; or, when one of R 36a and R 36b is H, the other is selected from nitrile and a C 1-4 alkyl ester;

and p is from 1 to 8.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein X is —CH 2 —.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein n is 1 to 4.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein n is 2.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein there is a double bond between C2 and C3, and R 2 is a C 1-5 saturated aliphatic alkyl group.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein R 2 is methyl, ethyl or propyl.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein there is a double bond between C2 and C3, and R 2 is:

(a) phenyl, which bears one to three substituent groups, wherein the substituents may be selected from methoxy, ethoxy, fluoro, chloro, cyano, bis-oxy-methylene, methyl-piperazinyl, morpholino and methyl-thiophenyl; or

(b) cyclopropyl; or

(c) a group of formula:

wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the R 2 group is no more than 3; or

(d) the group:

or

(e) a group of formula:

wherein R 24 is selected from H and methyl.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein there is a single bond between C2 and C3, R 2 is

and

(a) R 26a and R 26b are both H; or

(b) R 26a and R 26b are both methyl; or

(c) one of R 26a and R 26b is H, and the other is selected from C 1-4 saturated alkyl, C 2-3 alkenyl, which alkyl and alkenyl groups are optionally substituted.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein there is a double bond between C2′ and C3′, and R 12 is a C 1-5 saturated aliphatic alkyl group.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein R 12 is methyl, ethyl or propyl.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein there is a double bond between C2′ and C3′, and R 12 is:

(a) phenyl, which bears one to three substituent groups, wherein the substituents may be selected from methoxy, ethoxy, fluoro, chloro, cyano, bis-oxy-methylene, methyl-piperazinyl, morpholino and methyl-thiophenyl; or

(b) cyclopropyl; or

(c) a group of formula:

wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the R 12 group is no more than 3; or

(d) the group:

or

(e) a group of formula:

wherein R 34 is selected from H and methyl.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein there is a single bond between C2′ and C3′, R 12 is

and

(a) R 36a and R 36b are both H; or

(b) R 36a and R 36b are both methyl; or

(c) one of R 36a and R 36b is H, and the other is selected from C 1-4 saturated alkyl, C 2-3 alkenyl, which alkyl and alkenyl groups are optionally substituted.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody comprises a VH domain having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody comprises a VL domain having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody comprises a heavy chain having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 24.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody comprises a light chain having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is administered a chemotherapeutic agent in combination with the conjugate.