Granted Patent B2

US 12,606,618 · App. 18/062,450 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Inventors: Michael E. Dunn (Montvale, NJ); Lori C. Morton (Chappaqua, NY)

Assignee: REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

C07K16/28A61P9/00C12N15/63C07K2317/565C07K2317/92

Abstract

Claims (39)

1 . An isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds specifically to natriuretic peptide receptor 1 (NPR1) protein, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof binds to NPR1 and blocks NPR1, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises three heavy chain complementarity determining regions (CDRs), HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3, contained within a heavy chain variable region (HCVR); and three light chain CDRs, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3, contained within a light chain variable region (LCVR), wherein the HCVR and LCVR pair comprises amino acid sequences, the amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 10, SEQ ID NOs: 22 and 30, SEQ ID NOs: 38 and 46, and SEQ ID NOs: 55 and 63, wherein the heavy chain region CDRs and light chain region CDRs are identified by Kabat, Chothia, or AbM.

2 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a fully human monoclonal antibody.

3 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 , wherein the antibody has one or more properties selected from the group consisting of: (a) is a fully human monoclonal antibody; (b) binds to human NPR1 at 25° C. and at 37° C. with a dissociation constant (K D ) of less than 1.7 nM, as measured in a surface plasmon resonance assay; (c) binds to monkey NPR1 at 25° C. and 37° C. with a K D of less than 1.99 nM, as measured in a surface plasmon resonance assay; (d) binds to human NPR1 in the presence of ANP at 25° C. and at 37° C. with a K D of less than 1.52 nM, as measured in a surface plasmon resonance assay; (e) inhibits ligand-induced NPR1 activation, as measured by cGMP accumulation assay; (f) binds to human NPR1 in the presence or absence of ANP or BNP with an EC 50 of less than 2.9 nM, as measured by electrochemiluminescence-based immunoassay; (g) binds to monkey NPR1 in the presence or absence of ANP or BNP with an EC 50 of less than 4.2 nM, as measured by electrochemiluminescence-based immunoassay; (h) increases the systemic blood pressures when administered to normotensive and hypotensive mice, wherein the increase in systemic blood pressures lasts for up to about 28 days upon administration of a single dose; (i) increases the systemic blood pressures when administered to ANP overexpression-induced hypotensive mice, wherein the increase in systemic blood pressures lasts for up to about 28 days upon administration of a single dose; and (j) increases systemic blood pressures in LPS-induced hypotensive mice.

4 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 , wherein the HCVR and LCVR amino acid sequence pair comprises: the amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 10, SEQ ID NOs: 22 and 30, SEQ ID NOs: 38 and 46, and SEQ ID NOs: 55 and 63.

5 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 comprising a heavy chain variable region (HCVR) and light chain variable region (LCVR) amino acid sequence pair selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 10, SEQ ID NOs: 22 and 30, SEQ ID NOs: 38 and 46, and SEQ ID NOs: 55 and 63.

6 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 , wherein

(a) the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains comprise amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6, 8, 12, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 16, respectively, wherein the HCVR and LCVR amino acid sequence comprises SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 10;

(b) the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains comprise amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 24, 26, 28, 12, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 32, respectively, wherein the HCVR and LCVR amino acid sequence comprises SEQ ID Nos: 22 and 30;

(c) the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains comprise amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40, 42, 44, 48, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 16, respectively, wherein the HCVR and LCVR amino acid sequence comprises SEQ ID Nos: 38 and 46;

(d) the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains comprise amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 57, 59, 61, 65, GAS, and SEQ ID NO: 69, respectively, wherein the HCVR and LCVR amino acid sequence comprises SEQ ID Nos: 55 and 63.

7 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 comprising complementarity determining regions (CDRs) selected from the group consisting of: (a) SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 12, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 16; (b) SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 12, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 32; (c) SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 48, AAS and SEQ ID NO: 16; and (d) SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 65, GAS, and SEQ ID NO: 69.

8 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof interacts with at least one of the NPR1 residues selected from the group consisting of Arg143, Leu144, Glu384, Leu401, Val402, Ala103, Ser405, Gly406, Arg407, Lys408, Trp411, Leu413, Gly414, Tyr415, and Pro416.

9 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18; and the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.

10 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 34; and the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 36.

11 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51; and the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 53.

12 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 71; and the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 73.

13 . An antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that competes for binding to natriuretic peptide receptor 1 (NPR1) protein with the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 .

14 . An antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds to the same epitope as the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 .

15 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

16 . An isolated polynucleotide molecule comprising a polynucleotide sequence that encodes a heavy chain variable region (HCVR) and a light chain variable region (LCVR) of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof as set forth in claim 1 .

17 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide molecule of claim 16 .

18 . A host cell expressing the vector of claim 17 .

19 . A method of producing an anti-NPR1 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprising growing the host cell of claim 18 under conditions permitting production of the antibody or fragment, and recovering the antibody or fragment so produced.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising formulating the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof as a pharmaceutical composition comprising an acceptable carrier.

21 . A method of treating, preventing, or ameliorating at least one symptom or indication of a NPR1-associated disease or disorder, the method comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the NPR1-associated disease or disorder is selected from the group consisting of hypotension, circulatory shock, septic shock, neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), heart failure, cardiogenic shock, obesity, renal failure, chronic kidney disease, macular edema, glaucoma, stroke, lung disorders, pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation, asthma, skeletal growth disorders, bone fractures, diabetes, hypoglycemia, and cancer.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered prophylactically or therapeutically to the subject in need thereof.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered in combination with a second therapeutic agent or therapy.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the second therapeutic agent or therapy is selected from the group consisting of an angiogenesis inhibitor, a vasoconstrictor/vasopressor, an immunosuppressant, ascorbic acid, a calcineurin inhibitor, a corticosteroid, a VEGF inhibitor, a decongestant, an antidepressant, hormonal birth control, a stimulant, caffeine, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ventricular assist device, intra-aortic balloon pump, a lifestyle modification, a dietary supplement, an anti-microbial drug, insulin, and an anti-inflammatory drug.

26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered subcutaneously, intravenously, intradermally, intraperitoneally, or intramuscularly.

27 . An isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds specifically to natriuretic peptide receptor 1 (NPR1) protein, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof binds to NPR1 and blocks NPR1, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises three heavy chain complementarity determining regions (CDRs), HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3 contained within a heavy chain variable region (HCVR); and three light chain CDRs, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 contained within a light chain variable region (LCVR), wherein,

(a) the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR and LCVR pair comprise SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6, 8, 12, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 16, respectively, wherein the HCVR and LCVR pair comprises SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 10;

(b) the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR and LCVR pair comprise SEQ ID NOs: 24, 26, 28, 12, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 32, respectively, wherein the HCVR and LCVR pair comprises SEQ ID Nos: 22 and 30;

(c) the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR and LCVR pair comprise SEQ ID NOs: 40, 42, 44, 48, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 16, respectively, wherein the HCVR and LCVR pair comprises SEQ ID Nos: 38 and 46; and

(d) the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR and LCVR pair comprise SEQ ID NOs: 57, 59, 61, 65, GAS, and SEQ ID NO: 69, respectively, wherein the HCVR and LCVR pair comprises SEQ ID Nos: 55 and 63.

28 . The isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof claim 27 , further comprising a heavy chain variable region (HCVR) and light chain variable region (LCVR) amino acid sequence pair selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 10 if the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR and LCVR pair comprise SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6, 8, 12, AAS, and SEQ ID NO:16; SEQ ID NOs: 22 and 30 if the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR and LCVR pair comprise SEQ ID NOs: 24, 26, 28, 12, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 32; SEQ ID NOs: 38 and 46 if the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR and LCVR pair comprise SEQ ID NOs: 40, 42, 44, 48, AAS, and SEQ ID NO: 16; and SEQ ID NOs: 55 and 63 if the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR and LCVR pair comprise SEQ ID NOs: 57, 59, 61, 65, GAS, and SEQ ID NO: 69.

29 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 27 comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 18 if the HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR comprise SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6 and 8; SEQ ID NO: 34 if the HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR comprise SEQ ID NOs: 24, 26, and 28; SEQ ID NO: 51 if the HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR comprise SEQ ID NOs: 40, 42, and 44; and SEQ ID NO: 71 if the HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3 domains contained within a HCVR comprise SEQ ID NOs: 57, 59, and 61.

30 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 27 comprising a heavy chain and light chain, wherein the light chain is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 20 if the LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a LCVR comprise SEQ ID NOs: 12, AAS, and 16; SEQ ID NO: 36 if the LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a LCVR comprise SEQ ID NOs: 12, AAS, and 32; SEQ ID NO: 53 if the LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a LCVR comprise SEQ ID NOs: 48, AAS, and 16; and SEQ ID NO: 73 if the LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 domains contained within a LCVR comprise SEQ ID NOs: 65, GAS, and 69.

31 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 27 comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain and light chain pair is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 18 and 20, SEQ ID NOs: 34 and 36, SEQ ID NOs: 51 and 53, and SEQ ID NOs: 71 and 73.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (100)