A bispecific CD40 agonistic antibody allowing for antibody-peptide conjugate formation to enable cancer-specific peptide delivery, resulting in improved T Cell proliferation and anti-tumor immunity in mice

Abstract Current antibody-based immunotherapy depends on tumor antigen shedding for proper T cell priming. Here we select a novel human CD40 agonistic drug candidate and generate a bispecific antibody, herein named BiA9*2_HF, that allows for rapid antibody-peptide conjugate formation. The format is...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aman Mebrahtu, Ida Laurén, Rosanne Veerman, Gözde Güclüler Akpinar, Martin Lord, Alexandros Kostakis, Juan Astorga-Wells, Leif Dahllund, Anders Olsson, Oscar Andersson, Jonathan Persson, Helena Persson, Pierre Dönnes, Johan Rockberg, Sara Mangsbo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53839-5
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Summary:Abstract Current antibody-based immunotherapy depends on tumor antigen shedding for proper T cell priming. Here we select a novel human CD40 agonistic drug candidate and generate a bispecific antibody, herein named BiA9*2_HF, that allows for rapid antibody-peptide conjugate formation. The format is designed to facilitate peptide antigen delivery to CD40 expressing cells combined with simultaneous CD40 agonistic activity. In vivo, the selected bispecific antibody BiA9*2_HF loaded with peptide cargos induces improved antigen-specific proliferation of CD8+ (10-15 fold) and CD4+ T cells (2-7 fold) over control in draining lymph nodes. In both virus-induced and neoantigen-based mouse tumor models, BiA9*2_HF demonstrates therapeutic efficacy and elevated safety profile, with complete tumor clearance, as well as measured abscopal impact on tumor growth. The BiA9*2_HF drug candidate can thus be utilized to tailor immunotherapeutics for cancer patients.
ISSN:2041-1723