PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Erik Voets AU - Marc Paradé AU - David Lutje Hulsik AU - Sanne Spijkers AU - Wout Janssen AU - Joost Rens AU - Inge Reinieren-Beeren AU - Gilbert van den Tillaart AU - Sander van Duijnhoven AU - Lilian Driessen AU - Maurice Habraken AU - Peter van Zandvoort AU - Joost Kreijtz AU - Paul Vink AU - Andrea van Elsas AU - Hans van Eenennaam TI - Functional characterization of the selective pan-allele anti-SIRPα antibody ADU-1805 that blocks the SIRPα–CD47 innate immune checkpoint AID - 10.1186/s40425-019-0772-0 DP - 2019 Dec 01 TA - Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer PG - 340 VI - 7 IP - 1 4099 - http://jitc.bmj.com/content/7/1/340.short 4100 - http://jitc.bmj.com/content/7/1/340.full SO - J Immunother Cancer2019 Dec 01; 7 AB - Background Accumulating preclinical data indicate that targeting the SIRPα/CD47 axis alone or in combination with existing targeted therapies or immune checkpoint inhibitors enhances tumor rejection. Although several CD47-targeting agents are currently in phase I clinical trials and demonstrate activity in combination therapy, high and frequent dosing was required and safety signals (acute anemia, thrombocytopenia) were recorded frequently as adverse events. Based on the restricted expression pattern of SIRPα we hypothesized that antibodies targeting SIRPα might avoid some of the concerns noted for CD47-targeting agents.Methods SIRPα-targeting antibodies were generated and characterized for binding to human SIRPα alleles and blockade of the interaction with CD47. Functional activity was established in vitro using human macrophages or neutrophils co-cultured with human Burkitt’s lymphoma cell lines. The effect of SIRPα versus CD47 targeting on human T-cell activation was studied using an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction and a Staphylococcus enterotoxin B-induced T-cell proliferation assay. Potential safety concerns of the selected SIRPα-targeting antibody were addressed in vitro using a hemagglutination assay and a whole blood cytokine release assay, and in vivo in a single-dose toxicity study in cynomolgus monkeys.Results The humanized monoclonal IgG2 antibody ADU-1805 binds to all known human SIRPα alleles, showing minimal binding to SIRPβ1, while cross-reacting with SIRPγ, and potently blocking the interaction of SIRPα with CD47. Reduced FcγR binding proved critical to retaining its function towards phagocyte activation. In vitro characterization demonstrated that ADU-1805 promotes macrophage phagocytosis, with similar potency to anti-CD47 antibodies, and enhances neutrophil trogocytosis. Unlike CD47-targeting agents, ADU-1805 does not interfere with T-cell activation and is not expected to require frequent and extensive dosing due to the restricted expression of SIRPα to cells of the myeloid lineage. ADU-1805 is cross-reactive to cynomolgus monkey SIRPα and upon single-dose intravenous administration in these non-human primates (NHPs) did not show any signs of anemia, thrombocytopenia or other toxicities.Conclusions Blocking the SIRPα-CD47 interaction via SIRPα, while similarly efficacious in vitro, differentiates ADU-1805 from CD47-targeting agents with respect to safety and absence of inhibition of T-cell activation. The data presented herein support further advancement of ADU-1805 towards clinical development.Abbreviations:ADCCAntibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicityADCPAntibody-dependent cellular phagocytosisBLIBio-light interferometryCDCluster of differentiationCDCComplement-dependent cytotoxicityCDRComplementarity-determining regionCELISACell-based ELISA; CHO: Chinese hamster ovaryCSF1RColony-stimulating factor 1 receptorFcFragment crystallizableFcγRFcγ receptorIgGImmunoglobulin GILInterleukinmAbmonoclonal antibodyM-CSFMacrophage colony-stimulating factorMFIMean fluorescence intensityMHCMajor histocompatibility complexMLRMixed lymphocyte reactionNHPNon-human primatePBMCPeripheral blood mononuclear cellsPD-1Programmed cell death-1PD-L1Programmed death-ligand 1PKPharmacokineticsPTMPost-translational modificationRBCRed blood cellSEBStaphylococcus enterotoxin BSIRPαSignal-regulatory protein αTAMTumor-associated macrophageVHVariable domain heavy chainVLVariable domain light chain