Genetic alteration of a bispecific ligand-directed toxin targeting human CD19 and CD22 receptors resulting in improved efficacy against systemic B cell malignancy

A bispecific ligand-directed toxin (BIT) called DT2219ARL consisting of two scFv ligands recognizing CD19 and CD22 and catalytic DT(390) was genetically enhanced for superior in vivo anti-leukemia activity. Genetic alterations included reverse orienting VH-VL domains and adding aggregation reducing/stabilizing linkers. In vivo, these improvements resulted in previously unseen long-term tumor-free survivors measured in a bioluminescent xenograft imaging model in which the progression of human Raji Burkitt's lymphoma could be tracked in real time and in a Daudi model as well. Studies showed DT2219ARL was potent (IC(50)s 0.06-0.2 nM range) and selectively blockable. Imaging studies indicated the highly invasive nature of this B cell malignancy model and showed it likely induced pre-terminal hind limb paralysis because of metastasis to spinal regions prevented by DT2219ARL DT2219ARL represents a new class of bispecific biological that can be continually improved by genetic mutation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.