Process for inhibiting complement activation via the alternative pathway

A process of inhibiting the adverse effects of alternative complement pathway activation in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of an anti-properdin agent effective to selectively inhibit formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product.

A process for inhibiting the adverse effects of classical complement pathway activation in a subject in which the classical complement pathway is initiated comprising administering to the subject an amount of an anti-properdin agent effective to selectively inhibit formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product.

A process for inhibiting the adverse effects of classical complement pathway activation in a subject in which the classical complement pathway is initiated comprising administering to the subject an amount of an agent that inhibits alternative pathway C3 convertase effective to selectively inhibit formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product.

A process for performing a medical procedure on a subject comprising:

• (a) passing circulating blood from a blood vessel of the subject, through a conduit, and back to a blood vessel of the subject, the conduit having a luminal surface comprising a material capable of causing at least one of complement activation, platelet activation, leukocyte activation, or platelet-leukocyte adhesion in the subject's blood;
• and
• (b) introducing an anti-properdin agent into the subject's bloodstream in an amount effective to reduce at least one of complement activation, platelet activation, leukocyte activation, or platelet-leukocyte adhesion resulting from passage of the circulating blood through the conduit, wherein step (a) occurs before and/or during and/or after step (b).

An article of manufacture comprising packaging material and a pharmaceutical agent contained within the packaging material, wherein:

• (a) the pharmaceutical agent comprises an anti-properdin agent, the anti-properdin agent being effective for reducing at least one of complement activation, platelet activation, leukocyte activation, or platelet adhesion caused by passage of circulating blood from a blood vessel of a subject, through a conduit, and back to a blood vessel of the subject, the conduit having a luminal surface comprising a material capable of causing at least one of complement activation, platelet activation, leukocyte activation, or platelet-leukocyte adhesion in the subject's blood;
• and
• (b) the packaging material comprises a label which indicates that the pharmaceutical agent is for use in association with an extracorporeal circulation procedure.

Use of an anti-properdin agent in the preparation of a medicament for selectively inhibiting formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product in a subject.

Use of an anti-properdin agent in the preparation of a medicament for selectively inhibiting formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product in a subject in which the classical complement pathway is initiated.

Use of an alternative pathway C3 convertase-inhibiting agent in the preparation of medicament for selectively inhibiting formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product in a subject in which the classical complement pathway is initiated.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) an anti-properdin antibody or an antigen-binding fragment of an anti-properdin antibody that (1) selectively inhibits formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product;

• and (2) does not substantially activate Fcγ receptors, and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

An anti-properdin agent comprising an anti-properdin antibody or an antigen-binding fragment of an anti-properdin antibody that (a) selectively inhibits formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product, and (b) does not substantially activate Fcγ receptors.

A method of screening for and selecting an anti-properdin agent comprising (a) assaying the agent for its ability to inhibit formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product;

• (b) assaying the agent for its ability to activate Fcγ receptors;
• and (c) selecting the agent that inhibits the formation of an alternative complement pathway activation product and does not substantially activate Fcγ receptors.