Methods for preparation of cytotoxic conjugates of maytansinoids and cell binding agents
AssigneeImmunoGen, Inc.
InventorsRavi V. J. Chari, Wayne C. Widdison
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a one-step process for the production of cytotoxic conjugates of maytansinoids and cell binding agents. Maytansinoids having a disulfide linker that bears a reactive moiety are linked to cell binding agents, such as antibodies, without prior modification of the cell binding agent. These conjugates are useful as therapeutic agents which are delivered specifically to target cells and are cytotoxic.
Claims17
A method for producing a cytotoxic conjugate, said method comprising incubating a cell binding agent having an amino group with one or more N-methyl-alanine- or N-methyl-cysteine-containing maytansinoid molecules that has, on the N-methyl-alanine or N-methyl-cysteine group, a disulfide moiety that bears a reactive ester, whereby the amino group of the cell binding agent is linked to one or more of said maytansinoid molecules via reaction with the reactive ester essentially in a single step.
A method for producing a cytotoxic conjugate, said method comprising incubating a cell binding agent having an amino group with one or more N-methyl-alanine- or N-methyl-cysteine-containing maytansinoid molecules that has, on the N-methyl-alanine or N-methyl-cysteine group, a disulfide moiety that bears a reactive ester, whereby the amino group of the cell binding agent is linked to one or more of said maytansinoid molecules via reaction with the reactive ester essentially in a single step, and wherein said cell binding agent is one that has not been previously modified to bear a reactive group for use in conjugation with said one or more maytansinoid molecules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.