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AssigneeBiogen Idec MA Inc.
InventorsSha Mi, Kenneth J. Rhodes, R. Blake Pepinsky
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to Death Receptor-6 (DR6) proteins which are members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family, and have now been shown to be important for regulating apoptosis in cells of the nervous system. In addition, it has been discovered that p75 is a ligand for DR6. As a result, this invention relates to methods for inhibiting the interaction of DR6 and p75 using DR6 and/or p75 antagonists. In addition, the methods described herein include methods of promoting survival of cells of the nervous system using DR6 antagonists, optionally in combination with p75 antagonists, and methods of treating neurodegenerative conditions by the administration of a DR6 antagonists, optionally in combination with a p75 antagonist.
A method of inhibiting the binding of DR6 to p75 comprising contacting a DR6 polypeptide and/or p75 polypeptide with a DR6 antagonist under conditions wherein binding of DR6 to p75 is inhibited.
A method of treating a condition associated with oligodendrocyte death or lack of differentiation comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a DR6 antagonist, wherein said DR6 antagonist is an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that can specifically bind to DR6 and inhibit the binding of DR6 to p75.
A method of treating a condition associated with oligodendrocyte death or lack of differentiation comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a DR6 antagonist, wherein said DR6 antagonist comprises a DR6 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, and wherein said DR6 antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof can specifically bind to the same DR6 epitope as a reference monoclonal Fab antibody fragment selected from the group consisting of M50-H01, M51-H09, M53-E04, M53-F04, M62-B02, M63-E10, M66-B03, M67-G02, M72-F03, and M73-C04 or a reference monoclonal antibody selected from the group consisting of 1P1D6.3, 1P2F2.1, and 1P5D10.2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.