Development of DRα1-MOG-35-55 for treatment of DR2 negative MS subjects

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 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our laboratory discovered and is developing partial (p)MHC class II constructs (pMHC) as a possible immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). pMHC containing the extracellular domains of the MS risk factor, HLA-DR2, linked covalently to the encephalitogenic 35-55 peptide of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (pDR2/MOG-35-55) can reverse CNS inflammation and clinical signs of MOG-35-55 peptide-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in DR2 transgenic mice. The pDR2/MOG-35-55 construct for humans (termed Recombinant T-cell receptor Ligand or RTL1000) was found to be safe and well tolerated in a Phase 1 safety trial in MS subjects and is soon to be tested in a Phase II tria in progressive MS. Our preclinical studies showed that pDR2/MOG-35-55 can specifically inhibit cognate DR2-restricted MOG-35-55 reactive T cells and to a lesser extent bystander T cells reactive to other myelin peptides. RTL1000 blocks the binding and downstream inflammatory effects of a key pathogenic factor in EAE and MS, called macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), to CD74, the invariant chain (Ii) of MHC class II that serves as the major MIF receptor on immune cells. Additionally, the down-modulation of CD74 expression by RTL1000 may serve as an important biomarker of drug efficacy. Currently, the FDA requires that patients receiving RTL1000 express the same HLA-DR2 type as that intrinsic to RTL1000 in order to avoid potentially harmful transplantation "mismatches" after repeated dosing. "Matching" for HLA-DR2 would allow treatment of ~50% of MS subjects with RTL1000 (~250,000 Americans), but produces an unmet need for an effective pMHC treatment for the remaining 50% (~250,000) who express a variety of other HLA-DR types. To address this need, we here propose to evaluate the potency and immunogenicity of a novel derivative pMHC construct, DRα1-MOG-35-55, that retains the primary binding region for CD74 and the MOG-35-55 peptide found in RTL1000, but lacks the DR2β1 domain. Due to its universal expression, DRα1-MOG-35-55 would be a "match" for all human recipients and would thus nicely complement RTL1000 and address the unmet need of treating HLA-DR2 negative patients. To fully evaluate possible differences and limitations of each, we will compare potency, immunogenicity and CD74 modulation of the two constructs in "matched" (transgenic DR2+) vs. "mismatched" (transgenic DR4+) recipient mice with EAE. The ultimate goal of this study is to position the DRα1-MOG-35-55 drug to address the unmet need and provide coverage for DR2 negative MS subjects to complement the more advanced development of RTL1000 for use in DR2 positive MS subjects.