Tozorakimab (MEDI3506): a dual-pharmacology anti-IL-33 antibody that inhibits IL-33 signalling via ST2 and RAGE/EGFR to reduce inflammation and epithelial dysfunction

• Published in: bioRxiv 2023-03
• Main Authors: England, Elizabeth, Rees, D Gareth, Scott, Ian Christopher, Carmen, Sara, Chan, Denice T Y, Chaillan Huntington, Catherine E, Houslay, Kirsty F, Erngren, Teodor, Penney, Mark, Majithiya, Jayesh B, Rapley, Laura, Sims, Dorothy A, Hollins, Claire, Hinchy, Elizabeth C, Strain, Martin D, Kemp, Benjamin P, Corkill, Dominic J, May, Richard D, Vousden, Katherine A, Butler, Robin J, Mustelin, Tomas, Vaughan, Tristan J, Lowe, David C, Colley, Caroline, Cohen, E Suzanne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced glycosylation end products; Affinity; Animal models; Antibodies; Cell migration; Data collection; Epidermal growth factor receptors; Epithelial cells; Glycosylation; Inflammatory diseases; Intellectual property; Monoclonal antibodies; Signal transduction; Stock options
• DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.28.527262

Interleukin (IL)-33 is a broad-acting alarmin cytokine that can drive inflammatory responses following tissue damage or infection and is a promising target for treatment of inflammatory disease. Here, we describe the identification of tozorakimab (MEDI3506), a potent, human anti-IL-33 monoclonal antibody, which can inhibit reduced IL-33 (IL-33red) and oxidized IL-33 (IL-33ox) activities through distinct serum-stimulated 2 (ST2) and receptor for advanced glycation end products — epidermal growth factor receptor (RAGE-EGFR complex) signalling pathways. We hypothesized that a therapeutic antibody would require an affinity higher than that of ST2 for IL-33, with an association rate greater than 107 M[mdash]1s—1, to effectively neutralize IL-33 following rapid release from damaged tissue. An innovative antibody generation campaign identified tozorakimab, an antibody with a femtomolar affinity for IL-33red and a fast association rate (8.5 × 107 M—1 s—1), which was comparable to soluble ST2. Tozorakimab potently inhibited ST2-dependent inflammatory responses driven by IL-33 in primary human cells and in a murine model of lung epithelial injury. Additionally, tozorakimab prevented the oxidation of IL-33 and its activity via the RAGE/EGFR signalling pathway, thus increasing in vitro epithelial cell migration and repair. Tozorakimab is a novel therapeutic agent with a dual mechanism of action that blocks IL-33red and IL-33ox signalling, offering potential to reduce inflammation and epithelial dysfunction in human disease.Competing Interest StatementAstraZeneca funded this study and participated in the study design, data collection, data analysis and data interpretation. AstraZeneca reviewed the publication, without influencing the opinions of the authors, to ensure medical and scientific accuracy and the protection of intellectual property. The corresponding author had access to all data in the study and was responsible for submitting the manuscript for publication. EE, DGR, ICS, SC, CC, DJC, KFH, CCEH, DAS, CH, ECH, MDS, ESC, TJV, TE and MP are employees of AstraZeneca and may hold stock or stock options. DTYC, BPK, DCL, JBM, RDM, LR, KAV and TM are former employees of AstraZeneca and may hold stock or stock options.