Humanized antibodies and methods for forming humanized antibodies

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Described herein is a humanized antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Also described herein is a method for rapidly producing and identifying framework mutations which improve the binding of humanized antibodies to their cognate antigens. In a preferred embodiment, non-human CDRs are grafted onto a human V1.kappa.I-V H III framework. Random mutagenesis of a small set of critical framework residues is also performed followed by monovalent display of the resultant library of antibody molecules on the surface of filamentous phage. The optimal framework sequences are then identified by affinity-based selection. Optionally, the selected antibodies can be further mutated …