Keytruda

Example 3

To assess the effect of PD-1×PD-L1 or PD-L1×PD-L1 bispecific antibodies on T-cell activation, IFN-γ production was analyzed in a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). A PembrolizumabxAtezolizumab bispecific antibody, NivolumabxAtezolizumab bispecific antibody, a cocktail of KEYTRUDA and Atezolizumab, a cocktail of Nivolumab and Atezolizumab were tested and KEYTRUDA alone, a humanized antibody that blocks PD-1 (Merck) and is known to induce IFN-γ production, was used as a comparator.

T cells were prepared as described above. A volume of 50 μl of media containing various dilutions of antibodies was added to reach a final concentration of 0 nM, 0.01 nM, 0.001 nM, or 0.0001 nM. Plates were incubated at 37° C. in a CO₂ incubator for five days. At the end of incubation period, culture supernatants were collected and IFNγ levels were analyzed by MSD assay (Mesoscale Diagnostics, Rockville, Md.).

FIG. 1 shows the concentration of IFN-γ as pg/mL at the final concentrations of antibodies tested, as indicated. These results indicate that bispecific PD-1×PD-L1 antibodies, such as PembrolizumabxAtezolizumab or the PDL1/PDL1 bispecific antibody Nivolumab/Atezolizumab, induce a higher IFNγ response in T cells than a cocktail of PD1 and PDL1 specific antibodies, or a PD-1 antibody (KEYTRUDA) alone.