Patent ID: 11959118
Assignee: MERCK SHARP & DOHME LLC
Field: Pharmaceuticals (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C  A | IPC A  C

Claim 0:
1. A method for increasing the bioavailability of an Fc-containing polypeptide when administered subcutaneously, comprising:
introducing mutations at amino acid positions 243 and 264 of the Fc region of an Fc-containing polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 18, wherein the mutation at position 243 is selected from the group consisting of: F243A, F243 G, F243 S, F243 T, F243V, F243L, F243I, F243D, F243Y, F243E, F243R, F243W, and F243K and the mutation at position 264 is selected from the group consisting of: V264A, V264G, V264S, V264T, V264D, V264E, V264K, V264W, V264H, V264P, V264N, V264Q and V264L,
wherein the numbering is according to the EU index as in Kabat; and
wherein the bioavailability of the Fc-containing polypeptide comprising the mutations is increased when the Fc-containing polypeptide is administered subcutaneously compared to subcutaneous administration of an Fc-containing polypeptide without said mutations.