Patent ID: 7404954
Filing Date: 2008-07-29
Classification: A61K,A61P,C07K

Abstract:
1. A method of targeting an effector moiety to an epithelial cell of an organ of interest in an animal, which cell has an apical surface and expresses a polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), which pIgR when cleaved has a stalk region which remains attached to the cell and a secretory component which exists in the organ of interest in several forms, by contacting pIgR attached to said apical surface with an immunoconjugate comprising an effector moiety and an antibody, which antibody binds pIgR, with the provisos that (a) the antibody binds to a region of pIgR that is absent from the majority of free (cleaved) secretory component in the organ of interest, and (b) the antibody does not bind to the stalk region remaining attached to the cell after pIgR cleavage, under physiological conditions, thereby targeting said effector moiety to said cell.