Summary
10C12, a human antibody F(ab’)2, which specifically binds to the Gla domain of factor IX, interfered with all known
coagulation processes that involve factor IX/IXa. These include the function of the
intrinsic Xase complex and the activation of zymogen factor IX by factor XIa and by
the tissue factor:factor VIIa complex. Furthermore, 10C12 potently inhibited activated
partial thromboplastin clotting times (APTT) in plasma of guinea pig and rat, thus
enabling in-vivo evaluation. In guinea pigs, a bolus administration of 10C12 (10 μg/kg)
prevented cyclic flow variations in damaged carotid arteries without affecting coagulation
or bleeding parameters. At a 100-fold higher dose, 10C12 had no effect on normal hemostasis
as assessed by the cuticle bleeding time. At this dose, 10C12 was also efficacious
in a rat arterial thrombosis model, substantially reducing clot weight and duration
of vessel occlusion while prolonging ex-vivo APTT only 1.2-fold. The dose of heparin
required to produce comparable antithrombotic effects prolonged the APTT by 12-fold
and increased the tail bleeding time (TBT) by 8-fold. In contrast, 10C12 had no effect
on TBT. However, rat tails showed a tendency for rebleeding which 10C12 exacerbated.
In conclusion, the antithrombotic potency of the 10C12 antibody in two species provides
evidence for an important role of F.IX, and its Gla domain in particular, during thrombogenesis
under arterial flow conditions. The relative safety at effective doses of this fully
human antibody suggests that it may have therapeutic value for treatment of thrombotic
disorders.
Abbreviations
Gla: γ-carboxyglutamic acid; CDRs: complementarity determining regions; CVFs: cyclic
flow variations; TF:F.VIIa: tissue factor:factor VIIa; APTT: activated partial thromboplastin
time; PT: prothrombin time; ACT: whole blood activated clotting time; CBT: cuticle
bleeding time; TBT: tail bleeding time