AU2015202049A1

AU2015202049A1 - Anti-TNF antibodies and methotrexate in the treatment of autoimmune disease

Info

Publication number: AU2015202049A1
Application number: AU2015202049A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marc Feldman; Ravinder Nath Maini
Original assignee: Kennedy Institute of Rheumotology
Current assignee: Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research
Priority date: 1996-08-01
Filing date: 2015-04-22
Publication date: 2015-05-14

Abstract

Methods for treating and/or preventing a TNF-mediated disease in an individual are disclosed. Also disclosed is a composition comprising methotrexate and an anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody. TNF-mediated diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and acute and chronic immune diseases associated with transplantation.

Description

ANTI-TNF ANTIBODIES AND METHOTREXATE IN THE TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE 5 Cross-Reference to Related Applications This application is a divisional application pursuant to Section 79B of the Patents Act 1990 of Australian Patent Application No. 2012202134 filed April 12, 2012 which is a divisional application of Australian Patent Application No. 10 2011200206 filed January 19, 2011 which is a divisional of Australian Patent Application No. 2007203067 filed June 29, 2007, which is a divisional application of Australian Patent Application No. 2003264629 filed December 1, 2003, which was a divisional application of Australian Patent 15 Application No. 51825/00 filed August 4, 2000, which was a divisional application of Australian Patent Application No. 37035/97 filed August 1, 1997 which corresponds to International Application No. PCT/GB1997/002058 filed August 1, 1997 claiming priority to US Patent Application 20 No. 08/690,775 filed August 1, 1996, the specifications of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. Background of the Invention Monocytes and macrophages secrete cytokines known as 25 tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) and tumor necrosis factor beta (TNFP) in response to endotoxin or other stimuli. TNFa is a soluble homotrimer of 17 kD protein subunits (Smith et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262: 6951- 6954 10 (1987)). A membrane-bound 26 kD precursor form of TN also 30 exists (Kriegler et al., Cell 53:45-53 (1988)). For reviews of TN, see Beutler et al., Nature 320: 584 (1986) Old, Science 230:630 (1986)F and Le et al., Lab. Invest. 56:234 (1987). 35 Cells other than monocytes or macrophages also produce TNFa. For example, human non-monocytic tumor cell lines produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (Rubin et al., J. Ex. Med. 164:1350 (1986); Spriggs et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 6563 (1987)). CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral blood T -2 lymphocytes and some cultured T and B cell lines (Cuturi et al., J. Exp. Med. 165:1581 (1987) ; Sung St al., J. Exp. bed. 268:1539 (1988) ; Turner et al., Eur. J. IXMMUnO. 17:1807-1814 (1987)) also produce TFa'. 5 TNF causes pro-inflammatory actions which result in tissue injury, such as degradation of cartilage and bone, induction of adhesion molecules, inducing procoagulant activity on vascular endothelial cells (Pober et al., J. Immunol. 136:1680 (1986)), increasing the adherence of 10 neutrophils and lymphocytes (Pober et al., J. Immunol. 138:3319 (1987)), and stimulating the release of platelet activating factor from macrophages, neutrophils and vascular endothelial cells (Camussi et al., JT. Exp. fed. 166:1390 (1987)). 15 Recent evidence associates TNF with infections (Cerami et al., Immunol. Today 9:28 (1988)), immune disorders, neoplastic pathologies (Oliff et al., Cell 50:555 (1987)), autoimmune pathologies and graft-versus-host pathologies (Piguet et al., JT. Exp. Med. 166:1280 (1987)). The 20 association of TNF with cancer and infectious pathologies is often related to the host's catabolic state. Cancer patients suffer from weight loss, usually associated with anorexia. The extensive wasting which is associated with cancer, 25 and other diseases, is known as "cachexial (Kern et al., J. Parent. Enter. Nutr. 12:286-298 (1988)). Cachexia includes progressive weight loss, anorexia, and persistent erosion of body mass in response to a malignant growth. The fundamental physiological derangement can relate to a 30 decline in food intake relative to energy expenditure. The cachectic state causes most cancer morbidity and mortality. TNF can mediate cachexia in cancer, infectious pathology, and other catabolic states. TNF also plays a central role in gram-negative sepsis 35 and endotoxic shock (Michie et al., gr. J. Surg. 76:670-671 -3 (1989) ; Debets eC al., Second Vienna Shock Forum, p.

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4 6 6 (1989); Simpson et al., Crit. Care Clin. 5:27-47 (1989)), including fever, malaise, anorexia, and cachexia. Endotoxin strongly activates monocyte/macrophage production 5 and secretion of TNF and other cytokines (Kornbluth et al., J. Immunol. 137:2585-2591 (1986)) . TNF and other monocyte-derived cytokines mediate the metabolic and neurohormonal responses to endotoxin (Michie et al., New Engl. J. Med. 318:1481-1486 (1988)). Endotoxin io administration to human volunteers produces acute illness with flu-like symptoms including fever, tachycardia, increased metabolic rate and stress hormone release (Revhaug et al., Arch. Surg. 123:162-170 (1988) ) . Circulating TNF increases in patients suffering from 15 Gram-negative sepsis (Waage ec al., Lancet 2:355-357 (1987); Hammerle et al., second Vienna Shock Forum p. 715-718 (1989); Debets et al., Crit. Care Med. 17:489-497 (1989); Calandra e a., J. Infect. Dis. 161:982-987 (1990)). 20 Thus, TNFa has been implicated in inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, malignancies, and/or neurogenerative diseases and is a useful target for specific biological therapy in diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and 25 Crohn's disease. Beneficial effects in open-label trials with a Chimeric monoclonal antibody to TNFa (cA2) have been reported with suppression of inflammation (Elliott et al., Arthritis Rheum. 36:1661-1690 (1993); Elliott et al., Lancet 344:1125-1127 (1994)). See also, Van Dullemen et 30 al., Gastroenterology 109:129-135 (1995). Beneficial results in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with cA2 have also been reported with suppression of inflammation (Elliott et al., Lancet 344:1105-1110 (1994)).

-4 gupmary of the Invention The present invention is based on the discovery that treatment of patients suffering from a TNF-mediated disease with a tumor necrosis factor antagonist, such as an anti 5 tumor necrosis factor antibody, as adjunctive and/or concomitant therapy to methotrexate therapy produces a rapid and sustained reduction in the clinical signs and symptoms of-the disease. The present invention is also based on the 'unexpected and dramatic discovery that a 10 multiple dose regimen of a tumor necrosis factor antagonist, such as an anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody, when administered adjunctively with methotrexate to an individual suffering from a TNF-mediated disease produces a highly beneficial or synergistic clinical response for a is significantly longer duration compared to that obtained with a single or multiple dose regimen of the antagonist administered alone or that obtained with methotrexate administered alone. As a result of Applicants' invention, a method is. provided herein for treating and/or preventing 20 a TNF-mediated disease in an individual comprising co administering an anti-TNF antibody or a fragment thereof and methotrexate to the individual in therapeutically effective amounts. In a particular embodiment, methotrexate is administered in the form of a series of low 25 doses separated by intervals of days or weeks. A method is also provided herein for treating and/or preventing recurrence of a TNF-mediated disease in an individual comprising co-administering an anti-TNF antibody or a fragment thereof and methotrexate to the individual in 30 therapeutically effective amounts. TNP-mediated diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and acute and chronic immune diseases associated with an allogenic transplantation (e.g., renal, cardiac, bone marrow, liver, pancreatic, small intestine, skin or lung transplantation).

-5 Therefore, in one embodiment, the invention relates to a method of treating and/or preventing rheumatoid arthritis in an individual comprising co-administering an anti-TNF antibody or a fragment thereof and methotrexate to the S individual in therapeutically effective amounts. In a second embodiment, the invention relates to a method of treating and/or preventing Crohn's disease in an individual comprising co-administering an anti-TNF antibody or a fragment thereof and methotrexate to the individual in 10 therapeutically effective amounts. In a third embodiment, the invention relates to a method of treating and/or preventing other autoimmune diseases and/or acute or chronic immune disease associated with a transplantation in an individual, comprising co-administering an anti-TNF 15 antibody or a fragment thereof and methotrexate to the individual in therapeutically effective amounts. A further embodiment of the invention relates to compositions comprising an anti-TNF antibody or a fragment thereof and methotrexate. 20 In addition to anti-TNF antibodies, TNF antagonists include anti-TNF antibodies and receptor molecules which bind specifically to TNF; compounds which prevent and/or inhibit TNF synthesis, TNF release or its action on target cells, such as thalidomide, tenidap, phosphodiesterase 25 inhibitors (e.g, pentoxifylline and rolipram), A2b adenosine receptor agonists and A2b adenosine receptor enhancers; and compounds which prevent and/or inhibit TNF receptor signalling. Brief.Description of the Drawinqs 30 Figures lA-IC are a set of three graphs showing the results over time for swollen joint count in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving cA2 treatment (1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) with or without methotrexate. Results for :he placebo group (methotrexate alone) are shown with -6 the I mg/kg group. The number of patients with data at each evaluation visit is shown at the bottom of each graph. White circle = - methotrexate (MTX-); black circle + methotrexate (MTX+); square - placebo'. 5 Figures 2A-2C are 4 set of three graphs showing the results over time for tender joint count in RA patients receiving cA2 treatment (1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) with or without methotrexate. Results for the placebo group (methotrexate alone) are shown with thR 1 mg/kg group. The 10 number of patients with data at each evaluation visit is shown at the bottom of each graph. White circle = - methotrexate; black circle = + methotrexate; square = placebo, Figures 3A-3C are a set of three graphs showing the 15 results over time for the Physician's Global Disease Assessment in RA patients receiving cA2 treatment (1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) with or without methotrexate. Results for the placebo group (methotrexate alone) are shown with the 1 mg/kg group. The number of patients with data at 20 each evaluation visit is shown at the bottom of each graph. White circle = - methotrexate; black circle = + methotrexate; square = placebo. Figures 4A-4C are a set of three graphs showing the results over time for the Patient Disease Assessment in RA 25 patients receiving cA2 treatment (1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) with- or without methotrexate. Results for the placebo group (methotrexate alone) are shown with the 1 mg/kg group. The number of patients with data at each evaluation visit is shown at the bottom of each g-aph. 30 White circle = - methotrexate; black circle + methttrexater square = placebo. Figures BA-5C are a set of three graphs showing the results over time for C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in RA patients receiving cA2 treatment 35 (1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) with or without -7 methotrexate. Results for the placebo group (methotrexate alone) are shown with the 1 mg/kg group. The number of patients with data at each evaluation visit is shown at the bottom of each graph. White circle = - methotrexate; black 5 circle = + methotrexate; square = placebo. Figures GA-6C are a set of three graphs showing the results over time for the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) in RA patients receiving cA2 treatment (1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) with or without methotrexate. Results 10 for the placebo group (methotrexate alone) are shown with the 1 mg/kg group. The number of patients with data at each evaluation visit is shown at the bottom of each graph. White circle = - methotrexate; black circle + methotrexate; square = placebo. 15 Figures 7A-7F arn a set of six graphs showing the serum cA2 concentration in each RA patient receiving cA2 treatment (1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) with or without methotrexate, plotted over time. Data plotted are the serum cA2 concentrations obtained just before the 20 administration of cA2 at weeks 2, 6, 10 and 14 and then at weeks 18 and 26. The scales for the serum cA2 concentration are condensed with higher doses of cA2. Figures 8A and 8B are a set of two graphs showing the median serum cA2. concentration over time in AA patients 25 receiving 3 mg/kg cA2 (top panel) or 10 mg/kg cA2 (bottom panel) with or without methotrexate. Square = + methotrexate; circle or triangle = - methotrexate. Detailed Descrintion of the Inve'tion The present invention relates to the discovery that 30 tumor necrosis factor antagonists can be administered to patients suffering from a TNF-mediated disease as adjunctive and/or concomitant therapy to methotrexate therapy, with good to excellent alleviation of the signs and symptoms of the disease. The present invention also -8 relates to the discovery that tumor necrosis factor antagonists can be administered to patients suffering from a TNF-mediated disease in multiple doses and as adjunctive and/or concomitant therapy to methotrexate therapy, with a 5 significant improvement in duration of clinical response. As a result of Applicants' invention, a method is provided herein for treating and/or preventing a TNF mediated disease in an individual, comprising co administering methotrexate and a tumor necrosis factor 10 antagonist to the individual in therapeutically effective amounts. The TNF antagonist and methotrexate can be administered simultaneously or sequentially. The TNF antagonist and methotrexate can each be administered in single or multiple doses. Multiple TNF antagonists can be 15 co-administered with methotrexate. other therapeutic regimens and agents can be used in combination with the therapeutic co-administration of TNF antagonists and methotrexate or other drugs that suppress the immune system. 20 A method is also provided herein for treating and/or preventing recurrence of a TNF-mediated disease in an individual comprising co-adminiStering methotrexate and a TNF antagonist to the individual in therapeutically effective amounts. 25 As used herein, a "'TNF-mediated disease" refers to a TNF related pathology or disease. TN? related pathologies or diseases include, but are not limited to, the following: (A) acute and chronic immune and autoimmune pathologies, such as, but not limited to, rheumatoid 30 arthritis (RA) , juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), thyroiditis, graft versus host disease (GVHD), scleroderma, diabetes mellitus, Graves' disease, allergy, acute or chronic immune disease associated with an allogenic transplantation, such as, but not limited to, renal 35 transplantation, cardiac transplantation, bone marrow transplantation, liver transplantation, pancreatic transplantation, small intestine transplantation, lung transplantation and skin transplantation; (B) infections, including, but not limited to, sepsis s syndrome, cachexia, circulatory collapse and shock resulting from acute or chronic bacterial infection, acute and chronic parasitic and/or infectious diseases, bacterial, viral or fungal, such as a human innunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immunodeficiency 10 syndrome (AIDS) (including symptoms of cachexia, autoimmune disorders, AIDS dementia complex and infections); (C) inflammatory diseases, such as chronic inflammatory pathologies, including chronic inflammatory pathologies such as, but not limited to, sarcoidosis, 15 chronic inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohna's pathology or disease; vascular inflammatory pathologies, such as, but not limited to, disseminated intravascular coagulation, atherosclerosis, Kawasaki's pathology and vasculitis syndromes, such as, but not 20 limited to, polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener's granulomatosis, Henoch-Schnlein purpura, giant cell arthritis and microscopic vasculitis of the kidneys; chronic active hepatitis; Sjbgren's syndrome; spondyloarthropathies, such as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and 25 spondylitis, enteropathic arthritis and spondylitis, reactive arthritis and arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease; and uveitis; (D) neurodegenerative diseases, including, but not limited to, demyelinating diseases, such as multiple 30 sclerosis and acute transverse myelitis; myasthenia gravis; extrapyramidal and cerebellar disorders, such as lesions of the corticospinal system; disorders of the basal ganglia or cerebellar disorders; hyperkinetic movement'disorders, such as Huntington's chorea and senile chorea; drug-induced 35 movement disorders, such as those induced by drugs which -10 block central nervous system (CNS) dopamine receptors; hypokinetic movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease; progressive supranucleo palsy; cerebellar and spinocerebellar disorders, such as astructural lesions of 5 the cerebellum; spinocerebellar degeneration (spinal ataxia, Friedreich's ataxia, cerebellar cortical degenerations, multiple systems degenerations (Mencel, Dej erine-Thomas, Shi-Drager, and MachadoJoseph)); and systemic disorders (Refsum's disease, abetalipoprotemia, 10 ataxia, telangiectasia, and mitochondrial multisystem disorder); disorders of the motor unit, such as neurogenic muscular atrophies (anterior horn cell degeneration, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, infantile spinal muscular atrophy and juvenile spinal muscular atrophy); Alzheimer's :5 disease; Down's syndrome in middle age; diffuse Lewy body disease; senile dementia of Lewy body type; Wernicke-Kor'sakoff syndrome; chronic alcoholism; primary biliary cirrhosis; cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis and other fibrotic lung diseases; hemolytic anemia; 20 Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, Hallerrorden-Spatz disease; and dementia pugilistica, or any subset thereof; (E) malignant pathologies involving TNF-secreting tumors or other malignancies involving TNF, such as, but 25 not limited to, leukemias (acute, chronic myelocytic, chronic lymphocytic and/or myelodyspastic syndrome); lymphomas (Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, such as malignant lymphoma (Burkitt's lymphoma or Mycosis fungoides)); 30 (F) cachectic syndromes and other pathologies and diseases involving excess TNF, such as, but not limited to, cachexia of cancer, parasitic disease and heart failure; and (G) alcohol-induced hepatitis and other forms of 5 chronic hepatitis.

See, e.g., Berkow et al., Eds., The Merck Manual, 16th edition, chapter 11, pp. 1380-1529, Merck and Co., Rahway, New Jersey, 1992, incorporated herein by reference. The terms "recurrence", "flare-up" or "relapse" are 5 defined to encompass the reappearance of one or more symptoms of the disease state. For example, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, a reoccurrence can include the experience of one or more of swollen joints, morning stiffness or joint tenderness. 10 In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method of treating and/or preventing rheumatoid arthritis in an individual comprising co-administering methotrexate and a TNF antagonist to the individual in therapeutically effective amounts. 15 In a second embodiment, the invention relates to a method for treating and/or preventing Crohn's disease in an individual comprising co-administering a methotrexate and a TNF antagonist to the, individual in therapeutically effective amounts. 20 In a third embodiment, the invention relates to a method for treating and/or preventing an acute or chronic immune disease associated with an allogenic transplantation in an individual comprising co-administering methotrexate and a TNF antagonist to the individual in therapeutically 25 effective amounts. As used herein, a "transplantation" includes organ, tissue or cell transplantation, such as renal transplantation, cardiac transplantation, bone marrow transplantation, liver transplantation, pancreatic transplantation, small intestine transplantation, skin 30 transplantation and lung transplantation. The benefits of combination therapy with methotrexate and TNF antagonists include high 'clinical -response rates for significantly longer durations in comparison with that obtained with treatment with each therapeutic modality. 35 separately. In addition, methotrexate significantly -12 reduces immunogenicity of anti-TNF antibodies, thus permitting administration of multiple dosages of anti-TNF antibodies with enhanced safety. The results described herein suggest that methotrexate can be used to reduce 5 immunogenicity of other antibodies or proteins. Based on the results described herein, methotrexate can be used in other forms of antibody therapy, such as anti-IL-2 antibody therapy. This method is particularly pertinent in therapies other than anti-CD4 antibody therapy. 10 In a further embodiment, the invention relAtes to compositions comprising methotrexate and a TNF antagonist. The compositions of the present invention are useful for treating a subject having a pathology or condition associated with abnormal levels of a substance reactive 15 with a TNF antagonist, in particular TNF in excess of, or less than, levels present in a normal healthy subject, where such excess or diminished levels occur in a systemic, localized or particular tissue type or location in the body. Such tissue types can include, but are not limited 20 to, blood, lymph, central nervous system (CNS), liver, kidney, spleen, heart muscle or blood vessels, brain or spinal cord white matter or grey matter, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, lung, pancreas, ovary, testes, prostate. Increased or decreased TNF concentrations 25 relative to normal levels can also be localized to specific regions or cells in the body, such as joints, nerve blood vessel junctions, bones, specific tendons or liganemts, or sites of infection, such as bacterial or viral infections. Tumor Necrosia Factor Antagonists 30 As used herein, a "tumor necrosis factor antagonist" decreases, blocks, inhibits, abrogates or interferes with TNF activity in vivo. For example, a suitable TNF antagonist can bind TNF and includes anti-TXF antibodies and receptor molecules which bind specifically to TNF. A -13 suitable TNF antagonist can also prevent or inhibit TNF synthesis and/or TNF release and includes compounds such as thalidomide, tenidap, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors, such as, but not limited to, pentoxifylline and rolipram. 5 A suitable TNF antagonist that can prevent or inhibit TNF synthesis and/or TNF release also includes A2b adenosine receptor enhancers and A2b adenosine receptor agonists (e.g., 5'-(N-cyclopropyl)-carboxamidoadenosine, 5'-N ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, cyclohexyladenosine and R-N' 10 phenyl-2-propyladenosine). See, for example, Jacobson (GB 2 289 218 A), the teachings of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference. A suitable TNF antagonist can also prevent or inhibit TNF receptor signalling. is Anti-TNF Antibodies As used herein, an "anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody" decreases, blocks, inhibits, abrogates or interferes with TNF activity in vivo. Anti-TNF antibodies useful in the methods and compositions of the present 20 invention include monoclonal, chimeric, humanized, resurfaced and recombinant antibodies and fragments thereof which are characterized by high affinity binding to TNF and low toxicity (including human anti-murine antibody (HAMA) and/or human anti-chimeric antibody (HACA) response) . In 25 'particular, an antibody where the individual components, such as the variable region, constant region and framework, individually and/or collectively possess low immunogenicity is useful in the present invention. The antibodies which can be used in the invention are characterized by their 30 ability to treat patients for extended periods with good to excellent alleviation of symptoms and low toxicity. Low immunogenicity and/or high affinity, as well as other undefined properties, may contribute to the therapeutic results achieved.

-14 An example of a high affinity monoclonal antibody useful in the methods and compositions of the, present invention is marine monoclonal antibody (mAb) A2 and antibodies which will competitively inhibit in vivo the 5 binding to human TNFa of anti-TNF murine mAb A2 or an antibody having substantially the same specif i binding characteristics, as well as fragments.and regions thereof. Murine monoclonal antibody A2 and chimeric derivatives thereof, such as cA2, are described in U.S. Application 10 No. 08/192,093 (filed February 4, 1994), U.S. Application No. 08/192,102 (filed February 4, 1994), U.S. Application No. 08/192,861 (filed February 4, 1994), U.S. Application No. 08/324,799 (filed October 18, 1994), and Le, J. er al, International Publication No. WO 92/16553 (published 15 October 1, 1992), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. A second example of a high afinity monoclonal antibody useful in the methods and compositions of the present invention is marine mAb 195 and antibodies which will competitively inhibit in vivo the 20 binding to human TNFa of anti-TNFa murine 195 or an antibody having substantially the same specific binding characteristics, as well as fragments and regions thereof. Other high affinity monoclonal antibodies useful in the methods and compositions of the present invention include 25 murine mAb 114 and murine mAb 199 and antibodies which will competitively inhibit in vivo the binding to human TNFa of anti-TNFa urine mAb 114 or mAb 199 or an antibody having substantially the same specific binding characteristics of mAb 114 or mAb 199, as well as fragments and regions 30 thereof. Murine monoclonal antibodies 114, 195 and 199 and the method for producing them are described by Maller, A. et al. (Cytokine 2(3):162-169 (1990)), the teachings of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference. Preferred methods for determining mAb specificity and 35 affinity by competitive inhibition can be found in Harlow, -15 et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York (1988); Colligan et al.-, eds., Current Protocols in Immunology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley Interscience, New York 5 (1992, 1993); Kozbor et al., Immunol. Today 4:72-79 (1983); Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley Interscience, New York (1987, 1992, 1993); and Muller, Meth. Enzymol. 92:S89-601 (1983), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. 10 Additional examples of monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies that can be used in the present invention are described in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Application No. 07/943,852 (filed September 11, 1992) ; Rathjen et al., International Publication No. WO 91/02078 (published February 21, 1991); 15 Rubin et al., EPO Patent Publication 0218868 (published April 22, 1987); Yone~et al., EPO Patent publication No. 02880B8 (October 26, 1988); Liang, et al., Blochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 137:847-854 (1986); Meager, et al., Hybridoma 6:305-311 (1987); Fendly et al., Hybridoma 20 6:359-369 (1987); Bringman, et al., Rybridoma 6:489-507 (1987); Hirai, et al., JT. immunol. Meth. 96:57-62 (1987); Moller, et al., Cytokizie 2:162-169 (1990), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference). Chimeric antibodies are immunoglobulin molecules 25 characterized by two or more segments or portions derived from different animal species. Generally, the variable region of the chimeric antibody is derived from a non-human mammalian antibody, such as a murine mAb, and the immunoglobulin constant region is derived from a human 30 immunoglobulin molecule. Preferably, a variable region with low immunogenicity is selected and combined with a human constant region which also has low immunogenicity, the combination also preferably having low immunogenicity. "Low" immunogenicity is defined herein as raising 35 significant HACA or RAMA responses in less than about 75%, -16 or preferably less than about 50 of the patients treated and/or raising low titres in the patient treated (less than about 300, preferably less than about 100 measured with a double antigen enzyme immuncassay) (Elliott et al., Lancet 5 344:1125-1127 (1994), incorporated herein by reference). As used herein, the term "chimeric antibody" includes monovalent, divalent or polyvalent immunoglobulins. A monovalent chimeric antibody is a dimer (HL)) formed by a chimeric H chain associated through disulfide bridges with 10 a chimeric L chain. A divalent chimeric antibody is a tetramer (H2L2) formed by two HL dimers associated through at least one disulfide bridge. A polyvalent chimeric antibody can also be produced, for example, by employing a CH region that aggregates (e.g., from an IgM H chain, or y 15 chain). Antibodies comprise individual heavy () and/or light (L) immunoglobulin chains. A chimeric H chain comprises an antigen binding region derived from the H chain of a non-human antibody specific for TNF, which t linked to at 20 least a portion of a human H chain C region (CH), such as CH1 or CH2. A chimeric L chain comprises an antigen binding region derived from the L chain of a non-human antibody specific for TNF, linked to at least a portion of a human L chain C region (CL). 25 Chimeric antibodies and methods for their production have been *described in the art (Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:6851-6855 (1984); Boulianne et al., Nature'312:643-646 (1984); Neuberger et al., Nature 314:268-270 (1985); Taniguchi et al., European Patent 30 Application No. 171496 (published February 19, 1985); Morrison et al., European Patent Application No. 173494 (published March 5, 1986); Neuberger et al., PCT Application No. WO 86/01533, (published March 13, 1986); Kudo et al., European Patent Application No. 184187 35 (published June 11, 1986); Morrison et al., European Patent -17 Application No. 173494 (published March 5, 1986); Sahagan et al., J. Izmmnol. 137:1066-1074 (1986) ; Robinson et al., International Publication No. PCT/USBG/02269 (published May ? 1987) ; Liu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 5 84:3439-3443 (1987) ; Sun et al., Proc. Natl, Acad. Sai. USA 84:214-218 (1987) ; Better et al., Science 240:1041-1043 (1988); and Harlow and Lane, Antibodies. A Laboratory Manua, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1988). 'These references are entirely incorporated herein by 10 reference. The anti-TNF chimeric antibody can comprise, for example, two light chains and two heavy chains, each of the chains comprising at least part of a human constant region and at least part of a variable (V) region of non-human 15 origin having specificity to human TNF, said antibody binding with high affinity to an inhibiting and/or neutralizing epitope of human TNF, such as the antibody cA2. The antibody also includes a fragment or a derivative of such an antibody, such as one or more portions of the 20 antibody chain, such as the heavy chain constant or variable regions, or the light chain constant or variable regions. Humanizing and resurfacing the antibody can further reduce the immunogenicity of the antibody. See, for 25 example, Winter (U.S. Patent No. 5,225,539 and EP 239,400 Bi), Padlal'et al. (SP 519,596 Al) and Pedersen et al. (EP 592,106 Al). These references are incorporated herein by reference. Preferred antibodies useful in the methods and 30 compositions of the present invention are high affinity human-murine chimeric anti-TNF antibodies, and fragments or regions thereof, that have potent inhibiting and/or neutralizing activity in vivo against human TNFa. Such antibodies and chimeric antibodies can include those 35 generated by immunization using purified recombinant TNFx -18or peptide fragments thereof comprising one or more epitopes. An example of such a chimeric antibody is cA2 and antibodies which will competitively inhibit in vivo the 5 binding to human TNFa of anti-TNFr murine mAb A2, chimeric mAb cA2, or an antibody having substantially the same specific binding characteristics, as well as fragments and regions thereof. Chimeric mAb cA2 has been described, for example, in U.S. Application No. 08/192,093 (filed 10 Feb-uary 4, 1994), U.S. Application No. 08/192,102 (filed February 4, 1994), U.S. Application No. 08/192,861 (filed February 4, 1994), and U.S. Application No. 08/324,799 (filed October 18, 1994) , and by Le, J. et al. (International Publication No. WO 92/16553 (published 15 October 1, 1992) ) ; Knight, D.M. et, al. (Mol. Imunol. 30:1443-1453 (1993)); and Siegel, S.A. et al. (Cytokine 7(1):15-25 (1995)) . These references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. Chimeric A2 anti-TNF consists of the antigen binding 20 variable region of the high-affinity neutralizing mouse anti-human TNF IgGI antibody, designated A2, and the constant regions of a human IgGl, kappa immunoglobulin. The human IgGI Fc region improves allogeneic antibody effector function, increases the circulating serum 25 half-life and decreases the immunogenicity of the antibody. The avidity and epitope specificity of the chimeric A2 is derived from the variable region of the murine A2. Chimeric A2 neutralizes the cytotoxic effect of both natural and recombinant human TNF in a dose dependent 30 manner. From binding assays of cA2 and recombinant human TNF, the affinity constant of cA2 was calculated to be 1.8x10'W 1 . Preferred methods for determining mAb specificity and affinity by competitive inhibition can be found in Harlow, et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, 35 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, -19 New York, 1988; Colligan et al., eds., Current Protocols in Immunology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley Interscience, New York, (1992, 1993); Kozbor et al., Immunol. Today 4:72-79 (1983); Ausubel et a.., eds. Current 5 Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley IntArocience, New York (1987, 1992, 1993) ; and Muller, Meth. Enzymol. 92:589-601 (1983), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. As used herein, the term "antigen binding region" 10 refers to that portion of an antibody molecule which contains the amino acid residues that interact with an antigen and confer on the antibody its specificity and affinity for the antigen. The antibody region includes the "framework" amino acid residues necessary to maintain the 15 proper conformation of the antigen-binding residues. Generally, the antigen binding region will be of murine origin. In other embodiments, the antigen binding region can be derived from other animal species, such as sheep, rabbit, rat or hamster. Preferred sources for the DNA 20 encoding such a non-uian antibody include cell lines which produce antibody, preferably hybrid cell lines commonly known as hybridomas. In one embodiment, a preferred hybridoma is the A2 hybridoma cell line. An "antigen" is a molecule or a portion of a molecule 25 capable of being bound by an antibody which is additionally capable of inducing an animal to produce antibody capable of selectively binding to an epitope of that antigen. An antiaen can have one or more than one epitope. The term "epitope" is meant to refer to that portion 30 of the antigen capable of being recognized by and bound by an antibody at one or more of the antibody's antigen binding region. Epitopes usually consist of chemically active surface groupings of molecules such as amino acids or sugar side chains and have specific three dimensional structural characteristics as well as specific charge -20 characteristics. By "inhibiting and/or neutralizing epitope" is intended an epitope, which, when bound by an antibody, results in loss of biological activity of the molecule containing the epitope, in vivo or in vitro, more 5 preferably in vivo, including binding of TNF to a TNF receptor. Epitopes of TNF have been identified within amino acids 1 to about 20, about 56 to about 77, about 108 to about 127 and about 138 to about 149. Preferably, the antibody binds to an epitope comprising at least about 5 10 amino acids of TNF within TNF residues from about 87 to about 107, about 59 to about 80 or a combination thereof. Generally, epitopes include at least about 5 amino acids and less than about 22 amino acids embracing or overlapping one or more of these regions. 15 For example, epitopes of TF which are recognized by, atid/or binds with anti-TNF activity, an antibody, and fragments, and variable regions thereof, include: 59-80: Tyr-Ser-Gln-Val-Leu-Phe-Lys-Gly-Gln-Gly Cys-Pro-Ser-Thr-His-Val-Leu-Leu-Thr-His 20 Thr-Ile (SEQ ID NO:1); and/or 87-108: Tyr-Gln-Thr-Lys-Val-enn-Leu-Leu-Ser-Ala Ile-Lys-Ser-Pro-Cyt -Gln-Arg-Glu-Thr- Pro Glu-Gly (SEQ ID NO:2). The anti-TNF antibodies, and fragments, and variable 25 regions thereof, that are recognized by, and/or binds with anti-TNF activity, these epitopes block the action of TNFa without binding to the putative receptor binding locus as presented by Eck and Sprang (J. Eiol. Chem. 264(29): 17595-17605 (1989) (amino acids 11-13, 37-42, 49-57 and 30 155-157 of hTNFa). Rathjen et al., International Publication No. WO 91/02078 (published February 21, 1991), -21 incorporated herein by reference, discloses TNXF ligands which can bind additional epitopes of TNF. Antibody Production Usina Hybridomas The techniques to raise antibodies to small peptide 5 sequences that recognize and bind to those sequences in the free or conjugated form or when presented as a native sequence in the context of a large protein are well known in the art. Such antibodies can be produced by hybridoma or recombinant techniques known in the art. 10 Murine antibodies which can be used in the preparation of the antibodies useful in the methods and compositions of the present invention have also been described in Rubin et al., EP 0218868 (published April 22, 1987); Yone et al., EP 028808 (published October 26, 1988); Liang, et al., 15 Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 237:847-854 (1986); Meager, et al., Hybridoma 6:305-311 (1987) ; Fendly et al., Hybridoma 6:359-369 (1987); Bringman, et al., Hybridoma 6:489-507 (19V7); Hirai, et al., J.- Immunol. Meth. 96:57-62 (-1987); Miller, et al., Cytokine 2:162-169 (1990). 20 The cell fusions are accomplished by standard procedures well known to those skilled in the field of immtunology. Fusion partner cell lines and methods for fusing and selecting hybridomas and screening for mAbs are well known in the art. See, e.g, Ausubel infra, Harlow 25 Infra, and Colligan infra, the contents of which references are incorporated entirely herein by reference. The TNFa-specific murine mAb useful in the methods and compositions of the present invention can be produced in large quantities by injecting hybridoma or trahafectoma 30 cells secreting the antibody into the peritoneal cavity of mice and, after appropriate time, harvesting the ascites fluid which contains a high titer of the mAb, and isolating the mAb therefrom. For such in vivo production of the mAb with a hybridoma (e.g., rat or human), hybridoma cells are -22 preferably grown in irradiated or athymic nude mice. Alternatively, the antibodies can be produced by culturing hybridoma or transfectoma cells in vitro and isolating secreted mAb from the cell culture medium or recombinantly, 5 in eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. In one embodiment, the antibody used in the methods and compositions of the present invention is a mAb which binds amino acids of an epitope of TNF recognized by A2, rA2 or cA2, produced by a hybridoma or by a recombinant 10 host. In another embodiment, the antibody is a chimeric antibody which recognizes an epitope recognized by A2. In still another embodiment, the antibody is a chimeric antibody designated as chimeric A2 (cA2). As examples of antibodies useful in the methods and 15 compositions of the present invention, murine mAb A2 is produced by a cell line designated c134A. Chimeric antibody cA2 is produced by a cell line designated clS8A. c168A was deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Maryland, as a "Culture Safe 20 Deposit." "Derivatives" of the antibodies including fragments, regions or proteins encoded by truncated or modified genes to yield molecular species functionally resembling the immunoglobulin fragments are also useful in the methods and 25 compositions of the present invention. The modifications include, but are not limited to, addition of genetic sequences coding for cytotoxic proteins such as plant and bacterial toxins. The fragments and derivatives can be produced from appropriate cells, as is known in the art. 30 Alternatively, anti-TNF antibodies, fragments and regions can be bound to cytotoxic proteins or compounds in vitro, to provide cytotoxic anti-TNF antibodies which would selectively kill cells having TNF on their surface. "Fragments" of the antibodies include, for example, 35 Fab, Fab', F(ab'N) and Fv. These fragments lack the Fc -23 fragment of intact antibody, clear more rapidly from the circulation, and can have less non-specific tissue binding than an intact antibody (Wahl et al., J. Nzcl. Med. 24:316-325 (1983)) . These fragments are produced from 5 intact antibodies using methods well known in the art, for example by proteolytic cleavage with enzymes such as papain (to produce Fab fragments) or pepsin (to produce F(ab'

)

2 fragments). Reco of Anti-TNF Antibodies 10 Recombinant and/or chimeric murine-human or human-human antibodies that inhibit TNF can be produced using known techniques based on the teachings provided in U.S. Application No. 08/192,093 (filed February 4, 1994), U.S. Application No. 08/192,102 (filed February 4, 1994), 15 U.S. Application No. 08/192,861 (filed February 4, 1994), U.S. Application No. 08/324,799 (filed on October 18, 1994) and Le, J. et al., International Publication No. WO 92/165,53 (published October 1, 1992), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. See, e.g., 20 Ausubel et al., eds. Current Protocols In Molecular Biology, Wiley Interscience, New York (1987, 1992, 1993); and Sambrook at al. Molecular Cloni.ng: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1989), the contents of which are entirely incorporated 25 herein by reference. See also, e.g., Knight, D.M., et al., Mol. Immunol 30:1443-1453 (1993); and Siegel, S.A. , St al., Cytokine 7 (1)t15-25 (1995), the contents of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference. The DNA encoding an anti-TNp antibody can be genomic 30 DNA cr cDNA which encodes at least one of the heavy chain constant region (HE) , the heavy chain variable region (Hc), the light chain variable region (Lv) and the light chain constant regions (Lc). A convenient alternative to the use Qf chromosomal gene fragments as the source of DNA encoding -24 the murine V region antigen-binding segment is the use of cDNA for the construction of chimeric immunoglobulin genes, e.g., as reported by Liu et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sil., USA 84:3439 (1987) and . Immunology 139:3521 (1987)), 5 which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. The use of cDNA requires that gene expression elements appropriate for the host cell be combined with the gene in order to achieve synthesis of the desired protein. The use of cDNA sequences is advantageous over genomic 10 sequences (which contain introns), in that cDNA sequences can be expressed in bacteria or other hosts which lack appropriate RNA splicing systems. An example of such a preparation is set forth below. Because the genetic code is degenerate, more than one 15 codon can be used to encode a particular amino acid. Using the genetic code, one or more different oligonucleotides can be identified, each of which would be capable of encoding the amino acid. The probability that a particular oligonucleotide will, in fact, constitute the actual

XXX

20 encoding sequence can be estimated by considering abnormal base pairing relationships and the frequency with which a particular codon is actually used (to encode a particular amino acid) in eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells expressing an anti-TNF antibody or fragment. Such "codon usage rules" 25 are disclosed by Lathe, et al., J. Mol. Biol. 183:1-12 (1985). Using the "cddon usage rules" of Lathe, a single oligonucleotide, or a set of oligonucleotides, that contains a theoretical "most probable" nucleotide sequence capable of encoding anti-TNF variable or constant region 30 sequences is identified. Although occasionally an amino acid sequence can be encoded by only a single oligonucleotide, frequently the amino acid sequence can be encoded by any of a set of similar oligonucleotides. Importantly, whereas all of the 35 members of this set contain oligonucleotides which are -25 capable of encoding the peptide fragment and, thus, potentially contain the same Oligonucleotide sequence as the gene which encodes the peptide fragment, only one member of the set contains the nucleotide sequence that is 5 identical to the nucleotide sequence of the gene. Because this member is present within the set, and is capable of hybridizing to DNA even in the presence of the other members of the set, it is possible to employ the unfractionated set of oligonucleotides in the same manner 10 in which one would employ a single oligonucleotide to clone the gene that encodes the protein. The oligonucleotide, or set of oligonucleotides, containing the theoretical "most probable" sequence capable of encoding an anti-TNF antibody or fragment including a 15 variable or constant region is used to identify the sequence of a complementary oligonucleotide or set of oliaonucleotides which is capable of hybridizing to the "most probable" sequence, or set of sequences. An oligonucleotide containing such a complementary sequence 20 can be employed as a probe to identify and isolate the variable or constant region anti-TNF gene (Sambrook et al., infra). A suitable oligonucleotide, or set of oligcnucleotides, which is capable of encoding a fragment 25 of the variable or constant anti-TNF region (or which is complementary to such an oligonucleotide, or set of oligonucleotides) is identified (using the above-described procedure), synthesized, and hybridized by means well known in the art, against a DNA or, more preferably, a cDNA 30 preparation derived from cells which are capable of expressing anti--TNF antibodies or variable or constant regions thereof. Single stranded oligonucleotide molecules complementary to the "most probable" variable or constant anti-TNF region peptide coding sequences can be synthesized 35 usir-; procedures which are well known to those of ordinary -26 skill in the art (Belagaje, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 254:5765-5780 (1979) ; Maniatis, et al., In: Molecular Mechanisms in the Control of Gene Expression, Nierlich, et al., eds., Acad. Press, New York (1976); Wu, et al., Prog. 5 Nucl. Acid Res. Molec. Biol. 21:101-141 (1978); Khorana, Science 203:614-625 (1979)). Additionally, DNA synthesis can be achieved through the use of automated synthesizers. Techniques of nucleic acid hybridization are disclosed by Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 10 Cold Spring Earbor Laboratory Press, New York (1969) ; and by Haynes, et al., in: Nucleic Acid Hybridization, A Pracical. Approach, IRL Press, Washington, DC (1985), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. Techniques such as, or similar to, those described above 15 have successfully enabled the cloning of genes for human aldehyde dehydrogenases (H su, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Scd. USA 82:3771-3775 (1985)), fibronectin (Suzuki, et al., Bur. Mol. Biol. Organ. J. 4:2519-2524 (1985)), the human estrogen receptor gene (Walter, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. 20 Sci. USA 8217889-7893 (1985)), tissue-type plasminogen activator (Pennica, et al., Mature 301:214-221 (1983)) and human placental alkaline phosphatase complementary DNA (Keun, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 821B715-8719 (1985)). 25 In an alternative way of cloning a polynucleotide encoding an anti-TNF variable or constant region, a library of expression vectors is prepared by cloning DNA or, more preferably, CDNA (from a cell capable of expressing an anti-TN antibody or variable or constant region) into an 30 expression vector. The library is then screened for members capable of expressing a protein which competitively inhibits the binding of an anti-TNF antibody, such as A2 or cA2, and which has a nucleotide sequence that is capable of encoding polypeptides that have the same amino acid sequence as anti-TNF antibodies or fragments thereof. In -27 this embodiment, DNA, or more preferably cDNA, is extracted and purified from a cell which is capable of expressing an anti-TNF antibody or fragment. The purified cDNA is fragmentized (by shearing, endonuclease digestion, etc.) to 5 produce a pool of DNA or cDNA fragments. DNA or cDNA fragments from this pool are then cloned into an expression vector in order to produce a genomic library of expression vectors whose members each contain a unique cloned DNA or cDNA fragment such as in a lambda phage library, expression 10 in prokaryotic cell (e.g., bacteria) or eukaryotic cells, (e.g., mammalian, yeast, insect or, fungus), see, e.g., Ausubel, infra, Harlow, infra, Colligan, infra; Nyyssonen at al. Bio/Technology 21:591-595 (1993); Marks at a., Bio/Technology l2:1145-1149 (October 1993). Once nucleic 15 acid encoding such variable or constant anti-TNF regions is isolated, the nucleic acid can be appropriately expressed in a host cell, along with other constant or variable heavy or light chain encoding nucleic acid, in order to provide recombinant monoclonal antibodies that bind TNF With 20 inhibitory activity. Such antibodies preferably include a urine or human anti-TNF variable region which contains a framework residue having complementarity determining residues which are responsible for antigen binding. Human genes which encode the constant (C) regions of 25 the chimeric antibodies, fragments and regions of the present invention can be derived from a human fetal liver library, by known methods. Human C region genes can be derived from any human cell including those which express and produce human immunoglobulins. The human CH region can 30 be derived from any of the known classes or isotypes of human H chains, including gamma, g, a, 6 or e, and subtypes thereof, such as G1, G2, G3 and G4. Since the H chain isotype is responsible for the various effector functions of an antibody, the choice of CH region will be guided by 35 the desired effector functions, such as complement -28 fixation, or activity in antibody-dependent vellilar cytotoxicity (ADCC). Preferably, the CH region is derived from gamma 1 (IgGi), gamma 3 (IgG3), gamma 4 (IgG4), or g (IgM). The human CL region can be derived from either 5 human L chain isotype, kappa or lambda. Genes encoding human immunoglobulin C regions are obtained from human cells by standard cloning techniques (Sambrook, et al . (Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edttion, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, 10 New York (1989) and Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley Interscience, New York (1987-1993)) . Human C region genes are readily available from known clones containing genes representing the two classes of L .chains, the five classes of H chains and is subclasses thereof. Chimeric antibody fragments, such as F (ab') 2 and Fab, can be prepared by designing a chimeric H chain gene which is appropriately truncated. For example, a chimeric gene encoding an H chain portion of an F(ab') 2 fragment would include DNA sequences encoding the CHI 20 domain and hinge region of the H chain, followed by a . translational stop codon to yield the truncated molecule. Generally, the murine, human and chimeric antibodies, fragments and regions are produced by cloning DNA segments encoding the H and L chain antigen-binding regions of a 25 TNF-specific antibody, and joining these DNA segments to DNA segments encoding CH and CL regions, respectively, to produce murine, human or chimeric immunoglobulin-encoding genes. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, a fused chitneric gene is created which comprises a first DNA segment that 30 encodes at least the antigen-binding region of non-human origin, such as a functionally rearranged V region with joining (J) segment, linked to a second DNA segment encoding at least a part of a human C region.

-29 Therefore, cDNA encoding the antibody V and C regions and the method of producing a chimeric antibody can involve several steps, outlined below: 1. isolation of messenger RNA (mRNA) from the cell 5 line producing an anti-TNF antibody and from optional additional antibodies supplying heavy and light constant regions; cloning and cDNA production therefrom; 2. preparation of a full length cDNA library from 10 purified mINA from which the appropriate V and/or C region gene segments of the L and H chain genes can be: (i) identified with appropriate probes, (ii) sequenced, and (iii) made compatible with a C or V gene segment from another antibody for a 15 chimeric antibody 3. Construction of complete H or L chain coding sequences by linkage of the cloned specific V region gene -segments to cloned C region gene, as described above; 20 4. Expression and production of L and H chains in selected hosts, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to provide murine-murine, human-murine, human-human or human-murine antibodies. 25 One common feature of all immunoglobulin H and L chain genes and their encoded mRNAs is the J region. H and L chain J regions have different sequences, but a high degree of sequence homology exists (greater than 80%) among each group, especially near the C region. This homology is 30 exploited in this method and consensus sequences of H and L -30-. chain J regions can be used to design oligonuoleQtides for use as primers for introducing useful restriction sites into the J region for subsequent linkage of V region segments to human C region segments. C region cDNA vectors prepared from human cells can be modified by site-directed mutagenesis to place a restriction site at the analogous position in the human sequence. For example, one can clone the complete human kappa chain C s(Ck) region and the complete human gamma-1 C 10 region (C gamma-1). In this case, the alternative method based upon genomic C region clones as the source for C region vectors would not allow these genes to be expressed in bacterial systems where enzymes needed to remove intervening sequences are absent. Cloned V region segments 15 are excised and ligated to L or H chain C region vectors. Alternatively, the human C gamma-1 region can be modified by introducing a termination codon thereby generating a gene sequence which encodes the H chain portion of an Fab molecule. The coding sequences with linked V and C regions 20 are then transferred into appropriate expression vehicles for expression in appropriate hosts, prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Two coding PNA sequences are said to be "operably linked" if the linkage results in a continuously 25 translatable sequence without alteration or interruption of the triplet reading frame. A DNA coding sequence is operably linked to a gene expression element if the linkage results in the proper function of that gene expression element to result in expression of the coding sequence. 30 -Expression vehicles include plasmids or other vectors. Preferred among these are vehicles carrying a functionally complete human CH or CL chain sequence having appropriate restriction sites engineered so that any VH or VL chain sequence with appropriate cohesive ends can be easily 35 inser-ed therein. Human CH or CL chain sequence-containing -31 vehicles thus serve as intermediates for the expression of any desired complete H or L chain in any appropriate host. A chimeric antibody, such as a mouse-human or human-human, will typically be synthesized from genes 5 driven by the chromosomal gene promoters native to the mouse H and L chain V regions used in the constructs; splicing usually occurs between the splice donor site in the mouse J region and the splice acceptor site preceding the human C region and also at the splice regions that 10 occur within the human C, region; polyadenylation and transcription termination occur at native chromosomal sites downstream of the human coding regions. A nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one anti-TNF antibody fragment may be recombined with vector DNA in 15 accordance with conventional techniques, including blunt-ended or staggered-ended termini for ligation, restriction enzyme digestion to provide appropriate termini, filling in of cohesive ends as appropriate, alkaline phosphatase treatment to avoid undesirable 20 joining, and ligation with.appropriate ligases. ,Techniques for such manipulations are disclosed, e.g., by Ausubel, supra, Sambrook, supra, entirely incorporated herein by reference, and are well known in the art. A nucleic acid molecule, such as DNA, is "capable of 25 expressing" a polypeptide if it contains nucleotide sequences which contain transcriptional and translational regulatory information and such sequences are "operably linked" to nucleotide sequences which encode the polypeptide. An operable linkage is a linkage in which the 30 regulatory DNA sequences and the DNA sequence sought to be expressed are connected in such a way as to permit gene expression as anti-TNF peptides or antibody fragments in recoverable amounts. The precise nature of the regulatory regions needed for gene expression may vary from organism 35 to organism and is well known in the analogous art. See, -32 e.g., Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1989); and Ausubel, eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley Interscience, New York (1987, 1993). 5 Many vector systems are available for the expression of cloned anti-TNF peptide H and L chain genes in mammalian cells (see Glover, ed., DNA Cloning, Vol. II, pp. 143-238, IRL Press, Washington, DC, 1985). Different approaches can be followed to obtain complete H2L2 antibodies. it is 10 possible to co-express H and L chains in the same cells to achieve intracellular association and linkage of H and L chains into complete tetrameric H2L2 antibodies. The co-expression can occur by using either the same or different plasmids in the same host, Genes for both H And 15 L chains can be placed into the same plasmid, which is then transfected into cells, thereby selecting directly for cells that express both chains. Alternatively, cells can be transfected first with a plasmid encoding one chain, for example the L chain, followed by transfection of the 20 resulting cell line with an H chain plasmid containing a second selectable marker. Cell lines producing H2L2 molecules via either route could be transfected with plasmids encoding additional copies of peptides, H, L,, or H plus L chains in conjunction with additional selectable 25 markers to generate cell lines with enhanced properties, such as higher production of assembled H2L2 antibody molecules or enhanced stability of the transfected cell lines. Recentor Molecules 30 Receptor molecules (also referred to herein as soluble TNF receptors) useful in the methods and compositions of the present invention are those that bind TNF with high affinity (see, e.g., Feldmann et al., International Publication No. WO 92/07076 (published April 30, 1992), -33 incorporated herein by reference) and possess low immunogenicity. In particular, the 55 kDa (p55 TNF-R) and the 75 kDa (p75 TNF-R) TNF cell surface receptors are useful in the present invention. Truncated forms of these 5 receptors, comprising the extracellular domains (ECD) of the receptors or functional portions thereof, are also useful in the present invention. Truncated forms of the TNF receptors, comprising the ECD, have been detected in urine and serum as 30 kDa and 40 kDa TNF inhibitory binding 10 proteins (Engelmann, H. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265:1531 1536 (1990)). TNF receptor multimeric molecules and TNIF immunoreceptor fusion molecules, and derivatives and -fragments or portions thereof, are additional examples of receptor molecules which are useful in the methods and 15 compositions of the present invention. The receptor molecules which can be used in the invention ate characterized by their ability to treat patients for extended periods with good to excellent alleviation of symptoms and low toxicity. Low immunogenicity and/or high 20 affinity, as well as'other undefined properties, may contribute to the therapeutic results achieved. TNF receptor multimeric molecules useful in the present invention comprise' all or a functional portion of the ECD of two or more TNF receptors linked via one or more 25 polypeptide linkers. The multimeric molecules can further comprise a signal peptide of a secreted protein to direct expression of the multimeric molecule. These multimeric molecules and methods for their production have been described in U.S. Application No. 08/437,533 (filed May 9, 30 1995), the content of which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. TNF immunoreceptor fusion molecules useful in the methods and compositions of the present invention comprise at least one portion of one or more immunoglobulin 35 molecules and all or a functional portion of one or more -34 TNF receptors. These immunoreceptor fusion molecules can be assembled as monomers, or hetero- or homo-multimers, The immunoreceptor fusion molecules can also be monovalent or multivalent. An example of suoh a TNF immunoreceptor 5 fusion molecule is TN' receptor/IgG fusion protein. TNF immunoreceptor fusion molecules and methods for their production have been described in the art (Lesslauer et al., Sur. J. Immunol. 22:2883-2886 (1991); Ashkenazi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10535-10539 (1991) ; 10 Pepper et al., T. Exp. Med. 274:1483-1489 (1991) ; Kolls et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Soi. USA 91:215-219 (1994); Butler et al., Cytokine 6(g):616-623 (1994); Baker et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 24:2040-2048 (1994); Beutler et al., U.S. Patent No. S,447,851; and U.S. Application No. 08/442,133 (filed 15 May 16, 1995)). These references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. Methods for producing inmunoreceptor fusich molecules can also be found in. Capon et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,116,964; Capon et al., U.S. Patent No. 5425,538; and Capon et al., Nature 337:525-531 (1989), 20 which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. Derivatives, fragments, regions and functional portions of the receptor molecules functionally resemble the receptor molecules that can be used in the present 25 invention (i.e., they bind TNF with high affinity and possess low immunogenicity). A functional equivalent or derivative of the receptor molecule refers to the portion of the receptor molecule, or the portion of the receptor molecule sequence which encodes the receptor molecule, that 30 is of sufficient size and sequences to functionally resemble the receptor molecules that can be used in the present invention (i.e., bind TNF with high affinity and possess low immunogenicity). A functional equivalent of the receptor molecule also includes modified receptor 35 molecules that functionally resemble the receptor molecules -35 that can be used in the present invention (i.e., bind TNF with high affinity and possess low immunogenicity). For example, a functional equivalent of the receptor molecule can contain a "SILENT" codon or one or more amino acid 5 substitutions, deletions or additions (e.g., substitution of one acidic amino acid for another acidic amino acid; or substitution of one codon encoding the same or different hydrophobic amino acid for another codon encoding a hydrophobic amino acid). See Ausubel et al., Current 10 Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1989), Hethotrexate Presently available oral and intravenous formulations of methotrexate include Rheumatrex* methotrexate dose pack 15 (Lederle Laboratories, Wayne, NJ); methotrexate tablets (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., Morgantown, WV; Roxane Laboratories, Inc., Columbus, OH); and methotrexate sodium tablets, for injection and injection (Immunex Corporation, Seattle, WA) and methotrexate LPF" sodium (methotrexate 20 sodium injection) (Immunex Corporation, Seattle, WA). Methotrexate is also available from Pharmacochemie (Netherlands). Methotrexate prtdrugs, homologs and/or analogs (e.g., folate antagonists) can also be used in the methods and compositions of the present invention. 25 Alternatively, other immunosuppressive agents (or drugs that suppress the immune system) can be used in the methods and compositions of the present invention. Administration TNF antagonists, methotrexate and the compositions of 30 the present invention can be administered to an individual in a variety of ways. The routes of administration include intradermal, transdermal (e.g., in slow release polymers), intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, oral, topical, epidural, buccal, rectal, vaginal and intranasal routes. Any other therapeutically efficacious route of administration can be used, for example, infusion or bolus injection, absorption through epithelial or 5 mucocutaneous linings, or by gene therapy wherein a DNA molecule encoding the therapeutic protein or peptide is administered to the patient, e.g., via a vector, which causes the protein or peptide to be expressed and secreted at therapeutic levels in vivo. In addition, the TNF 10 antagonists, methotrexate and compositions of the present invention can be administered together with other components of biologically active agents, such as pharmaceutically acceptable surfactants (e.g., glycerides), excipients (e.g., lactose), carriers, diluents and 15 vehicles. If desired, certain sweetening, flavoring and/or coloring agents can also be added. The TNF antagonists and methotrexate can be administered prophylactically or therapeutically to an individual. TNF antagonists can be administered prior to, 20 simultaneously with (in the samae or different compositions) or sequentially with the administration of methotrexate. For example, TNF antagonists can be administered as adjunctive and/or concomitant therapy to methotrexate therapy. 25 For parenteral (e.g., intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular) administration, TNF antagonists, methotrexate and the compositions of the present invention can be formulated as a solution, suspension, emulsion or lyophilized powder in association with a pharmaceutically 30 acceptable parenteral vehicle. Examples of such vehicles are water, saline, Ringer's solution, dextrose solution, and S' human serum albumin. Liposomes and nonaq-ueous vehicles such as fixed oils can also be used. The vehicle or lyophilized powder can contain additives that maintain 35 isotznicity (e.g., sodium chloride, mannitol) and chemical -37 stability (e.g., buffers and preservatives). The formulation ig sterilized by commonly used techniques. Suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences,. A. Osol, a standard S reference text in this field of art. For example, a parenteral composition suitable for administration by injection is prepared by dissolving 1.5% by weight of active ingredient in 0.9r sodium chloride solution. 10 TNP antagonists and methotrexate are administered in therapeutically effective amounts; the compositions of the present invention are administered in a therapeutically effective amount. As used herein, a "therapeutically effective amount" is such that administration of TNF 15 antagonist and methotrexate, or administration of a composition of the present invention, results in inhibition of the biological activity of TNF relative to the biological activity of TNF when therapeutically effective amounts of antagonist and methotrexate are not 20 administered, or relative to the biological' activity of TNF when a therapeutically effective amount of the composition is not administered. A therapeutically effective amount is preferably an amount of TNF antagonist and methotrexate necessary to significantly reduce or eliminate signs and 25 symptoms associated with a particular TNF-mediated disease. As used herein, a therapeutically effective amount is not necessarily an amount such that administration of the TNF antagonist alone, or administration of methotrexate alone, must necessarily result in inhibition of the biological 30 activity of TNF. Once a therapeutically effective amount has been administered, a maintenance amount of TNF antagonist alone, of methotrexate alone, or of a combination of Tp antagonist and methotrexate can be administered to the 35 individual. A maintenance amount is the amount of TNF -38 antagonist, methotrexate, or combination of TNF antagonist and methotrexate necessary to maintain the reduction or elimination of the signs and symptoms associated with a particular TNF-mediated disease achieved by the 5 therapeutically effective dose. The maintenance amount can be administered in the form of a single dose, or a series or domes separated by intervals of days or weeks. The dosage administered to an individual will vary depending upon a variety of factors, including the 10 pharmacodynamic characteristics of the particular antagonist, and its mode and route of administration; size, age, sex, health, body weight and diet of the recipient; nature and extent of symptoms of the disease beir.g treated, kind of concurrent treatment, frequency of 15 treatment, and the effect desired. In vitro and in vivo methods of determining the inhibition of TNF in an individual are well known to those of skill in the art. Such in vitro assays can include a TNF cytotoxicity assay (e.g., the WEHI assay or a radioimmunoassay, ELISA) . In 20 vivo methods can include rodent lethality assays and/or primate pathology model systeins (Mathison et al., J. Clin. Invest., 81:1925-1937 (1988) ; Beutler et al., Science 229:869-871 (1985) ; Tracey et al., Nature 330:662-664 (1987) ; Shimamoto at al., Immunol. Lett. 17:311-318 (1988); 25 Silva et al., J. Infect. Dis. 162:421-427 (1990) ; opal et al., J. Infect. Dis. 162:1148-1152 (1990); Hinshaw et al., Circ. Shock 30,279-292 (1990)). TNF antagonist and methotrexate Can each be administered in single or multiple doses depending upon 30 factors such as nature and extent of symptoms, kind of concurrent treatment and the effect desired., Thus, other therapeutic regimens or agents (e.g., multiple drug regimens) can be used in combination with the therapeutic co-administration of TNF antagonists and methotrexate. In 25 a particular embodiment, a TNF antagonist is administered -39.

in multiple doses. In another embodiment, methotrexate is administered in the form of a series of low doses separated by intervals of days or weeks. Adjustment and manipulation of established dosage ranges- are well within the ability of 5 those skilled in the art. Usually a daily dosage of active ingredient can be about 0.01 to 100 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Ordinarily 1 to 40 milligrams per kilogram per day given in divided doses 1 to 6 times a day or in sustained release 10 form is effective to obtain desired results. Second or subsequent administrations can be administered at a dosage which is the same, less than or greater than the initial or previous dose administered to the individual. A second or subsequent administration is Preferably 15 during or immediately prior to relapse or a flare-up of the disease or symptoms of the disease. For example, second and subsequent administrations can be given between about one day to 30 weeks from the previous administration. Two, three, four or more total administrations can be delivered 20 to the individual, as needed. Dosage forms (composition) suitable for internal administration generally contain from about 0.1 milligram to about 500 milligrams of active ingredient per unit. In these pharmaceutical compositions the active ingredient 25 will ordinarily be present in an amount of about 0.5-95% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. The present invention will now be illustrated by the following example, which is not intended to be limiting in any way.

-40 EXAMPLES EXA~PE 1 Clinical Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Rv Msiltie InuinIfa Anti-TNPl Antibody With t Without Mettrext 5 A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a chimeric monoclonal anti-TNF antibody (cA2) following multiple infusions of 1, 3 or 10 mg/kg cA2, alone or in combination with me..otrexate, compared to multiple 10 infusions of placebo in combination with methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients. Parents One hundred one (101) patients at six European centers who had been using methotrexate for at least 6 months, had 15 been on a stable dose of 7.5 mg/wk for at least 4 weeks, and had active disease (according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology) with erosive changes on X-rays of hands and feet, were enrolled in the trial. Active disease was defined by the presence of six or more 20 swollen joints plus at least three of four secondary criteria (duration of morning stiffness :45 minutes; a6 tender or painful joints; erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) 28 mmn/hour; C-reactive protein (CRP) a20 mg/i. In patients using corticosteroids (s 7.5 mg/day) or 25 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the doses had been stable for 4 weeks prior to screening. The dose of certicosteroids remained stable throughout trial participation. The dose of NSAID typically also remained stable throughout trial participation.

-41 Study Infusions The chimeric monoclonal anti-TNF antibody (cA2) was supplied as a sterile solution containing S mg cA2 per ml of 0.01 M Phosphate-buffered saline in 0.15 M sodium 5 chloride with 0.01% polysorbate 80, pH 7.2. The placebo v:Als contained 0.1% human serum albumin in the same buffer. Before use, the appropriate amount of cA2 or placebo was diluted to 300 ml in sterile saline by the pharmacist, and administered intravenously via a 0.2 pm in 10 line filter over 2 hour. The characteristics of the placebo and cA2 infusion bags were identical, and the investigators and patients did not know which infusion was being administered. Assessments is Patients were randomized to one of seven treatment group The number of patients in each dose (or treatment) group is indicated in Table 1. Each of the 101 patients received multiple infusions of either 0, 1, 3 or 10 mg/kg cA2. Infusions were to be administered at weeks 0, 2, 6, 20 10 and 14. Starting at week 0, the patients were receiving 7.5 mg/wk of methotrexate (Pharmacochemie, Netherlands) or 3 placebo tablets/week (Pharmacochemie, Netherlands). Patients were monitored for adverse events during infusions and regularly thereafter, by interviews, physical 25 examination, and laboratory testing, The six primary disease-activity assessments were chosen to allow analysis of the response in individual patients according to the Paulus index (Paulus, et al., Arthricis Rheumatism 33:477-484 (1990), the teachings of 30 which are incorporated herein by reference) . The assessments contributing to this index were the tender joint and swollen joint scores (60 and 58 joints, respectively, hips not assessed for swelling; graded 0-3), the duration of morning stiffness (minutes), the patient's -42 and physician's assessment of disease severity (on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1 (symptom-free) to 5 (very severe), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Patients were considered to have responded if at least four 5 of the six variables improved, defined as at least 20% improvement in the continuous variables, and at least two grades of improvement or improvement from grade 2 to 1 in the two disease-severity assessments (Paulus 20% response). Improvements of.-at least 501 in the continuous variables 10 were also used (Paulus S0% response). Other disease-activity assessments included the pain score (0-10 cm on a visual analogue scale (VAS)), an assessment of fatigue (0-10 cm VAS), and grip strength (0-300 mm Hg, mean of three measurements per hand by 15 sphygmomanometer cuff). The ESR was measured at each study site with a standard method (Westergen). C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured 3y rate nephelometry (Abbott fluorescent polarizing immunoassay) . See also, Elliott et al., Lancet 20 344:1105-1110 (1994); Elliott et al., Lancet 344:1125-1127 (1994); and Elliott et a.., Arthritis Rheum. 36(12) :1681 1690 (1993), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. Evaluations were performed at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 25 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 26. Results The 101 patients were randomized to one of seven treatment (or dose) groups. The patients enrolled in each dose group were well matched for baseline demographics. 30 Disease duration and swollen and tender joint counts at baseline were also well-balanced across the groups (Table 1) . Table 1 also shows the maximum methotrexate dose administered within 6 months prior to randomization. Median maximum doses for each group ranged between 10 and -43 15 mg/week; there were no significant differences amongst the treatment groups (p=0.404). TABLE 1 Baseline Disease Characteristics Joint Counts Treatttent Groups Placebo 2. mg/kg CA2 MTl+ MTX+

MTX

Disease dur. (yrs) Pts evaluated 14 - 14 15 Mean±SD 7.6*4.0 14.3*12.1 7.6*6.0 Median 6.9 .1.4 5.2 IQ range (4.3, 11.5) (3.3, 24.7) (3.4, 9.9) Range (1.8, 14.2) (0.7, 37.3) (2., 21.3) Number of Swollen joints, Paulus joint set (0-59) PtS evaluated 14 .4 15 Mean±SD 18 s.12 .6 16. 9*7 .8 21.2±11.2 Median 16.5 15.5 20.0 IQ rage (12.0, 25.0) (10.0, 25.0) (10.0, 33.0) Range (6.0, 38.0) (6.0, 29.0) (7.0, 40.0) Number of tender joints, Paulus joint set (0-60) Pts evaluated 14 14 .5 MeaptSD 31.514.2 19.1*10.7 29.9±17.1 Median 27.0 16.0 30.0 IQ range (22.0, 44.0) (13.0, 30.0) (14.0, 45.0) Range (8.0, 52.0) (2.0, 39.0) (6.0, 58.0) Max dose mTX prev. 6 mo (mg/kg) PtS evaluated 14 14 15 MeantSDl 13.B±3.9 11.6±3.5 12.8±5.6 Median 15.0 11.3 12.5 IQ range (10.0, 15.0) (10.0, 12.5) (10.0, 15.0) Range (7.3, 20.0) (7.5, 20.01 (7.5, 30.0) MTX - Methotrexate -44 TABLE 1 Continued Treatment Groups 3 mg/kg cA2 MTX+ MTX fisease dur. (yrs) Pts evaluated 15 14 Mcan±SD 12.1t9. 0 7. t4-3 Median 11.9 7.7 IQ range (4.3, 16.4) (4.6, 9.6) Range (0.7, 30.5) (1.4, 17.4) Number of Swollen joints, Paulus joint set (0-5) Pts evaluated 15 14 Mean±SD 17.7t5.9 19.7t9.9 Median 16.0 17.0 IQ range (13.0, 22.0) (11.0, 32.0) Range (10.o, 29.0) (8.0, 34.0) Number of tender joints, Paulus joint set (0-60) Pts evaluated is 14 MeantSD 24.5±14.4 31.2±11.7 Median 21.0 31.0 IQ range (12.0, 32.0) (23.0, 39.0) Range (10.0, 52.0) (9.0, t2.0) Max dose MTX prev. 6 mo (mg/kg) Pts evaluated 14 13 MeantSD 11.6t3.3 11,7±4.8 Median 10.0 10.0 IQ range (10.0, 15.0) (7.5, 12.5) Range (7.5, 17.5) (7.5, 25.0) MTX - Methotrexate -45 TABLE 1 Continued Treatment Groups 10 mg/kg aA2 Treat - All ment MTX+ MTX. Patients effect p-valne Disease dur. (yrs) Pts evaluated 14 1501 MeantSDf 11.1±7.4 9.7±7-4 10.0±7.8 0.634 Median 10.7 7.6 7.5 IQ Range (4.5, 15.5) (4.9, 14.9) (4.3, 14.4) Range (1.4, 24.1) (1.1, 24.3) (0.7, 37.3) Number of swollen joints, Paulus joint set (0-58) Pts evaluated 14 15 101 MeaniStD 21.1±8.2 1 7 .88.7 18.9*8.7 0.643 Median 19.5 17.0 18.0 I Range (15.0, 31.0) (11.0, 21.0) (12.0, 25.0) Range (10.0, 34.0) (7.0, 41.0) (6.0, 41.0) Number of tender joints, Paulus joint set (0-60) Pts evaluated 3.4 101 Meanl±SD 26.5±12.0 26.211.7 27.0±13.5 0.135 Median 25.5 23.0 25.0 TO Range (21.0, 38.0) (17.0, 35.0) (15.0, 38.0) Range (8.0, 44.0) (11.0, 48.0) (2.0,58.0) Max dose MTX prev. 6 mo (mg/kg) Pts evaluated 14 15 99 Mean±SD 12.7±S.0 12.5±3.0 12.4J4.2 0.404 Median 10.0 12.5 12.5 IQ Range (10.0, 15.0) (10.0, 15.0) (10.0, 15.0) Range (7.5, 25.0) (7.5, 20.0) (7.5, 30.0) MTX = Methotrexate -46 The pre-specified primary analysis in this trial was the comparison of the total time of clinical response during the 26-week follow-up period. The results for the primary analysis are shown in Table 2. The duration of s response of all cA2-treated groups, with the exception of the I mg/kg group not receiving methotrexate, was significantly improved (p<0.001) compared to the placebo group receiving methotrexate alone.

-47 fd im C ; 0 E o A A v U +M H '- 0 W E-I M C3 . ; IA 0 4 9 N - N H - A A A V 4 -44 AV u N (1A A V M 41. NH 14 U~C 0 4 -m 4 0 1 c .1 6~ o Ho A 41v 0 .u it A4 A kaa S - - 0 0 -4 L e-4 r-m m 01 *4 ' ri . ~ .,1 0 0 E n 00 0 )

-

b - 00 (d aiI HO * o1 w1 - 4 -48 The response rates at Paulus 20k are shown in Table 3. Drop-outs were considered as non-responders subsequent to their dropping out from the study. With the exception of the I mg/kg group not receiving methotrexate, all of the 5 cA2-treated groups demonstrated clinical benefit through 14 weeks when the last dose of cA2 was received. Sustained clinical benefit was observed through 26 weeks (the last follow-up visit) in patients who received 3 or 10 mg/kg cA2 with methotrexate. Approximately one-half of the patients io who received 3 mg/kg cA2 with methotrexate demonstrated continued clinical benefit at 26 weeks.

-49 TABLE 3 Number of Patients Responding According To Paulus 20% Criteria At Each Evaluation Visit .. fTreatment Groups Placebo L 1 mg/k, cA2 MTX+ MT+

MTX-

(no14) (n14) (n-is) Pts with any response 21% 93%k 80% (3/14) 13/14 12/15 p-va.ue vs MTX alone <0.001 0.006 Time post-intfusion 1 Week 0% 31% 53% (0/14) (4/13) (9/15) 2 Weeks 64t S7% 4 Weeks' O 79% 33% (0/14) 11/14 (5/15) 6 Weeks 0% 71% 27% (0/14) 10/14 (4/1.5) 8 Weeks' 1et 641 20t (2/14) (9/14) (3/13) 10 Weeks 7% 71% 20% 10/14 (3/15) 12 Weeks" 7% 57% 13% (1/14) (s/4) (2/15) 14 Weeks %7 7 (0/14) (1/5) 16 Weeksa64 7% (2/14) (9/14) (1/15) 1S Weeks 21% 50% 13k (3/14) (7/;.4) (2/15) 20 weeks 7% 54% 13% (1/14) . (7/13) (2/15) 22 Weeks% 46% 0% -..... (./14) (6/1:) _ ( /i5) 26 Weeks' 7% 21% 7% (1/141 (3/14) (1S) Evaluation -visits pre-specified for analysis.

-so Table 3 Continued Treatment Grou S3 mg/ CA2 10mg/kg cA2 MTX+ MTX- MTX+ MTX- Treatment (n=15) (nw14) (n3) (n=15) effect Pts with any 80% 79% 85% s0t <0.001 response 12/15 11/14 11/13 12/15 p-value vS MTX alone 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.004 Time post-infusion I Week 27% 43% 31% 60% (4/15) (6/14) (4/13) (9/15) 2 Weeks 27% 43% 62% 53% (4/15) 1 (/13) (/1/1 4 Weeks" 40V 64% 54% 53% 0.002 (6/15) (9/14) (7/131 (8/151 6 Weeks 47% 50% 54% 47% (7/1s) (7/14) (7/13) (7/5) 8 Weeks' 60% 71% 69% 40% 0.003 (9/15) 10/14 (/13) (6/15) 10 Weeks 67% 64% 69% 53% -. 10/15 (9/14) (9/13) (s/15) 12 Weeks' 67% 64% 62% 60% <0.001 10/15 (9/14) (8/13) (8/13) 14 Weeks 60% 57% 77% 53% 1(915) (8/14) 10/13 (8/15) 16 Weeks' 67% 64% 54% 67% 40.001 - . 10/15 (9/14) (7/13) 10/15 18 Weeks 71% 69% 62% 57% .0/14 (9/13) (8/13) (8/14) 20 Weeks 53% 43% 54t 53% (B/is) (6/14) (7/13) (8/2.5) 22 Weeks 47% 36% 54V 33% (7/15) (5/14) (7/13) (5/15) 26 Weeks 47% 21% 54t 33% 0.013 - (7/15). (3/14) (7/13) (5/15) a Evaluation visits pre-specified for analysis.

-51 The response rates at Paulus 50% are shown in Table 4. The magnitude of the clinical benefit of cA2 treatment was substantial. The majority of patients were responding to cA2 treatment according to the 50% Paulus criteria.

-52 TABLE 4 Number ot Patients Responding According To Paulus 50% Criteria At Each Evaluation Visit Treatment Groups Placebo 1 mg/c: cA2 MTX+ MTX+ (n=14) (n-14) (n-i5) Pts with any response 14.3t 85.7V 40.01 (2/14) (12/14) (6/15) p-value vs MTX alone 0.c00Z 0,079 Time post-infusion 1 Week 0.0% 7.7% 26,7V (0/14) (1/13) (4/15) 2 Weeks 0.0% 21.4% 28.61 (0/14) (3/14) (4/14) 4 Weeks 0.0% 57.1% 13.3V (0/14) (8/14) (2/15) 6 Weeks 0.0% 57.1% 0.0t (0/14) (8/14) (0/15) 8 Weeks' 7.1% 50.01 0.01 (1/14) (7/14) (0/15) 10 Weeks 0.0% 57.1% 0.0% (0/14) (8/14) (0/15) 12 Weekta 7.1% 50.0% 6.7% (1/14) (7/14) (1/3S) 14 Weeks 0.01 57.11 5.7V (0/14) (8/14) (11 ) 16 Weeks' 0.01 64.3t 5.7% - (0/14) (9/14) (1/15) 18 Weeks 7.1% 50.0% 6.7% (1/14) (7/14) ()/15) 20 Weeks 7.1% 53.8% 0.0% (1/14) (7/13) (o/15) 22 Weeks o.0i 38.5% 0.0% (0/14) (5/13) (O/iS) 26 Weeks' 0.0% 21.4% 6.7% (0/14) (3/14) (1/15) 'Evaluation visits pre-specified for analysis.

-53 TASLE 4 Continued Treatment Groups 3 mg/kg cA2 10 mg/kq cA2 TX+ MTX- MTX+ MTC- Treatment (n=15) (n=14) (n13) (n-15) effect p-value Pts with any 73.3k 64.3% 76.9t 66.7% <0.001 response (11/15) (9/14) (10/13) - (10/15) p-value vs MTX 0.001 0.008 0.002 0.009 alone Time post-infusion 1 Week a.Q% 35.7% 7.7% 26.7% (0/1S) (5/14) (1./13) (4/15) 2 Weeks 6.7% 28.6V 15.4% 20.0k ((1/15) 4/14) (2/13) (3/15) 4 Weeks" 13.3k 28.60 46.2% 40.0% 0.006 (2/15) (4/14) (6/13) (6/15) 6 Weeks 25.7% 42.5V 38.5% 33.3t (4/15) (6/14) (5/13) (5/1.5) 8 Weeks' 40.0% 50.0% 69.2t 33.3k <0.001 (6/15) (7/14) (9/13) (5/iS) 10 Weeks 40.0% 50.0% 69.2% 40.0k (6/15) (7/14) (9/13) (6/15) 12 Weeks' 60.0% 35.7% 61.5* 40,0V <0 .QOI (9/15) (S/14) (8/13) (6/15) 14 Weeks 40.0% 35.7% 61.5t 40.D (6/15) (5/14) (8/13) (6/15) 16 Weeks 60.0% 50.o 53.8t 40.0v <0.001 (9/1) (7/3.4) _(7/13) (6/15) 18 Weeks 71.4% 46.2V 61.5% 57.1% (10/14) (6/13) (8/13) (8/14) 20 Weeks 53.3% 35.7% 46.2% 40.0% (8/15) (5/14) (6/13) (6/15) --- 1 22 Weeks 46.7i 14.3t 53.8% 26.7k (1/15) (2/14) (7/13) (4/15) 26 Weeks' 40.01 14.3% 46.2% 20.0% 0.008 (6/15) (2/14) (6/13 (3/15) 'Evaluation visits pro-specified for analysis.

-54 Commensurate with the clinical response rates shown in Tables 2-4, most of the patients in the treatment groups demonstrating effectiveness of cA2 treatment received all 5 infusions of cA2 (Table 5). The principle reason for 5 patients not receiving the complete dose regimen was because of lack of efficacy in the placebo group methotrexatee alone) and in the I mg/kg group not receiving methctrexate. All 15 patients in the 3 mg/kg group that received methotrexate completed the 5-infusion dose 10 regimen.

-55 0 muM 24 a 0 C-4 0 A e pwe -N 0 X.4C .. 0 I& H- .44l 044 4 E4 ; T c $ N- 0 44 r t 0 0 z A' 0 C; -. a ti I0U W r 40 4 00 Wo do Z .c 9O O a -r - H +l 04 NH 0 0 o 0 I 1 som + (A A ; jA - . a o -C3 c, 2r U) 1- 0 0 0) - ' - WA ., in 02 a t A l A-0 rlr '4 0 0 ooE r - - - - w4H4 - a a) -56 Results for measures of swollen and tender joint counts and the physician and patient global assessments are shown in Figures 1-4. The median results in Figures 1-4 were reported for each evaluation krisit based only on the 5 patients with data collected. That is, a last observation carried forward approach was not used for patients who dropped out. Instead, the number of patients with data that comprise each point on the graph was reported at the bottom of the figures. 10 Despite the number of drop-outs in the placebo group and the 1 mg/kg group not receiving methotrexate, the results in Figures 1-4 demonstrate that cA2 treatment in combination with methotreXate profoundly reduces disease activity for all of the traditional measurements of disease 15 activity, approaching near remission in many patients. Results for a commonly used serum marker of inflammatory activity, C-reactive protein (CRP) are shown in Figure 5. Treatment with cA2 produced a rapid decrease in CRP concentration which was sustained through 26 weeks 20 in the patients who received 3 or 10 mg/kg cA2. Results for the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) are shown in Figure 6. This measurement of quality of life/disability demonstrated improvement over time corresponding with the clinical improvement observed in 25 patients treated with cA2. In the patients treated with 3 mg/kg cA2 and methotrexate, the HAQ decreased from 2.0 at baseline to 1.1 at 22 weeks. Pharmacokinetics of cA2 Serum concentrations of cA2 were obtained in'all 30 patients in this study. The serum concentration in each patient plotted over time according to the cA2 dose group is shown in Figure 7. Data plotted are the serum cA2 concentrations obtained just before the administration of cA2 at week 2, 6, 10 and 14 and then at weeks 18 and 26.

-57 These sampling times were selected to best demonstrate the stability of the cA2 concentration during the multiple dose regimen and the decline in serum cA2 concentration after the last dose was administered. For purposes of data 5 presentation, the scales for cA2 concentration for each graph are condensed as the cA2 dose was increased. Substantial differences were observed for the cA2 serum concentration over time in the 1 mg/kg dose groups according to whether patients received methotrexate. Most 10 of the patients receiving 1 mg/kg cA2 with. methotrexate demonstrated measurable cA2 concentrations through 18 weeks, although it appeared that there was a tendency for the concentration to decline over time. In sharp contrast, the majority of patients who received 1 mg/kg cA2 without 15 methotrexate were not able to maintain measurable serum concentrations of cA2 over time. As discussed herein, the inability to maintain serum cA2 in these patients was associated with a high rate of neutralizing antibody formation. 20 In contrast to the I mg/kg groups, patients who received either 3 mg/kg cA2 or 10 mg/kg cA2 were able to maintain serum cA2 concentrations through the multiple dose regimen. However, even in those dose groups, there was evidence that concomitant treatment with methotrexaCe was 25 associated with high cA2 serum concentrations. As shown in Figure 8, the median serum cA2 concentration in both the 3 and 10 mg/kg dose groups receiving methotrexate was higher than in the corresponding groups not receiving methotrexate. 30 Immune. Responses to cA2 Serum samples were collected through 26 weeks from all patients and analyzed for human anti-chimeric antibodies (HkACA) to cA2. The results for HACA responses for each cA2 treatment group are shown in Table 6. It should be noted -58 that in several patients in the 3 mg/kg group and in most patients in the 10 mg/kg group, cA2 was still present in the 26-week sample and could potentially interfere with the detection of HACA in the assay. However, it could also be 5 reasoned that if neutralizing antibodies were present at 26 weeks, then cA2 should not be present. Therefore, in presenting the data in Table 6, results for the immune response rate are shown not including patients with serum cA2 at 26 weeks and including patients with serum cA2 at 26 10 weeks, assuming that if cA2 was present at 26 weeks, the patient did not have a positive HACA response.

-- 59 0 o -u 0 HN OuN u a o$ S0t M * mL a. mN '-SrC 4 44r + 041 00 +) 0- to.- N 1. X -V i-U U | -) O 4-a d 4 sQfj r. .e (t) 0 0, dii b4V V44 w M + H 04 A' -60 .The results in Table 6 demonstrate that concomitant methotrdxate treatment suppresses the immune response to cA2, enabling stable pharmacokinetics to-be achieved in a multiple dose regimen of cA2. This effect was also found 5 after combined anti-CD4/anti-TNF antibody treatment in mice with collagen-induced arthritis and described in U.S. Application No. 08/607,419, filed February 28, 1996, the teachings of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference. 10 Clinical-Safety Two out of 86 patients (with most patients receiving 5 treatments) experienced multisystem infusion-related reactions with retreatment. Multisystem, infusion-related reactions include headache, fever, facial flushing, 15 pruritus, myalgia, nausea, chest tightness, dyspnea, vomiting, erythema, abdominal discomfort, diaphoresis, shivers, hypertension, lightheadedness, hypotension, palpitations and somnolence. Hypersensitivity reactions, as described herein, may 20 occur whenever protein-containing materials, such as cA2, are administered. Thus, it is unclear whether these symptoms represent an immunologic event or physical factors such as infusion rate and immunoglobulin aggregation. Investigators have reported that sympttms resolve in some 25 patients by decreasing the rate of the infusion. Previous literature reports indicate that vasomotor symptoms have been observed in patients receiving intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (Berkman et al., Ann. Intern Med. 112:278-292 (1990); Ochs et al., Lancet 2:1158-1159 30 (1980)). One patient developed hypotension during all three infusions of 10 mg/kg cA2. The patient did not display clinical signs of hypotension and did not require medical -61 treatment, but, in keeping with predefined safety criteria, the treatment schedule of this patient was discontinued. One patient treated with 3 infusions of 10 mg/kg of cA2 and with 7.5 mg/week methotrexate developed symptoms of 5 sepsis as a result of staphylococcal pneumonia 2 weeks after her last study visit and 14 weeks after her last infusion with cA2. Six days after developing symptoms she was admitted to the hospital and treated. She died one day later. (This patient had not proceeded with the fourth 10 infusion for reasons unrelated to the sepsis.) Patients with PA who develop infections have a worse than expected outcome. Wolfe and coworkers have reported an observed:expected ratio for death due to pneumonia of 5.307 and an observed:expected ratio for death due to infections 15 (excluding pneumonia) of 6.213 in RA patients from the ARAMIS database (Wolfe et al., Arthritis Rheumatism 4:481-494 (1994)). One patient experienced a serious postoperative infection following cataract surgery 9 weeks after the 20 fifth and last infusion of 3 mg/kg of cA2 (with 7.5 mg/week methotrexate), leading to removal of the eye. This patient was receiving prednisolone (7 mg/day). The incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract extraction has been reported to be between 0.072 and O.093k (Kattan et al., 25 Ophthalmology 98(9) :1147-1148 (1991)) and may be heightened in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy. Eight (9*) of 87 patients developed double stranded (ds) -DNA antibodies following multiple infusions of cA2. Measurements were performed at baseline, week 8, 16 and 26 30 (12 weeks following the last infusion). In these patients with antibodies against da-DNA, there was a trend toward a lower level in antibodies at the last evaluation, with two patients being negative. One patient developed dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain 35 and a rebound of arthritis activity at study week 14 (four -62 weeks after the fourth infusion of 3 mg/kg of cA2). Symptoms resolved and she received her fifth dose of cA2. Symptoms recurred 3 weeks later. Examination of the serial blood samples revealed that the test for antinuclear 5 antibodies and anti ds-DNA antibodies were negative prior to treatment, but became positive at week 6 of the study. The patient's symptoms responded to oral prednisolone 20-30 mg daily. The working diagnosis was systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The patient currently does not have 10 symptoms of SLE'but has active RA. To date, although antibodies to ds-DNA have been detected in patients treated with cA2, they generally represent transient increases and only one patient has been symptomatic. In patients who have had sufficient 15 follow-up, anti-ds-DNA antibodies have resolved with discontinuation of treatment. Ift summary, treatment with cA2 is well tolerated. The reductions in disease activity produced by cA2 are significant as supported by the findings of a low placebo 20 response rate. High clinical response rates are obtained with a multiple dose regimen of 3 mg/kg cA2 in combination with 7.5 mg/wk methotrexate and can be sustained through 26 weeks. This dose regimen is considered preferable to the 1 mg/kg plus methotrexate regimen because better 25 pharmacokinetics are obtained, virtually no immune response was detected and the clinical response is better sustained following the last treatment with cA2. The clinical benefit obtained by increasing the dose regimen to 10 mg/kg cA2 plus methotrexate is similar to that observed with the 30 3 mg/kg cA2 plus methotrexate regimen. Thus, the results of this study indicate that treatment with a multiple dose regimen of cA2 as adjunctive and/or concomitant therapy to methotrexate therapy, in RA patients whose disease is incompletely controlled by 35 methocrexate, produces a highly beneficial or synergistic clinical response that can be sustained through 26 weeks. The benefit produced by cA2 generally exceeds 50% reductions.in the traditional measurements of rheumatoid arthritis (swollen and tender joints, patient and physician 5 global disease assessments) and achieves near clinical remission in many patients. Accordingly, the results of this study 'indicate that treatment with multiple infusions of cA2 as adjunctive and/or concomitant therapy to methotrexate therapy is an important and efficacious 10 therapeutic approach for treating RA in patients. EXAMPLE 2 Clinical Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis By Single Infusion of an ti-T F tbod In Patients Receiving Methotrexate A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study 15 was conducted to evaluate the effects of a single infusion of placebo, 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg cA2 in combination with methotrexate, administered at a dose of 10 mg/week, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients. PLapients 20 Twenty-eight (28) RA patients at three centers in the United States who, despite receiving three months therapy 'with methotrexate administered at a stable dose of 10 mg/wk for at least 4 weeks prior to screening, still had active disease according to the criteria of the American College 25 of Rheumatology, were enrolled in the stuay. Active disease was defined by the presence of six or more swollen joints plus at least three of four secondary criteria (duration of morning stiffness a4S minutes; zs tender or painful -joints; erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) 30 z28 mm/hour; C-reactive protein (CRP) a20 mg/l. Patients taking NSAIDs and corticosteroids (prednisone) at screening were allowed to continue at stable doses (7.5 mg/day).

-64 Studv Infusions The chimeric.monoclonal anti-TNF antibody (cA2) was supplied as a sterile solution containing 5 mg cA2 per ml of 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline in 0.15 M sodium' 5 chloride with 0.O% polysorbate 80, pH 7.2. The placebo vials contained O.i human serum albumin in the same buffer. Before use, the appropriate amount of cA2 or placebo was diluted to 300 ml in sterile saline by the pharmacist, and administered intravenously via a 0.2 pm 10 in-line filter over 2 hours. The characteristics of the placebo and cA2 infusion bags were identical, and the investigators and patients did not know which infusion was being administered. Assessments 15 Patients were randomized to one of four treatment groups (7 patients per group). Each of the 28 patients received a single dose of either 0, S, 10 or 20 mg/kg cA2 and were followed for 12 weeks. Patients continued treatment with methotrexate (Pharmacochemie, Netherlands) 20 administered at 10 mg/week throughout the study. Patients were monitored for adverse events during infusions and regularly thereafter, by interviews, physical examination, and laboratory testing. The primary measurement of clinical response was 25 defined by the ACR preliminary definition of response (Pelson et al., Arthritis Rheumatism 38(6):727-735 (199$)), Patients were considered to have a response if they had a 201 reduction in swollen and tender joint count, and had experienced a 20% reduction in 3 of the 5 following 30 assessments: patient's assessment of pain (VAS), patient's .global assessment of disease activity (VAS), physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS), patient's assessment of physical function (HAQ), and an acute phase -- 65 reactant (ESR) . Thae ESR was measured at each study site with a standard method (Westergen). Evaluations were performed at day 3, and at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. 5 Results The 28 patients were randomized to one of four treatment (or dose) groups. The clinical response rates over time by ACR 20% criteria in each of the treatment groups is shown in 10 Table 7. TABLP, 7 Clinical Response Rates (By ACR 20% Criteria) In Patients Receiving 10 mg/kg Methotrexate Dose of dA2 - CA2 Placebo 5 mY/k4 10 mg/kg 20 mg/kg Treated Patients Pts evaluated 7 7 7 7 21 15 Pts with any 1(14.3%) 6(85.7%) 5(71.4%) 6(85.7%) 17(81.0t) response 1 Week 0(0.0t) 4(57.1%) 2(2q.6) 5(71.49) 11(52.4V) 2 Weeks 0(0.0t) 4(57.1%) 5(71.4k) 5(71.4%) 14(66.7%) 4 Weeks 1(14..3%) 3(42.9%) 5(71.4%) 5 (71.41) 13(61.9) 20 6 Weeks 0(0.0%) 3(42.9%) 5 (71. 41) 4(57.1%) 12 (57.1k) 9 Weeks 1(14.3%) 3(42.9%) 4(57.13%) 4(57.1%) 11(52.4t) 10 Weeks 1(14.3%) 1(14.3%) 4(57.1%) 3(42.9%) 8(38.1) 12 Weeks 1(14.3%) 2(28.6%) 4(57.1%) 3(42.9%) 9(42.9%) -66 Clinical benefit of cA2 treatment was evident at the first evaluation visit at one week. Although each of the 3 doses of cA2 produced clinical respones in the majority of patients treated, the duration of clinical response 5 appeared to be better sustained through 12 weeks in the groups receiving 10 or 20 mg/kg cA2. Clinical response was achieved much more frequently among patients receiving cA2 as compared to placebo. That is, 17/21 (81A) patients in the 3 cA2 groups achieved a response, compared with only 10 1/7 (14%) placebo treated patients. The magnitude of clinical response was notable. The mean tender joint count among cA2 treated patients decreased from 30.1 at baseline to 13.3 at week 12, and mean CRP decreased from 3.0 at baseline to 1.1 at week 12. 15 The duration of clinical response appeared to be dose dependent. 2/6 (33%) of the responding patients treated with 5 mg/kg cA2 sustained a response through 12 weeks of followup, compared to 7/11 (64%) of the responding patients who received 10 or 20 mg/kg. Treatment in all groups was 20 generally well tolerated. In summary, the results of this study indicate that treatment with cA2 as adjunctive and/or concomitant therapy to methotrexate therapy is effective in the reduction of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in patients 25 whose disease is incompletely controlled by methotrexate. Moreover, the clinical response achieved by this approach can be sustained for more than 12 weeks after a single treatment. Accordingly, the results of this study indicate that treatment with cA2 as adjunctive and/or concomitant 30 therapy to methotrexate therapy is an important and efficacious therapeutic approach for treating RA in patients.

-67 EAMPLE 3 Clinical Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis By Repeated Dose Administration of an Anti-TNF Antibody In Patients Following A Single Doser Double-Blind. Placebo-Controlled Trial 5 An open label study was conducted to evaluate the effects of repeated infusions of 10 mg/kg cA2 in combination with methotrexate, administered at a dose of 10 mg/week, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients. 10 Patients As described in Example 2, a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, 12 week study of cA2 was conduCted in RA patients who had active disease despite receiving three months therapy with methotrexate administered at a stable 15 dose of 10 mg/wk for at least 4 weeks prior to screening. At week 12, patients who had completed the 12 week evaluation period and had not experienced adverse events prohibiting further infusions of cA2, were offered 3 subsequent open label infusions of cA2, administered at a 20 dose of 10 mg/kg, at eight week intervals (weeks 12, 20, 28). Twenty-three (23) patients from the 12 week study were enrolled in this study. Assments 11/23 patients entering this open label study were 25 evaluated at 1 of 3 centers in the United States and followed up to 40 weeks after initial entry. Patients continued treatment with methotrexate administered at 10 mg/week throughout t.he study. Repeated treatments with cA2 were generally well tolerated. Three patients had 30 transient infusion related symptoms (urticaria, somnolence). The primary measurement of clinical response was defined by the ACR preliminary definition of response -68 (Felson et al., Arthritis Rheumatism 38(6) :727-735 (1995)). Patients were considered to have a response if they had a 20% reduction in swollen and tender joint count, and had experienced a 20% reduction in 3 of the 5 following 5 assessments: patient's assessment of pain (VAS), patient's global assessment of disease activity (VAS), physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS), patient's assessment of physical function (HAQ), and an acute phase reactant (ESR). The ESR was measured at each study site 10 with a standard method (Westergen). Results Of six patients who had all received cA2 during the double-blinded study described in Example 2 and responded through the 12 weeks of that study, four patients sustained 15 a response throughout the 40 week followup. Of the remaining two patients, one patient is still responding through week 2B, and one patient recently entered this open label trial. For all 4 patients completing 40 weeks of followup and the patient at week 28, final tender joint 20 counts were 2 and swollen joint counts 1, compared to a mean of 23 and 29, respectively, at entry into the double blinded study described in Example 2. For 4 of these 5 patients, ESR were 18 mm/hr and CRP 0.7, compared to a mean of 27 and 3.9, respectively, at entry into the double-blind 25 study described in Example 2. of two patients who had both received cA2 during-the double-blinded study described in Example 2 and responded o4ly through week 10 of that study, one patient responded through 36 weeks and one patient is still responding 30 through week 20. Of three patients who did not respond during the double-blinded study described in Example 2 (2 received placebos, 1 received 5 mg/kg cA2), two of these patients -69 experienced a transient clinical response, and one patient ia still responding through week 20. In summary, the preliminary results of this study suggest that repeated adjunctive and/or concomitant therapy 5 with cA2, in RA patients whose disease is incompletely controlled by methotrexate, can result in substantial clinical improvement for a majority of the patients. Moreover, the clinical response achieved by this approach can be sustained for up to 40 weeks of followup. 10 Accordingly, the results of this study indicate that repeated treatment with cA2 as adjunctive and/or concomitant therapy to methotrexate therapy is an important and efficacious therapeutic approach for treating RA in patients. 15 Ecivalents Those skilled in the art will know, or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. These and all other equi'valents are 20 intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the anti-human tmr necrosis factor-i antibody or fragment thereof (a) binds to an epitope on human tumor necrosis factor-at-and (b) inhibits hindig of human tumor necrosis factor-a to human 10 tumor nenross factor-a ell surface 1 eptrs.
5. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein each administration of methotrexate delivers from 0.01-100 mg/kg, 15 . The methodL of li 1 or a wei e adminiation of te anti-human tumor necross acto antibody or frament thereof is Searaed n an interval of one day to :n weeks tom te rior admin a 20 The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein the anti human tmnor necrosis factor-a antibody or fragment: thereof is an ant sy Te mehad of claim 7, erei the anti-human S t r necosis facor-a antibody is a chimeric antibody. The methnd eof claim erA the Simeri antiby binds to on or morn aain acis of human umor necrosis factor-a selected from the aroup of consecuVe 30 amino acids at aosnons 87-104 (SEQ ID NQ:2) or At nosit 'ons
80-S (SEQ .D NOW a d Thned metd of claim 9, wherein the chtOeric antiody binds To the epitope, recognized by cM, - 72 A hemethod of claim i, whal"n te onimeric antibody is s2. 2 e metho clm 7 7hen a ia a hmanized ant tod> 13 he mthod ofcli o hein theani hmntmrnecrosis facor- iI- n 'od or fragmet, is; 10 administeed a nfuin 14~A ethd f teingn an individual suffer.' nomc rheumatoid arthrits and air ady receiving methotrexa e moss av d disease is ncompletely ontrolled omp is admnisring to the individal me exate te y a ifferen cn w osition Comprisl g an anti-human tumor necrosis factor-ckmonocnal antIbody, whereir n O uiaMninist - at on reduce of MJ iinaves signs mad syptnoms a serf ted dtn the rheuatoi arthriti 1 A meh of trainq an ind idu Suffering fr o rheaco. d na Ais wse ative disease n xnomrietelj controlled bynahotexate comorivsrng a insere to the WIMivdc!~ different cci Dccii. in comprising nr anti-human 25 tumor neoos s factor anociy Therein the anti -hnman tnm or we vrsis rector-ay antibody is cQ2 and isamnsee recneasedy as Wdjnctive therav t ehtieaethrp n nee sinreducs (or elmi a sins symptoms: assocaed with the rheumatoid arthritis, a~renetedinfusion o: 1 5/QOl ndteme.oreaei adMinistered aadoeof 10 m/ek 17iisue The me ipod of ca 14, 'hrinteai-u n tumor ner rpA olfcto a ntibod istre ann/or cocomia n e:r t meeote xate therapyv 13. he mthod of claim 14, whr ein methotrext is dministered ata nevlo s o eek n h ni human uren 7eros :oror atbdyi anistere as' multiple n o n e" methorexarecome r gadmiitr nmaonthmntuo n-cosia r antbod to the i 5 ns human stomo naserss facor anetibody bind administr edd i a di e en n poi on i sg or therapy, T 0 O HR Aorr th me horeat is , adinstrin multiple so 10 Mg4 20do~ss and weinsch admnsrtoreusorlinas signs ad symtos associaeuih eahris. 20. The method of claim 7,. werin to atibod is a mn loa an d neks ad heanihumnunr neursi fa-cr-- antibody is cA -ndisad~nsrrd byifsio.a adsage of one of1 30 or .0m/g 23 tmehdacodng toayoeo nli o~ ... mp e an/o fig.., s