Format of bispecific antibodies (BsAbs)-Dual-affinity re-targeting antibody

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Dual-affinity re-targeting proteins (DARTs) encompasses of two Fv fragments, containing two single antigen-binding sites formed when two Fv fragments heterodimerize. The Fv1 contains of a VH from antibody A and a VL from antibody B, whereas Fv2 contains VH from antibody B and VL from antibody A in the order of VL (1)-VH (2) and VL (2)-VH (1) (Fig. 1). This amalgamation permits DART to mimic natural interaction within an IgG molecule. Short linker sequences between the VL and VH segments encourage a posttranslational “diabody”-type association. The peptide linkers and the covalent linkage between the two DART chains limits the freedom of the antigen binding domains, resulting in a stable association between target and effector cells. DART can be synthesized in the mammalian expression systems. DART are more stable and potent. DART does not contain Fc region and, therefore it has a short serum half-life. Several DART antibodies are under development for T-cell redirection, modulation of receptor signaling and neutralization of viruses. DART molecules were found to be more consistent than BiTE molecules in targeting and killing B-cell lymphoma.

Fig. 1. The structure of dual-affinity re-targeting proteins (DARTs). The linker between heavy and light chains is as short as about five amino acids. Because of the short linker between the two domains of scFv, the two domains of the same scFv cannot pair and are forced to homodimerize with its homologous partner in another scFv. The adding of another cysteine residue at the end of VHA and VHB is helpful for the stability of this kind of bispecific antibody by forming a disulfide linkage (Adopted from: Asim A, Ejaj A, Qamar Z, Ahmar RM Mohammad O, Ghulam A. (2017) Recent advances in the development of novel protein scaffolds based therapeutics. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 102: 630-641).

Formats of bispecific antibodies (BsAbs)

Many formats have been developed for BsAb generation as listed in the following table.

Format	Description	Example BsAb	Trademark	Company
tandem VHH	Tandem VHH fragment-based BsAb	N/A
tandem scFv	Tandem ScFv fragment-based BsAb	AMG330	BiTE^TM	Amgen
Dual-affinity re-targeting antibody	Tandem domain-exchanged Fv (can also be used to fuse with Fc domain to create whole Abs)	Flotetuzumab	DART^TM	Macrogenics
Diabody	dimer of single-chain Fv (scFv) fragment	vixtimotamab	ReSTORE^TM	Amphivena Therapeutics
(scFv)2-Fab	a Fab domain and two scFv domains bind	A-337	ITab^TM	Generon/EVIVE Biotech
Rat–mouse hybrid IgG	Full-size IgG-like half antibodies from two different species	Catumaxomab	Triomab^TM	Trion Pharma
Hetero heavy chain, Common light chain	Hetero heavy chain, Common light chain	Emicizumab	ART-Ig^TM	Genentech/ Chugai/Roche
Controlled Fab arm exchange	Recombin the parental half antibodies	JNJ-64007957	Duobody^TM	Genmab/ Janssen
Hetero H, forced HL IgG1	KIH technology for heterodimerization of 2 distinct H chains, replacing the native disulfide bond in one of the CH1-CL interfaces with an engineered disulfide bond to enhance the cognate of H and L paring	MEDI5752	DuetMab^TM	MedImmune/ AstraZeneca
cH IgG1	Identical heavy chains; 2 different light chains: one kappa (κ) and one lambda (λ)	NI-1701	κλ body^TM	Novimmune SA
Hetero H, CrossMab	KIH technology; domain crossover of immunoglobulin domains in the Fab region	Vanucizumab	CrossMab^TM	Roche
scFv-Fab IgG	Fab-Fc; ScFv-Fc	Vibecotamab; M802	Xmab^TM (the engineered Fc to enhance the generation of heterodimeric Fc); YBODY^TM	Xencor/Amgen; YZYBio
VH1-VH2-CH1-Fc1(G1) x VL2-VL1-CL-Fc2(G1)	2 binding motif in one half antibody	SAR440234	CODV-Ig^TM	Sanofi
VL1-CL1-VH2-CH2-Fc x VH1-CH1 x VL2-CL2	2 binding motif in one half antibody	EMB-01	FIT-Ig^TM	EPIMAB BIOTHERAPEUTICS
VH-1-TCR Cα x VL-1-TCR Cβ; VH-2-CH-2-Fc x VL-2-CL-2	KIH technology; TCR Cα/Cβ is used to substitute the CH1 and CL domain in one arm		WuXibody^TM	WuXi Biologics
C-terminal linker of Fc	Link the other molecules at the C-terminal of Fc	APVO442	ADAPTIR-FLEX^TM	Aptevo Therapeutics
Fc antigen binding site	2 natural binding sites; 2 additional binding sites in the Fc loop	FS118	mAb²	F-star Therapeutics