Studies towards the improvement of an anti-cocaine monoclonal antibody for treatment of acute overdose

Abstract

There is currently no clinically-approved antidote for cocaine overdose. Efforts to develop a therapy via passive immunization have resulted in a human monoclonal antibody, GNCgzk, with a high affinity for cocaine (Kd = 0.18 nM). Efforts to improve the production of antibody manifolds based on this antibody are disclosed. The engineering of an HRV 3C protease cleavage site into the GNCgzk IgG has allowed for increased production of a F(ab′)2 with a 20% superior capacity to reduce mortality for cocaine overdose in mice.