The impact of Fc engineering on an anti-CD19 antibody: increased Fcγ receptor affinity enhances B-cell clearing in nonhuman primates

Abstract CD19, a B cell–restricted receptor critical for B-cell development, is expressed in most B-cell malignancies. The Fc-engineered anti-CD19 antibody, XmAb5574, has enhanced Fcγ receptor (FcγR) binding affinity, leading to improved FcγR-dependent effector cell functions and antitumor activity in murine xenografts compared with the non–Fc-engineered anti-CD19 IgG1 analog. Here, we use XmAb5574 and anti-CD19 IgG1 to further dissect effector cell functions in an immune system closely homologous to that of humans, the cynomolgus monkey. XmAb5574 infusion caused an immediate and dose-related B-cell depletion in the blood (to <10% of baseline levels) concomitant with a sustained reduction of natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells had fully recovered by day 15, whereas B-cell recovery was underway by day 57. B cells in secondary lymphoid tissues were depleted (to 34%-61% of vehicle), with involuted germinal centers apparent in the spleen. Anti-CD19 IgG1 had comparable serum exposure to XmAb5574 but demonstrated no B-cell depletion and no sustained NK-cell reduction. Thus, increasing FcγR binding affinity dramatically increased B-cell clearing. We propose that effector cell functions, possibly those involving NK cells, mediate XmAb5574 potency in cynomolgus monkeys, and that enhancing these mechanisms should advance the treatment of B-cell malignancies in humans.