This application claims priority from EP22382713.0 filed 26 July 2022, the contents and elements of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and immunotoxins that target Fibroblast Activating Protein a (FAP), and to their use in the treatment of sarcoma. The invention also relates to the use of FAP as a biomarker for the selection of sarcoma patients to be treated with a FAP- targeted ADC.

Background

A sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in tissues like bone or muscle. Bone and soft tissue sarcoma consist of a heterogenous group of rare solid tumours of mesenchymal origin. Sarcoma tumours arise predominantly from the embryonic mesoderm that can affect patients from any age in any part of the body. Despite the progress in the therapy of these tumours, metastasis and death remain a significant issue in patients with high-risk soft tissue sarcoma (Cormier et al. (2004), Guedes et al (2021 ), Niederhuber et al (2014)).

These solid tumors frequently exhibit significant stromal reactions such as the so-called “desmoplastic stroma” or “reactive stroma”, which represents 20-60% of total tumor mass and is characterized by the existence of large numbers of stromal cells and dense extracellular matrix (ECM). Recent studies have indicated the tumor-promoting roles of stromal cells, as exemplified by vascular cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, adipocytes and bone marrow-derived progenitors (Weinberg, et al. (2007), Nieman, et al. (2011 ), Joyce, et al. (2009), Hanahan, et al. (2012), Gupta, et al (2006), Valastyan, et al (2011 )). In particular, considerable numbers of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are frequently observed within tumor-associated stroma of various human cancers, including breast, lung, colon, and pancreas carcinomas (Kalluri, et al. (2006), Pietras, et al. (2010)). Interacting coordinately with the different components of the stroma, CAFs have the ability to promote neoangiogenesis and tumor growth. CAFs have also been shown as crucial for the development of aggressive tumors and tumor invasiveness during cancer progression (Orimo, et al. (2005), Erez, et al. (2010), Olumi, et al. (1999), Yang, et al. (2006), Hwang, et al. (2008), Hu, et al. (2009), Medema, et al. (2011 ), Malanchi, et al. (2012), Strell, et al. (2012), Horimoto, et al. (2012)). CAFs facilitate the spreading and infiltration of tumor cells in distant organs, thus contributing to formation of metastases. Importantly, the relevance of stromal cells to the failure of systemic drug delivery to tumors and to the development of drug resistance has also been indicated (Meads, et al. (2009), Olive, et al. (2009), Acharyya, et al. (2012), Crawford, et al. (2009), Straussman, et al (2012)).

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a malignant mesenchymal tumour, derived from smooth muscle. It is one of the most frequent subtypes of sarcoma, representing up to 25% of all soft tissue sarcomas (Kannan (2022)). LMS has a propensity for metastasis via hematogenous dissemination. As smooth muscle is found in many areas of the body, leiomyosarcoma can develop in a wide range of tissues, such as the uterus (30% of all LMS), stomach, small intestine and retroperitoneum (35% of all LMS). Some studies have indicated that uterine LMS and non-uterine LMS display distinct disease biology.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is another malignant mesenchymal tumour. It is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, representing up to 50% of all pediatric soft tissue sarcomas and 3% of all pediatric tumours (Amer (2019)). It is divided into six histological groups: embryonal, alveolar, spindle cell, mixed- type, pleomorphic, and rhabdomyosarcoma with ganglionic differentiation.

Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma (UPS) is a term that refers to and undifferentiated and unclassified sarcoma. This subtype consists of poorly differentiated tumor cells that may present as spindle-shaped cells, histiocytes and giant cells.

Monoclonal antibody (MAb)-based drugs represent a great promise in the fight against cancer. This is because they allow the treatment to be aimed at a molecular level in a precise and specific way. These advantages, together with their commercial appeal (short development times, restricted competence and being easily exportable to other cancer types once they have been approved), have pushed many pharmaceutical companies to invest heavily in the development of new antibody-based molecules, as well as in the in-licensing of new molecules or technologies from biotech companies.

However, despite the clinical success of therapeutic antibodies, naked MAbs targeting cell surface tumor antigens rarely present sufficient efficacy on their own. To increase the low activity of the MAbs, novel strategies are focusing on binding them to toxic molecules. Plant and bacterial toxins as well as small chemotherapeutic molecules can be good candidates, since they are very potent and active in very small quantities.

The field of immunotoxins (ITs) and Antibody-Drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer has recently experienced a growing development activity by pharmaceutical companies, due to the technological advances performed during the last years, aimed at solving the problems they initially presented about immunogenicity, undesirable toxicity, production, half-life and resistance.

Immunoconjugates are made of a human, humanized or chimeric recombinant antibody, covalently linked to a cytotoxic drug. The main goal of such a structure is joining the power of small cytotoxic agents (300 to 1000 Da) and the high specificity of tumor-associated antigen (TAA)- targeted MAbs.

The Ab must be very selective to reach the antigen, whose expression must be restricted to normal cells. The Ab also must be internalized efficiently into the cancerous cells.

The cytotoxic agent selected as the effector moiety must kill cells only after internalization and release into the cell cytoplasm. The most commonly used payloads in ADCs are DNA-harming drugs such as calicheamicins, duocarmicins, or microtubule-targeting compounds like auristatins and maytansinoids. The Ab-cytotoxic linkers are designed to be stable systemically and to release the cytotoxic agent within the target cells.

TAAs are frequently cell membrane proteins that are overexpressed in diseased tissues or at least expressed sufficiently to facilitate the internalization-activated cytotoxicity. Ideally the antigen presents a restricted expression in normal tissues with a low or absent expression in vital organs. On top of this, the tumor antigen must be recognized selectively and with high affinity by an Ab.

In many types of human cancer, fibroblast response is characterized by the induction of a cell surface protein, Fibroblast Activating Protein a (FAPa), a serine protease of 95 kDa whose expression is highly restricted to developing organs, wound-healing and tissue remodeling. FAPa is a well-studied membrane glycoprotein type II serine protease, up-regulated in cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as well as in wound-healing fibroblasts (Ramirez-Montagut et al. (2004)). In several tumour tissues, FAP expression has been associated with tumour proliferation, invasiveness, angiogenesis, epithelial-to- mesenchymal transition (EMT), immunosuppression, and drug resistance (Xin et al. (2021 )). FAP presents the following characteristics:

• Type II membrane glycoprotein with SER-protease activity (collagenase + DPP)

• 89% human-murine protein homology

• Tumor stroma-expressed in >90% carcinomas (breast, pancreas, lung, bladder and colon)

• Transitory and highly restricted expression in normal adult tissues during wound-healing and developing organs.

• FAP is expressed in tumour cells of various sarcomas, including leiomyosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

• FAP(+) fibroblasts located close to tumor vasculature

• Very focal expression

• Internalization

• Implication in extracellular matrix remodeling, tumor growth and metastasis.

FAP expression has been found in Pancreas tumor cells as well as tumor-associated stromal fibroblasts. FAP expression was correlated with shorter patient survival and worse prognosis, suggesting a possible FAP-based autocrine/paracrine loop in this type of tumor (Shi, et al. (2012)).

Previous work by Kontermann and Pfizenmaier (IZI, University of Stuttgart, Germany) developed anti- FAP MAb derivatives against both human and murine proteins (Mersmann, et al (2001 ), Brocks, et al. (2001 )). They have shown in v/fro that anti-FAP scFv immunoliposomes bind specifically FAP+ cells and get internalized (Schmidt, et al. (2001 )). They demonstrated the anti-tumoral effect of nanoparticles covered with lipids and anti-FAP scFvs and loaded with TNFa (Messerschmidt, et al. (2009)).

Treatment with murine MAb FAP5-DM1 immunotoxin induced long lasting inhibition of tumor growth and full regression in pancreas and lung cancer xenograft models, without any intolerance-related effect (Ostermann, et al. (2008)).

FAP protein has been extensively validated as an interesting target for anticancer therapy in solid tumour and has therefore been subjected to various CAF-targeting approaches (Kakarla et al (2012), Simkova et al. (2020)). In this context, OMTX705, a novel, FAP (+) CAF-targeting antibody-drug conjugate was developed as an alternative stroma-targeted therapeutic compound with a potent antineoplastic efficacy. Preclinical studies in patient-derived xenografted murine models of pancreas cancer, NSCLC, triple negative breast cancer and diffuse gastric cancer, have shown that FAP expression in these models is associated with the anti-tumoral efficacy of OMTX705 treatment (Fabre et al. (2020)).

First isolated from reactive stroma in human sarcomas (Rettig et al. (1994), Rettig et al. (1988)), FAP was also found expressed in tumour cells of bone and tissue sarcomas subsets (Rettig et al. (1993)), in association with their mesenchymal origin. Most recent studies about FAP protein as cancer biomarker in sarcomas evidenced some correlation between FAP and poor prognosis in osteosarcomas (Zhang et al. (2019)). Furthermore, the development of several ⁶⁸ Ga-radiolabelled FAP inhibitor small-molecules has resulted in the emergence of studies evaluating its clinical role in cancer imaging (Kuyumcu et al. (2021 )). Studies of tumour uptake quantification on ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI PET/CT in different types of primary and metastatic tumours, revealed that sarcoma patients were included in the group of the highest ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI ligand uptake. These high ratios resulted in high image contrast and excellent tumour delineation in bone and soft tissue sarcoma patients (Kratochwil et al. (2019), Koerber et al. (2021 ), Kessler et al. (2022)). Moreover, FAP-targeted peptides have been effective in radionuclide therapy for various cancers, such as ¹⁷ Lu-FAP-2286, and in imaging (such as ⁶⁸ Ga-FAP-2286) (Kwan et al. (2021 )).

Despite these advances, there remains an unmet need for further therapeutic strategies for the treatment of sarcomas, including leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and UPS, and for components for use in such therapeutic strategies. The present invention addresses these and other needs.

Summary of the Invention

Broadly, the present invention relates to anti-FAP antibodies, conjugates thereof and optimised payloads for use in antibody conjugate strategies. In particular, the present inventors have found that anti-FAP antibodies as described herein exhibit highly specific binding, and fast and efficient internalisation. The invention provides anti-FAP antibody-cytolysin conjugates, of the type disclosed in WO 2015/1 18030 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), for use in a method of treatment of sarcoma in a mammalian subject. The cytolysin derivatives described herein are advantageously conjugated to anti-FAP antibodies for use in the treatment of sarcoma, wherein the sarcoma is characterised by FAP expression in the tumour. Thus, the use of FAP-targeted ADCs is expanded beyond tumours which express FAP in the stroma.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the present invention provides an anti-Fibroblast Activating Protein a (FAP) antibody-cytolysin conjugate having the formula I:

A-(L-D) _P (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein A is an anti-FAP antibody that selectively binds FAP, L is a linker, D is a drug comprising a cytolysin, and p is 1 to 10, for use in a method of treatment of sarcoma in a mammalian subject, wherein the sarcoma is characterised by FAP expression in the tumour.

In some cases, in accordance with this and other aspects of the present invention, the anti-FAP antibody is a monoclonal antibody or binding fragment thereof that selectively binds to an extracellular region of human FAP and/or murine FAP. In some cases, the anti-FAP antibody may cross-react to both human and murine FAP.

In particular cases the anti-FAP antibody may comprise heavy chain complementarity determining regions 1 -3 (CDRH1 -3) and light chain complementarity determining regions 1 -3 (CDRL1 -3) having the following amino acid sequences:

(i) CDRH1 : SEQ ID NO: 7;

(ii) CDRH2: SEQ ID NO: 8;

(Hi) CDRH3: SEQ ID NO: 9;

(iv) CDRL1 : SEQ ID NO: 10;

(v) CDRL2: SEQ ID NO: 11 ; and

(vi) CDRL3: SEQ ID NO: 12.

In some embodiments, the CDRH1 region may comprise a variant of SEQ ID NO: 7 having up to 1 or 2 amino acid substitutions compared with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7. In some embodiments, the CDRH2 region may comprise a variant of SEQ ID NO: 8 having up to 1 or 2 amino acid substitutions compared with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8. In some embodiments, the CDRH3 region may comprise a variant of SEQ ID NO: 9 having up to 1 or 2 amino acid substitutions compared with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9. In some embodiments, the CDRL1 region may comprise a variant of SEQ ID NO: 10 having up to 1 or 2 amino acid substitutions compared with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10. In some embodiments, the CDRL2 region may comprise a variant of SEQ ID NO: 11 having up to 1 or 2 amino acid substitutions compared with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 1 . In some embodiments, the CDRL3 region may comprise a variant of SEQ ID NO: 12 having up to 1 or 2 amino acid substitutions compared with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12.

In certain cases, CDRH1 -3 comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 7-9, respectively and CDRL1 -3 comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 10-12, respectively.

In certain cases, the anti-FAP antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region (VH) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 and a light chain variable region (VL) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6. In some embodiments, the heavy chain variable region (VH) has at least 90%, 95% or 99% sequence identity with the full-length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5. In some cases, the light chain variable region (VL) has at least 90%, 95% or 99% sequence identity with the full-length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.

In certain cases, the anti-FAP antibody comprises a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. In some cases, the heavy chain has at least 90%, 95% or 99% sequence identity with the full-length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 . In some cases, the light chain has at least 90%, 95% or 99% sequence identity with the full-length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

In certain cases, the anti-FAP antibody comprises a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. In some cases, the heavy chain has at least 90%, 95% or 99% sequence identity with the full-length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. In some cases, the light chain has at least 90%, 95% or 99% sequence identity with the full-length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

In certain cases, A may be a competitively binding anti-FAP antibody that is structurally different from the anti-FAP antibody molecules exemplified herein. For example, A may be an anti-FAP antibody molecule that competes with the anti-FAP IgG 1 antibody identified herein as “hu36” for binding to immobilized recombinant human FAP. hu36 has the heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and the light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. The anti-FAP antibody may, in some case, bind to the same epitope as hu36. Methods for determining antibody binding competition and for epitope mapping are well known in the art, see for example “Epitope Mapping by Competition Assay” Ed Harlow and David Lane, Cold Spring Harb Protoc; 2006; doi:10.1 101/pdb.prot4277.

In accordance with this and other aspects of the present invention, D may be a cytolysin. The cytolysin may, in some cases, be a compound disclosed in WO 2008/138561 A1 , the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference (compounds disclosed therein are also referred to as Tubulysine derivatives). The cytolysin may be synthesised as described in WO 2008/138561 . In certain cases, the cytolysin may be as defined in Formula I or Formula IV of WO 2008/138561 A1 . In certain cases, the cytolysin may be of formula IV: wherein:

R ² is H or is C1-C4 alkyl;

R ⁶ is C1-C6 alkyl; R ⁷ is Ci-Ce alkyl, CH2OR ¹⁹ or CH2OCOR ²⁰ , wherein R ¹⁹ is alkyl, R ²⁰ is C2-C6-alkenyl, phenyl, or CH2- phenyl;

R ⁹ is C1-C6 alkyl;

R ¹⁰ is H, OH, O-alkyl or O-acetyl; f is 1 or 2; R ¹¹ has the following structure: wherein

R ²¹ is H, OH, halogen, NH2, alkyloxy, phenyl, alkyl amino or dialkyl amino; R ¹⁶ is H or a Ci-Ce-alkyl group;

R ¹⁷ is directly or indirectly attached to linker L; and q is 0, 1 , 2 or 3; and wherein the term “optionally substituted” relates to groups, wherein one or several H atoms can be replaced by F, Cl, Br or I or OH, SH, NH2, or NO2; the term “optionally substituted” further relates to groups, which can be exclusively or additionally substituted with unsubstituted Ci-Ce alkyl, C2C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, Ci-Ce heteroalkyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C9 heterocycloalkyl, Ce-C aryl, C1-C9 heteroaryl, C7-C12 aralkyl or C2-C11 heteroaralkyl groups.

In some cases R ² is a bond to linker L.

In some cases R ¹⁷ is C(O)X, CONHNHX, OX, NHX or SX, wherein X is a bond to linker L.

In some embodiments, linker L comprises a spacer. In some cases the spacer has a chain length of 2 to 30 atoms. In some cases the spacer comprises or consists of an alkylene (i.e. divalent alkyl) or heteroalkylene (i.e. divalent heteroalkyl) group. In some cases the spacer comprises or consists of an alkylene or oxyalkylene group.

In some embodiments, the spacer comprises -(OCH2CH2)n-, wherein n is 2 to 5. In some cases the spacer comprises or consists of a group -(CH2)n- or -(OCH2CH2)n-, wherein n > 1 . In some cases the spacer comprises or consists of a group -(OCH2CH2)n-, wherein n > 1. In particular, n may be 1 to 15, 1 to 10, 1 to 6, or 2 to 5. For example, n may be 3 or 4. In some cases the spacer comprises between one and six ethylene glycol units, e.g. a triethylene glycol. In some cases the spacer may be directly attached to group R ¹⁷ , or may be attached to group R ¹⁷ via a bridging group. In some cases the spacer is attached to group R ¹⁷ via a -C(O)X bridging group, wherein X is a bond to R ¹⁷ . In some cases R ¹⁷ is CONHNHX and the spacer is attached to group R ¹⁷ via a -C(O)X bridging group, wherein X represents the bond between the spacer and R ¹⁷ . In some cases R ¹⁷ is CONHNHX and the spacer is a -(OCH2CH2)n- attached to R ¹⁷ via a -C(O)X bridging group, wherein n = 2, 3 or 4.

In some embodiments, L comprises an attachment group for attachment to A.

In some embodiments, L comprises a protease cleavable portion comprising a valine-citrull ine unit. For example, L may comprise maleimidocaproyl-valine-citrulline-p-aminobenzylcarbamate.

In some cases the cytolysin has the following structure: wherein * indicates the site of attachment to L.

In some cases D comprises a cytolysin having the following structure:

In some cases the double bond of the maleimide is reacted with a thiol group of a cysteine residue of the antibody A to form a sulphur-carbon bond in order to effect linkage of the linker L to the antibody A.

In some embodiments -L-D has the structure:

In other cases -L-D has a structure selected from the group consisting of:

In certain cases -L-D may have the following structure:

In certain cases -L-D may have the following structure: In accordance with this and other aspects of the present invention p may, in some cases, lie in the range

1 to 5, e.g. 1 to 4, or 1 to 3. In particular cases p may be 1 or 2. In particular, cases p may be 3 or 4. in some embodiments, A has a heavy chain with amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and a light chain with amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; and L-D has the structure: wherein * denotes the point of attachment to A.

In some embodiments, the conjugate is the conjugate described herein as OMTX705. OMTX705 comprises a humanised anti-FAP mAb (OMTX005) conjugated to the cytolysin TAM470 via a protease cleavable vcPABA-(EG)s optimised linker. OMTX705 is described in Fabre et al. (2020), and Figure 7 is an illustrative depiction of OMTX705.

In some embodiments, the sarcoma is a FAP-expressing (FAP+) leiomyosarcoma. In certain cases the conjugate is for use in the treatment of a leiomyosarcoma selected from the group consisting of: uterine leiomyosarcoma, cutaneous leiomyosarcoma, gastrointestinal leiomyosarcoma, stomach leiomyosarcoma, small intestine leiomyosarcoma, retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma or abdominal leiomyosarcoma.

In some embodiments, the sarcoma is a FAP+ rhabdomyosarcoma. In some embodiments, the conjugate is for use in the treatment of a rhabdomyosarcoma selected from the group consisting of: embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma, mixed-type rhabdomyosarcoma, pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma with ganglionic differentiation.

In some embodiments, the sarcoma is a FAP+ Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma (UPS).

In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered intravenously.

In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered weekly. In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered every 2 weeks. In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered monthly.

In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered within a dose range of 0.1 -30 mg/kg. In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered within a dose range of 10-30 mg/kg. In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered at 10 mg/kg. In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered at 20 mg/kg. In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered at 30 mg/kg.

In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered in 4 doses.

In some cases the conjugate for use in a method of treatment of sarcoma is for simultaneous, sequential or separate administration with one or more other antitumor drugs. The one or more other antitumor drugs comprise a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent or an anti-angiogenic agent or an immunotherapeutic agent. In some cases the one or more other antitumor drugs comprise Gemcitabine, Abraxane, bevacizumab, itraconazole, carboxyamidotriazole, an anti-PD-1 molecule or an anti-PD-L1 molecule (for example, nivolumab or pembrolizumab).

In a second aspect, the invention provides an in vitro method of selecting a subject that has been determined to have sarcoma for treatment with a FAP-targeted ADC, comprising measuring the level of FAP expression in a biological sample taken from the subject; determining that the level of FAP expression is above a threshold level, and selecting the subject for treatment with the FAP-targeted ADC. In some embodiments, the sarcoma is leiomyosarcoma. In some embodiments, the sarcoma is rhabdomyosarcoma. In some embodiments, the sarcoma is UPS. In some embodiments, the anti-FAP ADC has the formula A-(L-D)p, wherein A is an anti-FAP antibody and has a heavy chain with amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and a light chain with amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; L-D has the structure: wherein * denotes the point of attachment to A, and p is 1 to 10.

In some embodiments, the FAP-targeted ADC is OMTX705. In some embodiments, the subject is a mammalian subject. In some embodiments, the subject is a human. In some embodiments, the biological sample is taken from the site of the tumour. In some embodiments, the biological sample is a nucleic acid-containing cell-free sample, for example a plasma sample.

In third aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating a FAP+ sarcoma in a mammalian subject, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a conjugate as defined in accordance with the first aspect of the invention to the subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the method is for treating a FAP+ leiomyosarcoma. In some cases, the method may be for treating uterine leiomyosarcoma, cutaneous leiomyosarcoma, gastrointestinal leiomyosarcoma, stomach leiomyosarcoma, small intestine leiomyosarcoma, retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma or abdominal leiomyosarcoma. In some embodiments, the method is for treating a FAP+ rhabdomyosarcoma. In some embodiments, the method may be for treating rhabdomyosarcoma selected from the group consisting of: embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma, mixed- type rhabdomyosarcoma, pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma with ganglionic differentiation. In some embodiments, the method is for treating a FAP+ UPS.

In fourth aspect, the present invention provides the use of an anti-Fibroblast Activating Protein a (FAP) antibody-cytolysin conjugate, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, in the preparation of a medicament for treatment of a FAP+ sarcoma, wherein the antibody-cytolysin conjugate has the formula A-(L-D)p, wherein A is an anti-FAP antibody that selectively binds FAP, L is a linker, D is a drug comprising a cytolysin and p is 1 to 10. In some embodiments, the sarcoma is FAP+ leiomyosarcoma. In some embodiments, the sarcoma is FAP+ rhabdomyosarcoma. In some embodiments, the sarcoma is FAP+ UPS.

Any preferred feature of the antibody-cytolysin conjugate or of the sarcoma as described in the first and second aspects apply equally to the third and fourth aspects.

The present invention includes the combination of the aspects and preferred features described except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or is stated to be expressly avoided. These and further aspects and embodiments of the invention are described in further detail below and with reference to the accompanying examples and figures.

Sequences

In the following sequences, VH and VL domains are underlined and CDRH/CDRL regions are in bold. Mutations leading to ADCC and CDC deficiency are shown in bold italics. Signal sequences (where applicable) are shown boxed. hu36 lqG1-HC - with signal sequence

METDTLLLWVLLLWVPGSTG

QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFTENIIHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGWFHPGSGS IKYNEKFKDRV TMTADTSTSTVYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARHGGTG RG AM DYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKG PSVFPLAPSSK STSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSL GTQTYICNVN HKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPPVAGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV DVSHEDPEVK FNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEK TISKAKGQP REPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGS FFLYSKLTVD KSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK (SEQ ID NO: 1 ) hu36-lgG1-LC - with signal sequence:

METDTLLLWVLLLWVPGSTG

DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASKSVSTSAYSYMHWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYLASN LESGVPSRFSGS GSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQHSRELPYTFGQGTKLEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQL KSGTASVVCLL NNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEV THQGLSSP VTKSFNRGEC (SEQ ID NO: 2) hu36-lqG1-HC - withcut signal sequence:

QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFTENIIHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGWFHPGSGS IKYNEKFKDRV TMTADTSTSTVYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARHGGTG RG AM DYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKG PSVFPLAPSSK STSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSL GTQTYICNVN HKPSNTKVDKKVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPPVAGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV DVSHEDPEVK FNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEK TISKAKGQP REPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGS FFLYSKLTVD KSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK (SEQ ID NO: 3) hu36-lqG1-LC - withcut signal sequence:

DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASKSVSTSAYSYMHWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYLASN LESGVPSRFSGS GSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQHSRELPYTFGQGTKLEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQL KSGTASVVCLL NNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEV THQGLSSP VTKSFNRGEC (SEQ ID NO: 4) hu36-VH:

QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFTENIIHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGWFHPGSGS IKYNEKFKDRV TMTADTSTSTVYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARHGGTGRGAMDYWGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 5) hu36-VL:

DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASKSVSTSAYSYMHWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYLASN LESGVPSRFSGS GSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQHSRELPYTFGQGTKLEIKR (SEQ ID NO: 6) hu36-CDRH1:

ENIIH (SEQ ID NO: 7) hu36-CDRH2:

WFHPGSGSIKYNEKFKD (SEQ ID NO: 8) hu36-CDRH3:

HGGTGRGAMDY (SEQ ID NO: 9) hu36-CDRL1:

RASKSVSTSAYSYMH (SEQ ID NO: 10) hu36-CDRL2:

LASNLES (SEQ ID NO: 11 ) hu36-CDRL3:

QHSRELPYT (SEQ ID NO: 12)

Human FAP

Also known as Seprase, 170 kDa melanoma membrane-bound gelatinase, fibroblast activation protein alpha or integral membrane serine protease. The amino acid sequence is disclosed at UniProt accession No. Q12884 (Version 140, dated 11 December 2013):

MKTWVKIVFGVATSAVLALLVMCIVLRPSRVHNSEENTMRALTLKDILNGTFSYKTF FPNWISGQEYLHQS ADNNIVLYNIETGQSYTILSNRTMKSVNASNYGLSPDRQFVYLESDYSKLWRYSYTATYY IYDLSNGEFVR GNELPRPIQYLCWSPVGSKLAYVYQNNIYLKQRPGDPPFQITFNGRENKIFNGIPDWVYE EEMLATKYAL WWSPNGKFLAYAEFNDTDIPVIAYSYYGDEQYPRTINIPYPKAGAKNPVVRIFIIDTTYP AYVGPQEVPVPA MIASSDYYFSWLTWVTDERVCLQWLKRVQNVSVLSICDFREDWQTWDCPKTQEHIEESRT GWAGGFFV STPVFSYDAISYYKIFSDKDGYKHIHYIKDTVENAIQITSGKWEAINIFRVTQDSLFYSS NEFEEYPGRRNIY RISIGSYPPSKKCVTCHLRKERCQYYTASFSDYAKYYALVCYGPGIPISTLHDGRTDQEI KILEENKELENA LKNIQLPKEEIKKLEVDEITLWYKMILPPQFDRSKKYPLLIQVYGGPCSQSVRSVFAVNW ISYLASKEGMVI ALVDGRGTAFQGDKLLYAVYRKLGVYEVEDQITAVRKFIEMGFIDEKRIAIWGWSYGGYV SSLALASGTG LFKCGIAVAPVSSWEYYASVYTERFMGLPTKDDNLEHYKNSTVMARAEYFRNVDYLLIHG TADDNVHFQ NSAQIAKALVNAQVDFQAMWYSDQNHGLSGLSTNHLYTHMTHFLKQCFSLSD (SEQ ID NO: 13)

Murine FAP

Also known as fibroblast activation protein alpha or integral membrane serine protease. Amino acid sequence is disclosed at UniProt accession No. P97321 (Version 117, dated 11 December 2013):

MKTWLKTVFGVTTLAALALVVICIVLRPSRVYKPEGNTKRALTLKDILNGTFSYKTY FPNWISEQEYLHQSE DDNIVFYNIETRESYIILSNSTMKSVNATDYGLSPDRQFVYLESDYSKLWRYSYTATYYI YDLQNGEFVRG YELPRPIQYLCWSPVGSKLAYVYQNNIYLKQRPGDPPFQITYTGRENRIFNGIPDWVYEE EMLATKYALW WSPDGKFLAYVEFNDSDIPIIAYSYYGDGQYPRTINIPYPKAGAKNPVVRVFIVDTTYPH HVGPMEVPVPE MIASSDYYFSWLTWVSSERVCLQWLKRVQNVSVLSICDFREDWHAWECPKNQEHVEESRT GWAGGFF VSTPAFSQDATSYYKIFSDKDGYKHIHYIKDTVENAIQITSGKWEAIYIFRVTQDSLFYS SNEFEGYPGRRNI YRISIGNSPPSKKCVTCHLRKERCQYYTASFSYKAKYYALVCYGPGLPISTLHDGRTDQE IQVLEENKELE NSLRNIQLPKVEIKKLKDGGLTFWYKMILPPQFDRSKKYPLLIQVYGGPCSQSVKSVFAV NWITYLASKEGI VIALVDGRGTAFQGDKFLHAVYRKLGVYEVEDQLTAVRKFIEMGFIDEERIAIWGWSYGG YVSSLALASG TGLFKCGIAVAPVSSWEYYASIYSERFMGLPTKDDNLEHYKNSTVMARAEYFRNVDYLLI HGTADDNVHF QNSAQIAKALVNAQVDFQAMWYSDQNHGISSGRSQNHLYTHMTHFLKQCFSLSD (SEQ ID NO: 14)

Summary of the Figures

Embodiments and experiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1. FAP staining of fibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma histological subtypes. (A) Fibrosarcoma with negative FAP staining. (B) Leiomyosarcoma with high level of FAP staining in tumour cells. FAP detected with DAB (brown) on hematoxylin-stained slides. Scale bar 500 pm.

Figure 2: FAP staining of PDX leiomyosarcoma model SA4033. (A) Negative control and (B) positive immunohistochemical staining of FAP in sections of PDX tumour from leiomyosarcoma model SA4033. Scale bar 2 mm.

Figure 3. Antitumoral effect of OMTX705 in a humanized PDX leiomyosarcoma cancer model after 4 weeks of treatment. (A) Mice bearing SA4033 PDX tumors were treated with Vehicle, OMTX705 monotherapy Group 1 with 10 mg/kg and Group 2 with 30 mg/kg, i.v., QW x 4 weeks (day 1 , 8, 15, 22). (B) Evolution of body weight change (%). (C) Percentage of tumor inhibition volume in the different treatment groups.

Figure 4. FAP immunohistochemical staining in tumour samples from leiomyosarcoma PDX mouse models showing different expression levels. (A) High FAP intensity expression pattern in tumour from SA4033 model. (B) Medium FAP intensity expression pattern in tumour from SA3839 model. (C) Low-Null FAP intensity expression pattern in tumour from SA10202 model. FAP detected with DAB (brown) on hematoxylin-stained slides. Scale bars 1 mm.

Figure 5. Antitumoral effect of OMTX705 in SA4033, SA3839 and SA10202 leiomyosarcoma PDX cancer models after 4 weeks of treatment with weekly i.v. dose. (A) Evolution of tumor volume in mice bearing each PDX tumors treated with Vehicle, OMTX705 monotherapy Group 1 with 10 mg/kg and, in SA4033, Group 2 with 30 mg/kg (day 1 , 8, 15, 22). Monitorization was maintained after treatment end up to day 63 (SA4033) or 49 (SA3839) to check for tumor regression. (B) Evolution of body weight change (%). (C) Percentage of tumor inhibition volume in the different PDX models at day 24.

Figure 6: Immunohistochemistry staining on FFPE sections of vehicle (left column) versus OMTX705- treated (right column) tumor samples from leiomyosarcoma SA4033 PDX mice extracted at day 28 of treatment. (A, B) Haematoxylin & Eosin. (C, D) Ki 67. (E, F) active Caspase 3. (G, H) FAP. (I, J) TAM558 (OMTX705 payload). (K, L) Human IgG. (Scale bar 200 pm).

Figure 7: An illustrative depiction of the conjugate OMTX705, as described in Fabre et al. (2020). As shown, OMTX705 comprises a humanised anti-FAP mAb (GMTX005) conjugated to TAM558, which is formed from the conjugation of the cytolysin TAM470 to a protease-cleavable vcPABA-(EG)s optimised linker.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.

In describing the present invention, the following terms will be employed, and are intended to be defined as indicated below.

FAP

As used herein “Fibroblast activation protein”, “fibroblast activating protein”, “FAP” and “FAPa” are used interchangeably. The FAP may be an FAP of any mammalian species. In some cases FAP is human FAP (also known as Seprase, 170 kDa melanoma membrane-bound gelatinase, fibroblast activation protein alpha or integral membrane serine protease), the amino acid sequence of which is disclosed at UniProt accession No. Q12884 (Version 140, dated 11 December 2013) (SEQ ID NO: 13). In some cases, a molecule that binds FAP (e.g. an antibody molecule or a conjugate thereof) may bind to a region of the extracellular domain of FAP. The extracellular domain of human FAP comprises residues 26-760 of the full-length human FAP protein. In some cases FAP is murine FAP (also known as fibroblast activation protein alpha or integral membrane serine protease), the amino acid sequence of which is disclosed at UniProt accession No. P97321 (Version 1 17, dated 1 1 December 2013) (SEQ ID NO: 14). The extracellular domain of murine FAP comprises residues 26-761 of the full-length murine FAP protein.

Conjugate

As used herein “conjugate” includes the resultant structure formed by linking molecules and specifically includes antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immunotoxins (ITs).

The terms selectively binds and selective binding refer to binding of an antibody, or binding fragment thereof, to a predetermined molecule (e.g. an antigen) in a specific manner. For example, the antibody, or binding fragment thereof, may bind to FAP, e.g. an extracellular portion thereof, with an affinity of at least about 1 x10 ⁷ M ¹ , and may bind to the predetermined molecule with an affinity that is at least two-fold greater (e.g. five-fold or ten-fold greater) than its affinity for binding to a molecule other than the predetermined molecule.

Antibody molecule

As used herein with reference to all aspects of the invention, the term "antibody" or "antibody molecule" includes any immunoglobulin whether natural or partly or wholly synthetically produced. The term "antibody" or "antibody molecule" includes monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and polyclonal antibodies (including polyclonal antisera). Antibodies may be intact or fragments derived from full antibodies (see below). Antibodies may be human antibodies, humanised antibodies or antibodies of non-human origin. "Monoclonal antibodies" are homogeneous, highly specific antibody populations directed against a single antigenic site or “determinant” of the target molecule. “Polyclonal antibodies” include heterogeneous antibody populations that are directed against different antigenic determinants of the target molecule. The term “antiserum” or "antisera" refers to blood serum containing antibodies obtained from immunized animals.

It has been shown that fragments of a whole antibody can perform the function of binding antigens. Thus reference to antibody herein, and with reference to the methods, arrays and kits of the invention, covers a full antibody and also covers any polypeptide or protein comprising an antibody binding fragment.

Examples of binding fragments are (i) the Fab fragment consisting of Vi_, VH, CL and CH1 domains; (ii) the Fd fragment consisting of the VH and CH1 domains; (iii) the Fv fragment consisting of the VL and VH domains of a single antibody; (iv) the dAb fragment which consists of a VH domain; (v) isolated CDR regions; (vi) F(ab')2 fragments, a bivalent fragment comprising two linked Fab fragments (vii) single chain Fv molecules (scFv), wherein a VH domain and a VL domain are linked by a peptide linker which allows the two domains to associate to form an antigen binding site; (viii) bispecific single chain Fv dimers (WO 93/1 1 161 ) and (ix) "diabodies", multivalent or multispecific fragments constructed by gene fusion (WO94/13804; 58). Fv, scFv or diabody molecules may be stabilised by the incorporation of disulphide bridges linking the VH and VL domains. Minibodies comprising a scFv joined to a CH3 domain may also be made.

In relation to an antibody molecule, the term "selectively binds" may be used herein to refer to the situation in which one member of a specific binding pair will not show any significant binding to molecules other than its specific binding partner(s). The term is also applicable where e.g. an antigen-binding site is specific for a particular epitope that is carried by a number of antigens, in which case the specific binding member carrying the antigen-binding site will be able to bind to the various antigens carrying the epitope.

In some cases in accordance with the present invention the antibody may be a fully human antibody.

Cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents

In some cases in accordance with any aspect of the present invention, the conjugate of the invention may administered with, or for administration with, (whether simultaneously, sequentially or separately) one or more other antitumor drugs, including, but not limited to, a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent or an anti- angiogenic agent or an immunotherapeutic agent.

Cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents are well known in the art and include anti-cancer agents such as:

Alkylating agents including nitrogen mustards such as mechlorethamine (HN2), cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, melphalan (L-sarcolysin) and chlorambucil; 10 ethylenimines and methylmelamines such as hexamethylmelamine, thiotepa; alkyl sulphonates such as busulfan; nitrosoureas such as carmustine (BCNU), lomustine (CCNLJ), semustine (methyl-CCN-U) and streptozoein (streptozotocin); and triazenes such as decarbazine (DTIC; dimethyltriazenoimidazolecarboxamide);

Antimetabolites including folic acid analogues such as methotrexate (amethopterin); pyrimidine analogues such as fluorouracil (5- fluorouracil; 5-FU), floxuridine (fluorodeoxyuridine; FUdR) and cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside); and purine analogues and related inhibitors such as mercaptopurine (6- mercaptopurine; 6-MP), thioguanine (6-thioguanine; TG) and pentostatin (2'-deoxycofonnycin). Natural Products including vinca alkaloids such as vinblastine (VLB) and vincristine; epipodophyllotoxins such as etoposide and teniposide; antibiotics such as dactinomycin (actinomycin D), daunorabicin (daunomycin; rubidomycin), doxorubicin, bleomycin, plicamycin (mithramycin) and mitomycin (mitomycin Q; enzymes such as L-asparaginase; and biological response modifiers such as interferon alphenomes.

Miscellaneous agents including platinum coordination complexes such as cisplatin (cis-DDP) and carboplatin; anthracenedione such as mitoxantrone and antbracycline; substituted urea such as hydroxyurea; methyl hydrazine derivative such as procarbazine (N- methylhydrazine, MIH); and adrenocortical suppressant such as mitotane (o, p'-DDD) and aminoglutethimide; taxol and analogues/derivatives; and hormone agonists/antagonists such as flutamide and tamoxifen. A further preferred cytotoxic agent is Gemcitabine (Gemzar®). A further preferred cytotoxic agent is Paclitaxel bound to human serum albumin (Abraxane®). Anti-angiogenic agents are well known in the art and include anti-cancer agents such as bevacizumab, itraconazole, and carboxyamidotriazole.

Immunotherapeutic agents are known in the art and include, for example, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1 ) antibodies and anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1 ) antibodies, including Nivolumab (MDX1106) and Pembrolizumab (MK-3475).

Pharmaceutical compositions

The conjugates of the present invention may be comprised in pharmaceutical compositions with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

A pharmaceutically acceptable excipient may be a compound or a combination of compounds entering into a pharmaceutical composition which does not provoke secondary reactions and which allows, for example, facilitation of the administration of the conjugate, an increase in its lifespan and/or in its efficacy in the body or an increase in its solubility in solution. These pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles are well known and will be adapted by the person skilled in the art as a function of the mode of administration of the conjugate.

In some embodiments, conjugates of the present invention may be provided in a lyophilised form for reconstitution prior to administration. For example, lyophilised conjugates may be re-constituted in sterile water and mixed with saline prior to administration to an individual.

Conjugates of the present invention will usually be administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition, which may comprise at least one component in addition to the conjugate. Thus pharmaceutical compositions may comprise, in addition to the conjugate, a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, buffer, stabilizer or other materials well known to those skilled in the art. Such materials should be non-toxic and should not interfere with the efficacy of the conjugate. The precise nature of the carrier or other material will depend on the route of administration, which may be by bolus, infusion, injection or any other suitable route, as discussed below.

For intra-venous administration, for example by injection, the pharmaceutical composition comprising the conjugate may be in the form of a parenterally acceptable aqueous solution which is pyrogen-free and has suitable pH, isotonicity and stability. Those of relevant skill in the art are well able to prepare suitable solutions using, for example, isotonic vehicles, such as Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, Lactated Ringer's Injection. Preservatives, stabilizers, buffers, antioxidants and/or other additives may be employed as required including buffers such as phosphate, citrate and other organic acids; antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid and methionine; preservatives (such as octadecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; hexamethonium chloride; benzalkonium chloride; benzethonium chloride; phenol, butyl or benzyl alcohol; alkyl parabens, such as methyl or propyl paraben; catechol; resorcinol; cyclohexanol; 3’- pentanol; and m-cresol); low molecular weight polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids, such as glycine, glutamine, asparagines, histidine, arginine, or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose or dextrins; chelating agents, such as EDTA; sugars, such as sucrose, mannitol, trehalose or sorbitol; salt-forming counter-ions, such as sodium; metal complexes (e.g Zn-protein complexes); and/or non-ionic surfactants, such as TWEEN™, PLURONICS™ or polyethylene glycol (PEG).

The subject may be a human, a companion animal (e.g. a dog or cat), a laboratory animal (e.g. a mouse, rat, rabbit, pig or non-human primate), a domestic or farm animal (e.g. a pig, cow, horse or sheep). Preferably, the subject is a human. In some cases, the subject may be a human diagnosed with or classified as being at risk of developing a cancer, e.g., an epithelial tumor. In certain cases, the subject may be a laboratory animal, e.g., a mouse model of a cancer. In certain cases, the subject may be a mammal (e.g. a human) that has been diagnosed with or classified as being at risk of developing an inflammatory condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In particular, the subject may be a human having RA.

Cancer

The anti-FAP conjugates described herein find use in the treatment of a tumor in a mammalian subject. The tumor may be a solid tumor. The tumour may be a FAP+ sarcoma. The FAP+ sarcoma may be a leiomyosarcoma. In particular, the tumour may be a uterine leiomyosarcoma, cutaneous leiomyosarcoma, gastrointestinal leiomyosarcoma, stomach leiomyosarcoma, small intestine leiomyosarcoma, retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma or abdominal leiomyosarcoma. The FAP+ sarcoma may be a rhabdomyosarcoma. In particular, the rhabdomyosarcoma may be embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma, mixed-type rhabdomyosarcoma, pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma with ganglionic differentiation. The FAP+ sarcoma may be Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma (UPS).

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” and “include”, and variations such as “comprises”, “comprising”, and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” in relation to a numerical value is optional and means for example +/- 10%.

The following is presented by way of example and is not to be construed as a limitation to the scope of the claims.

Examples

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients affected by different types of bone and soft tissue sarcomas were selected to construct the commercial soft tissue sarcoma microarray (TMA). A full description can be found on the website of US Biomax, Inc. (https://www.biomax.us/tissue-arrays/Soft_Tissue/SO809c and https://www.biomax.us/tissue-arrays/Bone_Cartilage/OS802c) including clinicopathological characteristics from the patients.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) detection of FAP was performed on a DISCOVERY ULTRA research instrument (F. Hoffman-La Roche, “Roche”) using the rabbit monoclonal antibody against human FAP (1 :25 dilution, Abcam-Ref. ab207178,) diluted in Anti-body Diluent Buffer (Antibody diluent, Ventana - Ref. 760-108). The staining protocol included a standard antigen retrieval step with Tris-EDTA buffer pH 8, incubation with the primary antibody for 1 h at 37 °C and incubation with the secondary antibody (Roche Omni Map Anti-rabbit, Ventana-Ref.760-4311 ) for 20 min at 37°C. Secondary antibody was detected by DAB (ChrommoMap DAB kit, Ventana-Ref.760-159). Scoring of immunohistochemistry and automated H-scoring

The intensity of FAP staining was analysed in tumour stroma compartment and tumour epithelium. FAP intensity was scored on an optical 3-point intensity scale (0 to 2) by an independent pathologist. Intensity average values were calculated from both compartments scores to obtain a case value. These three groups were subsequently reduced to two groups (“negative” and “positive”).

FAP-stained TMA was scanned with scanner Olympus dotSlide version 2.1 at resolution 2 pixels per 1 pm. Digital image analysis procedure was described in detail previously (Mezheyeuski et al. (2018)). In brief, the FAP intensity was evaluated based on the marker expression level and quantified as number of positive cells per region unit. Analyses were performed in the stromal compartment and H-score was used to classify the samples, considering ranges from 0 to 300. H-score combines intensity and percentage of stained cells (Id et al. (2021 )). H-score mean value was calculated to divide the sample in two groups (“Low H-score” and “High-score”).

The binarized FAP positive/negative and H-score low/high classification of the cases were used in the patient with clinic-pathological characteristics.

EXAMPLE 1 - Leiomyosarcoma patients express high levels of FAP

As shown in Table 1 A, the population displays a cohort with a wide range of diagnosis from 17 to 78 years, 46.4 % females and 57.1 % males. FAP status showed significant association with the different bone and soft tissue tumour types (p>0.001), but not with age or gender (p=0.662 and p=0.662). All fibrosarcoma samples were unexpectedly classified FAP negative ( 100 %) whereas a high percentage of FAP positivity (75%) was displayed by leiomyosarcoma group.

Based on the 3-point intensity scale, further analysis explored FAP positivity and pathology diagnosis (Table 1 B). Interestingly, higher FAP intensity showed a significant correlation with leiomyosarcoma histology: indeed, 83.3 % of the FAP positive samples diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma were scored as high expression levels, and a significant association between high FAP intensity and leiomyosarcoma histologic subgroup was evidenced (p=0.015). Digital H-scoring classification similarly identified high FAP expression in most of the leiomyosarcoma samples studied (Table 1C) with significant results (p=0.007).

Representative cases of FAP-negative and FAP-positive staining are shown in Figure 1 , including fibrosarcoma FAP-negative core (Figure 1 A) and high FAP intensity of leiomyosarcoma core (Figure 1 B).

Table 1A: FAP positivity and clinicopathological variables in fibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma patients (Chi-square exact test). Samples were categorised as negative or positive using visual scoring by a pathologist.

Table 1B - Frequency of FAP intensity in fibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma histologic subtypes (Chi- square exact test).

Table 1C - Frequency of FAP H-score in fibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma histologic subtypes (Chi- square exact test). Regarding the whole cohort of bone and soft tumour tissue samples, leiomyosarcoma showed the highest frequency of high FAP intensity (50%) compared to osteosarcoma (the largest histologic group in the study): only 7.69 % of osteosarcoma samples presented high FAP intensity (Table 2). Digital H-scoring also identified leiomyosarcoma as the largest subset within the high FAP expression group (66.67%) (Table 3), showing significant association between high FAP intensity and different bone and soft tissue tumours sub-histological groups (p<0.001 ). Among the top 15 groups of FAP H-score with highest values, leiomyosarcoma patients were the most represented (60%) (Table 4).

The data also highlights rhabdomyosarcoma as having substantial FAP expression, with 50% of the rhabdomyosarcoma samples having medium or high FAP intensity (Table 2). This trend is reflected in the digital H-scoring, which identified 60% of rhabdomyosarcoma samples as having medium or high FAP intensity (Table 3).

Table 2: Correlation between intensity of FAP with bone and soft sarcoma subtypes (Chi-square exact test).

Table 3: Correlation between digital H-score of FAP with bone and soft sarcoma subtypes (Chi-square exact test).

Table 4: Pathology diagnosis of the top 15 samples with the highest H-Score.

EXAMPLE 2 - Anti-tumoral efficacy of OMTX7Q5 in a Leiomyosarcoma PDX mouse model

Due to leiomyosarcoma having the highest incidence of all sarcoma subtypes, comprising up to 20% of all sarcomas, and the lack of effective treatment (Kannan et al. (2022), Kasper et al. (2022)), we further investigated the anti-tumoral efficacy of OMTX705 in this subtype using a FAP positive patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model.

The PDX mouse model was selected from a preliminary study, using IHC FAP staining on FFPE sections from 12 different leiomyosarcoma tumour types. PDX model SA4033 was selected for its high FAP expression (Figure 2). 6-9-week-old female NOD/SCID mice were implanted subcutaneously with primary human tumour xenograft tumour fragment (approximately 2-3 mm in diameter) for tumour development (model SA4033). After tumour inoculation, the animals were checked daily for morbidity and mortality. When tumours reached a volume of approximately 150 mm ³ , mice were randomly allocated into groups (n=10/group) and treated intravenously with two different doses of OMTX705 (10 and 30 mg/kg) once a week for 4 weeks (Table 5).

Table 5: Treatment plan for SA4033 Model Study. ROA: route of administration; i.v. intravenous; BIW: Twice a week; QW: once a week.

During routine monitoring, the animals were checked for any effects of tumour growth and treatments on behaviour such as mobility, food and water consumption, body weight gain/loss (Body weights were measured twice per week after randomization), eye/hair matting and any other abnormalities. Mortality and observed clinical signs were recorded for individual animals in detail.

Tumour volumes were measured twice per week after randomization in two dimensions using a calliper, and the volume was expressed in mm ³ using the formula: V = (L x W x W)/2, where V is tumour volume, L is tumour length (the longest tumour dimension) and W is tumour width (the longest tumour dimension perpendicular to L). Dosing as well as tumour and body weight measurements were conducted in a Laminar Flow Cabinet. After treatment end at Day 21 , the post treatment observation period was extended 6 weeks for the group of mice treated with OMTX705 at 10 mg/kg.

In the SA4033 PDX model of leiomyosarcoma, OMTX705 efficacy was measured in vivo as single agent administration at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg i.v., once weekly for four doses. Tumor growth inhibition was found to be 92.04% and 93.1 1 %, respectively (Figure 3A). Interestingly, in this model for leiomyosarcoma, OMTX705 as single agent at a dose of 30 mg/kg had a similar anti-tumoral effect compared to the lower dose (10 mg/kg), with no significant weight loss observed. Mice treated with doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg of OMTX705 presented less than 4% of body weight change per group during the study (Figure 3B). Percentage of tumor inhibition volume (TIV) of OMTX705 as single agent in this model is shown in Figure 3C.

Upon post treatment observation at day 42, continuous tumor inhibition and even tumor regression was observed in the group treated with OMTX705 at 10 mg/kg, with mean tumor volume of 29.4 mm ³ , much lower than the average of tumor volumes registered at Day 0 (148.09 mm ³ ). At day 42, 4 of the 10 animals were tumor-free. By the end of the post-treatment observation period, 100% of mice in this group were tumour-free. Therefore, these data demonstrate the long-lasting effect of a 10mg/kg weekly dose of OMTX705, even 6 weeks after treatment end.

EXAMPLE 3 - Anti-tumoral efficacy of OMTX7Q5 in leiomyosarcoma PDX mouse models with different FAP expression levels.

Following the promising results of Example 2 above, similar experiments were conducted to compare the anti-tumoral efficacy of OMTX705 on leiomyosarcoma in high-to-medium FAP-expressing positive (SA4033 and SA3839) versus low/null FAP-expressing (SA10202) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) murine models.

As above, the PDX mouse models were selected from a preliminary study, using IHC FAP staining on FFPE sections from 12 different leiomyosarcoma tumour types. PDX models SA4033 and SA3839 were selected for their high-to-medium FAP expression (Figure 4A & 4B) and SA10202 as FAP low-null expression (Figure 4C).

For each model, 6-9-week-old female NOD/SCID mice were implanted subcutaneously with primary human tumour xenograft fragment (approximately 2-3 mm in diameter). After tumour inoculation, the animals were checked daily for morbidity and mortality. When tumours reached a volume of approximately 150 mm ³ , mice were randomly allocated into groups (n=10/group in SA4033 model, n=8/group in SA3839 model and n=6/group in SA10202 model). Two different doses of OMTX705 were administrated intravenously (10 and 30 mg/kg) in SA4033 model and one dose of 10 mg/kg in SA3839 and SA10202 models, once a week over 4 weeks. (Table 6).

Table 6: Treatment plan for SA4033, SA3839, SA10202 model studies. ROA: route of administration; i.v. intravenous; BIW: Twice a week; QW: once a week.

As in Example 2, during routine monitoring, the animals were checked for any effects of tumour growth and treatments on behaviour such as mobility, food and water consumption, body weight gain/loss (Body weights were measured twice per week after randomization), eye/hair matting and any other abnormalities. Mortality and observed clinical signs were recorded for individual animals in detail. Tumour volumes were measured twice per week after randomization in two dimensions using a calliper, and the volume was expressed in mm ³ using the formula: V = (L x W x W)/2, where V is tumour volume, L is tumour length (the longest tumour dimension) and W is tumour width (the longest tumour dimension perpendicular to L). Dosing as well as tumour and body weight measurements were conducted in a Laminar Flow Cabinet. After treatment end at Day 21 , the post treatment observation period was extended 6 weeks for the group of mice treated with OMTX705 at 10 mg/kg.

In the SA4033 PDX model of leiomyosarcoma, OMTX705 efficacy measured as single agent at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg was higher compared to the SA3839 and SA10202 PDX models (Figure 5A). Upon post-treatment observation at day 42 in SA4033 mice, continuous tumour inhibition and even tumour regression was observed in the group treated with OMTX705 at 10 mg/kg, with mean tumour volume of 29.4 mm ³ , much lower than the average of tumour volumes registered at Day 0 (148.09 mm ³ ). At day 42, 4 of the 10 animals were tumour-free. By the end of the post-treatment observation period, 100% of SA4033 mice in this group were tumour-free. This effect of a 10mg/kg weekly dose of OMTX705 was long-lasting in SA4033 animals: even 6 weeks after treatment end, no tumor re-growth was observed (Figure 5A, top). Interestingly, in SA4033 model for leiomyosarcoma, OMTX705 as single agent at a dose of 30 mg/kg had a similar anti-tumoral effect compared to the lower dose (10 mg/kg), with no significant weight loss observed. Mice treated with doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg of OMTX705 presented less than 4% of body weight change per group during the SA4033 study (Figure 5B, top). (The data shown in murine model SA4033 in Figure 5A and 5B, top, is the same as described in Example 2, Figure 3A and 3B). In SA3839 model, mice treated with a weekly dose of 10 mg/kg presented less than 9% of body weight change per group during the study and OMTX705 was able to induce tumour growth inhibition and stasis, but not complete regression (Figure 5A & 5B, middle). In the low/null FAP-expression (SA10202) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) murine model, mice treated with 10 mg/kg presented less than 5% of body weight change per group during the study and OMTX705 was not able to induce tumour regression (Figure 5A & 5B, bottom).

The percentage of tumour inhibition volume (TIV) of OMTX705 as single agent in SA4033 (90.2%), SA3839 (74.86%), and SA10202 (42.6%), shown in Figure 5C at day 24 (3 days after last dose) evidences the differential efficacy of OMTX705 among these models and supports a correlation between FAP expression levels and OMTX705 anti-tumoral efficacy in leiomyosarcomas.

Further immunohistochemistry studies on SA4033 PDX model using different marker proteins illustrated that the anti-tumoral effect of OMTX705 in leiomyosarcoma is driven by a different mechanism of action compared to carcinomas. At day 28, FFPE tissue samples from OMTX705-treated tumours showed very low cell ularity (Figure 6B) and very few Ki67, active Caspase 3, and FAP positive cells (Figure 6D, 6F, 6H) compared to Vehicle-treated tumours (Figure 6A, 6C, 6E, 6G), indicating direct efficient killing of FAP-positive tumour cells. Anti-TAM558 IHC revealed that OMTX705 payload is still present in tumour samples at least one week after last dose of treatment (Figure 6J) which may explain the long-lasting effect of the compound after the end of treatment preventing tumour recurrence. Altogether, these results support a direct and FAP-dependent effect on tumour cells leading to a much more potent anti-tumoral efficacy of OMTX705 in leiomyosarcoma at lower doses compared to carcinomas, where the compound is acting through FAP-expressing CAFs.

Previous results obtained in the First-in-Human Phase I study of ABBV-085, a new ADC targeting LRRC15 stroma protein, for treatment in sarcomas, presented a high response rate independently of sarcoma subtypes, due to overall LRRC15 expression in many solid tumours (Demetri et al. (2021 ), Purcell et al. (2022)). Further experiments to study LRRC15 expression and ABBV-085 activity using PDX models of soft-tissue sarcomas, demonstrated significant antitumour activity in undifferentiated sarcomas (UPS), dedifferentiated liposarcomas and leiomyosarcomas (Ben-Ami et al (2020)).

Indeed, unexpectedly, our study found highly FAP (+) leiomyosarcomas among other soft tissue sarcomas (i.e. liposarcomas or fibrosarcomas with very low or no FAP expression), thus identifying leiomyosarcoma subtype as a new and highly specific indication within sarcomas for OMTX705 anti- tumoral treatment.

The surprising finding that leiomyosarcoma tumour cells express FAP at a high level highlights the opportunity for treating leiomyosarcoma by targeting the cells directly with an anti-FAP-cytolysin conjugate. The in vivo data shown in Figure 3 show excellent tumour inhibition of 92.04% and 93.11% at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg i.v respectively, and Figure 5 shows excellent tumour inhibition at day 24 of 90.2% at a dose of 10 mg/kg in a model (SA4033) with high FAP expression levels (Figure 4). Moreover, OMTX705 treatment actually resulted in complete tumour regression at later time points, with 100% of mice reaching tumour-free status and no tumour recurrence up to 6 weeks after treatment end. Interestingly, models with medium (SA3839) or low/null (SA10202) FAP expression levels showed lower response to OMTX705, as indicated by the respective %TVI of 74.86 and 42.6 (Figure 5C). Thus, the data provide a new mechanism of action for OMTX705 besides targeting FAP (+) CAFs, as shown originally in the context of pancreatic cancer (Fabre et al. (2020)), which would be correlated with FAP expression levels.

Both scoring systems (visual and digital), reached the same conclusion: the sarcoma subtype with semitotal and intense FAP staining was leiomyosarcoma, followed far behind by osteosarcoma.

The data also reveals rhabdomyosarcoma as having significant FAP expression, thus identifying a further target for an anti-FAP-cytolysin conjugate.

This experimental data is the first preclinical evidence that FAP targeting with an antibody-drug conjugate would be a promising strategy in FAP-positive sarcoma patients. The findings presented in this study thus support a novel strategy and a new potential indication for OMTX705 therapeutic compound for the treatment of FAP+ sarcoma patients, such as leiomyosarcoma patients, with highly promising anti-tumoral efficacy compared to previous antibody-drug conjugate tested.

Furthermore, these results further support the use of FAP as biomarker for the selection of patients with FAP+ sarcoma, such as leiomyosarcoma soft tissue tumour subtype, with higher potential of response to the newly developed antibody-drug conjugate drug, OMTX705.

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