Recombinant staphylokinase variants with reduced antigenicity due to elimination of B-lymphocyte epitopes

Site directed mutagenesis (350 variants) of recombinant staphylokinase (SakSTAR), a potent fibrin-selective thrombolytic agent, was undertaken in order to reduce its antigenicity while maintaining its potency. Variants with K35A, (ie, Lys[K] in position 35 substituted with Ala[A]), E65D or E65Q, K74R or K74Q, E80A+D82A, K130T, and K135R displayed increased enzymatic activity or reduced binding of human staphylokinase-specific antibodies. Additive mutagenesis identified 8 variants with intact thrombolytic potencies, which absorbed down to less than a third of SakSTAR-specific antibodies. Intra-arterial administration in 61 patients with peripheral arterial occlusion caused no significant allergic reactions. Median neutralizing antibody titers (with 15 to 85 percentiles), expressed as microgram (mu g) compound neutralized per milliliter plasma, were 4.4 (0.3 to 49) for the variants, compared with 12 (4 to 100) in 70 patients given wild-type SakSTAR (P = .002 by Mann-Whitney rank sum test). Overt neutralizing antibody induction (more than 5 mu g compound neutralized per milliliter plasma) was observed in 57 of 70 patients (81%) given wild-type SakSTAR, but only in 28 of 60 patients (47%) treated with variants (P < .0001 by Fisher exact test). On the basis of this study, the Variant SakSTAR (K35A, E65Q, K74R, D82A, S84A, T90A, E99D, T101S, E108A, K109A, K130T, K135R) (code SY155) has been selected for further clinical development. (Blood. 2000;96:1425-1432) (C) 2000 by The American Society of Hematology.