Stem Cell Related Patent Number US5635388

Agonist antibodies against the flk2/flt3 receptor and uses thereof

Bennett, Brian D.; Pacifica, CA, USA
Broz, Susan D.; San Bruno, CA, USAMatthews, William; Woodside, CA, USA
Zeigler, Francis C.; San Mateo, CA, USA

This invention describes agonist antibodies which bind to the extracellular domain of the flk2/flt3 receptor and thereby activate the intracellular kinase domain. The labeled antibodies are useful as diagnostics for detecting the presence of the flk2/flt3 receptor in primitive hematopoietic cells, and the antibodies are able to cause primitive hematopoietic cells to proliferate and/or to differentiate and thereby enhance repopulation of mature blood cell lineages in a mammal which has undergone chemo- or radiation therapy or bone marrow transplantation. The antibodies are further useful for treating mammals which have suffered a decrease in blood cells as a consequence of disease or a hemorrhage, among other disorders.

Application Number: US1994000222299

Date Filed: 04/04/94

Dated Published: 06/03/97

Assignee: Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA