| abstract |
The present invention provides isolated monoclonal antibodies (eg, humanized and human monoclonals) that exhibit the ability to bind human inducible T cell costimulatory molecule (ICOS) and stimulate therapeutically desirable functional properties, eg, human ICOS activity. Antibody). Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies of the invention, expression vectors, host cells and methods of expressing the antibodies of the invention are also provided. Also provided are immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies of the invention. The antibodies of the invention can be used, for example, as agonists to stimulate or enhance an immune response in a subject, eg, an antigen-specific T cell response against tumor or viral antigens. The antibodies of the invention may be used in combination with other antibodies (eg PD-1, PD-L1 and/or CTLA-4 antibodies), for example for the treatment of cancer. Thus, the antibodies may be used in therapeutic applications and methods of detecting ICOS proteins. |