abstract |
Glycan-optimized monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind CD20 antigen and which have improved effector function are provided. The anti-CD20 antibodies of the invention have a glycosylation pattern that results in an antibody composition having predominately the G0 glycoform, and thus comprise N-glycans that lack fucose (i.e., afucosylated) and galactose residues attached thereto. In some embodiments, these anti-CD20 antibodies comprise the light chain and heavy chain sequences of the rituximab anti-CD20 antibody, and thus represent afucosylated rituximab. Methods for producing these glycan-optimized anti-CD20 antibodies are also provided. |