US Patent 9534056 Engineered TAA antibody-TNFSF member ligand fusion molecules

The field of the present invention relates to genetically engineered fusion molecules, methods of making said fusion molecules, and uses thereof in anti-tumor immunotherapies. More specifically, the present invention relates to engineered fusion molecules comprising an antibody (Ab) which can target tumor cells (e.g., RITUXIN®), fused to one or more biologic moieties capable of inducing apoptosis in tumor cells, e.g., tumor necrosis factor super family (TNFSF) member ligands such as TNF-α, CD40L, CD95L (also “FasL/Apo-1L”) and TRAIL/Apo-2L. Importantly, the engineered fusion molecules of the present invention retain the death-inducing properties of the biologic moiety at optimum concentrations and with reduced systemic toxicities.