IMMUNO-CONJUGATES AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING THEM 2

The present invention provides an isolated protein comprising an immunoglobulin variable region comprising at least two cysteine residues positioned within framework region (FR) 2 and/or at least two cysteine residues positioned within framework region (FR3), wherein if at least two of the cysteine residues in FR2 and/or FR3 are not conjugated to a compound then an intra-framework disulphide bond is capable of forming between the cysteine residues. Preferably the protein comprises an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (VH) and an immunoglobulin light chain variable region (VL), wherein at least one of the variable regions comprises the two cysteine residues. The present invention also provides conjugates of the protein and another compound.