Humanized monoclonal antibodies against human interleukin-4

PCT No. PCT/US95/02400 Sec. 371 Date Sep. 6, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Sep. 6, 1996 PCT Filed Mar. 8, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO95/24481 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 14, 1995Humanized monoclonal antibodies are provided which are specific for human IL-4 and have properties unexpectedly superior to other, previously available humanized antibodies. Single-chain binding proteins, fusion proteins, and antigenic or IL-4 binding fragments of such antibodies are also provided by this invention. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the heavy and light chain variable regions of such monoclonal antibodies or antigenic fragments thereof; anti-idiotypic antibodies; and methods for detecting, measuring and immunopurifying human IL-4, and for blocking or mimicking the biological activity of human IL-4.