The present invention provides stabilized immunoglobulin molecules that
have increased storage stability and/or in vivo half-lives due to the
mutation of one or more amino acids that would otherwise render the
immunoglobulin molecules susceptible to degradation. In a preferred
embodiment, the stabilized immunoglobulins of the invention have
mutations at the heavy chain constant domain hinge region. Such
stabilized immunoglobulin molecules, i.e., immunoglobulin molecules with
increased storage stability have one or more of the following advantages
they are more readily transported and/storable for longer periods and/or
less stringent conditions than non-stabilized counterparts; that smaller
amounts and or less frequent dosing is required in the therapeutic,
prophylactic or diagnostic use of such stabilized molecules.