Anti-C5a antibodies and methods for the use of antibodies

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds to a free C5a polypeptide, where free C5a is a human polypeptide (C5ah) having the amino acid sequence represented in SEQ ID NO: 1, and wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof binds to the free C5ah polypeptide in vitro with a KD that is less than 1.25 x 10-9 M as measured by resonance of surface plasmon (SPR) in the presence of a non-cleaved natural human C5 molar excess: and wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain polypeptide comprising: a light chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 20; a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 21; and a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 22; and further wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises a heavy chain polypeptide comprising: a heavy chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 28; a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 46; and a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 47.