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Dow XY, Gao Q, Sperduto JL, Wen X, Thai C, Zhang L, McCoy MA. High-Throughput Fluorometric Assay For Quantifying Polysorbate In Biopharmaceutical Products Using Micelle Activated Fluorescence Probe N-Phenyl-1-Naphthylamine. Pharm Res 2024:10.1007/s11095-024-03723-0. [PMID: 38955997 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-024-03723-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Polysorbates are among the most used surfactants in biopharmaceutical products containing proteins. Our work aims to develop a high-throughput fluorometric assay to further diversify the analytical toolbox for quantification of PSs. METHOD The assay leverages the micelle activated fluorescence signal from N-Phenyl-1-Naphthylamine (NPN). The development and optimization of assay parameters were guided by the pre-defined analytical target profile. Furthermore, NMR was used to probe the interaction between protein, PS80 and NPN in the measurement system and understand protein interference. RESULTS All assay parameters including excitation and emission wavelengths, standard curve, NPN concentration, and incubation time have been optimized and adapted to a microplate format, making it compatible with automated solutions that will be pursued in the near future to drive consistency and efficiency in our workflows. The specificity, accuracy, and precision of the assay have been demonstrated through a case study. Furthermore, NMR results provided additional insight into the change of the interaction dynamics between PS80 and NPN as the protein concentration increases. The results indicate minimal interaction between the protein and PS80 at lower concentration. However, when the concentration exceeds 75 mg/mL, there is a significant interaction between the protein and PS-80 micelle and monomer. CONCLUSION A high-throughput fluorometric assay has been developed for quantification of polysorbates in biopharmaceutical samples including in-process samples, drug substance and drug product. The assay reported herein could serve as a powerful analytical tool for polysorbate quantification and control, complementing the widely used liquid chromatography with charged aerosol detection method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximeng Y Dow
- Analytical Research & Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA.
| | - Qi Gao
- Analytical Research & Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., 126 E Lincoln Ave, Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - John L Sperduto
- Process Research & Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | - Xiaona Wen
- Analytical Research & Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | - Christopher Thai
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Lei Zhang
- Analytical Research & Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | - Mark A McCoy
- Quantitative Biosciences, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., 126 E Lincoln Ave, Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
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Maier M, Schneider S, Weiss L, Fischer S, Lakatos D, Studts J, Franzreb M. Tailoring polishing steps for effective removal of polysorbate-degrading host cell proteins in antibody purification. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024. [PMID: 38853584 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Ensuring the quality and safety of biopharmaceutical products requires the effective separation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from host cell proteins (HCPs). A major challenge in this field is the enzymatic hydrolysis of polysorbates (PS) in drug products. This study addresses this issue by investigating the removal of polysorbate-degrading HCPs during the polishing steps of downstream purification, an area where knowledge about individual HCP behavior is still limited. We investigated the separation of different mAb formats from four individual polysorbate degrading hydrolases (CES1F, CES2C, LPLA2, and PAF-AH) using cation exchange (CEX) and mixed-mode chromatography (MMC) polishing steps. Our research identified a key challenge: The similar elution behavior of mAbs and HCPs during chromatographic separation. To investigate this phenomenon, we performed high-throughput binding screenings for recombinant polysorbate degrading hydrolases and representative mAb candidates on CEX and MMC chromatography resins. We then employed a three-step strategy that also served as a scale-up process, optimizing separation conditions and leading to the successful removal of specific HCPs while maintaining high mAb recovery rates (>96%). This strategy involved the use of surface response models and miniature columns for screening, followed by validation on larger columns using a chromatography system. Our results highlight the critical role of the inherent properties of mAbs for successful separation from HCPs. These results underscore the need to tailor the purification process to leverage the slight differences in binding behavior and elution profiles between mAbs and specific HCPs. This approach lays the foundation for developing more effective strategies for overcoming the challenge of enzymatic polysorbate degradation, paving the way for improved quality and safety in biopharmaceutical products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Maier
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
- Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Stefan Schneider
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
- Institute of Applied Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Linus Weiss
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
- Institute of Applied Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Simon Fischer
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Daniel Lakatos
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Joey Studts
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Matthias Franzreb
- Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
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Sampathkumar K, Kerwin BA. Roadmap for Drug Product Development and Manufacturing of Biologics. J Pharm Sci 2024; 113:314-331. [PMID: 37944666 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic biology encompasses different modalities, and their manufacturing processes may be vastly different. However, there are many similarities that run across the different modalities during the drug product (DP) development process and manufacturing. Similarities include the need for Quality Target Product Profile (QTTP), analytical development, formulation development, container/closure studies, drug product process development, manufacturing and technical requirements set out by numerous regulatory documents such as the FDA, EMA, and ICH for pharmaceuticals for human use and other country specific requirements. While there is a plethora of knowledge on studies needed for development of a drug product, there is no specific guidance set out in a phase dependent manner delineating what studies should be completed in alignment with the different phases of clinical development from pre-clinical through commercialization. Because of this reason, we assembled a high-level drug product development and manufacturing roadmap. The roadmap is applicable across the different modalities with the intention of providing a unified framework from early phase development to commercialization of biologic drug products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnan Sampathkumar
- SSK Biosolutions LLC, 14022 Welland Terrace, North Potomac, MD 20878, USA; Currently at Invetx, Inc., One Boston Place, Suite 3930, 201 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108, USA
| | - Bruce A Kerwin
- Kerwin BioPharma Consulting LLC, 14138 Farmview Ln NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA; Coriolis Scientific Advisory Board, Coriolis Pharma, Fraunhoferstr. 18 b, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
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Koehnlein W, Kastenmueller E, Meier T, Treu T, Falkenstein R. The beneficial impact of kosmotropic salts on the resolution and selectivity of Protein A chromatography. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1715:464585. [PMID: 38183781 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
During the manufacturing of therapeutic antibodies, effective Protein A chromatography as initial column step is crucial to simplify the remaining purification effort for subsequent polishing steps. This is particularly relevant for molecules with high impurity content so that desired product purity can be attained. The present study demonstrates beneficial effects on impurity removal when applying kosmotropic salts, e.g., sodium sulfate or sodium chloride, in the elution phase. Initially, a screen using negative linear pH gradient elution evaluated the impact of the kosmotropic salts in comparison to no additive and chaotropic urea using three mAbs and three common resins. Retaining acceptable yield, the kosmotropic salts improved resolution of monomer and impurities and reduced the contents of process-related host cell proteins and DNA as well as of product-related low and high molecular weight forms, despite some resin- and mAb-dependent variations. Moreover, a decrease in hydrolytic activity measured by a new assay for polysorbase activity was observed. In contrast, urea was hardly effective. The findings served to establish optimized step elution conditions with 0.25 M of sodium sulfate for a challenging mAb with complex format (bispecific 2 + 1 CrossMab) displaying high relative hydrophobicity and impurity levels. With yield and purity both in the range of 90 %, the contents of all impurity components were reduced, e.g., low molecular weight forms by two-fold and polysorbase activity by four-fold. The study indicates the potential of kosmotropic salts to establish efficient and comprehensive impurity separation by Protein A for facilitated downstream processing and economic manufacturing of complex antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tobias Meier
- Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, Penzberg 82377, Germany
| | - Tabea Treu
- Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, Penzberg 82377, Germany
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Maier M, Weiß L, Zeh N, Schmieder-Todtenhaupt V, Dehghani A, Felix MN, Heinzelmann D, Lindner B, Schmidt M, Studts J, Schulz P, Reisinger B, Otte K, Franzreb M, Lakatos D, Fischer S. Illuminating a biologics development challenge: systematic characterization of CHO cell-derived hydrolases identified in monoclonal antibody formulations. MAbs 2024; 16:2375798. [PMID: 38984665 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2024.2375798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and other biological drugs are affected by enzymatic polysorbate (PS) degradation that reduces product stability and jeopardizes the supply of innovative medicines. PS represents a critical surfactant stabilizing the active pharmaceutical ingredients, which are produced by recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. While the list of potential PS-degrading CHO host cell proteins (HCPs) has grown over the years, tangible data on industrially relevant HCPs are still scarce. By means of a highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method, we investigated seven different mAb products, resulting in the identification of 12 potentially PS-degrading hydrolases, including the strongly PS-degrading lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Using an LPL knockout CHO host cell line, we were able to stably overexpress and purify the remaining candidate hydrolases through orthogonal affinity chromatography methods, enabling their detailed functional characterization. Applying a PS degradation assay, we found nine mostly secreted, PS-active hydrolases with varying hydrolytic activity. All active hydrolases showed a serine-histidine-aspartate/glutamate catalytical triad. Further, we subjected the active hydrolases to pH-screenings and revealed a diverse range of activity optima, which can facilitate the identification of residual hydrolases during bioprocess development. Ultimately, we compiled our dataset in a risk matrix identifying PAF-AH, LIPA, PPT1, and LPLA2 as highly critical hydrolases based on their cellular expression, detection in purified antibodies, active secretion, and PS degradation activity. With this work, we pave the way toward a comprehensive functional characterization of PS-degrading hydrolases and provide a basis for a future reduction of PS degradation in biopharmaceutical drug products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Maier
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
- Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Linus Weiß
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Nikolas Zeh
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | | | - Alireza Dehghani
- Analytical Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Marius Nicolaus Felix
- Analytical Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Daniel Heinzelmann
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Benjamin Lindner
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Moritz Schmidt
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Joey Studts
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Patrick Schulz
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Bernd Reisinger
- Analytical Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Kerstin Otte
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Matthias Franzreb
- Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Daniel Lakatos
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Simon Fischer
- Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
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