1
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Gu L, Hu TX. A simplified non-reduced peptide mapping method with faster and efficient enzymatic digestion for characterization of native disulfide bonds in monoclonal and bispecific antibodies. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 250:116400. [PMID: 39126811 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116400] [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: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Development of monoclonal and bispecific antibody-based protein therapeutics requires detailed characterization of native disulfide linkages, which is commonly achieved through peptide mapping under non-reducing conditions followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. One major challenge of this method is incomplete protein digestion due to insufficient denaturation of antibodies under non-reducing conditions. For a long time, researchers have explored various strategies with the aim of efficiently digesting antibody drugs when the disulfide bonds remain intact, but few could achieve this by using a simple and generic approach with well controlled disulfide scrambling artifacts. Here, we report a simple method for fast and efficient mapping of native disulfides of monoclonal and bispecific antibody-based protein therapeutics. The method was optimized to achieve optimal digestion efficiency by denaturing proteins with 8 M urea plus 0-1.25 M guanidine-HCl at elevated temperature (50 °C), followed by two-step digestion with trypsin/Lys-C mix using a one-pot reaction. The only parameter that needs to be optimized for different proteins is the concentration of guanidine-HCl present. This simplified sample preparation eliminated buffer exchange and can be completed within three hours. By using this new method, all native disulfide bonds were confirmed for these monoclonal and bispecific antibodies with high confidence. When compared with a commercial kit utilizing low-pH digestion condition, the new method demonstrated higher digestion efficiency and shorter sample preparation time. These results suggest this new one-pot-two-step digestion method is suitable for the characterization of antibody disulfide bonds, particularly for those antibodies with digestion-resistant domains under typical digestion conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Gu
- Biologics Analytical Science, Incyte Corporation, 1801 Augustine Cut-off, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA.
| | - Tiger X Hu
- Biologics Analytical Science, Incyte Corporation, 1801 Augustine Cut-off, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
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2
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Jin X, Chen L, Chu J, He B. Charge Variants Characterization of Co-Formulated Antibodies by Three-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Biomolecules 2024; 14:999. [PMID: 39199387 PMCID: PMC11352451 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Co-formulated antibodies can bring clinical benefits to patients by combining two or more antibodies in a single dosage form. However, the quality analysis of co-formulated antibodies raises additional challenges, compared to individual antibodies, due to the need for accurate analysis of multiple antibodies in one solution. It is extremely difficult to effectively separate the charge variants of the two co-formulated antibodies using one ion exchange chromatography (IEC) method because of their similar characteristics. In this study, a novel method was developed for the charge variants characterization of co-formulated antibodies using three-dimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (3D-LC-MS). Hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) was used as the first dimension to separate and collect the two co-formulated antibodies. The two collections were then injected into the second-dimension IEC separately for charge variants separation and analysis. Subsequently, the separated charge variants underwent on-line desalting in the third-dimension reverse-phase chromatography (RPC) and subsequent mass spectroscopy analysis. The novel method could simultaneously provide a charge variants ratio and post-translational modification (PTM) data for the two co-formulated antibodies. Therefore, it could be used for release testing and stability studies of co-formulated antibodies, making up for the shortcomings of the existing approaches. It was the first time that charge variants of co-formulated antibodies were characterized by the 3D-LC-MS method, to the best of our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Jin
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China; (X.J.); (L.C.)
| | - Luna Chen
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China; (X.J.); (L.C.)
| | - Jianlin Chu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Bingfang He
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China; (X.J.); (L.C.)
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
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3
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Wu Z, Wang H, Zhao X, Gong C, Sidnam S, Cantero-Tubilla B, Nedjic-Dugic B, Li M, Wu J, Su Y, Huang Y, Qiu H, Li N. Characterization of Therapeutic Antibody Charge Heterogeneity Under Stress Conditions by Microfluidic Capillary Electrophoresis Coupled with Mass Spectrometry. J Pharm Sci 2024; 113:2170-2177. [PMID: 38796156 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2024.05.022] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic antibodies are a major class of biopharmaceutics that are applied in disease treatment because of their many advantages, including high specificity and high affinity to molecular targets. Between their production and administration, therapeutic antibodies are exposed to multiple stress conditions. Forced degradation and stress stability studies are conducted to simulate the risk of degradation and the effects of these stresses, thereby enhancing understanding of the drug product to support strategies to mitigate the impact from stressed conditions. These types of studies are also routinely conducted to evaluate product comparability when major process changes are implemented during the production. Charge variant analysis helps understand the changes in the electrostatic environment of biotherapeutics and can uncover underlying molecular level alterations associated with charge variants. Herein, we used ZipChip native capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (nCE-MS) to elucidate the changes in charge variant profiles at the molecular level. In two case studies under thermal stress conditions, we observed that charge variants arose from both post-translational modifications (including deamidation, oxidation, and pyroglutamate formation) and sequence truncations at the hinge regions. Under oxidative stress conditions, oxidation was found to be the major contributor to the changes in the charge variant profiles. Under pH stress conditions, the changes in the charge variant profile were due to increased levels of deamidation, oxidation, and pyroglutamate formation. ZipChip nCE-MS analysis enables identification of charge variant species under various stress conditions, thus supporting process and formulation development of biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Wu
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA.
| | - Hongxia Wang
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Xueqing Zhao
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Chao Gong
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Sidnam
- CMC Regulatory Sciences, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Meinuo Li
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Jikang Wu
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Yue Su
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Yu Huang
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Haibo Qiu
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA.
| | - Ning Li
- Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
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4
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Limpikirati PK, Mongkoltipparat S, Denchaipradit T, Siwasophonpong N, Pornnopparat W, Ramanandana P, Pianpaktr P, Tongchusak S, Tian MT, Pisitkun T. Basic regulatory science behind drug substance and drug product specifications of monoclonal antibodies and other protein therapeutics. J Pharm Anal 2024; 14:100916. [PMID: 39035218 PMCID: PMC11259812 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In this review, we focus on providing basics and examples for each component of the protein therapeutic specifications to interested pharmacists and biopharmaceutical scientists with a goal to strengthen understanding in regulatory science and compliance. Pharmaceutical specifications comprise a list of important quality attributes for testing, references to use for test procedures, and appropriate acceptance criteria for the tests, and they are set up to ensure that when a drug product is administered to a patient, its intended therapeutic benefits and safety can be rendered appropriately. Conformance of drug substance or drug product to the specifications is achieved by testing an article according to the listed tests and analytical methods and obtaining test results that meet the acceptance criteria. Quality attributes are chosen to be tested based on their quality risk, and consideration should be given to the merit of the analytical methods which are associated with the acceptance criteria of the specifications. Acceptance criteria are set forth primarily based on efficacy and safety profiles, with an increasing attention noted for patient-centric specifications. Discussed in this work are related guidelines that support the biopharmaceutical specification setting, how to set the acceptance criteria, and examples of the quality attributes and the analytical methods from 60 articles and 23 pharmacopeial monographs. Outlooks are also explored on process analytical technologies and other orthogonal tools which are on-trend in biopharmaceutical characterization and quality control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patanachai K. Limpikirati
- Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (PST) Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Systems Biology (CUSB), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Sorrayut Mongkoltipparat
- Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Thinnaphat Denchaipradit
- Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Nathathai Siwasophonpong
- Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Wudthipong Pornnopparat
- Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Parawan Ramanandana
- Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (PST) Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Systems Biology (CUSB), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Bang Phli, Samut Prakan, 10540, Thailand
| | - Phumrapee Pianpaktr
- Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (PST) Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Systems Biology (CUSB), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Songsak Tongchusak
- Center of Excellence in Systems Biology (CUSB), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Maoxin Tim Tian
- Center of Excellence in Systems Biology (CUSB), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Trairak Pisitkun
- Center of Excellence in Systems Biology (CUSB), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Division of Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
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5
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Li X. Recent applications of quantitative mass spectrometry in biopharmaceutical process development and manufacturing. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 234:115581. [PMID: 37494866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115581] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Biopharmaceutical products have seen rapid growth over the past few decades and continue to dominate the global pharmaceutical market. Aligning with the quality by design (QbD) framework and realization, recent advances in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) instrumentation and related techniques have enhanced biopharmaceutical characterization capabilities and have supported an increased development of biopharmaceutical products. Beyond its routine qualitative characterization, the quantitative feature of LC-MS has unique applications in biopharmaceutical process development and manufacturing. This review describes the recent applications and implications of the advancement of quantitative MS methods in biopharmaceutical process development, and characterization of biopharmaceutical product, product-related variants, and process-related impurities. We also provide insights on the emerging applications of quantitative MS in the lifecycle of biopharmaceutical product development including quality control in the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment and process analytical technology (PAT) practices during process development and manufacturing. Through collaboration with instrument and software vendors and regulatory agencies, we envision broader adoption of phase-appropriate quantitative MS-based methods for the analysis of biopharmaceutical products, which in turn has the potential to enable manufacture of higher quality products for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanwen Li
- Analytical Research and Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., 126 E. Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
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6
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Kuhne F, Heinrich K, Winter M, Fichtl J, Hoffmann G, Zähringer F, Spitzauer K, Meier M, Khan TA, Bonnington L, Wagner K, Stracke JO, Reusch D, Wegele H, Mormann M, Bulau P. Identification of Hetero-aggregates in Antibody Co-formulations by Multi-dimensional Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2023; 95:2203-2212. [PMID: 36669833 PMCID: PMC9893218 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Antibody combination therapies have become viable therapeutic treatment options for certain severe diseases such as cancer. The co-formulation production approach is intrinsically associated with more complex drug product variant profiles and creates more challenges for analytical control of drug product quality. In addition to various individual quality attributes, those arising from the interactions between the antibodies also potentially emerge through co-formulation. In this study, we describe the development of a widely applicable multi-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry method for antibody homo- versus hetero-aggregate characterization. The co-formulation of trastuzumab and pertuzumab was used, a challenging model system, comprising two monoclonal antibodies with very similar physicochemical properties. The data presented demonstrate the high stability of the co-formulation, where only minor aggregate formation is observed upon product storage and accelerated temperature or light-stress conditions. The results also show that the homo- and hetero-aggregates, formed in low and comparable proportions, are only marginally impacted by the formulation and product storage conditions. No preferential formation of hetero-aggregates, in comparison to the already existing pertuzumab and trastuzumab homo-aggregates, was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Kuhne
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
- Institute
of Hygiene, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Strasse 41, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Katrin Heinrich
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Martin Winter
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Fichtl
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Gabriel Hoffmann
- Pharma
Technical Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Zähringer
- Pharma
Technical Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Spitzauer
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Monika Meier
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Tarik A. Khan
- Pharma
Technical Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lea Bonnington
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Wagner
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Jan Olaf Stracke
- Pharma
Technical Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dietmar Reusch
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Harald Wegele
- Pharma
Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics
GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Michael Mormann
- Institute
of Hygiene, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Strasse 41, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Patrick Bulau
- Pharma
Technical Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
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7
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Joshi S, Upadhyay K, S. Rathore A. Ion exchange chromatography hyphenated with fluorescence detector as a sensitive alternative to UV detector: Applications in biopharmaceutical analysis. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2022; 1212:123511. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2022.123511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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8
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Xu C, Khanal S, Pierson NA, Quiroz J, Kochert B, Yang X, Wylie D, Strulson CA. Development, validation, and implementation of a robust and quality control-friendly focused peptide mapping method for monitoring oxidation of co-formulated monoclonal antibodies. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:8317-8330. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04366-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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9
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Advanced Formulations/Drug Delivery Systems for Subcutaneous Delivery of Protein-Based Biotherapeutics. J Pharm Sci 2022; 111:2968-2982. [PMID: 36058255 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2022.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Multiple advanced formulations and drug delivery systems (DDSs) have been developed to deliver protein-based biotherapeutics via the subcutaneous (SC) route. These formulations/DDSs include high-concentration solution, co-formulation of two or more proteins, large volume injection, protein cluster/complex, suspension, nanoparticle, microparticle, and hydrogel. These advanced systems provide clinical benefits related to efficacy and safety, but meanwhile, have more complicated formulations and manufacturing processes compared to conventional solution formulations. To develop a fit-for-purpose formulation/DDS for SC delivery, scientists need to consider multiple factors, such as the primary indication, targeted site, immunogenicity, compatibility, biopharmaceutics, patient compliance, etc. Next, they need to develop appropriate formulation (s) and manufacturing processes using the QbD principle and have a control strategy. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of advanced formulations/DDSs recently developed for SC delivery of proteins, as well as some knowledge gaps and potential strategies to narrow them through future research.
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10
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Candreva J, Esterman AL, Ge D, Patel P, Flagg SC, Das TK, Li X. Dual‐detection approach for a charge variant analysis of monoclonal antibody combination products using imaged capillary isoelectric focusing. Electrophoresis 2022; 43:1701-1709. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Candreva
- Biologics Development Bristol Myers Squibb New Brunswick New Jersey USA
| | - Abbie L. Esterman
- Biologics Development Bristol Myers Squibb New Brunswick New Jersey USA
| | - Derek Ge
- Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA
| | - Pritesh Patel
- Biologics Development Bristol Myers Squibb New Brunswick New Jersey USA
| | - Shannon C. Flagg
- Biologics Development Bristol Myers Squibb New Brunswick New Jersey USA
| | - Tapan K. Das
- Biologics Development Bristol Myers Squibb New Brunswick New Jersey USA
| | - Xue Li
- Biologics Development Bristol Myers Squibb New Brunswick New Jersey USA
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11
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Bosley A, Cook K, Lin S, Robbins D. Improved process intermediate stability through the identification and elimination of reactive glycation residues - a monoclonal antibody case study. Bioengineered 2022; 13:14402-14412. [PMID: 35757891 PMCID: PMC9342189 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2086350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The manufacturing of therapeutic biologics can result in a heterogeneous population of charge variants, encompassing many quality attributes which could impact activity and pharmacokinetics. Monitoring the relative abundance of these charge variants to demonstrate process consistency is an expectation of regulatory agencies. Control of the relative abundance of charge variants is also necessary to ensure product comparability across the product lifecycle. We have observed a significant shift in the relative abundance of charged species, as measured by capillary isoelectric focusing, during clarified cell culture fluid holds for several monoclonal antibodies. This lack of stability requires that the hold time for this process intermediate be significantly curtailed, eliminating manufacturing flexibility. We have identified the cause of this shift in relative abundance of charged species as changes in glycation levels, focused predominantly on three conserved, solvent accessible, lysine residues. Mutants of a model protein were generated that show increased charge state stability can be gained by eliminating these reactive lysines. Further, characterization studies were conducted on these mutants to determine the impact to biological activity and stability of the molecule, with no detrimental effects observed. Incorporating this knowledge into the assessments of candidate drugs could allow for the selection of molecules less susceptible to this product degradation pathway, allowing for greater manufacturing flexibility. This process of identifying and removing reactive lysine residues could be useful in the design of drug candidates with improved charge state stability, across a range of modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen Bosley
- Purification Process Sciences, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Kimberly Cook
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Shihua Lin
- Analytical Biotechnology, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - David Robbins
- Purification Process Sciences, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
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12
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Krieg D, Winter G, Svilenov HL. It is never too late for a cocktail - Development and analytical characterization of fixed-dose antibody combinations. J Pharm Sci 2022; 111:2149-2157. [DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2022.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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13
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Niu B, Martinelli M, de Mel N, Meinke E, Zhai W, Kilby G, Xu W, Chen X, Wang C. Eliminating protein oxidation artifacts during High Performance Liquid Chromatography peak fractionation processes. J Chromatogr A 2021; 1663:462761. [PMID: 34968959 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2021.462761] [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: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are inherently heterogeneous and hence generally studied and controlled by an array of orthogonal separation methods. During drug candidate development, fractionation by HPLC is regularly employed to assist peak identification and product understanding. One overlooked challenge is the protein oxidation introduced by the fractionation process. In this study, we report the extent of fractionation-induced protein oxidation, which tends to complicate data interpretation and peak assignments. Higher-energy detectors such as fluorescence detectors and lower fraction concentration were found to exacerbate the oxidation artifacts. Other contributing factors than the detector-induced photostress were also found to contribute significantly to protein oxidation. Furthermore, our study showed that collecting fractions into a solution with oxidation scavengers, such as histidine and methionine, was effective in eliminating the oxidation artifacts introduced by detector exposure and fraction processing steps. Through an example, we demonstrate that the modified fractionation workflow improves the accuracy of peak assignments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Niu
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA
| | - Michael Martinelli
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA
| | - Niluka de Mel
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA
| | - Eric Meinke
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA
| | - Weiguo Zhai
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA
| | - Greg Kilby
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA
| | - Wei Xu
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA
| | - Chunlei Wang
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA.
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14
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Zhou M, Yan Z, Li H, Liu X, Sun P. Application of Affinity-Capture Self-Interaction Nanoparticle Spectroscopy in Predicting Protein Stability, Especially for Co-Formulated Antibodies. Pharm Res 2021; 38:721-732. [PMID: 33754257 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-021-03026-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE From traditional monoclonal antibodies to more and more complex mAb-based formulations, biopharmaceutical faces one challenge after another. To avoid these issues, identification of therapeutic proteins in the initial discovery process that has high stability and low self-interaction would simplify the development of safe and effective antibody therapeutics. METHOD Affinity-capture self-interaction nanoparticle spectroscopy (AC-SINS) is a new prediction method capable of identifying mAbs with different self-association propensity. In this study, 10 formulated monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics include different mAb isotypes and co-formulated antibodies were measured by AC-SINS and some biophysical methods to predict protein stability. The prediction results of all 10 mAbs were compared to their stability data (Δ%monomer and Δ%HMWs) at accelerated (25°C and 40°C) and long-term storage conditions (4°C) as measured by size exclusion chromatography. RESULT AC-SINS method has a good predictive correlation with each mAbs and co-formulated antibodies. There were no physicochemical, intermolecular, or biological interactions that occurred between the two components of co-formulated antibodies which confirmed by Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC). CONCLUSION Here we discuss the correlation between each method and protein stability, and also use AC-SINS assay to predict the stability of co-formulated antibodies for the first time. This may be an effective way to predict the stability of these complex mAb-based formulations such as co-formulated mAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Zhen Yan
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200245, China
| | - Hao Li
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200245, China
| | - Xun Liu
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200245, China.
| | - Piaoyang Sun
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China. .,Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200245, China.
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15
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Fully automated peptide mapping multi-attribute method by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with robotic liquid handling system. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2021; 198:113988. [PMID: 33676166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.113988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The multi-attribute method (MAM) based on liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry is emerging as a powerful tool to directly monitor multiple product quality attributes simultaneously. To better implement MAM, either for product characterization or for quality control (QC), there is a need for a robust, universal, and high-throughput workflow that can be broadly adopted in different laboratories with minimal barriers to implementation. Manual preparation of samples for MAM, however, is labor intensive and produces nontrivial variations across analysts and laboratories. We describe the development of a fully automated peptide mapping procedure with a high-throughput robotic liquid handling system to improve sample handling capacity and outcome reproducibility while saving analyst hands-on time. Our procedure features the automation of a "microdialysis" step, an efficient desalting approach prior to proteolytic digestion that optimizes digestion completeness and consistency each time. The workflow is completely hands-free and requires the analyst only to pre-normalize the sample concentrations and to load buffers and reagents at their designated positions on the robotic deck. The robotic liquid handler performs all the subsequent preparation steps and stores the digested samples on a chiller unit to await retrieval for further analysis. We also demonstrate that the manual and automated procedures are comparable with regard to protein sequence coverage, digestion completeness and consistency, and quantification of posttranslational modifications. Notably, in contrast to a previously reported automated sample preparation protocol that relied on customized accessories, all components in our automation procedure are commercial products that are readily available. In addition, we also present the high-throughput data analysis workflow by using Protein Metrics. The automation procedure can be applied cross-functionally in the biopharmaceutical industry and, given its practicality and reproducibility, can pave the way for MAM implementation in QC laboratories.
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16
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Kim J, Kim YJ, Cao M, De Mel N, Albarghouthi M, Miller K, Bee JS, Wang J, Wang X. Analytical characterization of coformulated antibodies as combination therapy. MAbs 2021; 12:1738691. [PMID: 32138591 PMCID: PMC7153825 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2020.1738691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
When two therapeutic agents are combined in a single formulation, i.e., coformulated, the quality and safety of the individual agents must be preserved. Here we describe an approach to evaluate the quality attributes of two individual monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), designated mAb-A and mAb-B, in coformulation. The mAbs were fractionated from heat-stressed coformulated drug product (DP) by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Each purified mAb fraction was then compared with mAb-A and mAb-B in their individual formulations from the same drug substance sources used to make the coformulated DP lot, which was subjected to the same stress conditions. Product variants were evaluated and compared by using several analytical tests, including high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), reducing and nonreducing gel electrophoresis, ion-exchange chromatography, capillary isoelectric focusing, and peptide mapping with mass spectrometry. Intermolecular interactions in coformulated and photostressed DPs were studied by evaluating aggregates fractionated from coformulated DP by HPSEC. Aggregate fractions of coformulated DP contained dimers, but not coaggregates, of mAb-A or mAb-B. Moreover, extensive assays for higher-order structure and biological interactions confirmed that there was no interaction between the two mAb molecules in the coformulation. These results demonstrate that the two coformulated therapeutic mAbs had the same quality attributes as the individually formulated mAb-A and mAb-B, no new quality attributes were formed, and no physicochemical, intermolecular, or biological interactions occurred between the two components. The approach described here can be used to monitor the product quality of other coformulated antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Kim
- Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Yoen Joo Kim
- Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Mingyan Cao
- Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Niluka De Mel
- Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Methal Albarghouthi
- Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | | | - Jared S Bee
- Formulation and Drug Development, REGENXBIO Inc, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jihong Wang
- Analytical Sciences, Viela Bio, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Xiangyang Wang
- Biopharmaceutical Development and Operations, Viela Bio, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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17
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Akram MS, Pery N, Butler L, Shafiq MI, Batool N, Rehman MFU, Grahame-Dunn LG, Yetisen AK. Challenges for biosimilars: focus on rheumatoid arthritis. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2020; 41:121-153. [PMID: 33040628 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2020.1830746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Healthcare systems worldwide are struggling to find ways to fund the cost of innovative treatments such as gene therapies, regenerative medicine, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). As the world's best known mAbs are close to facing patent expirations, the biosimilars market is poised to grow with the hope of bringing prices down for cancer treatment and autoimmune disorders, however, this has yet to be realized. The development costs of biosimilars are significantly higher than their generic equivalents due to therapeutic equivalence trials and higher manufacturing costs. It is imperative that academics and relevant companies understand the costs and stages associated with biologics processing. This article brings these costs to the forefront with a focus on biosimilars being developed for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). mAbs have remarkably changed the treatment landscape, establishing their superior efficacy over traditional small chemicals. Five blockbuster TNFα mAbs, considered as first line biologics against RA, are either at the end of their patent life or have already expired and manufacturers are seeking to capture a significant portion of that market. Although in principle, market-share should be available, withstanding that the challenges regarding the compliance and regulations are being resolved, particularly with regards to variation in the glycosylation patterns and challenges associated with manufacturing. Glycan variants can significantly affect the quality attributes requiring characterization throughout production. Successful penetration of biologics can drive down prices and this will be a welcome change for patients and the healthcare providers. Herein we review the biologic TNFα inhibitors, which are on the market, in development, and the challenges being faced by biosimilar manufacturers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Safwan Akram
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK.,National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
| | - Neelam Pery
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Lucy Butler
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK.,National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
| | | | - Nayab Batool
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Ali K Yetisen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
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18
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Krieg D, Berner C, Winter G, Svilenov HL. Biophysical Characterization of Binary Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibody Mixtures. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:2971-2986. [PMID: 32687367 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Coformulations containing two therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) could offer various benefits like enhanced therapeutic efficacy and better patient compliance. However, there are very few published studies on coformulations and binary mixtures of mAbs. It remains unclear to what extent mAbs with different physicochemical properties can be combined in solution without detrimental effects on protein stability. Here, we present a study including six model mAbs of the IgG1 subclass that are commercially available. In silico and biophysical characterization shows that the proteins have different physicochemical properties. Thus, their combinations represent various scenarios for coformulation development. We prepared all possible binary mixtures of the six mAbs and determined several biophysical parameters that are assessed during early-stage protein drug product development. The measured biophysical parameters are indicative of the conformational protein stability (inflection points of the thermal protein unfolding transitions) and the colloidal protein stability (aggregation onset temperatures and interaction parameter kD from dynamic light scattering). Remarkably, all 15 binary mAb mixtures do not exhibit biophysical parameters that indicate inferior conformational or colloidal stability compared to the least stable mAb in the mixture. Our findings suggest that the coformulation of some therapeutic monoclonal antibodies of the IgG1 subclass could be possible in a straightforward way as severe detrimental effects on the stability of these proteins in binary mixtures were not observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Krieg
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich D-81377, Germany
| | - Carolin Berner
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich D-81377, Germany
| | - Gerhard Winter
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich D-81377, Germany
| | - Hristo L Svilenov
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich D-81377, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Garching 85747, Germany
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19
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Sharma VK, Misra B, McManus KT, Avula S, Nellaiappan K, Caskey M, Horowitz J, Nussenzweig MC, Seaman MS, Javeri I, Dey AK. Characterization of Co-Formulated High-Concentration Broadly Neutralizing Anti-HIV-1 Monoclonal Antibodies for Subcutaneous Administration. Antibodies (Basel) 2020; 9:antib9030036. [PMID: 32751063 PMCID: PMC7551838 DOI: 10.3390/antib9030036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of numerous potent and broad neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein has invigorated the potential of using them as an effective preventative and therapeutic agent. The majority of the anti-HIV-1 antibodies, currently under clinical investigation, are formulated singly for intra-venous (IV) infusion. However, due to the high degree of genetic variability in the case of HIV-1, a single broad neutralizing antibody will likely not be sufficient to protect against the broad range of viral isolates. To that end, delivery of two or more co-formulated bnAbs against HIV-1 in a single subcutaneous (SC) injection is highly desired. We, therefore, co-formulated two anti-HIV bnAbs, 3BNC117-LS and 10-1074-LS, to a total concentration of 150 mg/mL for SC administration and analyzed them using a panel of analytical techniques. Chromatographic based methods, such as RP-HPLC, CEX-HPLC, SEC-HPLC, were developed to ensure separation and detection of each antibody in the co-formulated sample. In addition, we used a panel of diverse pseudoviruses to detect the functionality of individual antibodies in the co-formulation. We also used these methods to test the stability of the co-formulated antibodies and believe that such an approach can support future efforts towards the formulation and characterization of multiple high-concentration antibodies for SC delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaneet K. Sharma
- IAVI, 125 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004, USA; (V.K.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Bijay Misra
- CuriRx, Inc., 205 Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA 01887, USA; (B.M.); (K.N.); (I.J.)
| | - Kevin T. McManus
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (K.T.M.); (M.S.S.)
| | - Sreenivas Avula
- IAVI, 125 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004, USA; (V.K.S.); (S.A.)
| | | | - Marina Caskey
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; (M.C.); (J.H.); (M.C.N.)
| | - Jill Horowitz
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; (M.C.); (J.H.); (M.C.N.)
| | - Michel C. Nussenzweig
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; (M.C.); (J.H.); (M.C.N.)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michael S. Seaman
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (K.T.M.); (M.S.S.)
| | - Indu Javeri
- CuriRx, Inc., 205 Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA 01887, USA; (B.M.); (K.N.); (I.J.)
| | - Antu K. Dey
- IAVI, 125 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004, USA; (V.K.S.); (S.A.)
- Correspondence:
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20
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Recent advances in LC–MS based characterization of protein-based bio-therapeutics – mastering analytical challenges posed by the increasing format complexity. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2020; 186:113251. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2020.113251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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21
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Cao M, Xu W, Niu B, Kabundi I, Luo H, Prophet M, Chen W, Liu D, Saveliev SV, Urh M, Wang J. An Automated and Qualified Platform Method for Site-Specific Succinimide and Deamidation Quantitation Using Low-pH Peptide Mapping. J Pharm Sci 2019; 108:3540-3549. [DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2019.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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22
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Tuning selectivity in cation-exchange chromatography applied for monoclonal antibody separations, part 2: Evaluation of recent stationary phases. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019; 172:320-328. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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