1
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Armstrong GB, Shah V, Sanches P, Patel M, Casey R, Jamieson C, Burley GA, Lewis W, Rattray Z. A framework for the biophysical screening of antibody mutations targeting solvent-accessible hydrophobic and electrostatic patches for enhanced viscosity profiles. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:2345-2357. [PMID: 38867721 PMCID: PMC11167247 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The formulation of high-concentration monoclonal antibody (mAb) solutions in low dose volumes for autoinjector devices poses challenges in manufacturability and patient administration due to elevated solution viscosity. Often many therapeutically potent mAbs are discovered, but their commercial development is stalled by unfavourable developability challenges. In this work, we present a systematic experimental framework for the computational screening of molecular descriptors to guide the design of 24 mutants with modified viscosity profiles accompanied by experimental evaluation. Our experimental observations using a model anti-IL8 mAb and eight engineered mutant variants reveal that viscosity reduction is influenced by the location of hydrophobic interactions, while targeting positively charged patches significantly increases viscosity in comparison to wild-type anti-IL-8 mAb. We conclude that most predicted in silico physicochemical properties exhibit poor correlation with measured experimental parameters for antibodies with suboptimal developability characteristics, emphasizing the need for comprehensive case-by-case evaluation of mAbs. This framework combining molecular design and triage via computational predictions with experimental evaluation aids the agile and rational design of mAbs with tailored solution viscosities, ensuring improved manufacturability and patient convenience in self-administration scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina B. Armstrong
- Drug Substance Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, UK
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Vidhi Shah
- Large Molecule Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, UK
| | - Paula Sanches
- Drug Substance Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, UK
| | - Mitul Patel
- Drug Substance Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, UK
| | - Ricky Casey
- Drug Substance Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, UK
| | - Craig Jamieson
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Glenn A. Burley
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - William Lewis
- Drug Substance Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, UK
| | - Zahra Rattray
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
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2
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Zürcher D, Wuchner K, Arosio P. Real-Time Observation of Protein Aggregation at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces in a Microfluidic Device. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2401085. [PMID: 39175118 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202401085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
A droplet microfluidic device to capture in real-time protein aggregation at liquid-liquid interfaces is described. In contrast to conventional methods, typically characterized by a lag time between the application of interfacial stress and the measurement of protein aggregation, here protein adsorption, the formation of a viscoelastic protein layer, aggregation, and shedding of protein particles into solution is simultaneously monitored. The device is applied to analyze the stability of antibody formulations over a wide range of concentrations (1-180 mg mL-1) at the silicone oil (SO)-water interface under controlled mechanical deformation. The adsorption onto oil droplets induces the formation of a viscoelastic protein layer on a subsecond timescale, which progressively restricts the relaxation of the droplets within the chip. Upon mechanical rupture, the protein layer releases particles in solution. The rate of particle formation increases strongly with concentration, similar to the bulk viscosity. Concentrations above 120 mg mL-1 lead to aggregation in seconds and drastically decrease the mechanical perturbations required to shed protein particles in solution. These results are important for the development of formulations at high-protein concentrations (>100 mg mL-1) and indicate that particular attention should be given to interface-induced particle formation in this concentration range. In this context, low-volume microfluidic platforms allow the assessment of protein physical instabilities early in development and represent attractive tools to optimize antibody stability and formulation design consuming limited amounts of material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Zürcher
- ETH Zürich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Wuchner
- Cilag GmbH International, a division of Johnson & Johnson, TDS-Biologics, Analytical Development, Schaffhausen, 8200, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Arosio
- ETH Zürich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
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3
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Manning MC, Holcomb RE, Payne RW, Stillahn JM, Connolly BD, Katayama DS, Liu H, Matsuura JE, Murphy BM, Henry CS, Crommelin DJA. Stability of Protein Pharmaceuticals: Recent Advances. Pharm Res 2024; 41:1301-1367. [PMID: 38937372 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-024-03726-x] [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: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
There have been significant advances in the formulation and stabilization of proteins in the liquid state over the past years since our previous review. Our mechanistic understanding of protein-excipient interactions has increased, allowing one to develop formulations in a more rational fashion. The field has moved towards more complex and challenging formulations, such as high concentration formulations to allow for subcutaneous administration and co-formulation. While much of the published work has focused on mAbs, the principles appear to apply to any therapeutic protein, although mAbs clearly have some distinctive features. In this review, we first discuss chemical degradation reactions. This is followed by a section on physical instability issues. Then, more specific topics are addressed: instability induced by interactions with interfaces, predictive methods for physical stability and interplay between chemical and physical instability. The final parts are devoted to discussions how all the above impacts (co-)formulation strategies, in particular for high protein concentration solutions.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Cornell Manning
- Legacy BioDesign LLC, Johnstown, CO, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Ryan E Holcomb
- Legacy BioDesign LLC, Johnstown, CO, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Robert W Payne
- Legacy BioDesign LLC, Johnstown, CO, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Joshua M Stillahn
- Legacy BioDesign LLC, Johnstown, CO, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Charles S Henry
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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4
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Park J, Liu R, Kim AS, Cyr NN, Boehlein SK, Resende MFR, Savin DA, Bailey LS, Sumerlin BS, Hudalla GA. Sweet corn phytoglycogen dendrimers as a lyoprotectant for dry-state protein storage. J Biomed Mater Res A 2024. [PMID: 38856491 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37761] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Protein biotherapeutics typically require expensive cold-chain storage to maintain their fold and function. Packaging proteins in the dry state via lyophilization can reduce these cold-chain requirements. However, formulating proteins for lyophilization often requires extensive optimization of excipients that both maintain the protein folded state during freezing and drying (i.e., "cryoprotection" and "lyoprotection"), and form a cake to carry the dehydrated protein. Here we show that sweet corn phytoglycogens, which are glucose dendrimers, can act as both a protein lyoprotectant and a cake-forming agent. Phytoglycogen (PG) dendrimers from 16 different maize sources (PG1-16) were extracted via ethanol precipitation. PG size was generally consistent at ~70-100 nm for all variants, whereas the colloidal stability in water, protein contaminant level, and maximum density of cytocompatibility varied for PG1-16. 10 mg/mL PG1, 2, 9, 13, 15, and 16 maintained the activity of various proteins, including green fluorescent protein, lysozyme, β-galactosidase, and horseradish peroxidase, over a broad range of concentrations, through multiple rounds of lyophilization. PG13 was identified as the lead excipient candidate as it demonstrated narrow dispersity, colloidal stability in phosphate-buffered saline, low protein contaminants, and cytocompatibility up to 10 mg/mL in NIH3T3 cell cultures. All dry protein-PG13 mixtures had a cake-like appearance and all frozen protein-PG13 mixtures had a Tg' of ~ -26°C. The lyoprotection and cake-forming properties of PG13 were density-dependent, requiring a minimum density of 5 mg/mL for maximum activity. Collectively these data establish PG dendrimers as a new class of excipient to formulate proteins in the dry state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junha Park
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Renjie Liu
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Alexander S Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Noah N Cyr
- Polymer Chemical Characterization Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Susan K Boehlein
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Marcio F R Resende
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Daniel A Savin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Polymer Chemical Characterization Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Laura S Bailey
- Polymer Chemical Characterization Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Brent S Sumerlin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Polymer Chemical Characterization Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Gregory A Hudalla
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Mathias N, Huille S, Picci M, Mahoney RP, Pettis RJ, Case B, Helk B, Kang D, Shah R, Ma J, Bhattacharya D, Krishnamachari Y, Doucet D, Maksimovikj N, Babaee S, Garidel P, Esfandiary R, Gandhi R. Towards more tolerable subcutaneous administration: Review of contributing factors for improving combination product design. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 209:115301. [PMID: 38570141 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115301] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Subcutaneous (SC) injections can be associated with local pain and discomfort that is subjective and may affect treatment adherence and overall patient experience. With innovations increasingly focused on finding ways to deliver higher doses and volumes (≥2 mL), there is a need to better understand the multiple intertwined factors that influence pain upon SC injection. As a priority for the SC Drug Development & Delivery Consortium, this manuscript provides a comprehensive review of known attributes from published literature that contribute to pain/discomfort upon SC injection from three perspectives: (1) device and delivery factors that cause physical pain, (2) formulation factors that trigger pain responses, and (3) human factors impacting pain perception. Leveraging the Consortium's collective expertise, we provide an assessment of the comparative and interdependent factors likely to impact SC injection pain. In addition, we offer expert insights and future perspectives to fill identified gaps in knowledge to help advance the development of patient-centric and well tolerated high-dose/high-volume SC drug delivery solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Mathias
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Co., 1 Squibb Dr, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901 USA
| | - Sylvain Huille
- Sanofi, 13 quai Jules Guesde, 94400 Vitry-Sur-Seine, France.
| | - Marie Picci
- Novartis Pharma AG, Fabrikstrasse 4, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Robert P Mahoney
- Comera Life Sciences, 12 Gill St, Suite 4650, Woburn, MA 01801 USA
| | - Ronald J Pettis
- Becton-Dickinson, 21 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27513 USA
| | - Brian Case
- KORU Medical Systems, 100 Corporate Dr, Mahwah, NJ 07430 USA
| | - Bernhard Helk
- Novartis Pharma AG, Werk Klybeck, WKL-681.4.42, CH-4057 Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Kang
- Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., 12390 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130 USA
| | - Ronak Shah
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Co., 1 Squibb Dr, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901 USA
| | - Junchi Ma
- Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, 200 Great Valley Pkwy, Malvern, PA 19355 USA
| | | | | | - Dany Doucet
- GSK, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426 USA
| | | | - Sahab Babaee
- Merck & Co., Inc., 126 E. Lincoln Ave., Rahway, NJ 07065 USA
| | - Patrick Garidel
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach/Riss, Germany
| | | | - Rajesh Gandhi
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Co., 1 Squibb Dr, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901 USA
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6
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Barlang LA, Deimel I, Mohl BP, Blaurock C, Balkema-Buschmann A, Weinbender K, Hess B, Obernolte H, Merkel OM, Popp A. Distribution and suitability of pulmonary surfactants as a vehicle for topically applied antibodies in healthy and SARS-CoV-2 infected rodent lungs. Eur J Pharm Sci 2024; 196:106744. [PMID: 38471595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106744] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The use of natural pulmonary surfactants (PS) as a drug delivery vehicle for biologics is a more recent therapeutic modality. Herein, we tested different contents of PS regarding their physicochemical properties under stress conditions. The PS content of 12.25 mg/ml (Formulation B) showed desired properties such as an isotonic osmolality ∼300 mOsm/kg and an acceptable viscosity of 8.61 cSt, being lower than in commercially available PS solutions. Formulation B passed the specifications of surface lowering capacities of >80 % total lung capacity and physiologically desired formulation properties were independent of the antibody used in the composition. The identified formulation showed the capability of significantly increasing the oxygen saturation in ex vivo isolated perfused rat lungs, compared to a control and up to 30 min post lavage. In the in vivo setting, we showed that intratracheal administration of a human mAB with and without pulmonary surfactant led to higher amounts of delivered antibody within the alveolar tissue compared to intravenous administration. The antibody with the PS formulation remained longer in the alveolar tissues than the antibody without the PS formulation. Further, SARS-CoV-2 infected Golden Syrian hamsters showed that the intranasally applied antibody reached the site of infection in the alveoli and could be detected in the alveolar region 24 h after the last administration. With this work, we demonstrated that pulmonary surfactants can be used as a pulmonary drug delivery mechanism for antibodies and may subsequently improve the antibody efficacy by increasing the residence time at the desired site of action in the alveolar tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea-Adriana Barlang
- Preclinical Safety, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstraße, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstraße 5‑13, 8133 Munich, Germany; Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstraße, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany.
| | - Isabelle Deimel
- Biologics Drug Product Development Department, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co.KG, Knollstraße, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Björn-Patrick Mohl
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald- Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Claudia Blaurock
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald- Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Anne Balkema-Buschmann
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald- Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Kristina Weinbender
- Preclinical Safety, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstraße, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Brian Hess
- Quality Control Laboratories, AbbVie Inc. Illinois, USA
| | - Helena Obernolte
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology and In Vitro Toxicology, Fraunhofer ITEM, Nikolai-Fuchs-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Olivia M Merkel
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstraße 5‑13, 8133 Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Popp
- Preclinical Safety, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstraße, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany
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7
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Du Y, Song J, Lu L, Yeung E, Givand J, Procopio A, Su Y, Hu G. Design of a Reciprocal Injection Device for Stability Studies of Parenteral Biological Drug Products. J Pharm Sci 2024; 113:1330-1338. [PMID: 38113997 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2023.12.014] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Formulation screening, essential for assessing the impact of physical, chemical, and mechanical stresses on protein stability, plays a critical role in biologics drug product development. This research introduces a Reciprocal Injection Device (RID) designed to accelerate formulation screening by probing protein stability under intensified stress conditions within prefilled syringes. This versatile device is designed to accommodate a broad spectrum of injection parameters and diverse syringe dimensions. A commercial drug product was employed as a model monoclonal antibody formulation. Our findings effectively highlight the efficacy of the RID in assessing concentration-dependent protein stability. This device exhibits significant potential to amplify the influences of interfacial interactions, such as those with buffer salts, excipients, air, metals, and silicone oils, commonly found in combination drug products, and to evaluate the protein stability under varied stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Du
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, United States
| | - Jing Song
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, United States
| | - Lynn Lu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, United States
| | - Edward Yeung
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, United States
| | - Jeffrey Givand
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, United States
| | - Adam Procopio
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, United States
| | - Yongchao Su
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, United States.
| | - Guangli Hu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, United States.
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8
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Szabo R, Nagy C, Gaspar A. Direct Injection Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) Analysis of Proteins with High Matrix Content:Utilizing Taylor-Aris Dispersion. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202318225. [PMID: 38294363 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202318225] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
This is the first work demonstrating the utility of the Taylor-Aris (TA) dispersion in avoiding serious interference issues commonly occurring in the electrospray ionization-mass spectrometric (ESI-MS) determination of therapeutic protein pharmaceuticals undergoing no pre-separation or sample purification. It was also pointed out that the TA dispersion conditions and its analytical utilization for proteomics can be easily accomplished in a commercial CE-MS instrument. In the proposed Taylor-Aris dispersion-assisted mass spectrometry (TADA-MS) analysis 0.5 μL sample is injected into a 65 cm long 50 μm i.d. capillary and pumped with 1 bar toward the MS. The procedure is efficient for the direct injection analysis of components having low diffusion coefficients (proteins) that are present in complex matrices of small organic and inorganic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Szabo
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Cynthia Nagy
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Attila Gaspar
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
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9
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Guo J, Weng J, Zhu Q, Zhou F, Chen Q, Gu X, Zhou W. A Review of Recent FDA-Approved Biologic-Device Combination Products. J Pharm Sci 2024; 113:866-879. [PMID: 38160713 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2023.12.022] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
With the remarkably strong growth of the biopharmaceutical market, an increasing demand for self-administration and rising competitions attract substantial interest to the biologic-device combination products. The ease-of-use of biologic-device combination products can minimize dosing error, improve patient compliance and add value to the life-cycle management of biological products. As listed in the purple book issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a total of 98 brand biologic-device combination products have been approved with Biologic License Application from January 2000 to August 2023, where this review mainly focused on 63 products containing neither insulin nor vaccine. Prefilled syringes (PFS) and autoinjectors are the most widely adopted devices, whereas innovative modifications like needle safety guard and dual-chamber design and novel devices like on-body injector also emerged as promising presentations. All 16 insulin products employ pen injectors, while all 19 vaccine products are delivered by a PFS. This review provides a systematic summary of FDA-approved biologic-device combination products regarding their device configurations, routes of administration, formulations, instructions for use, etc. In addition, challenges and opportunities associated with biologic-device compatibility, regulatory complexity, and smart connected devices are also discussed. It is believed that evolving technologies will definitely move the boundaries of biologic-device combination product development even further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Guo
- Drug Product Development, WuXi Biologics, China.
| | | | - Qiurong Zhu
- Drug Product Development, WuXi Biologics, China
| | | | | | - Xuejun Gu
- Drug Product Development, WuXi Biologics, China
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10
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Floyd JA, Gillespie AJ, Nightlinger NS, Siska C, Kerwin BA. The Development of a Novel Aflibercept Formulation for Ocular Delivery. J Pharm Sci 2024; 113:366-376. [PMID: 38042344 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2023.11.022] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Aflibercept is a recombinant fusion protein that is commercially available for several ocular diseases impacting millions of people worldwide. Here, we use a case study approach to examine alternative liquid formulations for aflibercept for ocular delivery, utilizing different stabilizers, buffering agents, and surfactants with the goal of improving the thermostability to allow for limited storage outside the cold chain. The formulations were developed by studying the effects of pH changes, substituting amino acids for sucrose and salt, and using polysorbate 80 or poloxamer 188 instead of polysorbate 20. A formulation containing acetate, proline, and poloxamer 188 had lower rates of aggregate formation at 4, 30, and 40°C when compared to the marketed commercial formulation containing phosphate, sucrose, sodium chloride, and polysorbate 20. Further studies examining subvisible particles after exposure to a transport stress and long-term stability at 4°C, post-translational modifications by multi-attribute method, purity by reduced and non-reduced capillary electrophoresis, and potency by cell proliferation also demonstrated a comparable or improved stability for the enhanced formulation of acetate, proline, and poloxamer 188. This enhanced stability could enable limited storage outside of the cold chain, allowing for easier distribution in low to middle income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alaina Floyd
- Just- Evotec Biologics, 401 Terry Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | | | | | - Christine Siska
- Just- Evotec Biologics, 401 Terry Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Bruce A Kerwin
- Just- Evotec Biologics, 401 Terry Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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11
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Alfaleh MA, Alsulaiman RM, Almahboub SA, Nezamuldeen L, Zawawi A, Aljehani ND, Yasir M, Abdulal RH, Alkhaldi R, Helal A, Alamri SS, Malki J, Alhabbab RY, Abujamel TS, Alhakamy NA, Alnami A, Algaissi A, Hassanain M, Hashem AM. ACE2-Fc and DPP4-Fc decoy receptors against SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV variants: a quick therapeutic option for current and future coronaviruses outbreaks. Antib Ther 2024; 7:53-66. [PMID: 38371953 PMCID: PMC10873275 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbad030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are highly pathogenic human coronaviruses (CoVs). Anti-CoVs mAbs and vaccines may be effective, but the emergence of neutralization escape variants is inevitable. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 enzyme are the getaway receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV, respectively. Thus, we reformatted these receptors as Fc-fusion decoy receptors. Then, we tested them in parallel with anti-SARS-CoV (ab1-IgG) and anti-MERS-CoV (M336-IgG) mAbs against several variants using pseudovirus neutralization assay. The generated Fc-based decoy receptors exhibited a strong inhibitory effect against all pseudotyped CoVs. Results showed that although mAbs can be effective antiviral drugs, they might rapidly lose their efficacy against highly mutated viruses. We suggest that receptor traps can be engineered as Fc-fusion proteins for highly mutating viruses with known entry receptors, for a faster and effective therapeutic response even against virus harboring antibodies escape mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A Alfaleh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem M Alsulaiman
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah A Almahboub
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leena Nezamuldeen
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayat Zawawi
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najwa D Aljehani
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Yasir
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rwaa H Abdulal
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rami Alkhaldi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Assala Helal
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sawsan S Alamri
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jana Malki
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rowa Y Alhabbab
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Turki S Abujamel
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabil A Alhakamy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aisha Alnami
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Algaissi
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mazen Hassanain
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar M Hashem
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
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12
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Heisler J, Kovner D, Izadi S, Zarzar J, Carter PJ. Modulation of the high concentration viscosity of IgG 1 antibodies using clinically validated Fc mutations. MAbs 2024; 16:2379560. [PMID: 39028186 PMCID: PMC11262234 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2024.2379560] [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: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The self-association of therapeutic antibodies can result in elevated viscosity and create problems in manufacturing and formulation, as well as limit delivery by subcutaneous injection. The high concentration viscosity of some antibodies has been reduced by variable domain mutations or by the addition of formulation excipients. In contrast, the impact of Fc mutations on antibody viscosity has been minimally explored. Here, we studied the effect of a panel of common and clinically validated Fc mutations on the viscosity of two closely related humanized IgG1, κ antibodies, omalizumab (anti-IgE) and trastuzumab (anti-HER2). Data presented here suggest that both Fab-Fab and Fab-Fc interactions contribute to the high viscosity of omalizumab, in a four-contact model of self-association. Most strikingly, the high viscosity of omalizumab (176 cP) was reduced 10.7- and 2.2-fold by Fc modifications for half-life extension (M252Y:S254T:T256E) and aglycosylation (N297G), respectively. Related single mutations (S254T and T256E) each reduced the viscosity of omalizumab by ~6-fold. An alternative half-life extension Fc mutant (M428L:N434S) had the opposite effect in increasing the viscosity of omalizumab by 1.5-fold. The low viscosity of trastuzumab (8.6 cP) was unchanged or increased by ≤ 2-fold by the different Fc variants. Molecular dynamics simulations provided mechanistic insight into the impact of Fc mutations in modulating electrostatic and hydrophobic surface properties as well as conformational stability of the Fc. This study demonstrates that high viscosity of some IgG1 antibodies can be mitigated by Fc mutations, and thereby offers an additional tool to help design future antibody therapeutics potentially suitable for subcutaneous delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Heisler
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Kovner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Development, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Saeed Izadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Development, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Zarzar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Development, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paul J. Carter
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
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13
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Dai J, Izadi S, Zarzar J, Wu P, Oh A, Carter PJ. Variable domain mutational analysis to probe the molecular mechanisms of high viscosity of an IgG 1 antibody. MAbs 2024; 16:2304282. [PMID: 38269489 PMCID: PMC10813588 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2024.2304282] [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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Subcutaneous injection is the preferred route of administration for many antibody therapeutics for reasons that include its speed and convenience. However, the small volume limit (typically ≤ 2 mL) for subcutaneous delivery often necessitates antibody formulations at high concentrations (commonly ≥100 mg/mL), which may lead to physicochemical problems. For example, antibodies with large hydrophobic or charged patches can be prone to self-interaction giving rise to high viscosity. Here, we combined X-ray crystallography with computational modeling to predict regions of an anti-glucagon receptor (GCGR) IgG1 antibody prone to self-interaction. An extensive mutational analysis was undertaken of the complementarity-determining region residues residing in hydrophobic surface patches predicted by spatial aggregation propensity, in conjunction with residue-level solvent accessibility, averaged over conformational ensembles from molecular dynamics simulations. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used as a medium throughput screen for self-interaction of ~ 200 anti-GCGR IgG1 variants. A negative correlation was found between the viscosity determined at high concentration (180 mg/mL) and the DLS interaction parameter measured at low concentration (2-10 mg/mL). Additionally, anti-GCGR variants were readily identified with reduced viscosity and antigen-binding affinity within a few fold of the parent antibody, with no identified impact on overall developability. The methods described here may be useful in the optimization of other antibodies to facilitate their therapeutic administration at high concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Dai
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Saeed Izadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Development, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Zarzar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Development, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Wu
- Department of Bioanalytical Sciences, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Angela Oh
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paul J. Carter
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
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14
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Härdter N, Geidobler R, Presser I, Winter G. Microwave-Assisted Freeze-Drying: Impact of Microwave Radiation on the Quality of High-Concentration Antibody Formulations. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2783. [PMID: 38140123 PMCID: PMC10747838 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15122783] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Microwave-assisted freeze-drying (MFD) offers significant time savings compared to conventional freeze-drying (CFD). While a few studies have investigated the stability of biopharmaceuticals with low protein concentrations after MFD and storage, the impact of MFD on high-concentration monoclonal antibody (mAb) formulations remains unclear. In this study, we systematically examined the effect of protein concentration in MFD and assessed protein stability following MFD, CFD, and subsequent storage using seven protein formulations with various stabilizers and concentrations. We demonstrated that microwaves directly interact with the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), leading to decreased physical stability, specifically aggregation, in high-concentration antibody formulations. Furthermore, typically used sugar:protein ratios from CFD were insufficient for stabilizing mAbs when applying microwaves. We identified the intermediate drying phase as the most critical for particle formation, and cooling the samples provided some protection for the mAb. Our findings suggest that MFD technology may not be universally applicable to formulations well tested in CFD and could be particularly beneficial for formulations with low API concentrations requiring substantial amounts of glass-forming excipients, such as vaccines and RNA-based products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Härdter
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Raimund Geidobler
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Pharmaceutical Development Biologicals, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Ingo Presser
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Pharmaceutical Development Biologicals, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Gerhard Winter
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
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15
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Dahmana N, Destruel PL, Facchetti S, Braun V, Lebouc V, Marin Z, Patel S, Schwach G. Reversible protein complexes as a promising avenue for the development of high concentration formulations of biologics. Int J Pharm 2023; 648:123616. [PMID: 37977291 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123616] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
High concentration formulations have become an important pre-requisite in the development of biological drugs, particularly in the case of subcutaneous administration where limited injection volume negatively affects the administered dose. In this study, we propose to develop high concentration formulations of biologics using a reversible protein-polyelectrolyte complex (RPC) approach. First, the versatility of RPC was assessed using different complexing agents and formats of therapeutic proteins, to define the optimal conditions for complexation and dissociation of the complex. The stability of the protein was investigated before and after complexation, as well as upon a 4-week storage period at various temperatures. Subsequently, two approaches were selected to develop high concentration RPC formulations: first, using up-concentrated RPC suspensions in aqueous buffers, and second, by generating spray-dried RPC and further resuspension in non-aqueous solvents. Results showed that the RPC concept is applicable to a wide range of therapeutic protein formats and the complexation-dissociation process did not affect the stability of the proteins. High concentration formulations up to 200 mg/mL could be achieved by up-concentrating RPC suspensions in aqueous buffers and RPC suspensions in non-aqueous solvents were concentrated up to 250 mg/mL. Although optimization is needed, our data suggests that RPC may be a promising avenue to achieve high concentration formulations of biologics for subcutaneous administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoual Dahmana
- Pharmaceutical Development & Supplies, PTD Biologics Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Louis Destruel
- Pharmaceutical Development & Supplies, PTD Biologics Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Samantha Facchetti
- Pharmaceutical Development & Supplies, PTD Biologics Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Braun
- Pharmaceutical Development & Supplies, PTD Biologics Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Lebouc
- Pharmaceutical Development & Supplies, PTD Biologics Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zana Marin
- Pharmaceutical Development & Supplies, PTD Biologics Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sulabh Patel
- Pharmaceutical Development & Supplies, PTD Biologics Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gregoire Schwach
- Pharmaceutical Development & Supplies, PTD Biologics Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
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16
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Meleties M, Cooper BM, Marcano-James D, Bhalla AS, Shameem M. Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization in the Production of Protein Therapeutics: Uptake and Effects on Product Quality. J Pharm Sci 2023; 112:2991-3004. [PMID: 37751805 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The aseptic filling of drug products is carried out in pharmaceutical isolators that have been sterilized. A commonly used method for achieving a high level of sterility assurance is vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) sterilization, which is favorable to other methods, such as ethylene oxide sterilization, due to its low cycle times and nontoxic residuals. While VHP cycles are often employed to create a sterile environment within an isolator, they can leave residual levels of hydrogen peroxide behind that can enter the product during fill-finish operations. Due to the oxidizing potential of hydrogen peroxide and the multiple possible sources of uptake along filling lines, the extent of the potential impact on product quality needs to be understood during pharmaceutical development. Herein, different factors affecting hydrogen peroxide uptake, points of entry along the filling line, and possible impacts on product quality are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Meleties
- Formulations Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591 USA.
| | - Bailey M Cooper
- Formulations Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591 USA
| | - Daniela Marcano-James
- Formulations Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591 USA
| | - Amardeep S Bhalla
- Formulations Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591 USA
| | - Mohammed Shameem
- Formulations Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591 USA
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