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van der Kant R, Karow-Zwick AR, Van Durme J, Blech M, Gallardo R, Seeliger D, Aßfalg K, Baatsen P, Compernolle G, Gils A, Studts JM, Schulz P, Garidel P, Schymkowitz J, Rousseau F. Prediction and Reduction of the Aggregation of Monoclonal Antibodies. J Mol Biol 2017; 429:1244-1261. [PMID: 28322916 PMCID: PMC5397608 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein aggregation remains a major area of focus in the production of monoclonal antibodies. Improving the intrinsic properties of antibodies can improve manufacturability, attrition rates, safety, formulation, titers, immunogenicity, and solubility. Here, we explore the potential of predicting and reducing the aggregation propensity of monoclonal antibodies, based on the identification of aggregation-prone regions and their contribution to the thermodynamic stability of the protein. Although aggregation-prone regions are thought to occur in the antigen binding region to drive hydrophobic binding with antigen, we were able to rationally design variants that display a marked decrease in aggregation propensity while retaining antigen binding through the introduction of artificial aggregation gatekeeper residues. The reduction in aggregation propensity was accompanied by an increase in expression titer, showing that reducing protein aggregation is beneficial throughout the development process. The data presented show that this approach can significantly reduce liabilities in novel therapeutic antibodies and proteins, leading to a more efficient path to clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob van der Kant
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, PO 802, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne R Karow-Zwick
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400, Biberach/Riss, Germany
| | - Joost Van Durme
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, PO 802, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michaela Blech
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400, Biberach/Riss, Germany
| | - Rodrigo Gallardo
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, PO 802, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daniel Seeliger
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400, Biberach/Riss, Germany
| | - Kerstin Aßfalg
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400, Biberach/Riss, Germany
| | - Pieter Baatsen
- EM-platform VIB Bio Imaging Core, VIB-KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven
| | - Griet Compernolle
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, PO 820, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ann Gils
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, PO 820, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joey M Studts
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400, Biberach/Riss, Germany
| | - Patrick Schulz
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400, Biberach/Riss, Germany
| | - Patrick Garidel
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400, Biberach/Riss, Germany
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, PO 802, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, PO 802, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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