Inefficient transcription is a production bottleneck for artificial therapeutic BiTE® proteins

Antibodies are potent biopharmaceuticals used to treat severe diseases, including cancers. During the past decade, more complex modalities have been developed including bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) molecules, e.g. by Amgen. However, non-natural and complex molecule formats often prove to be difficult-to-express (DTE), which is the case for BiTE® molecules. Due to the growing importance of multispecific modalities such as half-life extended (HLE) BiTE® and HLE dual-targeting bispecific T-cell engager (dBiTE) molecules, this artificial class of therapeutic proteins was investigated for molecular bottlenecks in stable production cell lines, by analyzing all relevant steps of recombinant protein production. As a result, drastically reduced intracellular BiTE® molecule-encoding mRNA levels were identified as a potential production bottleneck. Using in vitro transcription (IVT), the transcription rate of the BiTE® molecule-encoding mRNA was identified as the root cause for reduced amounts of intracellular mRNA. In an attempt to improve the transcription rate of a BiTE® molecule, it could be demonstrated that the artificial and special structure of the BiTE® molecule was not the rate limiting step for reduced IVT rate. However, modulation of the primary DNA sequence led to significant improvement of IVT rate. The analyses presented provide insight into the HLE BiTE® / HLE d(BiTE®) class of DTE proteins and perhaps into other classes of DTE proteins, and therefore may lead to identification of further production bottlenecks and optimization strategies to overcome manufacturability challenges associated with various complex therapeutics.

A novel system for glycosylation engineering by natural and artificial miRNAs

N-linked glycosylation is a crucial post-translational modification of many biopharmaceuticals, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), capable of modifying their biological effect in patients and thus considered as a critical quality attribute (CQA). However, expression of desired and consistent glycosylation patterns remains a constant challenge for the biopharmaceutical industry and constitutes the need for tools to engineer glycosylation. Small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) are known regulators of entire gene networks and have therefore the potential of being used as tools for modulation of glycosylation pathways and for glycoengineering. Here, we demonstrate that novel identified natural miRNAs are capable of altering N-linked glycosylation patterns on mAbs expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We established a workflow for a functional high-throughput screening of a complete miRNA mimic library and identified 82 miRNA sequences affecting various moieties including galactosylation, sialylation, and α-1,6 linked core-fucosylation, an important glycan feature influencing antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC). Subsequent validation shed light on the intra-cellular mode of action and the impact on the cellular fucosylation pathway of miRNAs reducing core-fucosylation. While multiplex approaches increased phenotypic effects on the glycan structure, a synthetic biology approach utilizing rational design of artificial miRNAs further enhanced the potential of miRNAs as novel, versatile and tune-able tools for engineering of N-linked glycosylation pathways and expressed glycosylation patterns towards favourable phenotypes.

Short-term continuous infusion of human parathyroid hormone 1-34 fragment is catabolic with decreased trabecular connectivity density accompanied by hypercalcemia in C57BL/J6 mice

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates bone resorption as well as bone formation in vivo and in organ culture. The catabolic actions of PTH have been recognized in patients with hyperparathyroidism, or with acute infusion of the N-terminal 1-34 fragment of human PTH (hPTH1-34). Whereas the anabolic actions of daily injection with PTH have been well studied in both humans and mice, the catabolic actions of PTH on murine bone remain to be defined. To do this we sought to create a model with short-term, sustained hyperparathyroidism using osmotic infusion pumps. We treated 10-week-old female C57BL/J6 mice with continuous infusion of hPTH1-34 (8.1 pmol/0.25 microl per h, equivalent to 40 microg/kg per day) or vehicle for 2 weeks, using Alzet osmotic pumps. Bone mineral density (BMD), serum total calcium, hPTH1-34, mouse intact PTH (mPTH1-84), osteocalcin and mouse tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (mTRAP) activity, and microarchitectural variables of the distal femur were measured. Separately, we compared the effects of intermittent daily injection of hPTH1-34 (40 microg/kg per day) with continuous infusion of hPTH1-34 on BMD and bone markers. Exogenous hPTH1-34 was detected only in the PTH-infused mice. Both intermittent and continuous treatment with hPTH1-34 markedly suppressed endogenous mPTH1-84, but only the latter induced hypercalcemia. Daily PTH injection significantly increased both serum osteocalcin and mTRAP, while continuous PTH infusion showed a strong trend to stimulate mTRAP, with a slight but non-significant increase in osteocalcin. There were significant differences in BMD at all sites between animals treated with the same daily dose of intermittent and continuous hPTH1-34. Micro-computed tomography (muCT) analysis of the distal femurs revealed that hPTH1-34 infusion significantly decreased trabecular connectivity density (P<0.05). Thus, the murine bone response to continuous PTH infusion was quite different from that seen with daily PTH injection. Short-term infusion of hPTH1-34 appears to be a good model to study the mechanisms underlying the catabolic action of PTH in mice.

Suitability of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piping in pharmaceutical ultrapure water applications

This paper discusses polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as an alternative to stainless steel in pharmaceutical ultrapure water piping systems. Two leading Swiss companies, a piping systems supplier and a pharmaceutical manufacturer, teamed together to jointly carryout the research. Issues addressed are metallic contamination, microbial concerns, piping system functionally and ozone resistance. Comparisons between PVDF and stainless steel are made when necessary.

Identification of a major co-receptor for primary isolates of HIV-1

Entry of HIV-1 into target cells requires cell-surface CD4 and additional host cell cofactors. A cofactor required for infection with virus adapted for growth in transformed T-cell lines was recently identified and named fusin. However, fusin does not promote entry of macrophage-tropic viruses, which are believed to be the key pathogenic strains in vivo. The principal cofactor for entry mediated by the envelope glycoproteins of primary macrophage-tropic strains of HIV-1 is CC-CKR-5, a receptor for the beta-chemokines RANTES, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta.

Acute fluoride poisoning in a New Mexico elementary school

Thirty-four persons became ill with acute fluoride poisoning shortly after drinking water in an elementary school in Los Lunas, NM. The water supply of the school was supplemented with a concentrated sodium fluoride solution designed to raise fluoride levels in drinking water to 1 to 5 ppm. Two water samples taken after the incident was reported showed elevated fluoride levels of 375 and 93.5 ppm. Malfunction of a relay switch controlling dilution of the fluoride solution produced toxic fluoride levels in the water. The symptoms of all patients were mild and generally of short duration, with two thirds of patients reporting complete resolution within 24 hours. The bitter, salty taste of the water deterred consumption of large amounts and prevented serious intoxication.