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Xiaoshan T, Junjie Y, Wenqing W, Yunong Z, Jiaping L, Shanshan L, Kutty Selva N, Kui C. Immunotherapy for treating methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine use disorders. Drug Discov Today 2020; 25:610-619. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Smith LC, Bremer PT, Hwang CS, Zhou B, Ellis B, Hixon MS, Janda KD. Monoclonal Antibodies for Combating Synthetic Opioid Intoxication. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:10489-10503. [PMID: 31187995 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b04872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Opioid abuse in the United States has been declared a national crisis and is exacerbated by an inexpensive, readily available, and illicit supply of synthetic opioids. Specifically, fentanyl and related analogues such as carfentanil pose a significant danger to opioid users due to their high potency and rapid acting depression of respiration. In recent years these synthetic opioids have become the number one cause of drug-related deaths. In our research efforts to combat the public health threat posed by synthetic opioids, we have developed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the fentanyl class of drugs. The mAbs were generated in hybridomas derived from mice vaccinated with a fentanyl conjugate vaccine. Guided by a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) binding assay, we selected six hybridomas that produced mAbs with 10-11 M binding affinity for fentanyl, yet broad cross-reactivity with related fentanyl analogues. In mouse antinociception models, our lead mAb (6A4) could blunt the effects of both fentanyl and carfentanil in a dose-responsive manner. Additionally, mice pretreated with 6A4 displayed enhanced survival when subjected to fentanyl above LD50 doses. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that the antibody sequesters large amounts of these drugs in the blood, thus reducing drug biodistribution to the brain and other tissue. Lastly, the 6A4 mAb could effectively reverse fentanyl/carfentanil-induced antinociception comparable to the opioid antagonist naloxone, the standard of care drug for treating opioid overdose. While naloxone is known for its short half-life, we found the half-life of 6A4 to be approximately 6 days in mice, thus monoclonal antibodies could theoretically be useful in preventing renarcotization events in which opioid intoxication recurs following quick metabolism of naloxone. Our results as a whole demonstrate that monoclonal antibodies could be a desirable treatment modality for synthetic opioid overdose and possibly opioid use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C Smith
- Departments of Chemistry, Immunology and Microbial Science, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 N Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Paul T Bremer
- Departments of Chemistry, Immunology and Microbial Science, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 N Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States.,Cessation Therapeutics LLC , 3031 Tisch Way Ste 505 , San Jose , California 95128 , United States
| | - Candy S Hwang
- Departments of Chemistry, Immunology and Microbial Science, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 N Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States.,Department of Chemistry , Southern Connecticut State University , New Haven , Connecticut 06515 , United States
| | - Bin Zhou
- Departments of Chemistry, Immunology and Microbial Science, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 N Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Beverly Ellis
- Departments of Chemistry, Immunology and Microbial Science, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 N Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Mark S Hixon
- Departments of Chemistry, Immunology and Microbial Science, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 N Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States.,Mark S. Hixon Consulting LLC , 11273 Spitfire Road , San Diego , California 92126 , United States
| | - Kim D Janda
- Departments of Chemistry, Immunology and Microbial Science, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 N Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
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Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Expression of Methamphetamine Antibody Attenuates Methamphetamine-Induced Hyperactivity in Mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46301. [PMID: 28387350 PMCID: PMC5384190 DOI: 10.1038/srep46301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Methamphetamine (Meth) is one of the most frequently abused drugs worldwide. Recent studies have indicated that antibodies with high affinity for Meth reduce its pharmacological effects. The purpose of this study was to develop a technique for virus-based passive immunization against Meth effects. We generated a recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype-8 vector (AAV-MethAb) carrying the gene for a Meth-specific monoclonal antibody (MethAb). Infection of 293 cells with AAV-MethAb resulted in the expression and secretion of antibodies which bind to Meth. The viral vector was then examined in adult ICR mice. Systemic administration of AAV-MethAb resulted in long-term expression of MethAb in the serum for up to 29 weeks. Serum collected from the animals receiving AAV-MethAb retained a high specificity for (+)-Meth. Animals were challenged with Meth five weeks after viral injection. Meth levels in the brain and serum were reduced while Meth-induced locomotor activity was significantly attenuated. In conclusion, AAV-MethAb administration effectively depletes Meth from brain and serum while reducing the behavioral response to Meth, and thus is a potential therapeutic approach for Meth abuse.
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Hambuchen MD, Rüedi-Bettschen D, Gunnell MG, Hendrickson H, Owens SM. Chronic treatment of (+)-methamphetamine-induced locomotor effects in rats using one or a combination of two high affinity anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 12:2240-8. [PMID: 27163775 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2016.1179407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We hypothesized that treatment of methamphetamine (METH) effects with a mixture of 2 high affinity anti-METH monoclonal antibodies (mAb) with differing molecular recognition for METH-like structures could increase efficacy compared to treatment with a single mAb. The antibodies studied were mAb7F9 (METH and amphetamine [AMP] KD = 7.7 and 270 nM) and mAb4G9 (16 nM and 110 nM, respectively) in a 50:50 mixture. Adult male Sprague Dawley Rats were treated with iv saline or a loading dose of mAb7F9-mAb4G9 (141 mg/kg of each mAb) followed by 2 weekly doses (70.5 mg/kg total) on days 7 and 14. METH challenge doses (0.56 mg/kg) were administered 4 hrs and 3 days after each mAb7F9-mAb4G9 treatment, and 7 days after the final treatment (day 21). Locomotor activity (0-4 hrs) and serum METH and AMP concentrations (at 5 hrs) were measured after each METH challenge. MAb7F9-mAb4G9 treatment significantly reduced the duration of locomotor activity after 6 of the 7 METH doses (P < 0.05) and significantly increased serum METH and AMP concentrations. Administering three-fold higher METH doses (1.68 mg/kg) on days 24 and 28 showed mAb7F9-mAb4G9 treatment had negligible effects on the duration of METH-induced locomotor activity. These data were then compared to previous monotherapy data. While mAb7F9-mAb4G9 therapy inhibited the effects of multiple METH challenge doses, the inhibition was not as profound or as long lasting as the effects of mAb7F9 treatment alone. These data demonstrate the importance of both mAb affinity and specificity in the production of effective, long-lasting anti-METH mAb therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Hambuchen
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , AR , USA
| | - Daniela Rüedi-Bettschen
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , AR , USA
| | - Melinda G Gunnell
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , AR , USA
| | - Howard Hendrickson
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , AR , USA
| | - S Michael Owens
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , AR , USA
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Phillips TJ, Mootz JRK, Reed C. Identification of Treatment Targets in a Genetic Mouse Model of Voluntary Methamphetamine Drinking. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2016; 126:39-85. [PMID: 27055611 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine has powerful stimulant and euphoric effects that are experienced as rewarding and encourage use. Methamphetamine addiction is associated with debilitating illnesses, destroyed relationships, child neglect, violence, and crime; but after many years of research, broadly effective medications have not been identified. Individual differences that may impact not only risk for developing a methamphetamine use disorder but also affect treatment response have not been fully considered. Human studies have identified candidate genes that may be relevant, but lack of control over drug history, the common use or coabuse of multiple addictive drugs, and restrictions on the types of data that can be collected in humans are barriers to progress. To overcome some of these issues, a genetic animal model comprised of lines of mice selectively bred for high and low voluntary methamphetamine intake was developed to identify risk and protective alleles for methamphetamine consumption, and identify therapeutic targets. The mu opioid receptor gene was supported as a target for genes within a top-ranked transcription factor network associated with level of methamphetamine intake. In addition, mice that consume high levels of methamphetamine were found to possess a nonfunctional form of the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). The Taar1 gene is within a mouse chromosome 10 quantitative trait locus for methamphetamine consumption, and TAAR1 function determines sensitivity to aversive effects of methamphetamine that may curb intake. The genes, gene interaction partners, and protein products identified in this genetic mouse model represent treatment target candidates for methamphetamine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Phillips
- Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States.
| | - J R K Mootz
- Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - C Reed
- Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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Stevens MW, Henry RL, Owens SM, Schutz R, Gentry WB. First human study of a chimeric anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody in healthy volunteers. MAbs 2015; 6:1649-56. [PMID: 25484042 PMCID: PMC4623385 DOI: 10.4161/19420862.2014.976431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This first-in-human study examined the safety and pharmacokinetics of ch-mAb7F9, an anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody, in healthy volunteers. Single, escalating doses of ch-mAb7F9 over the range of 0.2 to 20 mg/kg were administered to 42 subjects who were followed for 147 d. Safety was measured by physical examinations, adverse events, vital signs, electrocardiograms, and clinical laboratory testing. Serum ch-mAb7F9 concentration and immunogenicity analyses were performed. There were no serious adverse reactions or discontinuations from the study due to adverse events. No trends emerged in the frequency, relatedness, or severity of adverse events with increased dose or between active and placebo treated subjects. Ch-mAb7F9 displayed expected IgG pharmacokinetic parameters, including a half-life of 17–19 d in the 3 highest dose groups and volume of distribution of 5–6 L, suggesting the antibody is confined primarily to the vascular compartment. Four (12.5%) of the 32 subjects receiving ch-mAb7F9 were confirmed to have developed a human anti-chimeric antibody response by the end of the study; however, this response did not appear to be dose related. Overall, no apparent safety or tolerability concerns were identified; a maximum tolerated dose was not reached in this Phase 1 study. Ch-mAb7F9 therefore appears safe for human administration.
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Key Words
- AE, adverse event
- AUC(0-inf), area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to infinity
- CL, clearance
- CTCAE, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
- Cmax, maximum concentration
- ECG, electrocardiogram
- FDA, Food and Drug Administration
- GLP, good laboratory practice
- HACA, human anti-chimeric antibodies
- KD, dissociation constant
- METH, (+)methamphetamine
- Vd, volume of distribution
- addiction
- chimeric antibody
- first in human
- healthy volunteers
- mAb, monoclonal antibody
- methamphetamine
- monoclonal antibody
- pharmacokinetics
- t1/2, apparent terminal half-life
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Hambuchen MD, Carroll FI, Rüedi-Bettschen D, Hendrickson HP, Hennings LJ, Blough BE, Brieaddy LE, Pidaparthi RR, Owens SM. Combining Active Immunization with Monoclonal Antibody Therapy To Facilitate Early Initiation of a Long-Acting Anti-Methamphetamine Antibody Response. J Med Chem 2015; 58:4665-77. [PMID: 25973614 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We hypothesized that an anti-METH mAb could be used in combination with a METH-conjugate vaccine (MCV) to safely improve the overall quality and magnitude of the anti-METH immune response. The benefits would include immediate onset of action (from the mAb), timely increases in the immune responses (from the combined therapy) and duration of antibody response that could last for months (from the MCV). A novel METH-like hapten (METH-SSOO9) was synthesized and then conjugated to immunocyanin monomers of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (IC(KLH)) to create the MCV ICKLH-SOO9. The vaccine, in combination with previously discovered anti-METH mAb7F9, was then tested in rats for safety and potential efficacy. The combination antibody therapy allowed safe achievement of an early high anti-METH antibody response, which persisted throughout the study. Indeed, even after 4 months the METH vaccine antibodies still had the capacity to significantly reduce METH brain concentrations resulting from a 0.56 mg/kg METH dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Hambuchen
- †Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States
| | - F Ivy Carroll
- ‡Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Daniela Rüedi-Bettschen
- †Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States
| | - Howard P Hendrickson
- §Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States
| | - Leah J Hennings
- ∥Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States
| | - Bruce E Blough
- ‡Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Lawrence E Brieaddy
- ‡Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | | | - S Michael Owens
- †Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States
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The anti-(+)-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody mAb7F9 attenuates acute (+)-methamphetamine effects on intracranial self-stimulation in rats. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118787. [PMID: 25742165 PMCID: PMC4350938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against (+)-methamphetamine (METH) is being evaluated for the treatment of METH addiction. A human/mouse chimeric form of the murine anti-METH mAb7F9 has entered clinical trials. This study examined the effects of murine mAb7F9 on certain addiction-related behavioral effects of METH in rats as measured using intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS). Initial studies indicated that acute METH (0.1-0.56 mg/kg, s.c.) lowered the minimal (threshold) stimulation intensity that maintained ICSS. METH (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) also blocked elevations in ICSS thresholds (anhedonia-like behavior) during spontaneous withdrawal from a chronic METH infusion (10 mg/kg/day x 7 days). In studies examining effects of i.v. pretreatment with mAb7F9 (at 30, 100, or 200 mg/kg), 200 mg/kg blocked the ability of an initial injection of METH (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) to reduce baseline ICSS thresholds, but was less capable of attenuating the effect of subsequent daily injections of METH. MAb7F9 (200 mg/kg) also produced a small but significant reduction in the ability of METH (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) to reverse METH withdrawal-induced elevations in ICSS thresholds. These studies demonstrate that mAb7F9 can partially attenuate some addiction-related effects of acute METH in an ICSS model, and provide some support for the therapeutic potential of mAb7F9 for the treatment of METH addiction.
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Li QQ, Sun CY, Luo YX, Xue YX, Meng SQ, Xu LZ, Chen N, Deng JH, Zhai HF, Kosten TR, Shi J, Lu L, Sun HQ. A conjugate vaccine attenuates morphine- and heroin-induced behavior in rats. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 18:pyu093. [PMID: 25522425 PMCID: PMC4376548 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyu093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently approved medications for opioid addiction have shown clinical efficacy, but undesired side effects, dependence induced by the medications themselves, and low treatment compliance necessitate the need for novel therapies. METHODS A novel morphine-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate vaccine was synthesized with 6-glutarylmorphine as the hapten and a lengthened linker of 6 carbon atoms. The titer and specificity of the triggered antibody were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of the vaccine on the morphine-induced elevation of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The effects of the vaccine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and heroin-primed reinstatement of heroin self-administration were also assessed. RESULTS After subcutaneous administration in rats, the vaccine triggered a high antibody titer, with comparable specificity for morphine, 6-acetylmorphine, and heroin, but no interaction with dissimilar therapeutic opioid compounds, including buprenorphine, naloxone, and nalorphine, was observed. The vaccine significantly prevented the elevation of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens induced by a single morphine challenge. Moreover, the vaccine prevented the expression of morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and heroin-primed reinstatement of heroin seeking, suggesting its potential for preventing relapse. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that active immunization with the present vaccine induces a robust morphine/heroin-specific antibody response in rats and attenuates the behavioral effects of morphine and heroin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lin Lu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital/Institute of Mental Health (Dr Li, Ms C.-Y. Sun, Dr Luo, Ms Meng, Mr Xu, Ms Deng, Drs Lu, and H.-Q. Sun), and National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China (Drs Dr Li, Ms C.-Y. Sun, Dr Luo, Dr Xue, Ms Meng, Mr Xu, Ms Chen, Ms Deng, Drs Zhai, Shi, and Lu); Institute for Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China (Dr Li); Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China (Drs Lu and H.-Q. Sun); Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (Dr Kosten)
| | - Hong-Qiang Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital/Institute of Mental Health (Dr Li, Ms C.-Y. Sun, Dr Luo, Ms Meng, Mr Xu, Ms Deng, Drs Lu, and H.-Q. Sun), and National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China (Drs Dr Li, Ms C.-Y. Sun, Dr Luo, Dr Xue, Ms Meng, Mr Xu, Ms Chen, Ms Deng, Drs Zhai, Shi, and Lu); Institute for Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China (Dr Li); Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China (Drs Lu and H.-Q. Sun); Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (Dr Kosten)
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Laurenzana EM, Stevens MW, Frank JC, Hambuchen MD, Hendrickson HP, White SJ, Williams DK, Owens SM, Gentry WB. Pharmacological effects of two anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies. Supporting data for lead candidate selection for clinical development. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2014; 10:2638-47. [PMID: 25483484 DOI: 10.4161/hv.29707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This lead candidate selection study compared two anti-(+)-methamphetamine (METH) monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to determine their ability to reduce METH-induced locomotor effects and redistribute METH and (+)-amphetamine (AMP) in a preclinical overdose model. Both mAbs have high affinity for METH, but mAb4G9 has moderate and mAb7F9 has low affinity for AMP. In the placebo-controlled behavioral experiment, the effects of each mAb on the locomotor response to a single 1 mg/kg intravenous (IV) METH dose were determined in rats. The doses of mAb binding sites were administered such that they equaled 1, 0.56, 0.32, and 0.1 times the molar equivalent (mol-eq) of METH in the body 30 min after the METH dose. METH disposition was determined in separate animals that similarly received either a 1 or 0.32 mol-eq dose of mAb binding sites 30 min after a 1 mg/kg METH dose. Total METH-induced distance traveled was significantly reduced in rats that received the highest three doses of each mAb compared with saline. The duration of METH effects was also significantly reduced by mAb7F9 at the highest dose. The disposition of METH was altered dose-dependently by both mAbs as shown in reductions of volume of distribution and total clearance, and increases in elimination half-life. These data indicate that both mAbs are effective at reducing METH-induced behavior and favorably altering METH disposition. Both were therefore suitable for further preclinical testing as potential human medications for treating METH use; however, due to results reported here and in later studies, mAb7F9 was selected for clinical development.
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Key Words
- AMP, (+)-amphetamine
- AUC, area under the concentration vs. time curve
- ClT, total body clearance
- Cmax, maximum concentration
- IV, intravenous
- JVC, jugular venous catheter
- KD, dissociation constant
- KI, concentration of inhibitor which prevents 50% of the target ligand from binding
- LMA, locomotor activity
- MDMA, (+)-3, 4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine
- METH, (+)-methamphetamine
- SD, standard deviation
- Tmax, time of maximum concentration
- Vd, volume of distribution
- addiction
- id, inner diameter
- lead candidate selection
- locomotor activity
- mAb, monoclonal antibody
- methamphetamine
- mol-eq, molar equivalent
- monoclonal antibody
- overdose
- pharmacokinetics
- rat
- t1/2λz, terminal elimination half-life
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Laurenzana
- a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences ; Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology ; Little Rock , AR USA
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Hambuchen MD, Rüedi-Bettschen D, Williams DK, Hendrickson H, Owens SM. Treatment of rats with an anti-(+)-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody shortens the duration of action of repeated (+)-methamphetamine challenges over a one month period. Vaccine 2014; 32:6213-9. [PMID: 25252196 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This study assessed clinical scenarios of continuing monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for (+)-methamphetamine (METH) addiction, and the implications of missing or discontinuing this therapy. We hypothesized that chronic anti-METH mAb7F9 (METH KD=9 nM) treatment of rats could significantly decrease METH-induced behaviors; even with repeated METH challenges, use of METH doses in excess of mAb binding sites, and after discontinuing mAb treatment which results in a 10-fold reduction in mAb7F9 serum concentrations. Male Sprague Dawley rats (n=6/group) were treated with i.v. saline or a loading dose of mAb7F9 to achieve instant steady-state conditions followed by two weekly (141 mg/kg) doses ending on day 14. METH (0.56 mg/kg) was administered 4h and three days after each saline or mAb7F9 treatment, and on day 21. This produced locomotion and rearing behavior that lasted about 120 min in control rats. In mAb7F9 treated rats, METH-induced distance traveled was significantly reduced from 60 to 120 min (P<0.05) on days 0-21 and rearing was significantly reduced from 60 to 120 min on days 0-17. METH serum concentrations determined 5h after METH dosing was significantly increased in mAb7F9-treated rats after all METH challenges. On days 24 and 28 (the final day), the rats were administered a 3-fold higher METH dose (1.68 mg/kg). MAb7F9 treated rats showed a substantially earlier termination of the METH-induced locomotion on both days, even though the METH dose exceeded mAb7F9s binding capacity. METH brain concentrations determined 5h after METH on day 28 were also significantly decreased in mAb7F9-treated rats. In conclusion, over one month, mAb7F9 significantly and continuously bound METH and reduced METH-induced locomotor effects even after discontinuation of mAb treatment and challenge with higher METH doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Hambuchen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Daniela Rüedi-Bettschen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - D Keith Williams
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Howard Hendrickson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - S Michael Owens
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
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White SJ, Hendrickson HP, Atchley WT, Laurenzana EM, Gentry WB, Williams DK, Owens SM. Treatment with a monoclonal antibody against methamphetamine and amphetamine reduces maternal and fetal rat brain concentrations in late pregnancy. Drug Metab Dispos 2014; 42:1285-91. [PMID: 24839971 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.114.056879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We hypothesized that treatment of pregnant rat dams with a dual reactive monoclonal antibody (mAb4G9) against (+)-methamphetamine [METH; equilibrium dissociation rate constant (KD) = 16 nM] and (+)-amphetamine (AMP; KD = 102 nM) could confer maternal and fetal protection from brain accumulation of both drugs of abuse. To test this hypothesis, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (on gestational day 21) received a 1 mg/kg i.v. METH dose, followed 30 minutes later by vehicle or mAb4G9 treatment. The mAb4G9 dose was 0.56 mole-equivalent in binding sites to the METH body burden. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed baseline METH and AMP elimination half-lives were congruent in dams and fetuses, but the METH volume of distribution in dams was nearly double the fetal values. The METH and AMP area under the serum concentration-versus-time curves from 40 minutes to 5 hours after mAb4G9 treatment increased >7000% and 2000%, respectively, in dams. Fetal METH serum did not change, but AMP decreased 23%. The increased METH and AMP concentrations in maternal serum resulted from significant increases in mAb4G9 binding. Protein binding changed from ∼15% to > 90% for METH and AMP. Fetal serum protein binding appeared to gradually increase, but the absolute fraction bound was trivial compared with the dams. mAb4G9 treatment significantly reduced METH and AMP brain values by 66% and 45% in dams and 44% and 46% in fetuses (P < 0.05), respectively. These results show anti-METH/AMP mAb4G9 therapy in dams can offer maternal and fetal brain protection from the potentially harmful effects of METH and AMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J White
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine (S.J.W., W.T.A., E.M.L., W.B.G., S.M.O.), Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine (W.B.G.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (H.P.H.), and Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health (D.K.W.), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania (E.M.L.)
| | - Howard P Hendrickson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine (S.J.W., W.T.A., E.M.L., W.B.G., S.M.O.), Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine (W.B.G.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (H.P.H.), and Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health (D.K.W.), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania (E.M.L.)
| | - William T Atchley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine (S.J.W., W.T.A., E.M.L., W.B.G., S.M.O.), Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine (W.B.G.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (H.P.H.), and Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health (D.K.W.), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania (E.M.L.)
| | - Elizabeth M Laurenzana
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine (S.J.W., W.T.A., E.M.L., W.B.G., S.M.O.), Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine (W.B.G.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (H.P.H.), and Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health (D.K.W.), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania (E.M.L.)
| | - W Brooks Gentry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine (S.J.W., W.T.A., E.M.L., W.B.G., S.M.O.), Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine (W.B.G.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (H.P.H.), and Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health (D.K.W.), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania (E.M.L.)
| | - D Keith Williams
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine (S.J.W., W.T.A., E.M.L., W.B.G., S.M.O.), Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine (W.B.G.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (H.P.H.), and Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health (D.K.W.), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania (E.M.L.)
| | - S Michael Owens
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine (S.J.W., W.T.A., E.M.L., W.B.G., S.M.O.), Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine (W.B.G.), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (H.P.H.), and Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health (D.K.W.), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania (E.M.L.)
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13
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Peterson EC, Gentry WB, Owens SM. Customizing monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of methamphetamine abuse: current and future applications. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2014; 69:107-27. [PMID: 24484976 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-420118-7.00003-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibody-based medications designed to bind (+)-methamphetamine (METH) with high affinity are among the newest approaches to the treatment of METH abuse and the associated medical complications. The potential clinical indications for these medications include treatment of overdose, reduction of drug dependence, and protection of vulnerable populations from METH-related complications. Research designed to discover and conduct preclinical and clinical testing of these antibodies suggests a scientific vision for how intact monoclonal antibody (mAb) (singular and plural) or small antigen-binding fragments of mAb could be engineered to optimize the proteins for specific therapeutic applications. In this review, we discuss keys to success in this development process including choosing predictors of specificity, efficacy, duration of action, and safety of the medications in disease models of acute and chronic drug abuse. We consider important aspects of METH-like hapten design and how hapten structural features influence specificity and affinity, with an example of a high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of a high-affinity antibody to demonstrate this structural relationship. Additionally, several prototype anti-METH mAb forms such as antigen-binding fragments and single-chain variable fragments are under development. Unique, customizable aspects of these fragments are presented with specific possible clinical indications. Finally, we discuss clinical trial progress of the first in kind anti-METH mAb, for which METH is the disease target instead of vulnerable central nervous system networks of receptors, binding sites, and neuronal connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Peterson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - W Brooks Gentry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - S Michael Owens
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
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14
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Stevens MW, Tawney RL, West CM, Kight AD, Henry RL, Owens SM, Gentry WB. Preclinical characterization of an anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody for human use. MAbs 2013; 6:547-55. [PMID: 24492290 PMCID: PMC3984342 DOI: 10.4161/mabs.27620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ch-mAb7F9, a human-mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody (mAb) designed to bind (+)-methamphetamine (METH) with high affinity and specificity, was produced as a treatment medication for METH abuse. In these studies, we present the preclinical characterization that provided predictive evidence that ch-mAb7F9 may be safe and effective in humans. In vitro ligand binding studies showed that ch-mAb7F9 is specific for and only binds its target ligands (METH, (+)-amphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine) with high affinity. It did not bind endogenous neurotransmitters or other medications and was not bound by protein C1q, thus it is unlikely to stimulate in vivo complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Isothermal titration calorimetry potency studies showed that METH binding by ch-mAb7F9 is efficient. Pharmacokinetic studies of METH given after ch-mAb7F9 doses in rats demonstrated the in vivo application of these in vitro METH-binding characteristics. While METH had little effect on ch-mAb7F9 disposition, ch-mAb7F9 substantially altered METH disposition, dramatically reducing the volume of distribution and clearance of METH. The elimination half-life of METH was increased by ch-mAb7F9, but it was still very fast compared with the elimination of ch-mAb7F9. Importantly, the rapid elimination of unbound METH combined with previous knowledge of mAb:target ligand binding dynamics suggested that ch-mAb7F9 binding capacity regenerates over time. This finding has substantial therapeutic implications regarding the METH doses against which ch-mAb7F9 will be effective, on the duration of ch-mAb7F9 effects, and on the safety of ch-mAb7F9 in METH users who use METH while taking ch-mAb7F9. These results helped to support initiation of a Phase 1a study of ch-mAb7F9.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel L Tawney
- InterveXion Therapeutics, LLC; Little Rock, AR USA; Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Little Rock, AR USA
| | - C Michael West
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Alicia D Kight
- Dept. of Biological Sciences; University of Arkansas; Fayetteville, AR USA
| | - Ralph L Henry
- InterveXion Therapeutics, LLC; Little Rock, AR USA; Dept. of Biological Sciences; University of Arkansas; Fayetteville, AR USA
| | - S Michael Owens
- InterveXion Therapeutics, LLC; Little Rock, AR USA; Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Little Rock, AR USA
| | - W Brooks Gentry
- InterveXion Therapeutics, LLC; Little Rock, AR USA; Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Little Rock, AR USA
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15
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Cornish KE, de Villiers SHL, Pravetoni M, Pentel PR. Immunogenicity of individual vaccine components in a bivalent nicotine vaccine differ according to vaccine formulation and administration conditions. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82557. [PMID: 24312662 PMCID: PMC3846984 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Structurally distinct nicotine immunogens can elicit independent antibody responses against nicotine when administered concurrently. Co-administering different nicotine immunogens together as a multivalent vaccine could be a useful way to generate higher antibody levels than with monovalent vaccines alone. The immunogenicity and additivity of monovalent and bivalent nicotine vaccines was studied across a range of immunogen doses, adjuvants, and routes to assess the generality of this approach. Rats were vaccinated with total immunogen doses of 12.5 - 100 μg of 3′-aminomethyl nicotine conjugated to recombinant Pseudomonas exoprotein A (3′-AmNic-rEPA), 6-carboxymethylureido nicotine conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (6-CMUNic-KLH), or both. Vaccines were administered s.c. in alum or i.p. in Freund’s adjuvant at matched total immunogen doses. When administered s.c. in alum, the contributions of the individual immunogens to total nicotine-specific antibody (NicAb) titers and concentrations were preserved across a range of doses. Antibody affinity for nicotine varied greatly among individuals but was similar for monovalent and bivalent vaccines. However when administered i.p. in Freund’s adjuvant the contributions of the individual immunogens to total NicAb titers and concentrations were compromised at some doses. These results support the possibility of co-administering structurally distinct nicotine immunogens to achieve a more robust immune response than can be obtained with monovalent immunogens alone. Choice of adjuvant was important for the preservation of immunogen component activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E. Cornish
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Sabina H. L. de Villiers
- Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Center for Global Studies and Social Responsibility, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marco Pravetoni
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Paul R. Pentel
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
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16
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Miller ML, Moreno AY, Aarde SM, Creehan KM, Vandewater SA, Vaillancourt BD, Wright MJ, Janda KD, Taffe MA. A methamphetamine vaccine attenuates methamphetamine-induced disruptions in thermoregulation and activity in rats. Biol Psychiatry 2013; 73:721-8. [PMID: 23098894 PMCID: PMC3561477 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2012] [Revised: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 09/07/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are no approved pharmacotherapies for d-methamphetamine (METH) addiction and existing therapies have limited efficacy. Advances in using immunotherapeutic approaches for cocaine and nicotine addiction have stimulated interest in creating a similar approach for METH addiction. This study investigated whether active vaccination against METH could potentially attenuate responses to METH in vivo. METHODS Male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 32) received a four-boost series with one of three candidate anti-METH vaccines (MH2[R], MH6, and MH7) or a control keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate vaccine. Effects of METH on rectal temperature and wheel activity at 27°C ambient temperature were determined. The most efficacious vaccine, MH6, was then contrasted with keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate vaccine in a subsequent experiment (n = 16), wherein radiotelemetry determined home cage locomotor activity and body temperature at 23°C ambient temperature. RESULTS The MH6 vaccine produced high antibody titers with nanomolar affinity for METH and sequestered METH in the periphery of rats. In experiment 1, the thermoregulatory and psychomotor responses produced by METH at 27°C were blocked in the MH6 group. In experiment 2, METH-induced decreases in body temperature and locomotor activity at 23°C were also attenuated in the MH6 group. A pharmacokinetic study in experiment 2 showed that MH6-vaccinated rats had higher METH serum concentrations, yet lower brain METH concentrations, than control rats, and METH concentrations correlated with individual antibody titer. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that active immunopharmacotherapy provides functional protection against physiological and behavioral disruptions induced by METH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Miller
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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17
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Owens SM, Atchley WT, Hambuchen MD, Peterson EC, Gentry WB. Monoclonal antibodies as pharmacokinetic antagonists for the treatment of (+)-methamphetamine addiction. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS 2012; 10:892-8. [PMID: 22229314 DOI: 10.2174/187152711799219370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Revised: 11/28/2011] [Accepted: 12/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Developing specific medications to treat (+)-methamphetamine (METH) addiction is a difficult challenge because METH has multiple sites of action that are intertwined with normal neurological function. As a result, no small molecule medication for the treatment of METH addiction has made it through the FDA clinical trials process. With the invention of a new generation of proteinbased therapies, it is now possible to consider treating drug addiction by an entirely different approach. This new approach is based on the discovery of very high affinity anti-METH monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which are non-addictive and antagonize METH effects from the blood stream without entering the brain. Due to a very long biological half-life, anti-METH mAbs would only need to be administered once every 2-4 weeks, aiding in patient compliance. As a relapse prevention medication, anti-METH mAbs could reduce or prevent the rewarding effects of a relapse to METH use and thereby improve a patient's probability of remaining in therapy and recovering from their addiction. In this review, we discuss the discovery process of anti-METH mAbs, with a focus on the preclinical development leading to high affinity anti-METH mAb antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Michael Owens
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
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18
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Nanaware-Kharade N, Gonzalez GA, Lay JO, Hendrickson HP, Peterson EC. Therapeutic anti-methamphetamine antibody fragment-nanoparticle conjugates: synthesis and in vitro characterization. Bioconjug Chem 2012; 23:1864-72. [PMID: 22873701 DOI: 10.1021/bc300204n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Treatments specific to the medical problems caused by methamphetamine (METH) abuse are greatly needed. Toward this goal, we are developing new multivalent anti-METH antibody fragment-nanoparticle conjugates with customizable pharmacokinetic properties. We have designed a novel anti-METH single chain antibody fragment with an engineered terminal cysteine (scFv6H4Cys). Generation 3 (G3) polyamidoamine dendrimer nanoparticles were chosen for conjugation due to their monodisperse properties and multiple amine functional groups. ScFv6H4Cys was conjugated to G3 dendrimers via a heterobifunctional PEG cross-linker that is reactive to a free amine on one end and a thiol group on the other. PEG modified dendrimers were synthesized by reacting the PEG cross-linker with dendrimers in a stoichiometric ratio of 11:1, which were further reacted with 3-fold molar excess of anti-METH scFv6H4Cys. This reaction resulted in a heterogeneous mix of G3-PEG-scFv6H4Cys conjugates (dendribodies) with three to six scFv6H4Cys conjugated to each dendrimer. The dendribodies were separated from the unreacted PEG modified dendrimers and scFv6H4Cys using affinity chromatography. A detailed in vitro characterization of the PEG modified dendrimers and the dendribodies was performed to determine size, purity, and METH binding function. The dendribodies were found to have affinity for METH identical to that of the unconjugated scFv6H4Cys in saturation binding assays, whereas the PEG modified dendrimers had no affinity for METH. These data suggest that an anti-METH scFv can be successfully conjugated to a PEG modified dendrimer nanoparticle with no adverse effects on METH binding properties. This study is a critical step toward preclinical characterization and development of a novel nanomedicine for the treatment of METH abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Nanaware-Kharade
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, #611, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USA
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19
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Abstract
The currently available medications for the treatment of drug abuse have had only limited success. Anti-addiction vaccines, aimed at eliciting antibodies that block the pharmacological effects of drugs, have great potential for treating drug abuse. We review the status of two vaccines that are undergoing clinical trials (for cocaine and nicotine addiction) and two that are still in preclinical development (for methamphetamine and heroin addiction). We also outline the challenges and ethical concerns associated with the development of anti-addiction vaccines and their use as future therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Shen
- Immunology Allergy & Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Frank M. Orson
- Immunology Allergy & Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Thomas R. Kosten
- Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
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20
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Li QQ, Luo YX, Sun CY, Xue YX, Zhu WL, Shi HS, Zhai HF, Shi J, Lu L. A morphine/heroin vaccine with new hapten design attenuates behavioral effects in rats. J Neurochem 2011; 119:1271-81. [PMID: 21951213 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07502.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Heroin use has seriously threatened public heath in many countries, but the existing therapies continue to have many limitations. Recently, immunotherapy has shown efficacy in some clinical studies, including vaccines against nicotine and cocaine, but no opioid vaccines have been introduced in clinical studies. The development of a novel opioid antigen designed specifically for the prevention of heroin addiction is necessary. A morphine-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate was prepared and administered subcutaneously in rats. Antibody titers in plasma were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Competitive ELISA was used to assess the selectivity of the antibodies. Dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens in rats after vaccine administration were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The effects of the vaccine on the heroin-primed restatement of self-administration and locomotor sensitization were evaluated. A novel hapten, 6-glutarylmorphine, was produced, and the vaccine generated a high antibody titer response. This vaccine displayed specificity for both morphine and heroin, but the anti-morphine antibodies could not recognize dissimilar therapeutic opioid compounds, such as buprenorphine, methadone, naloxone, naltrexone, codeine, and nalorphine. The morphine antibody significantly decreased morphine-induced locomotor activity in rats after immunization. Importantly, rats immunized with this vaccine did not exhibit heroin-primed reinstatement of heroin seeking when antibody levels were sufficiently high. The vaccine reduced dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens after morphine administration, which is consistent with its behavioral effects. These results suggest that immunization with a novel vaccine is an effective means of inducing a morphine-specific antibody response that is able to attenuate the behavioral and psychoactive effects of heroin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Qian Li
- National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
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21
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Abstract
Despite intensive efforts to eradicate it, addiction to both legal and illicit drugs continues to be a major worldwide medical and social problem. Anti-addiction vaccines can produce the antibodies to block the effects of these drugs on the brain, and have great potential to ameliorate the morbidity and mortality associated with illicit drug intoxications. This review provides a current overview of anti-addiction vaccines that are under clinical trial and pre-clinical research evaluation. It also outlines the development challenges, ethical concerns, and likely future intervention for anti-addiction vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Shen
- Immunology, Allergy & Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX 77030USA
| | - Frank M. Orson
- Immunology, Allergy & Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX 77030USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center2002 Holcombe, Houston, TX 77030USA
| | - Thomas R. Kosten
- Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX 77030USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center2002 Holcombe, Houston, TX 77030USA
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22
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Cornish KE, Harris AC, LeSage MG, Keyler DE, Burroughs D, Earley C, Pentel PR. Combined active and passive immunization against nicotine: minimizing monoclonal antibody requirements using a target antibody concentration strategy. Int Immunopharmacol 2011; 11:1809-15. [PMID: 21802529 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2011.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2011] [Revised: 07/13/2011] [Accepted: 07/13/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nicotine vaccines have shown preliminary evidence of efficacy for enhancing smoking cessation rates, but the serum nicotine-specific antibody (NicAb) concentrations produced are highly variable and many subjects do not develop effective levels. As an alternative to vaccination, passive immunization with nicotine-specific monoclonal antibodies could produce more uniform serum NicAb concentrations, but its use is limited by their high cost and shorter elimination half-life. This study investigated supplementing vaccination with monoclonal antibodies in a targeted fashion to increase vaccine efficacy while minimizing the required monoclonal antibody dose. Rats were vaccinated and then given individualized supplemental doses of the nicotine-specific monoclonal antibody Nic311 to achieve a target total serum NicAb concentration known to be effective for blocking locomotor sensitization (LMS) to nicotine. Rats received vaccine, Nic311, both, or neither, followed by 0.3 mg/kg nicotine s.c. for 10 days to produce LMS. Combination immunotherapy completely blocked the development of LMS, while monotherapy with vaccine or Nic311 alone was only minimally effective. Lower brain nicotine levels were associated with reduced locomotor activity averaged over days 7-10. Despite its greater efficacy, combination immunotherapy did not reduce the variability in the resulting total serum NicAb concentrations. Variability in total serum NicAb concentrations was contributed to by both vaccine-generated antibody and by Nic311. These data show that combination immunotherapy, using a Nic311 dose that is by itself only minimally effective, can substantially enhance nicotine vaccine efficacy. However, variability in serum NicAb levels with combination immunotherapy may make translation of this approach challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Cornish
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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23
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Carroll FI, Blough BE, Pidaparthi RR, Abraham P, Gong PK, Deng L, Huang X, Gunnell M, Lay JO, Peterson EC, Owens SM. Synthesis of mercapto-(+)-methamphetamine haptens and their use for obtaining improved epitope density on (+)-methamphetamine conjugate vaccines. J Med Chem 2011; 54:5221-8. [PMID: 21682289 DOI: 10.1021/jm2004943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study reports the synthesis of the mercapto-hapten (S)-N-(2-(mercaptoethyl)-6-(3-(2-(methylamino)propyl)phenoxy)hexanamide [3, (+)-METH HSMO9] and its use to prepare METH-conjugated vaccines (MCV) from maleimide-activated proteins. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis of the MCV synthesized using 3 showed there was a high and controllable epitope density on two different carrier proteins. In addition, the MCV produced a substantially greater immunological response in mice than previous METH haptens, and a monoclonal antibody generated from this MCV in mice showed a very high affinity for (+)-METH (K(D) = 6.8 nM). The efficient covalent coupling of (+)-METH HSMO9 to the activated carrier proteins suggests that this approach could be cost-effective for large-scale production of MCV. In addition, the general methods described for the synthesis of (+)-METH HSMO9 (3) and its use to synthesize MCV will be applicable for conjugated vaccines of small molecules and other substances of abuse such as morphine, nicotine, and cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Ivy Carroll
- Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Research Triangle Institute, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA.
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24
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Moreno AY, Mayorov AV, Janda KD. Impact of distinct chemical structures for the development of a methamphetamine vaccine. J Am Chem Soc 2011; 133:6587-95. [PMID: 21473576 DOI: 10.1021/ja108807j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
(+)-Methamphetamine (METH) use and addiction has grown at alarming rates over the past two decades, while no approved pharmacotherapy exists for its treatment. Immunopharmacotherapy has the potential to offer relief through producing highly specific antibodies that prevent drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier thus decreasing reinforcement of the behavior. Current immunotherapy efforts against methamphetamine have focused on a single hapten structure, namely linker attachment at the aromatic ring of the METH molecule. Hapten design is largely responsible for immune recognition, as it affects presentation of the target antigen and thus the quality of the response. In the current paper we report the systematic generation of a series of haptens designed to target the most stable conformations of methamphetamine as determined by molecular modeling. On the basis of our previous studies with nicotine, we show that introduction of strategic molecular constraint is able to maximize immune recognition of the target structure as evidenced by higher antibody affinity. Vaccination of GIX(+) mice with six unique METH immunoconjugates resulted in high antibody titers for three particularly promising formulations (45-108 μg/mL, after the second immunization) and high affinity (82, 130, and 169 nM for MH2, MH6, and MH7 hapten-based vaccines, respectively). These findings represent a unique approach to the design of new vaccines against methamphetamine abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Y Moreno
- Department of Chemistry, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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25
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Anti-(+)-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody antagonists designed to prevent the progression of human diseases of addiction. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2010; 88:390-3. [PMID: 20668443 DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2010.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Anti-(+)-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have the potential to reduce the devastating behavioral and societal effects of the worldwide epidemic of (+)-methamphetamine (METH) addiction and transform the treatment paradigm for diseases of addiction. These novel, protein-based medications could play a vital role in helping patients to achieve sustainable abstinence from METH abuse by serving as an in vivo, around-the-clock sentry against a patient's vulnerability to relapse.
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