1
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Rembert KB, Gokarn YR, Saluja A. Designing Robust Monoclonal Antibody Drug Products: Pitfalls of Simplistic Approaches for Stability Prediction. J Pharm Sci 2024; 113:2296-2304. [PMID: 38556000 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2024.03.019] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Thermal stability attributes including unfolding onset (Tonset) and mid-point (Tm) are often utilized for efficient development of monoclonal antibody (mAb) products during lead selection and formulation screening workflows. An assumption of direct correlation between thermal and kinetic physical stability underpins this basic approach. While literature reports have substantiated this general approach under specific conditions, clear exceptions have been highlighted alongside. Herein, a set of mAbs formulated under diverse solution conditions to generate a broad array of thermal and kinetic stability profiles were systematically analyzed. Sequence modifications in the Fc region were purposefully engineered to generate a set of low-melting mAbs. A diverse set of excipients were subsequently utilized and shown to modulate the Tm over a wide range. While a general correlation between high Tm and low aggregation rate was observed under accelerated conditions, the predictive utility of Tm under relevant product storage conditions was inadequate at best. Critically, Tm data did not correlate with long-term aggregation rates under refrigerated or room temperature conditions. Even under accelerated conditions, Tm appeared to be a poor predictor of aggregation once it exceeded the solution storage temperature (40°C) by ∼15°C, similar to conditions routinely encountered in the development of canonical mAbs (Tm > 60°C). Pitfalls of simplistic correlative approaches are discussed in the context of practical biologics product development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin B Rembert
- Biologics Drug Product Development & Manufacturing, Global CMC, Sanofi, One Mountain Road, Framingham, MA 01701, USA
| | - Yatin R Gokarn
- Biologics Drug Product Development & Manufacturing, Global CMC, Sanofi, One Mountain Road, Framingham, MA 01701, USA
| | - Atul Saluja
- Biologics Drug Product Development & Manufacturing, Global CMC, Sanofi, One Mountain Road, Framingham, MA 01701, USA.
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2
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Wood V, Kellerman MA, Groves K, Quaglia M, Topp EM, Matejtschuk P, Dalby PA. Investigation of the Solid-State Interactions in Lyophilized Human G-CSF Using Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:1965-1976. [PMID: 38516985 PMCID: PMC10988552 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c01211] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) previously elucidated the interactions between excipients and proteins for liquid granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) formulations, confirming predictions made using computational structure docking. More recently, solid-state HDX mass spectrometry (ssHDX-MS) was developed for proteins in the lyophilized state. Deuterium uptake in ssHDX-MS has been shown for various proteins, including monoclonal antibodies, to be highly correlated with storage stability, as measured by protein aggregation and chemical degradation. As G-CSF is known to lose activity through aggregation upon lyophilization, we applied the ssHDX-MS method with peptide mapping to four different lyophilized formulations of G-CSF to compare the impact of three excipients on local structure and exchange dynamics. HDX at 22 °C was confirmed to correlate well with the monomer content remaining after lyophilization and storage at -20 °C, with sucrose providing the greatest protection, and then phenylalanine, mannitol, and no excipient leading to progressively less protection. Storage at 45 °C led to little difference in final monomer content among the formulations, and so there was no discernible relationship with total deuterium uptake on ssHDX. Incubation at 45 °C may have led to a structural conformation and/or aggregation mechanism no longer probed by HDX at 22 °C. Such a conformational change was observed previously at 37 °C for liquid-formulated G-CSF using NMR. Peptide mapping revealed that tolerance to lyophilization and -20 °C storage was linked to increased stability in the small helix, loop AB, helix C, and loop CD. LC-MS HDX and NMR had previously linked loop AB and loop CD to the formation of a native-like state (N*) prior to aggregation in liquid formulations, suggesting a similar structural basis for G-CSF aggregation in the liquid and solid states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria
E. Wood
- Department
of Biochemical Engineering, University College
London, London WC1E 6BT, United
Kingdom
| | - Mark-Adam Kellerman
- Department
of Biochemical Engineering, University College
London, London WC1E 6BT, United
Kingdom
| | - Kate Groves
- LGC, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TQ11 0LY, United Kingdom
| | - Milena Quaglia
- LGC, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TQ11 0LY, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth M. Topp
- Department
of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, and
Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Paul Matejtschuk
- Standardisation
Science, NIBSC, Medicines & Healthcare
Products Regulatory Agency, South Mimms, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United
Kingdom
| | - Paul A. Dalby
- Department
of Biochemical Engineering, University College
London, London WC1E 6BT, United
Kingdom
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3
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Teal CJ, Ho MT, Huo L, Harada H, Bahlmann LC, Léveillard T, Monnier PP, Ramachandran A, Shoichet MS. Affinity-controlled release of rod-derived cone viability factor enhances cone photoreceptor survival. Acta Biomater 2023; 161:37-49. [PMID: 36898472 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of genetic diseases that results in rod photoreceptor cell degeneration, which subsequently leads to cone photoreceptor cell death, impaired vision and eventual blindness. Rod-derived cone viability factor (RdCVF) is a protein which has two isoforms: a short form (RdCVF) and a long form (RdCVFL) which act on cone photoreceptors in the retina. RdCVFL protects photoreceptors by reducing hyperoxia in the retina; however, sustained delivery of RdCVFL remains challenging. We developed an affinity-controlled release strategy for RdCVFL. An injectable physical blend of hyaluronan and methylcellulose (HAMC) was covalently modified with a peptide binding partner of the Src homology 3 (SH3) domain. This domain was expressed as a fusion protein with RdCVFL, thereby enabling its controlled release from HAMC-binding peptide. Sustained release of RdCVFL was demonstrated for the first time as RdCVFL-SH3 from HAMC-binding peptide for 7 d in vitro. To assess bioactivity, chick retinal dissociates were harvested and treated with the affinity-released recombinant protein from the HAMC-binding peptide vehicle. After 6 d in culture, cone cell viability was greater when cultured with released RdCVFL-SH3 relative to controls. We utilized computational fluid dynamics to model release of RdCVFL-SH3 from our delivery vehicle in the vitreous of the human eye. We demonstrate that our delivery vehicle can prolong the bioavailability of RdCVFL-SH3 in the retina, potentially enhancing its therapeutic effects. Our affinity-based system constitutes a versatile delivery platform for ultimate intraocular injection in the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the leading cause of inherited blindness in the world. Rod-derived cone viability factor (RdCVF), a novel protein paracrine factor, is effective in preclinical models of RP. To extend its therapeutic effects, we developed an affinity-controlled release strategy for the long form of RdCVF, RdCVFL. We expressed RdCVFL as a fusion protein with an Src homology 3 domain (SH3). We then utilized a hydrogel composed of hyaluronan and methylcellulose (HAMC) and modified it with SH3 binding peptides to investigate its release in vitro. Furthermore, we designed a mathematical model of the human eye to investigate delivery of the protein from the delivery vehicle. This work paves the way for future investigation of controlled release RdCVF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carter J Teal
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, M5S 3G9 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, M5S3E1 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margaret T Ho
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, M5S 3G9 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, M5S3E1 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lia Huo
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, M5S3E1 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, M5S 1A8 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hidekiyo Harada
- Donald K. Johnson Research Institute, Krembil Research Institute, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura C Bahlmann
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, M5S 3G9 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, M5S3E1 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Thierry Léveillard
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Philippe P Monnier
- Donald K. Johnson Research Institute, Krembil Research Institute, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arun Ramachandran
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, M5S 3E5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Molly S Shoichet
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, M5S 3G9 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, M5S3E1 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, M5S 1A8 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, M5S 3E5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, M5S 3H6 Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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4
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Fernández-Quintero ML, Ljungars A, Waibl F, Greiff V, Andersen JT, Gjølberg TT, Jenkins TP, Voldborg BG, Grav LM, Kumar S, Georges G, Kettenberger H, Liedl KR, Tessier PM, McCafferty J, Laustsen AH. Assessing developability early in the discovery process for novel biologics. MAbs 2023; 15:2171248. [PMID: 36823021 PMCID: PMC9980699 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2023.2171248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Beyond potency, a good developability profile is a key attribute of a biological drug. Selecting and screening for such attributes early in the drug development process can save resources and avoid costly late-stage failures. Here, we review some of the most important developability properties that can be assessed early on for biologics. These include the influence of the source of the biologic, its biophysical and pharmacokinetic properties, and how well it can be expressed recombinantly. We furthermore present in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods and techniques that can be exploited at different stages of the discovery process to identify molecules with liabilities and thereby facilitate the selection of the most optimal drug leads. Finally, we reflect on the most relevant developability parameters for injectable versus orally delivered biologics and provide an outlook toward what general trends are expected to rise in the development of biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica L. Fernández-Quintero
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anne Ljungars
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Franz Waibl
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Victor Greiff
- Department of Immunology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Terje Andersen
- Department of Immunology, University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine and Department of Pharmacology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Timothy P. Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bjørn Gunnar Voldborg
- National Biologics Facility, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lise Marie Grav
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | - Guy Georges
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Hubert Kettenberger
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Klaus R. Liedl
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Peter M. Tessier
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - John McCafferty
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Maxion Therapeutics, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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5
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Kellerman MAW, Almeida T, Rudd TR, Matejtschuk P, Dalby PA. NMR Reveals Functionally Relevant Thermally Induced Structural Changes within the Native Ensemble of G-CSF. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:3242-3255. [PMID: 35948076 PMCID: PMC9449972 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Structure–function relationships in proteins refer
to a
trade-off between stability and bioactivity, molded by evolution of
the molecule. Identifying which protein amino acid residues jeopardize
global or local stability for the benefit of bioactivity would reveal
residues pivotal to this structure–function trade-off. Here,
we use 15N–1H heteronuclear single quantum
coherence (HSQC) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to
probe the microenvironment and dynamics of residues in granulocyte
colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) through thermal perturbation. From
this analysis, we identified four residues (G4, A6, T133, and Q134)
that we classed as significant to global stability, given that they
all experienced large environmental and dynamic changes and were closely
correlated to each other in their NMR characteristics. Additionally,
we observe that roughly four structural clusters are subject to localized
conformational changes or partial unfolding prior to global unfolding
at higher temperature. Combining NMR observables with structure relaxation
methods reveals that these structural clusters concentrate around
loop AB (binding site III inclusive). This loop has been previously
implicated in conformational changes that result in an aggregation
prone state of G-CSF. Residues H43, V48, and S63 appear to be pivotal
to an opening motion of loop AB, a change that is possibly also important
for function. Hence, we present here an approach to profiling residues
in order to highlight their potential roles in the two vital characteristics
of proteins: stability and bioactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark-Adam W Kellerman
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Almeida
- Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy R Rudd
- Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United Kingdom.,Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Matejtschuk
- Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Paul A Dalby
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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6
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Kim SH, Yoo HJ, Park EJ, Lee W, Na DH. Impact of buffer concentration on the thermal stability of immunoglobulin G. JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL INVESTIGATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40005-022-00587-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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7
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Kyu Ko S, Berner C, Kulakova A, Schneider M, Antes I, Winter G, Harris P, Peters GH. Investigation of the pH-dependent aggregation mechanisms of GCSF using low resolution protein characterization techniques and advanced molecular dynamics simulations. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:1439-1455. [PMID: 35386098 PMCID: PMC8956964 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF) is a widely used therapeutic protein to treat neutropenia. GCSF has an increased propensity to aggregate if the pH is increased above 5.0. Although GCSF is very well experimentally characterized, the exact pH-dependent aggregation mechanism of GCSF is still under debate. This study aimed to model the complex pH-dependent aggregation behavior of GCSF using state-of-the-art simulation techniques. The conformational stability of GCSF was investigated by performing metadynamics simulations, while the protein-protein interactions were investigated using coarse-grained (CG) simulations of multiple GCSF monomers. The CG simulations were directly compared with small-angle X-ray (SAXS) data. The metadynamics simulations demonstrated that the orientations of Trp residues in GCSF are dependent on pH. The conformational change of Trp residues is due to the loss of Trp-His interactions at the physiological pH, which in turn may increase protein flexibility. The helical structure of GCSF was not affected by the pH conditions of the simulations. Our CG simulations indicate that at pH 4.0, the colloidal stability may be more important than the conformational stability of GCSF. The electrostatic potential surface and CG simulations suggested that the basic residues are mainly responsible for colloidal stability as deprotonation of these residues causes a reduction of the highly positively charged electrostatic barrier close to the aggregation-prone long loop regions.
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8
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Wood VE, Groves K, Wong LM, Kong L, Bird C, Wadhwa M, Quaglia M, Matejtschuk P, Dalby PA. Protein Engineering and HDX Identify Structural Regions of G-CSF Critical to Its Stability and Aggregation. Mol Pharm 2021; 19:616-629. [PMID: 34965730 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The protein engineering and formulation of therapeutic proteins for prolonged shelf-life remain a major challenge in the biopharmaceutical industry. Understanding the influence of mutations and formulations on the protein structure and dynamics could lead to more predictive approaches to their improvement. Previous intrinsic fluorescence analysis of the chemically denatured granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) suggested that loop AB could subtly reorganize to form an aggregation-prone intermediate state. Hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) has also revealed that excipient binding increased the thermal unfolding transition midpoint (Tm) by stabilizing loop AB. Here, we have combined protein engineering with biophysical analyses and HDX-MS to reveal that increased exchange in a core region of the G-CSF comprising loop AB (ABI, a small helix, ABII) and loop CD packed onto helix B and the beginning of loop BC leads to a decrease in Tm and higher aggregation rates. Furthermore, some mutations can increase the population of the aggregation-prone conformation within the native ensemble, as measured by the greater local exchange within this core region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria E Wood
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Kate Groves
- National Measurement Laboratory at LGC Ltd, Queens Road, Teddington TW11 0LY, U.K
| | - Lok Man Wong
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Luyan Kong
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Christopher Bird
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, U.K
| | - Meenu Wadhwa
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, U.K
| | - Milena Quaglia
- National Measurement Laboratory at LGC Ltd, Queens Road, Teddington TW11 0LY, U.K
| | - Paul Matejtschuk
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, U.K
| | - Paul A Dalby
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
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9
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Meric G, Naik S, Hunter AK, Robinson AS, Roberts CJ. Challenges for design of aggregation-resistant variants of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Biophys Chem 2021; 277:106630. [PMID: 34119805 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2021.106630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-native protein aggregation is a long-standing issue in pharmaceutical biotechnology. A rational design approach was used in order to identify variants of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) with lower aggregation propensity at solution conditions that are typical of commercial formulation. The approach used aggregation-prone-region (APR) predictors to select single amino acid substitutions that were predicted to decrease intrinsic aggregation propensity (IAP). The results of static light scattering temperature-ramps and chemical unfolding experiments demonstrated that none of the selected variants exhibited improved aggregation resistance, and the apparent conformational stability of each variant was lower than that of WT. Aggregation studies under partly denaturing conditions suggested that the IAP of at least one variant remained unaltered. Overall, this study highlights a general challenge in designing aggregation resistance for proteins, due to the need to accurately predict both APRs and conformational stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulsum Meric
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
| | - Subhashchandra Naik
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
| | - Alan K Hunter
- Biopharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States.
| | - Anne S Robinson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
| | - Christopher J Roberts
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
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10
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Rospiccio M, Arsiccio A, Winter G, Pisano R. The Role of Cyclodextrins against Interface-Induced Denaturation in Pharmaceutical Formulations: A Molecular Dynamics Approach. Mol Pharm 2021; 18:2322-2333. [PMID: 33999634 PMCID: PMC8289300 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Protein-based pharmaceutical
products are subject to a variety
of environmental stressors, during both production and shelf-life.
In order to preserve their structure, and, therefore, functionality,
it is necessary to use excipients as stabilizing agents. Among the
eligible stabilizers, cyclodextrins (CDs) have recently gained interest
in the scientific community thanks to their properties. Here, a computational
approach is proposed to clarify the role of β-cyclodextrin (βCD)
and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) against granulocyte
colony-stimulating (GCSF) factor denaturation at the air–water
and ice–water interfaces, and also in bulk water at 300 or
260 K. Both traditional molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and enhanced
sampling techniques (metadynamics, MetaD) are used to shed light on
the underlying molecular mechanisms. Bulk simulations revealed that
CDs were preferentially included within the surface hydration layer
of GCSF, and even included some peptide residues in their hydrophobic
cavity. HPβCD was able to stabilize the protein against surface-induced
denaturation in proximity of the air–water interface, while
βCD had a destabilizing effect. No remarkable conformational
changes of GCSF, or noticeable effect of the CDs, were instead observed
at the ice surface. GCSF seemed less stable at low temperature (260
K), which may be attributed to cold-denaturation effects. In this
case, CDs did not significantly improve conformational stability.
In general, the conformationally altered regions of GCSF seemed not
to depend on the presence of excipients that only modulated the extent
of destabilization with either a positive or a negative effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Rospiccio
- Molecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy
| | - Andrea Arsiccio
- Molecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy
| | - Gerhard Winter
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Roberto Pisano
- Molecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy
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11
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Abstract
Multiple therapeutic proteins can be combined into a single dose for synergistic targeting to multiple sites of action. Such proteins would be mixed in dose-specific ratios to provide the correct potency for each component, and yet the formulations must also preserve their activity and keep degradation to a minimum. Mixing different therapeutic proteins could adversely affect their stability, and reduce the shelf life of each individual component, making the control of such products very challenging. In this study, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody and a related Fab fragment, were combined to investigate the impact of coformulation on their degradation kinetics. Under mildly destabilizing conditions, these proteins were found to protect each other from degradation. The protective effect appeared to originate from the interaction of Fab and IgG1 in small soluble oligomers, or through the rapid coalescence of pre-existing monomeric IgG1 nuclei into a dead-end aggregate, rather than through macromolecular crowding or diffusion-limitations.
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12
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Wood VE, Groves K, Cryar A, Quaglia M, Matejtschuk P, Dalby PA. HDX and In Silico Docking Reveal that Excipients Stabilize G-CSF via a Combination of Preferential Exclusion and Specific Hotspot Interactions. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:4637-4651. [PMID: 33112626 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Assuring the stability of therapeutic proteins is a major challenge in the biopharmaceutical industry, and a better molecular understanding of the mechanisms through which formulations influence their stability is an ongoing priority. While the preferential exclusion effects of excipients are well known, the additional presence and impact of specific protein-excipient interactions have proven to be more elusive to identify and characterize. We have taken a combined approach of in silico molecular docking and hydrogen deuterium exchange-mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to characterize the interactions between granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and some common excipients. These interactions were related to their influence on the thermal-melting temperatures (Tm) for the nonreversible unfolding of G-CSF in liquid formulations. The residue-level interaction sites predicted in silico correlated well with those identified experimentally and highlighted the potential impact of specific excipient interactions on the Tm of G-CSF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria E Wood
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Groves
- National Measurement Laboratory at LGC Ltd., Queens Road, Teddington TW11 0LY, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Cryar
- National Measurement Laboratory at LGC Ltd., Queens Road, Teddington TW11 0LY, United Kingdom
| | - Milena Quaglia
- National Measurement Laboratory at LGC Ltd., Queens Road, Teddington TW11 0LY, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Matejtschuk
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Paul A Dalby
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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13
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Svilenov HL, Winter G. Formulations That Suppress Aggregation During Long-Term Storage of a Bispecific Antibody are Characterized by High Refoldability and Colloidal Stability. J Pharm Sci 2020; 109:2048-2058. [DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2020.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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14
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Binding of excipients is a poor predictor for aggregation kinetics of biopharmaceutical proteins. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2020; 151:127-136. [PMID: 32283214 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the major challenges in formulation development of biopharmaceuticals is improving long-term storage stability, which is often achieved by addition of excipients to the final formulation. Finding the optimal excipient for a given protein is usually done using a trial-and-error approach, due to the lack of general understanding of how excipients work for a particular protein. Previously, preferential interactions (binding or exclusion) of excipients with proteins were postulated as a mechanism explaining diversity in the stabilisation effects. Weak preferential binding is however difficult to quantify experimentally, and the question remains whether the formulation process should seek excipients which preferentially bind with proteins, or not. Here, we apply solution NMR spectroscopy to comprehensively evaluate protein-excipient interactions between therapeutically relevant proteins and commonly used excipients. Additionally, we evaluate the effect of excipients on thermal and colloidal protein stability, on aggregation kinetics and protein storage stability at elevated temperatures. We show that there is a weak negative correlation between the strength of protein-excipient interactions and effect on enhancing protein thermal stability. We found that the overall protein-excipient binding per se can be a poor criterion for choosing excipients enhancing formulation stability. Experiments on a diverse set of excipients and test proteins reveal that while excipients affect all of the different aspects of protein stability, the effects are very much protein specific, and care must be taken to avoid apparent generalisations if a smaller dataset is being used.
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15
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Krieg D, Svilenov H, Gitter JH, Winter G. Overcoming challenges in co-formulation of proteins with contradicting stability profiles - EPO plus G-CSF. Eur J Pharm Sci 2020; 141:105073. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2019.105073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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16
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Wang W, Ohtake S. Science and art of protein formulation development. Int J Pharm 2019; 568:118505. [PMID: 31306712 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.118505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein pharmaceuticals have become a significant class of marketed drug products and are expected to grow steadily over the next decade. Development of a commercial protein product is, however, a rather complex process. A critical step in this process is formulation development, enabling the final product configuration. A number of challenges still exist in the formulation development process. This review is intended to discuss these challenges, to illustrate the basic formulation development processes, and to compare the options and strategies in practical formulation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Biological Development, Bayer USA, LLC, 800 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States.
| | - Satoshi Ohtake
- Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Pfizer Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chesterfield, MO 63017, United States
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17
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Rapid sample-saving biophysical characterisation and long-term storage stability of liquid interferon alpha2a formulations: Is there a correlation? Int J Pharm 2019; 562:42-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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18
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An Expanded Conformation of an Antibody Fab Region by X-Ray Scattering, Molecular Dynamics, and smFRET Identifies an Aggregation Mechanism. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:1409-1425. [PMID: 30776431 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is the underlying cause of many diseases, and also limits the usefulness of many natural and engineered proteins in biotechnology. Better mechanistic understanding and characterization of aggregation-prone states is needed to guide protein engineering, formulation, and drug-targeting strategies that prevent aggregation. While several final aggregated states-notably amyloids-have been characterized structurally, very little is known about the native structural conformers that initiate aggregation. We used a novel combination of small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), atomistic molecular dynamic simulations, single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer, and aggregation-prone region predictions, to characterize structural changes in a native humanized Fab A33 antibody fragment, that correlated with the experimental aggregation kinetics. SAXS revealed increases in the native state radius of gyration, Rg, of 2.2% to 4.1%, at pH 5.5 and below, concomitant with accelerated aggregation. In a cutting-edge approach, we fitted the SAXS data to full MD simulations from the same conditions and located the conformational changes in the native state to the constant domain of the light chain (CL). This CL displacement was independently confirmed using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer measurements with two dual-labeled Fabs. These conformational changes were also found to increase the solvent exposure of a predicted APR, suggesting a likely mechanism through which they promote aggregation. Our findings provide a means by which aggregation-prone conformational states can be readily determined experimentally, and thus potentially used to guide protein engineering, or ligand binding strategies, with the aim of stabilizing the protein against aggregation.
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19
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Klijn ME, Hubbuch J. Correlating multidimensional short-term empirical protein properties to long-term protein physical stability data via empirical phase diagrams. Int J Pharm 2019; 560:166-174. [PMID: 30769132 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Identification of long-term stable biopharmaceutical formulations is essential for biopharmaceutical product development. Reduction of the number of long-term storage experiments and a well-defined formulation search space requires knowledge-based formulation screenings and a detailed protein phase behavior understanding. To achieve this, short-term analytical techniques can serve as predictors for long-term protein phase behavior. Protein phase behavior studies that investigate this concept commonly display shortcomings such as limited and small datasets, sample adjustments, or simplistic data analysis. To overcome these shortcomings, 150 unique lysozyme solutions were analyzed using six different short-term analytical techniques. Lysozyme's structural properties, conformational stability, colloidal stability, surface charge, and surface hydrophobicity were obtained directly after formulation preparation. Employing the empirical phase diagram method, this short-term data was correlated to long-term physical stability data obtained during 40 days of storage. Short-term protein properties showed partial correlation to long-term phase behavior. Structural differences, changing surface properties, colloidal stability, and conformation stability as a function of formulation conditions were observed. This study contributes to long-term protein phase behavior research by presenting a systematic, data-dependent, and multidimensional data evaluation workflow to create a comprehensive overview of short-term protein analytics in relation to long-term protein phase behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke E Klijn
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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20
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Robinson MJ, Matejtschuk P, Longstaff C, Dalby PA. Selective Stabilization and Destabilization of Protein Domains in Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Using Formulation Excipients. Mol Pharm 2019; 16:744-755. [PMID: 30565948 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b01024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Multidomain biotherapeutic proteins present additional behavioral and analytical challenges for the optimization of their kinetic stability by formulation. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) comprises six protein domains that exhibit a complex and pH-dependent thermal unfolding profile, due to partially independent domain unfolding. Here we have used tPA as a model for evaluating the relationships between various thermal unfolding and aggregation parameters in multidomain proteins. We show that changes in the thermal unfolding profile of tPA were parametrized by the overall thermal midpoint transition temperature, Tm, and the Van't Hoff entropy for unfolding, Δ Svh, which is a measure of unfolding cooperativity. The kinetics of degradation at 45 °C, leading to aggregation, were measured as rates of monomer and activity loss. These two rates were found to be coincident at all pH. Aggregation accelerated at pH 4 due to the early unfolding of the serine protease N-terminal domain (SP-N), whereas at pH 5-8, the fraction unfolded at 45 °C ( f45) was <1%, resulting in a baseline rate of aggregation from the native ensemble. We used a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach to evaluate how formulation excipients impact and control the thermal unfolding profile for tPA and found that the relative stability of each of the tPA domains was dependent on the formulation. Therefore, the optimization of formulations for complex multidomain proteins such as tPA may need to be multiobjective, with careful selection of the desired attributes that improve stability. As aggregation rates (ln v) correlated well to Tm ( R2 = 0.77) and Δ Svh ( R2 = 0.71) but not Tagg ( R2 = 0.01), we analyzed how formulation excipients and pH would be able to optimize Tm and Δ Svh. Formulation excipient behaviors were found to group according to their combined impact on Tm and Δ Svh. The effects of each excipient were often selectively stabilizing or destabilizing to specific tPA domains and changed the stability of particular domains relative to the others. The types of mechanism by which this could occur might involve specific interactions with the protein surface, or otherwise effects that are mediated via the solvent as a result of the different surface hydrophobicities and polarities of each domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew J Robinson
- Department of Biochemical Engineering , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
| | - Paul Matejtschuk
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control , South Mimms, Potters Bar , Hertfordshire EN6 3QG , U.K
| | - Colin Longstaff
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control , South Mimms, Potters Bar , Hertfordshire EN6 3QG , U.K
| | - Paul A Dalby
- Department of Biochemical Engineering , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
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21
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22
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Exploiting correlated molecular-dynamics networks to counteract enzyme activity-stability trade-off. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E12192-E12200. [PMID: 30530661 PMCID: PMC6310800 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1812204115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rigidifying flexible sites is a powerful method to improve enzyme stability. However, if the highly flexible regions form the active site, modifying them risks losing activity due to the activity–stability trade-off. We hypothesized here that regions outside the active site whose dynamics were highly correlated to flexible active sites, would provide good targets for stabilizing mutations. To test this hypothesis, six variants were constructed in the 3M variant of Escherichia coli transketolase. The best variant had a 10.8-fold improved half-life at 55 °C, and increased the Tm and Tagg by 3 °C and 4.3 °C, respectively. The variants even increased the activity, by up to threefold. This study highlights how protein engineering strategies could be potentially improved by considering long-range dynamics. The directed evolution of enzymes for improved activity or substrate specificity commonly leads to a trade-off in stability. We have identified an activity–stability trade-off and a loss in unfolding cooperativity for a variant (3M) of Escherichia coli transketolase (TK) engineered to accept aromatic substrates. Molecular dynamics simulations of 3M revealed increased flexibility in several interconnected active-site regions that also form part of the dimer interface. Mutating the newly flexible active-site residues to regain stability risked losing the new activity. We hypothesized that stabilizing mutations could be targeted to residues outside of the active site, whose dynamics were correlated with the newly flexible active-site residues. We previously stabilized WT TK by targeting mutations to highly flexible regions. These regions were much less flexible in 3M and would not have been selected a priori as targets using the same strategy based on flexibility alone. However, their dynamics were highly correlated with the newly flexible active-site regions of 3M. Introducing the previous mutations into 3M reestablished the WT level of stability and unfolding cooperativity, giving a 10.8-fold improved half-life at 55 °C, and increased midpoint and aggregation onset temperatures by 3 °C and 4.3 °C, respectively. Even the activity toward aromatic aldehydes increased up to threefold. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the mutations rigidified the active-site via the correlated network. This work provides insights into the impact of rigidifying mutations within highly correlated dynamic networks that could also be useful for developing improved computational protein engineering strategies.
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23
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Coupled molecular dynamics mediate long- and short-range epistasis between mutations that affect stability and aggregation kinetics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E11043-E11052. [PMID: 30404916 PMCID: PMC6255212 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1810324115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple mutations are typically required to significantly improve protein stability or aggregation kinetics. However, when several substitutions are made in a single protein, the mutations can potentially interact in a nonadditive manner, resulting in epistatic effects, which can hamper protein-engineering strategies to improve thermostability or aggregation kinetics. Here, we have examined the role of protein dynamics in mediating epistasis between pairs of mutations. With Escherichia coli transketolase (TK) as a model, we explored the epistatic interactions between two single variants H192P and A282P, and also between the double-mutant H192P/A282P and two single variants, I365L or G506A. Epistasis was determined for several measures of protein stability, including the following: the free-energy barrier to kinetic inactivation, ∆∆G ‡; thermal transition midpoint temperatures, T m; and aggregation onset temperatures, T agg Nonadditive epistasis was observed between neighboring mutations as expected, but also for distant mutations located in the surface and core regions of different domains. Surprisingly, the epistatic behaviors for each measure of stability were often different for any given pairwise recombination, highlighting that kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities do not always depend on the same structural features. Molecular-dynamics simulations and a pairwise cross-correlation analysis revealed that mutations influence the dynamics of their local environment, but also in some cases the dynamics of regions distant in the structure. This effect was found to mediate epistatic interactions between distant mutations and could therefore be exploited in future protein-engineering strategies.
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Quality Comparison of Biosimilar and Copy Filgrastim Products with the Innovator Product. Pharm Res 2018; 35:226. [PMID: 30280277 PMCID: PMC6182392 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-018-2491-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Filgrastim, a recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, is widely used to treat congenital and acquired neutropenia. Following patent expiration of the innovator filgrastim product, biosimilar filgrastim products have been approved in the EU and shown to be comparable with the innovator with respect to quality, safety and efficacy. In less regulated markets, copy filgrastim products are available but data about their quality are scarce. In the present study, we provide a head-to-head comparative study on the quality of biosimilar and copy filgrastim products. Methods Innovator filgrastim product, Neupogen®, two EU-licensed biosimilars, Zarzio® and Tevagrastim®, and two copy filgrastim products, Biocilin® and PDgrastim®, were subjected to peptide mapping, circular dichroism spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, high performance size-exclusion chromatography, reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography, endotoxin test, flow imaging microscopy and in vitro potency assay. Results Zarzio® and Tevagrastim® have comparable quality to Neupogen®, while Biocilin® showed a significantly lower and PDgrastim® a higher specific activity. Moreover, PDgrastim® showed a higher level of impurities and a lower thermo stability than the other products. Conclusions Except for the deviating specific activities of the two copy filgrastim products, we found no substantial differences in product quality between the filgrastim products studied.
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An Evaluation of the Potential of NMR Spectroscopy and Computational Modelling Methods to Inform Biopharmaceutical Formulations. Pharmaceutics 2018; 10:pharmaceutics10040165. [PMID: 30248922 PMCID: PMC6320905 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics10040165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-based therapeutics are considered to be one of the most important classes of pharmaceuticals on the market. The growing need to prolong stability of high protein concentrations in liquid form has proven to be challenging. Therefore, significant effort is being made to design formulations which can enable the storage of these highly concentrated protein therapies for up to 2 years. Currently, the excipient selection approach involves empirical high-throughput screening, but does not reveal details on aggregation mechanisms or the molecular-level effects of the formulations under storage conditions. Computational modelling approaches have the potential to elucidate such mechanisms, and rapidly screen in silico prior to experimental testing. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can also provide complementary insights into excipient–protein interactions. This review will highlight the underpinning principles of molecular modelling and NMR spectroscopy. It will also discuss the advancements in the applications of computational and NMR approaches in investigating excipient–protein interactions.
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26
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Sane MS, Misra N, Quintanar NM, Jones CD, Mustafi SB. Biochemical characterization of pure dehydrated binate amniotic membrane: role of cytokines in the spotlight. Regen Med 2018; 13:689-703. [PMID: 30129890 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2018-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Placental allografts used for tissue regeneration differ in membrane compositions and processing techniques. A uniquely folded dehydrated binate amniotic membrane (DBAM) was biochemically characterized to evaluate its potential role in wound healing. METHODS Histology, Luminex-based immunoassay and standard in vitro cell biology techniques were employed. RESULTS Histological staining confirmed that the DBAM was chorion free with epithelial cell layer of the respective amnion membranes facing outward. DBAM had quantifiable levels of relevant cytokines that induced proliferation and migration while bolstering secretory activity of the cells. DBAM retained biological efficacy at a broad range of temperatures. CONCLUSION Cytokines in DBAM stimulate bone marrow stromal and stem cells that may lead to tissue regeneration and wound healing in a clinical setup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukta S Sane
- Department of Research & Development, Burst Biologics, 3501 West Elder Street, Ste #104, Boise, ID 83705, USA
| | - Neha Misra
- Department of Research & Development, Burst Biologics, 3501 West Elder Street, Ste #104, Boise, ID 83705, USA
| | - Nathan M Quintanar
- Department of Production, Burst Biologics, 3501 West Elder Street, Ste #104, Boise, ID 83705, USA
| | - Christopher D Jones
- Department of Research & Development, Burst Biologics, 3501 West Elder Street, Ste #104, Boise, ID 83705, USA.,Department of Production, Burst Biologics, 3501 West Elder Street, Ste #104, Boise, ID 83705, USA
| | - Soumyajit Banerjee Mustafi
- Department of Research & Development, Burst Biologics, 3501 West Elder Street, Ste #104, Boise, ID 83705, USA
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27
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Zhang C, Samad M, Yu H, Chakroun N, Hilton D, Dalby PA. Computational Design To Reduce Conformational Flexibility and Aggregation Rates of an Antibody Fab Fragment. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:3079-3092. [PMID: 29897777 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Computationally guided semirational design has significant potential for improving the aggregation kinetics of protein biopharmaceuticals. While improvement in the global conformational stability can stabilize proteins to aggregation under some conditions, previous studies suggest that such an approach is limited, because thermal transition temperatures ( Tm) and the fraction of protein unfolded ( fT) tend to only correlate with aggregation kinetics where the protein is incubated at temperatures approaching the Tm. This is because under these conditions, aggregation from globally unfolded protein becomes dominant. However, under native conditions, the aggregation kinetics are presumed to be dependent on local structural fluctuations or partial unfolding of the native state, which reveal regions of high propensity to form protein-protein interactions that lead to aggregation. In this work, we have targeted the design of stabilizing mutations to regions of the A33 Fab surface structure, which were predicted to be more flexible. This Fab already has high global stability, and global unfolding is not the main cause of aggregation under most conditions. Therefore, the aim was to reduce the conformational flexibility and entropy of the native protein at various locations and thus identify which of those regions has the greatest influence on the aggregation kinetics. Highly dynamic regions of structure were identified through both molecular dynamics simulation and B-factor analysis of related X-ray crystal structures. The most flexible residues were mutated into more stable variants, as predicted by Rosetta, which evaluates the ΔΔ GND for each potential point mutation. Additional destabilizing variants were prepared as controls to evaluate the prediction accuracy and also to assess the general influence of conformational stability on aggregation kinetics. The thermal conformational stability, and aggregation rates of 18 variants at 65 °C, were each examined at pH 4, 200 mM ionic strength, under which conditions the initial wild-type protein was <5% unfolded. Variants with decreased Tm values led to more rapid aggregation due to an increase in the fraction of protein unfolded under the conditions studied. As expected, no significant improvements were observed in the global conformational stability as measured by Tm. However, 6 of the 12 stable variants led to an increase in the cooperativity of unfolding, consistent with lower conformational flexibility and entropy in the native ensemble. Three of these had 5-11% lower aggregation rates, and their structural clustering indicated that the local dynamics of the C-terminus of the heavy chain had a role in influencing the aggregation rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering , University College London , Gordon Street , London WC1E 7JE , U.K
| | - Maariyah Samad
- Department of Biochemical Engineering , University College London , Gordon Street , London WC1E 7JE , U.K
| | - Haoran Yu
- Department of Biochemical Engineering , University College London , Gordon Street , London WC1E 7JE , U.K
| | - Nesrine Chakroun
- Department of Biochemical Engineering , University College London , Gordon Street , London WC1E 7JE , U.K
| | - David Hilton
- Department of Biochemical Engineering , University College London , Gordon Street , London WC1E 7JE , U.K
| | - Paul A Dalby
- Department of Biochemical Engineering , University College London , Gordon Street , London WC1E 7JE , U.K
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