1
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Journeaux T, Bernardes GJL. Homogeneous multi-payload antibody-drug conjugates. Nat Chem 2024:10.1038/s41557-024-01507-y. [PMID: 38760431 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01507-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Many systemic cancer chemotherapies comprise a combination of drugs, yet all clinically used antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) contain a single-drug payload. These combination regimens improve treatment outcomes by producing synergistic anticancer effects and slowing the development of drug-resistant cell populations. In an attempt to replicate these regimens and improve the efficacy of targeted therapy, the field of ADCs has moved towards developing techniques that allow for multiple unique payloads to be attached to a single antibody molecule with high homogeneity. However, the methods for generating such constructs-homogeneous multi-payload ADCs-are both numerous and complex owing to the plethora of reactive functional groups that make up the surface of an antibody. Here, by summarizing and comparing the methods of both single- and multi-payload ADC generation and their key preclinical and clinical results, we provide a timely overview of this relatively new area of research. The methods discussed range from branched linker installation to the incorporation of unnatural amino acids, with a generalized comparison tool of the most promising modification strategies also provided. Finally, the successes and challenges of this rapidly growing field are critically evaluated, and from this, future areas of research and development are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby Journeaux
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gonçalo J L Bernardes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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2
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Gray ME, Zielinski KM, Xu F, Elder KK, McKay SJ, Ojo VT, Benjamin SR, Yaseen AA, Brooks TA, Tumey LN. A comparison of the activity, lysosomal stability, and efficacy of legumain-cleavable and cathepsin cleavable ADC linkers. Xenobiotica 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38738708 DOI: 10.1080/00498254.2024.2352051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
1. Over the past two decades antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a highly effective drug delivery technology. ADCs utilize a monoclonal antibody, a chemical linker, and a therapeutic payload to selectively deliver highly potent pharmaceutical agents to specific cell types.2. Challenges such as premature linker cleavage and clearance due to linker hydrophobicity have adversely impacted the stability and safety of ADCs. While there are various solutions to these challenges, our team has focused on replacement of hydrophobic ValCit linkers (cleaved by CatB) with Asn-containing linkers that are cleaved by lysosomal legumain.3. Legumain is abundantly present in lysosomes and is known to play a role in tumor microenvironment dynamics. Herein, we directly compare the lysosomal cleavage, cytotoxicity, plasma stability, and efficacy of a traditional cathepsin cleavable ADC to a matched Asn-containing legumain-cleavable ADC.4. We demonstrate that Asn-containing linker sequences are specifically cleaved by lysosomal legumain and that Asn-linked MMAE ADCs are broadly active against a variety of tumors, even those with low legumain expression. Finally, we show that AsnAsn-linked ADCs exhibit comparable or improved efficacy to traditional ValCit-linked ADCs. Our study paves the way for replacement of the traditional ValCit linker technology with more hydrophilic Asn-containing peptide linker sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan E Gray
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
| | - Karina M Zielinski
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
| | - Fanny Xu
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
| | - Kayla K Elder
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
| | - Steven J McKay
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
| | - Victor T Ojo
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
| | - Samantha R Benjamin
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
| | - Aiman A Yaseen
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
| | - Tracy A Brooks
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
| | - L Nathan Tumey
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000, USA
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3
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Osgood AO, Roy SJS, Koo D, Gu R, Chatterjee A. A Genetically Encoded Photocaged Cysteine for Facile Site-Specific Introduction of Conjugation-Ready Thiol Residues in Antibodies. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:457-464. [PMID: 38548654 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a powerful class of anticancer therapeutics that enable the selective delivery of toxic payloads into target cells. There is increasing appreciation for the importance of synthesizing such ADCs in a defined manner where the payload is attached at specific permissive sites on the antibody with a defined drug to antibody ratio. Additionally, the ability to systematically alter the site of attachment is important to fine-tune the therapeutic properties of the ADC. Engineered cysteine residues have been used to achieve such site-specific programmable attachment of drug molecules onto antibodies. However, engineered cysteine residues on antibodies often get "disulfide-capped" during secretion and require reductive regeneration prior to conjugation. This reductive step also reduces structurally important disulfide bonds in the antibody itself, which must be regenerated through oxidation. This multistep, cumbersome process reduces the efficiency of conjugation and presents logistical challenges. Additionally, certain engineered cysteine sites are resistant to reductive regeneration, limiting their utility and the overall scope of this conjugation strategy. In this work, we utilize a genetically encoded photocaged cysteine residue that can be site-specifically installed into the antibody. This photocaged amino acid can be efficiently decaged using light, revealing a free cysteine residue available for conjugation without disrupting the antibody structure. We show that this ncAA can be incorporated at several positions within full-length recombinant trastuzumab and decaged efficiently. We further used this method to generate a functional ADC site-specifically modified with monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna O Osgood
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, 201 Merkert Chemistry Center, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States
| | - Soumya Jyoti Singha Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, 201 Merkert Chemistry Center, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States
| | - David Koo
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, 201 Merkert Chemistry Center, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States
| | - Renpeng Gu
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, 201 Merkert Chemistry Center, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States
| | - Abhishek Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, 201 Merkert Chemistry Center, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States
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4
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Xi J, Liu K, Peng Z, Dai X, Wang Y, Cai C, Yang D, Yan C, Li X. Toxic warhead-armed antibody for targeted treatment of glioblastoma. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 193:104205. [PMID: 38036153 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104205] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a fatal intracranial tumor with a poor prognosis, exhibiting uninterrupted malignant progression, widespread invasion throughout the brain leading to the destruction of normal brain tissue and inevitable death. Monoclonal antibodies alone or conjugated with cytotoxic payloads to treat patients with different solid tumors showed effective. This treatment strategy is being explored for patients with glioblastoma (GBM) to obtain meaningful clinical responses and offer new drug options for the treatment of this devastating disease. In this review, we summarize clinical data (from pubmed.gov database and clinicaltrial.gov database) on the efficacy and toxicity of naked antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) against multiple targets on GBM, elucidate the mechanisms that ADCs act at the site of GBM lesions. Finally, we discuss the potential strategies for ADC therapies currently used to treat GBM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Kai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Zhaolei Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Xiaolin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yulin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Chunyan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Dejun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Chunmei Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Xiaofang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
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5
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Hingorani DV. An overview of site-specific methods for achieving antibody drug conjugates with homogenous drug to antibody ratio. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2024; 24:31-36. [PMID: 38247196 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2024.2305266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a potent tool in cancer treatment, where cytotoxic drugs are linked to antibodies targeting specific antigens. While conventional ADC synthesis methods have seen success as commercials therapeutics, there is a growing interest in next-generation ADCs, looking at homogeneity of the drug-to-antibody ratio. AREAS COVERED The article provides a high-level overview for achieving said homogeneity by site-directed conjugations via encompassing engineered amino acids, enzyme-mediated strategies, peptide sequences, affinity peptides, and beyond. As the field rapidly evolves with multiple ADCs in clinical trials and the advent of biosimilars, the article explores the benefits and challenges in both conventional and non-platform ADC technologies. EXPERT OPINION The choice of site selection approach must be based on multiple criteria as discussed in this report. Two ADCs made from conjugation to engineered cysteines have been approved by regulatory agencies which have contributed to the excitement in this space. For the others, though successful as proof-of-concept, the true test of merit will be determined as these technologies advance into the clinic. The promise of improving the therapeutics index and decreasing toxicities will continue to drive progress in this area.
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6
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Gulyak EL, Alferova VA, Korshun VA, Sapozhnikova KA. Introduction of Carbonyl Groups into Antibodies. Molecules 2023; 28:7890. [PMID: 38067618 PMCID: PMC10707781 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibodies and their derivatives (scFv, Fabs, etc.) represent a unique class of biomolecules that combine selectivity with the ability to target drug delivery. Currently, one of the most promising endeavors in this field is the development of molecular diagnostic tools and antibody-based therapeutic agents, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). To meet this challenge, it is imperative to advance methods for modifying antibodies. A particularly promising strategy involves the introduction of carbonyl groups into the antibody that are amenable to further modification by biorthogonal reactions, namely aliphatic, aromatic, and α-oxo aldehydes, as well as aliphatic and aryl-alkyl ketones. In this review, we summarize the preparation methods and applications of site-specific antibody conjugates that are synthesized using this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ksenia A. Sapozhnikova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (E.L.G.); (V.A.A.); (V.A.K.)
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7
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Site-Specific Antibody Conjugation with Payloads beyond Cytotoxins. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28030917. [PMID: 36770585 PMCID: PMC9921355 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28030917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
As antibody-drug conjugates have become a very important modality for cancer therapy, many site-specific conjugation approaches have been developed for generating homogenous molecules. The selective antibody coupling is achieved through antibody engineering by introducing specific amino acid or unnatural amino acid residues, peptides, and glycans. In addition to the use of synthetic cytotoxins, these novel methods have been applied for the conjugation of other payloads, including non-cytotoxic compounds, proteins/peptides, glycans, lipids, and nucleic acids. The non-cytotoxic compounds include polyethylene glycol, antibiotics, protein degraders (PROTAC and LYTAC), immunomodulating agents, enzyme inhibitors and protein ligands. Different small proteins or peptides have been selectively conjugated through unnatural amino acid using click chemistry, engineered C-terminal formylglycine for oxime or click chemistry, or specific ligation or transpeptidation with or without enzymes. Although the antibody protamine peptide fusions have been extensively used for siRNA coupling during early studies, direct conjugations through engineered cysteine or lysine residues have been demonstrated later. These site-specific antibody conjugates containing these payloads other than cytotoxic compounds can be used in proof-of-concept studies and in developing new therapeutics for unmet medical needs.
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8
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Instability Challenges and Stabilization Strategies of Pharmaceutical Proteins. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14112533. [PMID: 36432723 PMCID: PMC9699111 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining the structure of protein and peptide drugs has become one of the most important goals of scientists in recent decades. Cold and thermal denaturation conditions, lyophilization and freeze drying, different pH conditions, concentrations, ionic strength, environmental agitation, the interaction between the surface of liquid and air as well as liquid and solid, and even the architectural structure of storage containers are among the factors that affect the stability of these therapeutic biomacromolecules. The use of genetic engineering, side-directed mutagenesis, fusion strategies, solvent engineering, the addition of various preservatives, surfactants, and additives are some of the solutions to overcome these problems. This article will discuss the types of stress that lead to instabilities of different proteins used in pharmaceutics including regulatory proteins, antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates, and then all the methods for fighting these stresses will be reviewed. New and existing analytical methods that are used to detect the instabilities, mainly changes in their primary and higher order structures, are briefly summarized.
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9
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Jackson CP, Fang S, Benjamin SR, Alayi T, Hathout Y, Gillen SM, Handel JP, Brems BM, Howe JM, Tumey LN. Evaluation of an ester-linked immunosuppressive payload: A case study in understanding the stability and cleavability of ester-containing ADC linkers. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 75:128953. [PMID: 36058468 PMCID: PMC10166636 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128953] [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: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In spite of their value in prodrug applications, the use of esters in antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC) payloads and linkers has generally been avoided due to the ubiquitous and promiscuous nature of human esterases. ADCs generally have a long circulating half life (3-7 days) that makes them susceptible to esterase-mediated metabolism. Moreover, it is largely unclear whether lysosomal and cytosolic esterases cleave ester-containing linkers upon ADC internalization. Due to our interest in the targeted delivery of immune-modulators, our team has recently prepared a series of ester-linked dexamethasone ADCs. Herein, we report our studies of the functional activity of these ADCs, with a particular focus on their catabolism in various biological milieu. We found that esters are selectively but inefficiently cleaved upon cellular uptake, likely by cytosolic esterases. Lysosomal catabolism studies indicate that, in spite of the strong proteolytic activity, very little cleavage of ester-containing linkers occurs in the lysosome. However, ADCs bearing the ester-linked payloads are active in various immune-suppressive assays, suggesting that cytosolic cleavage is taking place. This was confirmed through LCMS quantitation of the payload following cell lysis. Finally, the stability of the ester linkage was evaluated in mouse and human plasma. We found, similar to other reports, there is a significant site-dependence on the cleavage. Esters attached at highly exposed sites, such as 443C, were rapidly cleaved in plasma while esters at more hindered sites, such at 334C, were not. Together, these results help to unravel the complexities of ester-incorporation into ADC linkers and pave a path forward for their utility in ADC applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney P Jackson
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States
| | - Siteng Fang
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States
| | - Samantha R Benjamin
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States
| | - Tchilabalo Alayi
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States
| | - Yetrib Hathout
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States
| | - Sarah M Gillen
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States
| | - Jillian P Handel
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States
| | - Brittany M Brems
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States
| | - Justin M Howe
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States
| | - L Nathan Tumey
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States.
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10
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Procopio-Melino R, Kotch FW, Prashad AS, Gomes JM, Wang W, Arve B, Dawdy A, Chen L, Sperry J, Hosselet C, He T, Kriz R, Lin L, Marquette K, Tchistiakova L, Somers W, Rouse JC, Zhong X. Cysteine metabolic engineering and selective disulfide reduction produce superior antibody-drug-conjugates. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7262. [PMID: 35508689 PMCID: PMC9068625 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11344-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Next-generation site-specific cysteine-based antibody–drug-conjugates (ADCs) broaden therapeutic index by precise drug-antibody attachments. However, manufacturing such ADCs for clinical validation requires complex full reduction and reoxidation processes, impacting product quality. To overcome this technical challenge, we developed a novel antibody manufacturing process through cysteine (Cys) metabolic engineering in Chinese hamster ovary cells implementing a unique cysteine-capping technology. This development enabled a direct conjugation of drugs after chemoselective-reduction with mild reductant tris(3-sulfonatophenyl)phosphine. This innovative platform produces clinical ADC products with superior quality through a simplified manufacturing process. This technology also has the potential to integrate Cys-based site-specific conjugation with other site-specific conjugation methodologies to develop multi-drug ADCs and exploit multi-mechanisms of action for effective cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Procopio-Melino
- BioProcess R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 1 Burtt Road, Andover, MA, 01810, USA
| | - Frank W Kotch
- BioProcess R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 875 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield, MO, 63017, USA.
| | - Amar S Prashad
- BioProcess R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 875 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield, MO, 63017, USA.,Pearl River Laboratories Inc, 401 North Middletown Road, Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Jose M Gomes
- BioProcess R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 1 Burtt Road, Andover, MA, 01810, USA.
| | - Wenge Wang
- BioProcess R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 1 Burtt Road, Andover, MA, 01810, USA
| | - Bo Arve
- BioProcess R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 875 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield, MO, 63017, USA
| | - Andrew Dawdy
- Analytical R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 875 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield, MO, 63017, USA.
| | - Lawrence Chen
- Analytical R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 1 Burtt Road, Andover, MA, 01810, USA
| | - Justin Sperry
- Analytical R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 875 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield, MO, 63017, USA
| | - Christine Hosselet
- Vaccine Research, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 401 North Middletown Road, Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Tao He
- BioMedicine Design, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.,JOINN Biologics US Inc., 2600 Hilltop Dr., Richmond, CA, 94806, USA
| | - Ronald Kriz
- BioMedicine Design, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Laura Lin
- BioMedicine Design, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Kimberly Marquette
- BioMedicine Design, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Lioudmila Tchistiakova
- BioMedicine Design, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Will Somers
- BioMedicine Design, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jason C Rouse
- Analytical R&D, Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 1 Burtt Road, Andover, MA, 01810, USA
| | - Xiaotian Zhong
- BioMedicine Design, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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11
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Yamazoe S, Kotapati S, Hogan JM, West SM, Deng XA, Diong SJ, Arbanas J, Nguyen TA, Jashnani A, Gupta D, Rajpal A, Dollinger G, Strop P. Impact of Drug Conjugation on Thermal and Metabolic Stabilities of Aglycosylated and N-Glycosylated Antibodies. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:576-585. [PMID: 35344340 PMCID: PMC9026278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
N-linked glycosylation
is one of the most common and complex posttranslational
modifications that govern the biological functions and physicochemical
properties of therapeutic antibodies. We evaluated thermal and metabolic
stabilities of antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) with payloads
attached to the C’E loop in the immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc CH2
domain, comparing the glycosylated and aglycosylated Fc ADC variants.
Our study revealed that introduction of small-molecule drugs into
an aglycosylated antibody can compensate for thermal destabilization
originating from structural distortions caused by elimination of N-linked
glycans. Depending on the conjugation site, glycans had both positive
and negative effects on plasma stability of ADCs. The findings highlight
the importance of consideration for selection of conjugation site
to achieve desirable physicochemical properties and plasma stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayumi Yamazoe
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - Srikanth Kotapati
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - Jason M Hogan
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - Sean M West
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - Xiaodi A Deng
- Dren Bio, 400 Seaport Ct, Ste 102, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - S J Diong
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - Jaren Arbanas
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Thien Anh Nguyen
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - Aarti Jashnani
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - Diksha Gupta
- SCIEX, 47370 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, California 94538, United States
| | - Arvind Rajpal
- Large Molecule Drug Discovery, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Gavin Dollinger
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - Pavel Strop
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, California 94063, United States.,Biologics Discovery, Tallac Therapeutics, Burlingame, California 94010, United States
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12
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Geddie ML, Kirpotin DB, Kohli N, Kornaga T, Boll B, Razlog M, Drummond DC, Lugovskoy AA. Development of disulfide-stabilized Fabs for targeting of antibody-directed nanotherapeutics. MAbs 2022; 14:2083466. [PMID: 35708974 PMCID: PMC9225506 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2083466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody-directed nanotherapeutics (ADNs) represent a promising delivery platform for selective delivery of an encapsulated drug payload to the site of disease that improves the therapeutic index. Although both single-chain Fv (scFv) and Fab antibody fragments have been used for targeting, no platform approach applicable to any target has emerged. scFv can suffer from intrinsic instability, and the Fabs are challenging to use due to native disulfide over-reduction and resulting impurities at the end of the conjugation process. This occurs because of the close proximity of the disulfide bond connecting the heavy and light chain to the free cysteine at the C-terminus, which is commonly used as the conjugation site. Here we show that by engineering an alternative heavy chain-light chain disulfide within the Fab, we can maintain efficient conjugation while eliminating the process impurities and retaining stability. We have demonstrated the utility of this technology for efficient ADN delivery and internalization for a series of targets, including EphA2, EGFR, and ErbB2. We expect that this technology will be broadly applicable for targeting of nanoparticle encapsulated payloads, including DNA, mRNA, and small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Geddie
- Discovery, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Research & Development, Diagonal Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dmitri B Kirpotin
- Discovery, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Research & Development, Akagera Medicines, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Neeraj Kohli
- Discovery, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Janssen Research & Development, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tad Kornaga
- Discovery, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bjoern Boll
- Discovery, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Drug Product Design, ten23 Health, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maja Razlog
- Discovery, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Research, Verseau Therapeutics, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daryl C Drummond
- Discovery, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Research & Development, Akagera Medicines, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexey A Lugovskoy
- Discovery, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Research & Development, Diagonal Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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Kaempffe A, Dickgiesser S, Rasche N, Paoletti A, Bertotti E, De Salve I, Sirtori FR, Kellner R, Könning D, Hecht S, Anderl J, Kolmar H, Schröter C. Effect of Conjugation Site and Technique on the Stability and Pharmacokinetics of Antibody-Drug Conjugates. J Pharm Sci 2021; 110:3776-3785. [PMID: 34363839 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Appropriate selection of conjugation sites and conjugation technologies is now widely accepted as crucial for the success of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Herein, we present ADCs conjugated by different conjugation methods to different conjugation positions being systematically characterized by multiple in vitro assays as well as in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses in transgenic Tg276 mice. Conjugation to cysteines, genetically introduced at positions N325, L328, S239, D265, and S442, was compared to enzymatic conjugation via microbial transglutaminase (mTG) either to C-terminal light (LC) or heavy chain (HC) recognition motifs or to endogenous position Q295 of a native antibody. All conjugations yielded homogeneous DAR 2 ADCs with similar hydrophobicity, thermal stability, human neonatal Fc receptor (huFcRn) binding, and serum stability properties, but with pronounced differences in their PK profiles. mTG-conjugated ADC variants conjugated either to Q295 or to LC recognition motifs showed superior PK behavior. Within the panel of engineered cysteine variants L328 showed a similar PK profile compared to previously described S239 but superior PK compared to S442, D265, and N325. While all positions were first tested with trastuzumab, L328 and mTG LC were further evaluated with additional antibody scaffolds derived from clinically evaluated monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Based on PK analyses, this study confirms the newly described position L328 as favorable site for cysteine conjugation, comparable to the well-established engineered cysteine position S239, and emphasizes the favorable position Q295 of native antibodies and the tagged LC antibody variant for enzymatic conjugations via mTG. In addition, hemizygous Tg276 mice are evaluated as an adequate model for ADC pharmacokinetics, facilitating the selection of suitable ADC candidates early in the drug discovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kaempffe
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany; Antibody Drug Conjugates & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stephan Dickgiesser
- Antibody Drug Conjugates & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nicolas Rasche
- Antibody Drug Conjugates & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Andrea Paoletti
- NBE-DMPK Discovery and Preclinical Bioanalytics, Merck KGaA, RBM S.p.A., Via Ribes 1, 10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Elisa Bertotti
- NBE-DMPK Discovery and Preclinical Bioanalytics, Merck KGaA, RBM S.p.A., Via Ribes 1, 10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Ilse De Salve
- NBE-DMPK Discovery and Preclinical Bioanalytics, Merck KGaA, RBM S.p.A., Via Ribes 1, 10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Federico Riccardi Sirtori
- NBE-DMPK Discovery and Preclinical Bioanalytics, Merck KGaA, RBM S.p.A., Via Ribes 1, 10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Roland Kellner
- Antibody Drug Conjugates & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Doreen Könning
- Antibody Drug Conjugates & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Hecht
- Antibody Drug Conjugates & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jan Anderl
- Antibody Drug Conjugates & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian Schröter
- Antibody Drug Conjugates & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany.
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14
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Site-Specific Antibody Conjugation to Engineered Double Cysteine Residues. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070672. [PMID: 34358098 PMCID: PMC8308878 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Site-specific antibody conjugations generate homogeneous antibody-drug conjugates with high therapeutic index. However, there are limited examples for producing the site-specific conjugates with a drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) greater than two, especially using engineered cysteines. Based on available Fc structures, we designed and introduced free cysteine residues into various antibody CH2 and CH3 regions to explore and expand this technology. The mutants were generated using site-directed mutagenesis with good yield and properties. Conjugation efficiency and selectivity were screened using PEGylation. The top single cysteine mutants were then selected and combined as double cysteine mutants for expression and further investigation. Thirty-six out of thirty-eight double cysteine mutants display comparable expression with low aggregation similar to the wild-type antibody. PEGylation screening identified seventeen double cysteine mutants with good conjugatability and high selectivity. PEGylation was demonstrated to be a valuable and efficient approach for quickly screening mutants for high selectivity as well as conjugation efficiency. Our work demonstrated the feasibility of generating antibody conjugates with a DAR greater than 3.4 and high site-selectivity using THIOMABTM method. The top single or double cysteine mutants identified can potentially be applied to site-specific antibody conjugation of cytotoxin or other therapeutic agents as a next generation conjugation strategy.
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15
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Jäger S, Wagner TR, Rasche N, Kolmar H, Hecht S, Schröter C. Generation and Biological Evaluation of Fc Antigen Binding Fragment-Drug Conjugates as a Novel Antibody-Based Format for Targeted Drug Delivery. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:1699-1710. [PMID: 34185508 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Fragment crystallizable (Fc) antigen binding fragments (Fcabs) represent a novel antibody format comprising a homodimeric Fc region with an engineered antigen binding site. In contrast to their full-length antibody offspring, Fcabs combine Fc-domain-mediated and antigen binding functions at only one-third of the size. Their reduced size is accompanied by elevated tissue penetration capabilities, which is an attractive feature for the treatment of solid tumors. In the present study, we explored for the first time Fcabs as a novel scaffold for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). As model, various HER2-targeting Fcab variants coupled to a pH-sensitive dye were used in internalization experiments. A selective binding on HER2-expressing tumor cells and receptor-mediated endocytosis could be confirmed for selected variants, indicating that these Fcabs meet the basic prerequisite for an ADC approach. Subsequently, Fcabs were site-specifically coupled to cytotoxic monomethyl auristatin E yielding homogeneous conjugates. The conjugates retained HER2 and FcRn binding behavior of the parent Fcabs, showed a selective in vitro cell killing and conjugation site-dependent serum stability. Moreover, Fcab conjugates showed elevated penetration in a spheroid model, compared to their full-length antibody and Trastuzumab counterparts. Altogether, the presented results emphasize the potential of Fcabs as a novel scaffold for targeted drug delivery in solid cancers and pave the way for future in vivo translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jäger
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany.,Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Tim R Wagner
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nicolas Rasche
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Hecht
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian Schröter
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
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16
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The Chemistry Behind ADCs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14050442. [PMID: 34067144 PMCID: PMC8152005 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Combining the selective targeting of tumor cells through antigen-directed recognition and potent cell-killing by cytotoxic payloads, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged in recent years as an efficient therapeutic approach for the treatment of various cancers. Besides a number of approved drugs already on the market, there is a formidable follow-up of ADC candidates in clinical development. While selection of the appropriate antibody (A) and drug payload (D) is dictated by the pharmacology of the targeted disease, one has a broader choice of the conjugating linker (C). In the present paper, we review the chemistry of ADCs with a particular emphasis on the medicinal chemistry perspective, focusing on the chemical methods that enable the efficient assembly of the ADC from its three components and the controlled release of the drug payload.
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17
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Miller JT, Vitro CN, Fang S, Benjamin SR, Tumey LN. Enzyme-Agnostic Lysosomal Screen Identifies New Legumain-Cleavable ADC Linkers. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:842-858. [PMID: 33788548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and small molecule drug conjugates (SMDCs) have widely employed valine-citruline and related cathepsin-cleavable linkers due to their stability in plasma and their rapid cleavage by lysosomal cathepsins. However, a number of recent studies have illustrated that these linkers are subject to cleavage by exogenous enzymes such as Ces1C and neutrophil elastase, thus resulting in off-target release of drug. As such, there is a need to diversify the portfolio of ADC linkers in order to overcome nonspecific drug release. Rather than targeting cathepsins, we began with an "enzyme agnostic" screen in which a panel of 75 peptide FRET pairs were screened for cleavage in lysosomal extracts and in plasma. Unexpectedly, a series of Asn-containing peptides emerged from this screen as being cleaved far more quickly than traditional ValCit-type linkers while retaining excellent stability in plasma. Catabolism studies demonstrated that these linkers were cleaved by legumain, an asparaginyl endopeptidase that is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and is known to be present in the lysosome. MMAE-containing ADCs that incorporated these new linkers were shown to exhibit highly potent and selective cytotoxicity, comparable to analogous ValCit ADCs. Importantly, the Asn-containing linkers were shown to be completely stable to human neutrophil elastase, an enzyme thought to be responsible for the neutropenia and thrombocytopenia associated with ValCitPABC-MMAE ADCs. The legumain-cleavable ADCs were shown to have excellent stability in both mouse and human serum, retaining >85% of the drug after 1 week of incubation. Moreover, the corresponding small molecule FRET pairs exhibited <10% cleavage after 18 h in mouse and human serum. On the basis of these results, we believe that these new linkers (AsnAsn in particular) have significant potential in both ADC and SMDC drug delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared T Miller
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Caitlin N Vitro
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Siteng Fang
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Samantha R Benjamin
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - L Nathan Tumey
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
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18
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Walsh SJ, Bargh JD, Dannheim FM, Hanby AR, Seki H, Counsell AJ, Ou X, Fowler E, Ashman N, Takada Y, Isidro-Llobet A, Parker JS, Carroll JS, Spring DR. Site-selective modification strategies in antibody-drug conjugates. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:1305-1353. [PMID: 33290462 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00310g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) harness the highly specific targeting capabilities of an antibody to deliver a cytotoxic payload to specific cell types. They have garnered widespread interest in drug discovery, particularly in oncology, as discrimination between healthy and malignant tissues or cells can be achieved. Nine ADCs have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and more than 80 others are currently undergoing clinical investigations for a range of solid tumours and haematological malignancies. Extensive research over the past decade has highlighted the critical nature of the linkage strategy adopted to attach the payload to the antibody. Whilst early generation ADCs were primarily synthesised as heterogeneous mixtures, these were found to have sub-optimal pharmacokinetics, stability, tolerability and/or efficacy. Efforts have now shifted towards generating homogeneous constructs with precise drug loading and predetermined, controlled sites of attachment. Homogeneous ADCs have repeatedly demonstrated superior overall pharmacological profiles compared to their heterogeneous counterparts. A wide range of methods have been developed in the pursuit of homogeneity, comprising chemical or enzymatic methods or a combination thereof to afford precise modification of specific amino acid or sugar residues. In this review, we discuss advances in chemical and enzymatic methods for site-specific antibody modification that result in the generation of homogeneous ADCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Walsh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
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19
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Han YC, Kahler J, Piché-Nicholas N, Hu W, Thibault S, Jiang F, Leal M, Katragadda M, Maderna A, Dushin R, Prashad N, Charati MB, Clark T, Tumey LN, Tan X, Giannakou A, Rosfjord E, Gerber HP, Tchistiakova L, Loganzo F, O'Donnell CJ, Sapra P. Development of Highly Optimized Antibody-Drug Conjugates against CD33 and CD123 for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:622-631. [PMID: 33148666 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-2149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mortality due to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains high, and the management of relapsed or refractory AML continues to be therapeutically challenging. The reapproval of Mylotarg, an anti-CD33-calicheamicin antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), has provided a proof of concept for an ADC-based therapeutic for AML. Several other ADCs have since entered clinical development of AML, but have met with limited success. We sought to develop a next-generation ADC for AML with a wide therapeutic index (TI) that overcomes the shortcomings of previous generations of ADCs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We compared the TI of our novel CD33-targeted ADC platform with other currently available CD33-targeted ADCs in preclinical models of AML. Next, using this next-generation ADC platform, we performed a head-to-head comparison of two attractive AML antigens, CD33 and CD123. RESULTS Our novel ADC platform offered improved safety and TI when compared with certain currently available ADC platforms in preclinical models of AML. Differentiation between the CD33- and CD123-targeted ADCs was observed in safety studies conducted in cynomolgus monkeys. The CD33-targeted ADC produced severe hematologic toxicity, whereas minimal hematologic toxicity was observed with the CD123-targeted ADC at the same doses and exposures. The improved toxicity profile of an ADC targeting CD123 over CD33 was consistent with the more restricted expression of CD123 in normal tissues. CONCLUSIONS We optimized all components of ADC design (i.e., leukemia antigen, antibody, and linker-payload) to develop an ADC that has the potential to translate into an effective new therapy against AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon-Chi Han
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York.
| | - Jennifer Kahler
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | | | - Wenyue Hu
- Pfizer Inc., Drug Safety Research & Development, La Jolla, California
| | - Stephane Thibault
- Pfizer Inc., Drug Safety Research & Development, La Jolla, California
| | - Fan Jiang
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | - Mauricio Leal
- Pfizer Inc., BioMedicine Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Pearl River, New York
| | - Madan Katragadda
- Pfizer Inc., BioMedicine Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Pearl River, New York
| | - Andreas Maderna
- Pfizer Inc., Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Groton, Connecticut
| | - Russell Dushin
- Pfizer Inc., Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Groton, Connecticut
| | - Nadira Prashad
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | - Manoj B Charati
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | | | - L Nathan Tumey
- Pfizer Inc., Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Groton, Connecticut
| | - Xingzhi Tan
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | | | - Edward Rosfjord
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | | | | | - Frank Loganzo
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | | | - Puja Sapra
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York.
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20
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21
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Coumans RGE, Ariaans GJA, Spijker HJ, Renart Verkerk P, Beusker PH, Kokke BPA, Schouten J, Blomenröhr M, van der Lee MMC, Groothuis PG, Ubink R, Dokter WHA, Timmers CM. A Platform for the Generation of Site-Specific Antibody-Drug Conjugates That Allows for Selective Reduction of Engineered Cysteines. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:2136-2146. [PMID: 32697078 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Engineering cysteines at specific sites in antibodies to create well-defined ADCs for the treatment of cancer is a promising approach to increase the therapeutic index and helps to streamline the manufacturing process. Here, we report the development of an in silico screening procedure to select for optimal sites in an antibody to which a hydrophobic linker-drug can be conjugated. Sites were identified inside the cavity that is naturally present in the Fab part of the antibody. Conjugating a linker-drug to these sites demonstrated the ability of the antibody to shield the hydrophobic character of the linker-drug while resulting ADCs maintained their cytotoxic potency in vitro. Comparison of site-specific ADCs versus randomly conjugated ADCs in an in vivo xenograft model revealed improved efficacy and exposure. We also report a selective reducing agent that is able to reduce the engineered cysteines while leaving the interchain disulfides in the oxidized state. This enables us to manufacture site-specific ADCs without introducing impurities associated with the conventional reduction/oxidation procedure for site-specific conjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Henri J Spijker
- Byondis B.V., Microweg 22, 6545 CM Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Bas P A Kokke
- Byondis B.V., Microweg 22, 6545 CM Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Schouten
- Byondis B.V., Microweg 22, 6545 CM Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Ruud Ubink
- Byondis B.V., Microweg 22, 6545 CM Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wim H A Dokter
- Byondis B.V., Microweg 22, 6545 CM Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - C Marco Timmers
- Byondis B.V., Microweg 22, 6545 CM Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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22
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Graziani EI, Sung M, Ma D, Narayanan B, Marquette K, Puthenveetil S, Tumey LN, Bikker J, Casavant J, Bennett EM, Charati MB, Golas J, Hosselet C, Rohde CM, Hu G, Guffroy M, Falahatpisheh H, Finkelstein M, Clark T, Barletta F, Tchistiakova L, Lucas J, Rosfjord E, Loganzo F, O'Donnell CJ, Gerber HP, Sapra P. PF-06804103, A Site-specific Anti-HER2 Antibody-Drug Conjugate for the Treatment of HER2-expressing Breast, Gastric, and Lung Cancers. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:2068-2078. [PMID: 32747418 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The approval of ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer validated HER2 as a target for HER2-specific antibody-drug conjugates (ADC). Despite its demonstrated clinical efficacy, certain inherent properties within T-DM1 hamper this compound from achieving the full potential of targeting HER2-expressing solid tumors with ADCs. Here, we detail the discovery of PF-06804103, an anti-HER2 ADC designed to have a widened therapeutic window compared with T-DM1. We utilized an empirical conjugation site screening campaign to identify the engineered ĸkK183C and K290C residues as those that maximized in vivo ADC stability, efficacy, and safety for a four drug-antibody ratio (DAR) ADC with this linker-payload combination. PF-06804103 incorporates the following novel design elements: (i) a new auristatin payload with optimized pharmacodynamic properties, (ii) a cleavable linker for optimized payload release and enhanced antitumor efficacy, and (iii) an engineered cysteine site-specific conjugation approach that overcomes the traditional safety liabilities of conventional conjugates and generates a homogenous drug product with a DAR of 4. PF-06804103 shows (i) an enhanced efficacy against low HER2-expressing breast, gastric, and lung tumor models, (ii) overcomes in vitro- and in vivo-acquired T-DM1 resistance, and (iii) an improved safety profile by enhancing ADC stability, pharmacokinetic parameters, and reducing off-target toxicities. Herein, we showcase our platform approach in optimizing ADC design, resulting in the generation of the anti-HER2 ADC, PF-06804103. The design elements of identifying novel sites of conjugation employed in this study serve as a platform for developing optimized ADCs against other tumor-specific targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew Sung
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York.
| | - Dangshe Ma
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | - Bitha Narayanan
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | | | | | - L Nathan Tumey
- Pfizer Inc., World Wide Medicinal Chemistry, Groton, Connecticut
| | - Jack Bikker
- Pfizer Inc., World Wide Medicinal Chemistry, Groton, Connecticut
| | - Jeffrey Casavant
- Pfizer Inc., World Wide Medicinal Chemistry, Groton, Connecticut
| | - Eric M Bennett
- Pfizer Inc., BioMedicine Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Manoj B Charati
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | - Jonathon Golas
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | | | - Cynthia M Rohde
- Pfizer Inc., Drug Safety Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | - George Hu
- Pfizer Inc., Drug Safety Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | - Magali Guffroy
- Pfizer Inc., Drug Safety Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | | | | | - Tracey Clark
- Pfizer Inc., BioMedicine Design, Groton, Connecticut
| | | | | | - Judy Lucas
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | - Edward Rosfjord
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | - Frank Loganzo
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York
| | | | | | - Puja Sapra
- Pfizer Inc., Oncology Research & Development, Pearl River, New York.
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23
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Dickgiesser S, Rieker M, Mueller-Pompalla D, Schröter C, Tonillo J, Warszawski S, Raab-Westphal S, Kühn S, Knehans T, Könning D, Dotterweich J, Betz UAK, Anderl J, Hecht S, Rasche N. Site-Specific Conjugation of Native Antibodies Using Engineered Microbial Transglutaminases. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:1070-1076. [PMID: 32134638 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Site-specific bioconjugation technologies are frequently employed to generate homogeneous antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and are generally considered superior to stochastic approaches like lysine coupling. However, most of the technologies developed so far require undesired manipulation of the antibody sequence or its glycan structures. Herein, we report the successful engineering of microbial transglutaminase enabling efficient, site-specific conjugation of drug-linker constructs to position HC-Q295 of native, fully glycosylated IgG-type antibodies. ADCs generated via this approach demonstrate excellent stability in vitro as well as strong efficacy in vitro and in vivo. As it employs different drug-linker structures and several native antibodies, our study additionally proves the broad applicability of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcel Rieker
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany.,Clemens-Schöpf-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | | | - Jason Tonillo
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | | | - Stefanie Kühn
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Tim Knehans
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Doreen Könning
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | | | - Jan Anderl
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Hecht
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nicolas Rasche
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
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24
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Bispecific Antibodies and Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Cancer Therapy: Technological Considerations. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10030360. [PMID: 32111076 PMCID: PMC7175114 DOI: 10.3390/biom10030360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of monoclonal antibodies to specifically bind a target antigen and neutralize or stimulate its activity is the basis for the rapid growth and development of the therapeutic antibody field. In recent years, traditional immunoglobulin antibodies have been further engineered for better efficacy and safety, and technological developments in the field enabled the design and production of engineered antibodies capable of mediating therapeutic functions hitherto unattainable by conventional antibody formats. Representative of this newer generation of therapeutic antibody formats are bispecific antibodies and antibody–drug conjugates, each with several approved drugs and dozens more in the clinical development phase. In this review, the technological principles and challenges of bispecific antibodies and antibody–drug conjugates are discussed, with emphasis on clinically validated formats but also including recent developments in the fields, many of which are expected to significantly augment the current therapeutic arsenal against cancer and other diseases with unmet medical needs.
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25
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Mills BJ, Kruger T, Bruncko M, Zhang X, Jameel F. Effect of Linker-Drug Properties and Conjugation Site on the Physical Stability of ADCs. J Pharm Sci 2020; 109:1662-1672. [PMID: 32027921 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2020.01.029] [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: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The physical stability of antibody drug conjugates is dictated by the properties of the antibody, linker-drug, and conjugation site. Two linker-drugs were chosen that are different in terms of hydrophobicity and polar surface area to evaluate the effect of linker-drug properties on antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) behavior. Site-specific and non-site-specific conjugation was used to investigate the role of conjugation site in conformational and colloidal stability. Finally, 2 antibodies were selected to determine if the observed results were antibody-specific. The conformational stability is affected, with the highest degree of destabilization observed when conjugation results in the removal of interchain disulfide bonds. Although conformational destabilization occurred in the domain in which conjugation occurred and domains distinct from the conjugation site, no correlation could be drawn between linker-drug properties and conformational stability. Evaluation of aggregation by size exclusion HPLC confirmed a relationship between linker-drug hydrophobicity and aggregation propensity under thermal stress in all ADCs tested. The extent of aggregation was far greater in the conjugates generated with a more hydrophobic antibody, illustrating that the properties of both the antibody and linker-drug contribute to aggregation. These studies emphasize that the distinct properties of the molecule as a whole warrant a case-by-case evaluation of each ADC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittney J Mills
- Drug Product Development, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois 60064.
| | - Terra Kruger
- Drug Product Development, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois 60064; Division of Pharmaceutics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
| | - Milan Bruncko
- Global Biologics, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Global Biologics, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - Feroz Jameel
- Drug Product Development, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois 60064
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26
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Abstract
Click chemistry has found wide application in bioconjugation, enabling control over the site of modification in biomolecules. Demonstrations of this chemistry to construct chemically defined antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have increased in recent years, following studies that support benefits of homogeneity and site-specificity of drug placement on the antibody. In this chapter, a brief history of early applications of this chemistry in ADCs is presented. Examples of click chemistries that are utilized for ADC synthesis, including those currently undergoing clinical investigations, are enumerated. Protocols for two common conjugation methods based on carbonyl-aminooxy coupling and strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition are described.
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27
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Abstract
The prototypical ADC mechanism involving antigen-mediated uptake and lysosomal release is both elegantly simple and scientifically compelling. However, recent clinical-stage failures have prompted a reevaluation of this delivery paradigm and have resulted in an array of new technologies that have the potential to improve the safety and efficacy of up and coming programs. These innovations can generally be categorized into seven areas that will be elaborated on in this chapter: (1) Exploiting new payload mechanisms; (2) Increasing the drug-antibody ratio (DAR); (3) Increasing the antibody penetration; (4) Overcoming ADC resistance mechanisms; (5) Increasing the efficiency of ADC uptake and processing; (6) Mitigating off-target payload exposure; and (7) Employment of noncytotoxic payloads. It is our belief that these seven areas capture the current "landscape" of innovations that are taking place in the design of next-generation ADCs. Together, these advancements are reshaping the ADC field and providing a path forward in the face of the recent clinical setbacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Nathan Tumey
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA.
- Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA.
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28
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Alteration of Physicochemical Properties for Antibody-Drug Conjugates and Their Impact on Stability. J Pharm Sci 2020; 109:161-168. [DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2019.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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29
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Kotapati S, Passmore D, Yamazoe S, Sanku RKK, Cong Q, Poudel YB, Chowdari NS, Gangwar S, Rao C, Rangan VS, Cardarelli PM, Deshpande S, Strop P, Dollinger G, Rajpal A. Universal Affinity Capture Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Assay for Evaluation of Biotransformation of Site-Specific Antibody Drug Conjugates in Preclinical Studies. Anal Chem 2019; 92:2065-2073. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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30
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Bai C, Reid EE, Wilhelm A, Shizuka M, Maloney EK, Laleau R, Harvey L, Archer KE, Vitharana D, Adams S, Kovtun Y, Miller ML, Chari R, Keating TA, Yoder NC. Site-Specific Conjugation of the Indolinobenzodiazepine DGN549 to Antibodies Affords Antibody-Drug Conjugates with an Improved Therapeutic Index as Compared with Lysine Conjugation. Bioconjug Chem 2019; 31:93-103. [PMID: 31747250 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates have elicited great interest recently as targeted chemotherapies for cancer. Recent preclinical and clinical data have continued to raise questions about optimizing the design of these complex therapeutics. Biochemical methods for site-specific antibody conjugation have been a design feature of recent clinical ADCs, and preclinical reports suggest that site-specifically conjugated ADCs generically offer improved therapeutic indices (i.e., the fold difference between efficacious and maximum tolerated doses). Here we present the results of a systematic preclinical comparison of ADCs embodying the DNA-alkylating linker-payload DGN549 generated with both heterogeneous lysine-directed and site-specific cysteine-directed conjugation chemistries. Importantly, the catabolites generated by each ADC are the same regardless of the conjugation format. In two different model systems evaluated, the site-specific ADC showed a therapeutic index benefit. However, the therapeutic index benefit is different in each case: both show evidence of improved tolerability, though with different magnitudes, and in one case significant efficacy improvement is also observed. These results support our contention that conjugation chemistry of ADCs is best evaluated in the context of a particular antibody, target, and linker-payload, and ideally across multiple disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Bai
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Emily E Reid
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Alan Wilhelm
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Manami Shizuka
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Erin K Maloney
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Rassol Laleau
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Lauren Harvey
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Katie E Archer
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Dilrukshi Vitharana
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Sharlene Adams
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Yelena Kovtun
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Michael L Miller
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Ravi Chari
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Thomas A Keating
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
| | - Nicholas C Yoder
- Science, Technology, and Translation , ImmunoGen, Inc. , 830 Winter Street , Waltham , Massachusetts 02451 , United States
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31
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Andris S, Seidel J, Hubbuch J. Kinetic reaction modeling for antibody-drug conjugate process development. J Biotechnol 2019; 306:71-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2019.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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32
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Nilchan N, Li X, Pedzisa L, Nanna AR, Roush WR, Rader C. Dual-mechanistic antibody-drug conjugate via site-specific selenocysteine/cysteine conjugation. Antib Ther 2019; 2:71-78. [PMID: 31930187 PMCID: PMC6953743 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbz009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background While all clinically translated antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) contain a single-drug payload, most systemic cancer chemotherapies involve use of a combination of drugs. These regimens improve treatment outcomes and slow development of drug resistance. We here report the generation of an ADC with a dual-drug payload that combines two distinct mechanisms of action. Methods Virtual DNA crosslinking agent PNU-159682 and tubulin polymerization inhibitor monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF) were conjugated to a HER2-targeting antibody via site-specific conjugation at engineered selenocysteine and cysteine residues (thio-selenomab). Results The dual-drug ADC showed selective and potent cytotoxicity against HER2-expressing cell lines and exhibited dual mechanisms of action consistent with the attached drugs. While PNU-159682 caused S-phase cell cycle arrest due to its DNA-damaging activity, MMAF simultaneously inhibited tubulin polymerization and caused G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest. Conclusion The thio-selenomab platform enables the assembly of dual-drug ADCs with two distinct mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Napon Nilchan
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Xiuling Li
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Lee Pedzisa
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Alex R Nanna
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - William R Roush
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Christoph Rader
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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33
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Yoder NC, Bai C, Tavares D, Widdison WC, Whiteman KR, Wilhelm A, Wilhelm SD, McShea MA, Maloney EK, Ab O, Wang L, Jin S, Erickson HK, Keating TA, Lambert JM. A Case Study Comparing Heterogeneous Lysine- and Site-Specific Cysteine-Conjugated Maytansinoid Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) Illustrates the Benefits of Lysine Conjugation. Mol Pharm 2019; 16:3926-3937. [PMID: 31287952 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates are an emerging class of cancer therapeutics constructed from monoclonal antibodies conjugated with small molecule effectors. First-generation molecules of this class often employed heterogeneous conjugation chemistry, but many site-specifically conjugated ADCs have been described recently. Here, we undertake a systematic comparison of ADCs made with the same antibody and the same macrocyclic maytansinoid effector but conjugated either heterogeneously at lysine residues or site-specifically at cysteine residues. Characterization of these ADCs in vitro reveals generally similar properties, including a similar catabolite profile, a key element in making a meaningful comparison of conjugation chemistries. In a mouse model of cervical cancer, the lysine-conjugated ADC affords greater efficacy on a molar payload basis. Rather than making general conclusions about ADCs conjugated by a particular chemistry, we interpret these results as highlighting the complexity of ADCs and the interplay between payload class, linker chemistry, target antigen, and other variables that determine efficacy in a given setting.
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34
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Benjamin SR, Jackson CP, Fang S, Carlson DP, Guo Z, Tumey LN. Thiolation of Q295: Site-Specific Conjugation of Hydrophobic Payloads without the Need for Genetic Engineering. Mol Pharm 2019; 16:2795-2807. [PMID: 31067063 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Site-specific conjugation technology frequently relies on antibody engineering to incorporate rare or non-natural amino acids into the primary sequence of the protein. However, when the primary sequence is unknown or when antibody engineering is not feasible, there are very limited options for site-specific protein modification. We have developed a transglutaminase-mediated conjugation that incorporates a thiol at a "privileged" location on deglycosylated antibodies (Q295). Perhaps surprisingly, this conjugation employs a reported transglutaminase inhibitor, cystamine, as the key enzyme substrate. The chemical incorporation of a thiol at the Q295 site allows for the site-specific attachment of a plethora of commonly used and commercially available payloads via maleimide chemistry. Herein, we demonstrate the utility of this method by comparing the conjugatability, plasma stability, and in vitro potency of these site-specific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with analogous endogenous cysteine conjugates. Cytotoxic ADCs prepared using this methodology are shown to exhibit comparable in vitro efficacy to stochastic cysteine conjugates while displaying dramatically improved plasma stability and conjugatability. In particular, we note that this technique appears to be useful for the incorporation of highly hydrophobic linker payloads without the addition of PEG modifiers. We postulate a possible mechanism for this feature by probing the local environment of the Q295 site with two fluorescent probes that are known to be sensitive to the local hydrophobic environment. In summary, we describe a highly practical method for the site-specific conjugation of genetically nonengineered antibodies, which results in plasma-stable ADCs with low intrinsic hydrophobicity. We believe that this technology will find broad utility in the ADC community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha R Benjamin
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Binghamton University , P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
| | - Courtney P Jackson
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Binghamton University , P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
| | - Siteng Fang
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Binghamton University , P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
| | - Dane P Carlson
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Binghamton University , P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
| | - Zhongyuan Guo
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Binghamton University , P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
| | - L Nathan Tumey
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Binghamton University , P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
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35
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Buecheler JW, Winzer M, Weber C, Gieseler H. Oxidation-Induced Destabilization of Model Antibody-Drug Conjugates. J Pharm Sci 2019; 108:1236-1245. [DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2018.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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36
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A Cell-Level Systems PK-PD Model to Characterize In Vivo Efficacy of ADCs. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11020098. [PMID: 30823607 PMCID: PMC6409735 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11020098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we have presented the development of a systems pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics (PK-PD) model for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which uses intracellular target occupancy to drive in-vivo efficacy. The model is built based on PK and efficacy data generated using Trastuzumab-Valine-Citrulline-Monomethyl Auristatin E (T-vc-MMAE) ADC in N87 (high-HER2) and GFP-MCF7 (low-HER2) tumor bearing mice. It was observed that plasma PK of all ADC analytes was similar between the two tumor models; however, total trastuzumab, unconjugated MMAE, and total MMAE exposures were >10-fold, ~1.6-fold, and ~1.8-fold higher in N87 tumors. In addition, a prolonged retention of MMAE was observed within the tumors of both the mouse models, suggesting intracellular binding of MMAE to tubulin. A systems PK model, developed by integrating single-cell PK model with tumor distribution model, was able to capture all in vivo PK data reasonably well. Intracellular occupancy of tubulin predicted by the PK model was used to drive the efficacy of ADC using a novel PK-PD model. It was found that the same set of PD parameters was able to capture MMAE induced killing of GFP-MCF7 and N87 cells in vivo. These observations highlight the benefit of adopting a systems approach for ADC and provide a robust and predictive framework for successful clinical translation of ADCs.
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37
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Dickgiesser S, Kellner R, Kolmar H, Rasche N. Site-Specific Conjugation of Thiol-Reactive Cytotoxic Agents to Nonnative Cysteines of Engineered Monoclonal Antibodies. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2033:1-14. [PMID: 31332743 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9654-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have been proven to be a successful therapeutic concept, allowing targeted delivery of highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs) selectively to tumor tissue. So far, HPAPIs have been mainly attached to the antibody via a chemical reaction of the payload with lysine or cysteine side chains of the antibody backbone. However, these conventional conjugation technologies result in formation of rather heterogeneous products with undesired properties. To overcome the limitations of heterogeneous ADC mixtures, several site-specific conjugation technologies have been developed over the last years. Originally pioneered by scientist from Genentech with their work on THIOMABs, several engineered cysteine mAb ADCs (ECM-ADCs) are now investigated in clinical trials. Here, we describe in detail how to engineer additional cysteines into antibodies and efficiently use them as highly site-specific conjugation sites for HPAPIs.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/chemistry
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/genetics
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cysteine/chemistry
- Cysteine/genetics
- Cytotoxins/chemistry
- Cytotoxins/genetics
- Cytotoxins/immunology
- Cytotoxins/pharmacology
- Humans
- Immunoconjugates/chemistry
- Immunoconjugates/genetics
- Immunoconjugates/immunology
- Immunoconjugates/pharmacology
- Mice
- Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
- Protein Engineering
- Sulfhydryl Compounds/chemistry
- Trastuzumab/chemistry
- Trastuzumab/genetics
- Trastuzumab/immunology
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roland Kellner
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nicolas Rasche
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
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38
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van Berkel SS, van Delft FL. Enzymatic strategies for (near) clinical development of antibody-drug conjugates. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2018; 30:3-10. [PMID: 30553518 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Target-specific killing of tumor cells with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) is an elegant concept in the continued fight against cancer. However, despite more than 20 years of clinical development, only four ADC have reached market approval, while at least 50 clinical programs were terminated early. The high attrition rate of ADCs may, at least in part, be attributed to heterogeneity and instability of conventional technologies. At present, various (chemo)enzymatic approaches for site-specific and stable conjugation of toxic payloads are making their way to the clinic, thereby potentially providing ADCs with increased therapeutic window.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Floris L van Delft
- Synaffix BV, Kloosterstraat 9, 5349 AB, Oss, The Netherlands; Wageningen University and Research, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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39
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St. Amant AH, Lemen D, Florinas S, Mao S, Fazenbaker C, Zhong H, Wu H, Gao C, Christie RJ, Read de Alaniz J. Tuning the Diels–Alder Reaction for Bioconjugation to Maleimide Drug-Linkers. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:2406-2414. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andre H. St. Amant
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-9510, United States
| | - Daniel Lemen
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Stelios Florinas
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Shenlan Mao
- Oncology Research, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | | | - Haihong Zhong
- Oncology Research, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Herren Wu
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Changshou Gao
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - R. James Christie
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Javier Read de Alaniz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-9510, United States
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40
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Szot C, Saha S, Zhang XM, Zhu Z, Hilton MB, Morris K, Seaman S, Dunleavey JM, Hsu KS, Yu GJ, Morris H, Swing DA, Haines DC, Wang Y, Hwang J, Feng Y, Welsch D, DeCrescenzo G, Chaudhary A, Zudaire E, Dimitrov DS, St Croix B. Tumor stroma-targeted antibody-drug conjugate triggers localized anticancer drug release. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:2927-2943. [PMID: 29863500 DOI: 10.1172/jci120481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although nonmalignant stromal cells facilitate tumor growth and can occupy up to 90% of a solid tumor mass, better strategies to exploit these cells for improved cancer therapy are needed. Here, we describe a potent MMAE-linked antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8, also known as ANTXR1), a highly conserved transmembrane receptor broadly overexpressed on cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelium, and pericytes. Anti-TEM8 ADC elicited potent anticancer activity through an unexpected killing mechanism we term DAaRTS (drug activation and release through stroma), whereby the tumor microenvironment localizes active drug at the tumor site. Following capture of ADC prodrug from the circulation, tumor-associated stromal cells release active MMAE free drug, killing nearby proliferating tumor cells in a target-independent manner. In preclinical studies, ADC treatment was well tolerated and induced regression and often eradication of multiple solid tumor types, blocked metastatic growth, and prolonged overall survival. By exploiting TEM8+ tumor stroma for targeted drug activation, these studies reveal a drug delivery strategy with potential to augment therapies against multiple cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Szot
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Saurabh Saha
- BioMed Valley Discoveries Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Zhongyu Zhu
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA.,Protein Interactions Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, NCI, NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Mary Beth Hilton
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA.,Basic Research Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR), Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Karen Morris
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA.,Basic Research Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR), Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven Seaman
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - James M Dunleavey
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Kuo-Sheng Hsu
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Guo-Jun Yu
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Holly Morris
- Transgenic Core Facility, MCGP, NCI, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Deborah A Swing
- Transgenic Core Facility, MCGP, NCI, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Diana C Haines
- Veterinary Pathology Section, Pathology/Histotechnology Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., FNLCR, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Yanping Wang
- Protein Interactions Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, NCI, NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer Hwang
- Protein Interactions Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, NCI, NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Yang Feng
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA.,Protein Interactions Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, NCI, NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Dean Welsch
- BioMed Valley Discoveries Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Amit Chaudhary
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Enrique Zudaire
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Dimiter S Dimitrov
- Protein Interactions Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, NCI, NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Brad St Croix
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program (MCGP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
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41
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Buecheler JW, Winzer M, Tonillo J, Weber C, Gieseler H. Impact of Payload Hydrophobicity on the Stability of Antibody–Drug Conjugates. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:2656-2664. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jakob W. Buecheler
- Division of Pharmaceutics, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Discovery and Development Technologies, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Matthias Winzer
- Discovery and Development Technologies, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jason Tonillo
- Discovery and Development Technologies, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian Weber
- Discovery and Development Technologies, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
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42
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A Polar Sulfamide Spacer Significantly Enhances the Manufacturability, Stability, and Therapeutic Index of Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Antibodies (Basel) 2018; 7:antib7010012. [PMID: 31544864 PMCID: PMC6698870 DOI: 10.3390/antib7010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous efforts in the field of targeted cancer therapy with antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), attrition rates have been high. Historically, the priority in ADC development has been the selection of target, antibody, and toxin, with little focus on the nature of the linker. We show here that a short and polar sulfamide spacer (HydraSpace™, Oss, The Netherlands) positively impacts ADC properties in various ways: (a) efficiency of conjugation; (b) stability; and (c) therapeutic index. Different ADC formats are explored in terms of drug-to-antibody ratios (DAR2, DAR4) and we describe the generation of a DAR4 ADC by site-specific attachment of a bivalent linker–payload construct to a single conjugation site in the antibody. A head-to-head comparison of HydraSpace™-containing DAR4 ADCs to marketed drugs, derived from the same antibody and toxic payload components, indicated a significant improvement in both the efficacy and safety of several vivo models, corroborated by in-depth pharmacokinetic analysis. Taken together, HydraSpace™ technology based on a polar sulfamide spacer provides significant improvement in manufacturability, stability, and ADC design, and is a powerful platform to enable next-generation ADCs with enhanced therapeutic index.
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43
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Ohri R, Bhakta S, Fourie-O'Donohue A, Dela Cruz-Chuh J, Tsai SP, Cook R, Wei B, Ng C, Wong AW, Bos AB, Farahi F, Bhakta J, Pillow TH, Raab H, Vandlen R, Polakis P, Liu Y, Erickson H, Junutula JR, Kozak KR. High-Throughput Cysteine Scanning To Identify Stable Antibody Conjugation Sites for Maleimide- and Disulfide-Based Linkers. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:473-485. [PMID: 29425028 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
THIOMAB antibody technology utilizes cysteine residues engineered onto an antibody to allow for site-specific conjugation. The technology has enabled the exploration of different attachment sites on the antibody in combination with small molecules, peptides, or proteins to yield antibody conjugates with unique properties. As reported previously ( Shen , B. Q. , et al. ( 2012 ) Nat. Biotechnol. 30 , 184 - 189 ; Pillow , T. H. , et al. ( 2017 ) Chem. Sci. 8 , 366 - 370 ), the specific location of the site of conjugation on an antibody can impact the stability of the linkage to the engineered cysteine for both thio-succinimide and disulfide bonds. High stability of the linkage is usually desired to maximize the delivery of the cargo to the intended target. In the current study, cysteines were individually substituted into every position of the anti-HER2 antibody (trastuzumab), and the stabilities of drug conjugations at those sites were evaluated. We screened a total of 648 THIOMAB antibody-drug conjugates, each generated from a trastuzamab prepared by sequentially mutating non-cysteine amino acids in the light and heavy chains to cysteine. Each THIOMAB antibody variant was conjugated to either maleimidocaproyl-valine-citrulline-p-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl-monomethyl auristatin E (MC-vc-PAB-MMAE) or pyridyl disulfide monomethyl auristatin E (PDS-MMAE) using a high-throughput, on-bead conjugation and purification method. Greater than 50% of the THIOMAB antibody variants were successfully conjugated to both MMAE derivatives with a drug to antibody ratio (DAR) of >0.5 and <50% aggregation. The relative in vitro plasma stabilities for approximately 750 conjugates were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and stable sites were confirmed with affinity-capture LC/MS-based detection methods. Highly stable conjugation sites for the two types of MMAE derivatives were identified on both the heavy and light chains. Although the stabilities of maleimide conjugates were shown to be greater than those of the disulfide conjugates, many sites were identified that were stable for both. Furthermore, in vitro stabilities of selected stable sites translated across different cytotoxic payloads and different target antibodies as well as to in vivo stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachana Ohri
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Sunil Bhakta
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | | | | | - Siao Ping Tsai
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Ryan Cook
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Binqing Wei
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Carl Ng
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Athena W Wong
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Aaron B Bos
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Farzam Farahi
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jiten Bhakta
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Thomas H Pillow
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Helga Raab
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Richard Vandlen
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Paul Polakis
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Yichin Liu
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Hans Erickson
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jagath R Junutula
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Katherine R Kozak
- Genentech Inc. , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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44
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Sussman D, Westendorf L, Meyer DW, Leiske CI, Anderson M, Okeley NM, Alley SC, Lyon R, Sanderson RJ, Carter PJ, Benjamin DR. Engineered cysteine antibodies: an improved antibody-drug conjugate platform with a novel mechanism of drug-linker stability. Protein Eng Des Sel 2018; 31:47-54. [DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzx067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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45
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Vollmar BS, Wei B, Ohri R, Zhou J, He J, Yu SF, Leipold D, Cosino E, Yee S, Fourie-O'Donohue A, Li G, Phillips GL, Kozak KR, Kamath A, Xu K, Lee G, Lazar GA, Erickson HK. Attachment Site Cysteine Thiol pK a Is a Key Driver for Site-Dependent Stability of THIOMAB Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Bioconjug Chem 2017; 28:2538-2548. [PMID: 28885827 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The incorporation of cysteines into antibodies by mutagenesis allows for the direct conjugation of small molecules to specific sites on the antibody via disulfide bonds. The stability of the disulfide bond linkage between the small molecule and the antibody is highly dependent on the location of the engineered cysteine in either the heavy chain (HC) or the light chain (LC) of the antibody. Here, we explore the basis for this site-dependent stability. We evaluated the in vivo efficacy and pharmacokinetics of five different cysteine mutants of trastuzumab conjugated to a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) via disulfide bonds. A significant correlation was observed between disulfide stability and efficacy for the conjugates. We hypothesized that the observed site-dependent stability of the disulfide-linked conjugates could be due to differences in the attachment site cysteine thiol pKa. We measured the cysteine thiol pKa using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and found that the variants with the highest thiol pKa (LC K149C and HC A140C) were found to yield the conjugates with the greatest in vivo stability. Guided by homology modeling, we identified several mutations adjacent to LC K149C that reduced the cysteine thiol pKa and, thus, decreased the in vivo stability of the disulfide-linked PBD conjugated to LC K149C. We also present results suggesting that the high thiol pKa of LC K149C is responsible for the sustained circulation stability of LC K149C TDCs utilizing a maleimide-based linker. Taken together, our results provide evidence that the site-dependent stability of cys-engineered antibody-drug conjugates may be explained by interactions between the engineered cysteine and the local protein environment that serves to modulate the side-chain thiol pKa. The influence of cysteine thiol pKa on stability and efficacy offers a new parameter for the optimization of ADCs that utilize cysteine engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanna S Vollmar
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Binqing Wei
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Rachana Ohri
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jianhui Zhou
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jintang He
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Shang-Fan Yu
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Douglas Leipold
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Ely Cosino
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Sharon Yee
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Aimee Fourie-O'Donohue
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Guangmin Li
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Gail L Phillips
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Katherine R Kozak
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Amrita Kamath
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Keyang Xu
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Genee Lee
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Greg A Lazar
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Hans K Erickson
- Genentech Incorporated , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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