Pharmacokinetics, Immunogenicity and Safety Study for SHR-1309 Injection and Perjeta® in Healthy Chinese Male Volunteers

A Model-Based Approach to Evaluate Anti-Drug Antibody Impact on Drug Exposure With Biologics: A Case Example With the CD3 T-Cell Bispecific Cibisatamab

The administration of biologics can lead to immunogenic responses that trigger anti-drug antibody (ADA) formation. ADAs can decrease drug exposure. A population pharmacokinetic (popPK) model was developed to describe clinical PK data with and without ADA-driven exposure loss with CEA-directed T-cell bispecific antibody cibisatamab. The PK of cibisatamab was evaluated in two clinical studies (as a single agent and in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab) in patients. The popPK model was developed on cibisatamab clinical PK data using the Stochastic Approximation -Expectation Maximization (SAEM) algorithm implemented in Monolix. Cibisatamab's PK followed a two-compartment model with linear clearance decreasing over time and ADA-associated exposure loss. ADA-driven exposure loss was implemented in the model by accounting for ADA formation, reversible binding to cibisatamab, and elimination of both free ADA and the ADA-cibisatamab complex from the central compartment. The impact of ADAs on PK exposure was time-dependent in the model, with the ADA formation described as a function of time (increasing from zero, reaching its estimated maximum value, and possibly decreasing down to 94% of this maximum value in some patients). The final model included a mixture component differentiating patients with and without exposure loss due to ADA formation (75% and 25% of patients, respectively). The investigated patient demographics, dose or dosing schedule, or atezolizumab coadministration were not identified as factors influencing exposure loss due to ADAs. The developed model can be used to differentiate patients with and without ADA-driven exposure loss, as well as for a precise PK characterization in patients even with ADA formation.

Monoclonal antibody biosimilars for cancer treatment

Monoclonal antibodies are important cancer medicines. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved 48 and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 56 anticancer monoclonal antibody-based therapies. Their high prices burden healthcare systems and hamper global drug access. Biosimilars could retain costs and expand the availability of monoclonal antibodies. In Europe, five rituximab biosimilars, six trastuzumab biosimilars, and eight bevacizumab biosimilars are available as anti-cancer drugs. To gain insight into the biosimilar landscape for cancer treatment, we performed a literature search and analysis. In this review, we summarize cancer monoclonal antibodies' properties crucial for the desired pharmacology and point out sources of variability. The analytical assessment of all EMA-approved bevacizumab biosimilars is highlighted to illustrate this variability. The global landscape of investigational and approved biosimilars is mapped, and the challenges for access to cancer biosimilars are identified.

HLX11, a Proposed Pertuzumab Biosimilar: Pharmacokinetics, Immunogenicity, and Safety Profiles Compared to Three Reference Biologic Products (US-, EU-, and CN-Approved Pertuzumab) Administered to Healthy Male Subjects

Background

Pertuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody for the treatment of breast cancer. HLX11 is a biosimilar of pertuzumab developed by Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. We conducted a bioequivalence study for HLX11 and pertuzumab (United States [US]-, European Union [EU]-, and China [CN]-approved products).

Objectives

This study compared the biosimilarity in pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and immunogenicity between HLX11 and reference pertuzumab (approved in the US, the EU, and CN) in healthy Chinese male participants after a single infusion and further characterized the PK profile of HLX11.

Methods

Eligible individuals were randomized 1:1:1:1 to receive a single dose of 420 mg HLX11, US-, EU-, or CN-pertuzumab via intravenous infusion over 60 min. The primary endpoints were maximum serum drug concentration (C_max), area under the serum concentration–time curve (AUC) from time 0 to time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUC_0–t), and AUC from time 0 to infinity (AUC_0–∞). PK bioequivalence was established if the 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios of the primary endpoints were between 80.0 and 125.0%. Secondary endpoints included other PK parameters, safety, and immunogenicity.

Results

A total of 160 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to each group (n = 40 per group). The 90% CIs of the geometric mean ratios of the primary endpoints were all within the prespecified equivalence margins (HLX11 vs. pertuzumab [US-, EU-, CN-approved products]: C_max 97.03–115.06%, 91.39–109.80%, 94.53–110.65%; AUC_0–t 87.65–99.68%, 87.07–100.79%, 86.29–101.09%; AUC_0–∞ 87.66–99.90%, 87.54–101.05%, 89.23–103.20%). The incidence of adverse drug reactions was comparable across the four groups. The presence of anti-drug antibodies or neutralizing antibodies had no obvious effect on PK.

Conclusion

The PK, safety, and immunogenicity of HLX11 were highly similar to those of reference pertuzumab (US-, EU-, CN-approved products). The established bioequivalence supports further clinical trials of HLX11 in cancer treatment.

Trial Registration

This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04411550) and Chinadrugtrials.org.cn (CTR20200618).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40259-022-00534-w.