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Villanueva-Flores F, Zárate-Romero A, Torres AG, Huerta-Saquero A. Encapsulation of Asparaginase as a Promising Strategy to Improve In Vivo Drug Performance. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1965. [PMID: 34834379 PMCID: PMC8625962 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Asparaginase (ASNase) is a widely applied chemotherapeutic drug that is used to treat Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL); however, immune responses and silent inactivation of the drug often limit its bioavailability. Many strategies have been proposed to overcome these drawbacks, including the development of improved formulations (biobetters), but only two of them are currently on the market. Nano- and micro-encapsulation are some of the most promising and novel approaches to enhance in vivo performance of ASNase, preventing the direct contact of the enzyme with the environment, protecting it from protease degradation, increasing the enzymes catalytic half-life, and in some cases, reducing immunogenicity. This review summarizes the strategies, particularly for ASNase nano- and micro-encapsulation, and their main findings, constraints, and current gaps in the state-of-the-art knowledge. The pros and cons of the use of different nanocarriers are discussed with the idea to ultimately provide safer and more effective treatments for patients with ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Villanueva-Flores
- Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada 22860, Mexico; (F.V.-F.); (A.Z.-R.)
| | - Andrés Zárate-Romero
- Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada 22860, Mexico; (F.V.-F.); (A.Z.-R.)
| | - Alfredo G. Torres
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA;
| | - Alejandro Huerta-Saquero
- Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada 22860, Mexico; (F.V.-F.); (A.Z.-R.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA;
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Binder U, Skerra A. PASylated Thymosin α1: A Long-Acting Immunostimulatory Peptide for Applications in Oncology and Virology. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010124. [PMID: 33374407 PMCID: PMC7795856 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymosin α1 (Tα1) is an immunostimulatory peptide for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and used as an immune enhancer, which also offers prospects in the context of COVID-19 infections and cancer. Manufacturing of this N-terminally acetylated 28-residue peptide is demanding, and its short plasma half-life limits in vivo efficacy and requires frequent dosing. Here, we combined the PASylation technology with enzymatic in situ N-acetylation by RimJ to produce a long-acting version of Tα1 in Escherichia coli at high yield. ESI-MS analysis of the purified fusion protein indicated the expected composition without any signs of proteolysis. SEC analysis revealed a 10-fold expanded hydrodynamic volume resulting from the fusion with a conformationally disordered Pro/Ala/Ser (PAS) polypeptide of 600 residues. This size effect led to a plasma half-life in rats extended by more than a factor 8 compared to the original synthetic peptide due to retarded kidney filtration. Our study provides the basis for therapeutic development of a next generation thymosin α1 with prolonged circulation. Generally, the strategy of producing an N-terminally protected PASylated peptide solves three major problems of peptide drugs: (i) instability in the expression host, (ii) rapid degradation by serum exopeptidases, and (iii) low bioactivity because of fast renal clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uli Binder
- XL-protein GmbH, Lise-Meitner-Str. 30, 85354 Freising, Germany
- Correspondence: (U.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Arne Skerra
- Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie, Technische Universität München, Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5, 85354 Freising, Germany
- Correspondence: (U.B.); (A.S.)
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Liu P, Pan Z, Gu C, Cao X, Liu X, Zhang J, Xiao Z, Wang X, Guo H, Ju D, Deng SJ. An Omalizumab Biobetter Antibody With Improved Stability and Efficacy for the Treatment of Allergic Diseases. Front Immunol 2020; 11:596908. [PMID: 33329588 PMCID: PMC7728613 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.596908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The critical role of IgE in allergic diseases is well-documented and clinically proven. Omalizumab, a humanized anti-IgE antibody, was the first approved antibody for the treatment of allergic diseases. Nevertheless, omalizumab still has some limitations, such as product instability and dosage restriction in clinical application. In this study, we attempted to develop an omalizumab biobetter antibody with the potential to overcome its limitations. We removed two aspartic acid isomerization hotspots in CDRs of omalizumab to improve antibody candidate’s stability. Meanwhile, several murine amino acids in the framework region of omalizumab were replaced with human source to reduce the potential immunogenicity. Yeast display technology was then applied to screen antibody candidates with high binding affinity to IgE. Moreover, YTE mutation in Fc fragment was introduced into the candidates for extending their serum half-life. A lead candidate, AB1904Am15, was screened out, which showed desired biophysical properties and improved stability, high binding affinity and elevated potency in vitro, prolonged half-life in human FcRn transgenic mouse, and enhanced in vivo efficacy in cynomolgus monkey asthma model. Overall, our study developed a biobetter antibody of omalizumab, AB1904Am15, which has the potential to show improved clinical benefit in the treatment of allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Liu
- Department of Biological Medicines & Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Immunotherapeutics, Fudan University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongzong Pan
- Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyin Gu
- Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaodan Cao
- Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaowu Liu
- Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Jianjian Zhang
- Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Xiao
- Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Xueping Wang
- Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Haibing Guo
- Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Dianwen Ju
- Department of Biological Medicines & Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Immunotherapeutics, Fudan University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai, China
| | - Su-Jun Deng
- Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
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Laible G, Cole S, Brophy B, Maclean P, How Chen L, Pollock DP, Cavacini L, Fournier N, De Romeuf C, Masiello NC, Gavin WG, Wells DN, Meade HM. Transgenic goats producing an improved version of cetuximab in milk. FASEB Bioadv 2020; 2:638-652. [PMID: 33205005 PMCID: PMC7655094 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2020-00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent one of the most important classes of pharmaceutical proteins to treat human diseases. Most are produced in cultured mammalian cells which is expensive, limiting their availability. Goats, striking a good balance between a relatively short generation time and copious milk yield, present an alternative platform for the cost-effective, flexible, large-scale production of therapeutic mAbs. Here, we focused on cetuximab, a mAb against epidermal growth factor receptor, that is commercially produced under the brand name Erbitux and approved for anti-cancer treatments. We generated several transgenic goat lines that produce cetuximab in their milk. Two lines were selected for detailed characterization. Both showed stable genotypes and cetuximab production levels of up to 10 g/L. The mAb could be readily purified and showed improved characteristics compared to Erbitux. The goat-produced cetuximab (gCetuximab) lacked a highly immunogenic epitope that is part of Erbitux. Moreover, it showed enhanced binding to CD16 and increased antibody-dependent cell-dependent cytotoxicity compared to Erbitux. This indicates that these goats produce an improved cetuximab version with the potential for enhanced effectiveness and better safety profile compared to treatments with Erbitux. In addition, our study validates transgenic goats as an excellent platform for large-scale production of therapeutic mAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Götz Laible
- AgResearchRuakura Research CentreHamiltonNew Zealand
- School of Medical SciencesUniversity of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular BiodiscoveryAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Sally Cole
- AgResearchRuakura Research CentreHamiltonNew Zealand
| | - Brigid Brophy
- AgResearchRuakura Research CentreHamiltonNew Zealand
| | - Paul Maclean
- AgResearchRuakura Research CentreHamiltonNew Zealand
| | | | | | - Lisa Cavacini
- MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
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Abstract
Plants are routinely utilized as efficient production platforms for the development of anti-cancer biologics leading to novel anti-cancer vaccines, immunotherapies, and drug-delivery modalities. Various biosimilar/biobetter antibodies and immunogens based on tumor-associated antigens have been produced and optimized for plant expression. Plant virus nanoparticles, including those derived from cowpea mosaic virus or tobacco mosaic virus in particular have shown promise as immunotherapies stimulating tumor-associated immune cells and as drug carriers delivering conjugated chemotherapeutics effectively to tumors. Advancements have also been made toward the development of lectins that can selectively recognize cancer cells. The ease at which plant systems can be utilized for the production of these products presents an opportunity to further develop novel and exciting anti-cancer biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Dent
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA.
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Mastrangeli R, Palinsky W, Bierau H. Glycoengineered antibodies: towards the next-generation of immunotherapeutics. Glycobiology 2019; 29:199-210. [PMID: 30289453 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwy092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are currently the largest and fastest growing class of biopharmaceuticals, and they address unmet medical needs, e.g., in oncology and in auto-immune diseases. Their clinical efficacy and safety is significantly affected by the structure and composition of their glycosylation profile which is commonly heterogeneous, heavily dependent on the manufacturing process, and thus susceptible to variations in the cell culture conditions. Glycosylation is therefore considered a critical quality attribute for mAbs. Commonly, in currently marketed therapeutic mAbs, the glycosylation profile is suboptimal in terms of biological properties such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity or may give rise to safety concerns due to the presence of non-human glycans. This article will review recent innovative developments in chemo-enzymatic glycoengineering, which allow generating mAbs carrying single, well-defined, uniform Fc glycoforms, which confers the desired biological properties for the target application. This approach offers significant benefits such as enhanced Fc effector functions, improved safety profiles, higher batch-to-batch consistency, decreased risks related to immunogenicity and manufacturing process changes, and the possibility to manufacture mAbs, in an economical manner, in non-mammalian expression systems. Overall, this approach could facilitate and reduce mAb manufacturing costs which in turn would translate into tangible benefits for both patients and manufacturers. The first glycoengineered mAbs are about to enter clinical trials and it is expected that, once glycoengineering reagents are available at affordable costs, and in-line with regulatory requirements, that targeted remodeling of antibody Fc glycosylation will become an integral part in manufacturing the next-generation of immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Mastrangeli
- Biotech Development Programme, CMC Science & Intelligence, Merck Serono SpA, an affiliate of Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Via Luigi Einaudi, 11. Guidonia Montecelio (Roma), Italy
| | - Wolf Palinsky
- Biotech Development Programme, Merck Biopharma, an affiliate of Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Zone Industrielle de l'Ouriettaz, Aubonne, Switzerland
| | - Horst Bierau
- Biotech Development Programme, CMC Science & Intelligence, Merck Serono SpA, an affiliate of Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Via Luigi Einaudi, 11. Guidonia Montecelio (Roma), Italy
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7
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Torres-Obreque K, Meneguetti GP, Custódio D, Monteiro G, Pessoa-Junior A, de Oliveira Rangel-Yagui C. Production of a novel N-terminal PEGylated crisantaspase. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2019; 66:281-289. [PMID: 30597637 DOI: 10.1002/bab.1723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Crisantaspase is an asparaginase enzyme produced by Erwinia chrysanthemi and used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in case of hypersensitivity to Escherichia coli l-asparaginase (ASNase). The main disadvantages of crisantaspase are the short half-life (10 H) and immunogenicity. In this sense, its PEGylated form (PEG-crisantaspase) could not only reduce immunogenicity but also improve plasma half-life. In this work, we developed a process to obtain a site-specific N-terminal PEGylated crisantaspase (PEG-crisantaspase). Crisantaspase was recombinantly expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) strain cultivated in a shaker and in a 2-L bioreactor. Volumetric productivity in bioreactor increased 37% compared to shaker conditions (460 and 335 U L-1 H-1 , respectively). Crisantaspase was extracted by osmotic shock and purified by cation exchange chromatography, presenting specific activity of 694 U mg-1 , 21.7 purification fold, and yield of 69%. Purified crisantaspase was PEGylated with 10 kDa methoxy polyethylene glycol-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl (mPEG-NHS) at different pH values (6.5-9.0). The highest N-terminal pegylation yield (50%) was at pH 7.5 with the lowest poly-PEGylation ratio (7%). PEG-crisantaspase was purified by size exclusion chromatography and presented a KM value three times higher than crisantaspase (150 and 48.5 µM, respectively). Nonetheless, PEG-crisantaspase was found to be more stable at high temperatures and over longer periods of time. In 2 weeks, crisantaspase lost 93% of its specific activity, whereas PEG-crisantaspase was stable for 20 days. Therefore, the novel PEG-crisantaspase enzyme represents a promising biobetter alternative for the treatment of ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Torres-Obreque
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Débora Custódio
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gisele Monteiro
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Pessoa-Junior
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Abstract
Since its introduction in 1982, biopharmaceutical drugs have revolutionized the treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases and are increasingly used in nearly all branches of medicine. In recent years, the biopharmaceuticals market has developed much faster than the market for all drugs and is believed to have great potential for further dynamic growth because of the tremendous demand for these drugs. Biobetters, which contain altered active pharmaceutical ingredients with enhanced efficacy, will play an important role in the development of biopharmaceuticals. Another significant group of biopharmaceuticals are biosimilars. Their introduction in the European Union and, recently, the Unites States markets will reduce the costs of biopharmaceutical treatment. This review highlights recent progress in the field of biopharmaceutical development and issues concerning the registration of innovative biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars. The leading class of biopharmaceuticals, the current biopharmaceuticals market, and forecasts are also discussed.
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Courtois F, Agrawal NJ, Lauer TM, Trout BL. Rational design of therapeutic mAbs against aggregation through protein engineering and incorporation of glycosylation motifs applied to bevacizumab. MAbs 2016; 8:99-112. [PMID: 26514585 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2015.1112477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of biotherapeutics is a major hindrance to the development of successful drug candidates; however, the propensity to aggregate is often identified too late in the development phase to permit modification to the protein's sequence. Incorporating rational design for the stability of proteins in early discovery has numerous benefits. We engineered out aggregation-prone regions on the Fab domain of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody, bevacizumab, to rationally design a biobetter drug candidate. With the purpose of stabilizing bevacizumab with respect to aggregation, 2 strategies were undertaken: single point mutations of aggregation-prone residues and engineering a glycosylation site near aggregation-prone residues to mask these residues with a carbohydrate moiety. Both of these approaches lead to comparable decreases in aggregation, with an up to 4-fold reduction in monomer loss. These single mutations and the new glycosylation pattern of the Fab domain do not modify binding to the target. Biobetters with increased stability against aggregation can therefore be generated in a rational manner, by either removing or masking the aggregation-prone region or crowding out protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Courtois
- a Chemical Engineering ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology ; Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139
| | - Neeraj J Agrawal
- a Chemical Engineering ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology ; Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139
| | - Timothy M Lauer
- a Chemical Engineering ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology ; Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139
| | - Bernhardt L Trout
- a Chemical Engineering ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology ; Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139
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De Martinis D, Rybicki EP, Fujiyama K, Franconi R, Benvenuto E. Editorial: Plant Molecular Farming: Fast, Scalable, Cheap, Sustainable. Front Plant Sci 2016; 7:1148. [PMID: 27536308 PMCID: PMC4971507 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Domenico De Martinis
- ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Domenico De Martinis
| | - Edward P. Rybicki
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape TownCape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Rosella Franconi
- ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Benvenuto
- ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
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Reski R, Parsons J, Decker EL. Moss-made pharmaceuticals: from bench to bedside. Plant Biotechnol J 2015; 13:1191-8. [PMID: 26011014 PMCID: PMC4736463 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, the moss Physcomitrella patens has been developed from scratch to a model species in basic research and in biotechnology. A fully sequenced genome, outstanding possibilities for precise genome-engineering via homologous recombination (knockout moss), a certified GMP production in moss bioreactors, successful upscaling to 500 L wave reactors, excellent homogeneity of protein glycosylation, remarkable batch-to-batch stability and a safe cryopreservation for master cell banking are some of the key features of the moss system. Several human proteins are being produced in this system as potential biopharmaceuticals. Among the products are tumour-directed monoclonal antibodies with enhanced antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), complement factor H (FH), keratinocyte growth factor (FGF7/KGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), asialo-erythropoietin (asialo-EPO, AEPO), alpha-galactosidase (aGal) and beta-glucocerebrosidase (GBA). Further, an Env-derived multi-epitope HIV protein as a candidate vaccine was produced, and first steps for a metabolic engineering of P. patens have been made. Some of the recombinant biopharmaceuticals from moss bioreactors are not only similar to those produced in mammalian systems such as CHO cells, but are of superior quality (biobetters). The first moss-made pharmaceutical, aGal to treat Morbus Fabry, is in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Reski
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- FRIAS - Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS - Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Juliana Parsons
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva L Decker
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Gahoual R, Biacchi M, Chicher J, Kuhn L, Hammann P, Beck A, Leize-Wagner E, François YN. Monoclonal antibodies biosimilarity assessment using transient isotachophoresis capillary zone electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry. MAbs 2015; 6:1464-73. [PMID: 25484058 DOI: 10.4161/mabs.36305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Out of all categories, monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics attract the most interest due to their strong therapeutic potency and specificity. Six of the 10 top-selling drugs are antibody-based therapeutics that will lose patent protection soon. The European Medicines Agency has pioneered the regulatory framework for approval of biosimilar products and approved the first biosimilar antibodies by the end of 2013. As highly complex glycoproteins with a wide range of micro-variants, mAbs require extensive characterization through multiple analytical methods for structure assessment rendering manufacturing control and biosimilarity studies particularly product and time-consuming. Here, capillary zone electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry by a sheathless interface (CESI-MS) was used to characterize marketed reference mAbs and their respective biosimilar candidate simultaneously over different facets of their primary structure. CESI-MS/MS data were compared between approved mAbs and their biosimilar candidates to prove/disconfirm biosimilarity regarding recent regulation directives. Using only a single sample injection of 200 fmol, CESI-MS/MS data enabled 100% amino acids (AA) sequence characterization, which allows a difference of even one AA between 2 samples to be distinguished precisely. Simultaneously glycoforms were characterized regarding their structures and position through fragmentation spectra and glycoforms semiquantitative analysis was established, showing the capacity of the developed methodology to detect up to 16 different glycans. Other posttranslational modifications hotspots were characterized while their relative occurrence levels were estimated and compared to biosimilars. These results proved the value of using CESI-MS because the separation selectivity and ionization efficiency provided by the system allowed substantial improvement in the characterization workflow robustness and accuracy. Biosimilarity assessment could be performed routinely with a single injection of each candidate enabling improvements in the biosimilar development pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabah Gahoual
- a Laboratoire de spectrométrie de masse des interactions et des systèmes (LSMIS); CNRS - UMR 7140 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg Cedex , France
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13
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Courtois F, Schneider CP, Agrawal NJ, Trout BL. Rational Design of Biobetters with Enhanced Stability. J Pharm Sci 2015; 104:2433-40. [PMID: 26096711 DOI: 10.1002/jps.24520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Revised: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Biotherapeutics are the fastest growing class of pharmaceutical with a rapidly evolving market facing the rise of biosimilar and biobetter products. In contrast to a biosimilar, which is derived from the same gene sequence as the innovator product, a biobetter has enhanced properties, such as enhanced efficacy or reduced immunogenicity. Little work has been carried out so far to increase the intrinsic stability of biotherapeutics via sequence changes, even though, aggregation, the primary degradation pathway of proteins, leads to issues ranging from manufacturing failure to immunological response and to loss of therapeutic activity. Using our spatial aggregation propensity tool as a first step to a rational design approach to identify aggregation-prone regions, biobetters of rituximab have been produced with enhanced stability by introducing site-specific mutations. Significant stabilization against aggregation was achieved for rituximab with no decrease in its binding affinity to the antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Courtois
- Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Curtiss P Schneider
- Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Neeraj J Agrawal
- Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Bernhardt L Trout
- Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
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14
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Abstract
A biosimilar is a high quality biological medicine shown to be in essence the same as an original product. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) paved the way in the regulatory arena by creating a safeguarding framework for the development of biosimilars. Biosimilar is thus a regulatory term that alludes to the evidence-based studies required to demonstrate such very high similarity. They are therefore not innovative products but the pathway laid down by the EMA for their approval represented a new paradigm. This has brought some confusion and has cast doubts among healthcare professionals about the scientific evidence behind their authorization. Many papers have been published to clarify the concept, and to reassure those professionals, but misconceptions frequently still arise. Unfortunately, this prevents biosimilars from deploying their full therapeutic added value. This paper is intended to approach those misconceptions from a new angle, by explaining what a biosimilar is not…and why. A biosimilar is neither a generic, nor an original product. It is not a biobetter or a 'stand-alone'. Therefore, it should not be managed as such therapeutically, commercially or from a healthcare policy viewpoint. The EMA's criteria were acknowledged by other agencies, but a significant regulatory gap with a vast majority of regulatory bodies still remains. This leaves room for the so-called non-original biologics (NOB), i.e. non-biosimilar biologics, to be launched in many regions. Raising awareness of what a biosimilar is and what it is not, will generate trust in biosimilars among healthcare professionals and will ultimately benefit patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando de Mora
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Beck A, Debaene F, Diemer H, Wagner-Rousset E, Colas O, Van Dorsselaer A, Cianférani S. Cutting-edge mass spectrometry characterization of originator, biosimilar and biobetter antibodies. J Mass Spectrom 2015; 50:285-297. [PMID: 25800010 DOI: 10.1002/jms.3554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The approval process for antibody biosimilars relies primarily on comprehensive analytical data to establish comparability and high similarity with the originator. Mass spectrometry (MS) in combination with liquid chromatography (LC) and electrophoretic methods are the corner stone for comparability and biosimilarity evaluation. In this special feature we report head-to-head comparison of trastuzumab and cetuximab with corresponding biosimilar and biobetter candidates based on cutting-edge mass spectrometry techniques such as native MS and ion-mobility MS at different levels (top, middle and bottom). In addition, we discuss the advantages and the limitations of sample preparation and enzymatic digestion, middle-up and -down strategies and the use of hydrogen/deuterium exchange followed by MS (HDX-MS). Last but not least, emerging separation methods combined to MS such as capillary zone electrophoresis-tandem MS (CESI-MS/MS), electron transfer dissociation (ETD), top down-sequencing (TDS) and high-resolution MS (HR-MS) that complete the panel of state-of-the-art MS-based options for comparability and biosimilarity evaluation are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Beck
- Centre d'Immunologie Pierre Fabre (CIPF), 5 Av. Napoléon III, BP 60497, 74164, Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France
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Abstract
Last two decades of structure-function studies performed in numerous laboratories provided substantial progress in understanding basic science, physiological, pathophysiological, pharmacological, and comparative aspects of glycoprotein hormones (GPHs) and their cognate receptors. Multiple concepts and models developed based on experimental data in the past stood the test of time and have been, at least in part, confirmed and/or remained compatible with the new structures resolved at the atomic level. Major advances in understanding of the ligand-receptor relationships are heralding the dawn of a new era for GPHs and their receptors, although many basic questions still remain unanswered. This article examines retrospectively several basic science aspects of GPH super-agonists and related "biosuperiors" in a broader context of the advances in the ligand-receptor structure-function relationships and new mechanistic models generated based on the structure elucidation. Due to selective focus of my comments and perspectives in certain parts, the reader is directed to the most relevant publications and reviews in the field for more comprehensive analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz W. Szkudlinski
- Trophogen Inc., Rockville, MD, USA
- *Correspondence: Mariusz W. Szkudlinski, Trophogen Inc., 9714 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA,
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