A high-resolution multi-attribute method for product characterization, process characterization, and quality control of therapeutic proteins.

During the manufacturing of therapeutic proteins, Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) have been monitored by conventional methods, such as cation exchange chromatography (CEX), reduced capillary electrophoresis-sodium dodecyl sulfate (rCE-SDS), and 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene (DMB) labelling method. The conventional methods often generate individual peaks that contain multiple components, which may obscure the detection and the quantification of individual critical quality attributes (CQAs). Alternatively, Multi-Attribute Method (MAM) enables detection and quantification of specific CQAs.

Identification of critical chemical modifications by size exclusion chromatography of stressed antibody-target complexes with competitive binding.

Chemical modifications (attributes) in the binding regions of stressed therapeutic proteins may affect binding to target and efficacy of therapeutic proteins. The method presented here describes the criticality assessment of therapeutic antibody modifications by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) of competitive binding between a stressed antibody and its target, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), followed by SEC fractionation and peptide mapping characterization of bound and unbound antibodies. When stressed antibody and its target were mixed at a stoichiometric molar ratio of 1:2, only antibody-receptor complex eluted from SEC, indicating that binding was not decreased to break the complex.

Identification of critical chemical modifications and paratope mapping by size exclusion chromatography of stressed antibody-target complexes.

Therapeutic proteins including antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins undergo a large number of chemical modifications during cell culture, purification, storage and in human circulation. They are also exposed to harsh conditions during stress studies, including elevated temperature, extremes of pH, forced oxidation, physiological pH, UV light to assess the possible degradation pathways and suitability of methods for detecting them. Some of these modifications are located on residues in binding regions, leading to loss of binding and potency and classified as critical quality attributes.

Characterization of therapeutic proteins by cation exchange chromatography-mass spectrometry and top-down analysis.

Recently, cation exchange chromatography (CEX) using aqueous volatile buffers was directly coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and applied for intact analysis of therapeutic proteins and antibodies. In our study, chemical modifications responsible for charge variants were identified by CEX-UV-MS for a monoclonal antibody (mAb), a bispecific antibody, and an Fc-fusion protein. We also report post-CEX column addition of organic solvent and acid followed by mixing at elevated temperatures, which unfolded proteins, increased ion intensity (sensitivity) and facilitated top-down analysis.

Comparison of Acid Titration, Conductivity, Flame Photometry, ICP-MS, and Accelerated Lamellae Formation Techniques in Determining Glass Vial Quality.

Unlabelled: Certain types of glass vials used as primary containers for liquid formulations of biopharmaceutical drug products have been observed with delamination that produced small glass like flakes termed lamellae under certain conditions during storage. The cause of this delamination is in part related to the glass surface defects, which renders the vials susceptible to flaking, and lamellae are formed during the high-temperature melting and annealing used for vial fabrication and shaping. The current European Pharmacopoeia method to assess glass vial quality utilizes acid titration of vial extract pools to determine hydrolytic resistance or alkalinity.

Do not drop: mechanical shock in vials causes cavitation, protein aggregation, and particle formation.

Industry experience suggests that g-forces sustained when vials containing protein formulations are accidentally dropped can cause aggregation and particle formation. To study this phenomenon, a shock tower was used to apply controlled g-forces to glass vials containing formulations of two monoclonal antibodies and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). High-speed video analysis showed cavitation bubbles forming within 30 μs and subsequently collapsing in the formulations.

A case study of nondelamination glass dissolution resulting in visible particles: implications for neutral pH formulations.

Visible particles were unexpectedly observed in a neutral-pH placebo formulation stored in glass vials but were not observed in the same formulation composition that contained protein. The particles were identified as silica gel (SiO2 ) and polysorbate 20, suggesting dissolution of the glass vial. Time course studies were performed to assess the effect of variables such as pH, excipients, storage temperature, and duration on particle formation.

Rational design of lyophilized high concentration protein formulations-mitigating the challenge of slow reconstitution with multidisciplinary strategies.

An increasing number of protein therapies require chronic administration at high doses (>200 mg) by subcutaneous (sc) injection. Due to the injection volume limitation (<1.5 mL) associated with sc administration, high protein concentration formulations at or exceeding 100 mg/mL are required to achieve the dose.

Elucidation of degradants in acidic peak of cation exchange chromatography in an IgG1 monoclonal antibody formed on long-term storage in a liquid formulation.

Purpose: An IgG1 therapeutic monoclonal antibody showed an increase in acidic or pre-peak by cation exchange chromatography (CEX) at elevated temperatures, though stable at 2-8°C long-term storage in a liquid formulation. Characterization effort was undertaken to elucidate the degradants in CEX pre-peak and effect on biological activity.

Methods: Purified CEX fractions were collected and analyzed by peptide mapping, size exclusion, intact and reduced-alkylated reversed phase techniques.

A molecular mechanism of hydrolysis of peptide bonds at neutral pH using a model compound.

The covalent stability of peptide bonds is a critical aspect of biological chemistry and therapeutic protein applications. In this computational study, the hydrolytic reaction of peptide bonds at neutral pH was studied using a model compound, N-MAA. The most probable reaction pathway and intermediate(s) involved are controversial in previous studies.

Molecular mechanism of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of peptide bonds using a model compound.

The stability of peptide bonds is a critical aspect of biological chemistry and therapeutic protein applications. Recent studies found elevated nonenzymatic hydrolysis in the hinge region of antibody molecules, but no mechanism was identified. As a first step in providing a mechanistic interpretation, this computational study examines the rate-determining step of the hydrolytic reaction of a peptide bond under acidic pH by a path sampling technique using a model compound N-MAA.

Silicone oil- and agitation-induced aggregation of a monoclonal antibody in aqueous solution.

Silicone oil, which is used as a lubricant or coating in devices such as syringes, needles and pharmaceutical containers, has been implicated in aggregation and particulation of proteins and antibodies. Aggregation of therapeutic protein products induced by silicone oil can pose a challenge to their development and commercialization. To systematically characterize the role of silicone oil on protein aggregation, the effects of agitation, temperature, pH, and ionic strength on silicone oil-induced loss of monomeric anti-streptavidin IgG 1 antibody were examined.

Conformational implications of an inversed pH-dependent antibody aggregation.

Antibody formulation development relies on accelerated stability data at elevated temperatures to optimize formulation parameters. However, the pH- and temperature-dependence of aggregation is complicated for antibody formulations. In this study, a human monoclonal IgG2 antibody exhibited typical pH-dependent dimer formation under normal storage conditions (4 and/or 29 degrees C).

Structural and functional characterization of disulfide isoforms of the human IgG2 subclass.

In the accompanying report ( Wypych, J., Li, M., Guo, A.

Human IgG2 antibodies display disulfide-mediated structural isoforms.

In this work, we present studies of the covalent structure of human IgG2 molecules. Detailed analysis showed that recombinant human IgG2 monoclonal antibody could be partially resolved into structurally distinct forms caused by multiple disulfide bond structures. In addition to the presently accepted structure for the human IgG2 subclass, we also found major structures that differ from those documented in the current literature.

Comparative oxidation studies of methionine residues reflect a structural effect on chemical kinetics in rhG-CSF.

The effect of protein conformation on the rate of chemical degradation is poorly understood. To address the role of structure on chemical degradation kinetics, comparative oxidation studies of methionine residues in recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) were performed. The kinetics of oxidation of methionine residues by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in rhG-CSF and corresponding chemically synthesized peptides thereof was measured at different temperatures.

Optimization of a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for characterizing recombinant antibody heterogeneity and stability.

An enhanced analytical RP-HPLC/MS method was developed for monitoring the stability and production of intact and fragmented monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The use of high column temperatures (70-80 degrees C), organic solvents with high eluotropic strength coefficients (isopropyl and n-propyl alcohols), and Zorbax StableBond columns, were critical for good recovery and resolution of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2 monoclonal antibodies. Using this method, cleavage products of a degraded IgG1 antibody were clearly separated and identified by in-line electrospray ionization time-of-flight (ESI-TOF) mass spectrometry generating exact masses and unique terminal ladder sequences.

Quantitative methods for developing Fc mutants with extended half-lives.

Fc mutants with increased binding affinity for the neonatal receptor, FcRn, exhibit increased half-lives in vivo, and represent an attractive means for extending the half-lives of therapeutic antibodies. The half-lives of other therapeutic molecules (e.g.

Effects of excipients on the hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidation of methionine residues in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to elucidate the different mechanisms of action of different excipients on the oxidation of Met1, Met122, Met127, and Met138 in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) by using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant.

Methods: The oxidation of Met1, Met127, and Met138 was quantified by peptide mapping analysis. The oxidation of Met122 has biphasic oxidation kinetics with a faster second phase.

Effects of antioxidants on the hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidation of methionine residues in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and human parathyroid hormone fragment 13-34.

Purpose: The effects and mechanisms of different antioxidants, methionine, glutathione, acetylcysteine, and ascorbic acid (AscH2), on the oxidation of methionine residues in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and human parathyroid hormone fragment 13-34 (hPTH 13-34) by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were quantified and analyzed.

Methods: The rates of oxidation of methionine residues in G-CSF were determined by peptide mapping analyses, and the oxidation of methionine residue in hPTH 13-34 was quantified by reverse-phase HPLC.

Results: At pH 4.

Common structural stability properties of 4-helical bundle cytokines: possible physiological and pharmaceutical consequences.

Biological activity and clinical efficacy of a therapeutic protein are contingent upon the structural stability, bioavailability, and clearance rates of the protein. In this review, we examine the class of 4-helical bundle cytokines for common stability properties that may affect biological structure and efficacy. Three critical stability features that are hallmarks of this class of cytokines are the pH dependence of structural stability, the presence of folding intermediates, and the population of aggregation intermediates.

A comprehensive picture of non-site specific oxidation of methionine residues by peroxides in protein pharmaceuticals.

In this article, a comprehensive picture of the oxidation of protein pharmaceuticals by peroxides is developed based on our earlier computational and experimental studies. We propose a new mechanism, the water-mediated mechanism, for the oxidation of methionine residues, and it has been shown to satisfy all available experimental data including new data reported here. Based on the water-mediated mechanism, we found a structural property, average 2-shell water coordination number, that correlates well to the relative rates of oxidation of methionine groups.

pH Dependence of structural stability of interleukin-2 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

After a cytokine binds to its receptor on the cell surface (pH approximately 7), the complex is internalized into acidic endosomal compartments (pH approximately 5-6), where partially unfolded intermediates can form. The nature of these structural transitions was studied for wild-type interleukin-2 (IL-2) and wild-type granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). A noncoincidence of denaturation transitions in the secondary and tertiary structure of IL-2 and tertiary structural perturbations in G-CSF suggest the presence of an intermediate state for each, a common feature of this structural family of four-helical bundle proteins.