Best practices in bioassay development to support registration of biopharmaceuticals.

Biological activity is a critical quality attribute for biopharmaceuticals, which is accurately measured using an appropriate relative potency bioassay. Developing a bioassay is a complex, rigorous undertaking that needs to address several challenges including modelling all of the mechanisms of action associated with the biotherapeutic. Bioassay development is also an exciting and fast evolving field, not only from a scientific, medical and technological point of view, but also in terms of statistical approaches and regulatory expectations.

"Two-in-One" approach for bioassay selection for dual specificity antibodies.

Dual specific antibodies and bispecific antibodies that recognize two different antigen targets are currently being regarded as very effective therapeutics for complex human diseases. While effective, designing and developing a bioassay strategy for dual specific antibodies that is reflective of the mechanism of action (MoA) and also measures the dual activities of antibodies pose unique and exciting challenges. An important question asked while developing a bioassay for dual specific antibodies is, "How many bioassays will be needed, one bioassay or two separate bioassays?" Here we present an approach of using one bioassay for a dual specific antibody that targets two receptors in signaling pathways.

Evaluation of Heavy-Chain C-Terminal Deletion on Product Quality and Pharmacokinetics of Monoclonal Antibodies.

Due to their potential influence on stability, pharmacokinetics, and product consistency, antibody charge variants have attracted considerable attention in the biotechnology industry. Subtle to significant differences in the level of charge variants and new charge variants under various cell culture conditions are often observed during routine manufacturing or process changes and pose a challenge when demonstrating product comparability. To explore potential solutions to control charge heterogeneity, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with native, wild-type C-termini, and mutants with C-terminal deletions of either lysine or lysine and glycine were constructed, expressed, purified, and characterized in vitro and in vivo.

Development and applications of AlphaScreen-based FcRn binding assay to characterize monoclonal antibodies.

IgG antibodies are important pharmaceutical molecules that successfully treat a variety of human diseases. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) interacts with IgG Fc in the CH2-CH3 domain and plays a key role in IgG antibody homeostasis and affects its pharmacokinetic properties. An in vitro FcRn binding assay could be a highly valuable complementary tool to assess IgG antibody pharmacokinetics in IgG engineering and screening during the early optimization stage.

Compatibility and stability of pertuzumab and trastuzumab admixtures in i.v. infusion bags for coadministration.

The physical/chemical stability and potential interactions after diluting two immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibodies (mAb), pertuzumab (Perjeta®) and trastuzumab (Herceptin®), in a single intravenous (i.v.) infusion bag containing 0.

Evaluation of semi-homogeneous assay formats for dual-specificity antibodies.

Dual specificity antibodies such as bispecific and Dual Action Fab (DAF) antibodies are emerging therapeutic products with powerful therapeutic potential. New bioassay formats are needed in order to monitor their dual biological activities. Here we describe the optimization and development of a "bridging" binding method in semi-homogenous (SH) assay format for a bi-specific antibody.

Charge variants in IgG1: Isolation, characterization, in vitro binding properties and pharmacokinetics in rats.

Antibody charge variants have gained considerable attention in the biotechnology industry due to their potential influence on stability and biological activity. Subtle differences in the relative proportions of charge variants are often observed during routine biomanufacture or process changes and pose a challenge to demonstrating product comparability. To gain further insights into the impact on biological activity and pharmacokinetics (PK) of monoclonal antibody (mAb) charge heterogeneity, we isolated the major charge forms of a recombinant humanized IgG1 and compared their in vitro properties and in vivo PK.