Automated DBS microsampling, microscale automation and microflow LC-MS for therapeutic protein PK.

Aim: Reduce animal usage for discovery-stage PK studies for biologics programs using microsampling-based approaches and microscale LC-MS.

Methods & Results: We report the development of an automated DBS-based serial microsampling approach for studying the PK of therapeutic proteins in mice. Automated sample preparation and microflow LC-MS were used to enable assay miniaturization and improve overall assay throughput. Serial sampling of mice was possible over the full 21-day study period with the first six time points over 24 h being collected using automated DBS sample collection. Overall, this approach demonstrated comparable data to a previous study using single mice per time point liquid samples while reducing animal and compound requirements by 14-fold.

Conclusion: Reduction in animals and drug material is enabled by the use of automated serial DBS microsampling for mice studies in discovery-stage studies of protein therapeutics.